What are 10 misperceptions that people have about atheists?

1. 84

   gmwilliamsposted 10 years ago

   What are 10 misperceptions that people have about atheists?
   
   

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2. 39

   ChristinSposted 10 years ago

   That atheists have no moral compass
   
   That atheists can't ever have a meaningful or "spiritual" experience
   
   That atheists are going to hell for being "sinners"
   
   That atheists don't care about anyone but themselves because there seems to be a pervasive belief among the religious that you need dogma or a belief in God to be compassionate.
   
   That atheists automatically dislike religious people or seek to force them to also become atheists (I've never seen an "evangelical" atheist in my life)
   
   That atheists are not happy or joyful
   
   That atheists don't value life - there is this idea that because atheists don't believe necessarily that there is any kind of 'afterlife' or 'heaven" that they don't value life here enough.  I think the opposite applies - if this is it - make the most of it.
   
   Atheists are often perceived to be arrogant bullies (some are, most are not)
   
   Atheists want to destroy America with their Godless ways (so wrong)
   
   Atheism is the reason for increased crime (or any bad thing humanity/society wants a scapegoat for)

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   1. 84

      gmwilliamsposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Excellent answer indeed, ChristinS!

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   2. 61

      Kiss andTalesposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      This explanation is enlightening ,I think that there are different reasons and different causes why people do not believe in a superior being other then humans, And I do notice that they have similar concerns that  Christians have
      
      ,

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   3. 0

      christiananrkistposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I agree with most of this list. I guess you have never heard of the 4 horsemen though. richard dawkins, sam harris, christopher hitchens, daniel dennett are the most famous evangelical atheists. doing open debates and writting many books.

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   4. 39

      ChristinSposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      debating and books are not the same as my neighbors who go door to door seeking converts and talking about everyone who is going to hell - I've never seen atheists knocking on doors was my point .

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   5. 84

      gmwilliamsposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      ChristinS, YOU are so correct!  It is the fanatically religious people who believe that THEIR way is the only legitimate way. They WANT others to be THEM. They seem not to be happy unless they try to CONVERT others. Atheists LET LIVE !

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      christiananrkistposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I think actively promoting  a belief is evangelism.if its its only going door - door then Christians for the most part don't evangelize either. also atheists don't say going to hell, but do say religious are ignorant & immoral. same kinda thing.

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   7. 39

      ChristinSposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      There are far more atheists willing to live and let live than the other way around. I've been on both sides of the fence. Many Christians believe they are "instructed by God" to spread their faith. Not Atheists. Sharing ideas is not conversion sorry.

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   8. 0

      christiananrkistposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Dose the live and let live include letting Christians evangelize and not speaking out against it? I agree that less atheists do this, but the 4 people and others i mentioned do far more than just share ideas. theres also many atheists podcasts

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   9. 39

      ChristinSposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      You're complaining about 4 prominent atheists and some podcasts seriously? Should we all just sit down and shut up to keep Christians comfortable? I don't think so. my town has 700 people and 4 churches. I see no atheist centers.

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   10. 0

       christiananrkistposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       im not complaining or saying atheists should shut up. I listen to those podcasts. Im simply stating that there are atheists that evangelize. I dont know why many have trouble admitting it. no atheist centers in your town maybe, they do exist though

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3. 0

   JThomp42posted 10 years ago

   The one and only perception that I think to be important is the definition:
   Atheist:
   a person who denies or disbelieves the existence of a supreme being or beings.
   This says it all.

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   1. 0

      jonnycomelatelyposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I don't deny the existence of a supreme being, although we will never be able to prove it one way or the other.
      What I do deny is the existence of a judgmental god.  Humans do the judging, there is no god to do the job.

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   2. 0

      christiananrkistposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      cant really take the agnostic stance with the christian god since he wants a relationship with us. So he either exists or not. what do you mean by judgmental?

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      jonnycomelatelyposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Huh?  You need me to explain "judgmental?"

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      christiananrkistposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      LOL. im asking because it just  seems you use the word judgmental in a negative context when referring to god, then in the next sentence say humans do the judging. Just curious if judging is wrong or right and if you meant them in the same context.

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   5. 0

      jonnycomelatelyposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Ok, see your point.   I would be considered "atheist" in that I don't accept there is a "god" that sits in judgment of me when I die.  However, I have an open mind about  some kind of "creator/designer" giving rise to our known world.

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   6. 0

      christiananrkistposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Ok. I was just curious. has there been any religions Gods you would consider as logical to what it would take to create everything and what that God would want us to do with the creation?

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4. 82

   dashingscorpioposted 10 years ago

   Probably the biggest misconception is; Atheists lack morals. Another is they are "dangerous" to associate with. This leads some Christians to take it upon themselves to either attempt to convert the atheist or avoid socializing with them. Lastly they can't be truly happy.

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   1. 84

      gmwilliamsposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Many atheists have MORE morals than some religious people.  They are also MORE compassionate. Religious people are more likely to be prejudiced and discriminatory against those whose lifestyle& beliefs are different.

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   2. 82

      dashingscorpioposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I would also add that atheists tend to be more tolerant of how people choose to live . It's more of a "live and let live" attitude. The one exception is if they feel attacked or pressured to change their own way of life by others; religious or not.

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   3. 84

      gmwilliamsposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, indeed. The only person I find to be INTOLERANT are religious people. They LOVE to dip into other people's lives. MAKES me want to b----- slap them!  Atheists are LOVELY people I find. Religious people are the PROBLEMATIC ones.

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   4. 0

      JThomp42posted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Yes.. atheists are such "lovely" people until you bruise their ego by questioning their beliefs.

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   5. 84

      gmwilliamsposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Religious people are worse. Why a person asks them questions or question their beliefs, THEY BECOME SO DEFENSIVE, not offering any logical, conclusive basis for their beliefs.They point to their church, priest/minister, and/or book of reference.

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   6. 39

      ChristinSposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      We don't like to be attacked any more than you do JThomp what's your point? I've seen you get defensive with people you disagree with, so that my friend goes both ways and is a human, not solely an atheist trait.

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   7. 84

      gmwilliamsposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      ChristinS, WELL SAID and SUCCINCTLY STATED !

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   8. 0

      JThomp42posted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Gang up on the Christian time. Oh, how you atheists do this so well. LOL

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   9. 39

      ChristinSposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Mercy, no one is ganging up on you by making a statement that both Christians and Atheists defend themselves.  Lighten up JThomp it's a beautiful day!

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   10. 0

       JThomp42posted 10 years agoin reply to this

       Thank you Christin. I hope you enjoy your day as well.

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5. 61

   Ilona1posted 10 years ago

   I think the greatest misconception about atheists as a group is that they are all the same. That might even be one that they hold about themselves, as some who might call themselves "atheist" are simply "agnostic", or unsure whether there is  such a thing as "god/God".

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   jonnycomelatelyposted 10 years ago

   For me, the biggest misconception is that there is a "breed" called atheist - noun - label.   Atheist is an adjective, describing a line of thought or perception.   You cannot describe what "an atheist" looks like.  There is no common denominator.  As someone else has already pointed out, there are numerous points of view.

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