10 Myths About Atheists
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Why are Atheists so vilified in America?
Myths make Atheists are second most disliked group in America. (Find out which group hit #1 with a bullet below.)
Yet another study shows Atheists more vilified than Muslims and African Americans. The group did, however, lose their #1 position as the most disliked group in America. That honor now belongs to the Tea Party according to a survey by Political scientists Robert Putnam and David Campbell. Nearly 50% of Americans would disapprove if their child married an Atheist.
Why do people hate and/or fear Atheists? Is it because non-religious people get extra time to sleep on Saturday or Sunday? Probably not. Most Americans have no idea of what Atheists think and tend to believe unfounded tales. Atheists frighten the faithful who place their trust in an afterlife and/or God(s).
1. ”There are no atheists in foxholes”. People use this expression to convince themselves that Atheists will leap into a religion as soon as the irreligious feel afraid and/or weak. One would probably judge a marketer who targets those with terminal illnesses to sell a product or someone who says he cruises funerals because grieving women are easier to pick up lacking morals. In moments of weakness, society sees “selling” religion to Atheists as an opportunity to proselytize and convert the “Godless.”
Many Atheists feel religion often provokes anxiety and fear..If we accept that God is all-powerful, as many religions claim, then it’s like being in an abusive relationship that can’t be escaped for eternity; a relationship with a God who will throw us into hell for not fearing him and who allows horrors like the Holocaust to happen. For many atheists, believing evil is accident rather than design is comforts many more Atheists than prayer.
2 Atheists are just angry with God. How can one be angry with a being that one doesn’t believe exists? People who accept vile actions in the name of religion and don’t feel anger tolerate bad behavior do not provide a good foundation to convince others of the morality of a given religion.
3. Atheists are aggressive and rude. Really? Which people are pushier: (1) an Atheist who says “I don’t believe in God,” then goes on to discuss her/his feelings, or (2) Believers who knock on doors to proselytize, or force your children to recite religious language in school. Atheists get an unfair reputation for rudeness, especially when they are outspoken or unapologetic about their feelings.
4 Atheism is a white dude thing. People dismiss Atheism as a belief of a tiny minority of egotistical men. However, many famous women also rely on science rather than faith. These women include Elizabeth Cady-Stanton, Gloria Steinem, Jodie Foster, Janeane Garofalo, and Katharine Hepburn, to name only a few.
5. Atheism is just a faith like any other. Agnostics often present arguments that the belief—or lack thereof—in a God or god(s) are equally valid. Atheists are skeptical: they require concrete proof. Religious people automatically disbelieve all spiritual claims except their own, even though their beliefs are rooted in the same faith as others, such as Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.
6. Atheists don’t have a moral code. People often ask how Atheists will know not to rape, murder, or harm others without a religion that backs up these precepts with threats of hell. On average, Atheism often equates to a better behaved society. Religious nations tend to have higher rates of violent crime, teen pregnancy, early adult mortality and even abortion. Even religious people condemn people who commit acts of evil in the name of religion. If morality is measured by religion, terrorists who murder in the name of God are more moral than atheists who pay taxes, help others, and donate to charity. There are religious people in all faiths who feel a murderous terrorist who invokes God is a better person than a nonviolent atheist. This conviction belies believers’ claims that morality doesn’t come solely from religion.
7. Atheists’ lives are bleak and lack meaning. Most Atheists find this myth ridiculous. Happiness and fulfillment does not necessarily come from a supernatural force. If so, believers would not need fulfilling work, loving families, friends, and hobbies: their spiritual beliefs would suffice. Atheists do not believe in an afterlife, so they find fulfillment in life and make the most of the time they have instead of waiting for an afterlife.
8. Atheists are hedonists who don’t understand the true meaning of love. Only someone who doesn’t understand Atheism believes Atheists do not feel love and indulge their sexuality at will . Atheists believe that sexual fulfillment and real love are mutually exclusive, but also experience deep love. Many Christians’ lofty claims about their capacity of love more; however, more than a few studies indicate higher divorce rates in more religious states. A Pew survey shows that Atheists and Agnostics know more about religion than the average Protestant.
9. Atheists have no way to cope after losing loved ones without a belief in an afterlife. This misconception often causes deep pain for grieving atheists as some may use a loved death to adopt religion. Some believers are openly predatory; others are act out of compassion. Many religions teach that the dead person could be burning forever in hell, which can cause an Atheist more anxiety than relief.
10. Atheists are out to destroy Christmas. Every year after Halloween, Fox News, starts proclaiming Atheists and other “heathens” are engaged in a “war on Christmas.” Most American Atheists are well aware that Christmas came from an ancient pagan ceremony. With a few minor tweaks, Winter Solstice became Christmas. Atheists don’t wage war on Christmas; they simply request the government adhere to the First Amendment and not promote Christianity above Atheism—or any other beliefs.
This list of Atheist includes over 500 people. There are doubtlessly many more people who do not subscribe to a specific faith and contributed much to the world. Perhaps they have yet to come out of the confessional.
The only people frightened of Atheists tend to be insecure in their own beliefs. Targeting Atheists or any other faith system that differs from one’s own is based on fear and bigotry.
Mad Mike’s America thanks Alternet; this article is edited from the original.
Do religious and/or spiritual people fear Atheists?
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I am firmly grounded in my spirituality, lasersedge. We chose the lives we need to live before we come down here to learn the lessons we need to learn. All roads lead to the same place. There is no rightness or wrongness: there just is.
It’s the only belief that ever felt real to me, and it makes my life simple… until I start thinking about people who chose avarice and power…
You know Dorothy, Atheists are like like Christians in many ways. There are those who feel that think or believe that their view or belief is the only correct one to have and are bound and determined to make sure everyone else knows about it and and knows that the other is wrong in their beliefs. Then there are those who simply who hold their beliefs to be personal, be they Atheistic or religious, and feel no need to profess nor convince anyone about the rightness or wrongness of either side. To me those in the first group are just as obnoxious which ever belief they hold. I would just like to be left out of their religious or anti-religious conversations.