How bad is it to be Atheist in America?
- Thread starter Griff
- Start date
Recommended Videos
I live in the bible belt and I have several atheist friends. I strongly disagree with them but I don't bring it up so as to avoid arguments.
Well, here is my deal at the moment, I was brought up as in a very casual christian atmosphere, which I never particularly liked, go to church ever once in a while, celebrate christmas, easter, whatever. Now, as I have grow up, I've tried to distance myself from the whole christian thing, because it really never sat right with me, so I looked into eastern religions, which my mom practices as well as christianity, Buddhism and Taoism mainly, but those weren't a great fit either. So I've gotten to the point where I don't have a religion, but I don't actively reject religion. Problem is, my step dad and step sister are both catholic, so now we get to have a "family churchgoing" ever month or so, which I hate very much, I've tried to say that I don't feel comfortable going, but no, I still have to go out of "respect". Still pisses me off...
Im actually quite amazed at the number of atheist americans who would say jsut dont bring it up, seriously? In Scotland n one gives a shit, I live in a heavy catholic/Jahova area but if someone comes to my door asking if i want to be saved ill generaly reply with a no thank you im an atheist, fuck off behind their backs. Why hide it? Atheists get a bad rep since there are a few loud mouths like Dawkins, nice guy im sure but far too vocal I dont beleive in religion and think all of it is a massive crock myself but i keep that to myself. Then again there are alot of religious nutters too so christians/muslims etc have a bad rep, please dont generalise helps no one beleiver or non.
However if people harass me and wake me up morning after morning with pamphlets on how invisible sky man dosent like me id say im within my rights to be pissed off and tell them so.
However if people harass me and wake me up morning after morning with pamphlets on how invisible sky man dosent like me id say im within my rights to be pissed off and tell them so.
Nmil-ek said:
a few friends of mine have solutions to the jahovas witnesses thing, mine usually entails not answering the door, or putting on system of a down really loud once i see their car pull up, or i just sik my dad on them and he will argue till with them as to whay they are doing and why? (im not kidding he made one of them second guess what they are doing, we havent had one since)
I live in Arkansas and had plenty of threats directed at me for being an Atheist. I've been in fights and even had a knife pulled on me once. The funny thing is I'm never the one to toss up the flag of Atheism, it almost always starts with people asking me. The only time I let it be known publically without question was in Biology class when my professor kept spouting nonsense about Evolution and how Evolution causes people to be Atheists. I stated that reading the Bible caused me to be an Atheist, then went on to debunk his nonsense claims about Evolution.
I live in memphis (south =P). I didnt think being athiest was that big a deal (most of my friends are, as well), but when I mentioned it in my math class, the whole class started shouting at me about... i don't even remember anymore..... some people just feel threatened for some reason.
That is not a valid argument "against" Atheism. Yes, Mao, Hitler and Stalin all abhorred religion, but this was because religion would have been a powerful challenger to their power, not because they did not believe in God, in contrast to most killings done by religious groups, which have been done in the name of their preferred God.cuddly_tomato said:
Arachon said:
Ahhh... History revisionists. Hitler was an atheist, don't look at Mein Kampf for evidence of his religious views though, nothing in there is actually true (unless you believe he was a nice and reasonable person). Read some of what was written in the years following his death. Alan Bullocks Hitler: A study in Tyrany....cordeos said:
?the dogma of Christianity gets worn away before the advances of science. Religion will have to make more and more concessions. Gradually the myths crumble. When understanding of the universe has become widespread . . . then the Christian doctrine will be convicted of absurdity?.
And if you know nothing of the religious purges committed by Stalin and Mao during their tenures then I suggest you go back to history class.
Atheist fundamentalism is as ignorant and dangerous as religious fundamentalism. Worse right now, as there are so many about.
I never said Stalin and Mao didn't kill people, but they never did it in the name of Atheism, not every murder committed by a christian is done in the name of Christianity. I can't remember a single time in history where people were killed in the name of Atheism, but things like the Crusades, the Inquisition, Violence between Sunni and Shia even the zionist campaigns in Palestine before the formation of Israel were done in part if not in whole in the name of a Religion.cuddly_tomato said:
Also on the Hitler point, he was a lapsed catholic, he never declared any non-belief in god and often used christian imagery in his speeches. I remember reading somewhere that he believed in an Aryan Jesus.
I'm an atheist living in Texas and I have never gotten into any troubles over my beliefs.
Although I live in Austin, my entire family and most of my friends are extremely devoted Christians, but they accept my decision.
Also, we're certainly not all a bunch of backward hicks down here. Maybe in a couple of towns near the "Bible belt" people would give you trouble, but other than that Texans are as tolerant as almost any other people in America.
Although I live in Austin, my entire family and most of my friends are extremely devoted Christians, but they accept my decision.
Also, we're certainly not all a bunch of backward hicks down here. Maybe in a couple of towns near the "Bible belt" people would give you trouble, but other than that Texans are as tolerant as almost any other people in America.
Never killed in the name of atheism?cordeos said:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_atheism#Cambodia_under_the_Khmer_Rouge
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_the_Soviet_Union
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_China#Modern_history
And Israel is a religious conflict? Nothing to do with resources, ownership of land, invading of territory that has historically been Palestine for thousands of years, pumping ground water out of the West Bank, wars about damns, political leaders on both sides continuing the conflict for political reasons, or anything else?
The mindset of the fundamentalist atheist is astonishing. When a religious person does something bad, they accuse the religion. When an atheist does something bad, it can't have anything to do with their atheism. It is clear denial.
Let me make this simple - bad people do bad things. Good people do good things. Religion, or atheism, is neutral. Blame people for the shit they do.
I am interested though, which one of these states do you think is closest to a utopia?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_atheism
The Israelis only claim to that land is because god told them they could have it, so yes at its base it is a religious conflict. also the suicides are part of a warped version of Islam where killing yourself and innocent civilians isn't a sin.cuddly_tomato said:
Communist regimes seek to destroy religion because they see it as a political rival and the opiate of the masses. The fanatical following communism has is in some ways a religious following, there were atheist communist suicide bombers in Lebanon. I think in some ways people like Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot's religion was communism more than atheism.
I do agree that bad people do bad things, but they sometimes use religion as their justification. I know that the vast majority of all religious people are good people, but i have heard religion being used as a justification for violence in a way i have never heard atheism used.
as for which state is closest to utopia i would go with Denmark, several studies have shown the people there are the happiest in the world.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denmark