American Evaluation of Various religions and atheism

This table, a Gallup Poll, reveals the attitudes (positive, neutral, negative) or various religions and atheism (click table to enlarge). What pops as most interesting to me is the fact that, on average, even after 911 and the demonization of Islam, Americans hate athiests more than Muslims. What's most interesting to you?



Found at Total Drek.

Posted by Lisa Monday, April 28, 2008 at 3:19 AM Labels: ,  

6 comments:

  Anonymous

April 28, 2008 at 5:43 AM

I think there was a similar poll a while back that showed Americans would prefer a gay president over an atheist one.

As an atheist I've found there is a very negative connotation associated with the word. If I say I'm agnostic instead, it isn't a big problem. Agnostic seems to imply uncertainty of a god, while atheism is perceived to be a denial of god.

Even though my parents knew I wasn't religious, they cringe at the term atheist. To them it's a dirty word associated with communism and immorality.

In the past it seemed to be that atheists were content to have their beliefs but didn't publicize them. The popularity of atheist authors such as Dawkins and Hitchens seems to be a reaction to the increasing influence and extremist of the Christian right.

  Anonymous

April 28, 2008 at 8:13 AM

I agree with Anonymous above. The results of this poll are unsurprising to me; except to see how well people view Methodists (who knew :) ).

I'd say I'm best described as an agnostic atheist ("soft atheist"): there's no way to prove or disprove divine existance, but I don't think there's a God. I have faced a lot of opposition for these beliefs. Far more than I'd expect to face, actually. "Why do you hate God?" "This nation was founded by Christians, y'know, so why do you doubt them?"

I think part of this issue with atheists is due to some high profile and very vocal atheists right now (Dawkins, etc). Part of the issue is the religious resurgence right now, with Christian fundamentalists and such. These two causes might be a reaction to each other, or one might be the instigator for the other, but I won't speculate.

Another possible cause for any "backlash" against atheists is in relation to people's perception of Islam right now. Obviously bound up in fears of terrorism, Muslims might be perceived as an external threat. But atheists are an internal threat, weakening the country or betraying its principles in the face of this external threat. As a result, atheism draws greater negative perceptions. I haven't fully thought this idea through, though.

  Nimue Melpomene

April 28, 2008 at 10:15 AM

I also agree with the folks above and find it interesting that Buddhism and Wicca (or another pagan-esque religion) aren't on there. I'd really like to see how they stacked up as well. Even as a pagan (non-denominational) I always feel a little protective of my atheist friends because they always seem to get a worse rap than I do. At least all I'm supposed to do (stereotypically) as a pagan is dance around naked outside and eat babies.

  Anonymous

April 28, 2008 at 10:36 AM

"In the past it seemed to be that atheists were content to have their beliefs but didn't publicize them."

That's because in the past heretics were killed.

I think it's important to point out that atheism isn't a belief, it's a disbelief. Many people think that there is some sort of atheist doctrine and it involves just as much faith as religion. This is simply untrue.

These figures are disturbing. I hope they're just a bump in the road to the rejection of supernatural belief.

  Anonymous

April 28, 2008 at 2:49 PM

well, we can cling to the fact that the scientologists are more despised than us atheists! (jk)

if it's accepted in the historically catholic nation of france, atheism can be accepted here. we apparently aren't doing a very good job marketing ourselves. then again, privacy is more sacred there than it is here, where even the conservatives who claim to want less government are perfectly happy to give g-men access to our bedrooms, phone calls, and everything else.

  Anonymous

April 28, 2008 at 8:30 PM

I'm not sure where I read this, but someone proposed that religious people despise atheists because their lack of faith threatens their own faith in god, which is so central to their identity. I'm a bit dubious of this theory, but it would be a handy way to explain why atheists are often characterized as immoral.

It might also be that since religion is such a communal thing (that creates shared values within a community) that those not participating in this are suspect (they may not share those values.)

Does anyone know if atheism is somehow linked in the collective conscience with communism? I didn't live through the cold war, so I don't know if the two were closely connected.

-L

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