Has being an Atheist ever caused you problems in your life?

1. 60

   nightwork4posted 12 years ago

   Has being an Atheist ever caused you problems in your life?
   
   has it made people reject you or treat you differently ?

   replyreport
2. 70

   JMcFarlandposted 12 years ago

   Absolutely.  I got a double whammy.  I'm an atheist and I'm gay.  Ironically, coming out as gay was easier than coming out as an atheist.  I definitely think that atheists face a very negative and untrustworthy sigma.  I lost a lot of friends due to my atheism.  I only lost a handful because I was gay.

   replyreport
   1. 74

      Renee Abbottposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I am not an atheist, but I do know many. They are highly prejudice against, and it really is plain stupidity to dislike an antheist. It also is stupidity to have the need to change their view.

      replyreport
   2. 71

      Junaid Ghaniposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Rejection on the basis of atheism still constitutes some reasons. I hope one day all atheists would at-least feel this!

      replyreport
   3. 70

      JMcFarlandposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Are you serious?  You want people to actively be discriminated against because they don't believe in your imaginary friend?

      replyreport
3. 68

   jdflomposted 12 years ago

   I've had some minor run-ins with people who, once they found out, treated me different, usually by ending contact with me. Fortunately, that hasn't been the norm and most people,even if they disagree with my views, don't care and would rather have civil discussions and maintain a friendship with me.
   
   That being said, I often don't advertise the fact that I am an atheist immediately upon meeting new people. If I am asked though, which I have been, I won't lie.

   replyreport
4. 82

   jandeeposted 12 years ago

   I never really give it a thought.     I think today the majority of people are not into religion and most realise that it is a troublesome pastime and is used as an excuse for all sorts of evil .

   replyreport
5. 60

   Disappearingheadposted 12 years ago

   As a European, I think it rather bizarre that there is a need to ask this question. Generally, my experience is that Europeans couldn't give a stuff what religion a person is or whether or not they are an atheist. If an atheist experiences any problems because of their atheism then it seems to me that America must be one messed up society.

   replyreport
   1. 71

      Junaid Ghaniposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Hi Disapperring,
      Do you believe that atheism can create a messed up society?

      replyreport
   2. 0

      CJ Sledgehammerposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I know that atheism has done wonders for Russia and China, enabling them to slaughter millions of their own people (over the years) as well as foreigners.

      replyreport
   3. 60

      nightwork4posted 12 years agoin reply to this

      ya CJ, just like religion did so well during the Crusades, with pedophile priests and so many other examples.to boot we have to put up with ignorant little christian minds and their need to make us out to be horrible people. you know, "our kind"

      replyreport
   4. 0

      CJ Sledgehammerposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Don't blame Christianity for the crimes of the Roman Catholic Church, who are not "Christians" nor do they follow Christ. They follow their evil pope and a dead woman.

      replyreport
   5. 70

      JMcFarlandposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      "no true scotsman" fallacy, dude.  No one is  'true christian" unless they happen to agree with everything you believe.  Perfect

      replyreport
   6. 85

      RolyRetroposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Agreed! Ths never comes up in the UK where most people are atheists (or at least agnostic), and deeply religious people are considered the outsiders in society.

      replyreport
   7. 0

      CJ Sledgehammerposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      JMcFarland: You say you are guilty of the "double-whammy", but it seems you are also guilty of passing judgment against me...without the benefit of knowledge or good judgment. This seems, however, to be your lot in life and modus operandi.

      replyreport
   8. 70

      JMcFarlandposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      CJ - calling out logical fallacies is judging you?  You have a really thin skin, then.  Goes hand in hand with believing that everyone that disagrees is "persecuting" you.  It's not uncommon - but it is increasingly humorous.

      replyreport
6. 83

   M. T. Dremerposted 12 years ago

   I wouldn't say my atheism has caused particularly large problems in my life. I had a friend in middle school who said I was going to hell because I didn't go to church, and my mother-in-law has taken a few opportunities to describe miracles to me. But I've never lost anyone because of it. Though, like jdflom said; it isn't something I advertise. There are quite a few people who have never asked and I can imagine  they would be upset to discover my beliefs.

   replyreport
7. 87

   Astralroseposted 12 years ago

   Not to me but to people, family and friends, who knew I don't believe anymore. I can feel their distance, their indifference. The funny thing is that they tagged me as angry or bitter to what they believe but the truth is it's them who are angry and bitter. They would say they respect my belief but nah, they don't. They're not even tolerant otherwise they would have not stopped talking to me. But I just let them be. I can't keep on justifying my disbelief on to people who have eyes but can't see.
   
   I can feel I am rejected, you know but it just doesn't bother me.

   replyreport
8. 0

   CJ Sledgehammerposted 12 years ago

   By the same token, nightwork4, how many people have you persecuted because of their faith? You seem to be very open about your lack of belief and I can bank on your vitriolic comments regarding people of faith...most of which are unsolicited attacks.

   replyreport
   1. 60

      nightwork4posted 12 years agoin reply to this

      really? the only people i bother are the ones who think their religion is all important but don't practice what they preach. you wouldn't know anything about that though, because your such a good christian.

      replyreport
   2. 0

      CJ Sledgehammerposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      "really? the only people i bother are the ones who think their religion is all important." Your comment just made my point even more clear. You seem to be what is known as an evangelical atheist - an atheist who is an activist and persecutor of faith

      replyreport
   3. 70

      JMcFarlandposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      CJ - do you understand what persecution is?  There are kids right now being burned alive for witchcraft by loving christians.  Unless someone starts referring to you as lion food, I suggest you stop claiming persecution.

      replyreport
   4. 60

      nightwork4posted 12 years agoin reply to this

      sure i am CJ. this coming from a guy who said he has no use for my kind but again here you are. i don't have a religion, you do , so as usual , you're wrong. i guess atheists that speak up really bother you.

      replyreport
9. 60

   aspiretoinspireposted 12 years ago

   At one of my earlier jobs, there were some very religious people. They seemed to look upon me differently when they found out I wasn't religious. Now I don't mention it at work, unless it's with fellow atheists. I have always found it strange that there are so many religious people in a hospital, which I see as a place of health and science.

   replyreport
10. 65

    viveresperandoposted 12 years ago

    I am Catholic and I do not follow the Pope, lol that made me laugh because I am aware of why the "generalized ugly comment" but either way it is not true that all Catholics are that way, but I think we both know that.  I have been kicked out of Catholic Churches and I know it is the individuals not my religion.  There are Catholics that I would not stand side by side with and there is atheists, gays, lesbians  that I would be proud to stand side by side with.  It is about the individual whether I stand by them or not. I have met people that gentle, kind, caring .... to others and yet to me they are different.  I will not stand by them and it is okay they have others who will.  Why are things this way?  I just don't know.  Yet, I still am Catholic it is a part of me and my belief in Christ is something that will never change.  Do i believe everything that comes out of another Catholic's mouth no.  The Bible to me is a book, written by a man, actually many men.  It is their best interpretation, translated, handed down, and each added their own personal touch, opinion, whether right or wrong.  I take the words and if they don't fit well, I spit them out like a seedless watermelon that somehow slipped by.  Yes, I said that I don't read the Bible and hold it's every word as law, I warned you I've been kicked out of some churches. God and my Christ is a gentle, kind, and forgiving God.  This is my choice to believe this.  Just like it is your choice to believe he is eye for an eye dude.  Or that he was a fragment of someone's imagination, that is your choice.  It is really simple.  I guess I will get off my soapbox now because I am well aware that we all think differently and can take the same set of facts, agree on the facts, and come to a different conclusion.  It is human nature.  I was driving my friend and I to work one day. It was a different shift than our normal shift, in Phoenix they have driving lanes that change direction during different times.  I turned into the lane thinking it was our normal time and saw this great big truck coming straight at us.  I was annoyed, got back to the right lane and then went to work like normal. My friend and I agreed, I got into the wrong lane due to the time of day, there was a big blue truck coming straight at us.  She decided we were going to die, I was annoyed. Different conclusion. She could not understand why I was not so freaked out, I could not understand how she could so easily assume we were going to die.

    replyreport