Changes

In areas of the [[Western World]] where atheists are in the minority, atheists on the [[Secular left|left end of the political spectrum]], using the strategy of [[identity politics]], have made various attempts to portray atheists as an oppressed minority, but this has not much lessoned the low opinion and/or antipathy many theists hold towards atheists for multiple reasons.<ref>[http://www.latimes.com/opinion/la-oew-thornton18apr18-story.html Disliked, not oppressed] By Paul Thornton, ''LA Times'', April 7, 2007</ref>  

In areas of the [[Western World]] where atheists are in the minority, atheists on the [[Secular left|left end of the political spectrum]], using the strategy of [[identity politics]], have made various attempts to portray atheists as an oppressed minority, but this has not much lessoned the low opinion and/or antipathy many theists hold towards atheists for multiple reasons.<ref>[http://www.latimes.com/opinion/la-oew-thornton18apr18-story.html Disliked, not oppressed] By Paul Thornton, ''LA Times'', April 7, 2007</ref>  

First, the atheist population in the [[Western World]] is skewed towards white, atheist men in both adherents and positions of influence within the atheist community (see: [[Western atheism and race]] and [[Atheism and women]]). So it is difficult for atheists to portray themselves as an oppressed minority.  

First, the atheist population in the Western World is skewed towards white, atheist men in both adherents and positions of influence within the atheist community (see: [[Western atheism and race]] and [[Atheism and women]]). So it is difficult for atheists to portray themselves as an oppressed minority.  

Secondly, historically atheists have often used oppressive governmental actions to promote their ideology/[[Atheist worldview|worldview]] (see:  [[Militant atheism]] and [[Suppression of alternatives to evolution]] and [[Atheism and Mass Murder|Atheism and mass murder]]). And atheists are not known for the empathy and charitableness (see: [[Atheism and charity|Atheism and uncharitableness]]).  And in many cases atheists organizations have acted in a manner that displays [[Atheism and interpersonal intelligence|an emotional tone deafness]] for the consequences it will have on public opinion (lawsuit to remove a grieving mother's roadside cross erected in memory of her late son who died in an accident, attempted removal of the World Trade Center cross, lawsuits to remove beloved community [[War on Christmas|Christmas manger scenes]], etc.).<ref>[http://www.christianpost.com/news/atheists-demand-grieving-mom-take-down-cross-remembering-her-son-116097/ Atheists Demand Grieving Mom Take Down Cross Remembering Her Son] by  David French, ''Christian Post'', March 13, 2014</ref><ref>http://articles.cnn.com/2011-07-26/us/new.york.wtc.cross_1_atheist-group-american-atheists-cross?_s=PM:US</ref>

Secondly, historically atheists have often used oppressive governmental actions to promote their ideology/[[Atheist worldview|worldview]] (see:  [[Militant atheism]] and [[Suppression of alternatives to evolution]] and [[Atheism and Mass Murder|Atheism and mass murder]]). And atheists are not known for the empathy and charitableness (see: [[Atheism and charity|Atheism and uncharitableness]]).  And in many cases atheists organizations have acted in a manner that displays [[Atheism and interpersonal intelligence|an emotional tone deafness]] for the consequences it will have on public opinion (lawsuit to remove a grieving mother's roadside cross erected in memory of her late son who died in an accident, attempted removal of the World Trade Center cross, lawsuits to remove beloved community [[War on Christmas|Christmas manger scenes]], etc.).<ref>[http://www.christianpost.com/news/atheists-demand-grieving-mom-take-down-cross-remembering-her-son-116097/ Atheists Demand Grieving Mom Take Down Cross Remembering Her Son] by  David French, ''Christian Post'', March 13, 2014</ref><ref>http://articles.cnn.com/2011-07-26/us/new.york.wtc.cross_1_atheist-group-american-atheists-cross?_s=PM:US</ref>