I think I was one of the lucky ones - read the bible at the age of 12 - realised it couldn’t be true. Didn’t really understand the far ranging and devastating affect it has had on the human race at the time. I have spent my life (now nearly 50) arguing with religious people, have to admit I do get a little frustrated with them. Anyway I have just read some amazing books advocating pro atheism which is something I hadn’t really considered, actually started telling people about this today - wow the looks and responses were surprising to say the least. Really didn’t understand the deep feeling religion has even within people that aren’t religious. People actually said that it’s probably not a good idea to tell people I’m an atheist.
Well just wanted to say hello and looking forward to conversing with people that I don’t think of as ever so slightly mentally ill.
I feel the same as you when talking to religious people. I never make the fact I’m an atheist too public, as I live in a religious area and have had some very icy responses when my lack of belief is revealed.
"I have just read some amazing books advocating pro atheism " What are the books you’ve read? I’m always ready to add to my already too-long list of unread books.
Please join a discussion. They tend to bounce around and aren’t super focused, so don’t ever worry about jumping in with your two-cents.
Atheism is quite acceptable on this forum, but in society at large, it is still one of the most looked down upon category of people. e.g. in the US, ppl would prefer an Muslim POTUS before an atheist POTUS (and they don’t want a Muslim POTUS).
“Atheism is quite acceptable on this forum, but in society at large, it is still one of the most looked down upon category of people. e.g. in the US, ppl would prefer an Muslim POTUS before an atheist POTUS (and they don’t want a Muslim POTUS).”
Yair, I’m aware of the broadly held American prejudice against atheism. Ironic when you consider some of the founding fathers’ religious beliefs (or lack of 'em)
That prejudice exists in Australia, but is not widespread. It’s almost a tradition that labor politicians be atheists. This is probably because of the socialist origins of the party, which began as the political arm of the trade union movement in Australia. Today, the party is more centrist, with a left-ish faction.
There are several high profile openly atheist politicians Australia. Perhaps the best known is Penny Wong, current leader of the opposition in the Senate, and shadow minister for Foreign Affairs. Penny is an atheist and lesbian, married , with a child.
There are also a few openly gay politicians. BUT, homophobia is still alive and just as repulsive as ever in Oz.
Australia is I think a much more secular society than the US. Churches have little influence over Australian Life .“Big ‘C’” christians, such as the happy clappy churches, are tolerated with a wry amusement ,–until they start preaching.
In the US, generally speaking, gays are rockstars compared to atheists. The negative view of atheists may be gradually subsiding as more people are claiming to be “unaffiliated” in regards to religion.
In America, most Christians are taught from an early age (by their pastors and priests) that atheists are hateful people, that we’re perverts who reject God because we want a license to keep doing whatever we want. For a lot of Christians the idea of not believing in God doesn’t even compute. Pauls’ epistle to the Romans says in black and white that we have no excuse for not believing in him, and I can’t count the number of times I’ve had that thrown in my face. I think that’s at the root of most of this. The idea that someone can have moral values, be kind and considerate to his neighbors while at the same time doesn’t happen to have a belief in God is not something they can wrap their heads around.