Back in 2006, I became aware that atheists are the most distrusted minority in America.

This wasn't exactly suprising news. Conversations with theists have convinced me that most of them do not understand atheism. The idea that people tend to fear (and mistrust) that which they do not understand is well known. But why do people not understand atheism? One reason is that, for most people, religion represents their foundational philosophy for understanding the universe. Religion is so essential to the average person's perception of reality that the idea of trusting an atheist is as disquieting as the idea of eating a three-headed fish. Even if the AMA published exhaustive proof that the three-headed fish is perfectly safe to eat, there is no way in hell that a dyed-in-the-wool eater of one-headed fish is going to take a bite. In other words, a three-headed fish just ain't right.

In addition to simple instinctive wariness of the unknown, distrust of atheists is explicitly fostered by religious leaders and dogma. The central theme of this campaign of prejudice is the idea that anyone who doesn't believe in god is a sort of moral "loose cannon", so barren of decency and virtue that they are likely to spontaneously explode into a frenzy of raping, murder, and pillaging like some godless, rampaging Viking on PCP. In fact, the word "godless" is so ingrained in our collective psyche as such a negative condition that common synonyms include "depraved", "evil", "unprincipled", and "wicked".

Another reason for the distrust is the perception that atheists are intellectual elitists, eggheads, and pointy-headed nerds. For whatever reason, American culture glorifies those who strive to be the strongest, fastest, or most attractive while scorning those who choose to develop their mental faculties. Smart people like Stephen Hawking, Noam Chomsky, and Umberto Eco are almost unknown, while people like Paris Hilton and Hulk Hogan are national celebrities. The odd thing about this is that most adults perceive intelligence as a postive trait and encourage it in their children. A parent will go on and on about how smart little Johnny is, how well he is doing in school, how bright his future prospects are. In the meantime, little Johnny is often being mocked and bullied by the less intellectually blessed kids at school for being a pointy-headed nerd.

So the distrust of atheists is understandable. Atheists, in one or more fundamental ways, vary from the norm. Atheists are different. People simply don't understand how an otherwise normal kid, born and bred in the good ol' USA could deviate so far from societal standards and grow up to be an atheist. A three-headed fish, so to speak.

Only atheists aren't three-headed fish. Atheists are people. They have jobs and serve in the military and worry about internet child molesters just like everyone else. The only difference between an average person and an atheist is that the atheist does not believe there is a god. Period. Thats all. There is no secret conspiracy to take over the world, no clandestine movement to repeal the right to freedom of religion, no desire to usher in the reign of Satan.

People become atheists for a variety of reasons, which results in a variety of atheists. One of the more common varieties of atheist is the angry atheist. This person is not really an atheist, but a theist who is angry at god for one reason or another. The reason usually centers on a perception that their god allowed something to happen that they don't think he should have permitted. Since their god didn't live up to their expectations, they get angry and stike back at him in the only way they can...they deny his existence.

A very few people are raised as atheists. These people are dogmatic atheists. They hold their views not because they have engaged in an in-depth evaluation of whether or not god exists, but simply because it was the way they were raised. They have been ingrained with a sort of secular catechism and are as intractable as the most hardcore religious fundamentalist.

Then there are the rational atheists. Rational atheists are those who have tried to set aside how they wish things were and tried to discern how things really are. Personally, I wish there were a god. The idea of a stern but merciful father figure who has the entire universe in his hands is very attractive and comforting. But a prudent person does not believe in something just because it makes them feel good. A prudent person believes in that which is supported by the preponderance of evidence. A rational atheist is someone who has evaluated the available evidence and drawn the conclusion that the existence of god is not supported.

I was once asked by a very nice young lady, "If you don't believe in God, how do you know when you have sinned?" This question underscores the reason for the general distrust of atheists. If we do not draw our moral code from the Bible or a similar religious text, then what is our basis for morality? What other basis for morality is there?

"The Americans, on the contrary, are fond of explaining almost all the actions of their lives by the principle of interest rightly understood; they show with complacency how an enlightened regard for themselves constantly prompts them to assist each other, and inclines them willingly to sacrifice a portion of their time and property to the welfare of the state." - Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America, 1835

This principle has since become known as enlightened self interest. It is an ethical philosophy that recognizes that an individual's self-interest can often be best served by furthering the interests of the group to which the individual belongs. This differs from altruism, in which the individual sacrifices his own interests in favor of that which will benefit others.

"Altruism is the willful sacrifice of one's own interests or well-being for the sake of something that is non-self. It is also often defined as being the selfless concern for the welfare of others. It is a traditional virtue in many cultures, and central to many religious traditions. In English, this idea was often described as the Golden rule of ethics. In Buddhism it is considered a fundamental property of human nature. However, altruism also includes those who force others to sacrifice for some higher cause, even if it is a nonhuman or nonexistent one. Communism, Nazism, Fascism, and Conservatism are altruistic philosophies, as are most of the world's religions." Wikipedia

The rational atheist acts in a moral manner because, ultimately, it is in his own best interests to do so. Any person, regardless of religious belief, who consistently acts in an immoral manner will soon accrue a massive weight of negative consequences. Most acts we identify as immoral are punishable by fine and/or imprisonment. Even those immoral acts which are not classified as illegal result in varying degrees of social and familial ostracism. To put it bluntly, there is no long term benefit to behaving in an immoral manner.

So relax, theists. With the single exception of the belief in god, atheists are no different than you. Our morality rewards good behavior, just like yours, except our reward comes in this life rather than being postponed to an afterlife in which we have no belief. And we are not smarter than theists. We just think we are.