Shocking Study? Atheists are less tolerant than religious people

A new study upends conventional wisdom about atheists.

Atheists like to portray themselves as reasonable, rational people who make evidence-based and logic-based decisions. That's a reasonable way to be. However, a new study challenges the assumption that this is true for most atheists. In fact, atheists tend to be less open-minded than theists when it comes to opposing views.

LOS ANGELES, CA (California Network) -- A new study from the Catholic University of Louvain in Belgium concludes that atheists are more intolerant than theists when it comes to opposing views.

The study evaluated 788 people in the UK, France, and Spain and found that theists, ‽seem to better perceive and integrate diverging perspectives."

The study upends a common claim among atheists that they are the more open-minded and tolerant group.

However, humans of all backgrounds have issues with opposing viewpoints to some degree.

Humans are social animals and we do best in homogeneous groups where others share our point of view. It is a tribal instinct, and it was probably very useful when our prehistoric ancestors lived in small, roving bands.

Each of us develops a paradigm, a model of reality that suits our needs. As part of that model, we tell ourselves a story about ourselves. A story in which we are the central character. And like all characters, we have a description of ourselves which we prefer. That description includes our core beliefs. A core belief may be a religious conviction, shared with the tribe. We are rewarded for keeping such beliefs, and upholding the tribe's ethics.

If someone challenges our core beliefs, we tend to go on the defensive, holding our beliefs more strongly. The stronger the attack on our core beliefs, the more we cling to them. If someone produces evidence against our beliefs, we dismiss it. If we cannot dismiss it easily enough, it created cognitive dissonance.

Cognitive dissonance is a psychological state, but it also includes the sensation of discomfort or even pain. It's the reason why people become angry in debates.

When atheists are presented with evidence that they are unreasonable and intolerant, particularly of religious viewpoints, they tend to become upset. If someone offers evidence of God, they must dismiss it immediately, or become upset about it.

So, what's the solution to inspire dialogue and understanding? Experts say common ground is key. Since people are tribal in nature, identifying as members of the same tribe helps. Finding areas where you agree builds affinity, and as people become friendlier, they become more open to their friend's ideas.

This is why the Christian message is one of tolerance and love. Only tolerance and love can produce a conversion of the heart that results in genuine change.