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

Answer 1

Yup.
I'm especially annoyed when I get sent emails tying religion and patriotism.
How dare I not agree with them, I should just leave the country because we were meant to praise god through politics (or some such crap). I don't see things like that coming from atheists/agnostics/humanists.

Answer 2

A few times.

One time I was told to not make my atheism known because others at the office might react negatively to it.

Another time, I was told not to mention being atheist to a young family member, because they were trying to raise them as a Christian.

And I really don't bring it up in my day to day life. But these people thought the possibility of me bringing it up was enough to talk to me about it.

I do have an atheist license plate, "NO GODS" which when I got it, I noticed another DMV employee near me shaking her head about it. And I have a couple bumper stickers, "Happy Heathen" and "Proud to be Atheist", neither of which are negative.

One time I was sitting in my car with my windows down, listening to music. A van load of older ladies parked next to me. One noticed my car, and they all huddled around my bumper reading it. They stood there for a minute and walked off, obviously with questions on their mind, but not one of them even acknowledged I was there.

Then there was when my wife was dying, and people, knowing that I'm an atheist, would still tell me how she'll be going to Heaven whether I believed it or not and praying at her. That was a bit more awkward.

Answer 3

You don't seem to be sure of whether to be religious or not. You ask religious type questions often. Why do you worry if people will vote for an atheist president or if atheists get snubbed at and so on.Do you really care?

Answer 4

No. But I live in Toronto, where nobody goes to church anymore and nobody cares about it.

@ Brendan G: Your answer reminds me of a story I read about comedian Lenny Bruce. He had a routine where he would repeat the word "n!gger" until his mostly-liberal audience wondered what the hell he was doing; then he explained that his intention was to overuse the word, to reduce it to a meaningless noise, powerless to hurt anyone. Maybe the word "atheist" needs similar treatment?

Answer 5

very much.. i come from Brunei, a country where people are bloody narrow minded and can't accept something different.
very difficult to find people who are fine with me and still have their own beliefs. A lot of times, people try to preach me and tlel me that i'm wrong. Very hard. Really wish to leave this place at once, but i think it's going to be pretty much the same anywhere else.

Answer 6

No, cause I don't talk about my ideas on religion. And I don't ask other people their religion.

I don't even claim to be an atheist exactly; all I know for sure is that the Bible god is a weird creature that no honest and moral person would worship if they seriously knew their Bible.

Answer 7

No. It's normal in Australia. People have a variety of religious beliefs and non beliefs, but most of us don't take others' metaphysical positions as a personal attack.

Some of us even find other beliefs a point of interest rather than one of threat.

Answer 8

yes, right now.
my own father is refusing to correspond with me due to my reaction to a chain email my stepmother sent.
it was a doozy:
"Americans who support our troops....and are voicing our love for God, country and home"
"We need to remember everyday all of our soldiers and their families and thank God for them and their sacrifices."
and signed
MAY GOD HELP AMERICA TO BECOME ONE NATION, UNDER GOD.

I hit reply all and voiced my displeasure at the implications that theism is an intrinsic part of patriotism or appreciation for the sacrifice of the military.
I also expressed that my support for the troops is a desire to have them brought home soon and safely, and to see the care for their war-created health needs fully funded.

so far he's not deigned to reply.

edit: seems Hypnotoad and I got the same bs email!

Answer 9

Oh baby! Last sunday. Read my blog (its at the end of my profile). A car salesman whipped out Christ while I was taking a test drive...

Answer 10

It's a strange world where sane people must hide about in secret, while delusional people who believe in magical invisible beings are allowed to roam free.