Atheism: Distrust and fears of disownment and disrespect, Why?

GenMarshall · Dec 16, 2007

This is inspired by what Kulade has posted that he fears losing respect and being disowned in the "Evil Athiest" Thread, as well as documents in regards that atheists are the most distrusted minority in the United States (sources below)

I open up the question and discussion on why this is a fact that atheists are the most distrusted minority in the United States and why many closeted atheists fear disownmnent and disrespect if they came out clean (especially towards their religious parents and/or community)

Sorces that state that atheists are a distrusted minority of the US
American Sociological Association
Gallup Poll (US Today)
Further Reading

If you have any sources in relation to this, please feel free to add them
Please keep it civil and orderly

Kozmos · Dec 16, 2007

What is the point of this thread?

Bill3000 · Dec 16, 2007

Bah, I thought a more interesting thread would be on atheists who respect the culture of religion, not this. This is rather obvious. Belief in Religion is considered to be part of the component of american patriotism - atheists, not being religious, are therefore not considered patriotic and thus mistrusted.

warpus · Dec 16, 2007

I was born in Europe and this is something I still can't explain. The U.S. is hardly a backwards nation, yet something like this..

how do YOU explain it?

GenMarshall · Dec 16, 2007

Cleric said:
What is the point of this thread?

The point is to find out why atheists are a distrusted minority in the US and why many closeted atheists fear coming out to their religious parents about their atheism (or disbelief in a deity).

skadistic · Dec 16, 2007

Going against the norm of religious brainwashing is just like going against the norms of sexuality.

Angst · Dec 16, 2007

skadistic said:
Going against the norm of religious brainwashing is just like going against the norms of sexuality.

You say that atheists are gay?

Ansar · Dec 16, 2007

I think Skad has a point (if I understood him right).

Asking this is like asking why coming out (sexually) is disowned.
It goes against the norm, so therefore, people are going to view it as odd.

Personally, though, I could care less if you're Atheist.

Stylesjl · Dec 16, 2007

I think it dates back to the cold war days. Ie Communists were enemies, communists were atheists- Therefore guilt by association

Bill3000 · Dec 16, 2007

skadistic said:
Going against the norm of religious brainwashing is just like going against the norms of sexuality.

That too, but I think the point I raised was significant, that it is not considered patriotic, which leads to inherent mistrust.

I think it dates back to the cold war days. Ie Communists were enemies, communists were atheists- Therefore guilt by association

Atheism originally meant immoral, not lack of a belief in God. It was considered of an inconcievable nation until the 19th century.

CaptainF · Dec 16, 2007

skadistic said:
Going against the norm of religious brainwashing is just like going against the norms of sexuality.

Or drugs for that matter...

skadistic · Dec 16, 2007

Dawgphood001 said:
Or drugs for that matter...

Or dating out of race or any number of things that upset the "comfort zone" of society. It leads to irrational fear and a sense of a loss of control.

Kozmos · Dec 16, 2007

CivGeneral said:
The point is to find out why atheists are a distrusted minority in the US and why many closeted atheists fear coming out to their religious parents about their atheism (or disbelief in a deity).

I'll tell you why, because I would probably earn a trip to the exorcist if I said I dont believe in god. Or get disowned which doesnt fit into my plans. I will tell them when I am financially independent. And when I get licenses for my guns.

kulade · Dec 16, 2007

Most religious people attach morality to religion and then assume if one has no religion they are therefore moraless.

Religion, politics and family life are all one to my parents, and if I don't respect one, I lose all of them.

BTW: Glad I inspired a thread. :smug:

GenMarshall · Dec 16, 2007

kulade said:
Religion, politics and family life are all one to my parents, and if I don't respect one, I lose all of them.

So the fears lie in the sociological aspect of community and family. And yet, even if you are financially independent and living on your own?

I would perhaps be in a similar situation if I was born about 100 years ago when Protestant Christians distrusted and discriminated Roman Catholics in the United States.

kulade said:
BTW: Glad I inspired a thread.

Dont let your ego expand too too much, or it will explode

.

Bill3000 · Dec 16, 2007

I would perhaps be in a similar situation if I was born about 100 years ago when Protestant Christians distrusted and discriminated Roman Catholics in the United States.

Precisely.

Shadylookin · Dec 16, 2007

because when Americans thinks atheism they think USSR

when they think atheism they think secularism, then they think because atheists hate religion in government they must hate religious people altogether.

When atheists want to change the way religion influences the US government they think they must be anti-US and therefore unpatriotic.

because Atheists don't believe in any gods religious people can't understand how someone without "the fear of god" could possibly be a trustworthy individual.

There is no atheist organization(ignoring powerless atheists websites that still have no structure). taking pot shots at atheists is like taking candy from a baby. There's no organization that's going to protest or put out a press release when representatives designate us as sub-human. Atheists are essentially the last remaining minority group that you won't get a nasty letter or calls for resignation for insulting.

El_Machinae · Dec 16, 2007

There another component.

There's a subset of believers who cannot conceive of being moral if they didn't believe in God. Now, chances are they'd quickly find decent sources of morality if they lost their faith, but they haven't thought about it long enough.

And they're vocal. So the perception of mistrust is there.

Andrei_V · Dec 16, 2007

CivGeneral said:
And yet, even if you are financially independent and living on your own?

If you own a small business in the middle of Bible Belt, you would not want to tell your customers you don't believe in God, because otherwise you would not have any customers.

There is a huge social pressure to pretend to be a Christian. I think when somebody finally gets out of closet, he/she is most likely to become one of those angry atheists hating everything Christian.

Angst · Dec 16, 2007

Andrei_V said:
If you own a small business in the middle of Bible Belt, you would not want to tell your customers you don't believe in God, because otherwise you would not have any customers.

There is a huge social pressure to pretend to be a Christian. I think when somebody finally gets out of closet, he/she is most likely to become one of those angry atheists hating everything Christian.

I'm so gay and I can't stand straights omgomgomg

Atheism: Distrust and fears of disownment and disrespect, Why?

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