Atheism, Autism and Narcissism

[CynthiaCypher]

Some scientist and researchers have made a connection between atheism and some forms of autism. A religious belief is thought to be neuro-typical, our natural, normal and healthy mental functions induce these sort of beliefs for our own benefit. Except for the atheist, their brain do not function normally, many do not understand figurative language (which is needed to develop a healthy spirituality), feel a deep inner connection to others or the outside or feel that much empathy, all indications of autism. According to some scientists whom I have read people on the autistic spectrum are more likely to be atheistic.

And know what you are about to read next might sound like an unethical experiment, well because it is. At times I have used figurative language purposely when in discussions with certain atheists and often times they were unable to decode what I was saying. In fact I would do this several times with the same atheists and the results would often be the same, they would either take what I said literally or they seemed to be confused at what I was trying to convey figuratively. So I do believe that some atheists might indeed have some form of autism.

But also, the inability to connect or empathize with others might mean something else in the atheists besides autism. Autistic people might find it hard to form deep connections or empathize with others but they also have a deep seated need to do so. So this leaves me with another option: Maybe autistic people are not prone to atheism, maybe it is people who are merely narcissistic who are prone to atheism. I can see how the two could get confused. Narcissists are like Jehovah, they see themselves as the center of the universe and there can be no other Gods before them. In fact I think narcissism might be more conducive towards the creation of an atheist than I could see autism doing so.

Your thoughts.

 

[Curious George]

Some scientist and researchers have made a connection between atheism and some forms of autism. A religious belief is thought to be neuro-typical, our natural, normal and healthy mental functions induce these sort of beliefs for our own benefit. Except for the atheist, their brain do not function normally, many do not understand figurative language (which is needed to develop a healthy spirituality), feel a deep inner connection to others or the outside or feel that much empathy, all indications of autism. According to some scientists whom I have read people on the autistic spectrum are more likely to be atheistic.

And known what you are about to read next might sound like an unethical experiment, well because it is. At times I have figurative language purposely when in discussions with certain atheists and often times they were unable to decode what I was saying. In fact I would do this several times with the same atheists and the results would often be the same, they would either take what I said literally or they seemed to be confused at what I was trying to convey figuratively. So I do believe that some atheists might indeed have some form of autism.

But also, the inability to connect or empathize with others might mean something else in the atheists besides autism. Autistic people might find it hard to form deep connections or empathize with others but they also have a deep seated need to do so. So this leaves me with another option: Maybe autistic people are not prone to atheism, maybe it is people who are merely narcissistic who are prone to atheism. I can see how the two could get confused. Narcissists are like Jehovah, they see themselves as the center of the universe and there can be no other Gods before them. In fact I think narcissism might be more conducive towards the creation of an atheist than I could see autism doing so.

Your thoughts.

Is that about what your esoteric ramblings about the working class was?

After the rains, and your orchids are pollinated will you feel the same?

 

[CynthiaCypher]

Is that about what your esoteric ramblings about the working class was?

After the rains, and your orchids are pollinated will you feel the same?

What does this have to do with my thread on the working class?

And yes, I love the smell of orchids and I what is good for the goose...

 

[Sha'irullah]

So Atheist's are mentally impaired? Um ok. I hope you are backing this up with some sort of credibility because this is really pushing it.

 

[Curious George]

What does this have to do with my thread on the working class?

And yes, I love the smell of orchids and I what is good for the goose...

Just busting your chops with figurative language. I tried but couldn't resist, sorry if I raised any hairs.

 

[DreadFish]

It does make some sense that someone with Autism would be less likely to believe in a god concept because of their psychology, but I wouldn't say that it means that atheists are more likely to be autistic than theists. Also, people with autism/asperger's do have empathy and often feel others so strongly that they can't stand to be around other people too much. The thing is a difference of understanding NT's behavior and thought processes (anyone genuinely in the know about autism, feel free to correct me). I also disagree that neurotypical is "our natural, normal and healthy mental functions", that insinuates that not being neurotypical is not natural or healthy. Neurotypical is just that, typical.

An autistic person may be inclined to be an atheist based on their psychology, but that does not mean that an atheist may possibly be autistic because of their lack of belief in a god concept.

Same with narcissism. A narcissist may be more likely to be an atheist because he is very self-centered, but that does not mean that an atheist is more likely to be a narcissist because he doesn't believe in a god.

You also gotta remember that you're on an internet forum, where lots of people who are not normally social, due to various reasons, like to socialize. So your testing pool might not be the best for testing whether atheists tend to be neurotypical or not. We're also only reading words, which means that it's harder to convey subtext and nuance than in person.

 

[steeltoes]

85-90% of scientists are atheists. 10-15% of the general population are atheists, some countries much higher. Less than 1% of the population is autistic.


The numbers kill your little theory.



.

 

[brokensymmetry]

Some scientist and researchers have made a connection between atheism and some forms of autism. A religious belief is thought to be neuro-typical, our natural, normal and healthy mental functions induce these sort of beliefs for our own benefit. Except for the atheist, their brain do not function normally, many do not understand figurative language (which is needed to develop a healthy spirituality), feel a deep inner connection to others or the outside or feel that much empathy, all indications of autism. According to some scientists whom I have read people on the autistic spectrum are more likely to be atheistic.

And known what you are about to read next might sound like an unethical experiment, well because it is. At times I have figurative language purposely when in discussions with certain atheists and often times they were unable to decode what I was saying. In fact I would do this several times with the same atheists and the results would often be the same, they would either take what I said literally or they seemed to be confused at what I was trying to convey figuratively. So I do believe that some atheists might indeed have some form of autism.

But also, the inability to connect or empathize with others might mean something else in the atheists besides autism. Autistic people might find it hard to form deep connections or empathize with others but they also have a deep seated need to do so. So this leaves me with another option: Maybe autistic people are not prone to atheism, maybe it is people who are merely narcissistic who are prone to atheism. I can see how the two could get confused. Narcissists are like Jehovah, they see themselves as the center of the universe and there can be no other Gods before them. In fact I think narcissism might be more conducive towards the creation of an atheist than I could see autism doing so.

Your thoughts.

There's also a link between increased religiosity and schizophrenia. I think that both of these things tells us something potentially fascinating about the nature of religion. People who have weaker theory of mind are less likely to be religious, could that means that religiosity is connected to over-seeing the actions of agents in the natural world? People who are apt to have delusions are more likely to be religious, could it be that religious experiences are related parts of the mind that involved seeing alternative realities? or even paranoia?

 

[CynthiaCypher]

85-90% of scientists are atheists. 10-15% of the general population are atheists, some countries much higher. Less than 1% of the population is autistic.


The numbers kill your little theory.



.

But when it comes to narcissism?

 

[CynthiaCypher]

So Atheist's are mentally impaired? Um ok. I hope you are backing this up with some sort of credibility because this is really pushing it.

You mean you want me to back this up with like real science...umm ok.

 

[brokensymmetry]

But when it comes to narcissism?

So is Western and Northern Europe unusually full of narcissists then?

 

[CynthiaCypher]

So is Western and Northern Europe unusually full of narcissists then?

Well France certainly is.

 

[brokensymmetry]

Well France certainly is.

France has what proportion of medically certifiable narcissists in your view?

I certainly hope you are joking.

 

[Nymphs]

None of these connected in my mind -- at all.

 

[crossfire]

Some scientist and researchers have made a connection between atheism and some forms of autism. A religious belief is thought to be neuro-typical, our natural, normal and healthy mental functions induce these sort of beliefs for our own benefit. Except for the atheist, their brain do not function normally, many do not understand figurative language (which is needed to develop a healthy spirituality), feel a deep inner connection to others or the outside or feel that much empathy, all indications of autism. According to some scientists whom I have read people on the autistic spectrum are more likely to be atheistic.

And known what you are about to read next might sound like an unethical experiment, well because it is. At times I have figurative language purposely when in discussions with certain atheists and often times they were unable to decode what I was saying. In fact I would do this several times with the same atheists and the results would often be the same, they would either take what I said literally or they seemed to be confused at what I was trying to convey figuratively. So I do believe that some atheists might indeed have some form of autism.

But also, the inability to connect or empathize with others might mean something else in the atheists besides autism. Autistic people might find it hard to form deep connections or empathize with others but they also have a deep seated need to do so. So this leaves me with another option: Maybe autistic people are not prone to atheism, maybe it is people who are merely narcissistic who are prone to atheism. I can see how the two could get confused. Narcissists are like Jehovah, they see themselves as the center of the universe and there can be no other Gods before them. In fact I think narcissism might be more conducive towards the creation of an atheist than I could see autism doing so.

Your thoughts.

I have observed plenty of theists (not all theists-I dislike broadbrushing) who take literalism over metaphor, especially when it comes to their scripture, who are narcissistic, and show no empathy or compassion towards others outside of their clique. Some of them actually seem to enjoy acting cruelly and oppressively, like they get off on it or something. [satire] However, it's all in the name of the Lord, so that obviously means they are normal and mentally healthy. [/satire]

These are just my observations and opinions, and I'm not claiming any authoritative scientific proclamations to back it up.

 

[CynthiaCypher]

I have observed plenty of theists (not all theists-I dislike broadbrushing) who take literalism over metaphor, especially when it comes to their scripture, who are narcissistic, and show no empathy or compassion towards others outside of their clique. Some of them actually seem to enjoy acting cruelly and oppressively, like they get off on it or something. [satire] However, it's all in the name of the Lord, so that obviously means they are normal and mentally healthy. [/satire]

These are just my observations and opinions, and I'm not claiming any authoritative scientific proclamations to back it up.

I am not saying all atheists are narcissist or autistic but those things inform some atheists. I am saying that maybe some of them can't be anything other than atheist because the way they are wired.

 

[Penumbra]

I wouldn't be surprised if there is some correlation between autism and atheism, as there is a link between schizophrenia and religion. Those groups with those issues represent tiny portions of the population compared to atheists and religious people, though, making those comparisons largely irrelevant for atheists and religious people since statistically the majority of them would not have those attributes.

Religion has historically involved personifying aspects of nature that don't otherwise seem to have a personality. So that's why it would not surprise me that someone that has problems socializing or empathizing with others, would have a lower tendency to assign personalities to objects than the general population. Animism assigns spirits to aspects and forces of nature, like rivers for example. Later religions assign a personality to the universe- that it can be prayed to, that it has intentions, etc. Or pantheons of gods. But even if that's the case, that doesn't say anything about the majority of atheists, just like how schizophrenia doesn't say anything about the majority of theists.

 

[CynthiaCypher]

I wouldn't be surprised if there is some correlation between autism and atheism, as there is a link between schizophrenia and religion. Those groups with those issues represent tiny portions of the population compared to atheists and religious people, though, making those comparisons largely irrelevant for atheists and religious people since statistically the majority of them would not have those attributes.

Religion has historically involved personifying aspects of nature that don't otherwise seem to have a personality. So that's why it would not surprise me that someone that has problems socializing or empathizing with others, would have a lower tendency to assign personalities to objects than the general population. Animism assigns spirits to aspects and forces of nature, like rivers for example. Later religions assign a personality to the universe- that it can be prayed to, that it has intentions, etc. Or pantheons of gods. But even if that's the case, that doesn't say anything about the majority of atheists, just like how schizophrenia doesn't say anything about the majority of theists.

I don't know. I have been visiting a forum for people on the spectrum and they seem to be about 50/50 when it comes to religion. I don't know if that is because of socialization or being encultured but they do not seem to be overwhelmingly atheistic. The people on the spectrum do have rather concrete ideas about God rather than abstract ideas though.

 

[crossfire]

I am not saying all atheists are narcissist or autistic but those things inform some atheists. I am saying that maybe some of them can't be anything other than atheist because the way they are wired.

A lightbulb that never gets switched on never burns out, either.

 

[CynthiaCypher]

A lightbulb that never gets switched on never burns out, either.

It not be able to get switched on because there is no electricity in the house in the first place.

Are we talking figuratively on purpose now?