A recent survey by sociology researchers that called over 2000 households and did in-depth interviews with many others showed that atheists are the most distrusted group above Muslims, recent immigrants, homosexuals, and other minority groups. They rated atheists below all the others as far as "sharing their vision of American society" and they were least willing to let their children marry atheists. I was just curious as to why atheists are so distrusted in American society today?
2006-11-19 17:10:09 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
It never ceases to amaze me how many Christians think atheists are immoral people. I'm sure there are many immoral atheists, but there are immoral Christians too. I think of it differently though. If atheists only believe in humanity and not some other controlling force, wouldn't they be quicker to help their fellow man and try to better humanity. In this atheist's eyes, that's the only way we are really going to accomplish good things in this world, by stepping up and helping out those who need it.
As for cyndi, do a little research on the subject before you go on about this country being founded as a Christian nation. You might be surprised how wrong you are. Most likely though, you will either get your info from unreliable sources or you will just never look and go on living in your world of delusion. Until then just hush and let the big kids talk.
2006-11-19 17:33:51 · update #1
Hmmm....Julia, I know you think you are right but I'm afraid the history books say you are wrong. Christians have quite the history of mass murder themselves.
Atheists are trying to form a tyranny over Christians?? What the hell country do you live in?? There are several states where an atheist can't even legally hold public office?!?! I don't think they are gonna take over anytime soon.
You know, not being able to persecute everyone else doesn't mean your being persecuted yourself so quit acting like you are.
2006-11-19 17:47:12 · update #2
Pashur: I think it should be quite obvious why I asked American Christians. First, the survey says that majority of people thought the most important thing to base their trust on was whether or not someone believed in God. Non-believers were more distrusted than anyone else, so that should tell you right there that the majority of the people were religious. Second this country is 90 some percent Christian! It is a safe assumption that the majority of people asked were Christian.
2006-11-19 18:50:53 · update #3
My question to you is this: Why did you not pose this question to everyone and only American Christians because you didn't give details on Whose households were used to answer. This is bias. Do you actually know who answered this survey and what group or individuals answered? I hope that you don't think believers only answered that. As a former atheist, I never told anyone what I belived and it wasn't out of fear and rejection. I believe that those who see atheists as the most distrusted group of people is because they seem to be the opposite of any thing that reliigous people belive in for instance some atheist are for abortion. Reliigous are against it. Some atheists are against homosexuality and gay marriages. Some Religious people are against. Some atheists are deadset on pushing evolution on anyone that's against it especially on this site. Stem cell research is another issue and some religious people are for it. Let's not forget how some atheists consistently oppose against religious rights. Not every christian want to destroy religious freedom and seek only one religon nor want others to believe as they do. IMO,Hell was created for a reason not every one wants to believe. There are unbelievers in the christian world that label themselves believers and straddle the fence. No one can be trusted if they want to impose their beliefs or non beliefs on any individual that have made theirs up. As for as I am concern atheists are in every group that you have listed such as Muslims,recent immigrants, homosexuals and minorities and let's not forget christians. Think about it!
2006-11-19 18:24:05 · answer #1 · answered by Pashur 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
In my church, the only way you can have a mixed marriage is if you marry outside the faith. You may marry a trinitarian believing Christian, who is not necessarily of the Orthodox Faith, but to marry a Buddist, or a Hindu, or a Muslim, is not recommended. The person who marries such a person has there by excommunicated themselves. Children by such a union would if baptized in Orthodoxy, would still be able to be communed. Same rules apply when marrying an athiest. This is for people who are Orthodox already, and are choosing a mate.
Now, if you are married to an athiest, buddiest, hindu or muslim, or any other type of faith, and you by a miracle, find Orthodox Church, and convert, your marriage would not be held against you, and you would still be able to commune. I mention this because I don't want people to get the wrong idea.
It is not wrong to marry outside your race in Orthodox Church. But, marrying outside your faith, is very serious.
It isn't about fear or hate, it is about maintaining the continuity of the faith. Even if someone says they will convert for you, you have to be on your guard, and really watch and see if they are taking to the Orthodox Christian Faith, as it is a faith that demands more from you than most Christian Fellowships usually do. It isn't for the faint of heart. We are like the Marines, we are looking for a few good Christians, quality, and it is very hard and rigorous, but once you are Orthodox Christian, you are pretty much ruined for anything else. Everything else seems so very shallow.
Having said that, because the Faith is not just a Sunday only thing, but is an everyday thing, the Church encourages us to make our homes, "Little Churches", with a prayer rule, and following the feasts and the fasts; basically, marriage outside of the faith, would not be a very good fit, for either person, in a mixed marriage.
How other churches deal with mixed marriages, I have no idea. I can only speak about Orthodox Christians.
2006-11-20 01:43:40 · answer #2 · answered by Felicitas 3 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Ask God....
personally I trust people on a case by case basis.
Silly to trust a group and not another, when a group is made of different individuals.
Ultimately as a Christian I know those who go against God will not be blessed....this may be a manifestation of that, who knows.
Maybe its old school thinking that "good people" go to church
I'll stop rambling now
David
2006-11-20 01:12:26 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋
As an atheist, I'm curious about this myself. Thanks for asking a great question. Now I'm just going to sit here and see what comes in.
***I'd love to know how many of the Christians doing the bashing in their answers to this question are aware that my nearest and dearest is a Christian. What gives him the ability to have an open mind, while so many others lack it? Interesting.
2006-11-20 01:13:28 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Humm....this does not make a lot of sense to me since many atheist seem bright, concerned and involved in policy making. So I cannot really give a reason your poll showed different. I am not atheist, I am christian.
2006-11-20 01:13:58 · answer #5 · answered by maybe 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋
It's not just an arbitrary thing, as in, just the fact they have the title "athiest".
It's the fact that they hold a certain set of beliefs (or lack of) about all things in life, that Christians care about very much, and think is very, very important.
For instance, would you want your daughter to date someone who thinks education is completely stupid, and has vowed not to let his mate or kids go to any type of school?
Not the best example, but the point being; beliefs result in behavior. It's not the same as not trusting someone because they like the color yellow, or something else that is irrelevant in the decisions they make in life.
2006-11-20 01:16:26 · answer #6 · answered by dork 7 · 3⤊ 3⤋
It must be because America was founded by Deists with a definite bias toward Christianity. You would probably find the same problem in any other society based on any other religious belief system. Atheists certainly have a right to their belief in science, but as you can see here and in any forum where religion is discussed, the atheist's constantly attack the beliefs of the fundies with equal vigor that they attach to the Christians. I stand with Jefferson....
"From the dissensions among Sects themselves arise necessarily a right of choosing and necessity of deliberating to which we will conform. But if we choose for ourselves, we must allow others to choose also, and so reciprocally, this establishes religious liberty." --Thomas Jefferson: Notes on Religion, 1776. Papers 1:545
2006-11-20 01:18:44 · answer #7 · answered by the_buccaru 5 · 3⤊ 4⤋
Because too many of them call for religion to be banned -- something the most murderous form of government in the world, communism, tried to to.
It's also because many of them attempt to impose a tyranny of the minority, imposing their beliefs in every part of the public square at the expense of the Judeo-Christian majority.
.
2006-11-20 01:24:09 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
I don't think that many religious people have actually had a conversation with an atheist. If they had, they would know that religion has nothing to do with morals or ethics.
2006-11-20 01:42:25 · answer #9 · answered by Gorgeoustxwoman2013 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
as a christian i have never met an athiest who wasn't hard pressed to shoot down my views. i believe the majority of athiests are actually agnostics. but as far as true atheism, most all of them put us down for being 'bible thumpers' then turn around and indoctrinate others with their beliefs. no other religion has ever been as 'in my face' as atheism. i know its childish to react the way we do, but we aint perfect.
2006-11-20 01:19:57 · answer #10 · answered by alex l 5 · 1⤊ 4⤋