How bad is it to be Atheist in America?

[Sevre]

Try being an Atheist and going to a Catholic School in Ireland. We're taught religion in school, and the teachers seem to have a problem with me even though they themselves aren't practicing Catholics. Most people are nice and don't seem to mind,but the darn religion teachers always pick on me. I can understand that if I flaunted the fact that I'm an atheist but apart from the occasional Flying Spaghetti Monster remark to my friends it has been nothing.

 

[Resistance205]

I am an atheist. Here in Britain nobody cares whether you believe in god or not, and I can not possibly imagine atheism affecting how people see me as a person ever. However their are alot of jokes on american TV shows joking about atheists having a hard time, so basically I want to know if there is any truth behind the jokes.

Wow, I'm in Ireland and becasue I'm an atheist I get insulted and made fun of all the time. I really don't see why, but still. It's a bit stupid.

 

[Helnurath]

I am an atheist. Here in Britain nobody cares whether you believe in god or not, and I can not possibly imagine atheism affecting how people see me as a person ever. However their are alot of jokes on american TV shows joking about atheists having a hard time, so basically I want to know if there is any truth behind the jokes.

It really depends on where you live and the sort of company you keep. Tons of people know that I am a Satanist and no one really cares, but its all about how you treat other people. We may not agree religiously/politically, but that is no reason to why we shouldnt get along.

These atheists get laughed at http://atheistempire.com/atheism/enemy.php

 

[Sebenko]

I grew up in a small village in rural Northern England, I went to a tiny Church of England school. I was never brought up as a Christian, but going to that school made me question religion at every step. In fact those who were very religious were secretly ridiculed by the other children!

oooh, CofE! I went to a CofE school. every morning we got a fun story about some guy healing people or riding a donkey. Jesus was his name. Shame he died in the end. All his friends were dicks.

And ther was another bit with this guy called God. He had anger issues, and had some guy build a boat for no adequate reason than he was too crap at aiming lighting or levitating animals th do anything but flood the place. That guy needed to relax.

So yeah. I was always told about Christianity, but I believed it as much as I did the other books we read. Fun story, nothing more.

 

[Helnurath]

http://atheistempire.com/graphics/atheistwarning.jpg

 

[Shaenightbird]

It's not a problem to be an Athiest in America...as long as you don't say a word about it to anyone, and avoid the subject altogether if it comes up in conversation. Then you'll never have any problem at all. Same goes for the Neo Pagans. And woe betide anyone who happens to be both. Unless you don't say anything about it. Then everything's fine.

 

[Goldbling]

I see it sometimes, cause Atheists are flamed in some areas and made fun of constantly, but, thats in large religious areas.

I dont really care for them, I consdier them more open minded and nicer then some christians i know. hell, I rather talk to them then a religious person

Me too. Just not about Religion, then they start to get very annoying.

Edit: I live in Texas and its worse to be something like... Pagan opposed to athiest, but in Texas we have allot of Agnostics

 

[ae86gamer]

Its not that bad in Chicago. If you tell someone your Atheist they don't really care. But once in a while you get those nut jobs who think being Atheist is somehow the worst thing in the world. But thats why you ignore people like that.

 

[karakedi]

I'm an agnostic, as I see no convincing evidence on either side of the question. When I was in the Philippines doing research some 40 years ago, I was asked my religion regularly. Filipinos are mostly Catholics (north of the Sulu Archipelago), but they are aware that many are Muslims (on said archipelago) or protestants and are interested in which community their interlocutors belong to. I normally answered that I'm a freethinker of X ethnic descent, where X indicates my family's religious background. Then I respectfully turned the topic back to the questioner. I never had trouble there, and I've never had difficulties in the US. Nowadays, I (truthfully) tell anyone who asks that I'm a member of the Unitarian Church, which in fact is a haven for freethinkers. Normally I avoid religious arguments altogether, as there is almost never a resolution that is satisfactory for both parties.

 

[cordeos]

it really depends where you live, i remember some new stories about atheists being driven out of small towns, but in pretty much any major city its not a problem. Also it can be a problem in the military especially when military chaplains break the law and try and convert the soldiers

 

[Ignignoct]

It's hilarious.

Tell people you're not sure if God exists and you get comforting, cooing words of sympathy. They'll pray for you.

Tell people you don't believe in God and you get genuine concern and surprise.

Tell people you're an ATHEIST and they scurry away covering their children's eyes and ears.

That was a slight exaggeration, but the point is that the American idea of "Atheist" by the Christian majority conjures mental images of hardened, amoral criminals under the influence of Satan. I used to go to Sunday School and church every week too. Church is where the most toxic lies are spread about atheists. Example: Letting your children around atheist children will cause them to lose faith in God; you don't want your child to go to Hell, do you?

 

[Sevre]

If Atheists and Preachers left each other alone there wouldn't be any problem would there? When people learn to understand,coexist and cooperate then the world will be a better place.

Till then any bible preachers who try me shall recieve the usual answer.

Spoiler

Jesus dies

 

[iJosh]

Tis Very Bad. Very bad.

 

[toapat]

the reason atheists get hammered by religion is either they lack faith, or openly hate religions (i lack faith in dead ones, but still love them)(i loath any major religion on earth currently, as i have reasons that are well know, but ignored). i slam religions because they cause war more then greed, land, and power voids combined

 

[cuddly_tomato]

the reason atheists get hammered by religion is either they lack faith, or openly hate religions (i lack faith in dead ones, but still love them)(i loath any major religion on earth currently, as i have reasons that are well know, but ignored). i slam religions because they cause war more then greed, land, and power voids combined

[CITATION NEEDED]

http://users.erols.com/mwhite28/atrox.htm

I see a distinct lack of religious conflict there. I do see that three notable atheists (Mao, Stalin, Hitler) occupy the number 1, 2 and 3 slots though. FYI - I don't believe in god.

 

[Yoshi-Pop]

It depends on where you are. I live in the south, right in the bible belt, and down here Atheists have to duck their heads when religion comes up or else they'll absolutely get persecuted.

 

[LoopyDood]

In Canada, the Atheists are the loud ones. At least where I'm from, Ontario.

 

[letsnoobtehpwns]

I'm American. I'm Catholic. I don't give a shit if you don't believe the same things I do. As long as your not preaching to me about how everything I believe is a lie, I don't give a shit.