Everyone has been stereotyped at one point or another and atheists are no exception. The term "atheist" comes with prejudices against them, some of them valid, while others not so much. Stereotypes are often generally true, but that still doesn't stop it from being exaggerated. Below are a list of stereotypes that atheists are often placed into and my opinion as to the validity of the stereotype.
Atheists are generally naturalists
True. Many people are not limited to their belief in God. The people who do make the leap over the pond to atheism only have done so as a result of accepting naturalism as the only proven belief system that exists. Yes, not all atheists are naturalist. There are religious atheists, such as Buddhists, and spiritual atheists. However, these are a miniority.
Atheists generally accept the scientific consensus of the origin of the universe, life, and climate change
True. Even the spiritual atheists don't confuse spirituality with science. The current scientific consensus is built on decades of evidence. The theories themselves have been modified over time, but they ultimately seem to present an origin that doesn't involve a god. Granted, there's more than one interpretation of these theories, but even among scientists, atheism remains a deep seated belief. There are a few atheists that haven't accepted some of these theories, but again, they remain a miniority.
Atheists are generally politically liberal
True. Most atheists are for social freedom even if a lifestyIe is unhealthy or socially unacceptable. Atheists advocate the separation of church and state and believe that this separation justifies the gay rights movement, feminism, and reproductive rights. On an economic standpoint, atheists believe that government should be used to prevent companies from growing too big and that health care is a right. However, it's not too uncommon for atheists to believe in the free market and proclaim themselves to be libertarians. Conservative atheists that want a regulated society on the other hand are far less common.
Atheists are generally moral relativists
True. Atheists recognize that morality has changed throughout time and use this to show that there is no objective standard for morality.
Atheists generally believe in determinism and not free will
Somewhat false. There are definitely atheists that believe in determinism and not free will, but you'll find some that believe in both, or free will and not determinism, or neither.
Atheists generally believe there is no purpose in life
Somewhat true. Although it's not unheard of that an atheist is an absurdist, there are many atheists that believe that there is a purpose in this life. Many common concerns with atheists are the quality of life, freedom, and equality.
Atheists are nihilists
False. Most atheists do believe in nature at least and do not believe this life is an illusion.
Atheists believe there is no god
Somewhat false. Most atheists are weak atheists who simply do not believe in a god. Strong atheists believe there is no god and are less common and even then, most atheists, both strong and weak, can still also be cIassified as agnostics, in that they don't know that there is or isn't a god, but simply don't believe or believe there is none. Atheists who claim to know there is no god are very rare.
Atheists are religioiusas atheism is a religion
False. Not only is the stereotype false, but the assertion with it is also false. There is little objectivity to atheism, other than the nonexistence of gods. Every other objective notion of atheism is defined by the atheist himself. Yes, atheists can be stereotyped into a group, but so can conservatives and blacks.
Atheists secretly believe in God especially if they're in trouble
Undetermined. This belief comes from the expression, "There are no atheists in foxholes." It is impossible to know the mind of an atheist when they're in trouble.
Atheists hate God
It depends. Most atheists upon reading the Bible would say that God described in the Bible is an evil being. However, most atheists maintain that if God exists, there would be no evil since he is good. So, when it comes to the Abrahamic God, it's true. When it comes to any monotheistic God, it's false.
Atheists hate America
Mostly true. Atheists tend to not be American and generally foreigners tend to be more likely to hate America.
Atheists are mainly young
Mostly true. Atheism exists in many young people, particularly in the Western world. Generally as people get closer to death, atheism disappears.
Atheists are mostly men
Mostly true. Women are more religious than men, which means that men are probably more likely to be atheists.
Atheists are mostly European
Mostly true. Atheists consist of only roughly 9% of the population in the United States where as in some European countries like France, they consist of almost a third of the population.
Atheists are militant fundamentalists
Mostly false. Atheists do not have a set of fundamental issues that they have to agree on to be qualified as an atheist.
Atheists are aggressive
Mostly true. Atheists do not like being preached to and will show intolerance to people who do. They will call evangelicals names and yell at them.
Atheists are more superstitious
It depends. Christians rely on a lot of superstitutions such as prayer and communion. However, atheists are more likely to believe in other pseudosciences and superstitions according to Baylor University.
Atheists are less intelligent than Christians
Mostly false. This stereotype, like many others already mentioned it, is advanced by evangelical Christians. If IQ is taken as a standard of intelligence, then that would mean atheists, by country, are more intelligent than theists. Obviously, there are exceptions.
Atheists are more rebellious and more likely to engage in sin
Mostly true. Atheists do not accept tradition generally and as a result, go against the accepted way of behaving. Generally, this is considered a sin by many Christians. However, even from a strictly moral standpoint that has nothing to do with religion, atheists are more likely to believe that abortion, homosexuality, and extramarital sex is acceptable. Atheists are also more likely to have long hair for men and short hair for women, have tattoos and body piercings, and be unshaven.
Atheists are less likely to volunteer and give to charity
True. Studies have shown this.
Ultimately, your stereotypical atheist looks like this:
Meanwhile, your stereotypical theist looks like this "do-gooder":
Hidely ho neighborino!
I realize that I made a lot of assertions without much statistical evidence backing up some claims. If you have any evidence that supports or contradicts one of my claims, please post them.
Well, do you fit the mold of a stereotypical atheist? Do you disagree with my opinion? What to you is a stereotypical atheist?
I'm about a little less than 50%. I'm a naturalist, but I'm also conservative.
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