Atheism Fails to Provide the Comforts of Religion, Theism, God:
It's true that atheism does not dry any tearful eyes and does not relieve anyone's suffering. The problem with criticism of this lies with the fact that it inappropriately categorizes atheism as something which should be expected to dry tears and relieve pain. This is thus a myth because of the incorrect perception of what atheism is, what atheists believe, and what atheism should be doing. Atheism should not be expected to provide comfort or solace; atheist belief systems, however, can. Atheism Fails to Provide the Comforts of Religion
It's true that atheism does not dry any tearful eyes and does not relieve anyone's suffering. The problem with criticism of this lies with the fact that it inappropriately categorizes atheism as something which should be expected to dry tears and relieve pain. This is thus a myth because of the incorrect perception of what atheism is, what atheists believe, and what atheism should be doing. Atheism should not be expected to provide comfort or solace; atheist belief systems, however, can. Atheism Fails to Provide the Comforts of Religion
Atheism Cannot Explain the Origin of the Universe, Nature of Existence:
Technically speaking, this statement is true: atheism does not explain the origin of the universe or even the nature of existence itself. So if it's true, why is it treated here as a myth? The 'myth' part comes in because whoever is saying this is inappropriately categorizing atheism as something which should be expected to explain the universe and of all of existence. This is thus a myth because of the incorrect perception of what atheism is, what atheists believe, and what atheism should do. Atheism Cannot Explain the Origin of the Universe
Technically speaking, this statement is true: atheism does not explain the origin of the universe or even the nature of existence itself. So if it's true, why is it treated here as a myth? The 'myth' part comes in because whoever is saying this is inappropriately categorizing atheism as something which should be expected to explain the universe and of all of existence. This is thus a myth because of the incorrect perception of what atheism is, what atheists believe, and what atheism should do. Atheism Cannot Explain the Origin of the Universe
Atheists Have No Reason to be Moral:
For most religious theists, their religion and god provide the basis for their entire understanding of morality and values. Because of this, they find it inconceivable that atheists who don’t' believe in any gods and who have no religion could possibly have a basis for morality or even understand what true moral behavior really is. Many go further and argue that this is a good reason to reject atheism, that it leads to immoral behavior, that it cannot account for the existence of morality, etc. None of these arguments hold up because they are based on false premises. Atheists Can Be Moral...
For most religious theists, their religion and god provide the basis for their entire understanding of morality and values. Because of this, they find it inconceivable that atheists who don’t' believe in any gods and who have no religion could possibly have a basis for morality or even understand what true moral behavior really is. Many go further and argue that this is a good reason to reject atheism, that it leads to immoral behavior, that it cannot account for the existence of morality, etc. None of these arguments hold up because they are based on false premises. Atheists Can Be Moral...
Atheists Lead Meaningless Lives of Despair Without Love or Beauty:
Theists who cannot defend theism or criticize atheism through logic or evidence are left attacking the alleged implications of atheism. Even if they cannot prove that atheism unreasonable, they hope to prove that the consequences of atheism are so abhorrent that no one will want to take the chance. Among the more popular targets are to claim that atheism leads to hopelessness and despair, that atheism makes life meaningless, or that atheism eliminates reasons to be moral. None of this is true, but even if it were that wouldn't make their theism or religion more likely to be true. Atheists Lead Meaningful Lives...
Theists who cannot defend theism or criticize atheism through logic or evidence are left attacking the alleged implications of atheism. Even if they cannot prove that atheism unreasonable, they hope to prove that the consequences of atheism are so abhorrent that no one will want to take the chance. Among the more popular targets are to claim that atheism leads to hopelessness and despair, that atheism makes life meaningless, or that atheism eliminates reasons to be moral. None of this is true, but even if it were that wouldn't make their theism or religion more likely to be true. Atheists Lead Meaningful Lives...
A Consistent Atheistic World View is Unlivable:
Most myths about atheism focus on just atheism itself and misrepresent it by attributing qualities to atheism that don't apply. Here we have a slight step forward in that we are dealing with a claim that at least involves beliefs beyond atheism — but it's still a myth because it attributes something to all possible atheistic world views. This is only possible by making assumptions about atheism itself; in this case, it's an assumption about materialism. The assumption is wrong because not all atheists are materialists and those who are do not experience these alleged problems. Consistent Atheism is Unlivable
Most myths about atheism focus on just atheism itself and misrepresent it by attributing qualities to atheism that don't apply. Here we have a slight step forward in that we are dealing with a claim that at least involves beliefs beyond atheism — but it's still a myth because it attributes something to all possible atheistic world views. This is only possible by making assumptions about atheism itself; in this case, it's an assumption about materialism. The assumption is wrong because not all atheists are materialists and those who are do not experience these alleged problems. Consistent Atheism is Unlivable
It's Harder to be a Christian Than an Atheist; It's Easy to Not Believe:
Some religious believers, though mostly Christians in my experience, seem to have a need to perceive themselves as being persecuted and oppressed. Despite controlling all the levers of power in the American government, some Christians act like they are the powerless. I believe that this myth is a symptom of that attitude: the perceived need to be the one who is struggling the most and who is having the hardest time. The truth is that being religious in modern America is not a hard task because so much is set up to encourage or reinforce religious beliefs. Atheism is Easier than Christianity
Some religious believers, though mostly Christians in my experience, seem to have a need to perceive themselves as being persecuted and oppressed. Despite controlling all the levers of power in the American government, some Christians act like they are the powerless. I believe that this myth is a symptom of that attitude: the perceived need to be the one who is struggling the most and who is having the hardest time. The truth is that being religious in modern America is not a hard task because so much is set up to encourage or reinforce religious beliefs. Atheism is Easier than Christianity
Abstract Concepts are Immaterial, Depend on God & Theism:
Most atheists are materialists and naturalists, which means that they only accept the existence of a natural world made up of matter and energy. This means not believing in the existence of supernatural beings or anything not produced by matter and energy. For some strange reason, this gives some theists the idea that atheists must therefore be unable to consistently or logically accept that abstract concepts exist because they are not made out of matter. Abstract Concepts Depend on God?
Most atheists are materialists and naturalists, which means that they only accept the existence of a natural world made up of matter and energy. This means not believing in the existence of supernatural beings or anything not produced by matter and energy. For some strange reason, this gives some theists the idea that atheists must therefore be unable to consistently or logically accept that abstract concepts exist because they are not made out of matter. Abstract Concepts Depend on God?
