Why are atheists the most discriminated minority of the soceity?

Question

As an atheist I have to suffer a lot of social stigma

Whatever it is atheists suffer a lot of discrimination

A lot of people is running behind me to make me a theist

Answer 1

Because the majority of people believe in some sort of deity, and it frightens them that Atheists don't. Many people don't like others who are different. Atheism is one of the last taboos.

Answer 2

If you're talking about the inability of atheists to hold public office in certain states (see below), I have NO idea why there are those kinds of laws.

But, honestly, even without those laws, I very much doubt that an openly atheist person would get elected to much of anything. How many years have Buddhists been active in America, and we just now have our first elected Buddhist officials?


"In all the brouhaha stirred up by Virginia Republican U.S. Rep. Virgil Goode over the first Muslim ever elected to Congress using a Koran in his private swearing-in ceremony next month (the official swearing-ins are done sans holy books of any kind), little attention has been paid to the fact that on Nov. 7 the first two Buddhists to ever serve in Congress were also elected.

Not only that, one of them is a southerner, Rep. Hank Johnson, a Democrat from our neighboring state of Georgia, who took out the inflammatory and confrontational former Rep. Cynthia McKinney in last year's primary and coasted to victory in the general election in his heavily black, Democratic district in and around Atlanta. The other Buddhist elected in November was Rep. Mazie Hirono, a Democrat from Hawaii, a state which probably has more Buddhists than any other."
http://www.unexplained-mysteries.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=84810


The Constitution says, in Article VI, section 3:

"...no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States."

But some states still have religious tests, (see link below). And even without them, there is a distrust of atheists because many people falsely believe that the only way that one can learn to live a moral life is through religion. That's patently false, but it's still widely believed.

I'm happy to live in a state that doesn't have a religious test for holding office or government employment. If I lived in one, I'd be participating in a challenge to the Constitutionality of those laws.

I believe in equal treatment under the law. And that means that the laws have to provide for, and protect, equal treatment.

Some people do not really support this, even if they pay lip service to it.

Answer 3

I don't think you're the most discriminated against.

I used to work with homeless people, and I've seen them rejected pretty universally by those around them. Often they're not allowed in any building either because of being dirty or out of fear they'll shoplift, carry a weapon, make a scene, or deal drugs.

I think you should keep your beliefs to yourself (they aren't anyone's business, anyway) and be thankful for what you have.

Answer 4

Uh...I doubt they're the most discriminated against. It's pretty easy to not reveal if you believe in God or not. It's kind of hard to hide your skin color. I've never heard of taxis not picking up Atheists or the KKK burning a cross in their yard (guess that would be kinda pointless!).

We're all discriminated against in one way or another. That's life. Hold fast to what you believe and just roll with the punches.

Answer 5

Social stigma?

You have no idea what real persecution is. People getting put in jail, tortured, and killed. That is real persecution. Likely none of us on Yahoo Answers have experienced it. But so many multitudes have throughout history. You do them dishonor when you claim to be undergoing the same kind of "stigma" they might have.

Answer 6

Are you halucinating?? Ha!
Check these out when you catch your breath; resources for an outreach to atheists:
http://www.hoyweb.com/lh/faith2.htm
William Lane Craig's debates pages: http://www.leaderu.com/offices/billcraig/index.html His 5 pointed argument which he uses in most debates is about the best around... It's in the Willow Creek Video "Christianity Vs Atheism: Which way does the Evidence Point?".

Answer 7

First, the reason people are afraid of Satanists:
http://usminc.org/crime.html

No, I don't think aethists are. Why do you suffer so much social stigma?

"A lot of people is running behind me to make me a theist"

I seriously doubt that. If you mean the people on Yahoo Answers, just ignore them and stop interacting with them. Did that solve your problem?

and for the guy that said this "I have lost jobs, and even had legal problems becasue of being a pagan. "
Right. Employers are forbidden by law to ask you what religion you are. If they fired you the ACLU would be breaking your down to get to you. And what kind of "legal problems"? It isn't illegal to be a Pagan.

Answer 8

LOL!!! Atheists aren't discriminated against compared to JW's.

Answer 9

They are not even remotrely discriminated against. Atheists arent even a minority here.

Answer 10

Excuse me but it the atheism's who took the bible out of schools and (increasingly) out of all of society.No christian that I know of ever went to court to prohibit atheism but listen to the news and you will hear about christians being barred from there right to freedom to be christians.
NOTE:
Nowhere in the constitution does it say or even imply "separation of church and state" or church from state or even the banning of the church.
Read the constitution:
First Amendment:
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise
thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to
assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”

Congress

Answer 11

Actually, I think animals and kids are the most discriminated against..when ya don't want them..throw them away...get another etc...now thats real discrimination.