10 egregious myths the religious perpetuate about atheists, debunked

[cbayer]

http://www.salon.com/2015/04/21/10_egregious_myths_the_religious_perpetuate_about_atheists_debunked_partner/

TUESDAY, APR 21, 2015 02:15 AM MDT

Nonbelievers do not lack a basic moral code -- despite what the likes of David Brooks might have you believe

AMANDA MARCOTTE, ALTERNET


David Brooks (Credit: AP/Nam Y. Huh)

This article originally appeared on AlterNet.

AlterNet In a regular poll conducted by political scientists Robert Putnam and David Campbell on American political attitudes, atheists recently lost their spot as as the most disliked group in America to the Tea Party. Still, number two is simply way too high in the unpopularity rankings for a group of people who just happen to spend Sunday mornings in bed instead of in church. Polling data shows that nearly half of Americans would disapprove if their child married an atheist and nearly 40 percent of Americans don’t see atheists as sharing their vision of American society, numbers that outstripped similar prejudices toward Muslims and African Americans.

Of course, the real reason atheists are so hated has little to do with jealousy for all their free time, but largely because most Americans are better acquainted with myths than with the realities of atheists’ lives. Unfortunately, atheists often have these myths tossed in their faces, usually by believers who would rather talk about what they heard atheists are like rather than uncomfortable subjects such as the lack of proof for any gods.

These myths do more than hurt atheists. They also harm the basic religious freedoms of all Americans, regardless of their beliefs. Religious freedom and tolerance don’t mean much if they can’t be expanded to include those without religion. With that in mind, here’s 10 of the ugliest myths about atheists, debunked:

1) There are no atheists in foxholes. There are many variations on this myth, but the basic idea behind it is that atheism is a luxury of the problem-free, and as soon as they feel fear or weakness, atheists will run straight into the arms of religion. This myth irritates atheists, because it tries to make a virtue out of preying on people’s weaknesses in order to sell them a lie. If you heard a marketer brag that he targets people who’ve been diagnosed with terminal illnesses because they’re easier targets, or a guy say he likes to cruise funerals because grieving women are easier to pick up, you’d think that person had no morals at all. But targeting people in moments of weakness to sell them religion is regarded as a normal and even virtuous strategy for proselytizing.

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[Faux pas]

1. Kickin'

[trotsky]

2. The scary thing is, I think I've heard each and every one of those voiced by a DUer at least once.

Some from active posters right here in this group, as a matter of fact, cbayer.

[skepticscott]

3. And some of those DUers aren't even religious

Or at least, they CLAIM not to be.

But, of course, the internet is swarming with "thank God I'm not like THOSE atheists" atheists, and DU is no exception.