Study: Atheists America's least trusted minority

[over-man]

MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (3/28/2006) -- American’s increasing acceptance of religious diversity doesn’t extend to those who don’t believe in a god, according to a national survey by researchers in the University of Minnesota’s department of sociology.

From a telephone sampling of more than 2,000 households, university researchers found that Americans rate atheists below Muslims, recent immigrants, gays and lesbians and other minority groups in “sharing their vision of American society.” Atheists are also the minority group most Americans are least willing to allow their children to marry.

Even though atheists are few in number, not formally organized and relatively hard to publicly identify, they are seen as a threat to the American way of life by a large portion of the American public. “Atheists, who account for about 3 percent of the U.S. population, offer a glaring exception to the rule of increasing social tolerance over the last 30 years,” says Penny Edgell, associate sociology professor and the study’s lead researcher.

U of M - Continued

First off, as a Minnesotan myself, i'm happy to be living in one of the last refuges for free-thinking in the midwest, despite our recent neocon insurgency.
To be quite honest, i'm not at all surprised at these results, atheists have been one of the most oppressed minorities since the beginning of time, and arguably are still today. Unfortunately atheism appears to be considered politically incorrect, on both the left and the right, so we are unlikely to get the respect we deserve anytime soon.

[David Deas]

Ever notice that anybody who commits a crime is automatically presumed to be an athiest until proven otherwise? See people on television robbing a store and the lack of God in their life is like the first thing people think of. If you could identify an athiest by the color of their skin, being African American wouldn't seem so bad anymore.

"Ain't you got no religion, boy?!"

[RZZZA]

Yeah, while other countries have the freedom where they CAN elect atheist heathen single parent gay liberal presidents, America lags behind the rest with our cookie cutter politicians that, for some reason, all have to trumpet their believe in God and christianity. Its pathetic, A-hole people no better than you or I have to PRETEND to be better than everyone else because theyve "found God" or some crap. Good reason not to vote, ever.

[danzig]

Yeah, while other countries have the freedom where they CAN elect atheist heathen single parent gay liberal presidents, America lags behind the rest with our cookie cutter politicians that, for some reason, all have to trumpet their believe in God and christianity. Its pathetic, A-hole people no better than you or I have to PRETEND to be better than everyone else because theyve "found God" or some crap. Good reason not to vote, ever.

What country has a single atheist leader who was child of a gay liberal parent? I know you werent being entirely serious but the opposite can be said that in alot of European countries a religious, socially conservative person would have about as much chance of leading as your fictional liberal/gay/atheist would in the US.

You know why atheist arent trusted? Because anytime you hear about atheism in the media it involves an atheist trying to sue to have religion stripped from all public life, whether its the pledge, xmas/easter events etc what have you. The only real element of atheism that is vocal is the extremist element who seem to think its their duty to attack religion and I say that as a nonbeliever (though Im more agnostic then atheist). Its like if the only glimpse of christianity we saw was Pat Robertson types. Being an atheist doesnt mean your goal in life should be to attack religion anymore then a christian's goal in life should be to attempt to convert everyone both are different sides of same coin.

[Tom Paine]

What country has a single atheist leader who was child of a gay liberal parent? I know you werent being entirely serious but the opposite can be said that in alot of European countries a religious, socially conservative person would have about as much chance of leading as your fictional liberal/gay/atheist would in the US.

They do rule. They are in charge. So a false statement. I'm goign to repeat, Blair, Chirac, Berlusconi, etc.

[danzig]

They do rule. They are in charge. So a false statement. I'm goign to repeat, Blair, Chirac, Berlusconi, etc.

They are not by American stands (which is the point of the thread since it deals with atheism in US) of left/right so its not a false statement, only Berlusconi would come close. Blair despite his belief in god is hardly a social conservative.

[RZZZA]

What country has a single atheist leader who was child of a gay liberal parent?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michelle_Bachelet

A woman, a socialist, an agnostic and (i believe) the first female president of CHILE.

Yes, chile. Chile is more progressive than the U.S. in this field, it seems.

[danzig]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michelle_Bachelet

A woman, a socialist, an agnostic and (i believe) the first female president of CHILE.

Yes, chile. Chile is more progressive than the U.S. in this field, it seems.

One man's progressive politics is another man's status quo..a socialist/left leaning leader in South America is so unusual!

[Tom Paine]

It is unsurprising in a nation where a large majority believe in a deity of some form. Does a Christian have more in common with a Jew or an atheist? A Jew, they have a lot of common religious ground. The same for a Hindu? One more the Hindu, more common religious ground. As I say, its an unsurprising result.

[Tom Paine]

I think you'll find that, in Europe at any rate, all the leading politicians profess to be Christians. Look at Blair as a prime example, prayed to God before going to war in Iraq. He uses religion as a banner.

[RZZZA]

Its pathetic, imo, religion has almost zero place in politics. Its just another way to throw the blanket over the lowly sheep and dupe them into following you. "Hey, I'm christian too. Wont you follow me? Wont you vote for me? Won't you hand me money?".

Politics. Religion. Just say those two words, it doesnt mix, like oil in water.

But on the flipside, if some politician came out and publically stated that he was an atheist/agnostic/unbeliever, I think I would at least get that draw to him, so I guess religious ideals really do work in duping people in politics.

[Drexxus Maximus]

I think you'll find that, in Europe at any rate, all the leading politicians profess to be Christians. Look at Blair as a prime example, prayed to God before going to war in Iraq. He uses religion as a banner.

Wel you basicaly HAVE to be a christian in the U.S. to hold any political power whatsoever, or lie about it. I wish Blair was the only one who used it as a banner, but sadly he isnt. Isnt Blair praying to god before going to war some sort of oxymoron? Theres a giant guillotine hanging over the entire world at this very moment, and religion is sharpening the blade. Nothing long lasting and good will ever come of it, ever. Then you have people who are not lead by religious leashes and they are thought of as "bad". Truly truly sad, but it's nothing new.

[imb39]

OK. Lets remember where we are folks. Please remember to post sensibly and, dare I say it, sensitively. Attacking all members of one group is not a wise idea and is rather indicative of prejudice. It might be backed up with anecdotal evidence etc but unless you have met EVERY member of that community, your idea is flawed. Thank you, imb39

[Ahiga]

I hear that Atheists are positively loathed by Muslims, having one crusader who said 'hey! Don't hate me, I'm really an atheist" gain an even greater hatred from the Muslims back during the Crusades. Not taking it out to just flame them, but I wonder if atheists in the Middle east suffer worse than they do in America.

We seem to really be suffering the dogged chains of our Puritan heritage in our country, even 200 to 400 years from their arrival.

[Tom Paine]

"Religion is the opiate of the people" and politicians use any tool at their disposal to keep the people supportive and docile.

[RZZZA]

When they SHOULD be using the power of their speeches, and the draw of their platforms wo win over voters. Bah, if I could cleanse all religion from politics I would be a happy person. But I'm sure some people really love how all the politicians have to claim to be good christians, so I'd face some opposition. Fair warning, I will kill any person who opposes me in my mission, and unlike christians my options arent limited by fairy tales and morality and all that imaginary crap. I WILL kill you, with my bare hands.

The ultimate guffaw is when George W Bush claims to be christian. No no, thats wrong, the ultimate ultimate guffaw is when George W claims that God talks to him, and meant for him to be president. If anything, that makes me want to cleanse all religion from American politics.

[Tom Paine]

Religion lends to their speeches and platforms, it becomes a campaign issue, a matter for the public to scrutinise in their decision-making process.

[RZZZA]

Nobody who counts seems to find anything wrong with Georgy boy claiming that God ordained his power, though. Because most of the country IS christian, so of course theyre the people in power, they dont care about stuff like this. They probably even believe him, and secretly worship George as the next prophet, contructing a shrine to him in their closets out of macaroni and Elmer's glue.

Y'know how George Bush's divinity can be proven? assasination. If he lives, then God wants him to live. If he dies, then God wants him to die. See how easy it is to pass off blame if youre religious? Yeah, it wasnt me, it was Satan's voice which came through my faithful dog that told me to drive up on capitol hill and bust a cap at the president. These are powers greater than you or I people! I claim immunity, only God can judge.

I want to see a politician come out and publically state that they ARE religious, and they worship Ahura-Mazda or some obscure religion like that, just to see how people react. Now THATS fun for an atheist/agnostic.

[ThiudareiksGunthigg]

To be honest, I think all this poll indicates is that people in the US (and elsewhere) have little idea what atheism means. Even in Australia, where the religious right only reared its ugly head in the last election and where our Primie Minister in the 1980s blithely discussed his agnoticism without the electorate batting an eyelid, I avoid telling people I'm an atheist because it's tantamount to saying I'm a Satanist who eats babies.

Atheists in the US have it much worse. When Dubya's dad was campaigning for President back in 1987, Robert I. Sherman, a reporter for the American Atheist news journal, asked him how he would win the votes of America's atheists. Bush replied:

Bush: I guess I'm pretty weak in the atheist community. Faith in God is important to me.

Sherman: Surely you recognize the equal citizenship and patriotism of Americans who are atheists?

Bush: No, I don't know that atheists should be considered as citizens, nor should they be considered patriots. This is one nation under God.

Sherman (somewhat taken aback): Do you support as a sound constitutional principle the separation of state and church?

Bush: Yes, I support the separation of church and state. I'm just not very high on atheists.

I guess Sherman should have expected a rebuff, but the response that atheists shouldn't be considered citizens or patriots is fairly remarkable.

[RZZZA]

Ahaahahaha...."God loves me more than he loves you!"

And thats the guy we elected to be the leader of our country...twice! Amazing...