It depends on who you're referring to as "People." I think some religious people obviously have a predjudice against Atheists, but then again some Atheists have a predjudice against religious people.

I don't think there is a single group that someone doesn't have a prejudice about. Yes, I think people are prejudice against atheists.

Not as prejudice as they are against Christians.

I think people can and should believe whatever they want, makes no difference to me. It's when they start shoving it down my throat that I don't approve, if I want to know about a certain religion I will ask.

I'm a minister and I have no hate towards you. But back to question will there be prejudiced against atheists. Well you put a name on it so someone is going to hate it. I don't agree with the belief but God gives me the love to love all sinners no matter what they do. Take a look at the churches today one name dosen't like another and so on and so on. This hatred is not of GOD!!!!

I'm a catholic and i have a good friend who openly admits he's an atheist and i have no problem with that whatsoever. I'm a very open-minded guy and I respect other people's beliefs.

Yes, Atheist get discriminated against just like Blacks, Jews, Christians, the handicapped, the elderly, teenagers, obese people, muslims...need I go on? I am a christian and I believe in loving the sinner not the sin. Don't judge lest ye be judged. It upsets me when other christians make a bad name for their own religion by being judge, jury and executioner to others who they are no better than. We are all sinners so no condemnation or finger pointing is neccesary. Persecution is not a burden for christians because they can hand their worrys over to God.

i do, i truly do think athiest are not respected or even taken seriously. i'm an athiest

i think the attention has turned somewhat towards muslims unfortunately

Well, here's one person who is: "It’s time to stomp out atheists in America. The majority of Americans would love to see atheists kicked out of America. If you don’t believe in God, then get out of this country. The United States is based on having freedom of religion, speech, etc., which means you can believe in God any way you want (Baptist, Catholic, Methodist, etc.), but you must believe. I don’t recall freedom of religion meaning no religion. Our currency even says, “In God We Trust.” So, to all the atheists in America: Get off of our country. Atheists have casued the ruin of this great nation by taking prayer out of our school sna being able to rpactice what can only be called evil. I don’t care if they have never committed a crime, atheists are the reason crime is rampant." -- Alice S-----, Soldotna edited to add: just to make it clear, I do not endorse this opinion, I'm an atheist myself.

Gawd, If they aren't blaming athiests, it'll be gays, or lesbians... the list goes on and on. These people who blame athiests views for everything under the sun need to grow up and start thinking outside the box a little. Can't people have their views and live with other peoples... gawd gawd!! UK P.s. I am agnostic ^_^

A thought provoking question. I think any prejudice stems from the fact that atheists may be perceived (rightly or wrongly) as rejecting something that is at the core of a person's existence. The pain of that is manifested as prejudice.

Yes, and worse, it is acceptable to discriminate against atheists. Atheists are routinely discriminated against in custody battles in some states, and surveys show atheists are the least-trusted group (based on beliefs) in the USA. Everybody harbors some prejudices, and certainly many atheists are vocal in their criticisms of religion. To the extent that atheists make unfair derogatory remarks about the religous as people, they are demonstrating prejudice. Discrimination goes a step beyond that, and atheists can lose their jobs, have their kids beat up at school, have nasty things put in their mailboxes, etc. I don't see that behavior working the other way, at least not in the USA.

Some representatives of any group of people are prejudiced against members of other groups, so some people with religious convictions are prejudiced against atheists and some atheists are prejudiced against people with religious conviction, in the same way that some supporters of a particular sports team are prejudiced against supporters of other teams.

I'm sure that some people are. I don't think that their is a single group that doesn't have someone that is prejudice against it.

Many people are. The biggest issue that I find is that people equate being atheist with being anti-God or anti-religion. Just because I don't believe in God doesn't mean I have any desire to convince you not to believe.

I think that American society in general is prejudiced against non-Christians in respect to positions of authority. I believe this to be because the majority of Americans are some form of Christian; therefore, the "correctness" of Christianity is reinforced continually in society.

Some people are. I think any discrimination at all is too much, regardless of the target.

Discriminated against in what way? Certainly not on this site. There is a strong Atheist and agnostic presence here on AB, as well as a multitude of other religions and belief systems. I've found it truly enlightening.

Discriminated against? hmm im not sure. We are expected to present facts to disprove god but religious people just rely on the age of fact of "its gods will"

yes but for thee own good. if they are not christians the will end up in hell so prejudge is only teaching them that not beliefing is wrong and they shold love GOD

Yes. When I tell people that I am an atheist, they tend to act differently.

God only knows.

if god doesnt like athiests then i have the right not to like them either.

Only God knows

Yes

Eh, I didn't mean to post this as an answer, but rather a comment. And AB won't let me delete it, so please ignore this.

I believe prejudice roots from not understanding or taking the time to understand something or someone. I believe that atheists have predjudice against them because they may be misunderstood or maybe even feared by some. Free will is valuable ~ even to people who don't take time to consider it and respect it as an individuals right.

I am an atheist, and I have a problem with juvenile, baseless, and idiotic beliefs in things like god and the afterlife. But I live in the USA, a country that has the 1st amendment that says: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." The first line of our the amendments we hold dear in this country says that our government is to make no laws favoring any religion, or lack of it. If there are any laws in any State, County, District, Town, etc that say atheists cannot hold office, they are unconstitutional. Atheists are unfairly persecuted and demonized in this country. The next great civil rights movement in this country surely will be that of pissed off atheists tired of living as second-class citizens just because they reject irrationality.

People are predjudiced about every type of person, personality, view, religion, you name it. So, yes. I think that some people are predjudiced agains athiests.

People think Religion = Morals, and that somehow atheists are not moral because they have no religion. In actuality this is false. Morality stems from society, your own personal experiences, and biology somewhat. Not a 1700 year old book. Evidence of morality NOT stemming from the bible or religion comes right from most Christians themselves. If the bible is the end all when it comes to morality, why do you need to pick and choose what you want from the bible, and disregard or try to rationalize anything you don't like/don't agree with. If you don't agree with something in the bible, say, that it is ok to give your wife and daughter up to an angry mob in order to save a male guest that is staying with you, what right do you have to disagree with it? It is after all the moral guide you must live by. You can't say "without the bible there are no morals" and then say "I don't agree with everything in the bible." Either you are saying the bible is not a moral guide, or that you are an immoral person. The truth is most Christians already HAVE a sense of morality. They simply pick and choose verses from the bible that agree with their already existing sense of morality. Without the bible, people would still have morals and standards to live by. If fear of punishment by an angry god is the only reason you are a christian, do you really believe the garbage in that book? Or are you staying one just because you are scared of not being one. Even worse, teaching children that they will burn in hell for being bad, it's child abuse in my eyes. Christians, filled up to the brim in their own misguided self-righteousness, feel that if they elect atheists, the country will become a moral nightmare somehow, like Babylon II. That is probably the No.1 reason for the animosity towards any atheist running for office. And it's a sad and misguided fallacy.

I think some are.

Oh, absutly, I know so. I've read attacks, seen attacks against them, and I have been prejudiced against. I had a teacher who went on about how stupid and wretched athists were. Bush(Senior) said VERY hatful things against atheists, and he was the president. In ten states, the job options of atheists are limited. Many, many hateful and hurtful things are said about and towards atheists. Yeah, I'd say there is a prejudice against us. Hell, some have even recived death threats!

Oh, absutly, I know so. I've read attacks, seen attacks against them, and I have been prejudiced against. I had a teacher who went on about how stupid and wretched athists were. Bush(Senior) said VERY hatful things against atheists, and he was the president. In ten states, the job options of atheists are limited. Many, many hateful and hurtful things are said about and towards atheists. Yeah, I'd say there is a prejudice against us. Hell, some have even recived death threats!

i'm not sure, i never really like to admit to being an athiest, as people are ignorant enough to think it means i am against religion. i am not. i just dont share their beliefs.

A bit. A few people are prejudiced against atheist beacuse of fear, not hatred. As a Catholic Christian (monotheist), I know where other monotheists like other Christians, Jews, and Muslims are coming from. I know at least the basis for their standards of morality. I even know somewhat where Hindus, Buddhists, and other "Eastern" religions are coming from. But this is not the case with Atheists. Each one has to assemble his own code of morality. What does each one think is good and evil? And why? What if some important thing to me like the dignity and value of human life is not valuable to him or her? This unknown quality of Atheists is what creates fear in some Theists. With love in Christ.

Some of the religious sect probably are but since atheists believe religion is nothing more than hocus-pocus, nobody cares.

Not so much in the UK because we're kind of non-religious over here anyway but definately in countries where religion is more prominant like the USA

Someone is always prejudiced against every thing.

I don't think most people ever even THINK about atheists. Online forums are the only place I've "heard" anyone express a view about it. People are more concerned about getting through the day in one piece. A more interesting question (to me) would be, why is someone who isn't an atheist be concerned with someone who is?

I definitely think many theists are prejudiced against atheists. Our lack of belief threatens the coping tools that govern their lifestyles. Their religious trite cannot stand up against scientific analysis or debate. If someone were armed with common sense and not willing to support your beliefs in "nothingness", the natural human reaction is to feel threatened and the response is to act out of fear.

Yes. I've been fired from 2 jobs now over it. Not once did I declare my beliefs! I think some religiously obsessed people think they're fighting the "good fight" when they fire someone who is doing exemplary work simply because that person's particular way of going about life doesn't mirror theirs, they find a reason to fabricate complaints & BOOM! No more job! I work 2nd shift, have no children (39 yr.old female), don't express a wish to have children, don't attend church, my common-law husband doesn't want any children, so I guess they feel we suddenly have nothing further to discuss! And I'm apparently the bad gal! So this second firing recently makes me wonder how the b*tches responsible will figure they did the right thing by wishing me "Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!" in this way. Fine Christian women, I'm sure.

Yes, at my school one girl decided to become an athiest and then everyone started to ignored her because she decided to "stand out." (It was a Catholic School, so the majority of the people were Catholic.)

Yes they are, and if a atheist were to speak out against christianity, and they grab the torches, pitchforks, and lawyers, yet when the pope, or some other religious figure, or someone who is religious makes some rude, offencive or insulting remark towards atheists,wiccans, or other pagans, people cheer. It's so biased here in America

you bet they are ! but I guess you have the right to an opinion even if it is not clear to most what Atheism is! Hi ,remember me, Atheist from R&S?

i know i'm not.hi buddy !

Absolutely. When was the last time you heard a politician admit to being an atheist? It is, to borrow from Sam Harris, a near perfect impediment to getting elected to office here in America.

I think there are people prejudiced against anyone that is different from them, so... "Yes."

Yes. How many atheists do you see in public office. I know of 1. That is why the US is so f-ed up in many ways.

yes we are all prejudiced about something or someone to a degree & thst's a fact, Jack.

Peace.

Absolutely. I've been subjected to that many times in my life. There are a lot of ridiculously inaccurate pre-conceived notions about what atheism is. And the bible-thumping segment of the population has been successful in attaching a stigma to the word.

Polling data show that being an atheist is a near perfect impediment to holding elected office, when virtually every other minority classification -- Muslim, woman, black, gay, whatever -- is not.

Not so much in the real world. Here on AB, yes. About 50% of the religious folk on here are prejudiced against atheists, and about 50% of the atheists are prejudiced against religious people. You can see evidence of both sides of that prejudice with all the name calling and backhanded insulting questions.

yes i do a lot of religions people dont respect atheism a beleif system and just consider them as "people to be converted"

sure. only out of ignorance. theists and atheists believe the same lie. atheists need to use a different word than God. I dont know how they can when god is in their name.

Unfortunately yes.

I'm an atheist and I live in Tennessee... I have lost people I considered friends solely based on the fact that they learned I was an atheist. People where I live are just astounded that I don't believe in God. I don't think atheists are prejudiced against, I know they are.

Yes I do. Just because some people don't like others that do not have the same beliefs as them. And they are entitled to their opinions.

Absolutely. For example, I'm attending an atheist convention in September, and I've got to make up a reason for why I'm taking the Friday before and the Monday after off work. If I told them where I was going, I'd be out of a job.

there was a poll done by cnn and time and it was found that out of every one on this planet more people are against atheist than even terrorist! damn al queda was more liked than an atheist. i am latino who is atheist so i really got screwed here. come on bring the hate mo fos.

I know they are. Even here in Canada, when you tell someone you're an atheist, things change between you and that person. Either the relationship gets a lot better because they are an atheist too, or it gets more distant because they aren't. In the States, it's worse.

I certainly am. To me, it's a shame that somebody would choose something that is so obviously a fabrication, when they can put much more CONSTRUCTIVE energy into glorifying the Lord God.

Religious people are taught to believe that we are the work of the devil, and that we need their help. In the old days many people were murdered for not obeying their religious doctrines. This still happens today throughout the world, just rarely in the US.

Well telling them to "go to hell" is just not very effective! ;}}

Yes! I am a Christian, but I can not believe how judgemental people of my religion are. Sometimes, just loving the person no matter what they believe is all they really need. My mom works for a Christian organization and she has an athiest actively participate with it, she said she loves coming there becaue she feels less judged than any other place she has ever known. When I listen to her talk, I hear how other Christians have hurt her through words and actions and it's not right!

Yes, I think atheists are the last group it is generally considered OK to descriminate against.

I try to be free of prejudices against anything, be it religion/theism or atheism. What I *don't* like seeing is a lack of morals, lots of rudeness, etc. I've seen a lot of that come from both atheists and theists alike.

Here's someone else who is - can you believe this stuff? I don't understand how people can be so hateful. ************************** ************************** ************************** "Seriously, does anybody ever cry at an Atheist's funeral? I mean, since Atheists have no value whatsoever as human beings (they're not even human, but only inhuman animals), since Atheists are nothing but miserable Liars, Cowards and Murderers, after all, why would anybody in their right mind weep over the dead rotting corpse, or bone chips and ashes (that get mixed together with those of others from the crematory) of a worthless dead Atheist? And what epitaph do you engrave on an Atheist's grave marker? "Here lies the only good Atheist, which is a dead Atheist". What else is there say? Nothing at all. No last words, no last rites, no flowers, no anything. Every time an Atheist dies, the world is better off as a result of that dead Atheist being dead, & its damned God-forsaken soul burning in the fiery pits of Hades. :) Which begs another related question, do Atheists cry at funerals? If so, why? Since Atheists hate God, and they hate Family, and they hate Country, who are they crying for? It is true: The only good Atheist is a dead Atheist. I pray that every Atheist in America attend a funeral for a loved one this year, and every year until they are dead and their filthy God-hating souls are roasting in Hellfire. No Condolences, Daniel Joseph Min" http://groups.google.com/group/alt.atheism/browse_frm/thread/de13fa0d320a24cb/2ed5f05c59ae3b3d?pli=1

YES

Absolutely!

mostley in polotics. in everyday life, most people dont care, but if there is an atheist politition, there would be no way he could bee elected anything.

Yes i do think so from what Ive heard or read, but it's never happened to me in person yet.

Yes, One reason that some are prejudiced is If you don't believe in the same things they believe in it scares them because they have filtered all of their thoughts and feelings about life through their particular religion. To believe in anything different raises questions about their beliefs thus disrupting their world. Their brain may not be able to comprehend anything other then their particular religion, so anything/anyone that challenges it is perceived as a threat to their existence on some level, making the atheist an enemy. Not to say it makes the prejudice justified in any way...

i think the whole thing with atheists being discriminated against (at least in the US) is the fact that religion is so commonly associated with morality. the religious people of this nation see an atheist as someone who has no morals and nothing to believe in which is entirely false. morals are completely separate from the religious community and although religion does advise certain moral principles, it is in no way the authoritative figure from which morality stems. once the general population begins to grasp this (which unfortunately i fear won't happen anytime in my lifetime) i believe that atheists may begin to not have such a harsh discrimination against them. just a few thoughts :)

Only a theist would ask that question. Atheists know the answer

Yes. http://preview.tinyurl.com/galloppoll Anecdotal testimony: Many religious people I've discussed atheism with believe that morality can only be derived from religious belief and therefore atheists have no moral compass. Others believe that having faith is the natural state of man and that atheists are acting against nature in order to "do whatever they want". Atheism is commonly linked to unAmericanism because of the bollocks idea that we are and always have been a nation of Christian principles.

Some are, but when someone tells me that they are an atheist, I secretely say to God to show them that he is real and there for them and does exist and I feel an anxious feeling over it. I really feel down when people say they do not believe and I feel a hurt that I can not explain.

yes i agree there are some prejudice against atheism but i respect everyones point of view.

That's an understatement.

I think that there are certain places where there is (say one walks into a church meeting and starts proclaming there is no god, or trys to convert a priests point of view) but in general, I actually think there is more the other way around. You tell some one you are a christian, and nine times out of ten they look at you like your a looney and they can't decide whether to run away or slap you in the face. It's fine for them to run around saying your a nut job, but the second you say they might be wrong this big siren goes off in their head and they will go whine around for days about being discriminated against or disrespected. I am personally sick of people pretending they know every damn thing already.

I do nto think so. There are issues in defining God on both sides.

I do believe they are but those who persicute atheist are not being Godly , God would not persicute you.....Or is it that you feel judged for being an Atheist, is it because you havent Got God in you? my dad is an Atheist and he is an angry person.

Not really. Still athiests couldn't really explain what they are fighting against.

May be may be not. Because Athiesm have no ground. It is against theism. So they just do not like theism. That's all. It doesn't stand alone.

No, but a lot of them are paranoid and have convinced themselves that the world is out to get them.

Yup, most people don't like atheists because they feel that they are automatically deviod of morals and are shallow people. My mother is 1 of the fruitcakes who believes this.

Not over here which makes this one of the best countries to live in. But is countries like USA or North Korea yes there is prejudice against atheists. North Korea is actually worse than USA in something. I got a friend who escaped from North Korea and he said that if you were a atheist there you would be killed on site. In USA you just wont get jobs, your children might be beat up in school and the school board won't do anything. The worst is if people wanted Atheists to leave most countries wont get to gorge their selves in new technology made by atheists ;)

most definitely. but on the other hand, there are people prejudiced against theists as well.

Yep. I've experienced it first-hand.

Yes. I think Atheists are very misunderstood. Some even think it means devil worshipper. Geez. For many people atheist= morally bankrupt and is considered a highly suspect group. There's some pretty disheartening poll data out there about attitudes towards Atheists

Yes by most religious people.