Closeted Atheists

[Angrboda]

I think it depends on where in the States that you live. I have a Buddhist friend who grew up in Texas, and he assures me that things are different there. (In particular, even the Mexicans in Texas are racist. Da?) I live in the north in a fairly blue state, so atheism is a lot more open here. (Recently, a popular local minor league team changed their identity from the Saint Paul Saints, to the Mr. Paul Ain'ts for a night in an event hosted by the Minnesota Atheists.) That being said, the juggernaut that has been making the rounds of states in order to pass anti-gay marriage laws is in full force here, drumming up religious hatred and bigotry in support of adding a marriage amendment to the state constitution. (We don't hate "those kind of people," we just want to deny them basic human rights.) Anyway, from what I understand, the pro amendment folks were about 15 points up, now things are even. This is one election I will make a point of voting in.

I'm no longer an atheist, but I have experienced the same thing in reverse. I belong to a number of groups associated with the state chapter of American Atheists, and the state Humanist Assn. (and keep tabs on Americans United...). Up until about six months ago, I never introduced myself as Hindu. At the time, I was afraid to "come out" as a Hindu, as most of the people I spend time with are vocal atheists. Even having introduced myself as Hindu for many months, I still had to clarify that I am indeed a Hindu with a friend at a book club when I used my belief status as a counter-point.

I seem to recall some vaguely remembered bit from psychology about how there is always going to be that conflict between asserting one's identity, even if it has negative consequences for group acceptance and support, and suppressing one's identity in order to be a cohesive member of the group. (And this brings up questions of individualist ethics, such as those one is likely to find in the States, versus more community oriented ethics such as in China or Japan. )

I don't have a point to make, but it's an interesting question.

(I happen to be listening to the Selector song, "Bomb Scare," about how "you're not fighting for them, you're not fighting for me," social process and identity wrt terrorism? I don't know.