What’s the biggest misconception that others have about your religious (or non-religious) persuasion?

the most common and annoying one i hear is that atheists don't have morals

pisses me off.

then again, it pisses me off when people generalize about any group of people, even ones i'm not part of.

The biggest misconception for me as a Christian is that I hate science. I love science! I do not believe the earth was made in 6 days and the earth is only 6000 yrs old. That is ridicules.

I do believe in some parts of evolution but not all. There is more to a Christian then meets the eye or at least for me there is.

I guess people would classify me as an Atheist. I hate how people think that I only do not believe in god because I don't want to be held accountable for my actions. This is false. Another thing that bothers me is that people think something horrible happened to me not to believe in god and that secretly I do believe this is false as well. As my life might not be perfect thats not the reason I do not believe it might be a tiny part but no it's NOT the full reason there are many reasons to my non belief. I don't like to be generalized and I try not to do the same to others.

I guess the most common misconception is that we're not Christians but some type of strange cult that's boring and would let their children die if they don't get blood transfusions even though there are plenty of safe, bloodless alternatives that are cost effective and require less down-time in a hospital.

Man, that's a long sentence!

The following are common misconceptions about atheists:

We are moral relativists, we make up morality to suit our every desire. >>> Most of us believe in a sense of right and wrong, based on social responsibility and reason.

We are hedonists. >>>I believe that consenting adults have the right to do what they wish in private, but I find hedonism to be irresponsible and self destructive.

We are angry at God, we just want to justify doing things our way. >>>I am an atheist because I see no supernatural creator behind the physical laws of the universe, and because I don't find a god personally involved in anyone's life, let alone my own. I truly do not believe there is a god, and that religions are human inventions.

I probably fit into the atheist category, but I have a particular fondness of philosophy of Taoism.

Most believers are shocked when they see, time and again, that I am a 'stand up guy'.

I do not victimize people.

I do not steal.

I give to charity, and help strangers.

I do not go to strip clubs, or indulge in porn (I have known many women in the sex business (and dated a couple), and think that they are being victimized in any number of ways).

People trust me with their children, and often want them exposed to a 'good' guy, like me.

Religious people seem to trust me with 'secrets', that they won't share with their fellow worshipers.

I have integrity.

I have honor.

I have self-esteem.

I want the best for everyone, even if I don't like you (with a few extreme exceptions).

My life is quite good, no God required!

I practice "santería", a religious mixture of African Mythology and Catholic worship. We do have sacrificial rituals of goats and lamb, plus hens, roosters and chicken. We give the blood to our deities in a form of an idol and the people then skin the animals and cook them and eat them in celebration.

We are accused of witchcraft and killing domestic animals and babies, which is not true. We have been recognized by the Supreme Court of the country as a legitimate religion, but people full of ignorance turned into hate discriminate against us. Go figure!

In general, I have noticed that many atheists seem to assume that religious people must not have thought about their religion, or must not have noticed the same difficulties that the atheists have noticed.

Quantum mechanics has many apparent paradoxes, but we all accept it is true all the same, Schrödinger's cat, Hinesburg's uncertainty principle, and the apparent contradiction of the particle/wave duality of light notwithstanding. Why then do atheists assume that religion must be simple to understand in order for it to be true?

I am Christian, btw.

===edit==

I get annoyed at the atheist assumption that religious people do not think, and do not research their own religion, and haven't thought about the apparent paradoxes and complexities. Many atheists seem to fail to understand that it is these complexities and mysteries that actually make religion so appealing, rather than repulsive, for most people. The very things that they attack about religion often turns out to be part its appeal to its followers, and atheists don't get that.

The misconception that the DaVinci code is true.(Catholic)

Some people also think that based on my questions and answers some people think I'm an Atheist an claim I don't know anything.

I am an Eclectic Pagan....and the most common beliefs that are mistakenly associated with people who know me or try to judge me.....? That i am Evil and i worship Satan and feed off of the young!

In my beliefs..i want only tolerance and respect for all, not only myself..and no disrespect to anyone out there, but i dont believe in Satan nor do i believe in Hell!

Blessed Be

Agnostic - Most people assume that I am too lazy or too misinformed to be holding my position (that I don't know if god exists or not - impossible to prove). Actually, I know a great deal about religion, and am always looking to learn more.