What's with the stereotype that Atheists must be depressed?

They think the idea of a god gives their life purpose and meaning, and because we life without that ideology, we must somehow be sad

My mom is like this, she told me "I believe with all my heart atheists are sad and are just too stubborn to admit their lives are not complete"

It is a sign of ignorance and arrogance. I am found Christian Americans to be extremely culture centric

Yeah it's a bad stereotype. Theists can be depressed too. I don't buy the slogan of "We live our life to the fullest because it's the only one we've got" for every atheist though. That's also a false claim to say that every atheist is a great person and never depressed.

Yeah I wasn't slamming you as if you were making a false claim, but when I see that "live my life to the fullest" stuff I can't help thinking that some people are just saying it and not doing it. I'm a cynic like that. = P

It's because most believer types tend to go about under a fog of delusional bliss that is a result of their brain chemistry being altered by their "prayerful thinking". This has been proven.

People who engage in devout prayer, much like those who practice transcendental mediation, yoga, tai chi, and similar meditation exercises, experience a pattern of brain waves that creates a feeling of mild euphoria. This is, of course, taken to represent the divine presence of the Almighty, or FSM, depending upon the flavor of religion one subscribes to. For the meditative, the sensation is often likened to a state of ascendant thought, enlightenment, or chakra alignment.

If one were to go about in an almost chronic state of mild euphoria, it would be easy to see others (i.e., people who don't act/believe the same as you) as "missing out."

Odd the way that only the truly fundie and over-zealous new-agers tend to be high enough on their own brain juice to want to convert other people.

I enjoy yoga and tai chi, but I'm sure as hell not going to tell you that you're life will end in pain and misery and endless torment if you don't strike a down-dog right alongside me, or gracefully move through white crane opens wings.

I do not stereotype Atheists as depressed. I am a Christian and I agree with you. It would be easier for me to believe that this life is all there is and that when I die there is nothing. No accountability. No judgment throne of God. Nothing.

The problem is, I know that isn't true. I know God is real and when our bodies die, our soul/spirit does live on. I may not have the whole after-life thing figured out...I don't think anyone does, really...but I know our energy, essence, soul, spirit cannot be destroyed. That part of us does live on.

What's with the stereotype that theists are stupid? Or uneducated, or indoctrinated, or otherwise unable to process information logically?

I don't think that just because you're an atheist you must be unhappy or depressed. I don't think your life is meaningless either. I think God loves you more than you realize, and if anything I hope that your world can become even more enriched someday by having an amazing encounter with him like I did. But if that never happens, my respect for you does not diminish. I wish you well. Always. :)

I guess I never heard that before. As for me all I wonder about Atheists is, are they going to except God when they wake up after dieing in the spirit world? Or are they going to still say there is no God and this is just the spirit and the spirit cannot die. I truly hope you will make a commitment to say I will pray to God give thanks that my spirit did not die and listen to his teachings if I am a spirit after I die. If you don't the next step is the resurrection of the body which Jesus will do at the Judgment but then it will be far to late to except him and his atonement, you will kneel before him and admit he was the savior and that you are not worthy to be in his kingdom because you would not exercise faith even when the truth was before you, and you did the same as crucify him with your tongue and lead his children to ever lasting hell, which is the knowledge you could have excepted him and received all he had even as he did his fathers kingdom or heaven.

False generalization. Christians who believe that are the sort who would themselves be depressed if they truly believed that God didn't exist, so everyone else must feel the same under similar circumstances. However, it assumes that if one person stakes their identity and worldview on the idea that God exists everyone else must too. But that's like a woman wondering how men menstruate.

they don't believe in a gods. I hear that one persistently back. actual, it is not a foul stereotype on the grounds that i've got in no way come for the time of an exception to it. fake stereotypes I in many circumstances hear: They by ability of definition believe particular medical theories. they think rely magically regarded from nowhere. they don't have morals.

Even if the majority of atheists were depressed it wouldn't prove or disprove the existence of God. I don't think whether a religion of or lack thereof makes you happy or depressed holds weight on its credibility. What it comes down to is evidence -Do you have it or don't you?

No, I don't think that Atheists are depressed and down, at least not more or less than any other person. I do know though that life isn't always good to us and fair and wonderful. Every person will have trials in their lives. Some we manage to handle well, others will break us. It is then when I can say that I am glad to have God who loves me and provides for all that I need and it is then when I have seen my unbelieving friends struggle with questions of hopelessness and grief.