Misconceptions that believers have about atheists

[Bruce]

Origin: http://www.randi.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?s=&threadid=58540

I'm preparing to give a 20 min speech to a class of students studying to be counselors. I will be discussing the details of what the professor of the class would like me to cover on the phone this evening, but we've been batting some topics back and forth by e-mail. She said my personal perspective and experiences as an atheist are important and gave me some questions to answer. I also gave her an idea for a topic that I would like to discuss, but I haven't heard back whether or not she wishes me to use it. Regardless of whether I use it or not on Monday, I would like to bring it up as a discussion here.

DragonRock related his experience in meeting with a counselor in the hyperlinked thread. The counselor had various religious items in the office which put him on gaurd. For a counselor to effectively do his/her job, the patient must be open and honest, but because of the misunderstandings between believers and atheists, it's easy to see why DragonRock went on the defensive. After all, an atheists does not believe in the very thing that a believer centers his/her life around. There are bound to be misunderstandings.

There are certain misconceptions that believers tend to have about atheists. Though a counselor may not personally hold these feelings, certain questions, statements, or actions made by the counselor may be percieved as prejudiced, rude, or just plain irritating to the patient.

I'll give examples of the misconceptions that I have encountered and the indicating statements, questions, actions, etc. Feel free to add your own perceptions or indicators to the list, or take the discussion where ever you wish. I'm posting this in both Banter and Religion because I know certain members don't visit both.

Misconceptions that many believers have about atheists

1. Atheists are arrogant (because of their atheism)
- "Don't you believe in anything greater than yourself?"
- "Are you too good for God?"
- "Is God beneath you?"

2. Atheists are fools
- "Do you think we all got here by accident?"
- "You may not believe in God, but God believes in you."
- "If you can't explain it, then it MUST be God."
- "Everything happens for a reason."
- "There are no accidents."
- "So, you think we die, and that's it?"
- "I hear that April 1st is National Atheist Day."

3. Atheists hate God
- "What's wrong with God?"
- "Why can't you just believe?"
- "What terrible event caused you to reject God?"

4. Atheists are evil
- "How can you understand right and wrong without God?"
- "You can't have morals without religion."
- "If you don't believe in God, what's stopping you from doing whatever you want?"

5. Atheists are mentally ill and can be 'cured'.
- "Just read the Bible."
- "Try going to church."
- "Pray with me."
- "God loves you, even if you don't believe in him."
- "Like the prodigal son, you will find your way back to HIM."
- "I pity you. You must feel so empty without the light of God in your life."

6. Atheists are not open-minded.
- "You have to look past the end of your nose."
- "God is everywhere, even if you don't see him."

7. Atheists are uncaring and have no feelings (because they lack a soul)

8. If you bombard an Atheist with relentless church invitations, evangelical visits, brochures, pamphlets, free Bibles, and feel-good stories via e-mail, he will give in and convert.

One request. I know this topic is going to arouse a lot of anger from atheists, but please try to be respectful in your replies. Thank you.

 

[Phideaux]

That's a nice list!

I can't add too much, but as an ex-Mormon atheist I've heard practically all of those things said in one form or another.

My addition to number four about atheists being evil:

Atheists have fallen under the power of Satan. Satan WANTS you not to believe in God.

I get this one all the time. Apparently I was Satan's pet project and now I am his minion. People just can’t “feel the spirit” in my house any more. Groan!

My addition to number 8:

Cookies.

For some astonishing reason, Mormons seem to think by being nice and leaving cookies that will somehow make their church true.

Yep, the kindness and delicious cookies somehow make God's love real and even an atheist will see the error of his ways. ;-)

 

[RandFan]

Re: That's a nice list!

For some astonishing reason, Mormons seem to think by being nice and leaving cookies that will somehow make their church true.

Yep, the kindness and delicious cookies somehow make God's love real and even an atheist will see the error of his ways. ;-)

Been there done that. I just want people to accept me and continue to be my friend or ignore me altogether. If and when I want to come back to church I will. Cookies aint gonna cut it. Of course what could overcome the fact that much of the Mormon church is demonstrably false.

 

[Phideaux]

Hey Randfan

I feel the same way, Randfan. Cookie bribes don't cut it.

By the way, you are the one who introduced me to this forum. You posted briefly at Recovery from Mormonism where I post as Dagny. Thanks.

 

[RandFan]

Re: Hey Randfan

I feel the same way, Randfan. Cookie bribes don't cut it.

By the way, you are the one who introduced me to this forum. You posted briefly at Recovery from Mormonism where I post as Dagny. Thanks.

Cool, welcome. I like the forum. It's a little slow at the moment but it can get quite bumpy. I also hangout at Politics and Current Events.

 

[clarsct]

WELCOME Phideaux!


Anyway..did someone say cookies? Are they like, really good cookies? Or are they just store bought?

Cause, like, GOOD cookies..well...I dunno...With chocolate chunks instead of chips? Hmmm. Do they come with milk?

I mean..it's not like I THOUGHT about atheism or anything..it was just a cool thing my pot-smokin' buddies got me into. And ..well...COOKIES..man..that's tempting..Especially oatmeal raisin. A good oatmeal raisin cookie could be a religious experience. Think the devil could make cookies? Nyah..too hot..they'd all burn. I mean, it's not every day you run into a woman who can make the perfect oatmeal-raisin cookie. Who cares if she's smart, funny or good-looking? Can she make COOKIES?! That's the real question! My bank, the Grand National bank of Elbonia, has the BEST cookies in the lobby. It's why I bank there, after all. Bought my car from Fast Earnie. He had these Pecan Sandies at his sale that were to DIE for. I didn't even have to LOOK at the cars...I mean..how can you not trust a man with COOKIES? What would the world come to? The seas would be as blood and the sky would turn orange and we'd just have chaos and anarchy.


(BTW, this thread is in two different parts of the forum..may I be so bold as to suggest a merge?)(oh, and be sure to read the sarcasm in the above....)

 

[Bruce]

(BTW, this thread is in two different parts of the forum..may I be so bold as to suggest a merge?)(oh, and be sure to read the sarcasm in the above....)

Probably not. I thought about simply putting an invitation on Banter, but there are some folks that are pretty exclusive about which forums they visit and post in, and I want their opinions too. I'm paying attention to both at least, if that makes you feel better.

 

[TragicMonkey]

A common misconception I get hit with is that I must be really unhappy, since I don't believe the universe is full of magical meaning, etc etc. And it's really, really infuriating to be told that I must be unhappy, and then they use my resulting outburst of monkey rage as evidence "See! You're miserable!" Argh!

Atheism has nothing to do with happiness/unhappiness. There are happy atheists and unhappy ones, just like any other division of people you make.

 

[Dagny]

I encounter misconceptions about atheism more from agnostics and those folks who say "Well, I'm not religious just spiritual." (# 1, 2 and 6) more than I do from actual believers.

Hello to Phideaux and Randfan from a different Dagny. I’m seeing a theme here.

 

[Bruce]

A common misconception I get hit with is that I must be really unhappy

I like to counter that by cracking jokes and showing just how happy I am. I also like to counter the 'you must be cold and empty' attitude by expressing my zest for life and being friendly and personable. Sometimes it really throws them for a loop, but then again, sometimes they are convinced I'm faking it and give me the 'I pity you. You shouldn't pretend to be happy when you know you're not,' attitude. Whattayagonnado?

 

[SezMe]

For a couple of years, I was invited to give a 2-hour class at the local Christian college where I discussed my atheism and attempted to contrast that with Christianity. It was a lot of fun - I think you will have a ball, Bruce.

I would underscore this point:

- "So, you think we die, and that's it?"

They just could not get their heads around that concept. I suggest you give some thought to how you could emphasize the positive aspect of this concept.

Another thought. My 2 hours flew by; I didn't have time to cover all the material I went in there with. If you have 20 minutes I suggest you plan on only touching on 2 or at most 3 topics. Let the Q&A session take you into other areas.

Here is another area:
9 Atheism is really a religion
- You HAVE to believe in something
- You just won't admit to yourself there is a god

Good luck.

ETA: I haven't been invited back. Maybe I got to too many of the little blighters?

 

[Bruce]

This is with a big university and the professor is approaching the class from the angle of 'Secularist Counselors that include spirituality'. They are aware that their patients will not always be Christians. They are inviting speakers of many different religions, including a Rabbi, a Shaman, etc, and of course a Christian. They were having trouble finding an actual atheists, which is understandable. It's not as if we have our own church or anything, and most of us aren't vocal about being atheist anyway.

She says this is a very tolerant group, and pretty quiet. I'm hoping I can get them to talk, ask questions, and get as excited about the discussion as I am. The professor said we can extend the class time if the students want to. I could probably talk all night on this subject. I hope it all goes as well as I anticipate.

 

[Jekyll]

Re: That's a nice list!

My addition to number 8:

Cookies.

For some astonishing reason, Mormons seem to think by being nice and leaving cookies that will somehow make their church true.

Yep, the kindness and delicious cookies somehow make God's love real and even an atheist will see the error of his ways. ;-)

Thats it. I'm not letting anymore Xians try and convert me unless they have cookies.

 

[swstephe]

Re: That's a nice list!

Cookies.

For some astonishing reason, Mormons seem to think by being nice and leaving cookies that will somehow make their church true.

Yep, the kindness and delicious cookies somehow make God's love real and even an atheist will see the error of his ways. ;-)

i had mormons bring a 30' christmas tree to our house a couple of days before christmas. they blamed me for abusing my children. irony was -- it was my ex-wife's decision, she was too cheap to pay money for one. i agreed because i thought it was a useless pagan practice that was a total waste of a perfectly good pine tree.

 

[Paul C. Anagnostopoulos]

10. Atheists are scientistic. They have no soul, no spirit, no awe of creation.
--- Something about evolution being linked to atheism.

~~ Paul

 

[c4ts]

Atheists believe in/invented logic, which is some sort of opinion that they hold to prove there is no god.

 

[Disco]

My latest conversation with a Xian,

Xian: It takes as much faith to say there is no god as it does to say there is God!

Me: But I lack belief in god(s), I don't assert there is no god. Some call it "weak atheism".

Xian: Of course you say there is no God! Look at this dictionary (pulls out linked definition of "atheist" to support his theory)

Me: Yes, but here's another dictionary's definition that includes the word "disbelief". Here's some more info (shows links to positive atheism, etc., showing the etymology of the word)

Xian: Poppycock! You're an agnostic! Here, look at this definition!

Me: No, I'm not agnostic, I'm atheist.

Xian: I don't care what you say or show me, you're an agnostic!

Me: Please stop telling me what I am, it's offensive. I've shown you over & over where you're wrong.

Xian: Oh, seems you're pretty touchy on the subject if I've OFFENDED you!

Me:

MHB

 

[LordoftheLeftHand]

Re: Re: That's a nice list!

i had mormons bring a 30' christmas tree to our house a couple of days before christmas. they blamed me for abusing my children.

Wow that is crazy. If not providing your children with a Christmas tree is abuse; then running a Jewish or a Muslim household would also be child abuse. I wonder if they even considered that.

LLH

 

[Jas]

-"Are you too good for God?"

Maybe introduce the concept of the IPU.

"Everything happens for a reason."

That's one of the biggest PO's I have. No, things do not happen for a reason.

"So, you think we die, and that's it?"

Or the various versions of that, some with the intent of "Oh, if only they realized that if you're an atheist you don't go to Heaven and see all your loved ones, then they'll change their mind".

Because of course that thought never ocurred to me

"What terrible event caused you to reject God?"

"If you don't believe in God, what's stopping you from doing whatever you want?"

Maybe tell them that the really dumb questions are quite insulting.

 

[Beleth]

3. Atheists hate God
- "What terrible event caused you to reject God?"

This one's easy.
The tsunami.