Why do atheists get singled out like this?

[Fred]

Stumbled upon this article http://bit.ly/9d9zvw The snippage below is the parts I want to get your take on. Why do you guys think things are like this?

University of Minnesota Study on American Attitudes Towards Atheists & Atheism
Research Finds that Atheists are Most Despised, Most Distrusted Minority

The most recent data shows that atheists are more distrusted and despised than any other minority also that atheists seem to represent everything about modernity which Americans dislike or fear. . . . atheists ranked lower than "Muslims, recent immigrants, gays and lesbians and other minority groups in 'sharing their vision of American society.'

Lead researcher Penny Edgell said that she was surprised by this . . . Nevertheless, the numbers are so extreme that she was led to conclude that they are "a glaring exception to the rule of increasing tolerance over the last 30 years. . . Our analysis shows that attitudes about atheists have not followed the same historical pattern as that for previously marginalized religious groups. . . ."

Some respondents associated atheism with "immoral people who threaten respectable community from the lower end of the social hierarchy." Others saw atheists as "rampant materialists and cultural elitists" who "threaten common values from above -- the ostentatiously wealthy who make a lifestyle out of consumption or the cultural elites who think they know better than everyone else."

Furthermore, dislike of atheists doesn’t correlate very highly with dislike of gays, immigrants, or Muslims. This means that dislike of atheists isn't simply part of a larger dislike of people who are "different." Why are atheists being singled out for special hatred and distrust?

[Minimalist]

Because there are far too many religious shitheads who shudder at the thought that someone has rejected their bullshit story.

It's called "fear."

[Fred]

Because there are far too many religious shitheads who shudder at the thought that someone has rejected their bullshit story.

It's called "fear."

Well, sure, but they fear lots of others who have rejected their bullshit story in more directly threatening ways. Still, atheists get singled out even more. That's the part I'm asking about.

[Simon Moon]

Because there are far too many religious shitheads who shudder at the thought that someone has rejected their bullshit story.

It's called "fear."

That covers it pretty well.

They are afraid that with a little critical thinking of their dearly held beliefs, they too will find them lacking.

Cognitive dissonance is a bitch.

[Fred]

Because there are far too many religious shitheads who shudder at the thought that someone has rejected their bullshit story.

It's called "fear."

That covers it pretty well.

They are afraid that with a little critical thinking of their dearly held beliefs, they too will find them lacking.

Cognitive dissonance is a bitch.

But that would apply equally to praying away the gay or views on climate change or a host of other issues, wouldn't it?

[Shell B]

But that would apply equally to praying away the gay or views on climate change or a host of other issues, wouldn't it?

I think not. Those things don't threaten the entirety of their core beliefs. Atheism does.

[Simon Moon]

But that would apply equally to praying away the gay or views on climate change or a host of other issues, wouldn't it?

But to theists, the belief in a god is the top level, overriding belief that informs most, if not all their other beliefs. It is the belief that would cause the most drastic cognitive dissonance if they no longer had it.

[paintpooper]

Propaganda against atheism. Haven't you hears Stalin, Lenin, Hitler, ALL Atheists... geez you need to watch Fox news more.

Atheists scare religious folks, some know we are correct, yet their lives would crumble to nothing (or at least they think it would0) if they addmitted to us being correct. Power would be gone. Fear would be gone. People could live their lives free.

[Fred]

But that would apply equally to praying away the gay or views on climate change or a host of other issues, wouldn't it?

I think not. Those things don't threaten the entirety of their core beliefs. Atheism does.

I can see how that may be for climate change, but I'm pretty sure gays certainly do threaten their core issues. Why do you think it's different with atheists?

[Cinjin]

It's not just the realization that their core belief system might be bogus. They realize that their father and their father's father on back wasted their lives worshiping a deity that doesn't exist. Not only does it mean you've wasted countless years on stupidity, but you've sacrificed a wonderful life for NOTHING!

Nobody wants to face that kind of reality. Atheists (and the like minded) are singled out because if Christians ever become the minority they face the very real possibility of total humiliation and a complete loss of control.

Imagine how the last group felt who still believed in Zeus, Apollo, and Neptune. The fear of a dying religion has got to be a powerful thing. They hate you because they fear you.