10 Myths and Truths About Atheists

By Greta Christina, AlterNet. Posted February 11, 2009.

Further reading: Red Crimes

9: Atheists think science belongs to them; atheists treat science as their religion.

It's true that believers can be good scientists. No atheist I know would argue otherwise. But there's a reason atheists care about science and use it so much in our arguments. And it's not because science is our religion, or that we follow it without question. It's not even because we think science has disproved religion (although it has dispatched many specific religious beliefs). Atheists care about science because science provides an alternate method for understanding reality.

Science isn't primarily a set of theories and facts: science is primarily a method, one that sorts good information from bad, useful theories from mistaken or useless ones. Science is a method for perceiving the world that relies, not on authority and intuition, but on rigorous examination of evidence and a willingness to question any theory.

When it comes to understanding the world, science offers an alternative to religion: not merely different answers, but a different way of asking questions. Science doesn't disprove religion. It simply makes it unnecessary. Which is why it's relevant to atheism ... and why atheists care about it so much.

Further reading: What Does Science Have to do With Atheism?

10: Atheists think they're superior.

And again, I say: Some do. Thinking you're better than the people you disagree with is unfortunate ... but it's hardly unique to atheists. But more to the point: There's a huge difference between thinking you're better than people you disagree with ... and thinking that, on one particular issue, you're correct, and people who disagree are mistaken.

Religion has been armored against criticism for so long, people are shocked when they hear it at all. And because religion is so personal, many believers can't distinguish between criticism of their ideas ... and insults to the core of their being. They hear atheists saying, "You're stupid and I'm superior"... when atheists are actually saying, "I don't agree with you." Or, "You haven't made your case." "There's a flaw in your thinking." "What evidence do you have to support that?" "Your evidence and arguments are weak -- do you have anything better?"

Thinking you're right, and trying to convince people you're right ... that's not arrogance. That's the marketplace of ideas. As long as you're willing to consider that you might be wrong -- and you get that being right about X doesn't make you right about Y and Z -- thinking you're right isn't arrogance. It's no more arrogant to think you're right about religion than to think you're right about public policies or scientific theories. This is just another "Shut up, that's why" argument. It's an attempt to make atheists look bad simply for making our case.

Further reading: Defending the Blasphemy Challenge; 'Evangelical' Atheism, or, Is it Okay to Try to Change People's Minds?

If you want to criticize atheists, individually or as a movement, please do. We're not perfect, and the current incarnation of our movement is fairly young, with all the flaws of a young social movement. But don't spread lies about us. Don't foment fear about us. Don't assume that you know who we are without listening to what we have to say. And don't criticize us in ways that are just meant to shut us up. Thanks.

See more stories tagged with: religion, sam harris, atheism

Read more of Greta Christina at her blog.

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