The Stupefying Hypocrisy of Atheists on Social Media

UPDATE: After I posted this article on Facebook, every comment was an atheist reacting precisely as I said they would in this blog post. They reacted to their own misconceptions about the title and thumbnail without reading the article. They escalated to ad hominem attacks when I told them they failed to apply logic, reason, and critical thinking. All this to avoid the feeling of being wrong:

"Scapegoating atheists for all of your problems is wild.

"I’m not clicking a Clickbait headline from some Rando."

"So, you saying atheists are just like religious believers?

"You don't need to be smart to see you peaked in junior high."

"Read a book, bozo."

"Another believer in the fairy godfather in the sky CULT."

Introduction

"In 2012, my journey into atheism led me to shed the shackles of irrational religious thinking. I promptly sought to clarify the term's definition to ensure I represented it accurately. An atheist, I discovered, is someone who has moved away from theism. Theism, in turn, is the belief in gods with human-like attributes residing in alternate realms. Therefore, an atheist is essentially a person who does not subscribe to the assertions made by theists.

What I've observed as a concern with some atheists is their tendency to swing to the opposite extreme and dismiss the inner dimension of human beings entirely. It's crucial to recognize the significant distinction between mythical gods and the intricate psycho-emotional ecosystem of the human organism. You might expect those who transition into skepticism to replace orthodoxy with rigorous critical thinking. However, I've noticed a propensity among some to "pose" as critical thinkers rather than genuinely applying critical thinking in their approach.

I did not veer towards the extreme of brain-dead dogmatic nihilism and discard the wealth of human experiences in our inner world that spans hundreds of thousands of years. I recognized that figures like Carl Jung, Freud, Sam Harris, Susan Blackmore, and other reputable researchers were not simply dismissing our subjective "spiritual" experiences. I acknowledged that my lifetime had been filled with extraordinary experiences that couldn't be casually dismissed just because I had embraced a new identity as an "Atheist." Instead, I embraced critical thinking and continued my rigorous exploration of the intricacies of reality.

Atheist Zealots

As a new atheist, I took pride in joining a community rooted in reason and rationality. I found inspiration in the wisdom of literary giants like Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett, Christopher Hitchens, Dan Barker, and Sam Harris. So much so, I embarked on a project dedicated to debunking the claims of New Age gurus.

As time passed, I became reluctantly aware of the reactive "black and white" thinking of atheists on social media. Having been in the Christian and New Age community for decades, I was very familiar with the behavior of delusional believers. Their reactions to opposing views were irrational and lacked a genuine open mind. They were protecting their position rather than embracing new ideas.

“A fool is made more of a fool, when their mouth is more open than their mind.”

― Anthony Liccione

I witnessed atheists attacking their opposition like mindless, reactive zealots while waving the flag of reason. They used logic with emotion. When I pointed out this hypocrisy to them, their response only solidified my initial assessment. This, in turn, left me with a growing sense of disillusionment with the community.

I concluded that individuals, regardless of their intellectual pursuits, can succumb to irrationality if they haven't grappled with their own psychological complexities. The more they convince themselves of their intellectual growth, the more they drift away from the practice of self-reflection.

The similarities between religious people and atheists were astounding. The more I called them out on their reactive adolescent behavior, the more they 'doubled down on dumb' while pretending to be sophisticated. Nothing different than the demeanor of the faithful. It was rather amusing.

If an individual, previously adhering to a religious belief system while struggling with ignorance and scientific illiteracy, transitions to atheism only to discard the fundamental principles of critical thinking, I would argue that this shift will lead to a decline in intellectual prowess. It's crucial to differentiate between ignorance and stupidity. The former you can reason with; the latter is a futile endeavor.

Definition of stu·pid:

• Lacking the ability to learn and understand things.
• Not sensible or logical.
• Slow of mind.
• Given to unintelligent decisions or acts.
• Lacking intelligence or reason.
• Acting in an unintelligent or careless manner.
• Lacking interest or point.
• Showing poor judgment or little intelligence.

These self-righteous atheists posture as intelligent skeptics skilled in the craft of logic, virtue signaling their newly developed IQ while acting like adult children with a new squeaky toy. They convert from religious dummies to skeptical dummies. They hop on a new identity and become emotionally reactive pseudo-intellectuals. They attack anything that resembles spirituality without investigation. They act nothing different than religious zealots who mindlessly insult posts that offend their fragile belief system.

Here's one of my responses to the stupefying hypocrisy I received over my book:

The Christians bark at me with their Bible quotes (to be expected), and the Atheists and skeptics react to my book's cover without reading it while lecturing me on "logic and intelligence." Not only are religious people mind-controlled, but Atheists and skeptics literally contradict themselves with their lazy poop-throwing. 

There's nothing impressive about judging a book by its cover. It's better to stay on the couch with your Christopher Hitchens book, beer, and Cheetos than to post a pretensious comment.

Oh the Hypocrisy

Atheists often take pride in signaling their elevated status as critical thinkers. They revel in being free from the constraints of faith and ignorance. However, it's intriguing to note that they sometimes find themselves guilty of the very things they accuse religious individuals of. For instance:

• Not thinking
• Being reactive
• Being unscientific
• Intellectual laziness
• Resorting to insults
• Having no argument
• Not using logic
• Being unwilling to learn
• Being dogmatic
• Being dumb
• Lacking Reason

My book, "unSpiritual: A Spiritual Journey," is the perfect test for Atheists because it was written by an atheist who redefines spirituality from a natural perspective. And what's hilarious is they take one look at the cover of my book, bypass the "unSpiritual" in bold letters, and proceed to accuse me of being religious and delusional. When I ask if they read the book before criticizing it, they either disappear or, in most cases, 'double down on dumb' by arguing nonsensically. In other words, they got caught acting like reactive, non-thinking fools. I have yet to find an atheist who responds, "No problem, I'll read your book and get back to you."

While I was writing this article, I got a few comments from an atheist who had a tantrum over my book promotion. He started out by posting an emoji of "poop" and proceeded to write:

"And how much money did you grift last year? You are so full of crap."

Afterward, Mr Genius posted a picture of a person wiping their butt with a religious napkin. No amount of calling this guy out for failing to apply critical thinking or having the intellectual integrity to reason with me would change his reaction. This is the same behavior I get from every, and I mean "every" religious person whom I call out by quoting the genocides of Jehovah.

The Feeling of Being Wrong

I'm convinced that the number one reason atheists and religious people double down on dumb when they have lost an argument is to avoid the feeling of being wrong. It's nothing short of fascinating. Even the most ardent non-believers, when viewed through the lens of psychological scrutiny, reveal themselves as mere mortals wrestling with the age-old quandaries of human cognition.

Here's an exhaustive list of why atheists avoid the feeling of being wrong:

Cognitive Dissonance: Even those who confidently proclaim the absence of deities are not immune to the pangs of cognitive dissonance. The mental disquiet that arises when evidence threatens their convictions can be a powerful impetus to cling to their existing beliefs.

Confirmation Bias: Atheists fall prey to confirmation bias. They often seek out information that fortifies their nihilistic worldview while conveniently discarding anything that contradicts it.

Threat to Identity: When an atheist's worldview is shaken, they may grapple with existential questions, pondering what remains of their sense of self without their atheistic stance.

Social Influence: The sway of peer groups is a force to be reckoned with. Atheists may hesitate to explore divergent beliefs or ideas for fear of social ostracism or the withering gaze of fellow non-believers.

Emotional Investment: Emotional bonds to beliefs run deep in the human psyche. The emotional attachment to their convictions can make it emotionally arduous to consider alternative perspectives.

Fear of Change: Change is unsettling as the human condition. Admitting to being wrong can disrupt the equilibrium of one's life, replacing certainty with gnawing uncertainty.

Loss of Control: Owning up to error can make one feel powerless or as if they've relinquished control. The uncertainty that accompanies a shift in beliefs can be profoundly disconcerting.

Avoidance and Denial: Atheists, too, have their repertoire of evasion tactics and denial mechanisms to shield themselves from the discomfort of admitting they might be wrong.

Reduced Self-Worth: The acknowledgment of error can strike a grievous blow to one's self-esteem. Like any other believers, Atheists might resist changing their beliefs to protect their fragile sense of competence and self-worth.

Emotional Distress: Let us not forget the potent emotional maelstrom accompanying the sense of being wrong. Fear of shame, embarrassment, guilt, or anxiety can be formidable adversaries to embracing alternative viewpoints.

Motivated Reasoning: The human desires and aspirations that shape our thinking are no strangers to atheists. When confronted with evidence challenging their convictions, they may unconsciously twist it to better fit their beliefs.

Escalation of Commitment: The discomfort of being wrong often leads to a curious phenomenon known as the "escalation of commitment." Atheists might redouble their efforts to uphold their non-belief, investing more zeal and conviction to vindicate their prior decisions.

Information Overload: In our age of information deluge, atheists are not immune to drowning in data. They may selectively filter information to align with their established beliefs to ward off this deluge.

Selective Memory: Memory's capricious nature can sway even the minds of atheists. They may remember information that buttresses their position while dismissing or downplaying opposing evidence.

Inconsistent Reasoning: Just like anyone else, atheists may fall into the trap of inconsistent reasoning, applying different standards of logic to their own beliefs than they do to opposing viewpoints.

Blind Certainty

In conclusion, this scrutiny reveals that the realm of atheism, like any other belief system, is not impervious to the complexities of human psychology. It is a compelling reminder that we are all susceptible to these psychological pitfalls, no matter our convictions. The fear of being wrong should galvanize us to a higher intellectual standard—a standard that demands an unwavering commitment to critical thinking, open discourse, and the courage to confront uncomfortable truths, even when they unsettle the very foundations of our staunchest convictions.

I recommend that atheists and religious devotees seek to "know thyself" before donning the garments of confidence, apologetics, debate, and intellectualism. All human primates share the same genetic structure, no matter what ideologies they defend. The only hope I can see for the pretentious sapiens is to beware of self-deception and keep an open mind.

During a recent debate with a skeptic, our disagreement revolved around the concept of an afterlife. He firmly believed that there was no such thing, while I stressed the idea that he couldn't assert the non-existence of an afterlife any more than its existence. After a prolonged exchange marked by repetitive arguments, I eventually conceded. My point remained unassailable: no atheist can claim to know definitively that there is no afterlife, as none have experienced it firsthand. This fact was beyond his ability to comprehend.

He was blinded by what he wanted to be true, the very thing atheists accuse believers of.

For those of you who have been following this blog, you are well aware of my misanthropic slant. I consider everyone an asshole until proven otherwise. Thus, I doubt this article will change the behavior of atheists on social media. So, for the unforeseen future, I will continue to enjoy the circus, one hypocritical poop-throwing comment after another.

— Zzenn