Post AYMYWNarjBcw95OvLM by Wijfi@fosstodon.org
 (DIR) More posts by Wijfi@fosstodon.org
 (DIR) Post #AYMY5rNCtprigeMnoG by georgetakei@universeodon.com
       2023-08-03T16:36:39Z
       
       0 likes, 1 repeats
       
       The numbers of those who don't affiliate with any religion are surging in the U.S., but only 4% of Americans self-identify as "atheist." And while we may not have an official national religion, Christianity is largely baked into many aspects of our culture. With it comes stigma attached to atheism, which makes many reluctant to embrace it. But why? Should the lack of religious belief really be looked upon any differently than belief? We unpack that question and more today in The Big Picture: https://thinkbigpicture.substack.com/p/atheism-america-stigma-religion-christianity
       
 (DIR) Post #AYMYBGqBdj677XVAzQ by nullthegrey@mastodon.social
       2023-08-03T16:38:55Z
       
       0 likes, 1 repeats
       
       @georgetakei probably ties in very closely with the anti-communism of the early to mid 20th century.
       
 (DIR) Post #AYMYCYQlj4IfxsE0Tg by PRNE@weatherishappening.network
       2023-08-03T16:49:55Z
       
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       @nullthegrey @georgetakei correct
       
 (DIR) Post #AYMYCZEkjEHaStbvO4 by sspopovich@universeodon.com
       2023-08-03T17:24:50Z
       
       0 likes, 1 repeats
       
       @PRNE I was about to say the same thing.  Antipathy to "godless Communism" is strong in this country, although most Americans would be hard put to define Communism.  Communism, of course, is the reason why "under God" was added to the Pledge of Allegiance, back in the 1950s when the Red scare was at it's peak.
       
 (DIR) Post #AYMYG6JyB9a7wUjgQK by trisweb@m.trisweb.com
       2023-08-03T16:40:12Z
       
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       @georgetakei It's no surprise that people don't want to identify with the term Atheist. It's as much of a stereotype as a religion is. Carries too much baggage.
       
 (DIR) Post #AYMYG7BUy8OqcVmQrI by raptor85@mastodon.gamedev.place
       2023-08-03T16:50:32Z
       
       0 likes, 1 repeats
       
       @trisweb @georgetakei I think one of the big problems is a lot of people, especially in my age group (mid-30's), grew up in a situation where if you were athiest you did NOT tell anyone about it as it would lead to harassment, threats, violence, being denied jobs, etc, and there's still some strong aspects of that, especially in smaller towns, today.nobody hates quite like christians do....
       
 (DIR) Post #AYMYP7lGC4Yl10ns4O by obviousdwest@mastodon.social
       2023-08-03T17:01:42Z
       
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       @georgetakei @zakalwe Real, technical atheism has a big hill to climb, because you’d have to prove there is no god anywhere, perhaps by going everywhere, which you can’t do. Proving a negative. It’s much easier to choose agnosticism which says: we can’t know for certain if there is a god or not. I’ve always thought that hard-core atheists were exercising a certain amount of belief (that there will never be proof, anywhere) in order to assert “no god”.
       
 (DIR) Post #AYMYP8fcoVe7ppAsvQ by InfamousUnkown@mastodon.sdf.org
       2023-08-03T17:26:33Z
       
       0 likes, 1 repeats
       
       @obviousdwest @georgetakei @zakalwe You are overthinking it. I don't believe in a god, and I see no reason to think I might be wrong is a good enough definition.Most Atheists are not evangelical about it, that doesn't mean we think of ourselves as agnostic.It isn't on us to prove anything.
       
 (DIR) Post #AYMYWNarjBcw95OvLM by Wijfi@fosstodon.org
       2023-08-03T16:48:56Z
       
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       @georgetakeiI'm curious to see the ratio of "non-religious" to "atheist" in non-christian countries.
       
 (DIR) Post #AYMYWOlXMzl1mTOxcG by chrisfed@astrodon.social
       2023-08-03T17:10:54Z
       
       0 likes, 1 repeats
       
       @Wijfi @georgetakei unfortunately in France they mix both category, and it would be around 60%, and this is admitted that 30% of us are atheists, but some laws forbid to go deeper in this study
       
 (DIR) Post #AYMYwomZGNqw00TudM by edgeoforever@mastodon.world
       2023-08-03T19:09:26Z
       
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       @Arsimael @georgetakei one of the fundamental differences between Europe and US. Bigotry is the norm here. Which is ironic, considering it all started with refugees from religious persecution 🤷‍♀️
       
 (DIR) Post #AYMZ5T0baPYz4lAgvg by edgeoforever@mastodon.world
       2023-08-03T19:11:00Z
       
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       @nullthegrey @georgetakei I worship the chocolate goddess. Everything else is science (and philosophy, and poetry etc)