Web, I'm not entirely clear on what you're trying to say to me in your post. Are you asking me questions, or are you positing questions having to do with my original question? In other words, with those questions you ask, are you answering the question, or asking for information?
I acknowledged that there are many proclaimed atheists who make statements like, "I don't care what you believe, just keep it to yourself." And I am wondering really how atheistic those people are. I'm not defending anyone. Originally, I was seeking information, and then I gave my take on your UFO game. I'm trying to have a discussion here, and I feel like I should be expecting the Python boys to bring over the Spanish Inquisition at any moment.
Chrys, thanks for the background on the origin. It jumped out at me, mainly because most of the atheists I know don't proclaim to hate God at all. As I said right from the start, I understand the position that to disbelieve is automatically to hate, and had an inkling that that may be how the question originated (turns out I was wrong, but hey, my original thought fits in with this conversation --- funny that ). And although I know the argument, so to speak, that you presented, I've never been comfortable with the law of opposites as given.
Let me explain what I mean (or at least try to!). There are people in this world I don't care for. Personally, I mean, as in I'm not interested in having them as pals. So, you could say I don't like them. But if you said that I disliked them, you'd be wrong. To dislike is active, whereas to not like is passive, and refers to the absence of like, but not implicitly the presence of dislike. Another example. I have no mechanical dishwasher. Washing dishes is not something I particularly like doing, but it is not unpleasant. It's neither pleasant nor unpleasant. I'm indifferent to it.
Yet we are taught that indifference to God is impossible. But is it? That's why I asked my original question. I'm going on holiday for the next five days, but I'll be reading on this issue, that's for sure!
Those atheists (by the way, are we including theists of other religions in the "atheist" category?) who tell Christians basically to shut up about Christ are not the finest examples the world has to offer. Web, it seems that you're using those who make statements to that effect to make your conclusion about atheists being God-haters. I'm not sure that works, logically. Many more people are atheists than those who are vocal about it. We just don't know about them . . .