Do you think that some atheists don't admit to being an atheist from fear of discrimination?

Question

Did you hear what George Bush has said about atheists? It certainly doesn't help our situation any...

... and what some Generals in the Army have said, also

George Bush (I think the son, not the father) said that he wasn't sure if atheists should be considered citizens or patriots

Answer 1

Heck yeah.

Answer 2

No, I don't think so. Except maybe teenagers - young adults, but mostly so they don't have to hear the crap from religious relatives and not so much from fear of discrimination.

Does it really matter which Bush said it? Like father - like son. Besides, whenever a politician talks about religion, it's only to get votes. Look at Bush's (the son) 2nd election... what was the biggest issue? Homosexuals getting married.... when he got elected, he dropped the whole thing. After his election it merely stayed in the news on state levels and you didn't hear him talk about it much afterwards. I believe he claimed he was more worried about the war. If that were true, the War would have been the main issue for the election and not about Gays getting married.

Shows where the priorities are in this nation, doesn't it?

Piratetech, you can't be serious. Just a tad arrogant of you to try to state what another person feels or believes. I suppose you won't mind if I did that to you.... =)

Answer 3

Yes, I have heard that. I am an atheist and I teach junior high. A lot of the teachers I work with are openly christian so I just keep my mouth shut. Sometimes I think telling people you are an atheist is like saying you are gay, or a transvestite (nothing against them!) or even a criminal. They just look at you with such shock and revulsion. If you are a religious person but not christian they at least pretend to respect your beliefs, but the concept of atheism is so foreign to them. My close friends and family know about my atheism but I don't tell people. I am also a historian and I research religion as a hobby, so people see me reading these religious books and probably assume I am a believer. I don't contradict them. Nor do I reveal my ever growing hostility to religion in general and Christianity in particular. But I am still young. I may become more confident as I get older.

Answer 4

The one from George Bush senior?

The fact is the way the current American president goes on about God is highly unamerican - The US is supposed to have secular presidents.

I don't think there's anything wrong with pretending to be a theist if you're in a climate (and many are) where your whole life could be destroyed by speaking the truth. Atheists dont have to worry about lying to stop people coming to harm.

Answer 5

I think it depends what circles they move in. Sometimes Atheism is seen as a more philosophical belief and therefore could be perceived as more 'considered' than simply believing what you've been taught since you were young.

If you have come to the decision of Atheism independently then it could be assumed that you are perfectly happy to tell others. I can't speak for the 'Bible Belt' but certainly over here in the UK it is unlikely that you would be descriminated against for being Atheist.

Answer 6

I'm grateful that I live in a more enlightened country than the USA (UK) where I can admit to being an atheist without fear of discrimination.

Answer 7

Yes I'm sure of it.
It's far easier in some places, to simply pretend to go along with the bleating sheep than to stand out and make oneself a pariah.
I really feel sorry for those people. Those intelligent enough to understand that god is imaginary and that religion is the world's oldest con-job, but who can't say so for fear of reprisals.
You have my sympathy guys and my hope that you move from such an abusive place soon.

Answer 8

I don't admit it unless someone tries to get me into a conversation about religion. Then I say "I don't think you want to go there with me. I think it is a fable." I drop the subject unless someone pushes me and wants to know why I don't believe. Then of course we go through the circle dance with all their "explanations" of the bible.

My favorite question to ask a believer is "Where was God on 9/11" and 99% of them say "he was saving other people, like the guy who was late because he dropped his child off at school, the man who stopped to vote on his way to work" and I say "uh huh..well why didn't he just make the terrorists late?" Then they revert to the whole song and dance about man's will, blah blah blah

Answer 9

I'm an athiest, and if anyone asks, I tell them. I think most people guess with me. There are many religions in the world, should athiests be prejudiced just because they don't have a religion and don't believe in God? I guess most athiests don't admit it because of fear of discimination, I'm just saying that no one should be discrimnated because they're different.

Answer 10

Depends on which part of the world you're talking about. While I'm sure it even prevails in some Western nations, I find that unnecessary and disgraceful.

Answer 11

Definitely.