Study: Atheists Most Discriminated Minority
University of Minnesota study of 2006: (Would you want your daughter to marry an Atheist?)
University of Minnesota researchers conducted a telephone survey of over 2,000 households in early 2006. 7 They found that:
"...Americans rate atheists below Muslims, recent immigrants, gays and lesbians and other minority groups in 'sharing their vision of American society.' Atheists are also the minority group most Americans are least willing to allow their children to marry."
Lead researcher, Penny Edgell, noted that Atheists:
"...offer a glaring exception to the rule of increasing social tolerance over the last 30 years....It seems most Americans believe that diversity is fine, as long as every one shares a common 'core' of values that make them trustworthy—and in America, that 'core' has historically been religious....Americans believe they share more than rules and procedures with their fellow citizens—they share an understanding of right and wrong. Our findings seem to rest on a view of atheists as self-interested individuals who are not concerned with the common good'." 6,7
It would appear that Atheists have a major public relations job ahead of them.
www.religioustolerance.org/atheist5.htm
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However, you'll be glad to know this bit of info -
"The Secular Coalition for America is the new (first one ever!) Washington-based lobbying organization for atheists, humanists, freethinkers, and other nontheistic Americans. Our mission is to increase the visibility and respectability of nontheistic viewpoints in the United States and to protect and strengthen the secular character of our government as the best guarantee of freedom for all."
www.secular.org/
www.atheists.org/flash.line/ath1.htm
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"Wake Up America" Ad Campaign Runs on National Air America
FFRF Takes Message to Combat Theocracy to the Air Waves
April 3, 2006
The Freedom From Religion Foundation, a national watchdog group whose members are atheists and agnostics working to keep church and state separate, is taking its "Wake up America" message to national airwaves.
Beginning today for three months, the Foundation will run a series of paid radio advertisements (read ad transcripts here) warning of the religious right's assault on America. These are scheduled during four nationally syndicated "Air America" talkshows.
In one ad, comedian Julia Sweeney, the Saturday Night Live alum ("Adrogynous Pat") whose new play is "Letting Go of God," identifies herself as an atheist and asks others to "join me and the Freedom From Religion Foundation in waking up America to the growing dangers of theocracy." Her spot will air daily for 12 weeks during the "Al Franken Show."
Additionally, the Foundation is airing paid "voice endorsements" recorded by three Air America hosts to run daily during their programs. Janeane Garofalo, also an comedian, actress and SNL alum who co-hosts "The Majority Report," asks: "Are you tired of right-wing politicians who desperately want to impose their religious beliefs on the rest of us? I know I am! That's why I'm asking you to support the Freedom From Religion Foundation." Garafalo signs off: "Proud to be an atheist!"
Laura Flanders, RadioNation host, asks: "Are you as alarmed as I am about the religious right's assault on our secular government and private lives?"
Mike Malloy, of the Mike Malloy Show, notes: "I fully support the Freedom From Religion Foundation as it takes the lead in challenging the growing threat from the religious right in the United States."
"We have never been in greater danger of losing our secular republic,"says Foundation co-president Annie Laurie Gaylor.
"Theocrats are in charge of our two branches of government, and just gained a narrow foothold on the third--the U.S. Supreme Court. We witness daily assaults by religionists seeking to unite church and state, such as the flood of federal faith-based funding to support proselytizing religious groups." The dangers to civil liberties are demonstrated by South Dakota's religion-instigated ban on abortion and religion-led efforts to bar same-sex marriage and civil unions, Gaylor noted.
The ads invite sympathetic listeners to phone or visit ffrf.org, the Foundation's website.
www.ffrf.org/news/2006/airamerica.php
---------
www.au.org/site/PageServer
---------
Please join & become a member of these great organizations.
University of Minnesota study of 2006: (Would you want your daughter to marry an Atheist?)
University of Minnesota researchers conducted a telephone survey of over 2,000 households in early 2006. 7 They found that:
"...Americans rate atheists below Muslims, recent immigrants, gays and lesbians and other minority groups in 'sharing their vision of American society.' Atheists are also the minority group most Americans are least willing to allow their children to marry."
Lead researcher, Penny Edgell, noted that Atheists:
"...offer a glaring exception to the rule of increasing social tolerance over the last 30 years....It seems most Americans believe that diversity is fine, as long as every one shares a common 'core' of values that make them trustworthy—and in America, that 'core' has historically been religious....Americans believe they share more than rules and procedures with their fellow citizens—they share an understanding of right and wrong. Our findings seem to rest on a view of atheists as self-interested individuals who are not concerned with the common good'." 6,7
It would appear that Atheists have a major public relations job ahead of them.
www.religioustolerance.org/atheist5.htm
---------
However, you'll be glad to know this bit of info -
"The Secular Coalition for America is the new (first one ever!) Washington-based lobbying organization for atheists, humanists, freethinkers, and other nontheistic Americans. Our mission is to increase the visibility and respectability of nontheistic viewpoints in the United States and to protect and strengthen the secular character of our government as the best guarantee of freedom for all."
www.secular.org/
www.atheists.org/flash.line/ath1.htm
--------
"Wake Up America" Ad Campaign Runs on National Air America
FFRF Takes Message to Combat Theocracy to the Air Waves
April 3, 2006
The Freedom From Religion Foundation, a national watchdog group whose members are atheists and agnostics working to keep church and state separate, is taking its "Wake up America" message to national airwaves.
Beginning today for three months, the Foundation will run a series of paid radio advertisements (read ad transcripts here) warning of the religious right's assault on America. These are scheduled during four nationally syndicated "Air America" talkshows.
In one ad, comedian Julia Sweeney, the Saturday Night Live alum ("Adrogynous Pat") whose new play is "Letting Go of God," identifies herself as an atheist and asks others to "join me and the Freedom From Religion Foundation in waking up America to the growing dangers of theocracy." Her spot will air daily for 12 weeks during the "Al Franken Show."
Additionally, the Foundation is airing paid "voice endorsements" recorded by three Air America hosts to run daily during their programs. Janeane Garofalo, also an comedian, actress and SNL alum who co-hosts "The Majority Report," asks: "Are you tired of right-wing politicians who desperately want to impose their religious beliefs on the rest of us? I know I am! That's why I'm asking you to support the Freedom From Religion Foundation." Garafalo signs off: "Proud to be an atheist!"
Laura Flanders, RadioNation host, asks: "Are you as alarmed as I am about the religious right's assault on our secular government and private lives?"
Mike Malloy, of the Mike Malloy Show, notes: "I fully support the Freedom From Religion Foundation as it takes the lead in challenging the growing threat from the religious right in the United States."
"We have never been in greater danger of losing our secular republic,"says Foundation co-president Annie Laurie Gaylor.
"Theocrats are in charge of our two branches of government, and just gained a narrow foothold on the third--the U.S. Supreme Court. We witness daily assaults by religionists seeking to unite church and state, such as the flood of federal faith-based funding to support proselytizing religious groups." The dangers to civil liberties are demonstrated by South Dakota's religion-instigated ban on abortion and religion-led efforts to bar same-sex marriage and civil unions, Gaylor noted.
The ads invite sympathetic listeners to phone or visit ffrf.org, the Foundation's website.
www.ffrf.org/news/2006/airamerica.php
---------
www.au.org/site/PageServer
---------
Please join & become a member of these great organizations.
posted by:
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Unsu...
Re: Study: Atheists Most Discriminated Minority
Sat, April 15, 2006 - 10:03 AMWhy would anyone want to make an issue out of their being an atheist? Huge numbers of us are in Britain, and when confronted with the evangelical religious, of any faith, just listen politely and ignore them - the phrase "how nice!" has a wonderfully ambiguous quality to it over here. A century from now the US will,like us today, be a post-Christian, secular society.
Just have to wait for the silly, Bible-bashing old buggers to die off. -
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Re: Study: Atheists Most Discriminated Minority
Sat, April 15, 2006 - 10:30 AM
Paul,
You mean "Bible-thumping" old buggers, right? Because, you know, at least here in the USA ... "Bible-bashing" has a completely different meaning, one all too often applied to nonthiests like us.
Regards,
John, who thinks he would find the UK quite nice
Falling You - exploring the beauty of voice and sound
www.fallingyou.com -
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Unsu...
Re: Study: Atheists Most Discriminated Minority
Sat, April 15, 2006 - 1:07 PMAh, the ambiguity...........
We say "tub-thumping" but do say "Bible-bashing" - in both cases meaning agressively promoting something.
Though the UK is as I have described it, I for my sins live on the Isle of Man, a small independent country just off the English coast in the Irish Sea. It is heart-breakingly beautiful, but extremely churchy and conservative. A little piece of the Mid West set in a silver sea......... -
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Re: Study: Atheists Most Discriminated Minority
Sat, April 15, 2006 - 1:40 PMHere are a couple videos that focus on the 'War on Secular Society' within the USA that we Atheists & other nonxians have to live with every freaking day -
1. "Life and Liberty for All Who Believe"
2. "The Rise of Dominionism"
www.theocracywatch.org/audio-video.htm
Be sure to give the entire website a very good going over & pass it on -
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Re: Study: Atheists Most Discriminated Minority
Sat, April 15, 2006 - 2:09 PM
Chopper,
I guess it really depends on where you live -- in the San Francisco bay area, I don't have to deal with anyone telling me that i'm a heathen, or going to hell, or anything. Actually, looking back at the time I spent in the midwest, I rarely had to deal with that there, either (though a far greater percentage of my friends from the midwest are conservative and thiestic than my friends in the bay area, I was always treated with dignity and respect by them, even though my nonthiestic and leftist tendencies were well known).
I'm not trying to say that there isn't a problem, but I do sincerely believe that what we look for is what we will find e.g. if we're always on the lookout for intolerance and concerned about being discriminated against, we'll surely find it; rather, if we concern ourselves with looking for good examples of humanity (read: those who don't look down on others for not believing in the same thing), we'll find them (and I think we'd be surprised to discover that "good people" come in all colors / from all backgrounds / subscribe to all sorts of different belief systems).
One of my dearest friends is conservative and Christian -- she visited me (from Ohio) in San Francisco a couple of months ago. The first night she was here, we were just catching up, staying awake at 3am and talking like good friends do, and somehow the subject came to beliefs. She _emphatically_ stated that Pat Robertson, while professing to be a Christian, is not a good one in her book, stating that "most Christians don't feel the way he does" and that he is "an embarassment" to the majority of Christians who just want to practice what they believe without negatively impacting the ability of others to practice what they believe.
Regards,
John, who tends to see the problem as more of an issue with our leaders and their often-hypocritical behaviors, rather than an issue with society at large
Falling You - exploring the beauty of voice and sound
www.fallingyou.com -
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Re: Study: Atheists Most Discriminated Minority
Sat, April 15, 2006 - 2:32 PMThen you haven't been to the "Separation of church & state" tribe have you. You may not have had to experience it first hand but the policies & agenda of the religious right will affect us all if they get what they want.
separationofchurchstate.tribe.net/
J "I do sincerely believe that what we look for is what we will find..."
- Yes & if we keep our heads in the sand we will see nothing at all. It reminds me of the ol' saying, 'ignorance is bliss' ... but only for so long. If you aren't paying attention or refuse to pay attention then, okay, maybe you won't notice the religious rights WAR ON SECULAR SOCIETY. I'd view those 2 videos very carefully.
"God's Senator" - www.rollingstone.com/politic..._senator
Apathy is not the solution to this issue
; -
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Re: Study: Atheists Most Discriminated Minority
Sat, April 15, 2006 - 3:41 PM
Chopper,
I've met plenty of examples of nonthiests who were mean and cruel, and plenty of examples of thiests who were not. The reverse is also true -- the call of war is not solely the domain of the religious right. Painting vast swaths of humanity with broad brushes and adopting "us vs. them" policies will not help further the cause of peace, and will in fact end up turning many people who otherwise might give a listen to what we have to say, against us. Not only that, but we often identify those tactics with the religious right, so to see seculars use those same tactics only reaffirms my belief that we are all humans, first and foremost, and equally as fallible (yet also full of potential) as the other.
I agree with you that there are those who want to cleanse the nonthiest scourge from the USA, and that these people are trying to affect policy. I'm only communicating that the majority of thiests that i've met do not hold those same views -- we have very different perspectives, but somehow manage to get along really well and have a healthy respect and admiration for the other. The words and actions of a few zealots in congress (and to a greater extent, our *ahem* president) don't jive with the beliefs of a the majority of people here, insofar as, though many of them profess to a belief in a god, most of them don't condone torture or war in the name of said god. I vehemently refuse to make war on friends of mine under the pretense that they're planning to make war on me ... pre-emptive defense is bull, propaganda is propaganda, no matter if it's the right or the left doing it.
Regards,
John, who follows his own path
Falling You - exploring the beauty of voice and sound
www.fallingyou.com
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Re: Study: Atheists Most Discriminated Minority
Sat, April 15, 2006 - 5:56 PMThat's great, we agree for the most part. I simply refuse to keep my head in the sand about the other issues that you refuse to discuss. I think it should be out in the open for all to see. I refuse to deny these issues anymore.
J "The words and actions of a few zealots in congress (and to a greater extent, our *ahem* president) don't jive with the beliefs of a the majority of people here"
- & yet they re-elected the idiot didn't they. These "few in congress" just happen to hold enough power to make policy & law. They feel they speak for America. Which is why they're trying to accomplish their dream to ensure that the US become a 'christian nation' & they seek to re-interpret the U.S. Constitution so that it conforms to their Biblical Worldview.
"Mathew Staver, founder of Liberty Counsel declares it's time to get Jesus into the judicial mix.
"Now we're working to establish Liberty University School of Law, which will open its doors in August 2004. We are going to teach lawyers to think in a biblical, Christian world view."
According to Biblical Law, the Bible has supremacy over the U.S. Constitution. In a 2002 address to the Society of Catholic Social Scientists in Ann Arbor, Mich., federal judge James Leon Holmes, appointed in July, 2004, affirmed the supremacy of the Bible:
"Christianity transcends the political order and cannot be subordinated to the political order."
The principle of separation of church and state has no place in his vision for the future:
"The final reunion of Church and state will take place at the end of time, when Christ will claim definitive political power of all creation, inaugurating an entirely new society based on the supernatural."
www.theocracywatch.org/biblical_law2.htm
With God On Their Side: How Christian Fundamentalists Are Controlling The Bush White House — And Interfering With Americans’ Lives
www.au.org/site/News2
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"Christians have an obligation, a mandate, a commission, a holy responsibility to reclaim the land - for Jesus Christ - to have dominion in civil structures, just as in every other aspect life & godliness. It is dominion we're after not just a voice. It is dominion we're after not just influence. It is dominion we're after not just equal time. It is dominion we're after. World conquest. That's what Christ has commissioned us to do."
- George Grant - "changing of the guard" pg 50-51
"Our goal, as christians, is to dominate society"
- Pat Robertson
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You my friend, best be waking-up. Nonbelievers can no long afford to be apathetic on these issues. I'm not asking you to go to war with your friends. I'm not doing that so why would I ask that of anyone else. I'm saying the time has come to challenge the religious rights agenda to dominate society. They will not stop simply because those that do not adhere to their views are apathetic. Believers or not.
“Religious freedom is one thing,” says Joan Bokaer, director of TheocracyWatch, a project of the Center for Religion, Ethics, and Social Policy (CRESP) at Cornell University. “But religious extremism is something completely different. What people aren’t aware of is just how deeply the radical religious right has penetrated our government—in all three branches. We really are very close to becoming a theocracy. People have reason to be worried.” -
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This is the maximum depth. Additional responses will not be threaded.
Re: Study: Atheists Most Discriminated Minority
Sat, April 15, 2006 - 6:08 PMQuotes from the The American Taliban
Ann Coulter "
"We should invade their countries, kill their leaders and convert them to Christianity. We weren't punctilious about locating and punishing only Hitler and his top officers. We carpet-bombed German cities; we killed civilians. That's war. And this is war."
"Not all Muslims may be terrorists, but all terrorists are Muslims."
"Being nice to people is, in fact, one of the incidental tenets of Christianity, as opposed to other religions whose tenets are more along the lines of 'kill everyone who doesn't smell bad and doesn't answer to the name Mohammed'"
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Gary North (Institute for Christian Economics) -
"The long-term goal of Christians in politics should be to gain exclusive control over the franchise. Those who refuse to submit publicly to the eternal sanctions of God by submitting to His Church's public marks of the covenant–baptism and holy communion–must be denied citizenship."
"This is God's world, not Satan's. Christians are the lawful heirs, not non-Christians."
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Gary Potter (Catholics for Christian Political Action)
"When the Christian majority takes over this country, there will be no satanic churches, no more free distribution of pornography, no more talk of rights for homosexuals. After the Christian majority takes control, pluralism will be seen as immoral and evil and the state will not permit anybody the right to practice evil."
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George Bush Sr. (President of the United States) -
"I don't know that atheists should be considered citizens, nor should they be considered patriots. This is one nation under God."
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James Watt (Secretary of the Interior)
"We don't have to protect the environment, the Second Coming is at hand."* - *Secretary of the Interior in the Reagan Admin. Responsible for National Policy regarding the Environment
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John Ashcroft (Attorney General) -
"Civilized people – Muslims, Christians, and Jews – all understand that the source of freedom and human dignity is the Creator."
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Lt. Gen. William G. Boykin
“George Bush was not elected by a majority of the voters in the United States, he was appointed by God.”
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Ronald Reagan (President of the United States) -
"For the first time ever, everything is in place for the Battle of Armageddon and the Second Coming of Christ."
Plus many more ckeck it out - www.reandev.com/taliban/ -
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Re: Study: Atheists Most Discriminated Minority
Sat, April 15, 2006 - 11:12 PM
"... the roads i've crossed,
white lined and tarred
by believing in you
every color you are"
-- David Sylvian, "Every Color You Are"
Chopper,
Hey, I agree with you that there are those in power who want to change things for the worse. I'm not asleep or apathetic to that fact. However, they aren't the only ones in power, and November 2006 just may shape up to be a big disappointment for the current majority. Also, I see the recent triumph of reason over evangelical hyperbole and extremism in Dover, PA, as a positive sign, and the leaders of the ID movement, with their agenda, have suffered a significant setback because of it.
I also am not disputing the quotes you put forth, but quoting extremists doesn't open anyone's eyes to anything but the fact that there are extremists out there -- it does nothing to educate anyone about the more moderate perspective, and I say it again: The words and actions of these so-called "leaders" don't always reflect the desires of the majority. Just because the majority of people in the USA are thiests, does not mean the majority condone some of the extremist views of certain thiests in power. My neighbor may want the 10 commandments to be displayed in every school, but the same neighbor will likely not want it to happen over my blood. My point is that, though the majority of the people may be Christian, they're _much_ more moderate in their views. Though many of my friends are Christian, they certainly wish me no harm and are perfectly fine with agreeing to disagree.
... and of course we shouldn't lie down and let the extremists trample over civil liberties, abandon the separation between church and state, etc. We have a voice (and in November, we should use it at the ballot box), we can communicate our perspective -- but how we communicate will determine our success or failure. People will be much more open to our message if it's communicated in an atmosphere of kindness and respect, than if it's communicated with angry words.
Regards,
John, who -- and this is the whole point -- does his best to respect others, even if he doesn't agree with them, and hence is more likely to get the same treatment in return
Falling You - exploring the beauty of voice and sound
www.fallingyou.com
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This is the maximum depth. Additional responses will not be threaded.
Re: Study: Atheists Most Discriminated Minority
Sat, April 15, 2006 - 7:49 PMJust for the sake of knowledge/insight.....
1. What exactly is it about religion that you believe is a detrement to society?
2. How do you think religion is different than "spirituality"?
I have my own thoughts, but I'd like to hear yours :-) -
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Re: Study: Atheists Most Discriminated Minority
Sat, April 15, 2006 - 11:25 PM
Morgan,
Religion, when used in the extreme, is most positively a detriment. Broad brushes never work, because in one way or another, we're all outsiders -- thiests and nonthiests alike. We're far, far from homogenous, and the simple-minded view that what's good for one group of people is good for another, whether they like it or not, is definitely a danger. Occasionally it works (for things we truly have in common), usually it doesn't (because it's all too often applied to things that we _don't_).
Regards,
John
Falling You - exploring the beauty of voice and sound
www.fallingyou.com -
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Re: Study: Atheists Most Discriminated Minority
Sat, April 15, 2006 - 11:30 PM"We're far, far from homogenous, and the simple-minded view that what's good for one group of people is good for another, whether they like it or not, is definitely a danger."
Hence the Prime Directive in Star Trek. While Trekkies (or Trekkers) may be the subject of ridicule, the fact is that Star Trek showed us much reality that was (and is) sorely lacking in discussion in today's society.
Of course, please realize that I write this from Norwescon, so my views may be biased. :) -
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Re: Study: Atheists Most Discriminated Minority
Sun, April 16, 2006 - 5:34 AMTop Ten Reasons Our New Majority Whip Is Worse Than The Arab Religious Fanatics Burning Danish Embassies
1. For School Prayer and Amending the Constitution: Boehner supported a school prayer amendment to the United States Constitution in 1997 (H.J.Res. 78), 1999 (H.J.Res 66), and 2001 (H.J.Res. 52); voted to permit school prayer “during this time of struggle against the forces of international terrorism” (House Roll Call Vote 445, Nov. 15, 2001); and voted to only allow federal aid to schools that allow prayer (House Roll Call Vote 85, March 23, 1994).
2. For Forced Religion in Anti-Poverty Programs: Boehner voted to permit taxpayer-funded anti-poverty programs to require aid recipients to join in religious activities. (House Roll Call Votes 16 and 17, Feb. 4, 2004)
3. 100% Against a Woman’s Right to Choose: Boehner received a “0%” pro-choice score from NARAL Pro-Choice America in 2005.
4. For Religious Employment Discrimination: Boehner voted to permit taxpayer-funded anti-poverty programs to engage in federally-funded employment discrimination. (House Roll Call Votes 15 and 17, Feb. 4, 2004)
5. Against the Rule of Law in Ten Commandments Case: Boehner voted to prevent the Justice Department from enforcing a court order to remove a 5,000 pound Ten Commandments monument from Alabama’s state supreme court. (House Roll Call Vote 419, July 23, 2003)
6. Against Common-Sense Environmental Safeguards: Boehner voted for oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (House Roll Call Vote 122, April 20, 2005); voted to gut the Endangered Species Act (House Roll Call Vote 506, September 29, 2005); and voted to weaken the National Environmental Policy Act (House Roll Call Vote 242, June 15, 2004).
7. For More Religious Employment Discrimination: Boehner voted to permit taxpayer-funded job training programs to engage in religious discrimination when hiring and firing employees with federal funds. (House Roll Call Vote 46, March 2, 2005)
8. Against Confronting Proselytizing at the Air Force Academy: Boehner voted against an amendment to squarely address religious coercion and proselytizing at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado. The amendment criticized “coercive and abusive religious proselytizing” of cadets at the Academy while observing that “expression of personal religious faith is welcome” throughout the military. (House Roll Call Vote 283, June 20, 2005)
9. Led the Effort to Inject Religious Employment Discrimination into Head Start: Boehner added a controversial amendment in September to a previously bipartisan School Readiness Act which would “allow federally funded early-child-care providers to discriminate on religious grounds,” according to The Forward. The Forward notes, “The federal government transfers about $6.7 billion annually to 19,000 Head Start providers in 50 states, three territories and the District of Columbia.” Jewish groups opposed to the measure, according to The Forward, include the “Anti-Defamation League, the Union for Reform Judaism, the American Jewish Congress, the American Jewish Committee and the National Council of Jewish Women.”
10. Pushed Ohio Schools to Embrace “Intelligent Design:” People For the American Way reports that Rep. Boehner and fellow Ohio Republican Rep. Steve Chabot wrote to the Ohio school board claiming that legislative language required that references to “Intelligent Design” be included in Ohio’s science standards. In fact, such language was removed from the relevant education bill before it became final.
www.godlessamericans.org/ -
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Re: Study: Atheists Most Discriminated Minority
Sun, April 16, 2006 - 7:43 AMTolerance towards Atheists:
Although adults in North America exhibit reasonable tolerance towards persons belonging to different Christian denominations and other organized religions, this acceptance does not necessarily extend to Atheists.
This is a serious concern to many Atheists and other non-Christians -- a problem which has every likelihood of becoming more intense in the future, because of the rapid change in the religious makeup of the U.S. Polling data from the 2001 ARIS study has revealed that the percentage of American adults who do not follow any organized religion has almost doubled from 1990 to 2001 -- from 8% to 14% of the adult population. Many of the latter are Atheists, Agnostics, Non-believers, Secularists, Humanists, etc. Many American adults -- 81% of whom identify with a specific religion -- seem unwilling to extend elementary freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and freedom of assembly to this growing minority of fellow Americans.
The ARIS study also showed that the number of American adults who identify themselves as Christians has slid from 86% to 76% over the same interval -- a loss of almost 1 percentage point per year. This could promote a siege philosophy among some Christians, and increase their fears of a growing influence by non-believers.
www.religioustolerance.org/atheist5.htm -
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Re: Study: Atheists Most Discriminated Minority
Tue, April 18, 2006 - 10:25 AMThis Date in History: Discrimination Against Atheists:
"February 08, 1964: Congress debated an amendment to the Civil Rights Act of 1963 which would have removed the protection of prohibitions against religious discrimination from atheists. Proposed by Ohio Republican John Ashbrook, the amendment read: "...it shall not be an unlawful employment practice for an employer to refuse to hire and employ any person because of said persons' atheistic practices and beliefs." The amendment was passed by the House of Representatives, 137-98, but it failed to pass the Senate."
atheism.about.com/b/a/062477.htm
Psalm 14:1 (NIV) "The fool says in his heart, 'There is no god.' they are corrupt, they do abominable deeds, there is none that does good."
History of discrimination against Atheists -
"Throughout history, atheists have been faced with discrimination. This discrimination has taken many forms, ranging from the less severe forms of discrimination such as receiving dirty looks, to the most severe form of discrimination, persecution. This paper will investigate the beginnings of discrimination against atheists and its impact on atheism. It will then explore some of the most famous accounts of persecutions against atheists. Next, it will discuss blasphemy laws. In addition, this paper will show how discrimination against atheists continues today.
"What is an atheist? An atheist is a person who does not believe in the existence of a god, i.e., in the existence of a supernatural being. Why doesn't the atheist believe in a god? Quite simply, because belief in a god is unreasonable. Can the atheist prove that a god does not exist? The atheist need not "prove" the nonexistence of a god, just as one who does not believe in magic elves, fairies, and gremlins does not have to prove their nonexistence. A person who asserts the existence of something assumes the burden of proof. The theist, or god-believer, asserts the existence of a god and must prove the claim. If the theist fails in this task, reasonable people will reject the belief as groundless. Atheists do not believe in a god because there is no reason they should" (Smith 62-3)."
www.atheist-community.org/libra...ad.php
"Absense of evidence *IS* evidence of absense" -
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Re: Study: Atheists Most Discriminated Minority
Fri, May 5, 2006 - 12:18 PMDon't miss the Freedom From Religion Foundation's second radio broadcast, Freethought Radio, out of Madison, Wis., which airs tomorrow morning!
Listeners can wake up Saturdays to Freethought Radio from 8 - 9 a.m. on 92.1 FM, "The Mic, Madison's Progressive Talk," in Madison (the local "Air America" station). The show is streamed live at themic921.com for those outside Madison.
Shows will be available at the Foundation's website to hear at listener convenience at: ffrf.org/radio. (The second show will be up at the website by Tuesday, May 9.) Foundation members who can listen to podcasts may subscribe to a podcasting service at: ffrf.org/radio/podcast.
Freethought Radio's second show features an interview with poet, author, journalist and feminist activist Robin Morgan ("Sisterhood Is Powerful"), an atheist whose book "Fighting Words," is a counter to the religious right, and will be published later this year. Her novel, "The Burning Times," came out in March and is based on the true case of the first woman put to death as a witch by the Roman Catholic Church in Ireland. Robin Morgan was named "Freethought Heroine 2005" by the Foundation.
Co-hosts Dan Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor, who are co-presidents of the Freedom From Religion Foundation, introduce several segments on the second show: Theocracy Watch, Freethinkers Almanac, and Pagan Pulpit. The show includes commentary on the National Day of Prayer violations.
Listeners may call in comments or questions at the Progressive Hotline, 608/663-7291.
"We have high hopes that broadcasting a show with a positive take on freethought and the separation of church and state can open minds and dispel the negative images toward both concepts," said Gaylor.
"We not only want to represent the views of the nation's secular population but 'preach to the converted'--reach out, inform, educate and attract the general public," said Barker. "Isn't it time for an alternative to religion on the public airwaves?"
The Foundation plans to "syndicate" the show on other Air America stations as finances permit.
ffrf.org/news/2006/radio2.php
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Unsu...
Re: the secular future
Mon, May 22, 2006 - 5:40 AMYou are kind to think the US has the potential for secularism. I hope you are right. The path is not predetermined, it will take role models taking a stand, showing the way. And role models is something we are short on. Though I guess its lucky that hollywood actors are increasingly politically vocal.
This leads me to a new topic. Cinematic celebrities are the new deities. Like the Catholic saints and the Hindu local cults, no culture can remain monotheistic, much less atheistic. Humans are naturally polytheistic. Its a statistical fact. -
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Study: Atheists Most Discriminated Minority
Sat, September 9, 2006 - 9:50 AM -
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Re: Study: Atheists Most Discriminated Minority
Fri, May 11, 2007 - 6:30 PM"OKLAHOMA OUTRAGE," DISCRIMINATION AGAINST ATHEISTS TOPIC OF ABC PROGRAM
The Black Sheep of Hardesty
"The Smalkowski family is suing Hardesty, Okla., for violating the separation of church and state. The family claims it has been discriminated against for being atheists, and that the religious town has tried to drive them out for holding different beliefs."
Watch the full story on "Seeing and Believing: the Power of Faith" on a special two-hour "20/20" Friday at 9 p.m. EDT.
abcnews.go.com/2020/story
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