What kind of thing can happen to atheists at the hands of Christians in strongly religious areas of the US?

Question

i.e. is there violence, discrimination, intimidation etc?

FIVE O'CLOCK SHADOW: No indeed...

corrosionfactor: Sounds pretty unpleasant.

LongTermCapitalManagement: That's pretty sick, taking it out on kids. That's the sort of thing they do in Northern Ireland too.

Answer 1

Just like on the front page of the newspapers...

Nothing. Where did such a fantasy come from?

Answer 2

On the other hand, what can happen to Christians at the hands of atheists?
What motivated the students who went on a rampage at Columbine?
What of the United Methodist minister who was fatally beaten and burned in a remote part of Chattanooga, Tennessee?
These are only a couple of examples...there have been others. But, for some reason, a couple of kids who were assaulted in a small town in upstate New York because the girl was carrying a Bible are not considered "newsworthy". Such "minor incidents" just don't create much "public interest".
Sort of makes one wonder how many other "minor incidents" have occurred that haven't been "newsworthy" enough to be reported nationally...
Of course, atheists will say that these sort of things don't happen very often, and can be attributed to a very few individuals who are probably having emotional and/or mental problems. But if Christians assert something similar, of course, we must by lying to protect our own.
What generally happens to atheists in strongly religious areas of the US? Well, they may be "bothered" by concerned Christians knocking at their door, to be confronted by naked atheists, or vicious insults...or they might be invited to church, only to receive similar treatment...but mostly they are just prayed for.
How do I KNOW this? Well, because I live in southern Alabama, which would be considered a "stongly religious area of the United States.
Did you know that there is a statue of Vulcan standing in the center of Birmingham, Alabama, and only ONE person has complained about it?
Did you know that a recent session of Congress opened for the very first time in our history with a prayer that was NOT Christian, and only three people got upset over it?
Of course, being an atheist, these things are not very important to you...but to some Christians, they foretell a trend that does make us a bit uncomfortable.
As a Christian, the only feeling I have for you, for instance, is a deep sadness, and a strong urge to pray for you. I would wish you God's blessings, even though you don't believe in Him.
Just as you believe that our faith in God does not make Him real, we believe that your faith that there is no god does not make Him a fictional "skydaddy"....

Answer 3

As an atheist, I have not any problem respecting all of us's non secular practices and faith. i'm completely happy to comprehend the followers of Islam and Christianity and another faith or faith. I anticipate the comparable courtesy whilst it is composed of respecting the reality that i don't have faith. If somebody tries to 'stress' comprehend however they'll fail and that particular will forfeit the main suitable to this way of coutesy or comprehend afforded to contributors of their faith, as a respected area of our society.

Answer 4

I don't think anything's really going to happen. Sure, some christians can be idiots, but they're not that idiotic. The only place I would slightly worry about is the Deep South, considering they have no idea what they believe in half the time. In my area, however, people don't rag on me for being atheist. The only time I really felt discriminated was when I was getting picked by two Roman Catholic boys for being gay. Honestly, they're both obsessive idiots. No offense to you guys, but when they only attack me for it when there is only the three of us in one room, and when one of them carries around a pocket bible, and when it turns out they actually have no spines, thats when I call christians obsessive idiots.

Answer 5

Hail Eris!

Well, in some areas (parts of Pennsylvania, the Carolinas, Alabama, Texas, Oklahoma, and wherever there are enclaves of Xian fanatics), by just being atheist/agnostic/Pagan, you could see your kids taken away, you yourself could be assaulted without penalty to your attacker, your pets could be killed, your property (real estate) could be vandalised, and you could be arrested on all sorts of trumped-up charges. Watch out for "No True Scotsman" fallacies, BTW, among the other answers. Self-styled "True Christians" would be at the forefront of those terrorising you/"driving out the heathen SCUM", hence there's little point in trying to differentiate between those who hate you for existing and those who uselessly wring their hands and exclaim that they have nothing to do with your oppressors.

Snarky

Answer 6

I cant say about recently but I am from the rural south and even as soon as 25 years ago if someone wa thought to be a witch her house was burned to run them out. Id say the same would be true for athiests. I know one things for sure, in many parts of the country if you aren't xtian then you'd better keep your mouth shut about your beliefs if you want to stay healthy and not be pursequeted by christians.

i also live in the bible belt and, even though i am wiccan, i have found thet the bible belt is trying to strangle those of us who wont conform.

Answer 7

Job discrimination, rental discrimination, vandalism to home and car. Those are just the ones I have experienced. All that Xtian love shining through, I guess.

Answer 8

I wouldn't doubt it. I've been verbally bashed for not believing what Christians believe, so it goes to say that physical violence probably happens often. Christians can be some of the most judgmental, hateful people around. Very unlike Christ himself.

Answer 9

Yes, Yes, & YES there is discrimination. I have been fired from jobs for being a childless-by-chioce non-church-goer. Anyone who thinks intimidation & persecution doesn't happen to those who don't believe in god ought to ask god to remove the scales from their eyes!

Answer 10

Anything bad can and sometimes has happened to nonbelievers in the name of religion generally. Christianity openly professes it is composed of sinners trying to be holy. We often mess it up. Please accept my apology on behalf of those my brothers who have acted toward you in a less than loving way. It is not what Jesus taught. The Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit engulfs us in love, and makes us loving people, even toward our enemies. I would submit that those who are born of God do love, and are harmless toward any unbelievers, and that those who consistently act out of hostility and violence have not tasted of Christian truth, nor have they been through the essential Christian experience of being humbled by the realization of their own spiritual deficiencies. Such may find on the day of judgment that they are nothing but unwashed CINOs (Christians in Name Only).

Answer 11

Here's a shining example of American Christianity:

http://blogs.chicagotribune.com/news_columnists_ezorn/2007/09/vandals-attack-.html

I was actually looking for another story; if I find it, I'll also post that link.

Edit: dgm17's second link is the story I was looking for.