What is America like to live in for an atheist?

Question

America seems, from across the Pond, to be an almost fundamentalist Christian/religious place to be, in the same way that much of the Middle East is a fundamentalist Muslim place, where God is invoked by politicians, despite the separation of church and state, unlike more politically secular countries in Europe.

Does that seem a fair view if you live there? If you are an atheist in the States is your atheism perfectly acceptable to others in conversation, or is it a more unusual thing to be vocal about?

Answer 1

That is a dead-on view. It's not really something you mention as atheists (according to a study I read and can't remember from where) are the least trusted group in America. No one really asks. They really just assume everyone is Christian, unless you are foreign. And then there's no reason to correct them.

It is absolutely obnoxious. I see God God God everywhere I go. Hell, someone put it on my freakin' money. Christians get upset about something in the world not matching something in the Bible and it's national news. Sorry, we can't outlaw gay marriage just because it's against your book. We can't ban books because something about them doesn't mesh with your religion. People don't even believe in evolution! It's ridiculous sometimes. I just ignore most of it, but I have to keep explaining how religion doesn't belong in gov. It seems like everything gets turned into something about God.

Answer 2

I manage to discuss philosophy with anyone here. Even in the Bible belt. Mature leadership is the rarest thing on earth, and everyone values it.

You can actually sit an a coffee shop and hear 18 different opinions about religion, or politics, or what have you. That is what makes America great.

The war we are in, is a religious war, and if the leaders of our country were not religious, we would not be involved in it from the start. We get involved with these counties at all levels because we tolerate religious leaders, because we are religious leaders too. Insane! We should avoid religiously led countries, unless we are OK with eventually nuking them all.
Which we are not.

Answer 3

No one cares if you are atheist or not, a lot of people are atheist, not like europe, but we have a lot. Probably more agnostics though. Anyways who cares, the constitution says you can be what you want from the laws given to one at their birth. I can say one ting, a Atheist is more accepted than one who studies Gnosticism, because gnosticism makes Christianity look like a joke because it exposes the corruption and dirty things they did under constantine, like the genocide of a whole belief that was very much closer to the source of things.

Only time they care is if you are around a fundamentalist and proclaim it. I have met more agnostics in my day then anything. a lot of people that go to college end up becoming atheist and agnostics. Not that Christians are bad, they are ok, the ones that are loving are cool, the hypocrite hel preachers are annoying.

Answer 4

One of my cloest friends is an atheist. She is afraid to even tell anyone because people preach at her or are always bringing it up. She is just a normal person, and a good person, in fact as far as our morals and ethics are concerned we are very, very similar.

But it is not just the atheist...you said something too that you may not realize. The liberal Christian side which includes MANY mainline denominations is constantly being grouped in with the fundamentalist churches and our beliefs are definitely not the same at all.

I feel, like my friend, that I must constantly defend my beliefs from ALL sides. At times, being on here, in religion and spirituality, I get so upset that I start to cry and have to get away from here. PAC

Answer 5

While our politicians may voice their belief in God, for the most part that belief does not come through in legislation (with some notable exceptions), so comparing it to the Middle East is inaccurate.

Overall the actual legislation is secular.

And while you will likely not find members of government who openly admit to being something other than Christian (though we do have some Jewish members of legislation, and it wouldn't surprise me to have some other religions in there that just aren't mentioned), all in all it doesn't have that much effect on day-to-day life.

I'm not atheist, but I am Pagan, and I have no problems being open with my beliefs. I live in the south (Texas), which is notorious for being the "Bible belt", and there's pretty much a church on every corner around where I live.

Answer 6

For all the bickering that goes on in Yahoo Answers R&S, I've never experienced any thing like it in the "real world". It's not like at cocktail parties or dinner we're conversing about this. Or even argueing at school or with the neighbors. I'm not out trying to convert, those that don't believe aren't running around with Darwin books. We're just people. Tons of stuff to converse about. (this is why I personally love the US)

I apoligize if this was to be answered by atheists only.

Answer 7

It sounds fair to me to characterize America as being a fundamentalist Christian State, but it's not oppressively so... the vague body of ideas that has come to be known as Christian values is so contradictory to itself and to the personalities of the people who claim belief that it really has little effect on us sane people. Like for instance, many Christians would like to keep homosexuals from attaining legal equality and social acceptance, but then leaders of Churches and Christian leaders in politics occasionally are exposed in the national media for being practising homosexuals who molest children. It tends to confuse them.

Answer 8

Depends on where you live in the US, actually. There are communities that aren't Jesus-waving freaks, and others that see people rolling around on the floor wearing rattlesnake tuncis as a regular thing. All in all, the US is pretty nuts about Jesus, though, and it is scary to think that there are people in positions of power who not only believe in an imaginary friend, they're supported by millions of people with the same friend!

Answer 9

It is a quick way to lose a job, a relationship, or possibly start a brawl.

I've done all 3 in my time.

Therefore, it's not typically something I bring up in conversation. I know that 85% of the time, my admittance that I'm an atheist will immediately evoke dislike from the people around me. I've found though, that most people don't even realize what an atheist is. They think an atheist is someone that "hates" god. Many of them have never even considered the fact that some people literally don't believe god exists.

Edit - Take Ely C above me there... Ely C doesn't even know me, but is convinced that I'm a lawless, depraved barbarian. Interesting, isn't it?

Answer 10

true atheists are not bothered by all that,its a subject that never comes up really,if it does,its usually between atheists.being vocal about it well you will never catch a true atheist busting out a conversation about his/her non-belief,simply because most people aren't mature enough to accept and move on,they feel a need to preach and try to convert,america is fine for an atheist,because most religious people aren't as religious as they think they are anyway.