Atheism & Religious Experience: Atheists Don't Know True Religion
Atheists have constructed many trenchant critiques of both religion and theism over the years. Some of these critiques can be responded to reasonably, but others are much more difficult to address in anything like an adequate manner. Sometimes, it may be easier to simply find a way to dismiss atheists entirely by claiming that atheists have never had any of the relevant and necessary experiences to teach them about God and religion. If they did, they would understand and believe.
Myth: Atheists Deny God Because That Accepts Something Smarter Than Them
Most studies show a strong correlation between education and atheism: the more education a person has, the less religious they become and even less theistic. Some religious theists, seeking a way to attack atheism, try to use this against atheists by claiming that atheists' intelligence is a reason for their disbelief not because they really do know more, but because they are too arrogant. Atheists, according to this myth, don't want to admit the existence of a god smarter than they are.
Most studies show a strong correlation between education and atheism: the more education a person has, the less religious they become and even less theistic. Some religious theists, seeking a way to attack atheism, try to use this against atheists by claiming that atheists' intelligence is a reason for their disbelief not because they really do know more, but because they are too arrogant. Atheists, according to this myth, don't want to admit the existence of a god smarter than they are.
Myth: Scientific Atheists Should Experiment with Religion, Theism
Stated in this fashion, this isn't a very common myth - not too many Christians argue that it would be a valid "experiment" to pretend to be a Christian in order to see what happens. However, the idea of acting as though one believes something does play a role in the very popular Pascal's Wager argument, so acceptance of the validity of this myth may be more widespread. At the very least, it may be that Christians would be sympathetic to believing it and this is reason enough to address it.
Stated in this fashion, this isn't a very common myth - not too many Christians argue that it would be a valid "experiment" to pretend to be a Christian in order to see what happens. However, the idea of acting as though one believes something does play a role in the very popular Pascal's Wager argument, so acceptance of the validity of this myth may be more widespread. At the very least, it may be that Christians would be sympathetic to believing it and this is reason enough to address it.
Myth: Atheists Have Just Never Heard an Intelligent Defense of Christianity
Christians who are completely caught up in their religious beliefs sometimes have trouble understanding why someone else would fail to agree with them. They regard their religion, doctrines, and traditions as so obviously true that it's inconceivable that a person could take a serious look at them without ultimately accepting them. Assuming that the atheist isn't an idiot or being perverse, then the most viable conclusion to draw from their disbelief is that they are ignorant of the facts.
Christians who are completely caught up in their religious beliefs sometimes have trouble understanding why someone else would fail to agree with them. They regard their religion, doctrines, and traditions as so obviously true that it's inconceivable that a person could take a serious look at them without ultimately accepting them. Assuming that the atheist isn't an idiot or being perverse, then the most viable conclusion to draw from their disbelief is that they are ignorant of the facts.
Myth: Atheists are Fools who Say in their Heart 'There is no God'
Christians seem to love to quote the above verse from Psalms. Sometimes, I think this verse is popular because it allows them to call atheists "fools" and imagine that they can avoid taking responsibility for doing so - after all, they are just quoting the Bible so it's not really them saying it, right? Even worse is the part they don't quote - but not because they don't agree with it. They often do, but I don't think they want to be caught saying it directly because that's harder to defend.
Christians seem to love to quote the above verse from Psalms. Sometimes, I think this verse is popular because it allows them to call atheists "fools" and imagine that they can avoid taking responsibility for doing so - after all, they are just quoting the Bible so it's not really them saying it, right? Even worse is the part they don't quote - but not because they don't agree with it. They often do, but I don't think they want to be caught saying it directly because that's harder to defend.
Atheists Have Never Tried to Find God, Don't Try to Find God
If atheists' nonbelief is based on a rational, sober assessment of the evidence, reaching the conclusion that belief in gods is unreasonable, this challenges a religion's claims to truths as well as the assumption that theism is rational. Not all adherents of theistic religions recognize the significance of the challenge posed by the mere existence of atheists, but many do and this may why they have tried to come up with many excuses for why atheists don't believe.
If atheists' nonbelief is based on a rational, sober assessment of the evidence, reaching the conclusion that belief in gods is unreasonable, this challenges a religion's claims to truths as well as the assumption that theism is rational. Not all adherents of theistic religions recognize the significance of the challenge posed by the mere existence of atheists, but many do and this may why they have tried to come up with many excuses for why atheists don't believe.
Myth: Atheists Fear they are Too Sinful to be Accepted by God, Fear Judgment
This myth is likely to come from a Christian, particularly a Protestant. The idea that all human beings are depraved sinners who know that they are depraved sinners, unworthy of forgiveness or eternal life, has long been an important aspect of Christian doctrine. God, however, is loving and generous enough to forgive us despite how horrible we are. If a Protestant Christian sees this as central to their own life, they may assume that it's central to others' lives as well.
This myth is likely to come from a Christian, particularly a Protestant. The idea that all human beings are depraved sinners who know that they are depraved sinners, unworthy of forgiveness or eternal life, has long been an important aspect of Christian doctrine. God, however, is loving and generous enough to forgive us despite how horrible we are. If a Protestant Christian sees this as central to their own life, they may assume that it's central to others' lives as well.
Myth: Atheists Would Believe if they Knew God, Experience God's Love
Many myths which religious theists generally, and Christians in particular, hold about atheists depend on the assumption that atheists don't really understand religion. When it is pointed out that most atheists used to be religious believers, people attempt to salvage their myths by arguing that the atheist was never a "real" believer. Christians, for example, will claim that no real Christian, having personally experienced God and Jesus, would ever leave Christianity.
Many myths which religious theists generally, and Christians in particular, hold about atheists depend on the assumption that atheists don't really understand religion. When it is pointed out that most atheists used to be religious believers, people attempt to salvage their myths by arguing that the atheist was never a "real" believer. Christians, for example, will claim that no real Christian, having personally experienced God and Jesus, would ever leave Christianity.
Myth: Atheism is Caused by False Religion, Bad Experiences with Bad Religions
Religious theists sometimes try to dismiss atheism and atheists by claiming that people only become atheists due to bad experiences as kids with false or bad religions. This myth allows theists to imagine that atheists' experiences with 'false' religion has nothing to do with their own "true" religion, that atheistic critiques of religion don't really impact their own religion, and that if atheists only learned about "true" religion then they would abandon their atheism.
Religious theists sometimes try to dismiss atheism and atheists by claiming that people only become atheists due to bad experiences as kids with false or bad religions. This myth allows theists to imagine that atheists' experiences with 'false' religion has nothing to do with their own "true" religion, that atheistic critiques of religion don't really impact their own religion, and that if atheists only learned about "true" religion then they would abandon their atheism.
You Must Be an Atheist Because You've Never Heard About Jesus and the Gospel
There seems to be a belief on the part of many theists - especially Christians and some Muslims - that the only reason why a person would not be a member of their religion is because they are simply unfamiliar with it. Or, to put it in Christian terms, because one hasn't heard the 'Good News' which they of course now wish to share. As a result, it is common for these believers to immediately launch into preaching in order to rectify that situation.
There seems to be a belief on the part of many theists - especially Christians and some Muslims - that the only reason why a person would not be a member of their religion is because they are simply unfamiliar with it. Or, to put it in Christian terms, because one hasn't heard the 'Good News' which they of course now wish to share. As a result, it is common for these believers to immediately launch into preaching in order to rectify that situation.