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really? you said nothing negative about christians? how about pulling up a "study" that claims christians think atheists are as low as child molesters? you dont think that is negative? you think that is somehow a positive thing?
If you can pull up a study that contradicts this, that says Americans embrace atheists and find them stalwart and trustworthy, by all means post it. I'll be happy to read it.
There are some cool a__ atheists that are extraordinarily good people that are very tolerant of people of all religions. Too bad the militant atheists outnumber them and are more vocal.
I think that's a misconception, but I think I also see where it comes from. In America, as opposed to, say, France or the Czech Republic, it takes a certain amount of militance to choose to adopt the word atheist in the first place. One has to deal with such subterranean ignorance here that if you admit to being an atheist, some people will conclude that you're a Communist or some similarly stupid non sequitur. So many people who believe religion is a bunch of hooey just as much as any atheist does, but who wish to be polite and not start an argument, normally just say "I'm not religious." They don't describe themselves as atheists and may not even think of themselves that way in private, but practically speaking that's what they are.
When people become less scared of the word, more non-militant atheists will be represented.
I think that's a misconception, but I think I also see where it comes from. In America, as opposed to, say, France or the Czech Republic, it takes a certain amount of militance to choose to adopt the word atheist in the first place. One has to deal with such subterranean ignorance here that if you admit to being an atheist, some people will conclude that you're a Communist or some similarly stupid non sequitur. So many people who believe religion is a bunch of hooey just as much as any atheist does, but who wish to be polite and not start an argument, normally just say "I'm not religious." They don't describe themselves as atheists and may not even think of themselves that way in private, but practically speaking that's what they are.
When people become less scared of the word, more non-militant atheists will be represented.
I quoted a reputable study from a respected source. I pointed out facts. It's not quite the same as "Atheists are miserable, aggressive and abrasive." "Atheists are arrogant and self-centered." "Atheists only worship Obama" or "Atheists are too dumb to know any better."
See the difference? One of these things is not like the other.
yes a study, as in singular, from a reputable source, again singular. one study from one source does not mean anything. give me several studies from several reputable sources, ones whose politics are unquestionably unbiased, then we will talk.
and by the way, university studies are NOT politically unbiased.
yes a study, as in singular, from a reputable source, again singular. one study from one source does not mean anything. give me several studies from several reputable sources, ones whose politics are unquestionably unbiased, then we will talk.
and by the way, university studies are NOT politically unbiased.
I'll jump in and help out. As per my previous post, citing two different sources both from reputable organizations. The first was peer reviewed, the second from Gallup:
Quote:
Originally Posted by MattOTAlex
I believe the study referenced by previous poster(s) is one which was published by The Journal of Personality and Social Psychology in 2011. That periodical is not some two-bit journal, but rather one which is published by the American Psychological Association. With a focus on empirical research, the JPSP is regarded as one of the top journals in the fields of Personality Psychology and Social Psychology.
Importantly, the study found, as a result of research undertaken by the University of British Columbia and the University of Oregon:
"a broad sample of American adults revealed that distrust characterized anti-atheist prejudice, but not anti-gay prejudice (Study 1). In subsequent studies, distrust of atheists generalized even to participants from more liberal, secular populations. A description of a criminally untrustworthy individual was seen as comparably representative of atheists and rapists, but not representative of Christians, Muslims, Jewish people, feminists, or homosexuals (Studies 2-4)."
The studies published by The Journal of Personality and Social Psychology are not the only indicator of the general population's distrust of atheists. Indeed, Gallup in 2011, while surveying the likeliness of Americans voting for a Mormon President, captured America's distrust of Atheists by happenstance:
Except Christian Conservatives regard you as an evil that must be purged. Given enough power, there would be no place in America for anyone who doesn't pray, look, or talk like them. Do not think for a second that they would tolerate your existence in their "Paradise on Earth". Most Christian Conservatives hold a special contempt against atheists otherwise reserved for child molesters and serial killers.
This is what liberals say that religious conservatives want. It is not what religious conservatives want.
I believe the study referenced by previous poster(s) is one which was published by The Journal of Personality and Social Psychology in 2011. That periodical is not some two-bit journal, but rather one which is published by the American Psychological Association. With a focus on empirical research, the JPSP is regarded as one of the top journals in the fields of Personality Psychology and Social Psychology.
Importantly, the study found, as a result of research undertaken by the University of British Columbia and the University of Oregon:
"a broad sample of American adults revealed that distrust characterized anti-atheist prejudice, but not anti-gay prejudice (Study 1). In subsequent studies, distrust of atheists generalized even to participants from more liberal, secular populations. A description of a criminally untrustworthy individual was seen as comparably representative of atheists and rapists, but not representative of Christians, Muslims, Jewish people, feminists, or homosexuals (Studies 2-4)."
The studies published by The Journal of Personality and Social Psychology are not the only indicator of the general population's distrust of atheists. Indeed, Gallup in 2011, while surveying the likeliness of Americans voting for a Mormon President, captured America's distrust of Atheists by happenstance:
Flaming someone's post for merely pointing out these studies is akin to 'shooting the messenger.'
If you don't like those numbers, you are most certainly welcome to go pound sand.
This is not an indicator of the public's distrust of atheists. It is an indicator of their unwillingness to vote for one. The two are not the same thing.
I wouldn't take my car to my doctor to fix it, and I wouldn't go to my mechanic if I broke my arm. That doesn't mean I don't trust them, it means there are areas I would rather have someone else doing that particular job.
This is not an indicator of the public's distrust of atheists. It is an indicator of their unwillingness to vote for one. The two are not the same thing.
Lol. You just keep thinking that, while the majority of America continues to distrust atheists.
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