So, apparently the University of Minnesota did a study that found what every American atheist, and really anyone who keeps up with the Religious Wrong, already knows: Americans hate atheists. And think that religion is the only way to have morals. Because, you know, people are only interested in being good human beings when the threat of punishment looms over them.
If you’re wondering about the snarky title to this post, however, it’s a reaction to the title that UMNnews choose to put on the piece: “Atheists identified as America’s most distrusted minority, according to new U of M study”. While the people taking the survey apparently put atheists at the bottom of their list (below “Muslims, recent immigrants, gays and lesbians and other minority groups”) in terms of “sharing their vision of American society,†I don’t think that’s enough to qualify us as the “most distrusted minority”.
Just a guess, but I’d say it’s less that we’re actually the most distrusted minority and more that people feel okay in admitting they are prejudiced against us. Which is a mixed blessing. On the one hand, they don’t have any reason to even pretend to respect us. On the other, they, well, don’t pretend to respect us. But, really, just because someone thinks that they aren’t prejudiced against other minorities, doesn’t mean that it’s the case. So, I’ll think I’ll bow out of the “which minority is the most distrusted” game and simply say that, you know, life isn’t as simple as one survey makes it seem.
Via Bitch | Lab
March 26th, 2006 at 9:58 am
As promised: “What it feels like to be an atheist.”
March 27th, 2006 at 1:02 am
I’m an atheist. Better run now
I’ve had a few people shocked about that when they discover that I am a vegan. They generally ask ‘but why would you do that, if it wasn’t about what happens in the afterlife?’
I don’t think religion makes a person more trustworthy in fact some cases it makes them less.
March 27th, 2006 at 8:02 am
That’s one I haven’t heard when people talk to me about veganism. I don’t think most of my friends or acquaintances know my religious beliefs, though, so that may be why.
March 27th, 2006 at 12:53 pm
Which is more moral/ethical?
1) Not doing something harmful because you don’t want to get caught (by a parent, by god)
2) Not doing something harmful because you believe harming others is wrong
Religion and morality *can* go together. I just don’t understand why people persist in believing that religion is the only context in which morality can occur. History (and current events) has given us so many examples of immoral behavior committed in the name of religion that we should be able to make this leap.
But then, I’m just an atheist, so what do I know?
March 27th, 2006 at 10:35 pm
Clearly nothing! It’s common knowledge that a person who wants to be geniunely good to other people doesn’t exist. The only way in which we can ensure goodness is to live in fear of God. And give lots of monies to Church leaders. Because otherwise we’re hellbound.
And, kristy, I’m an atheist too, so does that cancel out the scariness? Or does your veganism put you over the top?
March 29th, 2006 at 11:48 pm
I thought Witches were #1!
Well, that’s a bummer. Lost my scariness factor. Now I’m just a kook.
March 31st, 2006 at 6:53 am
[...] There’s been some discussion going on about how atheists make up a good portion of the blogosphere, and how they’re also the most hated group in America. (Except, of course, that you can’t exactly pinpoint an atheist just by looking at them. I mean, I can, but that’s because I have highly developed godless-dar.) [...]
May 12th, 2007 at 3:53 pm
Being an atheist, this may be the one distinct minority group that I actually manage to fall into. Given the general lack of atheist unity (perhaps due to our low numbers) I have just sort of conditioned myself to accept that it is ok for other people to hate me by virtue of who I am.