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The study shows that "anti-atheist prejudice is not confined either to dominantly religious countries or to religious individuals, but rather appears to be a robust judgment about atheists."<ref>[http://www.christianpost.com/news/atheists-widely-distrusted-even-among-themselves-culturally-ingrained-uk-study-finds-160480/ Atheists Widely Distrusted, Even Among Themselves, UK Study Finds], Christian Post, 2015</ref>}}

The study shows that "anti-atheist prejudice is not confined either to dominantly religious countries or to religious individuals, but rather appears to be a robust judgment about atheists."<ref>[http://www.christianpost.com/news/atheists-widely-distrusted-even-among-themselves-culturally-ingrained-uk-study-finds-160480/ Atheists Widely Distrusted, Even Among Themselves, UK Study Finds], Christian Post, 2015</ref>}}

[[Sam Harris]] is one of the founders of the [[New Atheism]] movement. [[Sam Harris]] is quite aware of the stigma surrounding [[atheism]] and has even advocated that atheists no longer call themselves atheists.<ref name="Harris">Roberts, Jessica, et al. (June 19, 2007).  [http://news21.com/story/2007/06/19/interview_with_an_atheist "Interview with an atheist"].  News21.  Retrieved on July 30, 2014.</ref> In fact, Dr. Harris has said concerning the label of atheist, "It's right next to child molester as a designation."<ref name="Harris">Roberts, Jessica, et al. (June 19, 2007).  [http://news21.com/story/2007/06/19/interview_with_an_atheist "Interview with an atheist"].  News21.  Retrieved on July 30, 2014.</ref> See also: [[Atheism and social outcasts]]

[[Sam Harris]] is one of the founders of the [[New Atheism]] movement. [[Sam Harris]] is quite aware of the stigma surrounding [[atheism]] and has even advocated that atheists no longer call themselves atheists.<ref name="Harris"/> In fact, Dr. Harris has said concerning the label of atheist, "It's right next to child molester as a designation."<ref name="Harris"/> See also: [[Atheism and social outcasts]]

Due to the stigma of the label of atheist, it is common for atheists to choose to call themselves skeptics, nonbelievers, [[Humanism|humanists]] and [[freethought|freethinkers]]<ref>[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/roy-speckhardt/atheist-humanist-labels_b_4723649.html Atheist, Humanist, Secular: Why Fight Over Labels?] by Roy Speckhardt. HuffPost Religion</ref> Individuals of Jewish descent often call themselves secular Jews or simply Jews rather than call themselves atheists.<ref>[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/roy-speckhardt/atheist-humanist-labels_b_4723649.html Atheist, Humanist, Secular: Why Fight Over Labels?] by Roy Speckhardt. HuffPost Religion</ref>

Due to the stigma of the label of atheist, it is common for atheists to choose to call themselves skeptics, nonbelievers, [[Humanism|humanists]] and [[freethought|freethinkers]]<ref name="huffingtonpost.com">[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/roy-speckhardt/atheist-humanist-labels_b_4723649.html Atheist, Humanist, Secular: Why Fight Over Labels?] by Roy Speckhardt. HuffPost Religion</ref> Individuals of Jewish descent often call themselves secular Jews or simply Jews rather than call themselves atheists.<ref name="huffingtonpost.com"/>

== Reluctance of many atheists to tell others about their atheism ==

== Reluctance of many atheists to tell others about their atheism ==

=== Western atheists lack of overseas evangelism in religious countries ===

=== Western atheists lack of overseas evangelism in religious countries ===

[[File:Feed My Starving Children recipients.jpg|thumbnail|200px|right|African children who received Manna Packs of rice from the Christian relief organization Feed My Starving Children.

[[File:Feed My Starving Children recipients.jpg|thumbnail|200px|right|African children who received Manna Packs of rice from the Christian relief organization Feed My Starving Children.

 

Atheist activists have engaged in very little evangelistic efforts as far as [[Africa]]. See also: [[Atheism and charity]] and [[Western atheism and race]] ]]

Atheist activists have engaged in very little evangelistic efforts as far as [[Africa]]. See also: [[Atheism and charity]] and [[Western atheism and race]] ]]

The current [[Atheist Population|atheist population]] mostly resides in East Asia (particularly China) and in secular Europe/Australia primarily among whites.<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/05/23/a-surprising-map-of-where-the-worlds-atheists-live/ A surprising map of where the world’s atheists live], By Max Fisher and Caitlin Dewey, ''Washington Post'', May 23, 2013</ref> See: [[Western atheism and race]]

The current [[Atheist Population|atheist population]] mostly resides in East Asia (particularly China) and in secular Europe/Australia primarily among whites.<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/05/23/a-surprising-map-of-where-the-worlds-atheists-live/ A surprising map of where the world’s atheists live], By Max Fisher and Caitlin Dewey, ''Washington Post'', May 23, 2013</ref> See: [[Western atheism and race]]

== Bernie Sanders' reluctance to call himself an atheist ==

== Bernie Sanders' reluctance to call himself an atheist ==

[[File:Sanders.jpg|thumbnail|200px|right|[[Bernie Sanders]] is reluctant to publicly call himself an atheist.<ref>[http://americablog.com/2016/01/bernie-sanders-mainstreaming-atheism.html Bernie Sanders is mainstreaming atheism in American politics]</ref>]]

[[File:Sanders.jpg|thumbnail|200px|right|[[Bernie Sanders]] is reluctant to publicly call himself an atheist.<ref name="americablog.com">[http://americablog.com/2016/01/bernie-sanders-mainstreaming-atheism.html Bernie Sanders is mainstreaming atheism in American politics]</ref>]]

Jon Green wrote about [[Bernie Sanders]]:

Jon Green wrote about [[Bernie Sanders]]:

:“I think everyone believes in God in their own ways, “ he said. “To me, it means that all of us are connected, all of life is connected, and that we are all tied together.”

:“I think everyone believes in God in their own ways, “ he said. “To me, it means that all of us are connected, all of life is connected, and that we are all tied together.”

As atheist blogger [[Hemant Mehta]] pointed out, that’s basically a really [[Political correctness|PC]] way of saying you’re an atheist. Sanders may have used the word “God” to describe his belief system, but it’s pretty clear that his version of God isn’t an old man in the sky. There’s no actual deity involved — no theism — just a generalized interconnectedness.<ref>[http://americablog.com/2016/01/bernie-sanders-mainstreaming-atheism.html Bernie Sanders is mainstreaming atheism in American politics]</ref>}}

As atheist blogger [[Hemant Mehta]] pointed out, that’s basically a really [[Political correctness|PC]] way of saying you’re an atheist. Sanders may have used the word “God” to describe his belief system, but it’s pretty clear that his version of God isn’t an old man in the sky. There’s no actual deity involved — no theism — just a generalized interconnectedness.<ref name="americablog.com">[http://americablog.com/2016/01/bernie-sanders-mainstreaming-atheism.html Bernie Sanders is mainstreaming atheism in American politics]</ref>}}

The ''Religion News Service'' states: "Presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders dashed the hopes of some atheists when he declared he had 'very strong religious and spiritual feelings' at a Democratic town hall."<ref>[http://religionnews.com/2016/02/04/bernie-sanders-disappoints-atheists-strong-religious-feelings/ Bernie Sanders disappoints some atheists with his ‘very strong religious’ feelings], Religion News Service</ref>

The ''Religion News Service'' states: "Presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders dashed the hopes of some atheists when he declared he had 'very strong religious and spiritual feelings' at a Democratic town hall."<ref>[http://religionnews.com/2016/02/04/bernie-sanders-disappoints-atheists-strong-religious-feelings/ Bernie Sanders disappoints some atheists with his ‘very strong religious’ feelings], Religion News Service</ref>

== Notes ==

== Notes ==

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[[Category: Atheism]]

[[Category:Atheism]]