Atheists identified as America’s most distrusted minority, according to new U of M study
What: U of M study reveals America’s distrust of atheism
Who: Penny Edgell, associate professor of sociology
Contact: Nina Shepherd, sociology media relations, (612) 599-1148
Mark Cassutt University News Service, (612) 624-8038
MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (3/28/2006) -- American’s increasing acceptance of religious diversity doesn’t extend to those who don’t believe in a god, according to a national survey by researchers in the University of Minnesota’s department of sociology.
From a telephone sampling of more than 2,000 households, university researchers found that Americans rate atheists below Muslims, recent immigrants, gays and lesbians and other minority groups in “sharing their vision of American society.” Atheists are also the minority group most Americans are least willing to allow their children to marry.
http://www.ur.umn.edu/FMPro?-db=releases&-lay=web&-format=umnnewsreleases/releasesdetail.html&ID=2816&-FindHere's a page with more numbers, including the "would you vote for them for president question?" that atheists receive the smallest percentage of willing voters:
http://www.religioustolerance.org/amer_intol.htmHow about someone fired for being an atheist? May I draw your attention to this thread?:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=214&topic_id=125379How about someone falsely accused of a crime for being an atheist?:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=1598933&mesg_id=1598933How about this thread in general, where the question of whether atheists are subject to prejudice was thoroughly examined:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=214&topic_id=97059&mesg_id=97059This is why having the Democratic Party associated with atheism is problematic for the party: many people are prejudiced against atheists, and the Republican Party exploits that. Perhaps if that anti-atheist hatred were fought by fine religious people such as yourself, it wouldn't matter whether the Democratic Party were associated with atheists or not. That might be more helpful than complaining about mere words you think atheists shouldn't be using.