Why does the myth that most Atheists are liberal/commie keep spreading? Most Atheists I know are Libertarians.

Question

Aside from the minority that are now communists, most liberals I know, including those socialist, either buy into Unitarian Universalism, Peganism, Buddhism, or some other form of new age religion or imported religion from the east. And yes, I do realize saying this about liberals is (somewhat) stereotipical, but it is based on my observations from when I lived in San Francisco and Berkeley. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Seriously, where did this myth originate? The fact that communism is attributed as being Atheist?

P.S. I'm speaking of American Atheists. Canadian Atheists give me a similar impression. I don't know much about those Atheists in Europe/Australia/Africa/Latin America.

Answer 1

The myth was started by Christian conservatives

And all you have to do is meet ONE Atheist to dispel such a stupid myth.
Atheist American Libertarian here.
You will not find many conservative Atheists...we like to think logically and rationally.

Answer 2

Karl Marx, father of Communism, believed that religion was the "opium of the people" and that it would conflict with the rule of the state. He therefore advocated for the state to eliminate the church to eliminate the conflict.
More detail:
http://atheism.about.com/od/weeklyquotes/a/marx01.htm

Therefore, communists in Russia, China and other nations banned all religion for many decades, until they finally gave way to religions that were secretly persisting under their noses.

As you note, atheism is inappropriately tied to communism, and this is because it is the only institution that has ever advocated an enforced atheism. Many, many other nations throughout history dealt with the conflict of religion and state by accepting one particular religion as the official one and banning or oppressing all the others. These religious states are no different or better than the communists. In fact, the majority of the history of European nation-states is one of state enforced religion (the reason the Pilgrims left Europe for America). So, all the horrible bloody wars, serfdoms, slavery and oppression came from religiously backed governments, which was the impetus for Marx's idea.

History seems to show that both sides are essentially wrong, and the best answer is to let the state do the state's job and the church do the church's job (separation of church and state). This was clarified, using the Bible, in Thomas Hobbes', Leviathin, an inspiration to the U.S. Constitutional authors.

Answer 3

I don't think it's so much a myth. It think it's just a stereotype based on the fact that Marxists push atheism as a way of getting "religious" gods out of the way of the State. The Socialist State, as we know, is a monopoly, and can't allow individuals to be enslaved by opposing viewpoints. We mustn't let the proles get "uppity." Communists, and global/national socialists all support freedom FROM religion. Religion is just too dangerous to the power of the State.

If you're talking American atheists who are libertarians, then I think they'd just like to be left in peace. They're not necessarily hot on the idea of destroying the Christian culture. The US has hundreds of years of amazing harmony between people of all religions, unlike most of the rest of the world. Libertarians support freedom OF religion.

However, every time you see someone hassling Christians, it's usually going to be the ACLU, an organization founded by Communists. (The only religion they regularly defend now days is extremist Islam.)

I do know some socialists who are Evangelicals. They're neither left nor right: they're just confused!

---Me, I'm a Goldwater libertarian and agnostic.

Answer 4

A disproportionate number of communists are atheists. Atheists are also very liberal over all.

I am a conservative atheist. I read that puts me in a 14% minority among atheists--I really wish I could find the source but I am sure that was the number. So there is some truth to it, even though with free thinkers it is really really hard to make blanket statements about anything.

Answer 5

-To be an atheist one must first be capable of comprehending what the supernatural or divine is. - If you never forced the "supernatural" on people they would never have to "learn to not believe". Atheism is where it begins. You can tap dance all you want, but you are still an idiot. So let’s retire this tired old canard that “everyone is born atheist”. And buy a dictionary athiests. - You could try thinking, but your head would probably explode. Statements like “we are all born atheist” might sound funny or clever upon cursory inspection, but when you actually get down to it they’re rather childish and detrimental to the cause those who use them are trying to support. - Only to fundies. It makes perfect sense to people who can think. Babies are just babies doing baby things. You athiests need to stop speaking for babies - Yes, babies do baby things which does not have anything to do with the supernatural, which they have to be indoctrinated with. Lack of belief in the fantasy has to be forced on to them.

Answer 6

i'm an agnostic by the way but i will tell you that atheists being mixed up wittn communists is a crock of bull it's just some ignorant form of manipulation on the part of some religious people particularly christians who want to paint atheists in a bad image so to speak

Answer 7

Labeling. Branding. If you want to vilify someone or a group, you pick out some perceived characteristic or make up one, then exaggerate or exploit as much as possible. It's just an example of moral hypocrisy.

Answer 8

Many communist leaders have been atheists, that might have something to do with it.The same stereotype exists here in Australia. From my experience atheists are more likely to be communists than theists are, but most atheists aren't.

Answer 9

Probably the whole Stalin thing. But I am a libretarian for the most part - except that I believe in public schools and funding scientific research - and no one is just going to hand over their money for that if they aren't taxed.

Answer 10

The atheists I know are democrats.
I am a libertarian Christian.
I do not know how exactly people came to this conclusion that they are all that way though....I try not to think that way because I know I hate it when everyone expects me to be a republican religious-nut just because I am a Christian.