About that atheists in foxholes thing…

Amanda Marcotte of AlterNet debunks 10 myths many religious people have about atheists.

1. There are no atheists in foxholes. This irritates atheists because it makes a virtue of preying on people's moments of pain. Religion doesn't always offer comfort, especially with a threat of Hell hanging over their heads.

2. Atheists are angry with God. No, they're angry at pushy believers.

3. Atheists are rude. Atheist ideas are more disturbing to believers than believer's ideas are to an atheist so the atheist gets a reputation for being rude.

4. Atheism is a white dude thing. Since many religions approve of the oppression of women there are lots of women who appreciate arguments against the legitimacy of their oppressors.

5. Atheism is just another faith. Most religious people disbelieve all faiths but their own. Atheism just completes the circle.

6. Atheists have no moral code. Religious people recognize when one of their own -- such as person saying God told him to do a nasty deed -- is acting immorally. That shows there is a root of morality outside of religion.

7. Atheist lives are bleak and lack meaning. Living under the threat of Hell is better? Atheists make the best of this life. They don't wait for the next one.

8. Atheists are hedonists and don't know true love. The people saying this are the ones who separated sex from love, have many crippling phobias about sexual fulfillment and love are exclusive, and have higher divorce rates.

9. With no afterlife atheists can't cope when they lose a loved one. This argument seems to be made by religious predators waiting for a grieving atheist.

10. Atheists are out to destroy Christmas. Actually, with a bit of tweaking Christmas can be a fine secular holiday. And atheists will celebrate it in a way that is fun for them.

No, I'm not proclaiming myself to be an atheist. I firmly believe my religion calls me to build community with everyone. Each of these 10 points shows a way religious people are doing all they can to break community with an atheist. We should learn from this how to love them instead.