Debunking Atheist Stereotypes - Part 2

In my previous post, I discussed some of the stereotypes that exist against atheists, those who don’t believe in deities or gods. This is a further examination of more stereotypes that are present and accusations that are often slung at atheists.

Atheists are just miserable because they don’t have faith

Photo via Flickr user ericingrum

Also known as: “it’s better to believe in something than to believe in nothing,” “you have to believe in something bigger than just us or else you would feel so lonely,” and “your life must be so empty and lonely without [a] god. This is the theory that one can’t be happy without faith, or as happy as someone with faith. While it’s true that atheists do believe that there is nothing “bigger” out there and that death is just that…death, that doesn’t make us lonely, sad, miserable people for lack of a faith. We do believe in things that are bigger than us – community, kindness, love, a faith in humanity, the beauty in the reality of the universe. There is so much happiness in this world that does not require belief in deities to be experienced that it’s impossible for an atheist to be miserable simply because they do not believe in gods.

Atheism is just another religion/belief.

Also known as: “It takes as much faith to say there’s no God as it does to believe in Him.” This one really irks a lot of atheists that I know, because it’s essentially the same as a white person saying to a Person of Color, “being colored is just like being white, isn’t it?” The oppression and rejection that atheists face is basically nullified with this “religion-blind” statement, making atheism acceptable only because it’s just another belief, to many theists.

To put it in layman’s terms, most people can probably agree that unicorns are 100% imaginary. But that lack of belief in unicorns wouldn’t be called an article of faith, because it’s a logical conclusion based on careful observations about the world as we know it. Such is atheism – a series of tests, observations, and logical conclusions based on careful observations about the world as we know it that lead atheists to think that gods 100% do not exist. These conclusions about unicorns and gods are both conclusions, not beliefs.

Then there’s the problem when atheists say, “I believe in evolution” or “I believe in something bigger than myself,” which leads to theists saying, “See? You have beliefs just like I do” and “You can’t judge my beliefs if you have beliefs.” This is the skewing of the word belief. Theism and core values are two separate concepts, and shouldn’t be mistaken. Here, as with most things, context is key.

Atheists are protected by the 1st Amendment and are just trying to play the victim card.

Image via Flickr user Anosmia

Also known as: “you’re just trying to get attention,” “you’re not really discriminated against,” “atheists were never enslaved or oppressed.” Atheists, especially atheist activists, get this one, or variations of this one, all the time. Sure, the 1st Amendment has been used to define the separation of church and state, the secularization of government, and protects the freedom of religion. Atheists are still in the overwhelming minority in the United States, yet come under fierce judgment and attack for their personal beliefs, not religious beliefs. We’re told that our activism takes away from “real” discrimination faced by LGBT communities and People of Color.

While atheists will indeed never face the oppression of racism and homophobia, or economic oppression, being protected by the Constitution doesn’t mean that people don’t do illegal things. It’s illegal for the U.S. military to evangelize soldiers and force them to attend church, but they do. Religious groups advertise in venues that atheist organizations are not permitted to, because atheism is still viewed as too controversial.” Look at the lawsuits that are regularly filed by the Freedom From Religion Foundation or Americans United for Separation of Church and State to fight against public school prayers and the teaching of creationism and promotion of faith in schools. Atheists may win a good number of lawsuits because the law is on their side, but they are fighting against real oppression.

Also, nowhere in our Constitution is bigotry illegal. Teenagers have been ostracized and threatened with brutal violence for getting prayer banners taken down in public schools, advertising for secular student groups, and asking schools to omit graduation prayers. As I said in my previous article, atheists are the single most distrusted minority in the United States, a multifaith nation dominated by Christian ideals.

If an atheist were to be beaten up, you wouldn’t say “there are laws protecting you, quit whining.” Atheists are beaten up regularly -forced to hide their identities in fear of rejection, discriminated against in schools and businesses. Atheists may never know the discrimination experienced by others, but that fact does not negate the discrimination they experience.

Have you seen these stereotypes in action? What are your thoughts? Leave us comments below!