Today on The Guardian‘s Comment Is Free > Belief section, I’ve got a little essay reprising the story I did in April for The Boston Globe on the new science of the non-religious. There’s already a pretty lively comment thread. Take a look:
Atheists have an image problem. According to a study led by University of Minnesota sociologist Penny Edgell, published in 2006, Americans have a lower opinion of them than homosexuals, Jews, Muslims and African-Americans. They can’t get elected to political office, and most people view them as outsiders. Yet the disdain is comparatively quiet and abstract, rarely erupting into palpable conflict. Part of the reason may be that nobody seems to know who atheists are, including atheists themselves.
I’ve really been enjoying the Belief section lately—highly recommended. Be sure to catch Simon Critchley’s ongoing series on Heidegger’s Being and Time.
Comments
One response to “Are Atheists Alright?”
From a recent feed of quote-tweets:
“Compared to a religious hypocrite, an honest atheist is preferred.” —Meher Baba
( http://twitter.com/MeherBabaNotes )
(Also, similar quote: “Everyone is an atheist until he finds God by actual experience. It is better to be an atheist and be honest in words and deeds than to pose as a lover of God and lead a dishonest life. God is completely independent. He needs no worship. He only wants us to be honest.”)