Things I am because I'm an Atheist (According to ignorant Christians)
Personal introspective is something rarely afforded to us, yet is the most revealing aspect of ourselves. How we respond to criticism is telling of our maturity, moral concepts, and understanding of what it truly means to receive criticism. Since becoming open about my atheism and advocating within my own community on a small scale, I've come to learn all sorts of things I am now associated with by identifying with that word, and my actual positioning on the absurd associations.
1) Atheists eat babies...
First of all, just read that aloud and try to hold any sort of valid belief that such a thing is true. If you are of such a ridiculous minded understanding on things I will now in an act of futility disbar this notion through reason. If it were true that I had a desire to eat babies there are a few inherit problems. For one thing, I'm not in prison. Surely if this had taken place someone most certainly would have called the police and linked me to murdering an innocent baby for means of committing cannibalism. Also, I would imagine that to avoid the pitfalls of manslaughter directly I could simply purchase dead baby meat from some shady black market right? If anyone can actually find a figure for how much baby meat costs I'd sure be interested in how you know of such things, but I imagine it'd be fairly expensive. Being a man of simple means I'd doubtfully be able to afford it. I suppose you could say I don't eat babies for the same reason any sane person doesn't eat babies. Because it's wrong, I have no desire to do so, and even if I did I'd surely lack financial means to accomplish such a thing.
Perhaps this idea comes from an obscure reference. Maybe an incident happened where someone did eat a baby, and by coincidence didn't believe in God. Well if that's a fair assumption then in fairness I can also declare all christians to be child abusers, as the bible specifically dictates that disobedient children are to be stoned, and not in the Cheech and Chong good time sense. I don't know about you but I've never met any child that wasn't disobedient at some point.
2) Atheists have no morals...
I pose a question. Is it you identify as having morality because it has been dictated to you by means of indoctrination of a belief in God, and the supposed teachings of the Bible and nothing else? If so, I find you are a poor human being of weak social value. Things are good because they are good, but the perception of that changes. American history is laden with examples of this, and our nation has barely existed for a fraction of time compared to recorded civilization. I cannot speak to atheist morality as a whole but if you ask any of my friends they will tell you, I don't drink, and I don't smoke or partake in drugs of any kind. I DO have an affinity for using curse words, so mark one against me on that front. If the Bible is some representation of where our values should be placed then I'm very afraid, as I'd attest is the same for many atheists. A doctrine advocating murder of those who disagree with your belief, killing of children, inequality for women, inequality for different ethnic groups, and slavery would be a large step back for civilization. Type a simple google search for passages relating to any of these things in the bible and see what comes up, then go a step further and confirm it in your own Bible at home.
Lastly before you assert that Jesus was a breaking point that lead to salvation from the old testament: Luke 19:27 (KJV) 27 But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me. (Without sin my ass)
3) Atheists don't appreciate life...
When you operate under the premise that this is it, and our time here on this planet is our one and only shot, you see how such a statement is so flawed it can only come from willful ignorance. More importantly, we place a higher value not only on our own lives, but those of others, because we recognize the afflictions brought onto others by others as being a human affair, and not divine influence. (Still don't get how you can call it free will, yet everything is influenced by God even though he already knew what was going to happen anyway)
Our interactions with one another determine our future, which we know based on studying the past. With that knowledge we can predict that our actions will shape the future for better or worse, and that those who follow us will be left with either a good or bad place to live (Earth) We appreciate life so much that we give a great deal of thought towards those lives which have yet to come, and the parables that religion has set forth which threaten that future.
4) Atheism is just another religion...
Atheism is a religion like off is a T.V. channel. The biggest doctrine in atheism is, that there is no doctrine. Opinions and views differ as wildly as you could think with the exception to the identifier. It expresses a great deal of futility on the atheists' part when fundamentalists liken the word "Reason" to being a faith based initiative. It shows how much they simply cannot grasp the concept and just how futile it is to try and have a relevant discussion with these people. For as much ridiculousness fundamentalists invoke on society moderates are worse. At least fundamentalists attempt to make a grab at facts, however misguided they may be in associating them to predetermined truths. Moderates for the most part have an enormous void of any form of fact or interest in discovering things that are within their own doctrine. Sheep is an apt word, as since they lack any sort of basis for their own ideas they simply piggy back onto those of the fundamentalists and potent speakers as their own ideology, picking and choosing what they feel suits them.
5) Atheists are secretly worshiping Satan...
I can't worship something I don't believe exists. It'd be like worshiping Captain Planet, or Mr. Magoo. They're completely fictional, I know they're fictional, so why would I hope to derive anything out of fiction? It'd have to deal with something from a deeply psychological origin, like if I touch my index finger three times the next roll of the dice will be a six. If it doesn't happen, it means nothing, because I just didn't believe enough. If I make belief my focus and it eventually ends up being six, huzzah! I was right! If not, keep trying until I achieve validation.
I know that this concept comes from the dichotomy of christianity with good and evil. All things good are from God, and all things evil are from the Satan... except for in the case of Job in the Bible, or the flood, or any time in which things that are recognized universally as being evil are done by God, because then God just works in mysterious ways. Or, the devil? I mean, God created the devil, so viz a vi, all evil originated from God, and persists because of God. It get's confusing. Nevertheless, my jabs at coaxing reasonable thought out of individuals when it comes to discussing these things are seen by the faithful only as the temptations of Satan, so their natural assumption is that I'm an agent of the Devil.
6) Atheists can't conceive what love is...
Ouch, that hurts. Been accused of this one directly and it really puts a stinger in the heart. Again I know where this can come from with the rhetoric spouted in church. They teach you that to not know him is to be vacant of love and joy. So, from their perspective they're right. Because I don't recognize God or Jesus as existing I'm devoid of "God's love" and you know what, I'm okay with that. I know what unconditional love is. I also have an inventory of other emotions I call on to associate with that love, such as empathy, and understanding.
Christians define all their relationships through divinity (God must have his own version of facebook, and he must hate it as much as we do.) If two people drift apart, it must be because of something they did towards God: or the devil is trying to tear them apart. That creates a profound situation of two people trying to understand something that they can't. What did they do or not do? How can they know when God won't answer? They're left to rely on counselors or their own reasoning, and typically choose the counseling which can be just as bat-shit if it's also coming from a religious standpoint.
I'm left to my own reasoning and an unclouded assessment of things when dealing with others. I'm an introvert for sure, but I recognize that which is important. It lets me know that sometimes I need to be more vocal and assertive with the people I know, and when things go wrong in relationships I look inwards for perspective. I love many things, and many people, but my way of showing it is unique to me, just as it's unique to you. I cannot be anything more than what I am, but what I am is just fine.