How much does religion interfere in atheists' lives?

Question

A Christian made a mildly peeved complaint here recently about atheists answering R&S questions. Why, she asked, can't these heathen leave the Faithful alone? Our interference in their lives, she contends, is unfair and undeserved.

She's presumably unaware of the extent to which religion constrains and interferes in the lives of atheists. I think she should be told.

So - can my fellow unbelievers hereabouts help by mentioning some ways - like doorstep evangelists, TV censorship, biased legislation - in which religion daily interferes in *our* lives? (I guess we can take as read all the unpleasant changes to everyone's lives since those disgruntled True Believers crashed the planes into the towers.)

CD

Answer 1

I try to not let them get to me. Personally, and at THIS point in time, I am not being directly affected. Except for the occasional annoyance of a christian trying to convince to "see the light".

Ironic is, that I was raised catholic, and I "saw the light" which is what put me out of catholicism, and christianity in general.

My life, however, has been affected and I am sure it will be even more affected in the future.

I was raised in a catholic family, which taught me how to work hard to be a good wife and mother. I wanted to go to college which was applauded because this will help me be a better wife, but when I wanted to pursue grad studies they were frown upon: after all, this will put me "over" most men, and a woman can't be "more" than a man, according to bible. For 4 yrs of vet school, I didn't have support whatsoever from my parents. We still talked and visited, but they were ashamed that I was in grad school. Is extremely hard, when you work so hard for something, work 48 hour days to earn a degree, expected to work and be cheerful and take very demanding exams while sleep deprived, and all you ask is your parents to be proud off....... but they aren't.

My family's beliefs kept crashing w mine. I wanted to live w someone, but I'm not interested in tying the knot. Much less be a mother, as I am one of the few hispanics that actually does not want to have children EVER. I'm seen as a crazy woman that needs therapy. I'm not only being pressured due to my beliefs (or lack thereof) but also cultural. God wants a big, christian family, where the woman is married virgin. That is never going to happen from me. When I moved in w my bf, my family never talked about me to others, because I would be considered a prostitute. I felt they were ashamed of me. I know they loved me tho. A cousin that sleeps w random men and gets pregnant, becoming a single mother w no job, house, or husband, but she is OK and a good girl.... she believes in god and god will help her. Yet I break the rules as well, at least I'm responsible about it by using protection, and is not ok.

Although I'm thankful of my parents, as they taught me a good work ethic and didn't spoil me. Although, being christian is not a pre-requisite for being a good parent and teach these things.

My dad is diabetic, as is my mom, and grandparents from both sides..... I am afraid that in my case is "when" rather and "if" i get diabetes.... plus Alzheimer's is a very real threat for any person that gets to live to old age..... yet I see stem cell research that is so promising to provide cure for these conditions and many more diseases, stalled because of a christian self-righteous president that doesn't even understand the concept of where these cells are being harvested from.

One of my best friends from high school is homosexual. Great guy, absolutely in love w his partner. My parents know him, and actually ask me if I will ever marry him as he is a great guy working on his phd and will be "over" me when he finishes. HA! they will ask me to never talk to him again if they ever find out (as if that would ever stop me). As if, homosexuality were a highly contagious disease?

Not being able to be part of the government, as many have pointed out, so I am not going to talk about that....

I feel my body and privacy violated by all the anti-abortion campaigns. If I ever in that situation I want the option of safe, legal abortion. Is none but the women's choice what to do w her body. Again, this is another proof that a woman is of lesser value than the male in this culture. An old man that will never be pregnant or even knows what a period feels like, trying to make legislation that affects all women. If you are against abortion......... then don't have one!

I have a Co-worker that do a lot of volunteer work at her church. She asked me if I could help move some furniture with my truck, and sure enough I did.... we are very close friends, and I never tried, or think about, trying to convince her to not be christian anymore........... yet I know that if she finds out about my true beliefs, she will try to "save my soul", or worse yet, become my enemy....... and working so closely w someone that resents you will only make my life miserable. I feel like I need to live "in the closet" about my lack of christian beliefs (or any beliefs in an omnipotent being for that matter).

I live in a country that supposedly has "freedom of belief" as well as "freedom of speech"...... yet I can't exercise those fundamental rights that this country was built on.

Answer 2

Yeah, the deal that in some states we can't hold office, yeah that just does it right there. In a country that has come far for some minority groups and have given them these freedoms... nope we are still treated as second class citizens in some things like that. And a bet probably the last group to ever get those kinds of rights. People would be appalled if it was women or racial minorities that still could not hold office, but apparently it's brushed aside and ignored if it's over beliefs.

Answer 3

Just to harp on one thing....legislated discrimination against atheists:

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."

Answer 4

TV, Radio, books kids are exposed to in school, all are censored because of Christians.

But that's not the worst part of it. We (atheists) are treated as second-class citizens. How many americans say they don't feel an atheist could ever be qualified to be president? (70)
The president has said that he doesn't feel that atheists can really be considered citizens of this country.

And finally, the Christians NEVER, EVER shut up. We constantly have to hear about Jesus this, God that. Amen, Praise the Lord. Over and over, all day, every day. And if we say "actually, I don't believe in God"...you should hear the gasps of horror. That's usually followed by condemnations of this kind "I guess you want to live without concequences to your actions, do what you want without morality"

Yeah, its VERY hard to be an atheist in America these days.

Answer 5

Focus on this kind of thing is not useful. A person speaking to you about how they see things, even if you disagree, should not be seen as interference. No matter how wrong you may think them, realize that most honestly want to help you. They get ugly about it because they are frustrated in their wish to help you. If you are insulting about it they feel rebuffed personally. It would take a saint to be unmoved. Have compassion on a fellow idiot, why don't you! So they are not good at helping you, give them a break. Their heart is in the right place, even if they are unskillful.

Answer 6

Friggin meatbags. Religion screws over the atheists lives. The Christians are favored, they get organ transplants before atheists do.

I say, to hell with you meatbags. Go make the world a better place instead of whining about how we're interfering your lives. You get organ transplants before we do. So don't say ANYTHING about interfering. You get favored treatment, meatbags.

Sorry about the rant. I'll act more civilized now.

Now, I argue my case. We may interfere with their lives, but they do the same, do they not? They do preach on here about how we should change or they tell us to go away. We come here to answer questions or ask them, but they tell us to follow God or go away. Is that not interfering with lives?

Answer 7

Let's see.. everyone at work expects me to work holidays because I don't believe, I am forbid by my relations to reveal my atheism in front of their kids (they think I'll "confuse" them), when Christians find out they constantly try to convert me, I can never enter politics, I'm rarely trusted by people who only know I'm an atheist...
The list goes on but you get the idea.

Answer 8

Having to sufferer fools 24-7.

Answer 9

Blue laws.

Actually, I don't get nearly as frothy about not being able to buy booze on Sunday (I'm nowhere close to being a heavy drinker) as I do about the ridiculous one-hour-earlier Sunday schedule some stores have. "To observe this day of rest, we'll close at 6pm instead of 7."

Answer 10

Stop trying to claim that atheists are "victims" of an oppressive majority. You're comparing being bothered by doorstep evangelists a few times a year to real discrimination.