Atheist Psychology

I interacted with a young lady who attended a Christian college and shortly afterward decided to become an atheist. We had an interesting interchange in which we discussed the psychology of atheism. She used a study of the famous Myers-Briggs personality type index which indicated those with an ISTP (Introverted, Sensing, Thinking, Perceiving) tend to be more represented by atheists. It was a bit amusing to tell her that I am an INTP (Intorverted, Intuitive, Thinking, Perceiving). INTP is also well represented in the atheistic community.

We also discussed Asperger and autism disorder since there seems to be a correlation between the disorder and atheism. Studies indicate that atheists tend to be higher on the autism spectrum than the religious. The reasoning behind this deals with the ability of humans to empathize and to see purpose. A lady with Asperger once described herself as being "thunderstruck" when she, as a child, realized that houses were planned, built, and didn't grow randomly like plants. Interestingly, INTPs and ISTPs may also be generally higher on the autism spectrum. According to Robert Chester  INTPs and ISTPs youths can be misdiagnosed as children with Asperger syndrome.

So is atheism to be chalked up to psychology or personality? No. There are plenty of INTPs, ISTPs, and those with various social disorders that are strong Christians. Atheism is rebellion, and even those who may not be as empathetic or have a harder time seeing purpose in things still have ample evidence for God's existence rendering them without excuse.

Godlessness will manifest itself in various ways. There are plenty of people who are godless but may not identify as atheist. To announce yourself as an "atheist" takes a thought process that many are simply unmotivated to do. I read somewhere that the godless can be divided into two categories "high atheist" and the "low atheists." The "high atheists" tend to be your higher thinking outspoken atheists. The "low-atheists" are simply the non-religious. High and low atheists may have different personalities and levels of intelligence. Theologically, rebellion is their common denominator and the ultimate source of their godlessness; their psychology is the vehicle through which the godlessness manifests itself.

There is no excuse (Romans 1:20).