There have been polls showing that atheists are a distrusted minority. How does this polling data play out in daily life for American atheists? What are the negative consequences of an atheist?
Friends of mine have suggested that since people can’t identify atheists by sight like they could a woman or a non-white person, anti-atheist prejudice isn’t as bad as, say, anti-woman prejudice. Do you agree?
Posted: June 30th 2011
Eric_PK
It depends a ton on where you live.
If you live in most urban areas, there are probably enough non-religuous or non-practicing religious people for it not to be a big issue.
If you live in a small town where it’s obvious who goes to church and who doesn’t, it can be pretty obvious.
Posted: July 11th 2011
Mike the Infidel www
I disagree, sort of. Your friends are making the mistake of only recognizing prejudice that directly targets a known atheist. Much like any closeted minority, the prejudice that atheists face often comes from people who have no idea there are atheists around to hear their hateful comments. The strong societal pressure against atheism acts as a powerful force to keep them closeted, too. As a result, much of the atheist community remains silent in the face of adversity.
It also varies between different atheists. Some overhear atheists being badmouthed and just brush it off. Some, such as myself, are vocally opposed to atheist-bashing. I don’t understand why some don’t seem to care; the prejudice is absolutely there and acts as a real force in society. Outing yourself as an atheist can be a death knell for your social life or your business in some parts of the country, and it’s nearly universally a sure way to keep from getting elected to any significant political office.
Posted: July 10th 2011