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One of the Biggest Myths About Atheism, Debunked
One of the Biggest Myths About Atheism, Debunked
Is a big myth about atheism just a projection of right-wing Christian rage?
By Amanda Marcotte / AlterNet
April 20, 2015
The stereotype of the angry atheist, much like the stereotype of the angry feminist, is widespread, used by believers to stigmatize and discredit atheists. The eagerness to discredit atheists makes sense, as many of the faithful fear that arguments against the existence of the supernatural are too persuasive and so want to discourage even listening to atheists in the first place. But it’s always seemed weird to me that calling someone “angry” is supposed to be such a slam dunk insult, suggesting, as it does, that complacency is some kind of virtue.
Not that this is a new observation, of course. Greta Christina, in a post she later developed into the book, Why Are You Atheists So Angry, explained that anger in the face of injustices wrought by religion is the appropriate response. “Because anger has driven every major movement for social change in this country, and probably in the world,” she wrote. Without anger, you have complacency, which allows injustice to continue.
Atheists are well within their rights to be angry, but new research shows that the image of the forever-raging atheist is a stereotype concocted by believers, and not upheld by any real-world evidence. A recent paper published in the Journal of Psychology details how researchers reviewed seven different studies about atheists and anger. The studies showed that believers generally claim that atheists are angry. The study’s finding that believers frequently call atheists “angry” is easy to see in the real world. The world of religious media is full of examples of believers accusing atheists of being “angry.” Believers in social media love to lob that accusation, too, sharing endless memes and cartoons portraying atheists as spittle-flecked rage machines.
The thing is, when atheists are actually tested for anger, they are no more angry than anyone else. The image of the angry atheist is nothing more than a way for believers to dismiss atheists and their arguments against the existence of God.
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Is a big myth about atheism just a projection of right-wing Christian rage?
By Amanda Marcotte / AlterNet
April 20, 2015
The stereotype of the angry atheist, much like the stereotype of the angry feminist, is widespread, used by believers to stigmatize and discredit atheists. The eagerness to discredit atheists makes sense, as many of the faithful fear that arguments against the existence of the supernatural are too persuasive and so want to discourage even listening to atheists in the first place. But it’s always seemed weird to me that calling someone “angry” is supposed to be such a slam dunk insult, suggesting, as it does, that complacency is some kind of virtue.
Not that this is a new observation, of course. Greta Christina, in a post she later developed into the book, Why Are You Atheists So Angry, explained that anger in the face of injustices wrought by religion is the appropriate response. “Because anger has driven every major movement for social change in this country, and probably in the world,” she wrote. Without anger, you have complacency, which allows injustice to continue.
Atheists are well within their rights to be angry, but new research shows that the image of the forever-raging atheist is a stereotype concocted by believers, and not upheld by any real-world evidence. A recent paper published in the Journal of Psychology details how researchers reviewed seven different studies about atheists and anger. The studies showed that believers generally claim that atheists are angry. The study’s finding that believers frequently call atheists “angry” is easy to see in the real world. The world of religious media is full of examples of believers accusing atheists of being “angry.” Believers in social media love to lob that accusation, too, sharing endless memes and cartoons portraying atheists as spittle-flecked rage machines.
The thing is, when atheists are actually tested for anger, they are no more angry than anyone else. The image of the angry atheist is nothing more than a way for believers to dismiss atheists and their arguments against the existence of God.
More
So the next time you're told that your anger is alienating believers, tell them to shove their complacency where the sun don't shine.
You're doing your part to fight injustice.
And smile when you say it.
23 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read
If that god existed I could never worship him.
Gets in a snit and kills every creature on the planet except for Noah's family and just two of every species.
Seriously?
Someone has serious anger management issues, and it's not the op.
And we have members of the house bringing up "render unto Caesar" arguments to attack DC's birth control privacy laws. Oh, and they don't even see the irony in this that argument (Jesus saying "pay your taxes, deadbeat "
Poor oppressed christians...
They're just ANGRY!
Angry that other people live on the planet. 