Atheists are depressed/unhappy?

[14 Year Old Atheist]

Why is this such a common misconception?

I would like to see why theists think this, and if you wish I will post why I believe the opposite is true.

 

[drich0150]

"Happiness" is simply a matter of perspective. "we" have found Happiness/joy in our God/system of belief. Simple logic would say that an opposing belief structured in a manner to tear at the foundational truths or the "Happiness" of others would most likly be founded in "Unhappiness." Otherwise why not simply leave those who know Joy or the happiness that comes from knowing God alone?

...That is, if you were truly Happy with your "faith" then why the need to seek and redeem the "saved" with your personal version of enlightenment?

 

[Bible2]

14 Year Old Atheist posted in message #1 of this thread:

I would like to see why theists think this

Greetings.

Note that nothing requires that all theists think that all atheists are
unhappy. Some theists could think that some atheists are happy, but
still on the wrong path, for "There is a way that seemeth right unto
a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death" (Proverbs 16:25).
And even a fool can be happy: "The fool hath said in his heart,
There is no God" (Psalms 14:1). So happiness doesn't mean that
someone necessarily is wise; indeed, "For in much wisdom is much
grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow"
(Ecclesiastes 1:18). When we begin to realize how horribly sinful we
humans are, it can kind of put a damper on any foolish happiness we
might have. It can sober us up, and cause us to realize how much we
need God's forgiveness: "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to
you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye
double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter
be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves
in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up" (James 4:8-10). And
this forgiveness is found only through faith in Jesus and his death on
the cross for our sins: "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the
truth, and the life: no man cometh unto [God] the Father, but by me"
(John 14:6); "For this is my blood of the new testament, which is
shed for many for the remission of sins" (Matthew 26:28).

 

[Celticflower]

I've never found any atheist to be any more or less depressed or unhappy than any person of faith is. Each developes different ways of coping with what comes along. Atheist rely on themselves, friends, and medication. People of faith do as well, we just add God (or a god) to the mix.

 

[Ryft]

Atheists are depressed or unhappy? Why is this such a common misconception? I would like to see why theists think this, and if you wish I will post why I believe the opposite is true.

I suppose it would come down to what is meant by the words "depressed" or "unhappy." Seriously. There is just way too much potential for equivocation here. For instance, it is possible (a) for you to have interpreted these words in a way different from (b) how they were intended by the sources you got them from. And it is further possible (c) for readers here to understand these words in a way different from (d) how they were intended by you when you posted the question. (For example, when I see the word "depressed" I take it in the clinical sense. But did you mean it in the clinical sense, or perhaps more informally?)

Whether or not atheists are depressed or unhappy depends entirely on what those words mean. If it's supposed to mean that atheists necessarily go through life with an unrelenting sense of dissatisfaction, then I would say that's true. Most atheists go through life in a fruitless search for meaning; they recognize this deep sense of meaning and try to connect with it through various means of self-gratification, but despite their efforts or accomplishments that yearning persists. Some atheists try to silence it through an intellectual skepticism that tries to pretend life has no meaning, but it doesn't work (which most never admit to anyone beyond themselves and their closest loved ones). And some, although few are these, resign themselves to a proud despair which imagines that meaning is supposed to remain forever elusive.

In every case, this sense of dissatisfaction is always present. Atheists will wrestle with it or compartmentalize it in various ways, but it is always there. That is the sense in which "atheists are depressed or unhappy," by their persistent refusal to recognize themselves for what they are: beings specially created in the image of God. That is where meaning in life is discovered, and why it continues to elude atheists... who try to suppress that which refuses to be suppressed.

 

[[serious]]

I don't thin atheists are unhappy. I wasn't unhappy as an atheist when I was one.

 

[GrayAngel]

As a Christian who's had an interest in God for years, I have to say that I do not believe that atheists are any bit less happy than Christians. As a matter of fact, the Bible actually says that God will allow His children to endure hardship because He loves them. Christians are not happier, and the bigger an enemy you are to Satan, the more likely demons are going to do whatever they can to try to stop you.

Unfortunately, a lot of Christians do believe in this myth that atheists are miserable simply because they don't have God in their lives. They think atheists have some kind of hole in their lives that they just can't ignore, and this hole makes them miserable until they believe in God.

I have noticed a pattern in all people, that they will often accept a myth as truth faster than they will accept the truth that disproves it. This is why I have adapted this philosophy: if most people believe in a certain truth, it is almost certainly a lie.

However, although God does not give His children happiness, He does give us something else. Christians call this thing joy. The modern meaning of joy implies a higher degree of happiness. However, joy, as described in the Bible, is not happiness. Joy can actually be experienced in the middle of torture. The Bible says Jesus' desciples were full of joy that they would endure torture for the glory of their God.

Acts 5:41
The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.

Romans 5:2b-5
And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

John 16:22
So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.

1 Peter 1:6
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.

1 Peter 4:13
But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.

God has a supernatural way to comfort those in suffering. Another name for the Holy Spirit is, in fact, "Comforter."

Matthew 5:4
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Luke 2:14
"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

So in summary of what I've already said, happiness (a lack of physical or emotional pain) is not something God grants to His children, but He gives joy, peace, and comfort to those who come to Him. The source of the myth is that we often mistake these things for happiness when they are in fact different.

 

[newbeliever02072005]

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[andy1982]

I think you can only know the answer to that once you've been saved and become a Christian. Only then you can make the comparison.

I believe that atheists are lonely people, not unhappy, but just lonely (my father has been one most of his adult life). For, a Christian is never really alone. It's just a feeling that everyone has to experience in order to compare.

I've heard born again people say that Jesus completely changed their lives and they wished they had accepted him in their lives from the start.

So until atheist knows the love of God and what he can give him, he might even live a totally happy life, it's only after becoming a Christian when he'll know what he's been missing.

 

[[serious]]

I think you can only know the answer to that once you've been saved and become a Christian. Only then you can make the comparison.

I believe that atheists are lonely people, not unhappy, but just lonely (my father has been one most of his adult life). For, a Christian is never really alone. It's just a feeling that everyone has to experience in order to compare.

I've heard born again people say that Jesus completely changed their lives and they wished they had accepted him in their lives from the start.

So until atheist knows the love of God and what he can give him, he might even live a totally happy life, it's only after becoming a Christian when he'll know what he's been missing.

I wasn't lonely when I was an atheist. The stereotypes seen on TV don't actually apply to the real world.

 

[ephraimanesti]

Why is this such a common misconception?

MY BROTHER,

This view of atheists is so common mainly because it is true and accurate, a wishful rose-colored-glasses view of things not withstanding.

I would like to see why theists think this.

If the above assertion requires proof, a quick look at the societies created by atheists when they were able to grasp control of countries and put their Godless beliefs into practice on the ground should prove the point. Look at the human misery engendered by the "wisdom" of the atheist darwinian mantra "Survival of the Fittest" and the humanist mantra "No 'god' but man" in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the Peoples' Republic of China, the Peoples' Republic of North Vietnam, the Khmer Rouge-controlled Cambodia, etc.

Atheism is a road into darkness, and darkness is indeed a depressing and unhappy place to be. May God save you from having to experience it for yourself!

A BOND-SLAVE/FRIEND/BROTHER OF OUR LORD/GOD/SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST,
ephraim