Conversations about religion can get uncomfortable pretty quickly when one side dismisses the other.
While atheists tend to think they’re being logical or challenging outdated ideas when talking to someone of faith, some comments come across as dismissive, condescending, or outright insulting. Whether intentional or not, these things can make believers feel belittled, misunderstood, or even ridiculed. If you’ve ever had your faith questioned in a way that felt more like an attack than a discussion, you’ve probably heard some of these before.
1. “How can you believe in fairy tales?”
Comparing religion to fairy tales might seem like a clever way to discredit faith, but it comes across as dismissive and patronising. It assumes that believers haven’t thought critically about what they believe, and that faith is simply about blindly accepting fictional stories. For many people, religion isn’t just about believing in a higher power; it’s about tradition, meaning, and personal experience. Whether or not you agree with it, brushing off someone’s faith as nothing more than a fairy tale ignores the depth of their beliefs and the role it plays in their life.
2. “Science has already disproven God.”
Atheists often assume science and religion can’t coexist, but many believers fully embrace both. Science explains how the world works, but faith deals with the meaning behind it. Plenty of scientists are religious, and for them, science doesn’t disprove God, it deepens their understanding of creation. Faith and science don’t have to be enemies. While science focuses on what can be tested and measured, religion often deals with questions that science isn’t designed to answer, such as purpose, morality, and human connection.
3. “Religious people are just brainwashed.”
It’s a common stereotype that faith is something people only believe in because they were raised that way. While that’s true for some, plenty of religious people have questioned, explored, and come to their beliefs through personal experience, not just upbringing. Dismissing someone’s faith as nothing more than brainwashing ignores the fact that many people have wrestled with doubt, studied their religion in-depth, and still found something meaningful in it. Plenty of people raised religious end up leaving faith behind, and plenty who weren’t raised religious find themselves drawn to it later in life.
4. “You only believe because you were raised that way.”
Yes, upbringing influences beliefs, but that applies to everyone — including atheists. If you were raised in a non-religious home, does that mean you were “programmed” not to believe? People are shaped by their environment, but that doesn’t mean they lack independent thought. Plenty of religious people have questioned their beliefs, doubted them, and even stepped away before coming back to faith. Assuming that belief is just a product of upbringing ignores the fact that many people actively choose their faith after careful consideration.
5. “Religious people are less intelligent.”
There’s a misconception that faith and intelligence don’t go together, but history says otherwise. Some of the world’s greatest thinkers — scientists, philosophers, writers — have been religious. Many believers engage in deep philosophical and theological discussions, questioning and refining their beliefs. Faith isn’t about refusing to think critically. Many religious people explore existential questions just as much as atheists do; they just come to different conclusions. Judging intelligence based on belief alone is an unfair and inaccurate generalisation.
6. “How can you believe in something without proof?”
Not everything people value in life comes with tangible proof. Love, morality, and trust exist even though they aren’t measurable in a lab. Faith, for many, isn’t about needing scientific evidence; it’s about personal experience, inner conviction, and a sense of something beyond what can be tested. Belief in God doesn’t have to function the same way as belief in physical facts. Some things are about meaning rather than proof, and for those who believe, faith doesn’t require constant evidence — it just gives believers a deeper sense of purpose.
7. “Religion is responsible for all the world’s problems.”
While religion has played a role in conflicts throughout history, so have politics, greed, and human nature. Blaming all of the world’s problems on faith ignores the fact that non-religious ideologies have also led to war, oppression, and violence. At the same time, religion has contributed to acts of kindness, charity, and social justice. Many people find strength in their faith during difficult times, and religious communities often provide support for those in need. The problem isn’t belief — it’s how people choose to use it.
8. “You’re only religious because you’re afraid of death.”
Source: Unsplash While religion does provide comfort about the afterlife, that’s not the only reason people believe. Faith offers guidance, community, and a sense of connection to something greater. Many believers have thought deeply about their spirituality and find value in it beyond just fear of the unknown. Plenty of religious people acknowledge uncertainty and still choose faith. Assuming that every believer is only religious out of fear overlooks the deeper reasons why people turn to spirituality.
9. “You’d be an atheist if you actually thought about it.”
Source: Pexels Many religious people have thought about it — deeply. They’ve questioned, doubted, explored different beliefs, and still found meaning in faith. Acting as if atheism is the only logical conclusion assumes that everyone sees the world the same way. Faith isn’t about a lack of thought; it’s about a different way of understanding life. Some find meaning in science alone, others find it in religion, and some find a balance between the two. None of those paths make someone more or less intelligent than another.
10. “Religion is just a crutch for weak people.”
Source: Unsplash Faith often provides comfort, but that doesn’t make believers weak. Many people turn to religion not because they can’t handle life without it, but because it gives them strength and purpose. Everyone has something that helps them through difficult times, whether it’s faith, philosophy, relationships, or personal beliefs. Just because someone finds strength in religion doesn’t mean they’re incapable of thinking for themselves.
11. “Prayer is pointless.”
To an atheist, prayer might seem like talking to an empty room, but for believers, it’s a source of comfort, connection, and reflection. Prayer isn’t just about asking for things; it’s about feeling grounded and strengthening faith. Dismissing it entirely ignores the emotional and psychological benefits it brings to those who practise it. Even if you don’t believe in its power, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have value for those who do.
12. “Religious people are all hypocrites.”
Like any group, religion has its share of hypocrites, but so does atheism, politics, and activism. There are people who claim to live by a set of morals but don’t practise what they preach in every community. Plenty of believers genuinely try to live according to their values. Judging an entire group by its worst examples is never fair, no matter what the belief system is.
13. “You’ll grow out of it one day.”
This assumes that faith is just a phase, something people will eventually outgrow as they become more rational. But for many, belief deepens over time rather than fading away. Some people stay religious their whole lives, some leave faith and return to it, and some walk away entirely. There’s no single mature perspective, just different ways of understanding the world.
14. “You only believe because you need something to hold on to.”
It’s true that faith can offer comfort, especially in tough times, but that doesn’t mean it’s just a coping mechanism. Many religious people don’t just ‘cling’ to belief—they explore it, question it, and actively choose it because it makes sense to them. Plenty of non-religious people also look for meaning in different ways, whether through philosophy, science, or personal reflection. Assuming that religion is just an emotional crutch overlooks the fact that belief can come from deep thought, study, and genuine conviction.
15. “How can you follow a religion that has caused so much harm?”
It’s undeniable that religion has been tied to war, oppression, and injustice throughout history. But so have politics, ideologies, and even movements that started with good intentions. Blaming faith itself ignores the reality that human nature plays a role in all of these issues. Many believers actively work to challenge the harmful aspects of their religion and use their faith to promote kindness, charity, and progress. Just because something has been misused doesn’t mean everyone who follows it shares those harmful beliefs or actions.
16. “I’m too smart for religion.”
Nothing shuts down a conversation faster than someone acting like their worldview makes them superior. Intelligence isn’t measured by belief or lack of belief; plenty of highly intelligent people throughout history have been both religious and non-religious. Having different perspectives doesn’t mean one is automatically smarter than the other. The best discussions happen when both sides are willing to listen, not when one side assumes they’re above the conversation altogether.
