Do any of you atheists who live in America admit that you're atheists in real life?

[Ross MwcFan]

It seems that atheists in America are seen in the same way as pedophiles are seen in the UK.

 

It's really shocking.

 

Is it really that bad in most of America?

 

I'm thinking would I want to admit that I was an athiest if I lived in America, and I don't think I would do. I'd hate pretending to be something I'm not, but it seems that admiting you're an atheist would just make live very difficult for you and would make you hated by most people.

[BetheButterfly]

It seems that atheists in America are seen in the same way as pedophiles are seen in the UK.

 

It's really shocking.

 

Is it really that bad in most of America?

 

I'm thinking would I want to admit that I was an athiest if I lived in America, and I don't think I would do. I'd hate pretending to be something I'm not, but it seems that admiting you're an atheist would just make live very difficult for you and would make you hated by most people.

 

I have several friends/acquaintances here in the USA who are Atheists. Many were classmates at my university. They are accepted. In many universities, being an Atheist is normal and believing in God is looked down on as "backward." One of my professors was an Atheist and he wasn't very nice to anyone who believed in divinity of any form; he was very bigoted. However, another Atheist professor was really cool, tolerant, and fun.

 

I learned some Athiests get irked if you tell them you'll pray for them. Then, they lecture about how prayers are nothing and God doesn't exist and it's all a part of my imagination and on and on they go. That hasn't hurt my personal experience in the slightest, but it is interesting. My good Atheist friend and I simply agree to disagree, and that's cool!

 

Personally, I understand why Atheists don't believe in God. If I didn't have personal experiences with God, I would be an Atheist too. However, I am very much as sure that I have a personal relationship with God as I am sure I am a human being. My relationship with God is through Jesus Christ.

 

More and more Christian Americans understand that Atheists are people too, people worthy of respect, and that they can be kind, good, loving, and help others too. What I personally love is when people of all different beliefs, including Agnostics and Atheists, work together for the good of the USA, to help the people, animals, and the earth. I very much respect Atheists who do that. Angelina Jolie, for example, is an Atheist I very much respect for her care for people in other countries and for caring about orphans enough to adopt. She's one of my heroes: she's intelligent, gorgeous, caring, and has a heart for those who were not born with silver spoons in their mouths, as the saying goes!

[serial muse]

Interesting question...haha, that's how it looks to the rest of the world.

 

I know lots of self-admitted athiests. But I live in the godless NE US, so. I'd be curious to hear from my fellow countrymen who live in places where religion is more dominant, though. I wonder if it's something you just don't talk about.

[GorillaTheater]

Have a good friend who was an out-spoken atheist for years (until he went through a particularly brutal divorce and Got Jesus in a big way). If he ever felt he was treated akin to a pedophile, he never shared it with me. And this is in Texas.

 

Interesting to see the world's perspective on Americans. When I was in South Africa, I had a couple of people mention surprise that I wasn't fat.

[veggirl]

Yeah I admit it. I don't run around shouting it out or anything but if for some reason someone asks (rare), yes I will say it. I usually don't say "I'm an atheist" but I say "I don't believe in god". Honestly it doesn't come up much. When people start talking god and whatnot, I listen but don't really engage in the convo. I've never had a rude reaction to it, except from one of my sisters

 

eta: I can't imagine people treating me like I'm a pedophile for it, lol. I think the more likely reaction would be they feel sorry for me/are confused.

[AlexDP]

Have a good friend who was an out-spoken atheist for years (until he went through a particularly brutal divorce and Got Jesus in a big way). If he ever felt he was treated akin to a pedophile, he never shared it with me. And this is in Texas.

 

Interesting to see the world's perspective on Americans. When I was in South Africa, I had a couple of people mention surprise that I wasn't fat.

 

I don't share the OP's perspective, but there are subtle and not so subtle things that do make you notice religion is a big thing in America.

 

For instance I heard people debate on the radio if Obama was christian or not. I think that in most Western European countries that wouldn't even be a political question. As for as religion goes in the political realm, there's a hunch of islamophobia in Europe, but that's about it.

 

Another thing is the giant churches you come across every once in a while. In a lot of European countries churches have been relegated to cultural artefacts. And there sure aren't churches with thousands and thousands of seats.

 

Of course there are big differences among states in the US, but that religion and atheism are things that are even on the political agenda says it all to me.

 

EDIT: but hey, what do you expect from a country that hasn't learned the proper meaning of the word socialist?

[sweetjasmine]

I do admit it, but since I'm not big on arguing or convincing people, I don't exactly shout it from the rooftops. If it comes up in conversation, I say I don't believe in God. I've only ever had a handful of rude/negative reactions, but I've lived in fairly diverse areas.

 

The only time I lied about it was when my host mother in Russia asked me if I was Catholic. She had just finished a long rant about how the atheists in the legislature were destroying the country and how they don't care because they're immoral monsters who don't believe in God and Christ.

 

I do know some people in other parts of the country who faced some serious discrimination. A friend of mine took a job in Alabama and faced daily comments from coworkers until she up and left because she couldn't handle it anymore. I also know a few people from fundamentalist families who were essentially disowned and cast out by their communities for not believing. Apostasy is a huge deal in a lot of places, especially in homogenous communities where religion binds everyone together. Heck, even my MIL who is Catholic was shunned when she moved to another state and settled in a Mormon community. She had met a few people who had left the Mormon religion, and they were struggling to even find a job because they were considered lepers for leaving the faith.

 

So, no, atheists as a whole are not viewed as being as bad as pedophiles, but overall, they're viewed less favorably than Muslims, and many individuals do face some serious problems.

[StEwPiD_MoNkEy]

As an American Atheist (who is also Hispanic), I have no problem expressing my non belief to theist. I really don't care how they view it because I am secure in my own skin. I am trained enough that should things ever get violent I can handle most situations. If they chose not to associate with me, well hell. I don't need friends that are close minded anyway.

[Phoebe]

I would consider myself agnostic. I used to be atheist until I had a personal experience that I found hard to explain without god. I still consider religions to be man-made but that doesn't mean that there isn't a god out there that I don't fully understand.

 

Coming from England to America I can say that religion is definately a much bigger part of peoples lives over here. If pressed I will declare myself an agnostic but generally when religious talk is going on I keep out of it. I have had a few conversations with christians about religion, some are interesting, others have turned emotional with people getting upset that I don't agree with their version of god. I have had a few people tell me that they will pray for me when times have got rough, I don't get offended, the offer is made from kindness and not an effort to convert.

 

Like some other people have stated though I do not shout it from the roof tops. I do believe that some people would look at me differently if they knew I was agnostic. I don't want to be pitied or a conversion target.

[thatone]

Sure, I tell everyone who asks or brings the conversation up.

 

Individually people are accepting, from my experience, only when they're herded into groups and told how to act by someone else with shady motives do they start to hate based on differences/prejudice alone. Club mentality.

 

But then again religion IS club mentality for the most part so whatever.

[pteromom]

I am not an atheist, but sure, I know plenty of atheists and agnostics. Some are friendly happy accepting people, and some are angry anti-religion zealots, and everything in between.

 

Just like religious people - there are hard-core fundamentalists and those who are accepting and tolerant, and everything in between.

[BetheButterfly]

I am not an atheist, but sure, I know plenty of atheists and agnostics. Some are friendly happy accepting people, and some are angry anti-religion zealots, and everything in between.

 

Just like religious people - there are hard-core fundamentalists and those who are accepting and tolerant, and everything in between.

 

Agreed. I boldened most of your post, cause it's true.

[BetheButterfly]

Your sure she didn't make a deal with the devil for those beautiful lips?

 

I adore her lips. Angelina Jolie is more than lips though. She has a beautiful heart (mind/caring for others who are in need) and yep, she's an Atheist. And... she's an awesome lady!!!

[Radu]

She also had quite an interesting past ... if you read about her adventures in the 90's.

 

Got several friends in the US, some immigrants while others are born there.

All of them told me that religion plays a huge role and you can get discriminated against if you are an atheist.

 

Most of them are on the east cost, just one is in Cali.

[Eclypse]

Interesting how it is in other countries isn't it. Here in Australia, God has been effectively killed for the most part. Our current prime minister is an atheist, unmarried, childless woman though and boy some of the stories in the media after the election... Perhaps God isn't dead after all. Still, it's an improvement from a few centuries back where burning at the stake was a bit more common than a media roast!

 

One thing that concerns me about the US is all the reports of children being taught creationism only! I firmly believe in a seperation of church and state.

[BetheButterfly]

Interesting how it is in other countries isn't it. Here in Australia, God has been effectively killed for the most part.

 

In Australia, do many of the aborigines people still believe in gods/dieties?

Aboriginal Culture - Aboriginal Religion and Ceremony

 

Two of my favorite Christian singers: Rebecca St. James

 

Rebecca St. James - My Australia - YouTube

 

and the group the Newsboys, are from Australia (though the Newsboys has changed and now one of the members was a part of DC Talk - Michael!)

 

Also, I know there are many Muslims who live in Australia, many of whom have immigrated there.

 

So while many English immigrants believe there is no God, it seems that there are some people who live in Australia who still do in some way.

 

Our current prime minister is an atheist, unmarried, childless woman though and boy some of the stories in the media after the election... Perhaps God isn't dead after all. Still, it's an improvement from a few centuries back where burning at the stake was a bit more common than a media roast!

President Obama, as far as I know, has no desire to burn people at the stake either, though he's called himself a Christian, is married, has 2 kids, and is a man who has sadly been through a lot, even being called the "antichrist" by other Christians.

 

Christians are basically supposed to follow Jesus' command to love their neighbor (Matthew 22:39), love each other (John 13:34), and even love their enemies (Matthew 5:44; Luke 6:27-37). If a person is striving to do that, this greatly helps the world. Jesus did not tell his followers to burn people at the stake or persecute anybody. President Obama does seem to very much care for the poor, which is also an important teaching of Jesus (Matthew 25:31-46).

 

Regardless, a person can be a wonderful president regardless of their belief, marital status, reproduction status, and gender. What's important is the person's convictions, goals, and ability to lead the country.

 

 

 

 

One thing that concerns me about the US is all the reports of children being taught creationism only!

Most public schools, as far as I know, don't teach creationism. However, many private schools do, though usually these private schools are Christian, Jewish, and Muslim. Many Christian schools also teach evolution in different ways.

 

I firmly believe in a seperation of church and state.

I do too, as well as I firmly believe in freedom of religion. Because of freedom of religion, private schools and parents teaching their children what they personally believe is a right many people in the USA enjoy. That is one reason why Christians, Atheists, Muslims, Jewish Orthodox and Reform people, Buddhists, Hindus, Wiccans, and people of other beliefs can freely exercise their right of belief and not believing in what other faiths believe. For example, I have the right to be a Christian and to not believe what Muslims believe, and visa versa.

[Nightsky]

Atheist kult is the religion of the Left. It's part of what marxist and socialist call critical theory. Learned in their churches the University by their religious sounding figures the PROFESSORS. I mean the name Professor is religious. The purpose of it is to tear down the major religion of the west which is Christianity. In many respects the atheist community acts as if it is the new sect of Christianity as they hold many things to be sins through what is extreme political correctness. They always tear down Christianity while barely if ever touching religions you'd think they'd be more focused on like Islam. It's all about critical theory. Just another tool, in the tool box of Marxism.

[Feelin Frisky]

I find no reason to announce my lack of belief to anyone. That's just a losing proposition that many people take as an affront in America. If I am asked "religion?" when preparing for a medical procedure where there are traditions to be considered in case I'm unconscious and cannot answer for myself (like some religions prohibit transfusions), I simply say "none". I'm from NYC where it raises no eyebrow to respond that way because so-called "lapsed Catholics" or "non-practicing Jews" et al will often say "none" instead of confusing the issue. In less liberal states it may make one wonder but you don't encounter anger and hate unless you feed the impulse to throw your athesim around. Since I do not occupy my mind with "theism" at all, it makes no sense to me to broadcast atheism unless I'm taking it on as a cause. One must pick one's battles smartly and this one is a loser in the US.

[Feelin Frisky]

Atheism is a koine Greek term that predates Marx by 2,500 years.

 

The lefts disagreement is not with belief itself, rather with hierarchy of theocracy...

 

Your idea that most academics shows there is a conspiracy is retarded. Most academics are not religious for the same reason most doctors are evolutionists: the facts lead one to reject the divine claims made by orthodoxy.

 

By the way, the word professor is not "religious". It's an old Latin term used for art masters that instructed technique to young stone workers. The second recording we have the term is used by master philosophers. The religious term for one who shares a message is "apostle" or "rasul" the "sul" or "sol" sound is a derivative of the enlightenment one receives from god "Sul", "sole" "soul", "sun", "sunne", "son".... The derivative of that has been with us since the first info invasions 6,500 bc that linguists can trace, its apparent in almost every western language even proto Germanic....

 

Thanks for the laugh though, its always amusing to watch the conservative "brain" make apologetics for their lack of understanding facts...

 

Where have you been all my life?

 

Just kidding, if that's you in your av, I'm old enough to be your dad. But anyway, your response was just the lift I needed.

[Nightsky]

I don't have to start a new thread. This is a thread about atheists in america being hated like pedophiles in the UK. If anything the stuff I said is more on topic with reality that what the OP wrote. Also every religion claims to be the true one for the most part. So they shouldn't focus on the major religion of the West.

[Nightsky]

Fair, let's make that the argument then. Where's your rebuttal? Since unbelief predates all forms of theism, and theism was our first (worst) attempt at indulging the necessity we are compelled to indulge, in explaining, on what ground do you stake this claim?

 

This question is asked like a riddle. What I do know is no government predates having a government. Laws also predate government. Also governments first and only purpose was to farm people. Wasn't until modern times that we started believing oh government is here to help us. Now church and state were married for use by government to better control. Now that we have them unmarried government has found its new religion for growth that of the PC Atheist Kult and their improper use of nihilism as a void to remain in for ever.

 

You trade one worship for another worship.

 

Every religion claiming to be true inherently destroys the validity of all their claims. If this is the case' date=' and we grant one religion a pass, then all religions must be given that same pass, and by this irrationality must only conclude that everyone is going to everyone else's hell. [/quote']

 

Still doesn't explain why the focus is on christianity unless the focus is really on destroying the west. It's about attacking Western people. Always the racism and sexism and elitism in the West. Always the religions of the west. Atheism the religion of the Left suits critical theory of marxism perfectly. The purpose of which people gladly undertake because it allows them the moral superiority they so greatly attribute to the right.

 

You have no evidence to support your claim. No evidence beyond soundbytes to bash the supposed secular left, as if the thumping right is some beacon, to be followed and imitated, with all of its squeaky clean human rights records. Have you forgotten Fascism? Have you forgotten monarchism? Inquisition?

 

These things happened, and were a direct emulation from your accepted Divine Khmer Rouge.

 

I blame this on government. Religion has been separated from government here. So now you worship what has always been worshiped, power. You don't believe in anything and that is your religion.

 

Atheism is a koine Greek term that predates Marx by 2,500 years.

 

Yes now incorporated into the Marxist critical theory paradigm.

 

The lefts disagreement is not with belief itself' date=' rather with hierarchy of theocracy... [/quote']

 

Yes and if only it had those same problems with the hierarchy of big government instead of going after the church. Although since feminism is practically married to atheism and it's PC belief system they are for BIG government.

 

Your idea that most academics shows there is a conspiracy is retarded. Most academics are not religious for the same reason most doctors are evolutionists: the facts lead one to reject the divine claims made by orthodoxy.

 

I never said it's a conspiracy, as the churches of Atheism being state funded in our college system is something very out in the open. The fact that you ignore this perception and state it as a matter of fact like science and evolution reflects on your retardation in thinking not mine.

 

By the way' date=' the word professor is not "religious". It's an old Latin term used for art masters that instructed technique to young stone workers. The second recording we have the term is used by master philosophers. The religious term for one who shares a message is "apostle" or "rasul" the "sul" or "sol" sound is a derivative of the enlightenment one receives from god "Sul", "sole" "soul", "sun", "sunne", "son".... The derivative of that has been with us since the first info invasions 6,500 bc that linguists can trace, its apparent in almost every western language even proto Germanic.... [/quote']

 

Yeah it took about a second on google to find the Websters definition of profess Profess - Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary which is the root of professor and it has numerous religious meanings including to receive formally into the religious community and to confess ones faith.

 

You also seem to ignore that the university system was started by the church for purposes of the church. It is no coincidence that the new leftist cult religion claiming not to be a religion of Athiests come from such a religious seeming kult with religious figures called Professors for which you seem to fail to see any of it. Haha thank you for the good laugh my narrow minded kultish friend. Very interesting to see how those indoctrinated into the religion of the left process information.

[MissBee]

I have several friends/acquaintances here in the USA who are Atheists. Many were classmates at my university. They are accepted. In many universities, being an Atheist is normal and believing in God is looked down on as "backward." One of my professors was an Atheist and he wasn't very nice to anyone who believed in divinity of any form; he was very bigoted. However, another Atheist professor was really cool, tolerant, and fun.

 

I learned some Athiests get irked if you tell them you'll pray for them. Then, they lecture about how prayers are nothing and God doesn't exist and it's all a part of my imagination and on and on they go. That hasn't hurt my personal experience in the slightest, but it is interesting. My good Atheist friend and I simply agree to disagree, and that's cool!

 

Personally, I understand why Atheists don't believe in God. If I didn't have personal experiences with God, I would be an Atheist too. However, I am very much as sure that I have a personal relationship with God as I am sure I am a human being. My relationship with God is through Jesus Christ.

 

More and more Christian Americans understand that Atheists are people too, people worthy of respect, and that they can be kind, good, loving, and help others too. What I personally love is when people of all different beliefs, including Agnostics and Atheists, work together for the good of the USA, to help the people, animals, and the earth. I very much respect Atheists who do that. Angelina Jolie, for example, is an Atheist I very much respect for her care for people in other countries and for caring about orphans enough to adopt. She's one of my heroes: she's intelligent, gorgeous, caring, and has a heart for those who were not born with silver spoons in their mouths, as the saying goes!

 

Yes I was going to say that it depends on what circle you're in.

 

In my grad program there are all kinds of people with all kinds of beliefs and more or less people respect and accept them and being an atheist is just one of the many beliefs/lack thereof/lifestyle choices people have.

 

I don't care for pushy and rude anythings...Christian, Atheists, Sales persons .

 

I however would not tell an atheist I'd pray for them. I'm not a very religious person, although I believe in God. When people require support I usually try to meet them where they feel comfortable....if someone is not a Christian or theist then I think it may come off very condescending to say I'll pray for them. Likewise, if someone is a Christian or doesn't believe in divination then it would be very strange to tell them I'll do a tarot reading for you. I imagine it would make them very uncomfortable.

[TheFinalWord]

Your idea that most academics shows there is a conspiracy is retarded. Most academics are not religious for the same reason most doctors are evolutionists: the facts lead one to reject the divine claims made by orthodoxy.

 

Hey athiestscholar, I'm an academic researcher at a large, doctoral-granting, public university, and I would say about 35-45% of my colleagues do believe in God. Some are spiritual, some are agnostic...I would say only about 10% are what I would call atheist. By agnostic I mean they don't claim to know one way or the other. If I'm defining that wrong, I apologize. I know the wrong definitions offend folks. Of course, this is just my personal encounters. But I do think this notion that academics are largely atheist needs to be re-examined, b/c I haven't found it to be the case in my personal experiences (at least in US). An interesting article I found a while back. Thought you might enjoy...

 

http://religion.ssrc.org/reforum/Gross_Simmons.pdf

 

Interesting graph a few pages down...

 

I do agree there is no conspiracy. When my students ask, I tell them I am a Christian. If they ask for resources, I provide them with books and other sources of information. I also encourage them to take the variety of religious electives available and determine for themselves.

[Eclypse]

I beg to differ with that statement. Around 70-75% of the population profess belief in some form of Christianity, and our atheist PM still must pander to the religious lobby groups and therefore opposes same-sex marriage.

 

Unfortunately, she must. They ACL and others still hold quite a bit of influence. I was only reporting anecdotally. Most of my friends and colleagues (academics in this case) are atheist. I know there is still a strong Christian core in the country, however the minority groups are becoming larger each day.

 

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't Ms Gillard formally against same sex marriage?

[Nightsky]

It's me, but in 37

 

He's probably still old enough to be your dad.