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 Topic: Atheists: The World's Most Hated People?

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  • Atheists: The World's Most Hated People?
     OP - January 12, 2013, 02:38 PM
    I was just thinking about this today and wanted to know what everyone else thought. Do you think atheists are the world's most hated people? Sure there are places around the world that are atheist friendly, but consider this, even in my country the United States declaring one's self openly an atheist is a sure path to persecution especially by the religious right. If you are an atheist I think you would find it extremely difficult to run for political office and in fact some states have laws on the books that say you can't run for political office if you are an atheist (I forgot which, I think Kentucky was there). People assume all kinds of nasty things about you too like you must be an immoral degenerate. Depending on which branch of Christianity your family belongs to, such as Mormonism or Amish, you run the risk of being shunned and ostracized from all the people you know for being an apostate. That's just in America.

    In many Islamic countries such as Saudi Arabia, wholesale slaughter is permitted against those who identify as atheist. I have read even on this forum of people afraid of coming out as an atheist, not for being shunned but because of consequences much more dire. There is even resources on the CEMB homepage about how to cover your tracks so someone can't trace you online. I've heard that the punishment in Islam is not just shunning but death. They fear us I think, maybe rightly so. I can think of no other philosophy that challenges the power of any religious establishment like atheism does. I can also not think of any philosophy that will draw as much criticism as being an atheist. I even found this http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=1786422&page=1

    It will be interesting to hear what others think
    "Knowledge is preferable to ignorance. Better by far to embrace the hard truth than a reassuring fable. If we crave some cosmic purpose, then let us find ourselves a worthy goal." - Carl Sagan
  • Atheists: The World's Most Hated People?
     Reply #1 - January 12, 2013, 03:51 PM
    I would say the title currently goes to the Jews. But I do feel that as the irreligous community becomes more vocal and starts pushing for secularist, Humanist etc values they will take that unfortunate mantle piece.

    Like through out history when a doctrine (any religion) is challenged by that which is far superior (Humanism and secular values, Science), the former will likely set about ways in which to balance the scales. They brew a concoction that is filled with distrust, misrepresentation and fear mongering which leads to developing hate filled individuals. This is already happening in America with what you stated.

    In the Muslim world the case is only somewhat different as they currently do not lose sleep over silencing criticism by permenantly (death) getting rid of dissenters. Until Muslims start feeling empathy for fellow human lives regardless of creed and stop asking for permanent retribution (death, torture or both) , I don't see things changing. Obviously I don't say muslims lack compassion but those who have stomach to be vocal about injustice will be punished with their non-muslim counterparts.

    In the west we are fortunate that most christians and other religious groups practise a very watered down version of their religions. The more hardline elements may gain ground but I can not see christians returning to policies to those similar under the inquistion period.

    Irreligion is far more compelling than religion, it does not have a set doctrine meaning it can not be easily fought against. I will not be surprised if bieng irreligious is the dominant postion after the next 4 generations. This will no doubt speed up if religions stops killing dissenters, Allow open criticisms, Stop spreading misinformation and stop compelling people to follow through intimidation, fear and socail exclusion.

    In conclusion, The hate will live on unless the ideas with the religions changes. They have been so successful for so long, it leads to an arrogant approach when address differences, so when they get their asses handed to them buy superior positions they need to finds ways to get revenge. So in all its not surprising and very human reaction.

    peace

  • Atheists: The World's Most Hated People?
     Reply #2 - January 12, 2013, 06:51 PM
    To be honest, I think LGBT people are the most hated; pretty much every large society is either openly and shamelessly homophobic or contains a notable homophobic subgroup/subculture (the religious). Jews are up there too, considering they're the subject of Christian/Islamic/white nationalist conspiracy theories and prejudice.  I think atheists are too accepted in too many parts of the world to be considered "THE most hated". In most (all) of Europe being an atheist is no biggie and in some European countries it's even the norm (eg: Estonia, the Netherlands); it's not a problem in Australia, New Zealand, parts of Asia (eg: China, Japan, the Koreas), Canada (I think) and Hinduism is accepting of non-believers so it can hardly be said that we're "the most hated". 
  • Atheists: The World's Most Hated People?
     Reply #3 - January 16, 2013, 11:10 PM
    Quote from: Al-Alethia on January 12, 2013, 06:51 PM
    To be honest, I think LGBT people are the most hated; pretty much every large society is either openly and shamelessly homophobic or contains a notable homophobic subgroup/subculture (the religious). Jews are up there too, considering they're the subject of Christian/Islamic/white nationalist conspiracy theories and prejudice.  


    Is that why they are loved and protected so much today by right-thinking people.
    I am my own worst enemy and best friend, itsa bit of a squeeze in a three-quarter bed, tho. Unhinged!? If I was a dog I would be having kittens, that is unhinged. Footloose n fancy free, forced to fit, fated to fly. One or 2 words, 3 and 3/thirds, looking comely but lonely, till I made them homely.D
  • Atheists: The World's Most Hated People?
     Reply #4 - January 17, 2013, 12:41 AM
    I'd have to agree on the LGBT issue. They have a lot of defenders, in Europe being gay is perfectly fine and attacking gays in America is un-PC. However, in third world countries it is a different story. I could see the Jews yes, they are criticized all the time and Israel is under constant threats to have it wiped off the face of the map :/
    "Knowledge is preferable to ignorance. Better by far to embrace the hard truth than a reassuring fable. If we crave some cosmic purpose, then let us find ourselves a worthy goal." - Carl Sagan
  • Atheists: The World's Most Hated People?
     Reply #5 - January 17, 2013, 10:53 AM
    Homosexuality is completely unacceptable in pretty much all non-Western societies and even in societies that are LGBT-friendly there is noticeable homophobia. Look at the brouhaha over same-sex marriage legalisation in France for instance; there is strong opposition to it and France is no Iran and is believed to be very liberal and secular. It's not even legalised in Australia, where we have a female, unmarried, living-in-sin, childless atheist PM who received exactly zero BS for being an atheist. I'm certain it'd be a different story if she were a lesbian. 

    I know plenty of people who hate gays but hardly any who hate atheists; most people think we believe in "nothing" and are harmless as a result whereas gays are "sexual deviants" that pollute society. Of course, that's what I see in Australia where most people my age are irreligious. 

    Iran executes gays and has carried out executions recently; there's the "kill the gays" bill in Uganda, and general widespread prejudice and hatred worldwide. If we're measuring violence; how many countries are atheists physically attacked in? I honestly think it's only the backwaters of dar-al-Islam and even then it's because they're apostates and not purely because they're atheists (Christian ex-Muslims suffer the same persecution). 
  • Atheists: The World's Most Hated People?
     Reply #6 - January 23, 2013, 11:55 AM
    Quote from: nreynolds1990 on January 17, 2013, 12:41 AM
    In Europe being gay is perfectly fine

    Except when you get beaten up or marginalized for being gay.
    Do not look directly at the operational end of the device.
  • Atheists: The World's Most Hated People?
     Reply #7 - January 23, 2013, 03:57 PM
    Women, Jews and LGBT's are the most discriminated groups of people in the world, in that order.

     Atheists are viewed with suspicion because we are free to think critically and we rely on our own personal morals.
    Some people prefer to have the thinking done for them, they fear what they perceive as the unknown.

     Religions dictate that we humans are imperfect and lack the ability to self regulate, so the fear of being smited or tortured for eternity are used to exert control.
     
    I have yet to find a religion without this MO, it's all about the control.
     
    Women are the only exploited group in history to have been idealized into powerlessness.
    ―Erica Jong
  • Atheists: The World's Most Hated People?
     Reply #8 - January 23, 2013, 06:15 PM
    Quote from: MB on January 23, 2013, 03:57 PM
    Women, Jews and LGBT's are the most discriminated groups of people in the world, in that order.


    Does this not depend on where and when in the world? What about short, poor, ugly people?
    I am my own worst enemy and best friend, itsa bit of a squeeze in a three-quarter bed, tho. Unhinged!? If I was a dog I would be having kittens, that is unhinged. Footloose n fancy free, forced to fit, fated to fly. One or 2 words, 3 and 3/thirds, looking comely but lonely, till I made them homely.D
  • Atheists: The World's Most Hated People?
     Reply #9 - January 23, 2013, 06:31 PM
    I don't think there's a lot of people anywhere in the world who seriously hate short people or "ugly" people, as for the poor…
  • Atheists: The World's Most Hated People?
     Reply #10 - January 23, 2013, 06:36 PM
    Al-Alethia - I was talking about 'discriminated' against.  Many people hate the roma/gypsies.
    I am my own worst enemy and best friend, itsa bit of a squeeze in a three-quarter bed, tho. Unhinged!? If I was a dog I would be having kittens, that is unhinged. Footloose n fancy free, forced to fit, fated to fly. One or 2 words, 3 and 3/thirds, looking comely but lonely, till I made them homely.D
  • Atheists: The World's Most Hated People?
     Reply #11 - January 23, 2013, 06:47 PM
    ^Are gypsies short, ugly and poor?
  • Atheists: The World's Most Hated People?
     Reply #12 - January 28, 2013, 09:43 PM
    Jews and gays. At least you can hide being an atheist. The destruction of Jews not atheists is on the top of fudies fantasy.
    ***~Church is where bad people go to hide~***
  • Atheists: The World's Most Hated People?
     Reply #13 - January 28, 2013, 10:06 PM
    Quote from: devilsadvokat on January 23, 2013, 06:15 PM
    Does this not depend on where and when in the world? What about short, poor, ugly people?

    Women get the top spot because they have been globally discriminated against since the dawning of time.
    Almost every religion that I know of has some sort of religious doctrine claiming that women are property and inferior to males.

    Jews have been persecuted by various groups for thousands of years, murdered by the millions just because they are Jewish.

    LGBT comes in third because no matter your gender, race or religious leanings, being gay will always stir up the wrath of fundamentalists that believe homosexuality is a sin and that's a universally held view unfortunately.

    Being short and ugly never elicited the murder and persecution of a group on a global scale, sorry try again.  Wink

    Women are the only exploited group in history to have been idealized into powerlessness.
    ―Erica Jong
  • Atheists: The World's Most Hated People?
     Reply #14 - February 03, 2013, 01:52 AM
    I frankly don't understand why groups hated Jews so much. I mean if you compare them to other religious groups they are alot better.

     - They don't go around preaching their beliefs to others
     - They never had an army or empire which went around imposing it on people
     - They don't interfere in other people's lives and try to impose their views on other people. They generally mind their own business.
     - They haven't been anti science in the way muslims and Christians have been. In fact a significant proportion of Jews have won nobel prizes.

    Not saying that the Jews are perfect but they haven't caused the same problems as Islam or Christianity.
    In my opinion a life without curiosity is not a life worth living
  • Atheists: The World's Most Hated People?
     Reply #15 - February 03, 2013, 02:15 AM
    Quote from: TheDarkRebel on February 03, 2013, 01:52 AM
    - They never had an army or empire which went around imposing it on people


    When John Hyrcanus conquered the Edomites in 125 BC, he forcibly converted the entire population to Judaism. Herod the Great was a descendant of those Edomites that had been forcibly converted.
  • Atheists: The World's Most Hated People?
     Reply #16 - February 03, 2013, 02:20 AM
    Oops I take that statement back.

    Good to have a historian on the forum.  Afro
    In my opinion a life without curiosity is not a life worth living
  • Atheists: The World's Most Hated People?
     Reply #17 - February 03, 2013, 12:15 PM
    Let's not the military action Moses took in Deuteronomy, Moses whom Muhammad based himself around
    "Knowledge is preferable to ignorance. Better by far to embrace the hard truth than a reassuring fable. If we crave some cosmic purpose, then let us find ourselves a worthy goal." - Carl Sagan
  • Atheists: The World's Most Hated People?
     Reply #18 - February 03, 2013, 12:41 PM
    Quote from: MB on January 23, 2013, 03:57 PM
    Women, Jews and LGBT's are the most discriminated groups of people in the world, in that order.

     Atheists are viewed with suspicion because we are free to think critically and we rely on our own personal morals.
    Some people prefer to have the thinking done for them, they fear what they perceive as the unknown.

     Religions dictate that we humans are imperfect and lack the ability to self regulate, so the fear of being smited or tortured for eternity are used to exert control.
     
    I have yet to find a religion without this MO, it's all about the control.
     


    Jews yes, LGBT yes, I have a hard time jumping on board with women however. Yes there are places in the world where women do receive a lot of discrimination i.e. Islamic countries. But also a lot of places in the world where they do not. i.e. Western Secular Democracies.

    I'd be even hard pressed to say Jews at this point outside of the Middle East. Anti-semitism is not as prevalent since the whole Holocaust thing. But they do still get shit in the Middle East. LGBT I would argue probably gets the widest range of discrimination. From threats of death like in Uganda to not being able to marry or adopt children like in the majority of the US
    "Knowledge is preferable to ignorance. Better by far to embrace the hard truth than a reassuring fable. If we crave some cosmic purpose, then let us find ourselves a worthy goal." - Carl Sagan
  • Atheists: The World's Most Hated People?
     Reply #19 - February 03, 2013, 09:29 PM
    Quote from: nreynolds1990 on January 12, 2013, 02:38 PM
    I was just thinking about this today and wanted to know what everyone else thought. Do you think atheists are the world's most hated people?

    Considering that I live in a country that has an atheist prime minister, no. Smiley

    Atheists may be the most hated people in some limited sections of the world, but I'm not even sure that's the case.
    Devious, treacherous, murderous, neanderthal, sub-human of the West. bunny
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