WHY IS THAT THO!

I don't know why when I say I'm an atheist, Christians and religious Jews, Muslims and Black Hebrew Israelites expect me to have a complete understanding of cosmology and the other sciences. When all that is required of them is to have read the torah, bible and/or Quran.

As the late great Amy Winehouse would say "What Kind Of Fuckery Is This?" 🤭

Why is that THO!

I find this to be an interesting observation, and there are a few possible reasons why religious people might expect atheists to have a deep understanding of science, particularly cosmology:

1. Burden of Proof Shift:
Many religious individuals feel their faith is self-evident or supported by scripture. When confronted with atheism, they may shift the burden of proof, expecting atheists to provide an alternative, scientifically rigorous explanation for existence.

2. Atheism Is Associated With Science: Many vocal atheists, like Richard Dawkins and Neil deGrasse Tyson, come from scientific backgrounds. This creates a perception that atheism and science are inseparable, leading to the assumption that all atheists must be well-versed in scientific fields.

3. Faith vs. Evidence-Based Thinking: Religious belief is often rooted in faith, whereas atheism is commonly associated with skepticism and a demand for evidence. Because science is a major source of evidence-based knowledge, some theists assume atheists should have a comprehensive grasp of it.

4. “If Not God, Then What?”
Many religious individuals use God as an explanation for existence. When atheists reject that, some believers expect them to offer a fully developed alternative theory, even though atheism itself is merely the lack of belief in gods, not a complete worldview.

5. Debate Culture:
In religious versus atheist debates, atheists often use scientific arguments, that's why some theists may assume all atheists should be ready to engage at that level.

However, just as not all religious people are theologians, not all atheists are scientists.

Atheism doesn’t require expertise in cosmology or any other science, just as belief in God doesn’t require deep theological study.

I find that it is likely a mix of cultural assumptions, debate dynamics, religious peoples expectations to gain scientific knowledge (a tactical move) and the way atheism is often presented in public discourse.