Is this just an exaggeration? Because I don't personally know any atheists. Is this because I live in the Bible belt or something. I had a friend in school who said her boyfriend was atheist and that's about it. It's just that I see people on here saying how they know lots of atheists and have many atheist friends, and I don't know any. Is my situation rare?
2006-11-02 14:13:09 · 21 answers · asked by huh? 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I'm actually about to graduate from college this spring. I know people who don't follow a religion or don't care much about God, but I've never knowingly met anyone who believes there is no God. By the way, I live in Tennessee.
2006-11-02 14:30:37 · update #1
The only way I can really tell the difference is because Atheist seem to always start problems, I've been in fights with hundreds of them.
Religious people seem to be able to find a middle ground and go from there.
Atheist are too dumb to do that, I can't stand them and don't for long.
Their the assholes of the world.
2006-11-02 14:19:35 · answer #1 · answered by Sean 7 · 0⤊ 6⤋
You probably know a lot of atheists, they are likely just not "out" about being atheists. It can be very dangerous in some areas of the country to openly admit you are an atheist. Most people just don't feel the need to risk their safety or their jobs over something they don't believe.
I'm 99% sure everyone I work with assumes I'm Christian. I'd be out of a job in a heartbeat if they didn't.
For a slightly dated story about what happens to "outed" atheists see my reply to the following question
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AkDY6V3SXBZ9dl.fFssu0CMezKIX?qid=20061030131433AAf48T6&cp=2&tp=2#all-answers
2006-11-05 18:57:00 · answer #2 · answered by catalamity 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There are just not a lot of atheists and most of them are on the Web. The CIA World Factbook* has the following % for Religions in the USA:
**Protestant 52%, Roman Catholic 24%, Mormon 2%, Jewish 1%, Muslim 1%, other 10%, none 10% (2002 est.)
As it is not a religions you are looking at most 10% of the US Population.
2006-11-02 22:27:08 · answer #3 · answered by MadDog 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
ya, it is rare. 1st of all....where do you live? If it's not in at least an average populated city to semi average populated city then you must live in the midwest somewhere ....where everyone knows everybody, and everybody elses business..etc... and you also sound young, like maybe highschool? (although I could be wrong?) just a guess though.
An Atheist - One who disbelieves or denies the existence of God or gods.
So with that being said...... I am sure you know one person that doesn't believe in god, or a god. Whether that person has openly admitted that they dont believe in God or a God is up to them but I am sure you know some, for sure.
Once you have traveled, met new and different people and seen more of the world....you will see and meet tons of them. I have tons of athiest friends....and i would say I am more agnostic, but I dont think being called an athiest is a bad thing or even referring to yourself as one. You made it sound like it is such a bad thing to be , in your question. But really it's just a personal choice for everybody!! Some people choose that is what they do or dont believe...nothing wrong with that!
2006-11-02 22:24:16 · answer #4 · answered by Blondie* 4 · 2⤊ 2⤋
I'm not sure how rare it is. I'm an atheist, and I only know a few atheists myself. But I'm solidly in the bible belt as well. I think part of it may be that most atheists keep quiet about it because they don't want to offend people or be thought of as outcasts. There's a stigma attached to it. At least in my neck of the woods there is. And it sounds like that's the case where you're at as well. You probably do know some atheists. You just don't know that they're atheists.
2006-11-02 22:21:04 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
I'm sure you have come across them. I just find personally, that in bible belt areas, Atheists usually don't walk around banging a drum and announcing themselves. (And I say that being an atheist and having lived in such an area for several years). There's just too much misguided intolerance when they get "outed".
2006-11-02 22:48:24 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I live in Knoxville, and if we met on the the street, you would have met an atheist.
In a lot of situations, most people don't know much about what their friends believe, simply because religion is one of those topics that can destroy a friendship.
2006-11-03 01:51:11 · answer #7 · answered by Bill K Atheist Goodfella 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it's because you live in the Bible belt. Lots of people live in such areas, so it's not really "rare". But atheists are much more common in urban areas where the level of education is high, such as near secular universities or high-tech regions.
2006-11-02 22:21:29 · answer #8 · answered by Jim L 5 · 2⤊ 2⤋
I am a christian andthe older I get the more friends I,m makingHere that are Atheist and i find them as loving and caring as any beleaver!the most of them are vERY_VERY intelligent poeple,And they beleave in science and fact and if it can not be explained scienficity,They sem to dessbeleave in things that can,t be seen or science proved!But thats their beleif and I respect it because they are just as much loving and kind poeple like us!{the Most of them,But there,s good in bad in every one!Hollywood
2006-11-02 22:27:50 · answer #9 · answered by hollywood 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I'm sure you know one or two. You can't admit it as freely where you live. I live on the coast and we are all over the place. It is just a matter of logistics.
A lot of bible belt states have up to 92% christian population. What state are you in?
2006-11-02 22:17:01 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋
You'll probably meet some when you go to college. You might not know it, but there are quite a few. Like gay people. We're everywhere. Including the bible belt.
2006-11-02 22:19:48 · answer #11 · answered by eri 7 · 3⤊ 2⤋