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fucktoyprincess -> Why Atheism Scares People (5/15/2012 6:12:24 AM)
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I don't generally go advertising the fact that I am an atheist (except when on a relatively anonymous site like this). And the reason for that is that generally when I do tell people who believe in god that I am, I am met with some mix of horror, disgust, pity and fear. Even from people who know me well. It really upsets people who believe that I should choose to not believe in the idea of god.
I do believe that people (a vast majority of people) need religion. I think religion provides people with a way to make sense of the world, prevents them from having to deal with too much ambiguity, and placates fear about both existence and the after-life. And for many, if they need religion to deal with those issues, they simply can't fathom how I could exist without the same need. So their conclusion is that, well obviously something is deeply wrong with her.
I also think that religion provides a way for people to assuage any guilt or personal responsibility for the bad things that go on in the world. They can easily rely on any number of things, depending on their personal faith, to explain it. So bad things happen because there is a devil, because evil roams the earth, because god wants it this way, because god is punishing us, because we did something bad in a prior existence, etc., etc., etc.
As an atheist, I have to contend with the sad and depressing fact that, well, s**t just happens. And there is no divine explanation. And the only way to prevent bad things from either happening at all, or to minimize the pain from bad things, is to personally take responsibility to try to prevent bad things from happening or to minimize the pain from bad things - not just for oneself, or one's family, but for other people, too. How? Through one's politics, one's charitable giving (money and time), through one's ideas. The one thing I cannot do is simply say, "well this is god's way."
So atheism is scary to most people because it means they have to confront the fact that they are, in fact, responsible for the homeless guy sleeping on the sidewalk at night. And most people can't survive day to day if they feel they are personally responsible for all the pain and suffering in the world. So much easier to let god handle that so that day-to-day life can go on unfettered. And what does one have to do to let god worry about it. Pray. Is is any surprise that for most people that is a much easier emotional, psychological bargain than to actually have to say, "I am responsible, and I need to go and do something about this."
Also, many people assume that if I am atheist I must be completely amoral. Again, for many, it is the fear of god and god's wrath that keeps people in line. So for them to imagine someone behaving in a good, decent, kind way who is not religious seems truly beyond their imagination. They are hard pressed to imagine why someone would treat others kindly if there was no reason (one's own salvation) to do so. Some people are incapable of imagining that one should be kind not because of the promise of heaven, or nirvana, or an after-life, but simply because with the one life that I have on this planet, being kind is the right thing to do. Period. Oddly, I am also someone who does not fear death. I see it as the natural end to our life. I don't need a belief in god to die in "peace".
I have resigned myself to the fact that most believers, due to their need for religion, will never be able to view me objectively. So, I suspect, I will not be sharing my true religious views with too many people who know me (except for my large group of atheist friends). Trust me, I've seen how people react when they are told. People who are tolerant in many other ways seem incapable of tolerating one who believes in no god of any stripe. I will continue my peaceful, tolerant existence where I believe I am responsible for what happens to others. And I will continue to both do and advocate for policies that ensure a well cared for society. Because prayer and a reliance on god to solve the world's problems is not, actually, going to work.
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