Everyone is Religious, Worships Something: Atheists Worship Too
Many religious theists insist that everyone worships something: they have some sort of god and some sort of religion. Because of the central importance of their religion and worship to their own lives, they assume that atheists not only have a religion and worship something, but also that these things hold a similarly central position in atheists' lives. There are a lot of suggested candidates for what atheists must worship, but none of them are true because the premise itself is false.
Myth: Atheists are Hedonists Who Worship Sex, Physical Pleasure, Comfort
Is it true that atheists are all sex-crazed maniacs who care only about getting high? That's the implication of the popular myth that atheists are hedonists who have replaced the proper worship of the True God with worship of physical pleasures. There is no evidence that atheists are more likely to use or abuse drugs, nor is there any evidence that atheists "worship" physical pleasures like sex, no matter how loosely the term is defined. There is simply no empirical basis for this myth.
Is it true that atheists are all sex-crazed maniacs who care only about getting high? That's the implication of the popular myth that atheists are hedonists who have replaced the proper worship of the True God with worship of physical pleasures. There is no evidence that atheists are more likely to use or abuse drugs, nor is there any evidence that atheists "worship" physical pleasures like sex, no matter how loosely the term is defined. There is simply no empirical basis for this myth.
Myth: Atheists Are Materialistic & Worship Money, Material Goods, Comforts
The belief that atheists are more materialistic than theists isn't one that is founded on any evidence, but it is a popular one. A survey done by researchers in the University of Minnesota’s department of sociology found that atheists are the most despised and distrusted minority in America. The most popular reasons cited were "moral indiscretions" like criminal behavior, rampant materialism, and cultural elitism. Evidently being theistic and religious prevents such problems, but since when?
The belief that atheists are more materialistic than theists isn't one that is founded on any evidence, but it is a popular one. A survey done by researchers in the University of Minnesota’s department of sociology found that atheists are the most despised and distrusted minority in America. The most popular reasons cited were "moral indiscretions" like criminal behavior, rampant materialism, and cultural elitism. Evidently being theistic and religious prevents such problems, but since when?
Myth: Atheists Worship Science, Evolution is Atheists' Creed, Darwin a Prophet
Religious theists who believe that everyone worships something and has some sort of religion will at times conclude that atheists' religion must be science. Science is not only secular and godless, but has also been responsible for overturning many of the myths, doctrines, and beliefs which have been fundamental to theistic religions. Science conflicts with religions not because it is a religion itself, but because religions typically conflict with reality. No one worships science, though.
Religious theists who believe that everyone worships something and has some sort of religion will at times conclude that atheists' religion must be science. Science is not only secular and godless, but has also been responsible for overturning many of the myths, doctrines, and beliefs which have been fundamental to theistic religions. Science conflicts with religions not because it is a religion itself, but because religions typically conflict with reality. No one worships science, though.
Myth: Religion is Central to Human Existence, Everyone Is Religious
For some religious theists, their religion and religious beliefs are so important to them that they can't imagine anyone being without a religion of some sort. For such people, religion occupies such a fundamental and necessary aspect of how they live that they insist the same must be true of everyone. Thus everyone must have a religion of some sort and it's impossible for anyone to live out one. This includes irreligious atheists who insist that they really don't have any religion.
For some religious theists, their religion and religious beliefs are so important to them that they can't imagine anyone being without a religion of some sort. For such people, religion occupies such a fundamental and necessary aspect of how they live that they insist the same must be true of everyone. Thus everyone must have a religion of some sort and it's impossible for anyone to live out one. This includes irreligious atheists who insist that they really don't have any religion.
Defining Atheism as Not Worshipping Gods: Atheism Is About Worship, Not Belief?
Some have argued that rather than define atheism as the absence of belief in gods, it makes more sense to define atheism as not worshipping any gods. There are advantages and disadvantages to this idea. A principle advantage is the fact that there is no need to go through contortions when it comes to apparently "real" gods, like a tree or Caesar. A principle disadvantage is the fact that it allows for a person to be an atheist but to believe that some god exists — an apparent contradiction.
Some have argued that rather than define atheism as the absence of belief in gods, it makes more sense to define atheism as not worshipping any gods. There are advantages and disadvantages to this idea. A principle advantage is the fact that there is no need to go through contortions when it comes to apparently "real" gods, like a tree or Caesar. A principle disadvantage is the fact that it allows for a person to be an atheist but to believe that some god exists — an apparent contradiction.
Atheism & Worship: Do Atheists Worship Anything?
This myth runs along lines very similar to the claim that all atheists have faith like theists, and sometimes this idea is also expressed by claiming that 'atheism is a religion.' Since some theists cannot imagine living their life without worshipping their god, they also cannot imagine atheists living without worshipping something, like money or themselves.
This myth runs along lines very similar to the claim that all atheists have faith like theists, and sometimes this idea is also expressed by claiming that 'atheism is a religion.' Since some theists cannot imagine living their life without worshipping their god, they also cannot imagine atheists living without worshipping something, like money or themselves.
Atheism & Satan: Do Atheists Worship Satan? Do Atheists Serve Satan?
Although it's not as common as it once was, there are still people who believe that atheists both believe in and worship Satan, the evil opponent of God. This is an almost literal demonization of atheists, since the primary servants of Satan are always depicted as literal demons. Describing atheists in this manner makes it easy to dismiss them and whatever they say - after all, it would be wrong for a true and faithful follower of God to pay any attention to the lies of Satan's minions.
Although it's not as common as it once was, there are still people who believe that atheists both believe in and worship Satan, the evil opponent of God. This is an almost literal demonization of atheists, since the primary servants of Satan are always depicted as literal demons. Describing atheists in this manner makes it easy to dismiss them and whatever they say - after all, it would be wrong for a true and faithful follower of God to pay any attention to the lies of Satan's minions.
Myth: We All Worship Something Larger, So Atheists Worship Humanity
The idea that atheists worship themselves in any manner like religious theists worship their god is absurd enough to dispense with quickly. Perhaps because of this some religious theists think it is easier to claim that atheists worship something similar, but larger: all of humanity, the human intellect, or perhaps human government. If everyone has a religion and everyone worships something, then these must seem like plausible candidates. This is just a myth, though, and is not true.
The idea that atheists worship themselves in any manner like religious theists worship their god is absurd enough to dispense with quickly. Perhaps because of this some religious theists think it is easier to claim that atheists worship something similar, but larger: all of humanity, the human intellect, or perhaps human government. If everyone has a religion and everyone worships something, then these must seem like plausible candidates. This is just a myth, though, and is not true.
Atheists Worship Themselves: Atheists Replace the True God with Themselves
Religious theists know that atheists aren't part of their religion and don't worship their god, but a number of religious theists seem to have trouble imagining how a person could be without any religion at all and not worship any sort of god. It's commonly assumed then that atheists replace the 'true god' with something else, and the most popular alleged replacement is the atheist themselves. Thus we have the commonly repeated myth that atheists worship themselves.
Religious theists know that atheists aren't part of their religion and don't worship their god, but a number of religious theists seem to have trouble imagining how a person could be without any religion at all and not worship any sort of god. It's commonly assumed then that atheists replace the 'true god' with something else, and the most popular alleged replacement is the atheist themselves. Thus we have the commonly repeated myth that atheists worship themselves.