Why is it so hard to be openly atheist in today's world

[Thumpalumpacus]

[Ruslana88]

Do not know, never had problems with being atheist.
From other hand, all my friends and family are atheists, and i am not sure i would be able to be friendly with a person, who really think, that somebody sitting on clouds and watching over him/her ;D

Also should add, that it is expensive to be NOT atheist here, in Austria, because you have to pay taxes for being believer.
How often i saw, when "believer" did not fill field about his religious views ;PP Euros look more real for a lot of people, then God

[Fidel_Castronaut]

People in the UK are apathetic to religion to the point where nobody cares what religion (or indeed not-religion) you are unless you start shoving it in their face.

I've never once been stigmatised for being an atheist apart from when I was at a conference for religious leaders and activists in my city. Go figure.

[robvalue]

Right on. I think the only times I've ever been asked what my religion I have is part of "equal opportunities" parts of forms.

I think I can confidently say football has more hold over people than religion here. And in a hilarious twist, I don't support any football team either, or care about it. I just sit here, in my chair, disbelieving in stuff and denying the evidence in front of my very face.

[Ben Davis]

When I called it a theocracy I may have been exaggerating a little...

...and maybe being a touch ironic, since the UK is officially a theocratic monarchy

[robvalue]

Lol is it really? I hadn't considered that possibility. Don't we officially still have the right to hang people for treason too?

We have a lot of weird stuff going on here, a while ago I found out that it's technically illegal to sell hot cross buns and to drive to church on a Sunday; something to that effect anyhow. We have all these stupid laws which are hanging around from the idiot times but which no one knows or cares about. I am interested in what would happen if I tried to take Tesco to court over one of these laws. How can they say, "Well obviously that law isn't serious..."

[downbeatplumb]

Lol is it really? I hadn't considered that possibility. Don't we officially still have the right to hang people for treason too?

We have a lot of weird stuff going on here, a while ago I found out that it's technically illegal to sell hot cross buns and to drive to church on a Sunday; something to that effect anyhow. We have all these stupid laws which are hanging around from the idiot times but which no one knows or cares about. I am interested in what would happen if I tried to take Tesco to court over one of these laws. How can they say, "Well obviously that law isn't serious..."

Indeed the Queen is the head of both the government and the church. The fact that she doesn't really do anything in either role is her saving grace. if she started to meddle with her theoretical power the monarchy would be quietly relegated to lesser roles. I think this is why she has blocked Charles for so long, he is a meddler and would try to exercise his power.

[Whateverist]

I can't imagine it has ever been easier to be an atheist than it is today. If you live in Murica's bible belt or Salt Lake City, you have a distorted image of religion's place in society. If your family and social circle is religious you can feel oppressed but no one is going to burn you as a heretic.

[dyresand]

It's easier being a atheist now for the most part no one is going to kill you.
But otherwise people's beliefs lead them to think you are a bad person and are going to burn in hell
and or family is going to disown your and i think it's pretty fucked up how a ancient religion still has that
affect over the minds of people in this day and age.

[popeyespappy]

The reason it so hard to be open about your atheism in the US is because most of the people here use their religion as an excuse for bigotry.