New Study on "Why are Atheists so Disliked?"
A new study "strongly suggests that distrust of atheists is mostly due to fear of 'others'." As a result "all those bus ads may well be serving a useful function, even if they're unlikely to convert anyone. If they normalize atheism, then they should also help to change the lot of atheists in the USA from social pariahs to trusted community members." See what you think.
11 comments:
"...there was no evidence that atheists distrusted the religious..."
Interesting.
"...it suggest that theories that religion evolved as a tool to enforce in-group trust may be wrong..."
That too.
Thanks for sharing!
Incidentally, it's the "normalizing" effect which I think is so important about the work that you and other outspoken atheists do. It's not to just show that atheists exist and so bring up our stature but to chip at the rotten soap-box which religious folk so often stand on. Teach people that God-talk gets a scoff and a sneer instead of respect and teach people that non-believers are moral, articulate and safe members of society. Keep it up, John!
If many of those atheists were formerly christians or at least raised in christian families or nieghborhoods, why would they distrust christians? But christians are told constantly that atheists are 'godless' and 'on satan's side' and void of morality and on and on and on - so why would they NOT distrust someone that evil and terrible? Until it is proven otherwise?
We are perhaps all too guilty of painting with a too broad brush, but really, it's not likely true that atheists are "so disliked" as you claim. Surely a small group of extremists on the religious right fear atheists,and the statement that the fear stems from being other is no doubt correct. All hatred stems from fear usually of the unknown.
My own experience with atheists has been good until recently. What I find now on the internet are childish rantings mostly directed toward only the fundamentalist form of Christianity, which is small indeed. Worse, the use of pejorative remarks such as that all believers are unthinking, irrational etc, does nothing to bring forth trust and fair listening.
There are plenty of thinking, rational and very highly educated believers who are neither fundamentalists nor rabid haters of atheists. Determining that the evidence is not sufficient to induce your faith is fine. Others think differently...faith is a decision to believe in the face of incomplete evidence and constant doubt--yet the believer continues to come back to a deep seeded belief that there is a God and that that God, desires relationship with his creation. That doesn't mean that we are either creationists which is patently absurd on its face, or that we are irrational. There is high rationality to belief, as there is for non-belief.
Its the tone of the conversation,a nd the constant "jokes" that make it difficult to discuss things. I've quit a number of sites because of their incessant snickering boys behind the barn humor in regard to a subject that is not a laughing matter to tens of millions. When atheists respect believers, perhaps we can agree to discuss again without all the nastiness.
I find precious few atheists online these days who are willing to really discuss without casting jabs. This has NOT been one of them frankly, but its better than some
Afeatheradrift-good name by the way-I understand your problem with the sometimes childish humour on atheist sites, but would not you be tempted to make fun of say, an adult who still believed in Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny? To we atheists, there really is no difference.
As an attempt at in ice-breaker, I like to call myself a "born-again Atheist' That usually gets a chuckle.
afeatheradrift said..."My own experience with atheists has been good until recently. What I find now on the internet are childish rantings mostly directed toward only the fundamentalist form of Christianity, which is small indeed. Worse, the use of pejorative remarks such as that all believers are unthinking, irrational etc, does nothing to bring forth trust and fair listening."
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Until recently,most non believers have been very unorganized and mostly silent.Through old ancient wrong type thinking, that faithful folk (always) desearve respect...For years and years non faithful have felt like we shouldnt really be to outspoken or do to much public complaining.We have waited patiently in hope liberal non fundamentlist christians would some day take real action ...And all get involved in real action!! to make sure to go about bringing! some changes! that are really VERY long overdue.
That hasnt really honestly happened and in the year 2010,even the Catholic church is seen to still be dragging the chain!,not even wanting to be so bothered in being quick in making proper apology and putting right matters such as sex abuse for instance.Sex abusing priests have even held onto certain positions as priests ..The serriousness of the matter of the abuse has been continually downplayed ! by the Chatholics.
Please tell me how that should be seen as being so very rational? ...Please explain how this should be seen as being so thoughtful?? ..
Who cares whether you lot feel ...>"does nothing to bring forth trust and fair listening."
Why should we gauge matters on you and what you lot feel?
What reason have we to trust faithful? ...Why should we feel ! they themselves are really yet doing any real HONEST FAIR LISTENING ???
What is there that proves?,that the faithful folk are not the ones being childish,in bickering about now reaping what they have long sown!!.
Do we have to agree to beat to the drum of the faithful?
afeatheradrift said....."I've quit a number of sites because of their incessant snickering boys behind the barn humor in regard to a subject that is not a laughing matter to tens of millions. When atheists respect believers, perhaps we can agree to discuss again without all the nastiness.
I find precious few atheists online these days who are willing to really discuss without casting jabs. This has NOT been one of them frankly, but its better than some"
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afeatheradrift im sure there was a time when indignant slave owners would have bitched the same way...Cried wolf ! and claimed it as being foul play ...that certain people publically demanded change!! ....No longer willing to just be simply (sweet talking) about the idea.
Im sure some said ...oh ive left that establishment over there blah blah,because those people who dont like slavery are to demanding ...They call us slave owners thoughtless!,and make jokes about how ignorant we are!.
So what?? ...Its fine you are allowed to leave sites if it pleases you.Please yourself,we are not fearful
Its your right to become like a ostirige,and put your head BACK in the sand!! hoping trouble will simply just go away.
But we dont care ....We are going! to bring about some change! that is bloody long overdue !.
Ok?
Having a father as an atheist meant that it would never have occurred to me to distrust an atheist. That was until the internet when I saw many behaving in pretty disgusting, arrogant, rude and antisocial ways towards believers.
thoughtfulfaith
Please understand that our first amendment protections to believe what we wish and support institutions that get to proslethyze tax-free puts religion in a position to incur criticism. The history of christianity is one of willful ignorance and brutality and if you can't take hostile opposition to that ideology than I suggest you stop seeking out honest criticism of the christian superstition.
thoughtfulfaith said..."Having a father as an atheist meant that it would never have occurred to me to distrust an atheist. That was until the internet when I saw many behaving in pretty disgusting, arrogant, rude and antisocial ways towards believers."
Well thoughtfulfaith,just because you had a atheist father dont do anything to stop you becoming ignorant.
Because "your life" was without faith abuse! and your "father was atheist" who you felt you could trust.
To you somehow means all us other folks who maybe (didnt) happen to have atheists fathers,and us folks who (did) happen to experience faith abuse
Should somehow be "expected" to abide by your freaking standards ?
Get real man !
If you yourself have become faithful ...dont you notice how you make it obvious the ignorance sets in ?
Next you`ll be here suggesting maybe folks who personally experienced slavery or school bullys etc, shouldnt have any right! to be a little peeved off! or sometimes even rather angry about it
What f**king planet do you live on man.Planet faith Ignoramus?
Suppose next you`ll try and tell us that darker skinned folks rioting over discrimination and race abuse etc,shouldnt have been so very naughty! and done so
(Maybe as somebody who hadnt had their experiences of slavery or school bullys etc), youd try and suggest they should have just continued quietly and peacefully waiting forever for peaceful methods to start to work.Like you personally might happen to feel fine with doing.
Just because you find life ok,why is the standard set by your experience? ...is this life all about you?
Listen man ... Sometimes humans have f**king good reasons for being a bit bloody angry!.Just like me getting angry here at you right now,because its obvious you are ignorant....And some ignorant people need a f**king good shake up
Its because ..if it dont happen ...all to often ..next to no body dont ever even give half a f**k about even bothering listening...little own considering what other peoples lives have been like ...or considering if maybe some matters might need changing etc
OK ?
Do you Compehend now fool...Have you learned anything yet
Do you now see maybe some folks have some jolly good reason to actually be f**king angry,even if you "personally" dont
People like you make me feel sick and even more angry.
Listen friend....Im used to your type wee-pep-talkys
And you can go stick em ..right where the sun dont shine!
Trying to silence us this time around....just wont work
Im not about to stop being angry until more ignorant folks of faith, start helping us quickly to get some more change happening around matters concerning regulation of peoples religion and faith
Oh and one more thing, thoughtfulfaith.
Did you happen to notice (im not) saying everyone should need to dislike religion the same way as i personally happen to dislike it !.
Now why the hell should everyone be expected to react the way you happen to react towards religion thoughtfulfaith? ....Because maybe you have become a bigoted faithful person,who thinks how you happened to personally experience faith is how it should be treated by everyone?
Wake up man ...Get real
Is annoying the same as disliked? :7)
I know, do a more accurate study called, "Why are Atheists so loved by Christians?"
Come on though, is there really an Atheist persecution complex? If so, I sure don't see it.
Wait, don't confuse that with an Atheist Persecution on others or Atheist reality of Persecution upon death. Those two are entirely different and real phenomena. (do, do...da, do, do)
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