Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Olivia Mathews on April 26, 2012 at 9:37pm

I recently came out as an atheist to many of my friends. They were incredulous, and my boyfriend broke up with me. They've come to accept it, but still make little jabs every now and then. My parents would be very angry if I ever told them. Can't wait to move to the UK!

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Permalink Reply by Unseen on April 26, 2012 at 9:48pm

As almost any UK'er here will tell you, the UK has its own share of wackiness. If not related to atheism, then other things. The "loony left" for example, who back notions of political correctness that would curl your toenails.

Sadly, loony left notions are creeping into the US, especially in our educational system.

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Permalink Reply by Olivia Mathews on April 27, 2012 at 7:20pm

Political correctness has always irritated me. Like, if you can't say what you want, why bother with free speech? 

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Permalink Reply by Simon Paynton on May 19, 2012 at 2:09am

It's not like that now, Olivia.  The loony left were around in the 1980s.  We can pretty much say and think what we like.  The only people frowned upon are far-right racists and Islamic Jihad types.  We still let them march and everything, but they are kept out of harm's way by the police.  Actually, the left barely exist any more, everyone's gone "centre". 

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Permalink Reply by Virginia Templeton on April 26, 2012 at 10:05pm

I hear of persecution all the time, but have not felt any.

I've been an Atheist since I was 16, and was agnostic for 3 years prior. I've always been open and honest with my lack of beliefs, and even my most fundie of friends don't think I'm any worse for it. I live in Northren KY in an area that is considered to be "Greater Cincinnati" (as in Cincinnati OH). Maybe I just get lucky and meet decent xians, or my area is more concerned with drama. Don't really care because my xian friends are always up for a good debate over a beer.

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Permalink Reply by Steve on April 27, 2012 at 10:05am

In certain other countries you can know people for decades and never even learn about their beliefs. They may be Christians, but religion just isn't really talked about in normal conversations.

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Permalink Reply by Atheist Exile on April 27, 2012 at 11:59am

I think atheists can be legally discriminated against in the U.S. because we have no laws recognizing us as a minority. If somebody refuses to sell a house to a black family, that's illegal. But -- unless I'm mistaken -- it's not illegal if it's an atheist family that is discriminated against.

Any lawyers here? What legal protections do atheists have?

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Permalink Reply by Olivia Mathews on April 27, 2012 at 7:21pm

The only law protecting us is the freedom of religion or lack of it, as far as I know.

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Permalink Reply by Atheist Exile on April 28, 2012 at 4:13pm

But atheism is not a religion . . .

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Permalink Reply by Steve on April 28, 2012 at 4:21pm

It is, however, a religious belief in the legal sense

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Permalink Reply by Atheist Exile on April 28, 2012 at 4:40pm

Okay, Steve, I see no reason not to take your word for it . . .

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Permalink Reply by Dave G on April 28, 2012 at 9:15pm

It is, the Supreme Court made that point clear in Wallace v. Jaffree, 472 U.S. 38 (1985). 

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