Atheism

Originally posted by Mindset
I live in the Midwest, plenty of Atheist around here, there are also plenty of churches; maybe you're being paranoid?

Also, give me your exact address. sneer

It's not like I'm scared. I have friends and shit. But like, I've had girls break up with me because I'm an atheist. I'm not exactly keen on dropping the A-bomb into any situation where it's not needed, especially where Christianity is the predominant mentality for most people I meet.

Anyway, saying there's "plenty" is anecdotal. The national percentage is 7.1 (as of '08). We can expect it to be slightly higher in major cities, slightly lower in rural or suburban areas. At best, we're looking at maybe 15% for any place...that would be your major metropolis areas. And I feel like I'm being generous there, especially in the midwest. Anywhere outside the major cities in the midwest or south, I'd personally be surprised at anything north of 5%.

Your whole second paragraph is completely irrelevant to my post, or were you just looking for a reason to post that?

Tens of thousands of people would be "plenty" anyway...

srug

Seemed relevant enough to me. Wouldn't we have to clarify what "plenty" means to determine whether or not I'm being overly worried?

Why would I be looking for a reason to post something if I didn't think it was pertinent to the discussion?

But as it relates to your point Mindset, I'm less concerned with numbers of atheists than I am with the reaction to my atheism from those who aren't. To be clear, there's severity and prevalence. No one would argue that the severity of mistrust or anger toward atheists is greater than that toward Muslims, or even other groups like Jews or blacks. It's not even close. The prevalence, however, is as widespread as many and more so than most.

At one pointed I had a study (or meta-analysis of studies? can't remember)backing that up. No one hated atheists a ton, but general unease was higher with them than any other group. This came out before the poll I linked to a few pages ago suggesting that Muslims and Tea Party had overtaken atheists in terms of mistrust, but the point remains that it was fairly high. Nothing I've personally experienced has led me to believe otherwise.

Originally posted by Digi
srug

Seemed relevant enough to me. Wouldn't we have to clarify what "plenty" means to determine whether or not I'm being overly worried?

Why would I be looking for a reason to post something if I didn't think it was pertinent to the discussion?

People do it all the time, I've yet to find out why.

Originally posted by Digi
But as it relates to your point Mindset, I'm less concerned with numbers of atheists than I am with the reaction to my atheism from those who aren't. To be clear, there's severity and prevalence. No one would argue that the severity of mistrust or anger toward atheists is greater than that toward Muslims, or even other groups like Jews or blacks. It's not even close. The prevalence, however, is as widespread as many and more so than most.

At one pointed I had a study (or meta-analysis of studies? can't remember)backing that up. No one hated atheists a ton, but general unease was higher with them than any other group. This came out before the poll I linked to a few pages ago suggesting that Muslims and Tea Party had overtaken atheists in terms of mistrust, but the point remains that it was fairly high. Nothing I've personally experienced has led me to believe otherwise.

You're right with the more recent one I linked to. It wasn't controlled and didn't have the numbers sufficient to prove much. I wish I could remember the details of the earlier one. It was an article that, iirc, acted a retrospective of studies done along these lines over several decades. The results they were able to form were a bit less prone to random fluctuation.

I'll try to dig it up. I posted it here on KMC at some point, but we all know how impossible it can be to find a single half-remembered post.

Originally posted by Mindset
Your whole second paragraph is completely irrelevant to my post, or were you just looking for a reason to post that?

Tens of thousands of people would be "plenty" anyway...

Errrrrr...No it wouldn't in the big scheme of things, considering the American population as a whole. That would be like saying 3 Mexicans in a 3000 person school is plenty.

^ That. "Tens of thousands" is misleading, it becomes much less impressive when disseminated throughout the entire population of an area. Individually, a person might be able to surround themselves with like-minded individuals (i.e. anecdotes). Collectively, most won't.

I'd be surprised with even something in the 5% range where I live. And given that my more-liberal previous environment still had people that hadn't ever encountered an atheist, I can't be sure that such a disclosure wouldn't be met with some misunderstanding.

Again, it's not fear. But do I really want to be the subject of awkward stares when, say, my coworkers are reassuring one another around the water cooler about "God's Plan" when things go south in their lives? Or when they say they'll pray for someone or something and the best I can truthfully offer is "you're in my thoughts?" Hell, my own family members would occasionally emphasize the "God" in "God Bless You" when I sneezed in a lame attempt to remind me that God belongs in that phrase. I love my family, many of them have sacrificed lots for me, but the religion thing was a source of tension.

It's little sh*t individually, but can be taxing over a longer period of time. It's much easier to live in tacit agreement through my silence. Which is unfortunate, because I'm not ashamed of my beliefs, but is just how it is.

I am glad to live in a place with a huge atheist population; I don't like hanging out with conservative christians because inevitably the topic turns to religion, and that always leads to a fight. Now I just don't bother bringing up the topic unless I know the person is chill.

Yeah, I kinda got over the thrill of the shock value the word creates in some people. At this point I just want to, say, date a girl without assuming religion will become an issue eventually. Or be open about my beliefs without having to get into numerous protracted discussions with those "concerned" for me.

Originally posted by Digi
Yeah, I kinda got over the thrill of the shock value the word creates in some people. At this point I just want to, say, date a girl without assuming religion will become an issue eventually. Or be open about my beliefs without having to get into numerous protracted discussions with those "concerned" for me.

That's cool, must be nice. And don't get me wrong, I still enjoy the look on an insulated Christian's face when I say I'm an atheist. It's like I just committed a crime, when I'm just sitting there eating Fritos or something.

But I want to soak that in and not have to deal with what comes after it. At one point someone even tried to make me feel guilty over enjoying my atheism. I was like "What did I do wrong? I can't enjoy irrational reactions to my beliefs?" I find humor in lots of things though, so it might not be a normal reaction.

I guess I just stopped enjoying the ensuing conversations and debates, because there's rarely much variation with them. At least KMC helped me say what I need to without sounding bitter or condescending. The practice helps. Because even when it's not your intention, explaining why you aren't religious to a religious person can often come across that way.

Originally posted by Digi
That's cool, must be nice. And don't get me wrong, I still enjoy the look on an insulated Christian's face when I say I'm an atheist. It's like I just committed a crime, when I'm just sitting there eating Fritos or something.

But I want to soak that in and not have to deal with what comes after it. At one point someone even tried to make me feel guilty over enjoying my atheism. I was like "What did I do wrong? I can't enjoy irrational reactions to my beliefs?" I find humor in lots of things though, so it might not be a normal reaction.

I guess I just stopped enjoying the ensuing conversations and debates, because there's rarely much variation with them. At least KMC helped me say what I need to without sounding bitter or condescending. The practice helps. Because even when it's not your intention, explaining why you aren't religious to a religious person can often come across that way.

it only gets annoying when they assume and think im "lost" and that they will "pray" for me to find my way

Originally posted by Digi
That's cool, must be nice. And don't get me wrong, I still enjoy the look on an insulated Christian's face when I say I'm an atheist. It's like I just committed a crime, when I'm just sitting there eating Fritos or something.

But I want to soak that in and not have to deal with what comes after it. At one point someone even tried to make me feel guilty over enjoying my atheism. I was like "What did I do wrong? I can't enjoy irrational reactions to my beliefs?" I find humor in lots of things though, so it might not be a normal reaction.

I guess I just stopped enjoying the ensuing conversations and debates, because there's rarely much variation with them. At least KMC helped me say what I need to without sounding bitter or condescending. The practice helps. Because even when it's not your intention, explaining why you aren't religious to a religious person can often come across that way.

It works both ways though. When the religious try to talk to you about being saved, they try to coddle you like you are moronic and child like. As if you are too stupid to acknowledge the all powerful God.

Originally posted by King Kandy
I am glad to live in a place with a huge atheist population; I don't like hanging out with conservative christians because inevitably the topic turns to religion, and that always leads to a fight. Now I just don't bother bringing up the topic unless I know the person is chill.

Where is this if you don't mind me asking? I read that the largest population of Atheists is in the Northeast in like Vermont or something.

Originally posted by socool8520
Where is this if you don't mind me asking? I read that the largest population of Atheists is in the Northeast in like Vermont or something.

Really? Never would have guessed. Never been there though.

Our small towns are very conservative, but our cities are very liberal.

Ahhh I see. Seems to be that way in my Dallas as well. Probably not Texas as a whole though

It's like that many places. Cities are more liberal, even in predominantly conservative areas. Suburbs and smaller cities tend to be the middle ground...the religious culture is partially held at bay but still present.