Atheists! We are officially an oppressed minority!?

Question

In a recent study, respondents ranked atheists below christians on a kidney wait list (January 2007, Counseling and Values).

So if I get a thumbs down or nasty email I'm calling "hate crime" from now on

What do you think? (do meet the obligatory "where's your question" answer)

Answer 1

Scott Adams said it the best: We are the new "Gays". I proudly have my fish with feet with homage to Darwin on my bumper. I live and work in the bible belt and when asked what religion I am is often received with an odd look. Atheism is the logical choice, but its not well received around here!

Request to questioner: do you have a link to the study, could you post it please? Thanks! Oh yeah, and where's your question? Hahahaha

Seriously, depending on the validity of the study, everyone regardless of faith should email the NAACP about this. Human rights are human rights. Regardless of location, color, or creed!!! (creed being the religion piece)

Answer 2

Dear Hot Carl,

There should be no reason why what you've reported should give you a thumbs down or cause you to receive nasty emails. Christians in the Bible are called to stand for social justice- and if what you are reporting is true- than it would most certainly be a social injustice.

Discrimination is wrong against anybody. i know that Christians and Atheists are often at ends when it comes to theology but when it comes down to it when it comes to kidney, shouldn't it be first come, first serve???

For myself, i am the only Christian in my family so i would be quite upset say if someone else got a kidney before my brother or dad just because of their religion. That's terrible.

Also from a theological standpoint- i would say atheists should get kidneys first. They don't know God and for the believers who believe that their faith in God means when they die they are with the Lord- they ought to want those who don't know God to have a chance to know Him. Anyhow that's my thought- if my brother who is an atheist and i both needed a kidney and would die without it- i'd let him have it- because i would go to be with the Lord. Off course practically speaking i think first come, first serve, or maybe the duration of time a person has been on the list (i'm not sure how to ressolve that issue) but discrimnation against someone because of their religious beliefs is wrong at any level!

Thanks for referencing the source- i'll most certainly write Counseling and Values a letter.

Kindly,

Nickster

Answer 3

Really! It's like Jeopardy around here. ;)

The kidney thing is awfully sad. If one decides to be an organ donor, however, I don't believe there is anything they can do about "who" gets their organs after they die (unless they leave them to someone specific in a living well, like a family member on dialysis). Organs need to be utilized immediately to be of any use so hopefully the doctors wouldn't be running down the list of Christians in the area. Were there any groups above Christians on that list?

If, of course, the person offering the kidney is alive he/she can give it to whomever they please and this usually happens in the case of a close friend or family member. There are charitable people out there, though, who would give their left arm for anyone. ~~*Giggles*~~

Two things. First I hope this question makes people think about calling up DMV or whomever and asking how to get an organ donor license. Seriously, people, if your bodies are going in the dirt and your souls are flying on up to the great estate in the sky, you aren't going to need your organs. If you're so selfish as to believe that you don't want just 'anyone' to get your organs then you should have them taken from you immediately before you begin breeding. If it scares and sickens you to think about your organs being in someone else's body (which it can, and it's usually more a fear of the unknown than selfishness) just remember - you're going to be dead, and you sure as heck ain't gonna care then.

Sorry, Carl, I know I'm going out on a bit of a limb here, but I also believe this is a perfect time to let others know how badly people are needed to make blood donations and get an application to become a donor for the National Bone Marrow Association. All one needs for the latter is a blood test (all one needs for the former is blood- which may have become frozen in some, from what I can see in a few of these responses, but still). Blood tests are free at certain local charities and often through one's primary care physician. I'm sure all of you have known or been close to at least one person with cancer, and this doing this may very well save a life. Here are some links:

For blood donations, go here to find a blood drive locally:
http://www.redcross.org/services/biomed/0,1082,0_492_,00.html

To get on the list for bone marrow transplants (which are done now with an anesthetic and painless for the giver):
http://www.marrow.org/

YES, but back to the question. People tend to be ridiculous. I always thought I enjoyed being in the oppressed minority until I realized that it was oppressive. ;P

*Hey, "babydoll" - how does it feel to purposely miss the point of a question and then chime in with a response suited to your own needs but denying any responsibility? Really. How does it feel doing that? Because I find it fascinatingly despicable and I hope someone cannibalizes your organs at the moment.

Answer 4

OK, so I'm an Atheist. OK, people don't want to waste their Catholic Kidney on my kind. They never turned down our Atheist hearts or lungs or whatever.

Do I find that hypocritical? You Betcha.

Am I gonna lose sleep over it? ... Nope

OK, for a second there, I really tried to care, but nope.

Now if Atheists were denied a parking spot based on religious affiliation .. now that would mean we're going to the Supreme Court.

Answer 5

Its amazing how despised we are. I think people have this really warped idea about who atheists are. So, if a brilliant research scientist who is an atheist needs a kidney he should be on the bottom of the list?

Answer 6

Yeah but I think the tide is turning. The funamentalsts are fading into the background. Have you hear many people fight for school prayer or intelligent design lately?
We even have a Congressman who admitted to being a freethinker! And a Democrat!

Answer 7

Always have been. We need to make ourselves known to Atheist headcounts (locally, nationally, etc.) to effect change.
Here's a world-wide one: http://www.the-brights.net/

And here's some Wikipedia words re Atheists:
"Discrimination: “Legal and social discrimination against atheists in some places may lead some to deny or conceal their atheism due to fears of persecution. For example, in the 20th century, atheists were persecuted alongside Jews by the Nazis, who lumped these terms into one complex issue or theme; 'the Jewish-Bolshevik world conspiracy'.” It goes on: “And a 2006 study found that acceptance or rejection of atheists is related not only to personal religiosity, but also to one’s exposure to diversity, education, political orientation.”

Answer 8

I stay in a rustic the place being an atheist is as favourite as having darkish or easy hair so i'm no longer able to analyze. i comprehend that the gay men i comprehend get greater hassled for their sexuality than I do for my non non secular ideals.

Answer 9

If you end up on a kidney waiting list tell them that you believe in Santa Claus.

Answer 10

Richard Dawkins, in his book "The God Delusion" states that there is more prejudice against the atheist than any other minority. So yes is the answer. If you want a job in the Bible belt, keep that to yourself. :)

Christians are mean spirited when it comes to that.
j