This article was recently brought to my attention.
Why do people fear those that are different? Be it religion, race, sexual orientation, or butt size, why is it still okay to judge other people that we don't even know?
Atheists Hated More than Gays, Muslims, All Other Groups
Atheists are hated more than any other group in America. Surprised? Atheists know this very well, but a recent survey conducted by the University of Minnesota has provided new evidence of it. According to most of those surveyed, atheists fall below Muslims, gays, and every other minority group when it comes to "sharing their vision of American society."
This won’t be a surprise to any atheists in America. Atheists aren’t tolerated in a wide array of contexts and there are many examples where bigotry or discrimination towards are atheists in contexts where similar behavior towards Jews or blacks would be unequivocally condemned.
Why are we perceived as a threat to the American way of life? There is just one thing that is common to all atheists: we don’t accept the common belief that some sort of god exists. Thus, the only thing that can be identified as “atheistic” is the failure to go along with the same beliefs as everyone else. For varying reasons, atheists are dissenters from popular beliefs. This would means that dissent, disagreement, and individualism are perceived as threats to the American way of life.
http://atheism.about.com/b/a/255008.htm
2007-04-22 04:47:11 · 31 answers · asked by Gorgeoustxwoman2013 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I think they hate us because we have the ability to think for ourselve, and thus may not behave in a manner that lends support to their beliefs. People want others to do as they do, and for everyone to be like them, so that THEY can be normal. They don't realize that even if all atheists were to become theists, all they would do is change targets and focus on those that weren't THEIR religion, and then focus on those that weren't their flavor of their religion, and then on those that had different interpretations of certain scriptures. Plain and simple, they are intolerant of others being individuals.
Actually, I like to say that "misery loves company." They hate it that atheists don't live by the rules of their religion and there is no consequence, god does not strike us down or take us to hell or what-not. They want for our lives to be determined in accordance with their beliefs, but real life does not support it. And because we don't believe, they assume we're in league with the devil and will be the reason god destroys mankind again. We don't, and usually aren't afraid to give them OUR views (which may be contrary to theirs) when they give theirs, which makes us evil (in their eyes).
2007-04-22 05:54:15 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 4⤋
No, I do not hate atheists (big surprise there). Actually, I don't hate anyone. I can remember several years ago when I was in college, sitting in the student center, discussing national topics like students saying silent prayers before school started, and all the fuss that it raised, and an atheist sitting with us said that trying to stop them from doing so was a violation of their free speech rights. Just about the only area that I am at odds with atheists (and some Christians) is religion. My best friend of thirty years is an atheist (BIG surprise there!!!!!). We don't discuss religion. What we still do, after all these years, is we like to go to a resteraunt, order alot of food, eat a little of it, and then start a food fight with each other. It's hilarious. Sometimes we get some more friends to go along with us but sit at another table, and then "accidentally" hit them with a handful of mashed potatoes so that they get in on it. By the time we've been thrown out, the place is a nasty, disgusting mess!!! We've been through alot together. We buried one of our good friends who was killed in a car wreck. We got caught (as teenagers) dumping some kind of pellets down a sewer hole that once they hit water, they soak it up and expanded unbelieveably big. It backed up the sewer systems pipes in a four block area. When we do get together, now we just discuss life, politics. and the woes of married life. I certainly don't think or believe he's a threat to American society or national security. We both have two honorable discharges from the service. I'd say he's an asset to America. He's also a pretty good robotics engineer. And, for memory's sake, we still like to trash a good resteraunt now and again. Getting too old for it, though. Disorderly conduct fines get old real quick.
2007-04-22 07:05:22 · answer #2 · answered by vox populi 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
No I don't hate them. At the end of the day.. those who have a religion have the same attitude as those who are 'proud' atheists. In a way I can understand those 'proud' atheists.. because those are usually the people who religion has hurt. My ex boyfriend's sister, for example, became obsessed with the Bible.. and it blew her mind so much.. that now she is a manic depressive and tries to commit suicide every so often. Therefore I can understand my ex boyfriend and his family being proud atheists.
2016-05-21 01:03:45 · answer #3 · answered by julieta 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Insert from the Article -
"Many of the study’s respondents associated atheism with an array of moral indiscretions ranging from criminal behavior to rampant materialism and cultural elitism.
Edgell believes a fear of moral decline and resulting social disorder is behind the findings. “Americans believe they share more than rules and procedures with their fellow citizens—they share an understanding of right and wrong,” she said. “Our findings seem to rest on a view of atheists as self-interested individuals who are not concerned with the common good.”
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Wow! I am not Atheist and I find this APPALLING!
For me it just supports that intellectual growth is still stagnant in America today. What ever has happened to “We the People”?
For me an Atheist is an individual with a different viewpoint. It does not mean that they are wrong in their opinion just that they have a different one then the so called mass of the Country. People in my opinion are afraid of the "Free Thinkers" and that they may change the rest of the country to become the like... Independent Free Thinkers, rather then the Robotic creatures who do not question...
A Christian
2007-04-22 08:06:31 · answer #4 · answered by Sam 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Hi there...I love Atheists!
I don't belong to a major religion...perhaps that's why. LOL!
The Christians on here tend to complain a lot about being persecuted. If they are getting hammered now and then, it is because of their constant rhetoric about the rest of us being Satan's spawn and their efforts to convert us. Cause and effect people! Personally, I am really tired of it.
There are only a few Christians on here that actually engage in proper dialogue. I salute them for their efforts in the face of adversity. Love you!
There 'are' a lot of Christians on here by the way! I enjoy hearing from all the variety of faiths, agnostics and atheists on R&S. We have a few wonderfull thinkers on here that defie category too! Love em!
As for your question and statement... it is really dreadful. I am glad I live in Canada. I have heard there is a real movement to eradicate all rational thinking sciences amongst religious extremists like the Christian right in the United States and elsewhere.
A friend of mine is a scientist from India working in research in Canada. He is very conscerned about this situation. I had not relised how bad it really is until he spoke about it.
Science must prevail as must phylosophy and logic. These represent critical thinking as falable as they are. Athiests are varried in their intellectualism, morality and lifestyle. In general terms, the idea and practice of Atheism, is in this critical thinking category. Not nescessarilly well represented by some individuals who take it as an oportunity to be idiots, but there are idiots who are religious also! Ahem!
Among some very ignorant factions, Athiests are aquated with immoral behavior. I know that is not true. Many, many people commiting crimes, immoral acts...belong to a religion! This is completly ignored! LOL! I also know it is a technique to create a rightious us and them mentality...God and Satan! You are getting caught in that the same way as the rest of us.
Unfair, unfounded outrageous, historically inaccurate, slanted interpretations, misdirection ... very dangerous.
Educate, communicate, celebrate!
Good luck, I am routing for you!
Peace!
2007-04-22 06:14:02 · answer #5 · answered by Jamie 4 · 5⤊ 0⤋
I love my Atheist friends. They have challenged me to become more than I was.
The thing about challenge is that it has to be small enough not to overwhelm, but big enough to intrigue and inspire. If an individual sees an idea as completely foreign to their nature, it will usually be ignored or dismissed. However, if it builds on or somehow enhances current ideals it will be at least considered (by most anyways).
*please note the use of the words usually and most*
2007-04-22 06:23:40 · answer #6 · answered by hazydaze 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
As a Christian, I do not hate atheists, but I resent their demeaning generalizations. On yahoo there are as many foolish ones as their are intellectual ones. The foolish ones ask ridiculous questions repeatedly, while the intellectual ones chastise the Christians who answer them. When a Christian in turn asks them similar questions, then the atheists start to spew about the hypocrisy of Christian morality. Nothing on YA shows me that atheists are not persecuting Christians, yet in my life I show fairness to all people.
2007-04-22 05:01:20 · answer #7 · answered by ignoramus_the_great 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
No, I love Atheists myself. I find most of them to be quite intelligent and charming characters.
I like the article, it's well written but it's sad because it is true. I do think Atheists have it the worst.
It's not right to hate someone else because they are different, but bigots have always been like that. I think bigots hate what they are afraid of, it scares some folks that there really are people who don't believe in any sort of god.
2007-04-22 05:22:16 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 8⤊ 1⤋
It just shows how warped American society is but we saw evidence of that in the past week. Americans need to wake up to the fact that their values and attitudes are becoming increasingly perverse.
2007-04-22 04:56:34 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
That's awful. Sympathy to my American siblings. It's not like that in Australia - at least not from what I've seen and experienced. Hopefully in this one thing at least we'll be able to avoid following America blindly. Hopefully.
2007-04-22 06:08:20 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋