Comments on: Atheists Are Not Oppressed, says LA Times Writer

By: Siamang

Siamang — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 03:53:06 +0000

Anonymouse..

You are posting on a bunch of old threads.

This one’s from two years ago.

If you want to be part of the conversation, post in the current threads that actually might get read!

Welcome, BTW.

By: AnonyMouse

AnonyMouse — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 02:29:33 +0000

It is true that atheists do not receive the same social discrimination (i.e. segregation, restriction of rights) faced by other groups in the past. But if you look beyond these cursory differences, there are still plenty of reasons to draw the comparison. We are struggling to make our voices heard, to make our position respected in a place inhabited mainly by others. And in many places we are still the victims of incredible hatred and misunderstanding. In that regard, although we are fighting a different battle, we still have a great deal in common with the warriors of yesteryear.

By: valhar2000

valhar2000 — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 08:44:00 +0000

I agree with Richard Wade.

The discrimination atheists face is very similar to the one that gays face, becuase their situations are parallel in many ways. For examplel whereas a black person could not (except in a very few cases) pass for white, a homosexual can pass for heterosexual by going through the motions and saying the right words. This is what atheists do.

Thornton may think that this ability to hide gives atheists an invaluable advantage over the oppressed racial minorities of yore, and he is probably right, but it still is unpleasant, unfair and unacceptable, as well as damaging to society as a whole.

I therefore think that comparisons like the ones he disparages so are very much on the mark, except, of course, when one begins to use strawmen.

By: Darryl

Darryl — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 03:14:09 +0000

One of the few pros in having the Bushies in power now is that it makes atheism look good by comparison. Just ask the Rev. Jerry Falwell–competence supercedes everything else when you’re in need. Let’s see what our fellow Americans think come Nov. of ’08. Will they vote for redneck religion or competence?

By: Richard Wade

Richard Wade — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 20:55:20 +0000

Ditto to all the comments above. Let Thornton tell it to Charles Smalkowski. It's easy for Thornton to be so glib in his research library in L.A. If he was a tradesman in Oklahoma he'd have a different view. Yes, the most outrageous incidents are rare, but there's a lot going on that never gets reported. Atheists are blackballed at work, turned down for jobs and socially shunned. Many pretend to be Christians just to avoid the problems. Pointing out, however correctly, that others have it worse does not make me feel better or safer. It just reminds me that the potential for worse abuse is all around me.

By: Kevin Malone

Kevin Malone — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 20:43:37 +0000

If you could tell someone’s an atheist by looking at him I suspect there’d be a notable increase in the amount of documented discrimination against atheists.

By: King Aardvark

King Aardvark — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 20:15:58 +0000

If you’re in the bible belt and don’t wear a cross or have a jesus fish on your car, it may at least generate suspicion.

By: Intergalactic Hussy

Intergalactic Hussy — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 19:21:27 +0000

I would also like to add that you can’t tell someone is an atheist by looking at him/her…

By: Thad

Thad — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 18:12:01 +0000

I wonder if the present, and happily limited, discrimination against atheists is because they are not thought of as that much of a threat. You have a good point that if atheists become more public they may also become more accepted. However, one should also be careful about trying to avoid an adversarial role.

By: Prokop

Prokop — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 17:45:16 +0000

Being in an atheist in LA is a lot more pleasant than being an atheist in the Bible Belt.