I work for a church and I can't stand it any more.

[Tonus]

I've always held the opinion that atheist were like drug addicts, the weakest of the weak. If you want to believe in polytheism then the children of a lesser god.

That sounds a bit like "I always thought that the people who don't believe as I do are flawed in some way." For a very long time, my only impression of atheists was a very short clip on a TV show sometime in the 1970s or very early 80s. It was of a talk show where they would get the guests in three or four seats next to one another. In the clip I saw, an atheist was standing over a theist and shouting "god doesn't exist, and if you're too stupid to understand that, then it's your problem" and stomping off the stage. So for the longest time, atheists to me were very angry and irrational people who used rage to mask their fear of the truth. Religious people, of course, like to feed those perceptions, so until I got to know some actual atheists that is what I believed about them.

It's tempting to put people into groups and categorize groups very narrowly. It's one of the ways that our brains help us to sort through lots of information-- by simplifying some of it to an extreme. It's one of the things that makes it very difficult for societies to overcome certain prejudices. We do it to people of various races, religions, political affiliations, and so on. When we are a part of the group in question, our desire to reject such restrictive labels allows us to view the group more comprehensively. Your view is --as mine was-- a convenience that has a side effect of confirming a bias that is not true for the group.

[Brian37]

You're pretending to be a christian to have the job right OP? Doesn't that make you a complete hypocrite? No sympathy sorry.

Yea ok instead of being judgmental, why not try understanding why minorities of ANY LABEL stay in the closet.

This isn't just about him, or atheists for that matter. You go against a social norm or suddenly up and leave, people notice and can be quite cruel and vindictive for no good reason.

This happened for a long time with mixed race marriages, and gays still to this day in many parts still have to keep it to themselves, especially teens.

Over my 13 years of being on line, I've seen countless stories of atheists catching shit from family and co workers and neighbors. I have had someone try to get me fired on a job. I have known a couple that got kicked out of their apartment after the owner found out. My own younger sister caught shit from our family when she came out.

It is even worse for atheist teens who by law still have to live at home with fundamentalist parents. I've seen many stories about that too. It is heartbreaking to tell them that the best they can do is put up with it until they are old enough to get out on their own.



This happens worldwide too. If you lived as a Muslim in an Arab state and decided to become a Christian the same thing would happen to you as it would if you were a Muslim and decided you were an atheist.

You want to know what we go through? Put on an atheist shirt or hat, walk around in public, you will get looks and or comments. But it is far worse than simply dirty looks for many.

You've been here how long? You haven't been booted. We may judge your claims, but you are not your claims. And every single one of us here has family and friends and co workers we love who believe. None of us would disown them for that reason.

My mother is still a Catholic, she knows exactly how I feel about religion. I don't have to sugar coat anything with her. But I still love her and she has always been my biggest supporter. But if you are a minority in any given society for whatever reason, it can be hard if not oppressive if you don't fit in.

I am lucky, but just like blacks and women and gays had a hard time. And just like Muslims have a hard time in the west. Christians and atheists would have a hard time in the east.

[KevinM1]

I've always held the opinion that atheist were like drug addicts, the weakest of the weak. If you want to believe in polytheism then the children of a lesser god.

This is dumb.

[Alex K]

I've always held the opinion that atheist were like drug addicts,

So they aren't anymore?

the weakest of the weak. If you want to believe in polytheism then the children of a lesser god.

That's not a sentence, the verb is missing. What do the children of a lesser god do? Weaker minds want to know!

---

You're pretending to be a christian to have the job right OP? Doesn't that make you a complete hypocrite? No sympathy sorry.

Now you're just being an ass. The OP is not complaining that he has to pretend to be christian to keep his job. He's complaining that he can't get out of the deal fast enough.

[strawdawg]

I've always held the opinion that atheist were like drug addicts, the weakest of the weak. If you want to believe in polytheism then the children of a lesser god.

That sounds a bit like "I always thought that the people who don't believe as I do are flawed in some way." For a very long time, my only impression of atheists was a very short clip on a TV show sometime in the 1970s or very early 80s. It was of a talk show where they would get the guests in three or four seats next to one another. In the clip I saw, an atheist was standing over a theist and shouting "god doesn't exist, and if you're too stupid to understand that, then it's your problem" and stomping off the stage. So for the longest time, atheists to me were very angry and irrational people who used rage to mask their fear of the truth. Religious people, of course, like to feed those perceptions, so until I got to know some actual atheists that is what I believed about them.

It's tempting to put people into groups and categorize groups very narrowly. It's one of the ways that our brains help us to sort through lots of information-- by simplifying some of it to an extreme. It's one of the things that makes it very difficult for societies to overcome certain prejudices. We do it to people of various races, religions, political affiliations, and so on. When we are a part of the group in question, our desire to reject such restrictive labels allows us to view the group more comprehensively. Your view is --as mine was-- a convenience that has a side effect of confirming a bias that is not true for the group.

No, people that don't believe in any God or gods are broken. Like a radio that won't play music, a car that won't start, like a cloud with no rain. Empty, shallow and put themselves in the same class as an animal and assume a lot.

[Alex K]

Empty, shallow and put themselves in the same class as an animal.

Is this your attempt at trolling? Like I'd consider it an insult to be in the same class as an animal... Being insulted by the obvious is more of a theist's passtime

---

No, people that don't believe in any God or gods are broken. Like a radio that won't play music, a car that won't start, like a cloud with no rain.

Interesting. I've got this amplifier which receives Russian talk radio even when the volume is set to zero and no sources are plugged in. What's the theological meaning of that in your picture?

[abaris]

Empty, shallow and put themselves in the same class as an animal and assume a lot.

[IATIA]

You're pretending to be a christian to have the job right OP? Doesn't that make you a complete hypocrite? No sympathy sorry.

I do not think the OP said being a christian was required. He just playing the game, like we all do, for the job.

It would not be in my best interest at my job to profess my dislike for the present day law enforcement, so I just 'play the game' like everyone else does at their job.

Gotta eat!

@AtheistChurchEmployee

75 bucks is 75 bucks.

[Brian37]

You're pretending to be a christian to have the job right OP? Doesn't that make you a complete hypocrite? No sympathy sorry.

I do not think the OP said being a christian was required. He just playing the game, like we all do, for the job.

It would not be in my best interest at my job to profess my dislike for the present day law enforcement, so I just 'play the game' like everyone else does at their job.

Gotta eat!

@AtheistChurchEmployee

75 bucks is 75 bucks.

Um no. There is a bigger picture here. Yes for most people you do what you have to do. But not to the point of losing your dignity or living a lie to placate others.

This isn't just about job title or work. It is not always good to shut up just to fit in. Social norms would not have changed if we always stayed comfortable.

There are worse things in life for many. It certainly isn't something you can tell someone to do as a blanket solution.

[KevinM1]

That sounds a bit like "I always thought that the people who don't believe as I do are flawed in some way." For a very long time, my only impression of atheists was a very short clip on a TV show sometime in the 1970s or very early 80s. It was of a talk show where they would get the guests in three or four seats next to one another. In the clip I saw, an atheist was standing over a theist and shouting "god doesn't exist, and if you're too stupid to understand that, then it's your problem" and stomping off the stage. So for the longest time, atheists to me were very angry and irrational people who used rage to mask their fear of the truth. Religious people, of course, like to feed those perceptions, so until I got to know some actual atheists that is what I believed about them.

It's tempting to put people into groups and categorize groups very narrowly. It's one of the ways that our brains help us to sort through lots of information-- by simplifying some of it to an extreme. It's one of the things that makes it very difficult for societies to overcome certain prejudices. We do it to people of various races, religions, political affiliations, and so on. When we are a part of the group in question, our desire to reject such restrictive labels allows us to view the group more comprehensively. Your view is --as mine was-- a convenience that has a side effect of confirming a bias that is not true for the group.

No, people that don't believe in any God or gods are broken.

Really? Citation needed.

Like a radio that won't play music, a car that won't start, like a cloud with no rain.

You are aware that there are plenty of clouds that don't produce rain, right? From the wispy to the puffy.

Empty, shallow and put themselves in the same class as an animal and assume a lot.

Ironic, then, that the only one assuming here is you.