A University of Minnesota study published in 2006 affirmed what over 4 decades of Gallup and similar polls have told us: that atheists are the most despised group in America. That is, when people were surveyed, the one group identified by nearly half of respondents as "not sharing my view of America" was atheists. This number far outstripped any other religious or cultural group. (A short video can be seen here.)
The American Christian media (yes, I include Fox News) takes great joy in thumping atheists. It's a safe area where Christians can all agree. And the language becomes especially vitriolic when a Constitutional question, such as prayer in public school, arises. One can hardly blame them: it's the easiest way to rally the troops.
Certainly there have been some famous and popular atheists, tho the degree to which they trumpeted their atheism varies. Katherine Hepburn, Carl Sagan, and Kurt Vonnegut, and Isaac Asimov are among the heavy-hitters in the atheist line-up. But it seems that, in large parts of America, being an open atheist is to be a scorn magnet.
Here are a few popular misconceptions that I feel fuel this anti-atheist fire:
1. Atheists don't grapple with spiritual issues.
There seems to be this idea afoot that atheists spring from the womb with no spiritual curiosity whatever, and that their first words are "there is no God." This is simply silly. The atheists (or as I prefer, "aspiritual" people) I've known (myself included) have all grappled with spiritual concepts, and have sought, or at least explored, spiritual ideas. In a nation where spiritual messages are so prevalent as to be on the very currency, it would be nearly impossible to grow up without at least being acquainted with the idea of God. Fact is, many atheists have tried, at one time or another, to believe in something. I have, and with great pressure on me to do so. When I quit drinking, I was told I "must find a spiritual solution." So I looked. I prayed. I read. I meditated. It just felt after awhile as if I were playing ping-pong against the drapes. Or worse: every time something good happened, I felt blessed, and when adversity struck, I felt cursed. I tried various ideas of a "Higher Power," including deceased friends and relatives. After several years and the loss of our twin boys at 22 weeks gestation, I just stopped. And strangely, I felt much better NOT trying each day to determine which virgin to throw into which volcano.
2. Atheists have no morals.
What silliness. Athesists have s strong a moral framework as anyone, it's just not grounded in the fear of a celestial being's wrath, or in punishment via an afterlife. Atheists' morals, I have found, tend to be quite similar to those reflected in the laws and customs of the land. While I am sure, some are moral relativists (one man's good is another's evil), I am equalluy certain that horrific and violent acts have been committed by those identifying themselves proudly as believers. Secular humanism is not amorality. In fact, the Golden Rule, is the perfect example of secular humanism in action. One should treat others with respect and compassion, not out of fear of a vengeful God, but out of a desire to be treated in kind. Sounds simple, right?
3. Atheists are getting a "free pass."
Somehow there has evolved this notion that, "If I have to go thru my day worrying about what God expects of me, so should you." But if the faithful are correct, and the atheists are wrong, that vengeful God we've heard so much about will ensure that no free passes are issued. So why all the hubbub, bub?
4. Atheists are out to destroy America.
This is less of an argument that simple fear mongering. If you want to rile up the faithful, tell them that their very way of life is under seige. Tell them there is a "War on Christmass." Tell them that if we actually do as the Founders intended and separate church and state, the earth itself will open and swallow us in a churning river of fire. Whenever it is suggested that the phrase "In God We Trust" be removed from U.S. currency, this argument resurfaces. Nevermind the fact that Americans did just fine without that phrase on our currency prior to 1957.
5. Atheists are untrustworthy.
This was the main finding of the Minnesota study: people don't trust atheists. Of course, that's only if people KNOW they're atheists. Your mechanic, your dentist, your kid's teacher might all be atheists, but if they're not wearing their Atheist Softball League shirts, you might not know it. We interact with people of different faiths, political affiliatios, and personal philosophies daily. Would you stop taking your car to an atheist mechanic? Some would. I'd prefer to take mine to a comptent mechanic who charges a fair price--Christian, Jew, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Shintoist, atheist, or whatever.
Would be interested in hearing your ideas on the topic...
I've always wondered why the 12 step program encourages so strongly the notion of a higher power. It seems to me that you're setting up those in recovery to fall even further if they stumble and then feel as though they've let down themselves AND their God. (Plus, as a person raised Baptist - even I find the fervent "born-agains" to be borderline annoying.)
Mr. O'Hay, I hope I have to wait A LONG time for you to die and go to hell so that I can steal this line, "It just felt after awhile as if I were playing ping-pong against the drapes."
(Damn it, now I have to repent for thinking that... believing is tough work sometimes, maybe you're on to something.)
Posted by: Fred | February 02, 2012 at 11:12 AM
Yeh, 12-Step recovery strongly encourages a HP to get the addict-alcoholic to step out of him/herself and ask "how can I help others?" rather than "what's in this for me?" It's an effective tool to wean one from the doctrine of instant gratification. It wasn't sustainable for me, for some of the reasons you mention. I constantly felt I was "doing this wrong" because when I DID pray, I didn't see the benefits of recovery that others claimed to experience.
You're welcome to the ping-pong line. I got it from a friend of mine years ago. You needn't wait until my demise to use it.
Posted by: Charlie | February 02, 2012 at 11:30 AM
Some of us place our faith in each other. Some of us place our faith in a God.
The former seems like a better bet to me.
Posted by: Jim | February 02, 2012 at 05:18 PM
I always thought agnostics were the most hated...
"How can you trust a man who wears both a belt and suspenders? The man can't even trust his own pants..."
great article, Charlie... I wrote a much longer response, in my head.
Posted by: rachel | February 03, 2012 at 09:47 AM
Great post!!!
Posted by: donna | February 03, 2012 at 06:34 PM
When my mom got off drugs in the early 90s, she did the whole 12 step process and was "all about God"(her words, not mine) for a while. Honestly, the things she did during that time frame were crazier than when she was on drugs.I think my whole family was relieved when she gave it up and went back to her usual cranky self, but without the drugs.
Honestly, I think most Christians have got it wrong. I believe in God, and Jesus, but I also believe in the power of the Universe, and Karma, and a whole lot of other things that most Christians in this country don't. I don't think God minds so much.
I know several people who are atheist/aspiritual,and I like them a helluva lot more than most people that I went to church with as a teenager.
Also, #3 on your list made me laugh loudly.
Posted by: Nicole | February 03, 2012 at 08:41 PM