Are atheists still the most hated minority in America?

[Minimalist]

I remember the University of Minnesota, conducted a study which showed that atheists are the most despised group in the US.

But I think this has changed from 11 years ago, the amount of atheists was 6% in 2006 , now it is 22%.

The religious right don't have any political influence like during the Bush Administration.

Are Americans more tolerant of Atheists now?

22%? Where do you get that number from?

It's from a PEW study a couple of years ago.

http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/201...-atheists/

It lumps all the religiously unaffiliated together but that means that organized religion is going down the shitter which is all that matters.

[pgrimes15]

I think it's the lepers. Parts keep dropping off at the most inappropriate times.

Why did the leper fail his driving test?

He kept leaving his foot on the throttle.

[Kosh]

I think there is more of a continuum from non-belief to wherever you think it ends in the God orbit.

I'd note that while they might be shocked at the truth, quite a few Christians in the US would be exonerated for lack of evidence should Jesusism ever be made illegal.  They might not identify as 'atheist' or 'agnostic', but maintaining themselves as their own arbitrators of religious belief instead of God/Jesus/Bible takes them  a very long way down Atheist Boulevard whether they want to admit it or not.

I concur.  There are a lot of people who would mark themselves as "Christian" on a survey who haven't sniffed a church in years.

My grandfather who was born in the 1930's was not baptized as a child.  He and my grandmother were never religious and never went to church.  He had pro football tickets for over 40 years so that gives you an idea what he worshipped and did on Sundays.  His funeral was done in the local Methodist church at the request of members of the family.  During his funeral, the pastor mentioned to the entire church that he had recently baptized my grandfather.  I remember my mother was livid about this announcement.  My grandfather had spent his entire life in a small town and his non baptism was not common knowledge.  They were worried that people in town would think less of him.  The pastor used it anyways as an advertisement. 

I think as people get older, they become more religious because of something I like to call "Just in Case".   My mother is pulling that crap right now.  For most of my life the only reason my parents went to church was to get my brothers and I properly indoctrinated.  If we didn't need to go to church, my parents sure weren't offering to go.  We never said grace at dinner, and prayer consisted of "oh god, don't let the farm machinery break until I'm done in the field".  Grace at holidays consisted of "The gravy's hot and so is the meat, good god lets eat".

Now that they are pushing 70, I have to deal with seeing stupid "We are blessed" and other religious memes on Facebook.  Getting old and religious "just in Case".

[CapnAwesome]

22%? Where do you get that number from?

It's from a PEW study a couple of years ago.

http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/201...-atheists/

It lumps all the religiously unaffiliated together but that means that organized religion is going down the shitter which is all that matters.

Yeah, that's sort of my guess where he got that number. But that 22% is definitely not all Atheists.  Religiously unaffiliated could mean almost anything. According to that survey Atheists are 3%. I suspect that's a low number, as many people just don't like the label Atheist, for some reason.

---

I think there is more of a continuum from non-belief to wherever you think it ends in the God orbit.

I'd note that while they might be shocked at the truth, quite a few Christians in the US would be exonerated for lack of evidence should Jesusism ever be made illegal.  They might not identify as 'atheist' or 'agnostic', but maintaining themselves as their own arbitrators of religious belief instead of God/Jesus/Bible takes them  a very long way down Atheist Boulevard whether they want to admit it or not.

I concur.  There are a lot of people who would mark themselves as "Christian" on a survey who haven't sniffed a church in years.

My grandfather who was born in the 1930's was not baptized as a child.  He and my grandmother were never religious and never went to church.  He had pro football tickets for over 40 years so that gives you an idea what he worshipped and did on Sundays.  His funeral was done in the local Methodist church at the request of members of the family.  During his funeral, the pastor mentioned to the entire church that he had recently baptized my grandfather.  I remember my mother was livid about this announcement.  My grandfather had spent his entire life in a small town and his non baptism was not common knowledge.  They were worried that people in town would think less of him.  The pastor used it anyways as an advertisement. 

I think as people get older, they become more religious because of something I like to call "Just in Case".   My mother is pulling that crap right now.  For most of my life the only reason my parents went to church was to get my brothers and I properly indoctrinated.  If we didn't need to go to church, my parents sure weren't offering to go.  We never said grace at dinner, and prayer consisted of "oh god, don't let the farm machinery break until I'm done in the field".  Grace at holidays consisted of "The gravy's hot and so is the meat, good god lets eat".

Now that they are pushing 70, I have to deal with seeing stupid "We are blessed" and other religious memes on Facebook.  Getting old and religious "just in Case".

Is there any evidence that getting older makes your more religious? I somehow doubt it's the case. Christianity seems to be losing it's grasp across the board in the United States.

[Kosh]

It's from a PEW study a couple of years ago.

http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/201...-atheists/

It lumps all the religiously unaffiliated together but that means that organized religion is going down the shitter which is all that matters.

Yeah, that's sort of my guess where he got that number. But that 22% is definitely not all Atheists.  Religiously unaffiliated could mean almost anything. According to that survey Atheists are 3%. I suspect that's a low number, as many people just don't like the label Atheist, for some reason.

---

I concur.  There are a lot of people who would mark themselves as "Christian" on a survey who haven't sniffed a church in years.

My grandfather who was born in the 1930's was not baptized as a child.  He and my grandmother were never religious and never went to church.  He had pro football tickets for over 40 years so that gives you an idea what he worshipped and did on Sundays.  His funeral was done in the local Methodist church at the request of members of the family.  During his funeral, the pastor mentioned to the entire church that he had recently baptized my grandfather.  I remember my mother was livid about this announcement.  My grandfather had spent his entire life in a small town and his non baptism was not common knowledge.  They were worried that people in town would think less of him.  The pastor used it anyways as an advertisement. 

I think as people get older, they become more religious because of something I like to call "Just in Case".   My mother is pulling that crap right now.  For most of my life the only reason my parents went to church was to get my brothers and I properly indoctrinated.  If we didn't need to go to church, my parents sure weren't offering to go.  We never said grace at dinner, and prayer consisted of "oh god, don't let the farm machinery break until I'm done in the field".  Grace at holidays consisted of "The gravy's hot and so is the meat, good god lets eat".

Now that they are pushing 70, I have to deal with seeing stupid "We are blessed" and other religious memes on Facebook.  Getting old and religious "just in Case".

Is there any evidence that getting older makes your more religious? I somehow doubt it's the case. Christianity seems to be losing it's grasp across the board in the United States.

I'm just speaking from personal experience with people in my family (simple Midwesterners).  I don't claim this is happening to all older people, but it would be an interesting case study.  I work in a hospital.  I do IT work now, but I was in direct patient care for a few years and seen many older dying patients visited by the clergy.  I've had families tell me that mom or dad hasn't been to church for years, but this is probably a good time for communion.  

It does in fact seem counter intuitive to me.  The older I get and the more I see what religion and faith has done to the world, the more against it I've become.  I've told my parents that I'm an atheist.  I really don't think they knew what to say.

[Silent Snob]

I remember the University of Minnesota, conducted a study which showed that atheists are the most despised group in the US.

But I think this has changed from 11 years ago, the amount of atheists was 6% in 2006 , now it is 22%.

The religious right don't have any political influence like during the Bush Administration.

Are Americans more tolerant of Atheists now?

Doesn't matter. It's about mere survival of NATURE right now. Haven't you got the memo?

[vorlon13]

How many Christians would want me deciding if their personal beliefs were 'sincerely held' ??

Hmmm, how could I tell . . . . .

[Cyberman]

Why did the leper fail his driving test?

He kept leaving his foot on the throttle.

What did the leper say to the prostitute?

"Keep the tip."

[dyresand]

we are above muslims that's for sure.
americans really do not like the middle easterners that much.

[Thumpalumpacus]

Why did the leper fail his driving test?

He kept leaving his foot on the throttle.

What did the leper say to the prostitute?

"Keep the tip."

Did you hear about the guy whose wife had leprosy?

One of the few husbands who got a piece of ass almost every night.