Why are atheists disliked and distrusted?

Question

This recent survey indicates that atheists are widely disliked and distrusted -- why? And why don't other groups -- such as Muslims -- rate the same level of distrust?

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

All answers are appreciated but please be polite.

Answer 1

I do not believe this is accurate information.

Blessed Be

Answer 2

Ted Haggard has a great "moral core", eh? Shows how far THAT gets you. Perhaps folks could be persuaded to READ the article before answering.

The study says the following:

“Our findings seem to rest on a view of atheists as self-interested individuals who are not concerned with the common good.”

Interesting. So there is a widely accepted belief that in order to be a good person you must have religion? Why, that's completely preposterous! Just what types of people actually believe that rubbish?:

"The researchers also found acceptance or rejection of atheists is related to... one’s exposure to diversity, education and political orientation—with more educated... Americans more accepting of atheists than their Midwestern counterparts."

Ah, I see! So the study indicates that although there is no realistic, tangible reason to distrust atheists, being uneducated and ignorant are common traits of those that do.

But non-Christians already figured that one out some time ago.

Answer 3

I am not sure why that is.
I think more people should live by the words in the bible,
Do unto others as you would have done to you.
People treat Atheists mean because of there beliefs when we should love everyone and set an example.
So many "Christians" treat others like they have the plague because of how they think that they don't realize that they are sinning in ding so.
Sad, that is why "Christians" are disliked so much.
And to tell you the truth I have been in some chat rooms & such that was so bad, but claimed to be "christian chat"
And people wonder why we are disliked so much. Go Figure,.

Answer 4

Because they're slamming Christians or other groups on the Religion and Spirituality section. Have not seen many Muslims doing the same.

Seriously? why? I don't know.(and I'm not say dislike or distrust) My general, please read, general impression is they are an angry lot. If you don't believe, I'd think you'd quietly go about your business. No one is forcing you to do or believe anything. Yet, there is this apparent anger, hostility.

Answer 5

There is, almost everywhere, an instinctive fear of the alien, the "other". And at times of insecurity most wish for more solidarity and a greater sense of strength through unity.

The more the nonconformist does not share cherished values, the worse he is likely to appear.
Moslems, from the Christian perspective, are at least "people of faith", just as they regard Christians and Jews as "people of the book.": there are some common characteristicsand values, even if only as to what to argue over.

The atheist may seem more of an outsider than that.

Answer 6

...because atheists are least understood, so they are feared. There is the token 1/2 percent that causes problems with the "belief" society (no prayer in school, etc) that make the other private atheists come to the forefront. You should look into
Paganism. You think atheists are disliked or distrusted....

Answer 7

The problem with this survey is that they're asking people about concepts.

Even I can understand why someone would say they'd trust a christian more than an atheist. Even though I know better....

But that's in theory, not in practice. And that's the big problem with this survey. It's nothing but theory.

If you surveyed people about people they actually know, some of whom are christians and some not, you'd have different results.

And you also have to consider - trust in what? Trust them not to kill you, or trust them to have good sense....?

Answer 8

Well because the ones who dislike them were raised that way and they don't respect people who have a totally opposite view on religion then they do.
Some may say that we are "very combative, argumentative, confrontational and rude" but most are not. It may seem like it but it is the non atheists that are rude and argumentative as they go and mock us and ridicule our beliefs. We can be harsh but don't insult our beliefs like you do so often. We have no reason to be nice to the ones who insult us for our beliefs so we have to put up more of a fight to be heard.

Answer 9

If you look at the history of the religions those people follow you'll notice that they've got a bit of a history of hatred of those who believe differently to them so for the most vocal of them you should probably be looking a bit more generally. Of course you'd still need to explain why we're taking so much more of their hatred than other groups but that's probably in part because it is still somewhat accepted (at least they live) while most other forms of bigotry will get you condemned (causing a lot of the bigots to keep their bigotry to themselves). Part of it could also be the threat secularism poses to their fairy tales (i.e. it's a self-defence mechanism of the mind virus).

Answer 10

Isaac Asimov was one of my all time favorite writers. I did not dislike OR distrust him. I was saddened at the news of his death.
But you must admit that most atheists tend to be obnoxious in their disbelief. And no, obnoxious christians are no excuse. Two wrongs do NOT make a right.

Answer 11

no body trusts the free thinkers, as you cannot predict what they are thinking. religious thought is dogmatically rigid, and therefore we can know what makes a christian tick. when people have no god, they are a threat to the monopoly of control by the religious thought.

if your next door neighbour was a muslim, you would know that bacon offends him, but you wont know what offends or pleases your atheist neighbour.

the religious are a known thing, while the atheist an unknown wild card. and besides, they arent afraid of god (for it does not exist)

just a guess really.