Atheism as Identity

As a mental health professional, I have long understood that how people identify themselves is essential to their lives. Everyone struggles to find and maintain an identity, and once established we'll fight to defend it. Identity represents meaning and purpose in our lives, and it also plays a role in our feelings of security. The formula sometimes used is meaning + security = identity.

Meaning is easily explained. We all want our lives to have purpose. We all want to matter. Similarly, we want to feel a sense of security...a sense that what is foundational to us will also provide us a degree of protection in some way. For some, security is found in a lucrative job or a loving spouse. Or it may be excellent health, physical beauty, etc.

For those whose atheism is at the core of their identity (as I contend it is for those who come to pages like this and spend their day advocating for their worldview), security might be a sense of freedom from authority, or maybe a guarantee that one's sexual tastes will not be judged. Or it may just be freedom from the perceived obligations that come from God.

But for whatever reason, there is a class of atheist...the militant atheist, the vocal atheist, the crusading atheist...whose identity is tied to their atheism. Who are they? They're atheists. And that has meaning to them. That defines their purpose in life. That provides them the sense of security they seek.

I have often heard, for example, atheists who say "I come to these debate groups to defend freedom against Christians trying to take away our rights" or "I'm here to stop you from brainwashing unsuspecting people", etc. This is a clear statement of the attempt at deriving meaning in their lives from their atheism. I have heard other people, when they're honest, say that they refuse to be judged. They don't want to be oppressed or forced to follow laws or rules that they personally hate. In this case, atheism provides them with security against those perceived restrictions.

One thing about identity...we'll fight to defend it. When we feel that it's under attack, we go into defensive mode. We do whatever is necessary to keep the thing on which we depend from being diminished or removed from our lives. After all, what are we without meaning in our lives? Without security? Without identity?

Christians often wonder why atheists are so nasty on these pages, and why they attack and mock. They also wonder why they cling to a worldview that is so clearly not aligned with the facts of the universe we find around them. Indeed, why (if they believe this is the only life and afterward is an eternal void) do they waste a single minute in a group like this? Why not just go out and enjoy the time they have. The answer is simple...these activities are crucial to their identity, and they will defend that identity to the death.

Facts and evidence are irrelevant (at least, for those who are as deeply invested in atheism as their identity as most on here are). What's important is maintaining their identity at all costs...defending it from attack. And that means defending their atheistic ideas to the death, if necessary.

This explains so much. It explains why atheists come to pages like this to debate in the first place. It explains why they are so immune to the evidence and arguments presented by Christians. It explains the sometimes-vicious responses we get from atheists. We are a threat to their atheism...and thus their identity. And that cannot be tolerated.

To wrap up, people may be thinking "but Christians find their identity in their faith" and the answer is "of course we do". Everyone finds their identity somewhere. I would submit that with Christians, the difference is that our identity is grounded in something that aligns with the facts...that is real and true.

For me, my identity is definitely tied to my Christian faith, but it's also heavily invested in knowing and following truth wherever it leads. No matter the consequences. This is why I push so hard for us to all pursue the truth at all costs.

But be certain of one thing. We all have things that establish our identity. If that thing is something which cannot ultimately provide value and security, you'll experience times when you must defend it from attack (maybe your job might be threatened...maybe your savings disappear in a stock crash...maybe your health deteriorates). To avoid this is life's quest. Find something grounded in the truth. Something that truly does provide the value and security, and thus the identity we all seek.

That "certain thing" is Jesus Christ. Everything else can be stripped away from us. But nothing can separate us from the love of Jesus Christ.

And in that, we find our true source of meaning. Our true source of security. Our true identity.