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

[robvalue]

A theocracy? Of course not. It's religion and big businesses that run the show :p

[Thumpalumpacus]

You didn't lose a friend, you got rid of a control freak. Good move.

Never had any problems, but then I don't live in a theocracy like the USA

I don't live in a theocracy either, and I live in Texas. I haven't had any issue at all about my atheism, and I don't disguise it at all.

[emilynghiem]

Sure... there's always someone worse off than yourself, but that doesn't make what you're going through any easier.

Oh I agree, I hate that as an economic argument from Republicans and Libertarians. "Other people have it worse, so accept your crappy pay and lower your standards to compete with third world countries".

Pain is pain, no one's pain is better or worse than anyone else's. I was putting things in perspective.

It is why I also argue that Jews cant hide behind the Holocaust because blacks and Native Americans went through the same types of oppression.

Atheist certainly are not widely accepted in the mainstream yet, and there is discrimination of course.

Yep, trying to compete to compare people's pain and oppression
is a surefire recipe for misery.
Makes it worse than the original pain itself!

[pocaracas]

Europe is truly much better in that respect...
For the most part, the subject doesn't come up.
If it does, you just say you don't believe and it ends there... unless you push it...

[Jackie]

You didn't lose a friend, you got rid of a control freak. Good move.

Never had any problems, but then I don't live in a theocracy like the USA

I don't live in a theocracy either, and I live in Texas. I haven't had any issue at all about my atheism, and I don't disguise it at all.

I don't know what part you live in but that is a big state, just like parts of my state are different attitudes than other parts of my state. I'd say it depends on who and where.

[The Valkyrie]

Depends on the part of the world.

Where I am it's not an issue.

[watchamadoodle]

I don't know what part you live in but that is a big state, just like parts of my state are different attitudes than other parts of my state. I'd say it depends on who and where.

Also it depends if these are family, close friends, or whatever. There are lots of people who might say "have a blessed day" without intending to discuss what you believe. In college, I remember debating religion with close friends a few times, but our differences didn't harm our friendships. (I was a Christian at the time. Maybe it would have seemed different if I was an atheist.) Family members are more likely to worry and pray as opposed to debate (in my experience).

[Dystopia]

I think you really need a check on reality. Yes it is difficult, but it is not the same as being arrested for being an atheist and getting lashes in Saudi Arabia. It is not as bad as being executed for being gay or being a girl wanting an education in the middle east.

quit the bullshit, the fact someone has it worse doesn't mean I can't suffer as well. In my case I've never suffered discrimination for being an atheist, but I don't know why an atheist in America cannot under some circumstances feel discriminated against. For any significant problem it's possible to find an even bigger one - If we used that logic, I could say that the situation in gays in Russian (pretty bad) is not worthy of my time because gays in Uganda have it worse. I care most of all about my country and the locality where I live and not the third world. The situation in women in Saudi Arabia is terrible, but it doesn't mean I can't worry about the fact employers disproportionately fire pregnant women for no reason at all (in my country) or refuse to hire pregnant women

[Mr.wizard]

I haven't had any problems with oppression or discrimination, where I encounter most of the problems is on the dating scene.

[professor]

Isn't this just the outworking of evolution? How can you kick about it?
Is there some Standard you are really appealing to?

My 2 cents- Christians who are secure within themselves have no problem interacting with atheists.