"I think we're in the same position the gay movement was in a few decades ago. There was a need for people to come out. The more people who came out, the more people had the courage to come out. I think that's the case with atheists. They are more numerous than anybody realizes."
Are we like gay people coming out of closets????
2007-03-11 17:23:56 · 19 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
oh yeah R. Dawkins said that i forgot to put his name down ....
2007-03-11 17:31:01 · update #1
I do agree that in some parts of the country, (where I'm from for example, small town in central PA), where Christians are the overwhelming majority, many people who are atheists deny it or avoid the subject when in public or around Christians, but open up easily when around open atheists.
Its all because of this attitude that some Christians put out there that one cant be a good person unless one is Christian, which is of course ridiculous, but when its the majorities opinion, it makes it difficult for those who disagree.
2007-03-11 17:29:34 · answer #1 · answered by Jesus W. 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I don't think so. I think there is a huge difference and it's difficult to compare the two when they are so dissimilar. Sure, atheists don't like to talk about being faithless when they are around Christians, but if you did happen to mention that you were not a believer to a group of Christians I think they would be less likely to beat your head in or call you some horrible names, unless they were fanatics. On the other hand, when the gay movement began, if you admitted to most people that you were homosexual, you were severely beaten, ostrasized, or generally hated by a good percentge of the population.
2007-03-12 00:35:23 · answer #2 · answered by Charlie Girl 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Concerning the answer about atheists not being beaten to a pulp for their beliefs, try being an atheist in small town Texas. Of course, there are no literal beatings, but you do get looks from people who know. You hear the whispers, and comments people make. It gets tiring. Then there are the people who ask questions, and get offended when you give them an honest answer.
2007-03-12 00:55:29 · answer #3 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Agreed. It is difficult for neophyte atheists to admit so publicly, especially where religious discrimination exists. It does depend upon where in the world you are living and whether the 'church' holds power within the government.
In the liberated 'west' it is much easier. In the islamic countries - better be very careful!
In principle, though, much the same situation. I would like there to be a stronger public presence, just to demonstrate to the religious factor just how numerous we are ...
2007-03-12 00:33:45 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sometimes I feel that way, yes.
I remember being at work one night, and overhearing this family talking about atheists with disdain and insults while I was cleaning the table beside them.
Maybe I was PMSing or something, but for some reason it actually made me shed a few tears.
I thought to myself, "I wonder if this is what it felt like to be a black American fifty years ago."
2007-03-12 00:35:46 · answer #5 · answered by Snark 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yeah, we are about 10% of the pop, just like gays are about 10%.
This pregnant girl at work, says her bf wants to marry her, but she doesn't believe in marriage.
I figured, she was an Atheist so I told her I was.
I told her I don't usually tell ppl, because they treat me different. She agreed, and said that has happened to her before.
2007-03-12 01:08:17 · answer #6 · answered by lilith 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Being an atheist is a non-issue in most Western countries.
Mind you, I hear that being an atheist would be regarded as making a US political candidate virtually unelectable. That's a worry.
2007-03-12 00:31:11 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
No. If you notice, most people aren't going to get beaten to a pulp for admitting they're Atheist, unlike what happened to the gay population. I don't care who knows I'm Atheist, I can who knows I'm Wiccan.
2007-03-12 00:28:33 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
At this point, I think it would be easier for a gay christian to get elected than it would be for a straight Atheist.
Still, the discrimination is different. There doesn't seem to be the hate at the fringe for Atheists like there is for gays or was for blacks.
2007-03-12 00:29:12 · answer #9 · answered by Dave P 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Okay Nex, I'm not atheist but I think they came out about the time religion came out......lol
2007-03-12 02:12:41 · answer #10 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋