I read something online the other day .. it stated that aethiest are the least trusted "group" or "stereotype". I don't know if this is a true study or just something someone pulled out of thin air. I personally have never met a mean or judgemental aethiest before ... however i only know like 2 people who are self-proclained atheists .... anyone care to elaborate on this for me?
2006-12-15 19:20:55 · 21 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I read something online the other day .. it stated that aethiest are the least trusted "group" or "stereotype". I don't know if this is a true study or just something someone pulled out of thin air. I personally have never met a mean or judgemental aethiest before ... however i only know like 2 people who are self-proclained atheists .... anyone care to elaborate on this for me?
ps- i looked online and couldn't find the original article .. however i did find something that had a little info on it ... here is the link:
http://off-the-map.org/atheist/2006/03/23/least-trusted-minority/
just copy&paste it if you want to check it out. Also - from the responses it seems like i might have offended some people out there .. please know that i wasn't saying that i think aethiests are not trustworthy ... i just wanted to hear opinions from both sides
2006-12-15 19:58:56 · update #1
Morality is above religion.
I'm an atheist, and I consider myself to be MUCH more honorable than most people I know. Most people I know classify themselves as religious, by the way.
Furthermore, is it really honesty, if a religious person is only doing it out of fear of punishment in the supposed afterlife?
True honesty comes from being honest even though there are no perceived consequences from being dishonest...
2006-12-15 19:27:27 · answer #1 · answered by RED MIST! 5 · 4⤊ 1⤋
People fear what they aren't familiar with and don't understand, and fear is what keeps people propagating religion from generation to generation despite multiple religions, philosophies so far beyond religion, and wonderful science to explain so much, that it makes religion seem silly by comparison.
Everyone would feel a lot safer and more sure of themselves if everyone else believed the same thing they did and the same thing their parents raised them to believe, but it just isn't to be. And some people just can't accept that and want to fight about it, which is a great evil.
With so many religious people "escaping" to America in order to practice in freedom, it's inevitable that America would not only be the place for the last bastion of religions that the rest of the world rejects, but the birthplace of new philosophies that often include Atheism.
It will likely remain a conflict for some time, but by following our system, where violence is never allowed except in direct self-defense, where everyone's right to practice privately what they believe or know is respected, everything should work out all right, and civilization will continue to evolve toward the wisest choices possible.
2006-12-16 03:34:10 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
yes it fails to surprise me I often feel like a stranger in a strange land ..... need I say more? People with contentious beliefs often
create a world of snobbery and other affects to match their opposed point of view. I try to avoid those kind of tactics and Hold a job that proves I'm held as trust worthy! you would not try to attack my integrity if you knew me! Since I don't get false witness to my face very often I'll just take your word for it and maybe some even deserve it but not this one . I spent twenty years before actually confirming my previously suspected beliefs in atheism so I've found a profound basis for my beliefs and wonder how someone who accepts superstitions could not be a risky individual when it comes to trust but usually they put the gullible part aside hopefully.
peaceout
2006-12-16 03:43:20 · answer #3 · answered by dogpatch USA 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
As far as what you've read...a friend of mine took a class on atheism last year, and we discussed much of what she'd learned. That does actually seem to be true, and one place where it has come up repeatedly is custody cases--as soon as it's revealed that one of the parents is an atheist, custody is inevitably awarded to the ther parent, no matter how fit for parenting they are.
That said, it's true as a stereotype, and certainly not something to be taken as true in real life.
2006-12-16 03:38:29 · answer #4 · answered by angk 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i would have to see what you were reading to understand what it is saying.
If you can find it, post it and I will let you know, I'm an atheist.
I would believe it if it said that people do not trust atheists because of their beliefs, but if it said that atheists are untrustworthy well then that is not the case. The overwhelming majority of people in this country (US) who are in prison are Christians (a lot larger percentage than those who are the citizens of US)
2006-12-16 03:23:28 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Did you know that NASA has quite a few atheists working there? I happen to work for 2 of them. I would say they are some of the nicest people I have ever worked with not to mention they have high morals and work ethics. There are dishonest and untrustworthy people in all walks of life.
2006-12-16 03:24:31 · answer #6 · answered by Sparkles 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
It's true that a lot of people don't trust atheists. However, by their very nature atheists tend to be very trustworthy. How else could they be honest with themselves in deciding correctly that God doesn't exist ? The ones to watch out for, are the ones that can be dishonest with themselves.
2006-12-16 03:27:00 · answer #7 · answered by Count Acumen 5 · 4⤊ 1⤋
A lot people are mistrustful of someone who thinks for them self rather than going with the majority.
Seth-I am an atheist and I hold myself and only myself accountable for my actions-none of this copping out and saying God wants me to do it or I can be forgiven because I "found" Jesus.
2006-12-16 03:36:22 · answer #8 · answered by barbara 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yes, you read what is called "propaganda" which is a favorite tool used by religion. Instilling fear has always been the staple of religion. Just listen to all the paranoid answers you are no doubt going to receive to this question from religious people. "Oh yes, atheists can't be trusted because they don't think their actions matter." and crap like that--so sad.
2006-12-16 03:28:05 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
I think it helps thinking of religion darwinistically. Ironically. Religion that discourages its members from contact with people likely to diminish religious faith is likely to survive, whereas more "liberal" religion is less likely to survive.
Think about it as a virus or disease, and non-believers as the immune system. Then it makes sense
2006-12-16 03:24:00 · answer #10 · answered by STFU Dude 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋