Anti-Atheist Discrimination: A Reality in the US?

Question

Hi folks. Was just wandering round YouTube, and came across a CNN report of families reportedly being 'persecuted' out of their towns for revealing they were atheists. Lot of statistics involved - apparently atheists are now less trusted in the US than any other minority group etc etc.

Never taking what the major news organisations say at face value, I'd like to hear from anyone who feels they've experienced Real World discrimination (not Y!A discrimination, which is fairly subjective) as a result of being openly atheist, or anyone who feels they're not able to BE openly atheist for fear of reprisal. I'm not trying to be incendiary here, just trying to gauge how far this is really a problem in the US. Thanks.

Oh here's the link if you want to check out the piece for yourself:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yuws7GUbfHM

Answer 1

The USA is waking up. After centuries of insular attitudes, and by-rote social attitudes, some of our isolationist cousins are discovering other world views and philosophies. Considering that only 10% of US citizens have passports, it is possible that the Internet is exposing US folk to social attitudes that shock them. Atheism in Europe is commonplace, a stance supported by many of the great thinkers of past and present,and active before America was founded. Europeans do not have a `backwoods lobby`, and if it did, their isolated bias would not have much of a say, in a modern secular society .Given time, the USA will produce great thinkers of their own (first time for everything) and, slowly join a world where logic is superior to smug superstition.

Answer 2

Yes it is true. I wondered about this myself, and did some research. Most of it is fairly minor, but you do get some stand out cases.

My personal 'favourite' was an interview with George Bush (senior). He was asked: "Surely you recognize the equal citizenship and patriotism of Americans who are atheists?" and answered "No, I don't know that atheists should be considered as citizens, nor should they be considered patriots. This is one nation under God".

Then you have the media (and some of the military) who make the statement "there are no atheists in foxholes". A common claim in the US and one that very few broadcasters are willing to apologise for.

There was a poll condcted by Newsweek which showed only 37% of Americans would vote for an atheist running for president - no matter their credentials.

So yes, there is clearly discrimination against atheists. However, to put this in context, it's not like Nazi Germany when atheists were sent to the concentration camps along with the Jews, homosexuals, gypsies, etc.

Answer 3

I feel constant discrimination for this, when people announce their religious views - many won't or can't argue against it because they are persecuted by "political correctness".

Within my classes if someone argues against an atheist viewpoint, i am more than willing to fight my case, but many authority figures you will find aren't allow to express their viewpoints because this is discrimination?

This happens too much - it also happens because i'm white, within my college there are "black" clubs for blacks only, and clubs and societies for muslims, christians, but i get the funny feeling if i started a group for white atheists only.... could I be seen as a Nazi?

Yes.


Can I make a point.... I live in ENGLAND and we may not seem as extreme when it comes to religion, but it's still there, everywhere you go, and it's there in race and gender as well, this political correctness? Should be ended, if it went back to the old ways, I wouldn't be treated like a criminal in my own country (My family has been traced here for over 500 years... i think that makes me pretty much native.

Answer 4

I have never experienced that kind of overt persecution, but religious people do treat you differently when they know you don't share their religious faith. Even so, many, if not most, of the religious friends I know would not stand for their neighbors being run out of town simply for not having a religious faith. That's un-American.

randy_savage_: Are you actually justifying the kind of persecution referenced in the news report? Are you saying that it's right to fire someone, or evict them from their home, or persecute them in school because they disagree with your religious beliefs? Is that your stance?

Answer 5

I have a girlfriend who lives in another state that felt she had to hide her atheist beliefs from even those who loved her. And, she did take some heat when she finally told everyone (I had known for a long time prior to that, which is strange because I am a Christian). Eventually though, even the most judgmental of fundamentalist in our group came to view her for who she was and love her for who she was which included being an atheist.

I deal with another stigma situation professionally. My advice is to never hide what you think and believe and are from others...those who are worth it will value your honesty...those who are not worth it are best gone anyway.

Two other things...Yahoo Answers I PRAY is NOT representational of society as a while (I know its not, I am being dramatic). Second...youtube is not a place to find reliable unbiased information from unbiased sources.

LISTENING

Answer 6

The "Jesus is a copy from pagan myths" has no proof. It has been disproven time and time again. If you want to argue this, please email me. Edited: Apparently pressing the email button is too complicated. Anyways, where are these stories found? Can you show me this historical book in which it says that Dionysius, Mithra, or Attis has these things written about them? No? And what do you mean, no other writers of the time mentioned Jesus. There are plenty of those examples of Tacitus, Suetonius, Josephus, Pliny the Younger, and plenty of other ones later. And can you please bear reference to the thought that Christ was not written about until 100 years after his death? That's foolish.

Answer 7

I'm a british atheist, and I've been told frequently that I'm going to hell.

I don't particularly care. I'm quite happy in the knowledge that I'm going to cease to exist at some point. I feel sorry for people who find that idea so upsetting that they make up stories about what they want to happen instead - particularly over the practicalities of these stories.

For example, what do you actually *do* with eternity?

Answer 8

I believe as an atheist myself that atheists are discriminated against all over the world. Could you imagine an atheist preaching in towns or villages? We would be thought to be stirring up anti religious views and moved on.Yet we should have the same rights to convey our views as religious preachers.

Answer 9

I live in canada, and have never heard any slander against athiests, until I came on this sight. I gather there are mostly americans on this site. An article I read on the LDS church, said they have people sitting on government, in every state in america, in fact, all government in america, claims to be christian. I have no doubt that there has been a mass campaigne, to blacken the names of everyone on the outside of thier "strongholds'. I am starting to gather, that unless you are 'christian', you can't sit on a government seat in america. Is this not religious discrimination? Where is freedom of religion in america? In Revelation, the political beast, and spiritual beast, stand hand in hand, they are "lovers'. They have a "marriage', made in 'hell". They have made a deal with the "devil', maybe they are the corporate "devil". I think they are just trying to throw the attention of themselves, by painting athiests as the Anti-Christ.

Answer 10

good Q not really relevent here in UK we don't care who or what a person worships could be a donkey for all we care,
or not worship like Atheism which applies to the majority of brititish british,
as long as you pay your taxes and leave everyone else alone
but I know in the US it is an issue as your society becomes more and more polarised everyday it seems
over both religion and Politics