Is it actually dangerous to be openly atheist in some parts of the US?

Question

I live in the UK and I know I should be cautious about making assumptions from TV and films, but some parts of the US seem a little fanatical about religion...

It sounds pretty grim :-(

Answer 1

No, Icarus. You are all confused. This is the land of the FREE! We are free to worship or not worship. We are a country that was established because of religious persecution in England! Remember the Pilgrims? They were seeking FREEDOM! That is just what they found here in America! God bless America, we are STILL the land of the FREE!

Answer 2

You're absolutely right. I'm from KY. I announced I was an atheist when I was seven at school, and I got in huge trouble with my mother because she was a teacher and was deathly afraid all the parents would hear of it.

Later on, in middle school, I was made fun of for showing support for Darwin's theories, which were taught in science class, rather than an invisible spirit god.

I wish I had been able to speak then as I can now; oh, what I would have said!

Answer 3

Well, yes, it is. Sickos you know... Freedom will prevail one day.

Answer 4

It's dangerous to be openly ANYTHING in some parts of the US. Overall, we're an extremely rude, arrogant, and closeminded culture.

Peace,
Drew

Answer 5

Yes Been insulted a few times but then this is Yucapia here Redlands & loma Linda are far less tolerant Redlands they will find a reason to arrest you .

Boy did they get our numbers wrong or what going to be a shock to them someday !

Answer 6

Mostly around the rural parts. A lot of people there racist, christian and igonrant.

I am black and when I told a few relatives I like white women they looked at me like they wanted to beat me up which they probably would have if I wasn't related. Also my cousin was with a white girl and the dad was pissed because he hated black people. I had to watch my behind in some parts because they had communities full of racist people.

Just imagine what would happen there to a gay person or an athiest! They would probably get killed!

Answer 7

Yes. Some of those so-called "loving Christians" can be surprisingly violent and scary. There are places in this country where atheists have been physically attacked and harassed, their property damaged, and they've even been driven out of their homes.

Answer 8

Try being Pagan....In SOME places yes, claiming anything non-christian or even a lack of religious belief can be very dangerous; however, I think that in the more populated areas it would be less common to run into any confrontations. You never know though, some people can really surprise you with their acceptance or nonacceptance. That's why stereotyping is so dangerous.

Answer 9

It's difficult when you are different from the norm sometimes, no matter where or what that norm is. For example, I knew a women who lived in Salt Lake City, Utah, which is very heavily Mormon. She was not Mormon. She had difficulty when interacting with local officials and police tend to ticket non-Mormons more than their own.

Answer 10

Putting a pro-atheist bumper sticker on your car in the Deep South could easily result in your car being damaged and/or verbal threats. I live in New England, and few people here would even care one way or the other. I love living here, no one ever bring up the subject of religion and we have the lowest church attendance in the nation. We also have the highest incomes, lowest divorce rates, lowest abortion rates, and the lowest teenage pregnancy rates.