Do feel as though the U.S. is becoming too secular or anti-Christian?

Question

Atheists identified as America’s most distrusted minority, according to new U of M study
What: U of M study reveals America’s distrust of atheism
Who: Penny Edgell, associate professor of sociology
Contact: Nina Shepherd, sociology media relations, [phone]
Mark Cassutt University News Service, [phone]

MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (3/28/2006) -- American’s increasing acceptance of religious diversity doesn’t extend to those who don’t believe in a god, according to a national survey by researchers in the University of Minnesota’s department of sociology.

From a telephone sampling of more than 2,000 households, university researchers found that Americans rate atheists below Muslims, recent immigrants, gays and lesbians and other minority groups in “sharing their vision of American society.” Atheists are also the minority group most Americans are least willing to allow their children to marry.

Even though atheists are few in number, not formally organized and relatively hard to publicly identify, they are seen as a threat to the American way of life by a large portion of the American public. “Atheists, who account for about 3 percent of the U.S. population, offer a glaring exception to the rule of increasing social tolerance over the last 30 years,” says Penny Edgell, associate sociology professor and the study’s lead researcher.

Edgell also argues that today’s atheists play the role that Catholics, Jews and communists have played in the past—they offer a symbolic moral boundary to membership in American society. “It seems most Americans believe that diversity is fine, as long as every one shares a common ‘core’ of values that make them trustworthy—and in America, that ‘core’ has historically been religious,” says Edgell. Many of the study’s respondents associated atheism with an array of moral indiscretions ranging from criminal behavior to rampant materialism and cultural elitism.

Edgell believes a fear of moral decline and resulting social disorder is behind the findings. “Americans believe they share more than rules and procedures with their fellow citizens—they share an understanding of right and wrong,” she said. “Our findings seem to rest on a view of atheists as self-interested individuals who are not concerned with the common good.”

The researchers also found acceptance or rejection of atheists is related not only to personal religiosity, but also to one’s exposure to diversity, education and political orientation—with more educated, East and West Coast Americans more accepting of atheists than their Midwestern counterparts.

The study is co-authored by assistant professor Joseph Gerteis and associate professor Doug Hartmann. It’s the first in a series of national studies conducted the American Mosaic Project, a three-year project funded by the Minneapolis-based David Edelstein Family Foundation that looks at race, religion and cultural diversity in the contemporary United States. The study will appear in the April issue of the American Sociological Review.

Source:

http://www.ur.umn.edu/FMPro?-db=releases&-lay=web&-format=umnnewsreleases/releasesdetail.html&ID=2816&-Find

Some don't seem to understand the point I'm trying to make. This study, done by the University of Minnesota, clearly shows that the U.S. is more anti-atheism than it is anti anything else.

Answer 1

Atheists are the control for a country founded on the ideal of "separation of church and state". Relgion has infiltrated our government entirely too deeply. In order to not disenfrachise religions other than the dominant one, then government has to stay religion neutral and I love it.

Interesting view people have of atheists...

Answer 2

This really makes one think about being kinder toward minorities, not just racial ones.

This country is becoming less Christ-like. On the surface, this article implies that people are becoming more and more Christian, but in reality, this isn't true. Sure, they are becoming more Christian-like, but are they becoming more -like? Methinks not. Christ was gentle with everyone, never once was he disrespectful or belittling, and kind to anyone he spoke with. He did clear out the temple and was angry, and he had good reason.

Are Christians tolerant, loving, gentle? Sure, some are and some are not, by far. Your average American doesn't go to church, but identifies with being Christian. Your average American is also much more rude than people were decades ago. Common courtesy has gone out of style, and it's actually considered to be en vogue to "tell it like it is" with no regard to others' dignity. We sure hurl the mud with no regret, boy howdy!

If people became MORE Christ-like, this country would be better by faaaaaaaar. I'm not saying for all to convert to Christianity, I'm saying to be Christ-like. One doesn't need to be a theist to be Christ-like. And that means being respectful to everyone, even: illegal aliens, Muslims, illegal alien Muslims, the poor, the uneducated, rednecks, illegal alien rednecks. customer service call center operators in India... you get the point. No matter what we believe or don't believe, we can all look for the best in others. Is that so hard?

Answer 3

Hard to make a general statement as an answer to your question.On the one hand religious fundamentalists ,some with theocratic intentions are extremely active in american politics,and somewhat effective,the crusade to ban gay marriage,for example.On the other hand church attendance is in steady decline.There is an inverse relationship between between church attendance and the per capita income in a particular area.In other words you are much more likely to be religious if you don't have a pot to p*** in than if you do.Look at Countries in the world that are well off,traditional religion is dieing,being replaced, at best with,"new age" sprituality(does this qualify as secular?)Look at countries where the majority of the people live hardscrable lives,and there you find traditional religion flourishing.In Poland,Lithuania,Russia,gay pride participants were clubed and beaten by these oh so holy religious church goers and their skinhead altar bois!

Answer 4

you should be demanding. look at different worldwide places the place non secular speech has been labelled "hate" over this situation with the State utilising its potential to suppress such speech. The deeper situation is to ask why the State have been given itself in contact in marriage interior the 1st place. The merchandising of marriage for the period of the tax code (that's the only government run endorsement) is all with regard to the State having a vested interest in solid nuclear families and the era of destiny voters. a central authority desires human beings to manage. So merchandising marriage and the rearing of young ones in solid residences is a valid function of government. yet this has been thoroughly neglected interior the present debate. fairly this is been portrayed as an argument of civil rights, with the fairly ideas-blowing declare that refusing to redefine marriage no longer right now violates somebody's nicely suited to take part in it. This has never been approximately taking rights faraway from some team. Any sparkling headed logician can see that. how are you able to do away with a nicely suited that doesn't exist interior the criminal code? fairly, it fairly is a call for that the State circulate previous this is valid function in merchandising marriage and the kinfolk and meddle in social engineering. regrettably, or fortuitously looking on one's attitude, gay marriage is going to come again to the US. What the long term effects of this would be continues to be unknown. back stating others societies the place this has been completed, Scandinavia particularly, marriage itself is now on the decline. persons are in simple terms no longer bothering to get married as a results of fact it now no longer potential something public to accomplish that. peace

Answer 5

Good article, I though it was the opposite in the U.S and people were losing their faith.

It seems most Americans believe that diversity is fine, as long as every one shares a common ‘core’ of values that make them trustworthy—and in America, that ‘core’ has historically been religious,” says Edgell.

I made a question about that here, and that proves than in the end religion is what makes society be in order.

Thanks for the article.

Answer 6

I think theres a constant battle going on in this country between secular and religious groups(primarily christianity) and sometimes both groups can act like a pack rabid dogs.

However I think that battle is essential to maintain balance. I don't want a country where anything goes in the sense that you can screw anything /smoke or ingest anything/ as long as you are not hurting anyone, and a country where morality and family values are not considered important . At the same time I don't want any one forcing their religion down my throat or using religion as an opiate of the masses ( A medium to push Politics, Propanda, Hidden agendas) .

America is not as extremely loose/lax about religion and nonchalant about maintaining traditional family values as majority of European countries because of the the far right groups vigilance and at the same time America is not as crazy as the fundamental Islamic countries because of the far left's vigilance.(Dictating what to wear and how to live your life etc).

I believe in a society where personal and religious freewill is appreciated and maintained and the same time I want to be able to eventually raise my kids in an environment where God,sprituality and family values are considered important.

Some how I think I have digressed from the original question. I think people respect and appreciate others who hold themselves accountable to a higher power and it creates a feeling of solidarity even though the deities might be different.

A lot of people check themselves from being bad or commiting atrocities because they believe they have to answer to this higher power eventually, not neccessarily because of the laws of the land. Atheists can be percieved as selfish and more likely to be morally bankrupt as they don't have this higher power checking them. Meaning less likely to carry guilt for actions and less likely have a conscience when it comes to issues of morality.

Answer 7

I think it's far too secular, and has been for a long time, at least since the early 60's. That might have something to do with my being a highly educated, deeply religious Southerner with quite a lot of exposure to diversity, but that's what I think regardless.

Answer 8

US has always been secular, remember most of the founding fathers were Deists and unitarian universalists(they are not christians). This whole religious stuff only started to appear when Communism was growing, it was seen as a way to counter communism.

Answer 9

the main test i have is would an atheist feel this way, regarding public policy

would an atheist be pro life, yes

would an atheist be opposed to gay marriage? heck isn't marriage something that happens in a church anyway and why would anyone care what gender two people are who go down to city hall to say they love one another its hard enough to find a heterosexual life mate

Answer 10

Yes but that is for told.
Why should I be upset that the worst of man is to be at this time if it was already told that it would be.

It is a shame that many who might be saved were it not for the weeds, but that is also for told.

All that can be done is to drop more seed and hope for the best.