Atheism is the lack of belief in a god or gods and is a growing demographic around the world. While some atheists come from religious backgrounds and have since lost their faith, others were raised with a more fact-based or scientific approach and were skeptical from the start. Wherever the origin, here are the 19 most common reasons for atheism.
Lack of Evidence
The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy states that many atheists find the lack of concrete proof of a higher being makes them distrustful of religion. Many atheists assert that the absence of objective, scientific evidence for the existence of any deities shows that religion is based on ‘blind faith’ and outdated religious texts rather than logical thought.
The Problem of Evil
The existence of suffering and evil in the world is a massive hurdle for atheists when considering the concept of a benevolent and omnipotent God. If such a being exists, why do innocent people suffer? Why did He create human beings yet also create viruses and parasites that harm them? What did a baby born in a war zone ever do to deserve such suffering?
Multiple Deities
Throughout history, countless religions have emerged, each with its own creation story, moral code, and idea of the afterlife. Atheists wonder: if so many religions are made up, why do theists believe so fervently that their religion is the one true answer? The vast number of contradictory beliefs makes it difficult for atheists to accept the absolute truth claims of any one faith.
Lack of Inherent Belief
Children aren’t born inherently religious—they tend to copy the traditions and beliefs of their parents and communities. The Richard Dawkins Foundation asserts that teaching children to be critical thinkers naturally leads to atheism and the development of their own moral code. Atheists see this as proof that theism is neither inherent nor necessary.
The Burden of Proof
Atheists claim that the “burden of proof” lies with religion and reject the idea that the non-existence of God needs to be proved. If someone claims they saw a dragon or a unicorn, that person would have to show proof—rather than expecting other people to verify that such beings did not exist.
The Inconsistency of Religious Texts
The Bible, Quran, Torah, and other religious texts often contain contradictions, inconsistencies, and historical inaccuracies that are explained away by the devout as ‘tests’ of faith, hidden messages, or non-literal lessons. Atheists see such discrepancies as proof that such texts are the outdated creation of long-dead men and not divinely sacred.
Religious Dogma
Organized religions often present a set of unchangeable beliefs or tenets that followers are expected to accept without question, even in light of more progressive social attitudes or scientific discoveries. Atheists, who often value reason, modernization, and critical thinking, find this blind, dogmatic approach incompatible with their way of understanding the world.
Useless Prayers
Even the New York Times says prayers are useless without action, and herein lies the sticking point for many atheists. If God exists and is all-powerful, why is prayer so ineffective? If two devout people pray for opposite events, who gets their way? While the sentiment behind prayers for healing, peace, and love is noble, atheists know they have no benefit beyond that.
The Argument from Occam’s Razor
The ‘law of parsimony’ suggests that the simplest explanation is generally correct. So, religion was likely created by ignorant human civilizations that lacked the knowledge to explain scientific phenomena and biological processes. The idea of eternal damnation after death was also vital for controlling embryonic societies before law enforcement existed.
The Focus on Faith over Reason
Many religions emphasize ‘blind faith’ as a core tenet and dissuade followers from free-thinking, questioning long-held beliefs, or seeking evidence. Atheists, on the other hand, value reason, logic, and evidence-based explanations. They often find scientific experimentation and the flexible evolution of ideas over time to be a more rational and intelligent approach.
Personal Experiences
Many devout individuals have a religious upbringing or some coincidental event that ‘confirmed’ their belief. Yet, many atheists are more skeptical and lack the personal experiences that make a spiritual lifestyle unavoidable. Living ‘without God’ and experiencing the benefits of free thought and a sense of personal morality without drawbacks further reinforces this.
The History of Religious Violence
Religion has been used throughout history to justify violence, oppression, and discrimination, often on a massive and terrible scale. Atheists who study things like the continuing conflict in the Middle East, African genocides, or ‘holy wars’ often wonder whether religion is simply being weaponized as an excuse for human beings to commit atrocities toward others.
The Incompatibility of Science and Religion
For educated, critical thinkers, good science offers an ever-changing knowledge bank based on actual observations and the results of controlled experiments. Many atheists see this cold, clinical approach as an intelligent and logical way to answer questions and, therefore, reject religion due to its unscientific and unfounded claims.
The Hypocrisy of Man
Many high-ranking religious officials have been found guilty of corruption, theft, discrimination, and other hypocrisies, and yet they are all too often shielded from punishment by the institutions they help control. Many atheists see such events (such as child abuse by Catholic priests) as proof of the farcical, overly powerful, and manmade nature of religious institutions.
Discrimination and Hate Speech
Many ancient religious texts perpetuate discrimination against people of other religions, sexual orientations, or lifestyles. While this may have been accepted in the past, modern society is less accepting and less tolerant of such blatant hate. Many atheists chose to conform to their own moral code rather than blindly follow such discriminatory and outdated beliefs.
The Psychological Need for Religious Belief
Being logical and less emotional, some atheists suggest that religious belief stems from a human desire for comfort, purpose, and community. They argue that comforting and childish ideas, like the concept of heaven, aren’t alluring enough to persuade them to suspend their own beliefs and ignore scientific facts.
Anthropomorphism
Assigning human qualities and characteristics to a god (such as emotions, desires, and physical form) is a common feature of many religions, with gods frequently portrayed as vengeful or proud. Atheists argue that such emotions are human, not divine, proving mankind made their gods ‘in their own image’ and not the other way around.
Overly-Secretive Gods
If the Christian God, for example, truly exists and desires a relationship with humanity, why is He entirely absent? Theists conveniently assert that God is ‘testing’ His believers, which seems like a pretty manipulative and unhealthy thing for a (supposedly benevolent) God to do. Atheists don’t accept this explanation and see the invisibility of gods as proof of their fantasy nature.
The Evolution of Religion
Atheists who study human history recognize religion as an evolving cultural phenomenon. Religious beliefs and practices, and the way humans have worshiped their gods, have changed over time—with sacrifices and superstitions replaced by capitalistic ‘mega churches,’ for example. Atheists often think this human-led evolution proves a lack of divinity.
Read More: 17 Things Society Can No Longer Do Because Gen Z Said So
Gen Z, our digital-native, trendsetting generation, is making waves in the cultural sea, steering the ship of societal norms in fresh and unexpected directions. As they charter new territories, there are certain practices they’d rather we say goodbye to. Curious? Let’s take a look at 17 things the rest of us can no longer do because Gen Z said so.
17 Things Society Can No Longer Do Because Gen Z Said So
19 Big Mistakes People Make After Losing a Spouse
Losing a spouse is one of life’s most tragic experiences, and when we’re overwhelmed by grief, we might make some decisions that we’ll later regret. Here are 19 mistakes people make after losing their spouse.
19 Big Mistakes People Make After Losing a Spouse
20 Time-Honored Practices Our Grandparents Followed That We Should Bring Back
Our grandparents had a far simpler life. There was no such thing as social media. Instead, there was more walking and meals were always fresh and homemade. With so many things keeping us busy nowadays, sometimes life would seem much easier if we lived the way our grandparents did.
20 Time-Honored Practices Our Grandparents Followed That We Should Bring Back
19 Common Behaviors of Highly Intelligent People
Intelligent individuals often display a range of behaviors and qualities that set them apart from others. When exploring these characteristics, it’s crucial to comprehend that intelligence is a multifaceted attribute. Here are 19 essential behaviors and qualities frequently observed in highly intelligent people.
19 Common Behaviors of Highly Intelligent People
17 Things We Were Taught in High School That We Now Know Aren’t True
Well, this one may depend on when you went to high school, but for this millennial, these are the things we were taught in high school that have been proven not to be true. Personally, I still want to go back and correct every teacher who told me I wouldn’t always have a calculator in my pocket; the joke is on them.
17 Things We Were Taught in High School That We Now Know Aren’t True