Atheists, have you ever suffered discrimination / awkward moments because of your atheism ?

Answer 1

no, most of my friends aren't bible bashers

Answer 2

Yes, I think that is why I am drawn to R&S on Yahoo. I often have people react with shock and disbelief and then sometimes avoidance after when I tell them I am an atheist.

Most recent experience, I went to a Catholic German language program and there was quite a bit of dogma incorporated into the lessons. At one point we were learning to form sentences conjugating the verb that means should with not to say should not in German. The teacher gave us a series of pictures with things like picking ones nose, eating spaghetti with your hands, picking used gum off the underside of seat, and the last one was two men getting married. We were supposed to form sentences say one should not---the thing being pictured. I spoke out that I thought the use of the two men getting married picture was inappropriate and the response was that the beliefs of the school were this was as socially unacceptable as picking one's nose in public. I said only if you happen to believe in your particular religious beliefs and the teacher said "well what are your religious beliefs?" I told her I was an atheist and she just went silent, it was definetly the end of the conversation for her. She was mean to me the rest of the course. I did well though and she didn't try to make me fail or anything. Still it was unpleasant for me everyday. She would call on me and be so critical of my mistakes.

Answer 3

Any time I go to a public function and the person in charge wants everybody to pray with them, I feel like the odd man out.

I can just imagine what atheist children in the public school system must go through. It's gotta be uncomfortable being the only child to not recite "Under God" when saying the Pledge of Allegiance, and then the stares and the finger pointing.

Answer 4

Awkward moments yes.

My friend locked me in a room with her until 4 am trying to convert me. At first I was all for it when she locked the door, then she started talking about the Bible, then I realized I wasn't getting sex like I had previously thought.

Answer 5

yes, everytime I'm at a public function, but the organizers want to have a silent moment to pray over the food. I'm usually the only one looking around angrily while my stomach growls.

Answer 6

some circumstances. One time i develop into instructed to no longer make my atheism customary as a results of fact others on the workplace ought to react negatively to it. yet yet lower back, i develop into instructed to no longer point out being atheist to a youthful kin member, as a results of fact they have been attempting to boost them as a Christian. and that i myself do no longer deliver it up in my each and on a daily basis existence. yet those human beings concept the potential of me bringing it up develop into adequate to communicate to me approximately it. I do have an atheist registration code, "NO GODS" which as quickly as I have been given it, i observed yet another DMV worker close to me shaking her head approximately it. and that i've got a pair bumper stickers, "happy Heathen" and "Proud to be Atheist", neither of that are detrimental. One time i develop into sitting in my vehicle with my domicile windows down, listening to music. A van load of older females parked next to me. One observed my vehicle, and that all of them huddled around my bumper analyzing it. They stood there for a minute and walked off, needless to say with questions approximately their suggestions, yet no longer certainly one of them even recognised i develop into there. Then there develop into whilst my spouse develop into death, and persons, understanding that i'm an atheist, might nevertheless tell me how she'll be going to Heaven whether i presumed it or no longer and praying at her. That develop right into slightly extra awkward.

Answer 7

Not any that I can remember, and I've been an atheist for 47 years.

Answer 8

No - almost everyone is an atheist here, so it's just normal. It's what everyone assumes other people are unless they have reason to think otherwise.

Answer 9

I work in the non-profit world, and thanks to Bush's faith based initiative, non-profits can now discriminate on the basis of religious affiliation, so I have to keep my mouth shut about my atheism, or risk being fired.

Answer 10

I felt a bit weird at my dads funeral. It was Catholic so had the full freak show.

I can't help it, every time I see a priest i think of the damn Exorcist!.

Answer 11

Why should anyone want to discriminate them, Even though they don't believe in God as I do as a Christian, they are still a human with a soul & God can still speak to them.