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<ref>Edgell, Gerteis & Hartmann 2006</ref>  

<ref>Edgell, Gerteis & Hartmann 2006</ref>  

Dr. [[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><ref>[http://www.newsweek.com/newsweek-poll-90-believe-god-97611 NEWSWEEK Poll: 90% Believe in God], ''Newsweek'' 2007</ref> See also: [[Atheism and social outcasts]] and [[Closet atheist]]

Dr. [[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"/><ref>[http://www.newsweek.com/newsweek-poll-90-believe-god-97611 NEWSWEEK Poll: 90% Believe in God], ''Newsweek'' 2007</ref> See also: [[Atheism and social outcasts]] and [[Closet atheist]]

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> See also: [[Closet atheist]]

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"/> See also: [[Closet atheist]]

== Americans and Canadians distrust atheists as much as rapists ==

== Americans and Canadians distrust atheists as much as rapists ==

== University of Minnesota study on American views towards atheists ==

== University of Minnesota study on American views towards atheists ==

[[File:PZ Myers.jpg|thumbnail|200px|right|The American atheist and biologist [[PZ Myers]] teaches at the University of Minnesota at the Morris, Minnesota campus.   

[[File:PZ Myers.jpg|thumbnail|200px|right|The American atheist and biologist [[PZ Myers]] teaches at the University of Minnesota at the Morris, Minnesota campus.   

 

Fellow atheist biologist Massimo Pigliucci said of Myers, "one cannot conclude this parade without mentioning P.Z. Myers, who has risen to fame because of a blog where the level of nastiness (both by the host and by his readers) is rarely matched anywhere else on the Internet...".<ref>[http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/piggliucci20150513 Reflections on the skeptic and atheist movements] By Massimo Pigliucci ''Scientia Salon'', Posted: May 13, 2015</ref>]]

Fellow atheist biologist Massimo Pigliucci said of Myers, "one cannot conclude this parade without mentioning P.Z. Myers, who has risen to fame because of a blog where the level of nastiness (both by the host and by his readers) is rarely matched anywhere else on the Internet...".<ref>[http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/piggliucci20150513 Reflections on the skeptic and atheist movements] By Massimo Pigliucci ''Scientia Salon'', Posted: May 13, 2015</ref>]]

A 2006 University of Minnesota about American views of atheists reported:

A 2006 University of Minnesota about American views of atheists reported:

In the United States, blacks have the highest rate of religiosity.<ref>[http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/gallup-blacks-most-religious-group-us Gallup: Blacks Most Religious Group in U.S.]</ref> Among Hispanics, religion has traditionally played a significant role in daily activity.<ref>[http://www.diocesephoenix.org/old_site/fc/CatecheticalLeadership/ChurchDocs/UnderstandingtheHispanicCulture.pdf Understanding Hispanic culture]</ref>

In the United States, blacks have the highest rate of religiosity.<ref>[http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/gallup-blacks-most-religious-group-us Gallup: Blacks Most Religious Group in U.S.]</ref> Among Hispanics, religion has traditionally played a significant role in daily activity.<ref>[http://www.diocesephoenix.org/old_site/fc/CatecheticalLeadership/ChurchDocs/UnderstandingtheHispanicCulture.pdf Understanding Hispanic culture]</ref>

See also: [[Western atheism and race#Token efforts to extend racial minorities leadership positions in atheist organizations|Token efforts to extend racial minorities leadership positions in atheist organizations]]

{{See also|Western atheism and race#Token efforts to extend racial minorities leadership positions in atheist organizations|l1=Token efforts to extend racial minorities leadership positions in atheist organizations}}

== UK study finds atheists widely distrusted - even among themselves ==

== UK study finds atheists widely distrusted - even among themselves ==

''See also:'' [[Atheism and death]]

''See also:'' [[Atheism and death]]

A study by done at the College of Staten Island by Corey Cook involving 236 participants found that when people thought about atheism it increased their thoughts about death (this was also true for the atheists in the study as well).<ref>[http://www.vice.com/read/atheism-terrifies-people-because-it-makes-us-think-about-death-511 Atheism Terrifies People Because It Makes Us Think About Death] by Simon Davis, Vice News, May 11, 2015</ref> Furthermore, When study participants thought about atheism, it activated concern about death to the same degree as actually thinking about death.<ref>[http://www.vice.com/read/atheism-terrifies-people-because-it-makes-us-think-about-death-511 Atheism Terrifies People Because It Makes Us Think About Death] by Simon Davis, Vice News, May 11, 2015</ref>

A study by done at the College of Staten Island by Corey Cook involving 236 participants found that when people thought about atheism it increased their thoughts about death (this was also true for the atheists in the study as well).<ref name="vice.com">[http://www.vice.com/read/atheism-terrifies-people-because-it-makes-us-think-about-death-511 Atheism Terrifies People Because It Makes Us Think About Death] by Simon Davis, Vice News, May 11, 2015</ref> Furthermore, When study participants thought about atheism, it activated concern about death to the same degree as actually thinking about death.<ref name="vice.com"/>

=== Dislike of atheists and atheism inspiring thoughts about death ===

=== Dislike of atheists and atheism inspiring thoughts about death ===

In the United States, studies show that atheists are frequently held in low regard (See: [[Views on Atheists|Views on atheists]]). The prominent [[New Atheism|New Atheist]] [[Sam Harris]] 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>

In the United States, studies show that atheists are frequently held in low regard (See: [[Views on Atheists|Views on atheists]]). The prominent [[New Atheism|New Atheist]] [[Sam Harris]] said concerning the label of atheist, "It's right next to child molester as a designation."<ref name="Harris"/>

''Discover'' magazine wrote about Cook's study:

''Discover'' magazine wrote about Cook's study:

''See also:'' [[Atheism Quotes|Atheism quotes]] and [[Atheism and arrogance]]

''See also:'' [[Atheism Quotes|Atheism quotes]] and [[Atheism and arrogance]]

"These days, barely a week passes without the emergence of yet more evidence that atheists are the most irritating people on Earth." - the atheist Brendan O'Neill, ''The Telegraph'', "How Atheists Became the Most Colossally Smug and Annoying People on the Planet",  August 14th, 2013 <ref>O'Neill, Brendan (August 14, 2013).  [http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/brendanoneill2/100230985/how-atheists-became-the-most-colossally-smug-and-annoying-people-on-the-planet/ "How atheists became the most colossally smug and annoying people on the planet"].  The Telegraph website/Brendan O'Neill [blog].  Retrieved on October 3, 2014.  [atheist author]</ref>

"These days, barely a week passes without the emergence of yet more evidence that atheists are the most irritating people on Earth." - the atheist Brendan O'Neill, ''The Telegraph'', "How Atheists Became the Most Colossally Smug and Annoying People on the Planet",  August 14, 2013 <ref>O'Neill, Brendan (August 14, 2013).  [http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/brendanoneill2/100230985/how-atheists-became-the-most-colossally-smug-and-annoying-people-on-the-planet/ "How atheists became the most colossally smug and annoying people on the planet"].  The Telegraph website/Brendan O'Neill [blog].  Retrieved on October 3, 2014.  [atheist author]</ref>

==See Also==

==See also==

[[Moral failures of the atheist population]]

[[Moral failures of the atheist population]]

[[Category:Atheism]]

[[Category:Atheism]]

[[Category: Atheists]]

[[Category:Atheists]]