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Angry Atheists and Soulless Scientists: Stereotypes of nonbelief in the era of the
'New Atheism'
Taner Edis
Department of Physics,
Truman State University
22009
The “New Atheists”
• Dawkins, Harris, Hitchens, Dennett, Stenger. . .
• Unexpected publishing phenomenon.
• They and the media exploit each other; “angry atheist” and “soulless scientist” stereotypes.
32009
What are the stereotypes?
• Look online, ask active nonbelievers.
• Strong overlap in observations. Negative stereotypes about personal, moral, and intellectual attributes of atheists.
42009
Actual data?
• Hunsberger & Altemeyer 2006 (H&A). Survey ~300 atheist club members in US.
• Nonreligious Identification Survey, 2009 (NRIS). ~6000, snowball sampling.
52009
Nonrepresentative samples
• H&A and NRIS do not study people who have just dropped out of religion, who don’t look for group support, etc.
• ~ Non-drinkers of bottled water. Not a coherent group.
• My experience is similarly limited.
62009
Angry
• Angry. Resentful. • Angry people will attract
more attention.• Atheists most despised in
US? (> Gays, Muslims.)• Angry feminist, angry
black stereotypes?
72009
Disrespectful
• Arrogant. Uncivil.• New atheists––against
unearned respect. Nonbelievers split.
• Irreverent, yes. • NRIS: nonbelievers tend
to have low “agreeability.”
82009
Unhappy
• Social science: religiosity ~ happiness.
• NRIS: moderate life satisfaction, high emotional stability.
• Confidence in worldview ~ happiness?
• Cosmic “meaning of life” irrelevant?
92009
Immoral, amoral
• Less community-oriented? Liberal, individualist, urban, modern morality.
• Nonbelief rare in prison populations.
• Charity, mutual aid higher among religious people.
102009
Moral relativists
• Not philosophical dispute. Devout ask if nonbelievers can be trusted. If they are loyal.
• Do we establish trust pragmatically, or through deep cultural commonalities?
112009
Sexually deviant, anti-family
• Lots of anti-gay, anti-liberal stereotypes get mixed up here. Not really specifically about atheists.
• NRIS: fewer married nonbelievers. Very low rate of reproduction. Divorce not higher.
122009
No atheists in foxholes
• US military is very Christian.
• Low “right wing authoritarianism” among atheists (H&A).
• More than a disloyalty stereotype.
132009
Godless liberals/commies
• Leftish inclinations (but also right-wing libertarians.)
• High ethnocentrism (prefer atheists), but low prejudice against racial, ethnic, sexual minorities (H&A).
142009
Ignorant of religion
• Some truth in this, with the “new atheists.” Equate religion with fundamentalism.
• Rejecting supernatural beliefs in itself is not a sign of being intellectually shallow.
152009
Atheists hate God
• Grudge against God, bad experience with religion?
• Many (~¾) ex-believers. (H&A)
• Typical loss of faith gradual, intellectual drifting away. (H&A)
162009
No real atheists
• Atheists really believe in God, but want to avoid responsibility.
• Fundamentalist preoccupation.
• Many atheists claim nonbelief is liberating.
• A matter of spin?
172009
Atheists worship Satan
• Let’s not be absurd.
• Might make sense in fundamentalist context?
• Says nothing about atheists.
182009
Atheism is faith-based
• “Atheism is a religion.”• Does not fit atheist self-
image as interested in reasons rather than leaps of faith.
• High dogmatism (or confidence in belief) among atheists. (H&A)
192009
Atheists are against religion
• Often, yes. New atheists consider religion to be a social evil.
• Not all atheists.• Little desire to
suppress religion.
202009
Atheists worship science
• “Scientism.”• Highly educated.
NRIS: 41% graduate degrees.
• Natural scientists, social scientists often irreligious.
• Self-selection effect.
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Non-stereotyped features
• Very male. (NRIS ¾).
• Women generally have stronger supernatural beliefs.
• Stereotype?
222009
What does it all mean?
• Stereotypes can be useful. Or they can overgeneralize.
• Stereotypes of atheists negative. (US is a religious nation.)
• “New atheists” do not change the picture.
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