Do All Atheists Believe the Same Things? Follow the Same Philosophies?
Atheists believe many different things, and they believe in different things as well, but there is a popular misconception among religious theists that all atheists hold certain political, philosophical, or social views in common. This is a mistake because atheism is nothing more or less than the absence of belief in gods; what atheists go on to believe or deny is entirely up to them. No two atheists may share in common anything more than disbelief in gods.
Myth: Atheists Believe in Lots of Unprovable Things, Like Love and Beauty
There are many different ways in which religious theists try to establish some sort of equivalence between themselves and atheists regarding their approach to matters of truth. Atheist critics of theistic religion frequently focus on how religious theists believe the truth of claims which cannot be supported through sound logic or verifiable evidence, so one tactic of theists responding is to claim that atheists believe in some things in a similar manner. This is not quite true.
There are many different ways in which religious theists try to establish some sort of equivalence between themselves and atheists regarding their approach to matters of truth. Atheist critics of theistic religion frequently focus on how religious theists believe the truth of claims which cannot be supported through sound logic or verifiable evidence, so one tactic of theists responding is to claim that atheists believe in some things in a similar manner. This is not quite true.
Myth: All Atheists Believe X: All Atheists are Alike, Believe the Same Things
Although there are a lot of different myths about atheism and atheists, there is one theme which keeps coming up over and over again: the assumption that all atheists share some political position, philosophical system, or attitude. In short, it's assumed that all atheists believe some "X," where X has little or nothing whatsoever to do with atheism. Thus theists try to pigeonhole atheists into a single philosophical straight-jacket, be it humanism, communism, nihilism, objectivism, etc.
Although there are a lot of different myths about atheism and atheists, there is one theme which keeps coming up over and over again: the assumption that all atheists share some political position, philosophical system, or attitude. In short, it's assumed that all atheists believe some "X," where X has little or nothing whatsoever to do with atheism. Thus theists try to pigeonhole atheists into a single philosophical straight-jacket, be it humanism, communism, nihilism, objectivism, etc.
Are Atheists all Cynical? Do Atheists Disbelieve Everything They Hear?
It's not common for atheists to be openly described as cynical, or at least inherently cynical, but this seem to be a common attitude which people have about atheists. When atheists appear on TV or in the movies, it's pretty normal for them to be cynical, broken people who have "lost their faith." God failed them and now they distrust everyone and everything around them. Thus this myth is closely linked to the myth that people are atheists after feeling that God didn't do something for them.
It's not common for atheists to be openly described as cynical, or at least inherently cynical, but this seem to be a common attitude which people have about atheists. When atheists appear on TV or in the movies, it's pretty normal for them to be cynical, broken people who have "lost their faith." God failed them and now they distrust everyone and everything around them. Thus this myth is closely linked to the myth that people are atheists after feeling that God didn't do something for them.
Myth: Atheists Believe In Nothing: Don't Atheists Care About Anything?
This question is based upon a misunderstanding of what atheism is. Many theists think that atheists don't believe in anything at all; evidently, we have no goals, no ideals, and no beliefs whatsoever. Such theists cannot understand how it could be otherwise because their beliefs in and about their god often constitute the most important parts of their lives and are especially important when it comes to their goals, ideals, morality, etc. Without their god, then, those things can't exist.
This question is based upon a misunderstanding of what atheism is. Many theists think that atheists don't believe in anything at all; evidently, we have no goals, no ideals, and no beliefs whatsoever. Such theists cannot understand how it could be otherwise because their beliefs in and about their god often constitute the most important parts of their lives and are especially important when it comes to their goals, ideals, morality, etc. Without their god, then, those things can't exist.
Myth: Atheism is Just a Phase You're Going Through, Atheism for the Immature
This sort of question is asked much more often of young atheists than of adults, perhaps because young people do go through a number of 'phases' during which they explore various ideas, philosophies, and positions. Although the term 'phase' may be used here in a derogatory manner, it shouldn't be. There is nothing wrong with such exploration and experimentation, so long as it is recognized and accepted as such. If someone is going through an 'atheism' phase, what's wrong with that?
This sort of question is asked much more often of young atheists than of adults, perhaps because young people do go through a number of 'phases' during which they explore various ideas, philosophies, and positions. Although the term 'phase' may be used here in a derogatory manner, it shouldn't be. There is nothing wrong with such exploration and experimentation, so long as it is recognized and accepted as such. If someone is going through an 'atheism' phase, what's wrong with that?