Topic: 10 Myths and Truths about Ateism (Read 677 times)

Dicoll · « **on:** December 26, 2006, 09:24:15 AM »

SEVERAL POLLS indicate that the term "atheism" has acquired such an extraordinary stigma in the United States that being an atheist is now a perfect impediment to a career in politics (in a way that being black, Muslim or homosexual is not). According to a recent Newsweek poll, only 37% of Americans would vote for an otherwise qualified atheist for president.

Atheists are often imagined to be intolerant, immoral, depressed, blind to the beauty of nature and dogmatically closed to evidence of the supernatural.

Even John Locke, one of the great patriarchs of the Enlightenment, believed that atheism was "not at all to be tolerated" because, he said, "promises, covenants and oaths, which are the bonds of human societies, can have no hold upon an atheist."

That was more than 300 years ago. But in the United States today, little seems to have changed. A remarkable 87% of the population claims "never to doubt" the existence of God; fewer than 10% identify themselves as atheists

The Sasquatch · « **Reply #1 on:** January 04, 2007, 01:03:41 PM »

First, a comment:

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"Given that we know that atheists are ofte among the most intelligent and scientifically literate people in any society, it seems important to deflate the myths that prevent them from playing a larger role in our national discourse."

You are right. Atheists are often among the most intelligent, the most creative, the most scientifically literalte, and the most caring and moral people in any society, and it is very important to deflate myths that hinder their progress in society. But the same goes for Christians. The same goes for Bhuddists, Hindus, Muslims, remote tribes of Amazonian narcoleptic nature-worshipers, and people in any other group you can think of. People can be very very smart or very very dumb, and this rings true regardless of your worldview.

Do you have a reason to believe that Atheists are more intelligent and scientifically literate that people of faith?

Regardless of comparative intelligence, we should always deflate myths about people, especially when those myths are false. As a Christian, I can proudly say that I would not hesitate to vote a qualified atheist into office. However, since my personal definition of "qualified" includes the politician's approach to issues of faith, many professed atheists don't make the cut as far as I am concerned; not because they are atheists, but because they believe, with nigh on a Neitzchian uber-mench mentality, in the supremacy of atheistic thought to the detriment of all others. Many alleged Christian (and other religious) politicans fail to meet my standard as well, so don't get your panties in a bunch.

I think we can do away with false ideals that surround any group of people. Now, Let's go through the list the article provides:

from the article:

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"1) Atheists believe that life is meaningless.

On the contrary, religious people often worry that life is meaningless and imagine that it can only be redeemed by the promise of eternal happiness beyond the grave. Atheists tend to be quite sure that life is precious. Life is imbued with meaning by being really and fully lived. Our relationships with those we love are meaningful now; they need not last forever to be made so. Atheists tend to find this fear of meaninglessness

The Sasquatch · « **Reply #2 on:** January 04, 2007, 01:04:14 PM »

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The Sasquatch · « **Reply #3 on:** January 04, 2007, 01:05:05 PM »

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Author Topic: 10 Myths and Truths about Ateism (Read 677 times)

Dicoll

10 Myths and Truths about Ateism

The Sasquatch

Re: 10 Myths and Truths about Ateism

The Sasquatch

Re: 10 Myths and Truths about Ateism

The Sasquatch

Re: 10 Myths and Truths about Ateism