Why is it that a general sterotype of atheists/agnostics is that they are bad people?

Question

Also that they miss out on life, have boring lives, etc.

This sterotype is not only false for MANY atheists but it's actually a better sterotype for religious drones in my opinion.

Accepting answers from ANYONE.

Answer 1

Consider the source! I don't see it as a general stereotype that anyone but Christians are bad people! They, after all, do all the judging and pointing of fingers at everyone else, all the while molesting their kids, homeschooling them, and teaching them that the Earth was made in 7 days by some fairy tale ideology called Intelligent Design!

Don't buy into the Xtian media kit! How could anyone who doesn't have the common sense to see through a fairy tale possibly be taken seriously enough to get advice from?

Think about it!

Answer 2

The atheist and agnostics are a minority and the majority feels comfortable by thinking that they are good and the minority is bad. It is not based on facts as there is no scientific survey available.

The problem with atheist and agnostics is that they are dogmatic in their beliefs although they claim to be rational.

There are many religious people who have demonstrated that there are methods available to realise God. The atheist does not follow the prescribed methods but argues that God does not exist just on logical grounds. Many religions profess that God can be formless, unimaginable, beyond the senses and reasoning etc. The atheist does not prove that God does not exist but argues about it. He only plays the devil's advocate which is the easy part.

It is not clear why the atheist thinks that someone has to prove that God exists. What kind of proof is acceptable to them? God is not a material object nor a theorem of mathematics to prove. Moreover all religions say that God is not easily realised by human beings. Even Moses could not see God, he only heard and received the Ten Commandments. What makes the atheist believe that proof will be shown to them so easily? Fermat's last theorem existed for many years and its proof was found only recently. Does it mean that the theorem was wrong before it was proved and has suddenly become correct after the proof was found?

They do not see the simple fact that phenomena exist without proofs. For example gravity existed from the time the universe existed. It was proved by Sir Isaac Newton much later. Similarly American continent existed for many centuries but was discovered by Columbus in modern era. There was no proof to show that America existed before Columbus discovered it.

So why do they ask for proof of God? Do they mean to say that proof is essential for a thing or phenomena to exist?

Similarly if you want to discover God then follow the prescribed methods and search for it yourself. No need to blindly believe anything.

Answer 3

I believe most people are given their religion to them from their parents and relatives. You have to believe somebody, and your parents better be looking out for your best interests, so .... why not just blindly believe mom, dad, and the church they believe in.

When you are an adolescent you begin questioning your parents as authority figures, because you find out they were wrong about something or you are scared about having to strike out on your own.
Religion is one of the first things people start questioning because it is nonessential, yet directs your goals in life quite a bit.

Personally I try not to stereotype, it is just to easy. A lot of good church goers seem to embrace a more agnostic view than you would believe. A lot more never seem to worry about the tenants of their faith. If they did how could they support the death penalty when Jesus preached forgiveness, tolerance, and love. There's lots of things that conservative religious preach that sounds like the early Jewish or even African views of justice over forgiveness.
The God I believe in allows for questions and growth.

I think the reason atheist and agnostics get upset is because they generally have less support, because they do not have an organization backing them in their community. They have to work harder to ensure they have the circle of support that is inherent when you join a particular church.


If you are a agnostic or atheist, why not shrug and keep quiet. You do not need to be apostolic to enjoy your beliefs. I wouldn't advertise them. I live my beliefs. No one needs any more preachers. The insecure need to hold on to something, so why not God?

Answer 4

i am agnostic. and by no means am i a bad person or boring. and the last time i checked...i am still alive, so i wouldn't say i've been missing it bob. actually, my life is much fuller since i stopped droning about whether or not what i do will get me into heaven.

people who say that are probably christians and the reason they say that is because they are god-fearing and are afraid that one little mistake will keep them from the wonders of heaven. living in fear? to afraid to try anything because they might displease god...this entity that they have never seen or heard?? seems to me they are the ones that are missing out of life.

Answer 5

I don't think it's just atheists and agnostics that are stereotyped as bad people. I think there is a subgroup in any larger group comprised of people who have a hard core belief that anything outside of their focus is wrong.

That's okay because I support anyone's right to believe in whatever they want from agnosticism to zoology but I don't think anyone has a right to force their beliefs on another.

Answer 6

That's a good question. It turns out that there are some statistics that demonstrate that just the opposite is true. Here's a list of religions, listed as a percentage of the US federal prison population (1997):

The Federal Bureau of Prisons does have statistics on religious affiliations of inmates. The following are total number of inmates per religion category:

Response %
---------------------------- --------
Catholic    39.164%
Protestant    35.008%
Muslim    7.273%
American Indian    3.222%
Nation    2.320%
Rasta    1.987%
Jewish     1.773%
Church of Christ     1.744%
Pentecostal     1.463%
Moorish     1.426%
Buddhis     1.180%
Jehovah Witness     0.890%
Adventist     0.831%
Orthodox     0.502%
Mormon     0.399%
Scientology     0.254%
ATHEIST     0.209%
Hindu     0.159%
Santeria     0.157%
Sikh     0.019%
Bahai     0.012%
Krishna     0.009%

Hmmm... note that the Judeo-Christian Total works out to 83.761%. Not an unexpected result.

Note that ATHEISTS, being a moderate proportion of the USA population (about 8 - 16%) are disproportionately LESS in the prison populations (0.21%).

Pretty odd result, for a group that has no god-given guiding moral principals, huh?

Answer 7

A lot of atheists have created this stereotype by viciously criticizing believers and acting like anyone who believes in a god is a moron. It's that general attitude of mental superiority that has made atheists look like jerks. Of course, not all atheists are this way, but many are, and so this generalization lives on.

Answer 8

Atheist and Agnostic are totally different.
Athiest believes there is no God.
Agnostic wants more information to prove God.
Not believing in any God scares a lot of people. That's why they are stereotyped.

Answer 9

The general stereotype has its basis in ignorance. And in not allowing people to be free thinkers and have comfort in questions going unanswered (for agnostics) and in having to defend the question at all (for atheists). And in oppresors seeking to impose their belief system upon "non-believers."

Answer 10

As a christian who once was living an agnostic lifestyle I never think of them as bad people who are living unfulfilled lives. I do know know however that there is much more available to us through God. It is all in th paradigm that we look through and live through. With God at the center, life has genuine purpose... without God, life has no purpose what so ever.