The stigma of being an atheist in the US

[theHandpuppet]

3 August 2014
The stigma of being an atheist in the US
By Aleem Maqbool
BBC News, Columbus, Ohio

Atheists in the US are rallying together, launching a new TV programme and providing support for those who go public with their beliefs.

"Sometimes things need to be said, and fights need to be fought even if they are unpopular. To the closeted atheists, you are not alone, and you deserve equality."...

..."It's one of the best decisions I've ever made in my life and I completely advocate people 'coming out'," says Mark Hatcher, from Black Atheists of America.

"Coming out" is how many atheists in the USA describe what remains, for many, a very difficult admission to make publicly....

MORE at http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-28616115

[awoke_in_2003]

1. I am an atheist in the bible belt...

I am closeted to most people. It would be nice to talk to a like minded individual from time to time.

[barbtries]

2. me too.

until someone asks.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

3. Honey and I were walking to our local Costco

hand in hand, like we always do, while I was sporting my "Village Atheist" t-shirt.

This unhappy mom and two kids were exiting the store, and I swear, I saw an honest to goodness triple take. She saw my t-shirt, she read it, the penny dropped, and she reacted in horror. She covered her mouth she opened in horror with one hand, and shoved her kids to the other side of the shopping cart with the other. I could almost hear her praying for salvation from her god as we walked by.

Her reaction was so strong, that another couple (a black guy and white girl - rather rare in this redneck part of southern Cook County, Illinois) came up to see what caused her severe reaction. They read my shirt, smiled, and applauded.

[trotsky]

4. It's amazing, even on DU, how many people are oblivious to this.

Growing up in a less religious community, or at least one where religion isn't worn on the sleeves, seems to be a common factor among those who deny the attitudes present toward non-believers.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

5. If I admitted my atheism I would probably be firebombed.

Got in an argument with an angry old white guy at Walgreen's who butted into my conversation with my husband. Angry guy said "There are no atheists in foxholes." I said, "Yeah? Ever heard of Pat Tillman?" "No." "He was an atheist who served honorably in Iraq."

He also said "Those people in the hospital in _____ are all praying."
Husbo said, "How do you know that? Do you go up to the ICU every day and survey them? No? Then you don't know that for sure."

I should have just said, "Why are you here getting medicine? Why don't you just pray for healing your medical problems instead of going to a doctor." But I didn't think that fast.

Around here they are all scared to death of nonconformists. Anyone not just like them is scary. You cannot explain what a Unitarian Universalist is either. They are so brainwashed that strict Protestantism is all they know.

So we are isolated and don't have any friends in rural America.

[Curmudgeoness]

6. We have to get this story from the BBC.

Is that because there is so much denial in the US about this that our media doesn't want to broach the subject?

As we all have said many times in the past, being an atheist here is difficult. Jobs can be lost over it. Family can shun you. No one trusts atheists. They think you are evil just because you do not believe in their god.

[Rainforestgoddess]

7. I'm so glad I'm in a place

Where it's entirely normal. In fact, I'm surprised if I find out someone's religious.

[mr blur]

8. Me too,

When I hear about what it's like to be an atheist in the US, it's as if I live on a different planet.

[Fix The Stupid]

9. Same here. Southern Ontario, Canada.

We are THIS close to the US, but it feels like a million miles between us....

[mr blur]

10. I guess it's because I don't live in Gawd's Own Country.

We forced all the religious loonies out and they started America.

[Rainforestgoddess]

11. I'm in Victoria, BC

So, also below the 49th like you are, but yeah, most people aren't religious, and if they are, they keep it to themselves for the most part. Except for the door to door JW's - got some today, sent 'em on their merry way.