As a Atheist/non believer/non christian, in what way, if any, have you been persecuted for your faith ?

Question

Um yeah, Skeff.. I wasn't aware that roosters laid eggs.

Bet you think you're clever huh :)

Answer 1

Yes. I have been left out of sleepovers where all the other girls in my class were invited. I have been purposefully tripped in the hallway. My name is now a synonym for Satan. I haven't had a single person say anything good about me or to me except for my friends (Including teachers!).

Need I go on?

I think I will.

People come to my house every Saturday at 8AM to try to convert me. I have things repeatedly thrown at me. I am told I will go to hell at least 5 times a day.(And to that I reply, "Wow, I suppose I must really love Ohio!" [yes, there really is a town called Hell in Ohio!]). People hate me before I even speak to them. I have been spit on several times. I have been called a witch, a she-devil, Satan's wh0re, and Antichrist.(All of which I don't mind. Except Satan's wh0re. I am NO BODY'S wh0re!) I have been threatened. I have been stabbed. I have been told that i should burn at the stake.(I offered to get the kindling! =P) My things have been stolen. Bible quotes are spewed around me (like I've got nothing better to listen to. Thank Apple for iPods!). I have had to change my email address more times than I can count, because of the amount of hate mail I get.

Okay, I'm done now.

Answer 2

I don't have faith, I think that is the reason for the "persecution". Actually, being that I served in the Corps, and am larger than the average person, I really don't get persecuted for much. But I invite anyone to try.

Actually, even if they did I would likely smile and walk away. I have nothing to prove to anyone. And, as long as someone is not threatening or upsetting my kids, I pay them no never mind.

Answer 3

Not all religious people persecute me for my ideology. Personally, I really never experienced any Christian attacking me because of my rational. My mother (A Christian) tells me, I should believe because of what might happen but that's about it. I usually keep these things to my self and not try going out and convincing people in person, my way is right. Perhaps, thats why I dont get in trouble with religious people.
On the internet, however I been called gay, satan, anti christ, Stalin, Mao, etc.

Answer 4

I have never be persecuted for my faith in the manor of the 1st century Christians. I think more would trust God instead of man if you were subject to persecution . I think the time is coming where belief in God will not be a joke

Answer 5

I would not call this persecution, but here are some examples of weirdnesses that my close friends - people whom I otherwise respect - have about me being agnostic.

* Make continual cracks that if I enter into a church, it will burn. This was funny the first 500 times I heard it. The 501st time? Not so much.

* Introduce me to people I don't even know as "my agnostic friend" (although my friend apologized for doing so, I was still pretty shaken that that even entered his mind when introducing me - like somehow I should be separated from them).

* Invite me to their Christian Law Society activities and to their church (both of which I have gone to, for the interest of education) BUT be unwilling to attend the Unitarian Universalist meeting at least once with me.

* Have little intellectual curiosity about discussing religion and say "You are wrong" flatly to me when we do discuss it, as if my opinions are facially invalid because I am agnostic, without even hearing them.

I would not term that persecution but I would term it issues that my friends have with my beliefs not conforming with theirs (two Lutherans, and one Catholic). These are people with whom I am otherwise close friends. I can't imagine what people who don't know me would say to my face.

Answer 6

Personally I haven't because as far as everyone I know is concerned I am catholic. I go to weddings and funerals and yada yada just like everyone else, but I just don't discuss it with anyone because as far as I am concerned I do not think what I believe is any one else's business but my own. I think people all too often open thier own can of worms by telling others things like that, example being gay, also not anyone else's business. People create thier own controversy and then do not know how to deal with it after and blame everyone else for it. If you don't want the answers you shouldnt ask the question is my moto makes my life easy.

Answer 7

I was threatened by a guy once. Believe it or not he was a Mormon. You do get treated differently by some if they hear you are a Christian but this usually changes once they get to know me. I don't like when I go to the movies and I see the stereotypical treatment that Christians often receive. What annoys me is that I'm paying to see this. Funny thing is it's quite pervasive. Not all movies are like this but enough. yet from Hollywood who like to portray themselves as champions of human rights.

Answer 8

"I don't know that atheists should be regarded as citizens, nor should they be regarded as patriotic. This is one nation under God." --George H.W. Bush 1988
According to motherjones.com, 52% of Americans claim they would not vote for a well-qualified atheist for president.
A 2006 study at the University of Minnesota showed atheists to be the most mistrusted minority among Americans.
Several state constitutions make the protection of persons from religious discrimination conditional on their acknowledgement of the existence of a deity, apparently making freedom of religion in those states inapplicable to atheists.
Several private organizations, the most notable being the Boy Scouts of America, do not allow atheist members--even though they profit from taxpayer money. (Including atheists taxes.)
The Bill of Rights of the Texas Constitution (Article I, Section 4) last amended on September 13, 2003 states that an official may be "excluded from holding office" if she/he does not "acknowledge the existence of a Supreme Being."
North Carolina's Constitution of 1971, Article 6 Sec. 8 states "Disqualifications of office. The following persons shall be disqualified for office: First, any person who shall deny the being of Almighty God....". This was challenged and overturned by Voswinkel v. Hunt (1979).
South Carolina's Constitution, Article 6 Section 2: "Person denying existence of Supreme Being not to hold office. No person who denies the existence of the Supreme Being shall hold any office under this Constitution."
Tennessee's Bill of Rights: Article 9, Section 2: "No person who denies the being of God, or a future state of rewards and punishments, shall hold any office in the civil department of this state."

http://www.thebreeze.org/2007/02-19/op2.html
http://danielle-movie.com/forums/archive/index.php?t-1878.html
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Oracle/1894/atheism.html

I could go on and on...but it would probably just be easier for you to look the stuff up. There's plenty of info out there.

LOKI: If you're in a public school, and they allow TWO Christian clubs and aren't allowing you to start a pagan club, then you need to get yourself a lawyer. Actually, if you THREATEN to get a lawyer and take them to court about it, they might cave because they don't want the expense or the publicity, and they will probably get in trouble for allowing Christian clubs in a public school.

Answer 9

well first off persecution is not somebody disagreeing with me over my beliefs. it is not one person refusing to hire me for them (that would be discrimination).

persecution is a group of people trying to KILL me and everybody like me because we are differant than them. or in a lesser form to regulate us to second class citizens in an attempt to contain and control us.

i happen to live in America where there are laws that protect us from these types of people... however many of these people claim that these very laws are a persecution against them. and they are activly trying to change them.

if that happens then i may be able to tell you what persecution is like, untill then i am a Happy Pagan living in a free country.

Answer 10

I live in Texas. I can not run for political office because I dont believe in God. I also can not buy wine at the grocery story before noon on Sunday. Any other day of the week I can, but not Sunday. I know this isnt just because I am an atheist, but its still because of religious people messing around in the government.