Is it harder to be an agnostic or atheist than religious?

Are you ****ing me? Atheism is practically taught in schools and there are alot less Christian entertainers. Atheists are in no way victims, they are one of the most disliked groups because they are intellectual snobs who turn their nose at anyone of the Christian faith. In b4 some Atheist calls me a redneck or backwards hillbilly for being a Republican.TrashBoat

lol

Frankly, I tend to just not give a sh!t about what the religious say to me. Although it's easy for the religious to do the same. Unfortunately, they usually don't, in my experience.

For someone who is rather self-concious, though, I'd definitely say it's harder to be an atheist or an agnostic. As you said, the religious can band together when they are "offended." But atheists, or at least the more intelligent ones, are often atheistic for their own reasons, not because they follow a dogma of some sort. Sure, they may share some common points of view, but unless they're one of the types that just takes anything that any popular atheist says ever, they'll probably disagree on a few things. And don't get me wrong, Dawkins, Harris, Hitchens, etc. are all great, but it bothers me that some people practically worship them. Back on topic, there is no real, complete common ground to use as a base for the relationship in many cases. So they don't feel as close, in that sense. And considering the majority of people are religious, and those religions often are taught to persecute non-believers, it's quite frequent for them to be scrutinized. It happens to me all the time. I just don't really care.

Are you ****ing me? Atheism is practically taught in schools and there are alot less Christian entertainers. Atheists are in no way victims, they are one of the most disliked groups because they are intellectual snobs who turn their nose at anyone of the Christian faith. In b4 some Atheist calls me a redneck or backwards hillbilly for being a Republican.TrashBoat

You're not a redneck or a backwards hillbilly. You're just ignorant.

Frankly, I tend to just not give a sh!t about what the religious say to me. Although it's easy for the religious to do the same. Unfortunately, they usually don't, in my experience.

For someone who is rather self-concious, though, I'd definitely say it's harder to be an atheist or an agnostic. As you said, the religious can band together when they are "offended." But atheists, or at least the more intelligent ones, are often atheistic for their own reasons, not because they follow a dogma of some sort. Sure, they may share some common points of view, but unless they're one of the types that just takes anything that any popular atheist says ever, they'll probably disagree on a few things. And don't get me wrong, Dawkins, Harris, Hitchens, etc. are all great, but it bothers me that some people practically worship them. Back on topic, there is no real, complete common ground to use as a base for the relationship in many cases. So they don't feel as close, in that sense. And considering the majority of people are religious, and those religions often are taught to persecute non-believers, it's quite frequent for them to be scrutinized. It happens to me all the time. I just don't really care.

bub166

I only bring up religion if directly confronted by people trying to preach whatever faith to me. I tell them that I am agnostic and explain what that means. Usually they go about their business after I tell them I'm not interested.

[QUOTE="bub166"]

Frankly, I tend to just not give a sh!t about what the religious say to me. Although it's easy for the religious to do the same. Unfortunately, they usually don't, in my experience.

For someone who is rather self-concious, though, I'd definitely say it's harder to be an atheist or an agnostic. As you said, the religious can band together when they are "offended." But atheists, or at least the more intelligent ones, are often atheistic for their own reasons, not because they follow a dogma of some sort. Sure, they may share some common points of view, but unless they're one of the types that just takes anything that any popular atheist says ever, they'll probably disagree on a few things. And don't get me wrong, Dawkins, Harris, Hitchens, etc. are all great, but it bothers me that some people practically worship them. Back on topic, there is no real, complete common ground to use as a base for the relationship in many cases. So they don't feel as close, in that sense. And considering the majority of people are religious, and those religions often are taught to persecute non-believers, it's quite frequent for them to be scrutinized. It happens to me all the time. I just don't really care.

TrashBoat

I'd say the amount of people in the media who are religious far outweigh the non-religious. And religion isn't considered moronic in schools (though there have been cases of administries ofpublic schools that have gone after atheistic students,) it's just not allowed to be tought as curriculum in public schools because the United States is a secular nation. It may not be treated like one anymore, but I can assure you, you can find "freedom of religion" as a right in the Constitution.

And either you just haven't had a chance to see your religious friends' true views because you haven't seen them around non-believers, or you are just lucky. Because for me, the only religious people who truly tolerate it are my closest friends. And even they criticize it at times. It may just be the fact that I live inhighly conservative rural Nebraska, but I can't imagine it being drastically different everywhere.

Are you ****ing me? Atheism is practically taught in schools and there are alot less Christian entertainers. Atheists are in no way victims, they are one of the most disliked groups because they are intellectual snobs who turn their nose at anyone of the Christian faith. In b4 some Atheist calls me a redneck or backwards hillbilly for being a Republican.TrashBoat

I'm curious as to how atheism is taught in schools.

Agnosticism is probably the easiest thing in the world. I think its the most human belief there is, in doubting certain held beliefs, but also not actively not being against them without proof they are or are not true in some way. Plus its not like there are militant agnostics that tell you to become agnostic because you are wrong, which explains EVERY Atheist on the internet and EVERY religious nut.

Depending on where you are, someone will hate you for being either religious or atheist.

[QUOTE="TrashBoat"]Are you ****ing me? Atheism is practically taught in schools and there are alot less Christian entertainers. Atheists are in no way victims, they are one of the most disliked groups because they are intellectual snobs who turn their nose at anyone of the Christian faith. In b4 some Atheist calls me a redneck or backwards hillbilly for being a Republican.CycleOfViolence

I'm curious as to how atheism is taught in schools.

In my experience, the hardest part is meeting other atheists. We don't always wear our beliefs on our sleeves, and the majority of the population is some sort of theist. It wouldn't even be so much of a problem for me, except that it always seems to be a point of contention in relationships. This girlfriend won't do this, that girlfriend won't do that, this one bugs you non-stop to go to church, that one is trying to get married so she's trying to change how you think. It's always something, I have no idea how other atheists manage to date religious people. Other than that I don't really feel it's any harder. Sure, there's always some religious idiot spouting some stupid line he heard on O'Reily, but it honestly doesn't get to me that much. In the end I can always be more insulting to their beliefs than they can to mine, so really I usually get a lot of satisffaction out of it. I only get truly annoyed when those idiots gain any real power, so in that instance yes, it is harder being an atheist because Christianity still rules this society. I still think it's nothing compared to other minorities, though.

[QUOTE="CycleOfViolence"]

[QUOTE="TrashBoat"]Are you ****ing me? Atheism is practically taught in schools and there are alot less Christian entertainers. Atheists are in no way victims, they are one of the most disliked groups because they are intellectual snobs who turn their nose at anyone of the Christian faith. In b4 some Atheist calls me a redneck or backwards hillbilly for being a Republican.TrashBoat

I'm curious as to how atheism is taught in schools.

It's taught as a theory, because it is a theory. Of course, it's a theory that is widely accepted as likely by most scientists, but that is because there is a lot of evidence that points toward its validity. And besides, if the Pope and my staunchly Catholic biology teacher could say that it could be valid, there really is no reason to write it off as drivel anymore.

The theory of evolution is taught as a fact in many schools.TrashBoat

Right, it's taught as a scientific theory in science courses. I don't see how this is teaching atheism though.

Agnosticism is probably the easiest thing in the world. I think its the most human belief there is, in doubting certain held beliefs, but also not actively not being against them without proof they are or are not true in some way. Plus its not like there are militant agnostics that tell you to become agnostic because you are wrong, which explains EVERY Atheist on the internet and EVERY religious nut.

Depending on where you are, someone will hate you for being either religious or atheist.

SPYDER0416

A. You're probably misusing the term agnostic.

B. I am a militant agnostic, if you don't accept agnoisticism's premise then you are wrong.

C. If the definition that religious people use for militant when applying it to atheists were the same as their definition of militant when applied to the religious then 90% of Christians in America would be militant.

[QUOTE="TrashBoat"]The theory of evolution is taught as a fact in many schools.CycleOfViolence

Right, it's taught as a scientific theory in science courses. I don't see how this is teaching atheism though.

Dude, it's a troll account, he's trying to do satire.

[QUOTE="TrashBoat"]The theory of evolution is taught as a fact in many schools.CycleOfViolence

Right, it's taught as a scientific theory in science courses. I don't see how this is teaching atheism though.

Are you ****ing me? Atheism is practically taught in schools and there are alot less Christian entertainers. Atheists are in no way victims, they are one of the most disliked groups because they are intellectual snobs who turn their nose at anyone of the Christian faith. In b4 some Atheist calls me a redneck or backwards hillbilly for being a Republican.TrashBoat

You're a redneck for being a dick, not for being Republican.

Every religious person I know tolerates non believers.TrashBoat

:lol:

Just take a fcking look at OT.

[QUOTE="TrashBoat"]Every religious person I know tolerates non believers.Heisenderp

:lol:

Just take a fcking look at OT.

Tolerates means they don't like them, but they put up with them anyways. I think that sums up a good deal of religious people, they think they're enlightened because they're not publicly ostracizing us dirty heathens anymore, but they still act with a good deal of prejudice towards us.

[QUOTE="TrashBoat"]Are you ****ing me? Atheism is practically taught in schools and there are alot less Christian entertainers. Atheists are in no way victims, they are one of the most disliked groups because they are intellectual snobs who turn their nose at anyone of the Christian faith. In b4 some Atheist calls me a redneck or backwards hillbilly for being a Republican.Heisenderp

You're a redneck for being a dick, not for being Republican.

[QUOTE="Heisenderp"]

[QUOTE="TrashBoat"]Every religious person I know tolerates non believers.theone86

:lol:

Just take a fcking look at OT.

Tolerates means they don't like them, but they put up with them anyways. I think that sums up a good deal of religious people, they think they're enlightened because they're not publicly ostracizing us dirty heathens anymore, but they still act with a good deal of prejudice towards us.

I think "put up with" is quite an understatement. Hemingway would be proud.

The point is that every group has its fair share of ****, and the only people more annoying than those **** are the oversensitive crybabies who btch and moan about it all fcking day long as though it's exclusive to one group. Religious people seem to love doing that, playing the victim and pretending to be "verbally persecuted".

[QUOTE="Heisenderp"]

[QUOTE="TrashBoat"]Are you ****ing me? Atheism is practically taught in schools and there are alot less Christian entertainers. Atheists are in no way victims, they are one of the most disliked groups because they are intellectual snobs who turn their nose at anyone of the Christian faith. In b4 some Atheist calls me a redneck or backwards hillbilly for being a Republican.TrashBoat

You're a redneck for being a dick, not for being Republican.

You got the cause wrong for the second time. You're a dick because you generalize an entire group while completely ignoring that atheists have to deal with the exact same "suffering". Read my above post.

I'm sure the level of hostility towards atheists varies greatly within regions in the US. I haven't really had an issue, but then again I don't really hold my lack of belief on my sleeve. I guess I should be at least a little more vocal, so I will stop getting so many invitations to go to the Mormon church.

I rarely mention my beliefs to anyone I don't know really well.

I live in South Dakota, if you aren't Christian or extremely conservative people basically hate you. It sucks but my friends tolerate my beliefs pretty well at least.

[QUOTE="TrashBoat"]Every religious person I know tolerates non believers.Heisenderp

:lol:

Just take a fcking look at OT.

[QUOTE="Heisenderp"]

[QUOTE="TrashBoat"]Are you ****ing me? Atheism is practically taught in schools and there are alot less Christian entertainers. Atheists are in no way victims, they are one of the most disliked groups because they are intellectual snobs who turn their nose at anyone of the Christian faith. In b4 some Atheist calls me a redneck or backwards hillbilly for being a Republican.TrashBoat

You're a redneck for being a dick, not for being Republican.

Every single one of your posts has been either whining about liberals or about all the hate Christians supposedly get. You really need to have a beer and chill for a while man

Or you're just a troll account

[QUOTE="Heisenderp"]

[QUOTE="TrashBoat"]Every religious person I know tolerates non believers.TrashBoat

:lol:

Just take a fcking look at OT.

[QUOTE="TrashBoat"]Are you ****ing me? Atheism is practically taught in schools and there are alot less Christian entertainers. Atheists are in no way victims, they are one of the most disliked groups because they are intellectual snobs who turn their nose at anyone of the Christian faith. In b4 some Atheist calls me a redneck or backwards hillbilly for being a Republican.bub166

You're not a redneck or a backwards hillbilly. You're just ignorant.

Plus its not like there are militant agnostics that tell you to become agnostic because you are wrongSPYDER0416

[QUOTE="Heisenderp"]

[QUOTE="TrashBoat"]Every religious person I know tolerates non believers.TrashBoat

:lol:

Just take a fcking look at OT.

Like I said, there are plenty of theists who insult atheists. Your confirmation bias is showing. The only difference is that we don't become whiny btches and cry about it like you do.

[QUOTE="TrashBoat"][QUOTE="Heisenderp"]

:lol:

Just take a fcking look at OT.

Heisenderp

Like I said, there are plenty of theists who insult atheists. Your confirmation bias is showing. The only difference is that we don't become whiny btches and cry about it like you do.

[QUOTE="CycleOfViolence"]

[QUOTE="TrashBoat"]The theory of evolution is taught as a fact in many schools.TrashBoat

Right, it's taught as a scientific theory in science courses. I don't see how this is teaching atheism though.

Have fun living your life worshipping someone who practically is non-existent.

Believe in YOURSELF and enjoy your damn life.

I think that it really depends on where you are. I mean that in a geographical sense as well as where you are in life (age, career, etc.).

If you're, for example, a staunch atheist living in a small religious town in the bible belt, then it could be pretty tough for you. If you're, for example, Jewish and your city's Jewish community is very tiny or fragmented, you might not feel as comfortable or like you have anyone you can relate to, as not all religions and religious people are the same.

Personally, I live in North Dakota. It's a fairly religious area. There are Lutheran churches in even the smallest of towns. However, I've never felt attacked for being an atheist. I don't shout my beliefs from the rooftops or anything, but so far no one has given me much hassle. North Dakotans are stereotypically and traditionally rather kind and they keep to themselves, so that might have something to do with it. If I moved to another area which also is densely populated with Christians but isn't as traditionally friendly, then I might have more trouble.

My point is that it's all relative and it's all about perspective.

However, if I had to make a huge sweeping generalization? It might be harder for atheists. I've read many different studies, polls, statistics, etc. about how much religious people just don't trust atheists, wouldn't vote for them in a presidential election based on their atheism, and so on. Religion, and especially Christianity in the U.S., is the majority, so it makes sense to make the generalization that it's harder for an atheist. A lot of Christians who put on this persecution and victim complex really irritate me because they tend to be in the majority. Again, though, it's all relative. I don't pretend like my experiences speak for anyone else.

oh look, trolling theist accounts

oh look, trolling theist accounts

wis3boi

They're not well-liked in America.

Especially in politics. Maybe the military especially since the Pat Tillman case.

Given the shift in culture especially in the west, I think its becoming harder and harder to become religious. Being atheist isn't easy, being anything isn't easy but I do feel the religious have a tougher living.

[QUOTE="wis3boi"]

oh look, trolling theist accounts

Kocelot

Judging by your posts I don't think you are a theist. Not sure why your face is on your desk.

Given the shift in culture especially in the west, I think its becoming harder and harder to become religious. Being atheist isn't easy, being anything isn't easy but I do feel the religious have a tougher living.

Philokalia

Given the shift in culture especially in the west, I think its becoming harder and harder to become religious. Being atheist isn't easy, being anything isn't easy but I do feel the religious have a tougher living.

Philokalia

Atheism is the minority. That alone puts them at a disadvantage.

playing the victim card I see....Funny, since the overwhelming majority of the west, especially in the US, are religious. I don;t publicly speak of my atheism out of caution of unaccepting attitudes of society around me.wis3boi

Whose playing the victim here? I'm just noting the obvious, it seems to me more and more easy to become an atheist and the world would cater to that view point, not merely on a vast social level but on a personal convicted level. THe religious have to live with the high standards which are expected of them and often fail (i know I do) to live up to those standards, whereas atheists while not denying they have standards I don't think they could be compared to that of say Orthodox Christianity. That being said I would probably sympathise with you in american because a decent percent of evangelicals and fundamentalists there would think im an Idol worshipper. Go figure right?