Atheists and gays - the last of the hated minorities?

[_Buffalo]

http://atheism.about.com/b/2006/03/24/a ... groups.htm

http://newsjunkiepost.com/2009/09/19/re ... -minority/

Apparently atheists are the most hated group in America. Per LDS persecution complex doctrine, I guess that means we're the most favored by God, too. At any rate, why do you think that is, theists? Most atheists are pretty mild mannered. They're English professors and scientists and Ayn Rand-reading libertarians. What makes Atheists so awful? Is it just that we don't believe in the particular God you're rooting for?


Edit: I'm not sure why I put gays in there, except that this is a forum about Mormonism, and orthodox Mormons are still cool with persecuting gay people.

[_zeezrom]

Buff,

I'm more ashamed to admit to TBMs my spiritual experiences with Athena than I am with my experiments in atheism. Last night, my old mission comp asked if I have been praying. I said I have and I have been given very powerful confirmations, similar to when I was believing. He asked, "You prayed to ask if the Book of Mormon is false?" I said no but I didn't dare tell him what I really prayed about and who I prayed to. I realized all of a sudden that I might just be persecuted for my pagan beliefs. So he left my house thinking I have no regard for the divine at all. he thinks I just cast it all to the wind because I didn't dare tell him everything.

I wonder what America would detest more: Atheists or Pagans?

[_just me]

Buff,

I'm more ashamed to admit to TBMs my spiritual experiences with Athena than I am with my experiments in atheism. Last night, my old mission comp asked if I have been praying. I said I have and I have been given very powerful confirmations, similar to when I was believing. He asked, "You prayed to ask if the Book of Mormon is false?" I said no but I didn't dare tell him what I really prayed about and who I prayed to. I realized all of a sudden that I might just be persecuted for my pagan beliefs. So he left my house thinking I have no regard for the divine at all. he thinks I just cast it all to the wind because I didn't dare tell him everything.

I wonder what America would detest more: Atheists or Pagans?

Zee, I feel more fear to admit to being a pagan than an atheist, too. (((hug))) I love being pagan, though.

[_Themis]

Zee, I feel more fear to admit to being a pagan than an atheist, too. (((hug))) I love being pagan, though.

I do like some of the old beliefs like nature worship although I don't really have those beliefs. I think people tend to dislike beliefs or thinking that is farther from their own. Christains tend to tolorate each other more then they do athiests, pagan, muslims, hinduism, etc.

[_beefcalf]

I think people tend to dislike beliefs or thinking that is farther from their own. Christains tend to tolorate each other more then they do athiests, pagan, muslims, hinduism, etc.

Of course, there is the opposing view...

[_just me]

I think people tend to dislike beliefs or thinking that is farther from their own.

The creation and demonization of "other" seems very important in pretty much all tribal narratives. That includes all religions, politics, cultures, etc.

[_Hoops]

What makes Atheists so awful?

See below

Is it just that we don't believe in the particular God you're rooting for?

[_beefcalf]

Hoops,

To paraphrase the words of better men than I...

I disbelieve in all ten-thousand gods that man has invented over the last ten-thousand years.

You disbelieve in nine-thousand, nine-hundred and ninety-nine of them.

I am 100% atheist; you are 99.99% percent atheist.

[_Hoops]

Hoops,

To paraphrase the words of better men than I...

I disbelieve in all ten-thousand gods that man has invented over the last ten-thousand years.

You disbelieve in nine-thousand, nine-hundred and ninety-nine of them.

I am 100% atheist; you are 99.99% percent atheist.

Exactly.

[_EAllusion]

In your more hardcore evangelical circles the term "secular humanist" has been gradually replaced as the catchall term for secular enemies in favor of "pagan."

No joke. Intellectually, I get why they use the term, but it's still hilariously wrong.

Atheists really are despised in America in a way that is astounding when you peel back what is so easy to take for granted. Much more so than groups we tend to think of as having oppressed minority status, like gays or Muslims. If I have time, I'll pull up some CNN straight news clips talking about atheists as if the term was on par with child molester.