3.23.2006

Home? We Have No Home...
Hunted!
Despised!


'Now do you believe in God?' 'No!' 'Very well, light the kindling...how about now?' 'Never!' 'You godless dogs! How about now?' 'OK, sure.' 'Wellwellwell, I knew you'd come aro-' 'Just kidding, asshole! There is no god, you superstitious, leprechaun-loving primate!' 'What's a primate? It matters not! Burn them. Now?' 'Never!' 'Burn them well!'

America Hates Atheists

from Sploid

At least 9 million of them live in the United States, mostly trying to avoid the wrath of neighbors, colleagues and relatives.

But they do not pray for help, for they are America’s atheists – the most hated people in the country.

In a new study by University of Minnesota sociologists, more than 2,000 people were asked which of their fellow citizens lacked the proper "vision of American society."

More than blacks or gays or immigrants or lesbians or even Muslims, atheists are viewed as the least American, according to the survey. And those without a god are the last people most folks would want their children to marry.

"Atheists, who account for about 3% of the U.S. population, offer a glaring exception to the rule of increasing social tolerance over the last 30 years," says Penny Edgell, the study's lead researcher.

Most studies combine atheists and agnostics for a total of 12%, meaning some 36 million Americans – more than one in 10 – either don't believe in a god or couldn’t care less about the whole subject. A survey of 50,000 adults in 2001 showed that 14% of Americans "identify with no religion," nearly doubling from just 8% in 1990.

At this rate, by the year 2030 Christians and other religious people will be a minority and the last American god-worshippers will be buried by 2050...just 44 years from today!

But for the time being, atheists are weak in number and openly despised.

Atheists don't demand anything, they don't preach or riot, they have no real organization, and they are completely unelectable. Nonetheless, Americans don't trust them.

"It seems most Americans believe that diversity is fine, as long as every one shares a common 'core' of values that make them trustworthy – and in America, that 'core' has historically been religious," says Edgell.

Not surprisingly, people who haven't had much of a life – the majority of Americans – were the most likely to fear atheists.

But those who live on the coasts, have a decent education and know a wide variety of people were the ones who didn't stay up nights worrying about the godless.

America's atheists are considered so loathsome that no other news outlet could be bothered to report the survey’s findings.

It's still "A-OK" to hate an atheist!

4 Comments:

Blogger Steve said...

I think, if people actually did some research into what most atheists are like, instead of listening to all of the ridiculous misonceptions flying around everywhere, they'd be embarrassed at ever having believed such nonsense about us.

March 23, 2006 3:18 PM  
Blogger Darren said...

According to some, I'm a devil-worshipping immoral anarchist!

Someone should have let me know; I've been living life all wrong.

Stupid scruples!

March 23, 2006 3:36 PM  
Blogger gnome said...

Quite scary.... I mean people are religious here too (Greece), but definitely not so oppressive. Oh, great South PArk comment. Cheers.

March 23, 2006 6:01 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I will look for the U. of Minn. study when it is published in the April issue of American Sociological Review.

I haven't tested whether "agnostic nontheist" elicits the same hate response in my neighborhood as "atheist."

I appreciate Darren's solid command of the symbols and phrases of American popular culture, right down to the Bela Lugosi quote from "Ed Wood" in the title to this piece.

Jeff D (F.I.S.H.M.A.N.)

March 24, 2006 4:43 AM  

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