Has being gay become more socially acceptable than being an atheist?

[FreeTony]

I'd say in the UK that you're seen as a less normal as a church going Christian than an Atheist. However It's really not the done thing here to talk about belief at all. I could easily go through life here and not hear the word God mentioned at all in everyday conversation, even with Christians. 2 of our 3 main political party leaders are Atheists too.

As far as being gay, there is still a lingering stigma, but it is gradually fading. Amongst younger people there is almost no stigma at all towards gay people. 2/3rd of UK young people are Atheists.


There is a definite link between countries that are less accepting of homosexuality, and those that are more religious.

[MitchBenn]

The gay community has done a great marketing job the last couple of decades. People are starting to realize that being LGBT isn't a choice, that people are born that way, and that they aren't hurting anyone else by being that way.

On the other hand, atheism is a choice, and a lot of religious people (mostly Christians) think that moral behavior has to come from religion, so anyone who rejects it is a felon waiting to happen.

So we need a good marketing push like the LGBT community has had. We need to not only "come out" as atheist more, but also be out there demonstrating that we participate in charity events, etc without needing any gods to force us into those good and moral behaviors.

Atheism isn't a choice for me. I can't CHOOSE to believe in something which is palpably untrue.

[Minimalist]

and a lot of religious people (mostly Christians) think that moral behavior has to come from religion

Yes, and a lot of religious people (mostly Christians) are shitheads, too. There is no help for that.

[Tonus]

Is it just me, or is it a little strange that being gay/trans seems to be more acceptable than being an atheist?

It's possible that society can only manage one antiquated prejudice at a time. It wasn't that long ago that most people thought that gays were a danger to young children and that they roamed about looking for boys to rape. That kind of backwards thinking still exists, I'm sure, but it's nowhere near as prevalent I as remember it being.

So if there are still people who hold the illogical view that without religion they would become immoral monsters who kill and rape with reckless abandon, realize that in time that point of view will also only belong to the most backwards members of society.

[downbeatplumb]

The gay community has done a great marketing job the last couple of decades. People are starting to realize that being LGBT isn't a choice, that people are born that way, and that they aren't hurting anyone else by being that way.

On the other hand, atheism is a choice, and a lot of religious people (mostly Christians) think that moral behavior has to come from religion, so anyone who rejects it is a felon waiting to happen.

So we need a good marketing push like the LGBT community has had. We need to not only "come out" as atheist more, but also be out there demonstrating that we participate in charity events, etc without needing any gods to force us into those good and moral behaviors.

I disagree with the bolded part.

What you believe can be influenced and changed but is not in itself a choice.

I could not choose to believe in god thinking what I do. I could act like I did but that is all.

[Mr. Moncrieff]

So, my boyfriend was hanging out with an old school friend of his the other day. She was planning her wedding and had a few of her other friends over. He was planning on helping by teaching her to sew and he's planning on helping with photography (my man is an art geek).

Here's the strange thing, though; at least to him. The friends she brought over were two girls and a guy and the guy was pretty gay. They were totally cool with the guy being gay. Lee (my bf) talked about being trans and they were totally cool with that, too. They even had a playful thing where the two of them grabbed at each others breasts.

But then, talk turned a bit towards religious beliefs. Lee isn't sure what he calls himself and he stated that he isn't sure he believes in god anymore. That was what upset them. They started telling him about how god is the only thing keeping them from killing and robbing people and they can't imagine not living life for god and how can you not see the beauty of god in the world and all that garbage. Then they dug into his friend, too, who isn't an atheist, but got the same treatment for being pagan.

Is it just me, or is it a little strange that being gay/trans seems to be more acceptable than being an atheist?

That is very odd to me. That they can be so shocked at one life choice/decision/belief (I am not suggesting being gay or trans is a choice of course!) but can be so horrifically opposed to another.

It's very odd.

[Clueless Morgan]

On the other hand, atheism is a choice

I can no more choose to not believe in a god than I can choose to not believe in unicorns. Even if I say the words "I believe unicorns exist" I will know that what I am saying is patently false and hence do not actually believe what I am saying I believe.

I would need to be convinced that unicorns exist in order to actually believe that they exist and I am not sure that being convinced of something is a matter of choice either.

[/piling on]

[Angrboda]

It's true it's not a choice, in both directions. I could no more choose to be atheist than an atheist could choose to adopt my beliefs. But I'm not sure this reality is granted equilaterally. There's a tendency to blame religious people for holding the beliefs they hold, as if that were a choice.

[Rahul]

I never chose to be an atheist. It was completely unexpected and somewhat dis-settling to me.

[Jacob(smooth)]

Here is some data. We like data



So to the op, unequivocally yes. Almost twice as likely to discriminate against Atheists as homosexuality.

It's hard for us British to comprehend but it appears over there that Atheism remains a real stigma!

How many members of the Senate and House of reps are openly atheist?