Christians and atheists, what's the difference between these jokes?

Question

I was watching someone on YouTube play Civilization V and one of the people made the joke: "So if I'm focusing on religion does that mean I should avoid education?" as a Catholic I found this highly offensive, and everyone in the comment's section were saying to us religious people "Calm down it's a joke!" well it was offensive and uncalled for.

I also remembered a joke my priest told, it went: "A man sat down next to a women reading the Bible and asked her 'Do you really believe all the stuff in there?' the woman replied 'Yes' and the man replied 'even the story about the whale that ate the man?' and she replied 'Of course' and he said 'well do you think he went to Hell?' and she said 'I don't know, you can tell me when you go.'
almost everyone in my church laughed, and I just sat there thinking "What the heck?! That's so rude." and I honestly thought it was! So I told this joke online as an experiment and sooooo many atheists/Bible bashers were upset about it. How is this ANY different from the first joke? I find them both equally as offensive and equally as not funny.

I find this extremely hypocritical, so I want everyone's opinion, please state in the answers if you're one: Atheist/agnostic or religious two: If you found the first joke funny or offensive, or the second joke funny or offensive, and third if you want add your own opinion on the matter.

Answer 1

I'm an agnostic atheist.



I found both jokes unamusing.

But I don't think they were offensive either, people are just too sensitive.

Answer 2

The first joke just reflects what some atheists think: that religious people aren't educated.

The second joke if you take it's all seriousness, the woman is literally( as she believes in this system) telling this guy he will burn in a secluded place between the Earth's crust and it's core.

So she is basically laughing at the fact that she thinks he is gonna be tortured for the rest of his existence.

Difference? One is a light insult to intelligence, the other is a macabre joke. For someone who advocates the teachings of Christ she sounds pretty evil to me.

Answer 3

I'm an atheist.



I find the first joke more lame than anything. It doesn't really take any effort to make "jokes" like that. It reminds me of political discussions where someone replaces the word "liberal" with "libmoron" or something. I'm a liberal and the only thing that does is make me say "really, that's the best you've got?"



The second joke doesn't bother me in any significant way although I'd like to ask the people why they think it's funny that I'm supposedly going to be tortured for eternity.

Answer 4

Wow, a religious person who is offended. Never seen that before.



Look, the key word here is joke. It is meant in jest. I'm atheist and I'm not even slightly offended by the hell joke. The first joke is more like a passing jab at the fact that the Catholic church has often tried to hinder scientific advancement. Even you have to admit that.

Answer 5

agnostic and you're right. The jokes are *funny*. That's why we call them jokes. As a agnostic, I don't care if people tell me I'm going in hell...



(sorry for my English)

Answer 6

I admit that atheists (including myself) sometimes say inappropriate and offensive things about theists. We're not perfect people.

Answer 7

I don't find either offensive. And if I can't laugh at myself I have no right to laugh.

Answer 8

I find them both pretty funny to be honest...



I am atheist and agnostic.