Atheists are more compassionate, if you compare them to highly religious people.
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Atheists and religious people both engage in charitable acts. The difference is what drives them. While religious people refer to the doctrine, atheists rely more on their emotional relevance (if I may say empathy) to another person/s.
People with no belief of God may be thought as self-centered. But a study at the University of California suggests that atheists are more emotionally dependent, that they feel the need of the other person in helping out. I argue that some religious people heed to the teachings without any inkling why. It’s faith and religiosity and that’s a good thing.
Another study surveyed people. Given a scenario: a driver damaged a car and took the money from a found wallet, who was the driver? Teacher, atheist teacher or rapist teacher?
People’s responses reveal that they distrust atheists as much as rapists. This blatant prejudice made atheists an instant suspect.
There are differences. A rapist is called as such because of his wretched crime, and thus the basis of the distrust. An atheist did not commit any crime. They just have a different view. I think that choice should be respected. Yeah, they don’t have morality written on book to guide them, but they have themselves to guide them.
Would you thrash out this prejudice?
Sources:Studies say atheists, believers both do good, but for different reasons; The Washington Post
Study: Atheists distrusted as much as rapists; USA Today
Moment Matters 
I’m an atheist and I want to get involved in this conversation so much yet fear the reprisals from religious folk that I have oft received in the past! I never tell someone they are stupid or dumb or a horrible person for what they believe yet am constantly told by certain religious people that I am a bad person. I spend the majority of my free time volunteering – helping out others who are less fortunate than me who also tend to be religious, so I’m not choosing which religions I help out. I don’t do it because I fear God’s judgement, I don’t do it because I am told it’s what was written in the bible so I have to – I do it because I want to and because I believe it is right. I love others and help others because I decide that is the right thing to do and fear no consequences of my actions. Religious people may fear the devil or that God will punish them for not doing nice by others – I don’t have that fear so in all reality I could be horrible to people and have no worries about what will happen to me. BUT, I am nice, I am charitable, I give and love and help and do not expect that some powerful being will reward me for it, the act itself is reward enough for me!
What I would love, more than anything, is if everyone could love and accept and help each other, regardless of religious beliefs!
I am religious but I think righteousness is a good thing too. And if people are biased against atheists, its a terrible thing. Just like doing good for heaven and not doing bad because for fear of hell. Faith can be religious, but charity shouldn’t be. Why give in the name of god, when humanity demands so much already?
Interesting perspective. I think it matters most that we perform acts of charity and compassion and not why. May more people care about what happens to others. I invite you to visit my blog and I will return.
The question posed was an interesting one. I don’t classify myself as atheist, more agnostic, as I have no proof either way, but I would tend to lean closer to being atheist than associating with any other belief. What I find the most discouraging in my life is how it’s not okay for me to say I question something I can’t prove. I feel surrounded by Christians, who I don’t see as acting very Christian-like in many ways, yet they judge me and point to their bible and tell me it’s truth I need to believe in that I am wrong.
I agree with wallancee, it’s better to live life for what we believe in our hearts is right.
To live in a way to reach heaven or avoid hell, is, missing the life you have right now, there is so much beauty and good around us if we want to see it. But this is only my opinion.
I tend to view it as a circle (rather than a line). It wraps around such that devote atheists and devote theists seem equally off-base to me. I consider them both deep into (possibly misplaced) Faith in their worldview.
The above about atheists being charitable doesn’t surprise me in the least. They necessarily believe that the only meaning in life is the meaning we create. They have no choice but to believe in a cold and empty universe. And a real problem with atheism is that it makes any moral code relative. If the universe is ultimately without meaning or purpose, there can be no objective morality. The distrust others have for them may come from sensing this.
An athiest has the same morality as a religious person, they just don’t have a book to back up or justify their actions. Athiests merely act like other people, good, bad or otherwise. I think the “moral compass” is an empty argument.
Not the same at all. Without a means to ground their choice, there is nothing that makes one choice different from another. It has nothing to do with any “book.” It has to do with a worldview that says that actions have objective meaning.
I can only speak to my own experience, but having been raised as an atheist and become a theist late in life, I personally have found that the religious people I encountered when I was an atheist were a great deal more accepting of me then than the atheists I encounter are of me now.
Well meant an article. So nice. I too have written a few articles on this topic in my blog. I don’t know if you might have come across them as we are following each other.
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Prejudices… I think it’s mostly because people are not understanding each other. I wish there was something there which could make people come more near each other. Because what when there is a performance of a famous band? People are standing next to each other, laughing to each other and just being happy. So why aren’t we doing that the rest of the year too. Just respect everyone and be happy for them if they’re happy..
Interesting post, to be sure. I’m a Christian, and if I were to shun or accuse an athiest of a crime based solely on the knowledge that s/he’s an athiest, I wouldn’t be much of a Christian. To Wallancee (previous commenter), I am truly sorry you hesitated to comment here because of how you’ve been treated in the past. Not sure what you’ve been through, but none of us – athiest, Christian, Muslim, whatever – has the right to judge another. Does it happen? Yes. But it shouldn’t.
Likely? Likely the atheists actually understand the scam; that is religion.
It was C. Jung that showed human beings [homo sapiens] has a religious nature. Which means? It means, we are half-sold on the idea before even starting. It’s natural to allow what others tell you; is god. Good and right?
Christianity is very dangerous; because their leaders tell the adherents. “Oh Jesus died for your sins and the sins of the world”. This then, gives those plaster saints carte blanche to do as they wished.
Seeing is believing? When you ask someone who believes in god. Show me. They usually point around at all the world and say, “see”?
I believe in god. But my god has little, to no, interest in me or this planet. The people who are destroying our planet; are doomed to be stuck here. Lifetime, after lifetime, until they get it right. The karmic wheel grinds on ….
Very interesting. I was just talking about this topic the other day. I don’t believe that Christians (or people of any religion) hold the market on charitable acts. I know plenty of self-serving Christians just as I know plenty of kind, empathetic atheists. The world is not as black and white as religion would like it to be.
Religion doesn’t want it to black or white. That would give people a clear choice, one way or another. If we didn’t know we are to die, there would be no reason for religion. I am agnostic and understand why I don’t need religion.
I have encountered Christians, Atheists, Amish, Mennonite, Evangelicals, Muslims(Or is it Islamic? I always get confused) and even several Buddhists. What I have found is jerks come in every religion, as well as nice people. No one religion/or non religion has the market cornered on this.
[Islam is the religion, Muslim is the follower of the Islamic religion.].
I agree, people – not their beliefs – make them jerks or not.
Though there are jerks of every religious stripe, it would be a fallacy to therefore conclude that no religion is true. It would likewise be a fallacy to believe all religions are equally true. Compare the truth claims of all the religions. Compare their tenets. You will find that Christianity is the only religion that stands up to an investigation. If you think all religions are the same, ask yourself this question: whom would you prefer I imitate- Muhammad or Jesus?
When you investigate Islam and discover that Muhammad pillaged, raped, murdered, had sexual relations with a 9 year-old, and then compare him to Jesus who sacrificed his own life for those who believe on him, you see that Islam’s brutality cannot compare to Christianity’s love.
I would consider myself a faith-full individual, however often encounter hostility from atheists, highly religious and non-religious people. The second people in college found out I was a Christian they would assail me with pointed questions and try to back me into a corner. I was only women studies minor because as I started to take the higher classes required for a major the people in the classes would constantly degrade me and/or make an example of me and what they thought my faith was.
I also have encountered many of the same within Christianity, because my faith does not translate in uber-conservative politics. Selfish people come in all sizes. Religious and not. Feminists and conservatives. Democrats and Republicans. Fueling the debate about which side is more hateful is polarizing our society. Give it up and spend time writing on what brings us together.
We all want the world to be a more charitable place. We simply have different ways that we think we should get there.
I’m of the opinion that righteousness is in *how* you act, not in *what* you believe; how you act is a truer reflection of those beliefs (religious or otherwise) than the words you speak. If you (non-specific plural) have to tell someone you’re a kind and generous person, maybe you should reflect on why your actions hadn’t said that already.
RESPECT …. that’s all i can say
Respect is important, but the truth should not get lost in the discussion.
Interesting point. I’m religious but I don’t deny that atheists have their own capabilities of giving to others. Crazy thing is that I live in a city of Vancouver where radical atheists are just as nasty as the religious zealots you talk about. Many atheist claim they don’t shove their beliefs down people’s throats. Here in Vancouver it’s those angry atheists shoving disbeliefs down people’s throats.
I may live in a city known for its rampant liberalism from civic politics to the daily news media but I’m able to sense ugliness both from religious people and the angry godless. Another myth I feel should be dispelled is the ‘godless=blameless’ myth many atheists like to wear. They like to reiterate ‘terrible things have been committed in the name of Christ’ ad nauseum. As true as that is, what’s also true is that bloodshed of religious has also been committed in the name of godlessness. I still remember the days of Communism and the iron curtain.
Prejudices exist according to culture and background. Thus the people regarding the atheist as likely to be immoral in actions are more likely to be religionists.
True atheists would see no point in any ‘good’ acts. The ones who do are acknowledging that life has some purpose, and are more in the theist or agnostic camp. Actually, the fanatical atheist makes a lot less sense, intellectually, than the fanatical religionist. Regarding an intelligent and adaptive universe as some sort of cosmic accident is surely the height of folly.
Consistently fair is all that is needed. Comes from the old adage- “Do unto others”. It has to be a day in, day out deal and eventually everyone in your personal orbit begins to come around without realizing it. Religion or politics have no place in my world, but I tolerate where needed. I am a secret do-gooder- without fanfare. Therefore discussion isn’t necessary, unless someone catches on and we have the pay it forward discussion. You guys rock.
I have long since thought about what an “agnostic” is. I have come to the conclusion that an agnostic is nothing more than a lazy atheist. You see, an agnostic really doesn’t care to take the time to do an investigation of whether there is a God. An agnostic simply lives his life as if there is no God and pretends to be humble by saying “We can’t know for sure there is a God.” There is no real conviction in an agnostic’s life except for the belief that he, himself, is his own god.
If there is no God, why do we have to be fair, anyway? What body of law requires fairness? Is it that someone bigger than me might beat me up if I’m not fair? What’s to stop the more powerful person from determining what is fair for me or you? By what objective standard can we determine fairness?
Second, “the old adage” is not some secular humanist mumbo-jumbo. It comes from scripture, from God himself. Jesus said “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” Luke 6:31. The “Do unto others” principle is a religious principle given to us by God himself.
Without religion in your world you would not have the benefit of the Golden Rule. Without religion you have survival of the fittest. That world would certainly be an ugly one without the influence of the Christian faith.
That’s absurd. I’m agnostic because I’ve spent years studying both sides of the equation. It’s those that are convinced that one way or the other is necessarily correct that have accepted the dogma and not really done the work.
Word Smith, your position is really the absurd position. You said you’ve “spent years studying both sides” and yet you refuse to make a decision. You think that doing all that study is simply for the sake of indecision? So do you go to church and worship Jesus as God? Do you have a relationship with God? Do you obey his commandments? No, you don’t? Then you have made your choice. As I said, an agnostic is simply a lazy atheist (or a cowardly one). Do you live your life as if there is no God? You are fooling yourself if you think you have not made a decision while you live as if there is no God.
I am confident of absolute truth. I believe truth is knowable and absolute. I am not afraid to take a stand. I am not afraid of what I believe.
No, you just don’t understand my belief any more than you can spell my handle. Gandhi once said, “I came to the conclusion long ago… that all religions were true and also that all had some error in them”. My decision is that there is no earthy religion that can possibly come close to apprehending a creator of “all this” or the higher reality. Christianity is just one attempt to do so; there are many others.
I live my life believing there may be a higher reality, but recognizing that there may not be. It is simply a matter of faith for me that there is. Agnosticism is not necessarily the inability to make a choice; it is the recognition that both choices may be in error. It is a choice to keep an open mind.
And you’re right that I’ve chosen to not follow Christianity any more than I follow Islam or Hinduism or Buddhism. That doesn’t mean I don’t believe in a higher power.
As an apparent Christian, you might want to consider how you are here demonstrating another quote attributed to Gandhi. “I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” To put it another way, are you acting like your Christ?
As for your statement, “I am confident of absolute truth. I believe truth is knowable and absolute. I am not afraid to take a stand. I am not afraid of what I believe.” Do you realize that Islamic terrorists say exactly the same thing?
Faith means nothing without doubt.
well, I certainly set you two off. On a lighter side, I am an agnostic because atheists don’t get holidays. actually I am neither
When you reach a point in your life where you quit keeping score, then you truly understand you don’t need to have a title to explain your beliefs to others. I just say I am a humanist and let it go at that.
If they push me, then I ask about their belief about the big bang theory.
If they decide to blow me off or get me told, I know I don’t need or want negative people, so they are history to me.
Love in all its forms is welcome and needed in this world. Perhaps the benefit atheists have over those who are religious is that they aren’t waiting on any divine entity to save or intervene, so they take it upon themselves to be that change that needs to happen. How beautiful!
First of all, how does an atheist define “love?” Why does love matter? Why should anyone be concerned about saving the world or intervening? An atheist only feels the need to intervene in the suffering of others because of a Judeo-Christian influence. If there is no God, and we are merely a collection of random accidents, how does an atheist even begin to care for others? The only “good” to an honest atheist is what he does to survive. If killing another person improves the atheist’s life, killing is good to him. If stealing his neighbor’s tools improves his life, stealing is good.
The only reason why an atheist has a problem with killing and stealing is because the Law of God is written on his heart. He cannot not know it.
You’re just showing that you have no understanding of people or psychology. Love is based on need and desire and has nothing to do with theism or atheism. Love and hate are two very different vectors from morality and immorality.
It’s a moral grounding that is all but impossible to objectively identify in an atheistic context.
Wyrd Smythe you bring up a great point about love/hate vs. morality and immorality. Thanks for sharing your insight.
Better than sharing my insole! 🙂
Word Smith does not really know what he is talking about. He didn’t bring up a good point at all. What he calls “love” is not truly love if it is merely a mechanism to fulfill some need or desire within ourselves. That isn’t love. That is selfishness. True love sacrifices for the needs and desires of others. How, without God’s influence, does love have any place in a naturalistic world? If we are merely a combination of random accidents, how does concern for anyone but ourselves make any sense?
No, love does not make any sense without God. That you insist that love is important you are actually acknowledging the existence of God. You also cannot bear the consequences of your godless philosophy, so you have to borrow from a superior Christian worldview.
Yes, I can clearly see how your Christianity has made you a loving, sacrificing person! 😐
One can tell you are intelligent, well read and a good analyst, But when you belittled Dogtags, I wondered why you resorted to the same tactics he used earlier that set you off. If one were to keep score, he would assume himself ahead.
My original sentiment was that being good and not evil, works out much better in the long run. My definition of good is to not mistreat others. Not to say that I won’t strike back if one is really evil, I just prefer not to have them in my personal space. They can be religious all they want or evil all they want, just not at my house.
Heh! What can I say; I see fanatics of any stripe as sport, and I have no problem returning like for like with interest.
Does being good really work out in the long run? Consider the Pyramids. One of the Seven Wonders; lasted for thousands of years; a global treasure. Built by slaves. The reality is that evil can be very effective (rather the point of that TV show, 24).
It’s quite possible that someday we will discover the “god circuit” in the human mind that causes us to believe in a higher power. Such a thing arguably has evolutionary value in that faith builds community and provides a motivation for being good in a world where being evil can be very effective.
Or maybe someday we’ll discover that the near universal apprehension of a higher power is a true apprehension of something that is beyond our normal physical perception.
The one thing I AM sure of is that no earthy religion is the full and correct answer, and the “one way” conceit of many of them does rub me entirely the wrong way. A lot of murder and hate comes from that form of ugliness and I chose to fight it whenever I encounter it, whether inside my house or outside.
You can’t be good without God.
I don’t really want to get involved in this discussion, just I want to point out a logical fact; Being faithful to your belief does not allow you to tolerate atheism, unless of course you don’t take your belief seriously!
As a Muslim I know that believers are in harmony with the movement of the universe. Something nonbeliever lack.