08-28-2006, 06:24 AM
Quote:I recently stumbled upon this article.
Quote:Based on a telephone survey of more than 2,000 households and in-depth interviews with more than 140 people, researchers found that Americans rate atheists below Muslims, recent immigrants, homosexuals and other groups as "sharing their vision of American society." Americans are also least willing to let their children marry atheists.
Is this a view any of the american posters here can recognize?
Firstly, I find the phrasing in the quoted section interesting, as if atheists, Muslims, and homosexuals are not fellow Americans. ("Recent immigrants" most likely do not yet have citizenship, so they actually wouldn't be Americans.)
I live in Ala-effin'-bama. "Atheists are immoral" is a view that's publishable in the "Letters to the Editor" section of the capitol city newspaper. The reasoning varies. I've seen everything from (paraphrasing arguments) "The Ten Commandments alone are the sole reason man has not gone extinct. Atheists do not know the Ten Commandments, so they are prone to acting violent." and as sophisticated as "Morals do not exist outside (my) religion. Hence, an athiest cannot act morally."
That said... Religion is huge in my area. Belonging to a church is an important association, and for some people it's their primary way of socializing. Consequently, it comes up in conversation and I get to learn the views of my friends and coworkers. On an individual basis, I've not heard anything as poorly reasoned as the aforementioned letters to the editor. Most often, any confusion I get from religious people when they find out I don't see a reason to assume a deity exists is along the lines of "But how do you know your purpose in life?" But then, my sphere of social interaction isn't a random sample, either: it's mostly people who possess or are pursuing a university education.
This leads me to think... It can be difficult to see things on the other side of the fence, but not all fences can be seen through with equal clarity from either side. For example, I think I have an easier time seeing what religious people get out of religion than they do understanding my frame of reference. It's important to note the assumptions that lead to questions like "But how do you know your purpose in life?" are not made by everyone. But when you've never had your assumptions challenged, you don't notice what's specific to your frame of reference. That's why some folks have a harder time seeing the other side. Religious issues are especially clouded by this because, as practiced, many forms of religion put blinders on their believers. So when it comes to atheists and agnostics, many religious folk just don't get it.
-Lem