RE: Are Atheists Really Hated in the US?
December 12, 2011 at 11:01 am
(This post was last modified: December 12, 2011 at 11:04 am by Perhaps.)
I'm currently in college and rooming with international students from all over the world (UK, Ireland, Italy, Australia, Turkey, and France). The majority of them are staunch atheists who actively debate the existence of God with theists. As I am going to college in the South I have only had one chance to discuss religion formally with a group of theists. That chance occurred while attending a Christian meeting where we watched a video explaining the religiously explicit Christian founding of America. I was amazed by how easily people believed what they were fed from this video. There were no counter examples given, nor refutations made, simply regurgitated, outdated, misinformation about the beliefs of the founding fathers.
I proceeded to refute almost every statement made in the video at its conclusion. The people who invited me to sit in with them while we watched the video were unaware that I was primarily atheist in belief, while holding an open mind to any who do the same. They were astonished at my dismissal of what they considered hard fact. Needless to say I was asked to leave while given a half hearted 'thanks for coming and sharing your thought provoking opinions'.
My story is not individual whatsoever, many of my atheist friends from high school who are now going to college all over the nation have similar stories of intolerance towards our beliefs. We engage in civil discussion raising factual refutations to common religious beliefs and are all to often asked to leave and never return. A closed mind is a dangerous thing, and America has become polluted with them.
To answer your original question: Yes, atheists are really hated in America - especially in the bible belt of the South. We are not trusted, looked upon is immoral, and often dammed for our open minds. Even at universities where free thought and freedom of expression are promoted, our opinions are negated as being flat out wrong and mislead. It often saddens me to experience such ignorance, but it is by no means a theocracy as it once was. We are slowly progressing and becoming more open minded. I remind myself daily not to become too distraught at those who will never be converted to free thought, but to continue to discuss the ways of intellectualism with all who I encounter.
We, as non-theists, have to remember to give respect to those who don't hold the same beliefs as us. I see all over these forums words thrown around which only conjure distaste and anger for ourselves by theists. If we want to be given respect and actually be heard then we must change our attitude towards those who don't believe the same things we do. We cannot return hate with hate or mistrust with mistrust. Everyone has a reason for their belief, the best we can do is use reason and rational thought to help those who choose the alternative path realize their wrong choice.
I proceeded to refute almost every statement made in the video at its conclusion. The people who invited me to sit in with them while we watched the video were unaware that I was primarily atheist in belief, while holding an open mind to any who do the same. They were astonished at my dismissal of what they considered hard fact. Needless to say I was asked to leave while given a half hearted 'thanks for coming and sharing your thought provoking opinions'.
My story is not individual whatsoever, many of my atheist friends from high school who are now going to college all over the nation have similar stories of intolerance towards our beliefs. We engage in civil discussion raising factual refutations to common religious beliefs and are all to often asked to leave and never return. A closed mind is a dangerous thing, and America has become polluted with them.
To answer your original question: Yes, atheists are really hated in America - especially in the bible belt of the South. We are not trusted, looked upon is immoral, and often dammed for our open minds. Even at universities where free thought and freedom of expression are promoted, our opinions are negated as being flat out wrong and mislead. It often saddens me to experience such ignorance, but it is by no means a theocracy as it once was. We are slowly progressing and becoming more open minded. I remind myself daily not to become too distraught at those who will never be converted to free thought, but to continue to discuss the ways of intellectualism with all who I encounter.
We, as non-theists, have to remember to give respect to those who don't hold the same beliefs as us. I see all over these forums words thrown around which only conjure distaste and anger for ourselves by theists. If we want to be given respect and actually be heard then we must change our attitude towards those who don't believe the same things we do. We cannot return hate with hate or mistrust with mistrust. Everyone has a reason for their belief, the best we can do is use reason and rational thought to help those who choose the alternative path realize their wrong choice.
Brevity is the soul of wit.
