Atheists viewed in American life--a scholarly study

[Thats my opinion]

One of the most articulate, albeit occasionally my r/t antagonist, suggested I take a look at a detailed scholarly study developed in 2006 and published in the “American Sociological Review.” It was titled “Atheists as ‘Other’ : Moral Boundaries and
Cultural Membership in American Society.”

The conclusion of this well-done study was that of all the minority groups in the United States, atheists were being more slowly accepted as having life-styles consistent with the American ethos than other groups—homosexuals, Jews, Muslims, Hispanics, Asian American and recent immigrants. While there was no evidence that this produced even the mildest persecution of atheists, many Americans had a more difficult time seeing them as “us.” Things are increasingly better for all the above named groups, and while atheists are gaining in acceptance, it has been somewhat slower than among other minorities.

A 2002 study, while indicating that 14% of all Americans stated “no religious preference,” the percentage of avowed atheists was between 3 and 1, so the group is relatively small.

The two categories of most interest were questions having to do with accepting (I gather for one’s children) intermarriage with atheists, and one’s willingness to vote for an atheist running for high public office. Only 54% of those surveyed agreed that they would vote for an atheist running for President, while 90% said they would vote for a Black, female or Jew. The intermarriage question revealed a sturdy racial bias even while atheists ranked high on the unacceptable list. Thirty nine percent of those surveyed responded affirmatively to the question: “This group (atheists) does not agree with my vision of American Society.” Muslims polled the next highest with 26 percent. Since these are 2003 statistics, my guess is that Muslims are more suspect in 2011.

While the study revealed no overt persecution, my own opinion is that there is no place for even this modest suspicion of atheists as not being part of mainstream America. Prejudice in all its ugly ramifications is abhorrent. I was surprised by the findings since in my rather wide circles I do not find even the slightest sense of atheists being “other.” But maybe my circles are not that wide after all, and I am willing to learn. So I thank the r/t colleague who put me on this data.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

1. As long as the person were liberal, I'd be more likely to vote for an atheist than someone religious

I can't think of anything good that religion brings a system.

[demosincebirth]

8. self delete

[customerserviceguy]

2. It's difficult for a religionist to perceive discrimination against an atheist

Blue laws, affecting what and when it can be sold on a Sunday are an example of how religiousity affects the nonbeliever. I remember having to wait an artificially long time for noon to roll around on a Sunday in North Carolina before I could purchase a few six-packs of local beer that I wasn't even planning to drink that day.

In Bergen County, NJ, shopping malls are closed down, more blue laws. Most laws regarding what I cannot consume are of this nature, too, especially when they involve substances that are legal to consume at "proper" times.

[Merlot]

6. It's pretty easy to be an atheist and fly under the radar

No one can tell by looking, unlike the other groups mentioned. And it seems like the atheists are just fine with that.

[customerserviceguy]

11. Most of the time, that's right

But when it comes to laws that are purely made from a religious standpoint, and not just an ethical one, then discrimination is the result.

[dmallind]

17. You have 100% accurate gaydar then? nt

[Iggo]

19. 60% of the time..

...it's right every time.

[struggle4progress]

7. Hey, I wouldn't be able to get to the store before church, and the services go on and on.

It's generally 1:00 or 1:30 PM before I can buy myself something to drink on the way home Sunday. If all the heathen could line up to buy starting at 8:00 AM, I might not be able to get my favorite slug. This is a basic fairness issue ;)

[Stargleamer]

3. Here's a link:

http://www.soc.umn.edu/~hartmann/files/atheist%20as%20the%20other.pdf

[skepticscott]

4. So after everything that you've read on this board

you are still surprised to find that your circle is not that wide, and that "liberal" and "progressive" Christians do not represent anything like the majority view of their religion in this country? These findings are not a revelation to anyone who has been paying attention and not seeing the world through rose-colored glasses of their own making.

[laconicsax]

10. +10^60

[skepticscott]

12. What, I don't get

+ googol??

[laconicsax]

15. It's just a big number.

IIRC, it's the difference in scale between the Planck length and the size of the universe.

[skepticscott]

16. Well, to some of us

those extra 40 orders of magnitude really do matter....

Trotsky understands....

[trotsky]

14. +10^666

That's more appropriate.

[digonswine]

5. Just today-

I was explaining to someone why I did not apply for a teaching job at a Catholic school. They simply assumed I was not Catholic-not that I was an atheist. I tactfully explained that I lacked faith and was unwilling to lie to obtain much-needed employment. After their shock wore off, I was advised that I should have BS'ed a little! Believe me, in everyday life, the last thing I share is my lack of belief--and for good reason.

[LAGC]

13. My Buddhist aunt taught in a Catholic school for awhile.

They seemed to welcome her and thought she did a good job, but she admitted it was difficult leading the class in prayer each day, when it so conflicted with her beliefs. She moved on after a year and is now basically a full-time substitute teacher, mostly in troubled school districts surrounding L.A.

[rrneck]

9. Religious organizations are very powerful

in this country and while I don't have any particular axe to grind regarding religion in general, most of the major religions in this country are little more than media corporations.

Right wing religions want to profit from national defense and law enforcement while religions on the left want to claim social services. Both are wrong. Government is supposed to provide those things.

It's all part and parcel of the same objective. They all want to carve out a piece of the cultural pie for their own.

I'm always an atheist before noon and I don't adhere to any religion for the rest of the day so I get sick of people feeding off of my tax dollars selling others something they've already got.

[dmallind]

18. Fred Whitehead. Should be a good example for an academic. He's far from alone.

Do you realize how many companies have either mandatory or "voluntary" prayer meetings, and what your chances are of fair treatment if you are insufficiently pious. Frankly other than "a lot" I don't know either, but I know how many is enough to belie the statement that there is no atheist persecution.

Then for examples in other areas try Nicole Smalkowski, Darrell Lambert, and Damon Fowler just from memory.

Oh and you've heard of Matthew Shepard right? We all have of course - the name is a byword for brutal persecution of the other.

Then why does the mention of Larry Hooper elicit either blank ignorance or snide "jokes" about his namesake, that would not be tolerated in the former case? Why haven't you heard of him? Why hasn't everyone?

[Thats my opinion]

20. Thanks

I readily admit that my awareness of hard treatment for atheists is woefully lacking. I am in need of all the information you can provide.
And no, I don't know anything about the Larry Hooper case. Fill me in. Discrimination and persecution are on a continuum, but they are not the same thing. But both are terribly wrong.

[dmallind]

21. here ya go..

The comments are quite telling too.

http://atheism.about.com/b/2007/01/19/murdered-for-being-an-atheist.htm