I am an athiest but usually do not tell anyone this because people often feel that thay can persecute or taunt me for my nonbeliefs-even if would never do that to someone who was religious. Are there any atheists out there who feel the same and hopefully there are actually more of us than we know of?
2007-01-09 02:43:27 · 24 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Wow, I'm glad that I've gotten so many wonderful and honest responses (minus a couple of hecklers). I am glad that there are others like me that see the truth also. Maybe I should hold my beliefs more like a shield as opposed to an umbrella.
2007-01-09 03:05:40 · update #1
There are more of us than people think. The ARIS study showed the US to be about 14.1% non-religious, with about .9% actually calling themselves atheists or agnostics. However, there is probably a greater share of that 14.1% who don't really believe a god exists, but don't actually like to label themselves with what religious society has made a derogatory term.
Other studies put the percentage of atheists at about 6%. Atheists are much better represented in groups with a higher education. Atheists are also a much smaller percentage in prisons.
Persoanlly, I advertise that I'm an atheist for just this reason. I have bumpers stickers and a license plate that indicate that I'm an atheist. It's harder to demonize atheists if you know one.
2007-01-09 02:47:29 · answer #1 · answered by nondescript 7 · 9⤊ 3⤋
Yup. In the USA there are a lot more than you think. If you were in some European countries, you would find yourself in the majority!
I find that many people don't believe in "god" but shudder to use the a-word for some reason. My sister-in-law told me she doesn't think god exists, nor heaven nor a soul and yet she insists she is a "catholic."
2007-01-09 10:56:25 · answer #2 · answered by Laptop Jesus 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Approximately 16% of the world's population, or a total of 1.1 billion people, are atheist or agnostic. How many of those are strictly atheist I'm not sure, although probably most of them.
While I don't go around telling everyone I'm an atheist, I am generally an honest person and under most circumstances if someone asked me I would tell them the truth and not be ashamed of it.
2007-01-09 10:48:53 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋
I'm an atheist and I have no problem telling anyone. I especially love the reaction...like I'm the devil or something.
Nonetheless, it's not something that generally comes up unless someone specifically asks.
Hey...anyone else notice the Christian hypocrisy in jinenglish68's response. Gotta love dat old time religion.
2007-01-09 10:52:16 · answer #4 · answered by gebobs 6 · 4⤊ 1⤋
I'm an agnostic to my friends and family, but I consider myself an atheist when talking to fundamentalists mainly to get my point across. I'm still not sure, which definately makes me an agnostic rather than an atheist, but the thing that I tell myself is "if there is a god, it isn't the one everyone is praying to"
2007-01-09 10:53:45 · answer #5 · answered by Scott Justice 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Wow, this is incredible, I was thinking the same thing...
There are people who I could not tell I am an Atheists, I would immediately lose their respect. It is really sad.
Not only are Atheists one of the least trusted groups in America, in some states we are not allowed to hold political office.
2007-01-09 10:49:47 · answer #6 · answered by Eleventy 6 · 3⤊ 2⤋
About one of six people in the world has no religion. this is approximately equal to the number of Catholics, and is greater than the number of Protestants.
Many of those who profess to have a religion do so in name only -- so the number is really larger.
2007-01-09 10:52:39 · answer #7 · answered by Ranto 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Christains do not (or are not supposed to) persecute or taunt non-believers..after all, we were all once in the same position. But it is our duty to help others come to know god by showing them the way.
2007-01-09 10:50:13 · answer #8 · answered by imbrue001 4 · 2⤊ 2⤋
I don't understand why you'd want to keep your beliefs (or lack of) a secret. Sure you may get persecuted or taunted (your terms) but no more than people of Christian faith, Hinduism, etc. In my experience as a Christian, I am the one who is "wrong".
2007-01-09 10:51:31 · answer #9 · answered by Jayna 7 · 0⤊ 3⤋
I'm here.
Believe and not believe in a God is basically the same thing.
If you are sure of your believes, why you're worry about the opinion of other peoples?
2007-01-09 11:05:24 · answer #10 · answered by Lost. at. Sea. 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋