being atheist in your country...

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   pisean282311posted 14 years ago

   hi..m just wondering how many are atheist out here and do atheist face problems in country you live?...problem not in terms of legal but social..

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      Pandoras Boxposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Yes. In some parts of America it is worse, such as the south and the midwest, and in other parts it's not so bad at all from what I understand. We are generally social outcasts and in some cases discriminated against, but they aren't allowed to kill us anymore, so that's good. How is it where you live? India, correct?

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      Jeff Berndtposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Absolutely atheists face social problems.
      
      Actually, any non-Christian, whether theist or atheist faces social problems.
      
      Many religious folks honestly think that atheists are by definition evil, self-absorbed, destructive people who have no morals whatsoever, and act accordingly.
      
      Atheists have a very bad name, which is surprising considering the relative few deaths that have been perpetrated by people acting for the greater glory of....nobody in particular.

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         Twenty One Daysposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         the only odd point in there is the term "Christianity", which is statistically the LEAST of all global theologies, yet considered to be the most dangerous. Islam and Hindi/Buddhism encompass nearly 2/3 of the world, the remaining is Judaism, Christianity and a few others...

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            crmhaskeposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            Christianity is actually the most predominant in the world, followed by Islam.
            
            http://www.adherents.com/Religions_By_Adherents.html
            
            http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_re … opulations
            
            http://www.religioustolerance.org/worldrel.htm
            
            http://www.mapsofworld.com/world-religion-map.htm

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               Twenty One Daysposted 14 years agoin reply to this

               exactly, from those maps, Christianity is about 30-35% of the entire world. But, I do think certain areas are 'listed' as so when not -take the former soviet republic...

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                  Jeff Berndtposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                  Well, the former Soviet republics are a bit of a conundrum: they were officially atheist, and certainly the people were discouraged from belief. But that didn't mean that none of them were believers.
                  
                  Also, the US is officially secular, but most US citizens are some brand of Christian or other.
                  
                  What with missionaries going everywhere to spread the gospel (whether that's a good thing or a bad thing, I leave as an exercise for the reader) there are probably more folks with a sorta-traditional/sorta-christian kind of belief system, which doesn't fit nicely into the little dots on a survey, and gets recorded as "Christian" or "other."

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         2. 73

            Jeff Berndtposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            "the only odd point in there is the term "Christianity", which is statistically the LEAST of all global theologies,"
            
            I don't know about global, but Christians are the vast majority here in the US.

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2. 63

   pisean282311posted 14 years ago

   atheists do exist in India since centuries..they are very less in number but atheism can be considered to be present in some form or another since 6th century before christ..generally atheist have not been target in India..

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      Pandoras Boxposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Are atheists in your country viewed as like evil rejectors of goodness? As lovers of debauchery? Or pretty much totally accepted as just another viewpoint?

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3. 63

   pisean282311posted 14 years ago

   also there have been atheist who have been famous freedom fighters...first prime minister of India too was atheist , role model and celebrated hero bhagat singh was atheist ..current chief minister of a state is also an atheist..

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      Pandoras Boxposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      That's fantastic! I guess it's hard then for people from some other countries to understand the ironic friction over it in America. Thanks for sharing.

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4. 0

   sneakorocksolidposted 14 years ago

   No, the truth is that they have to run their mouths and harass the religious. When they get called on it they cry foul! If they would keep their beliefs to themselves(the same goes for gays) who would really care? They choose to attack religions presence in the fabric of this country founded on religious freedom. If they were to shut-up and mind their own buisness there would be no discussion.

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      Pandoras Boxposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      If we were to shut up and mind our own business eventually 'christians' would kill us all.

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   2. 58

      Beelzedadposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I respect your beliefs that your god will send me to hell to burn for an eternity in hellfire. And, I will shut up and mind my own business until he sends me there and will respect you because you love and obey this god.
      
      You are free to do and say as you please because you don't have to respect me.

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      brimancandyposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      yes Mr. Sneak-solid gay people often show up at christian events holding burn in hell signs, and trying to scream as loud as they can so nobody can hear the good word of god.
      
      OOps I'm sorry I was living in an alternate universe for a moment. It's the other way around. Christian church groups are the ones that gather at Gay events to hold burn in hell signs and shout as loud as they can so anyone in ear shot will hear what bigot assholes that they are.
      
      Gay people also don't go knocking on peoples doors, and handing out flyers on street corners. or hanging out in the mall bothering anyone that walks by pushing their literature in their face on a daily basis.
      
      We also don't have people like Pat Robertson telling us that the world is going to end tomorrow unless, he raises 2 million dollars by Saturday.
      
      Should I go on and beat the Christian drum further? It might take a few centuries if you have the time.

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         sneakorocksolidposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Well I see your lop-sided arguement but answer this if you can. What happened to the LDS churches in California following the Prop 8 vote? Please explain the purpose of "Queer Nation" and why children need to exposed to sexuality in schools. If you can try and explain why my buisness relationship with a gay customer I'd had for years was terminated when he found out I was Mormon? Remember I knew he was gay the first day I worked for him, I didn't give it a thought.
         
         Both sides have their dirt but mine is no dirtier than yours.

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         sneakorocksolidposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         I thought that was Oral Roberts?

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   ralwusposted 14 years ago

   Ahhh, but discussion is what fabricated that very fabric. Look at what it produced. Aren't we grand?

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6. 57

   Jeramiposted 14 years ago

   No, the truth is that they have to run their mouths and harass the ---------. When they get called on it they cry foul! If they would keep their beliefs to themselves(the same goes for ----) who would really care? They choose to attack --------- presence in the fabric of this country founded on --------- freedom. If they were to shut-up and mind their own buisness there would be no discussion.

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7. 67

   Rod Marsdenposted 14 years ago

   I have always taken religious freedom in America to mean you have a fairly broad choice when it comes to what to believe. There were people who left England because of their religious beliefs and what they were after was freedom to live the way they chose to live. Freedom to live the way you choose to live...Hmmm...If you're not doing anyone any harm with your beliefs that sounds like a good deal to me. Even if you choose not to believe in any particular church.
   
   I am an agnostic rather than an atheist. I reckon true atheists are a rare breed.
   
   Are you afraid of discussion and debate sneakorocksolid? Doesn't sound like a very American attitude to me. democracy is based on discussion and debate. The word parliament means to talk.
   
   Nothing wrong with a healthy debate or discussion. we have those in Australia. We prefer it to thumping heads together. Mind you we might prefer to do it over a few beers at a pub but that's beside the point.

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      sneakorocksolidposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Healthy debate is wonderful, slander not so much.

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         Rod Marsdenposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Healthy debate I have come across. Slander? Haven't seen anything like that here.

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   Will Apseposted 14 years ago

   My atheism is far less important to me than most people's religions are to them, so I certainly don't try to proselytize. I will avoid people who want to try and convert me (it can get very dull)but that is as hostile I get.

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9. 0

   Twenty One Daysposted 14 years ago

   two cents:
   
   "Is it considerably possible that atheism is the religion of the next millennium? Given that it is strongly influencing social order, governments, commerce, etc or will Quality assimilate both ends of the Ism for the greater benefit of the global population. If so, is it atheism and/or Quality that will become the new socialism..."

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      Rod Marsdenposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Not going to happen twenty One Days...The true atheist is a rare breed. there are more agnostics around. Agnostics might want to believe in a greater power but see so many flaws in conventional religion they prefer their own private beliefs or lack thereof. Only conventional Christianity is shrinking. The bible is still a best seller.

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         Twenty One Daysposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         indeed, but you see where I am coming from, yes?
         Quality (the united Ism) more dangerous.
         Atheism is "Equative Sensationalism" a friend of mine titled it.
         She might be correct in that...

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            Rod Marsdenposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            I repeat there are very few real atheists in this world. The real test is to give an atheist a rifle and get him to join a platoon going into battle. If he stays an atheist fair enough but most guys would start acting like your friendly neighborhood agnostic in no time. They might even turn to one of the more conventional churches.
            
            Instead of worrying about atheists you might want to consider why in some parts of the world conventional Christianity has failed. Nothing to do with God. A lot to do with the people running some of these Churches. Maybe too many preachers not practicing what they preach.

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10. 0

    crmhaskeposted 14 years ago

    I'm agnostic, not atheist.
    
    On the grand scheme of things religious discrimination doesn't appear to exist in Canada.  Unlike in the United States, we have laws that place limitations on your right to freedom of expression.  On the small scale, prejudices do exist, it'd be naive to deny that, but there is no oppression anywhere for it.

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11. 79

    Sufidreamerposted 14 years ago

    There is absolutely no problem in Greece - discussing religion is seen as very impolite and religious beliefs are seen as personal and private.

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    1. 67

       Rod Marsdenposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       We are becoming a mixed batch here in Australia.
       
            My father grew up in a country where there were divisions between protestants and catholics. By the time I became a teenager all that had gone and no one gave a damn about what a fellow worker's religion was just so long as they were good at what they did and you could get along with them. I once worked with a Jewish bloke for six months and it was only on his last week I found out he was Jewish. How did I finds out? He said he was off to be a reporter on the Jewish Times. He was surprised I didn't know. I was surprised he was surprised. We had never talked religion and he was just a good person to work with.
       
           Nowadays Muslims are threatening to bring back the divisions. Its a real shame since I like an Australia where you don't give too much importance to someone else's faith. I like the idea of live and let live.

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          Jeff Berndtposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          "I like the idea of live and let live."
          Good onya, mate. I like that idea as well; I wish we in America were more laid back about matters of faith.

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             Rod Marsdenposted 14 years agoin reply to this

             Well you can be. You just have to work at it.
             
             The Muslims in my country will probably work out okay and also adopt the live and let live philosophy.  If and when they do they won't be a problem. Some of them have done so already.

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    EmpressFelicityposted 14 years ago

    In my corner of mainland Britain there is absolutely no problem with being an atheist (or agnostic, which is how I would describe myself).
    
    The only slightly annoying thing is the local Jehovah's Witnesses, who obviously think that we're all miserable sinners down my road because they visit at least once a week.  As they're easy to spot (being dressed in suits and travelling in pairs), we just don't answer the door when they ring the bell.

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13. 79

    earnestshubposted 14 years ago

    I know it is "compulsory" to be a religionist to have any sort of power in American politics.
    In Australia it is not. That is why I live in Australia. We do have some politicians who can think.

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       Twenty One Daysposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       there is a social "cap" on it there, no, Earnest? Easpecially with regard to education, yes?

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          Rod Marsdenposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          No social cap Twenty One Days. For a generation or more Australians have been proud to say we don't care what your religion is so long as you are a good person. Atheists and agnostics included. Like the French did some time ago we like to separate religion from work and from politics (or as much as we can. There are a few Christian political parties around but are small and they don't get anywhere). It is a healthy way to be.
          
          As for education...you or your kids can be educated in a Christian high school without being a Christian strange as that may sound. There are extra fees for being in a non-government school but that's about it. Oh and before you get the wrong idea Christians and non-Christians pay the same fees at Christian high schools.

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             Twenty One Daysposted 14 years agoin reply to this

             Rod, was referring to is Australia says you can practice whatever religion you want, but no educational propaganda (recruitment), unless I am mistaken.

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                Rod Marsdenposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                You got it Twenty One Days. Every once in a while some outfit tries it on but the people in general are dead set against any religion becoming too powerful. Like the French we prefer to separate state from religion and also work from religion.

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       Rod Marsdenposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       We still have politicians who can think in Australia? Great news earnestshub! 
       
       After the fiasco with the house bats and the fact that we don't have a polly with the guts to do anything when it comes to this massive increase in population they're expecting us to have in the next ten years I thought they were either dumb as bricks, smug thieves involved in real estate scams like the local government on the Gold Coast in Queensland and Wollongong, NSW, or total yes men of one stripe or another.

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          Jeff Berndtposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          "Wollongong, NSW" Now that's a awesome place-name. We've got Lake Okeechobee, Fla, you've got Wollongong, NSW. There should be an exchange program.

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             Rod Marsdenposted 14 years agoin reply to this

             Why not Jeff? Sounds good to me. Wollongong has some lovely beaches .

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          earnestshubposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          Ron, the free housing insulation was a great idea and I hope they re-instate it. It's execution left a lot to be desired as it was rolled out to make long term good use of the stimulus package which probably saved our necks from the financial meltdown.
          
          While "the mad monk" of the opposition had a field day, any undertaking that involves so many houses was bound to have some negatives. If you employ that many people to climb up in ceilings there is always casualties.
          
          Someone had the temerity to point out the statistics involved in any undertaking this large, but got howled down.
          
          The administration definitely screwed up on this one though, and it was the "cowboys" who joined the industry they did not pay enough attention to who bought it undone.
          
          It is true we have some crooks in government.
          I saw that when I ran for the senate against a candidate who changed his position radically to get voted in.
          
          I still think Australia is pretty good politically though.

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             Rod Marsdenposted 14 years agoin reply to this

             I agree that the free housing insulation was a great idea and you are right about the execution of it was not good. It was so badly handled I doubt it will be re-instated. Yes the stimulus package did save some necks. It didn't quite save mine. As our banks would have it, interest rates only went down to 3 per cent and then, well, they are climbing and these money gougers want them back to where they were before the crisis.
             
             As for an understanding that there will always be cowboys in any industry, well, that is what inspectors are for. The real issue was that there weren't enough inspectors making sure the jobs were done correctly. Sure you are going to get casualties employing that many people but the quality of the work was the real issue with a lot of people and a lot of people are still wondering if the work done on their ceilings was done properly or not.
             
             Yes I am afraid we do have some crooks in government. Wollongong has had a bad run of them over the last ten years and the same with the Gold coast.
             
             At least we can complain about our government officials and it is still possible to do something about the crooks. Wollongong has been cleaned up as far as that is concerned but I don't really know how you can keep them out when there is money to be made.
             
             Like any democratic country we have our problems and we have some safe guards in place as well.  So on the world stage we don't do too badly.
             
             It is frightening though to think that our politicians will allow our rate of growth to double in the next decade. We haven't the infrastructure to cope and they know it. Vested interests from overseas and crooked  pollys making hard cash backing more migrants coming in will no doubt win the day. A dam hasn't been built in NSW for decades. The desalination plant is an expensive bit of business to make up for the drought and for basic structural neglect. There is the threat of putting up electricity because old generators are failing where all they needed was proper maintenance which would have included gradual replacement of worn out parts.
             
             All up, Australia is drying up yet they want to keep shoveling people into already crowded and structurally deficient cities? Some of our pollys have got to be mad and some of the others have got to be wicked money grubbers.

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    skyfireposted 14 years ago

    Who told you this ? Society isolates atheists from social gatherings and even look down on them. Atheists can't express their views against any religion as it could land them straight to jail. They can't even avoid festival fees/contribution if they tried to do something like that then they'll be harassed by society. Being atheist in india is not so easy especially if you're born in religion :islam and hinduism.

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    skyfireposted 14 years ago

    Easy conversion to Christianity is because of bribe, quack healing sessions and targeting lower-castes in other religions.

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    1. 67

       Rod Marsdenposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Sorry to hear you have it so tough where you are skyfire. America is better by the sound of things and Australia is even better.

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