Why does everyone think that atheist = scientist?

Question

I've been seeing a lot of questions lately asking atheists to explain some random thing that 'supports God'. just because i'm an atheist doesn't mean that i know everything about, well, everything. i don't have a college degree in science, i'm not a professional. how the hell am i supposed to answer your questions?

Answer 1

For some reason a lot of people equate scientists with atheism. I know it's not true, but I think it comes from the fact that the evolutionists who we hear from in the media are all scientists which means they don't believe in creationism and that means to them that they don't believe God's word so they must not believe in God which means they are atheists.

I agree with you that this line of reasoning is in error, but you have to accept people where they are.

Answer 2

The question could go the other way too: How many questions have I seen where an atheist asks Christians to explain away some esoteric minutiae that purportedly supports evolution?

To me, the point is that science has nothing to do with belief in God, one way or the other. Nothing that has been discovered by science (as opposed to theories, which are not discoveries but rather explanations proposed to explain existing findings) necessarily causes any problem for Christian faith. And Christian faith does not need to cause any problem for scientific research. (Except of course where that research might be immoral, such as potentially harmful experiments on unsuspecting subjects. Like unborn babies. But that's a matter of ethics and morals, not belief.)

So your point is well taken: Why don't we leave science out of the question? Religious belief is a philosophical and metaphysical question, not a scientific one.

Answer 3

No educated person would think that anymore than they would think scientist = atheist.

Although, I think there are some people who believe that becoming an atheist makes them a scientist even when they don't know the difference between a fact and a theory.

PS: Geezah: I really liked your answer, except, that I read a lot of posts by people purporting to be atheists who know less about biology than I do. I am a manufacturing engineer which is about as far as you can get from biology and still be in the "sciences".

I therefore disagree about atheists self educating in sciences, I think a lot of them read propaganda by people like Dawkins and think that makes them educated on the subject.

Answer 4

Some people just want to find justification for their beliefs by throwing out "stumper" questions. Then they stupidly consider themselves the victor if the other side can't answer or if the other side quits the debate after talking to wall for so long.

I don't exactly understand how my microwave works, but that doesn't mean a guy who believes the microwave is powered by pixies is automatically correct.

Ironically, I think fundamentalists' false claims about science have driven many atheists to read up on science and become more knowledgeable in subjects like biology.

Answer 5

Don't try to use logic to change a belief that isn't founded on logic.

Most of the time this is sage advice to atheists to quietly roll their eyes at theists rather than to try logic & science against religious belief.

In your case, religious types are assuming that science is the reason that you believe in atheism so they are concluding that they can change your belief (or rattle it a little) with a scientific argument.

In your case they would be wrong.

But don't worry -- they aren't professionals or experts either and their arguments show it.

:-)

Answer 6

The Atheist is in a minority position. Superstitious or religious people (same) think that since we base our lack of belief on not only common sense, but also what little we do know about science, we are claiming to know it all, when in fact most don't. I know I don't, but I am intelligent enough to make a decision based on what little I do know and the absence of a supreme being just makes more sense to me. I also find the tenets of religion to be outright unethical so I would not follow them even if I could convince myself that they are true.

Answer 7

Christians like to ask us random "science" questions so that when the non-scientist atheist gives a lame answer they can sit back and say "see, science doesn't know everything!"

Just let them try and get away with asking their "science" questions in the science section.

Answer 8

nice to see honesty, on your part saying you don't have all the answers

Im a christian and guess what I don't have all the answers either.

People make choices and for you to make a choice on being an atheist, Im sure you just didn't decide one day to be an atheist.

For me I didn't just wake up either and decide today Im going to believe in Jesus.

I believe science and God goes together, for how I believe God didn't snap his fingers and things appeared science had to and still does play a role in the universe.

and its ok not to have all the answers, means were human

Answer 9

Another reason is many of them think that if you claim to be an atheist you have scientific fact backing your position. Another fallacy. The danger in that is that they can quote from books or access web sites written by the intellectuals and use their logic rather than think it out for themselves. Ironically, it's exactly the same thing they accuse Christians of doing.

My opinion of course.

Answer 10

Because they are.

If you look up the definition of scientist you will find that just about all atheist can be defined as such.

you don't have to be schooled in science to be a scientist.

Just observe, learn, guess at what is going on around you.