The stigma of being an atheist in the US

[cbayer]

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

3 August 2014 Last updated at 23:39 GMT

By Aleem Maqbool
BBC News, Columbus, Ohio


Atheist protest at White House

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."

So goes the rousing speech from the American Atheists president, David Silverman, in the opening moments of the first US television broadcaster dedicated to those who do not believe in God, Atheist TV.

A series of testimonies from prominent atheists then follows.

more at link

[hollysmom]

1. When I told one person I was an atheist,

they patted my hand and said in a comforting voice, "oh, I am sure that is not true".
ha ha, it was as if I said something that was not true and needed for them to help me.

I admit to not caring what people think though, I signed up for a parish and got a letter accepting me to be in that parish when I needed that to become a god mother to my nephew. My mother really wanted that and she was dying, so I did it to make her happy. Look, the family knew, I was not even invited to his communion or confirmation. Only the priest really cared.

[cbayer]

2. I think some believers just can't accept that there are those that don't believe.

It's such a foreign concept to them.

It's good to be able to do some things for others, though, like your signing up for a parish. My son has married a catholic and my daughter a muslim. They are both atheists, but they made compromises because it was important to their spouses and just not that important to them.

But there is stigma, that is clear. I believe that it is decreasing, though, and will become a relative non-issue in my lifetime.

[hollysmom]

3. inte4resting

maybe we are just too easy going.

My ex could not accept I was not a catholic, not that he actually ever went to church or even believed most of the church tenets. I think if it is important to you than you should like actually practice that religion. But hey hypocracy surrounds us.

[cbayer]

4. AFter living in a very catholic area of the country for 20 years, I learned

that catholic, like jewish, can be a cultural identity and/or a religious identity. So I think some people identify as catholics culturally but don't really practice catholicism or even necessarily believe.

For some, that might be hypocrisy, but not for everyone…. I think.