Why is (are) Athism (Atheists) so grossly misunderstood by religious folk?

Question

Is it ignorance*? Are they used to just not looking for the truth so they make assumptions? Here are some things i've heard believers say about athiests (atheism) that are just 100% false:

• Athiests don't believe in anything

• why not ask your atheist leader to write an atheist holy book

• Atheists are controlled by satan

• Atheists are just angry at god

• Atheism is a religion

• Atheists are unhappy/hateful/angry

• Darwin is the god of atheism

• Evolution is the religion of atheism (or that we "believe in" evolution rather than "accepting" it. As if you need faith to agree with evolutionary theory.)

What are your thoughts? and if i've missed any silly/false statements on atheism that you have seen please add them.

*Please note that the word "ignorance" used here is not any sort of ad homonym. It's simply a hypothosis that most religious people tend to make assumptions and/or take things at face value... Ignorance by definition, not slander.

Thanks Dee... another one to add to my list:

• Atheists have a set of beliefs

Believe it or not all atheist means is you don't believe god(s) exist(s). That's it. Atheist's simply have a LACK of ONE belief.

Answer 1

I think you nailed it when you asked "are they used to just not looking for the truth"
(I am mot saying that the existence of God is untrue, just that many or most accept without really researching and questioning)
I think many people are taught NOT to bother to read the scriptures, or study science, or look into other religious beliefs, or try and understand because people have been brought up hearing sermons which explain the scriptures so it's easier and more 'socially acceptable' to "swallow and follow" as I call it. Never mind the fact that different preachers can have totally different interpretations of the same passages. The term 'sheep' really fits, in my opinion. I don't mean everyone who believes in God is automatically in the "swallow and follow" group...... many are not.
I just can't help wondering if a lot of them (and I really mean christians in particular here) are like the story "The Emperor's new clothes"......... too afraid to say they don't really see the clothes because it's somehow more aceptable to go along with the crowd?
As for misunderstanding atheists, that's understandable because they are taught that as well, along with not even really understanding the origins of their OWN beliefs. Many a preacher stands before his congregation spouting the very things you listed, especially "atheists are really satanists".

Answer 2

Wow, they sure do think wrong.

-I don't believe in RELIGION, and I enjoy every second of my independant and non-controlled mind

-Why would I believe that I'm controlled by Satan if I don't believe in it?

-I am not angry at God, I refuse to be brainwashed by people who are gullible and believe in an "invisible force" they haven't seen, heard, smelled, touched or anything like that, just because they read a book that was 1,000 years old.

-Atheism is a religion? Excuse me? That is the most oxymoron statement I've ever heard! Atheists DON'T BELIEVE IN RELIGION. If you don't know what atheism is, don't bother mentioning it.

-I am a very happy person who again, does not let a 1,000 year old book take over my mind.

-Darwin was another atheist who had a brilliant and true scientific theory of life.

-I can't believe what christians are saying on here! Evolution is a scientific theory that PROVES (WITH evidence) that the human race evolved from apes. Look it up.

Man, ignorance is right!

Answer 3

I is ignorance most do not knpow what athiest is or even a agnostic
they do belive the list you mention
Many not all though believe that athiest are out ot remove "god " for society . One if a diety is omipresent and omnipotent that would not be possible.
Oh I have heard all athiests and agnostics bdefintion are evil and are incapapble of doing good !
Well by the loks of things in the world today i would say the relgious foks are Many are told that athiestsims isa relgion . it is not it simply means a lack in the beliefe of any sort .

A athiest does not belive in demonic being or ggood gods . they do not believe in angles devils ect . They usuaslly do not really care.

There is a high corretion of lower intelligence and lower income and a more porfound set of religious belifes .
That contrivutres to the ignorance and comlpleate lack of understanding of what athiesm is.
Of course some have gone about things in the wrong way .
But are right in principal and legally such as removing prayers from school , and the ten comandments form public space and so on.
if one wishs to believe there are many places of owrship to choose from the government does not stop you form going or them religious sects from setting up schools that teach a specific
The ignorance of athiesm is used by many a "preacher " I use the term is a looser fashion to cove rany one who preaches any realiong ot .
from the local preacher in a small place of worship to massive TV misitries to make money nad instill fear in there subjects .
OH I hav head this one
Athiest and agnostics are incapable of being good as tey are evil . Only those who are godfearing can be good .
If that were to be true the human rac is doomed , it also is a sad statement that the only way a human will do good is if mtivated by fear . that isfrightening in itself . yes thre a lot of jerk in the worldand it smetimes seems that the only time every one behaves well toward another iswhen tier are lotos of police around .
sad enough .
But interstingly most of the ones doingall the evil are not atthiests or gnostics but deeply relgios pople Well just look at the world to daya growing relgious war is smoldering in the midleeast involging true belivers . that does include many in the US
lok at all the atrocities commited in the name of god .

It give you pause ot think
.
But athiesim is just another boogmany used to kep the shepp in line and fleece thier wallets then send them off to die for someone elsae wealth .

Answer 4

being a christian myself i don't believe i have ever used any of these in reference to atheist. I understand there cannot be a god of atheism because atheists do not believe there is a god. I don't find them anymore unhappy or angry than anyone else in the world. there are a lot of christians that get on my nerves with their hateful attitudes and in order to have a religion there has to be a belief in a higher power.

Answer 5

Ok as an agnostic individual I would tend to agree. I laugh at the write a holy book thing though..... ummm hello.... sometimes I wonder if people truly think before they spout things out of their mouths. (although I say that for all religions) Just giving you a thumbs up on educating the believers! Happy to be agnostic!

Answer 6

Atheists are NOT misunderstood by those with religions because in order to BE misunderstood.... one would have had to TRY to understand. And we all know that would never happen.
Most people take what they were taught as children and believe it all to be true without question. They spend more time trying to defend what they were taught than seeking the truth. Hell, most can't even quote bible as well as I can...... and I am Wiccan. No, I don't worship the devil, lol. But I do respect other people's beliefs or lack thereof, because they should be respected....as human beings beliefs... even though most people do not respect mine.

Answer 7

I suppose that the same question could be asked in the reverse. Atheists have a set of beliefs like religions do; the only difference is that the atheist's beliefs are not based around some Deity. I guess it is just hard to understand another point of view unless you once had it.

Answer 8

It's kind of a two way street, don't you think? Religious people don't understand Atheists and try to convince them there is a God. Atheists don't understand religious people and try to convince them there is no God.

Along with those assumptions religious people tend to make about atheists, let me add the one that really bugs me that atheists make about religious people. So many questions and comments posted by atheists either allude or flat out state that religious people are uneducated. That is patently false. Most doctors and surgeons I've talked to believe in God. Albert Einstein beleived in God. Most of my college professors attended church, so I'm assuming they believe in God. I could go on, but you get the point.

Anyway, I suppose if both sides would quit with the name calling and insults, maybe we could get somewhere, or at least tolerate each other.

Answer 9

I think you've missed quite a bit... I think that Atheists don't believe in God mainly because it cannot be proven... However, it cannot be proven that there is no God... Agnostic makes more since... They are not sure if there is a God or not... Since neither can be proven...
The thing that bothers me about evolution is that it doesn't make since for species to evolve into less efficient beings... We'd all still be one celled organisms...
We also know that we got here some how... We know that stars (our sun) have a life span... Without the sun there isn't life, so at one point in the past, there wasn't life, and it got created somehow... Ruling out a God doesn't make since...

I guess since neither can be proven, how are Atheists so sure there is not a God and just rule out the idea based on no evidence disproving God...

Answer 10

A lot of the missunderstanding does have to do with ignorance. Most of the religious people do not want to educate themselves on different religeons. Not, only that they believe that thier religeon is "the one", that every other religeon then thier own is false, or evil. Not, only that is alot of adults out there were raised to believe that every other religeon is 'false' or 'evil', so they are going to teach thier children the same way. So, unless, these people are willing to change, the ignorance of other religeons is inevitable.