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If I need community, I can find a less toxic one.<ref>[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/rivers/2016/05/im-opting-out-of-the-movement/ I’m Opting Out of the Movement] by Galen Broaddus</ref>}}
 
If I need community, I can find a less toxic one.<ref>[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/rivers/2016/05/im-opting-out-of-the-movement/ I’m Opting Out of the Movement] by Galen Broaddus</ref>}}
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== Americans and Canadians distrust atheists as much as rapists ==
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''See also:'' [[Distrust of atheists]] and [[Atheism and rape]] and [[Atheism and social outcasts]]
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[[File:2404429188 ea8f1fc48b.jpg|thumbnail|right|200px|Studies and web traffic data appear to indicate that women in the Western World tend to be more religious than men.<ref>Multiple references:
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*Kosmin, Barry A., et al. (2008).  [http://web.archive.org/web/20110904110346/http://www.americanreligionsurvey-aris.org/reports/NONES_08.pdf "American nones:  Profile of the no religion population"].  American Religion Survey website [Trinity College, Hartford, CT].  Retrieved from Internet Archive.
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*Britt, Robert Roy (February 28, 2009).  [http://www.livescience.com/7689-women-religious-men.html "Women more religious than men"].  Live Science website.</ref> See: [[Atheism and women]] ]]
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On December 10, 2011, ''USA Today'' reported in a story entitled ''Study: Atheists distrusted as much as rapists'':
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{{cquote|The study, conducted among 350 Americans adults and 420 Canadian college students, asked participants to decide if a fictional driver damaged a parked car and left the scene, then found a wallet and took the money, was the driver more likely to be a teacher, an atheist teacher, or a rapist teacher?
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The participants, who were from religious and nonreligious backgrounds, most often chose the atheist teacher.
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The study is part of an attempt to understand what needs religion fulfills in people. Among the conclusions is a sense of trust in others.
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"People find atheists very suspect," Shariff said. "They don't fear God so we should distrust them; they do not have the same moral obligations of others. This is a common refrain against atheists. People fear them as a group."<ref name="USATodayviewsonatheists"/>
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See also:
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*[[Irreligion and domestic violence]]
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*[[Atheism and rape]]
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== UK study finds atheists widely distrusted - even among themselves ==
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''See also:'' [[Distrust of atheists]] and [[Atheist factions]] and [[Atheism and morality]]
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In 2015, the ''Christian Post'' reported in a story entitled ''Atheists Widely Distrusted, Even Among Themselves, UK Study Finds'':
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{{cquote|Distrust of atheists is "deeply and culturally ingrained" among people, and even many atheists are not able to trust each other, according to a new study carried out by the psychology department at Nottingham Trent University in England.
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Published in the ''International Journal for The Psychology of Religion'', the study, "The Robustness of Anti-Atheist Prejudice as Measured by Way of Cognitive Errors," was conducted with 100 participants from the U.K. ....
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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 name="CPviewsonatheists"/>}}
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''The Independent'' reports about the participants of the study:
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{{cquote|Professor Leah Giddings and Thomas Dunn led the study with 100 online participants from the United Kingdom, 70 of whom were women and whose average age was 21.
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A total of 43 per cent of the contributors were atheist, 33 per cent were Christian and the remainder belonged to other faiths.<ref name="Independentviewsonatheists"/>}}
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[[Vox Day|Theodore Beale]] says about atheists not trusting other atheists: "The reason most atheists trust fellow atheists less than anyone else is because they recognize their own lack of integrity and morality."<ref>[https://voxday.blogspot.com/2016/06/fun-with-atheists.html Fun with atheists] by [[Vox Day|Theodore Beale]]</ref>
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== University of Minnesota study on American views towards atheists ==
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[[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. 
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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>]]
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See also: [[American atheism]]
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A 2006 University of Minnesota about American views of atheists reported:
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{{Cquote|Some people view atheists as problematic because they associate them with illegality,
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such as drug use and prostitution--that is, with immoral people who threaten respectable
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community from the lower end of the status hierarchy. Others saw atheists as rampant
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materialists and cultural elitists that threaten common values from above--the
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ostentatiously wealthy who make a lifestyle out of consumption or the cultural elites who
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think they know better than everyone else. Both of these themes rest on a view of atheists
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as self-interested individualists who are not concerned with the common good.<ref>''Atheism and Secularity'' edited by Phil Zuckerman, page 84</ref><ref>[https://www.soc.umn.edu/assets/pdf/atheistAsOther.pdf  Atheists As “Other”: Moral Boundaries and Cultural Membership in American Society], Penny Edgell, Joseph Gerteis, Douglas Hartmann, University of Minnesota, 2006</ref><ref>[http://asr.sagepub.com/content/71/2/211.abstract Atheists As “Other”: Moral Boundaries and Cultural Membership in American Society], Penny Edgell, Joseph Gerteis, Douglas Hartmann, University of Minnesota, 2006</ref>}}
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The [[Barna Group]] found that [[atheism|atheists]] and [[agnostics]] in America were more likely, than [[theist]]s in America, to look upon the following behaviors as morally acceptable:  illegal drug use; excessive drinking; sexual relationships outside of marriage; [[abortion]]; cohabitating with someone of opposite sex outside of marriage; obscene language; gambling; pornography and obscene sexual behavior; and engaging in [[homosexuality]]/bisexuality.<ref>http://www.barna.org/barna-update/article/5-barna-update/58-practical-outcomes-replace-biblical-principles-as-the-moral-standard</ref>
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For more information, please see:
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* [[Atheism and drug addiction]]
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*[[Nontheistic Thailand and child prostitution]]
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*[[Moral failures of the atheist population]]
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=== American views on atheists: Results of University of Minnesota study ===
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Study: [https://www.soc.umn.edu/assets/pdf/atheistAsOther.pdf  Atheists As “Other”: Moral Boundaries and Cultural Membership in American Society], Penny Edgell, Joseph Gerteis, Douglas Hartmann, University of Minnesota, 2006
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A table of the results of the study is found below.
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{| class="wikitable"
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|-
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! Position:
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! This group does not at all agree with<br> my vision of American society:
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! I would disapprove if my child wanted<br> to marry a member of this group:
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|-
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| Atheist
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| 39.6%
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| 47.6%
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|-
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| Muslim
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| 26.3%
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| 33.5%
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|-
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| Homosexual
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| 22.6%
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| NA
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|-
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|Conservative Christian
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| 13.5%
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| 6.9%
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|-
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| Recent Immigrant
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| 12.5%
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| Not Asked
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|-
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| Hispanic
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| 7.6%
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| 18.5%
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|-
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| Jew
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| 7.4%
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| 11.8%
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|-
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| Asian American
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| 7.0%
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| 18.5%
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|-
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|African American
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| 4.6%
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| 27.2%
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|-
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| White American
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| 2.2%
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| 2.3%
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|}
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=== University of Minnesota indicates that American dislike of atheists grew ===
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A 2016 press release of a University of Minnesota study on atheists reported:
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{{Cquote|Survey data collected in 2014 shows that, compared to data collected in 2003, Americans have sharpened their negative views of atheists...
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The findings of this most recent survey support the argument that atheists are persistent cultural outsiders in the United States because they are perceived to have rejected cultural values and practices understood as essential to private morality, civic virtue, and national identity. Moreover, any refusal to embrace a religious identity of any type is troubling for a large portion of Americans.<ref>[http://cla.umn.edu/news-events/news/atheists-remain-most-disliked-religious-minority-us Atheists Remain Most Disliked Religious Minority in the US]</ref>}}
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The atheist Dan Arel reported:
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{{Cquote|In 2014, [http://www.alternet.org/belief/major-study-americas-overwhelming-mean-streak-toward-atheists-and-muslims Pew Research found that atheists ranked down at the bottom of the list], only 1 point above Muslims as the least trusted religious demographic in the United States...
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Now, according to a [http://sf.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2016/08/17/sf.sow063.abstract new study released by University of Minnesota sociologists] shows that today, atheists are the most disliked.
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The study compared a previous 2003 study with the new study, originally conducted in 2014, and found that Americans have only sharpened their dislike for atheists and religious nones.<ref>[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/danthropology/2016/09/study-atheists-remain-the-most-disliked-religious-minority-in-the-u-s/ Study: Atheists remain the most disliked religious minority in the U.S.]</ref>}}
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According the American atheist author Kevin Davis, atheism has an "unshakeable stigma".<ref>[http://www.peacock-panache.com/2016/11/lifetree-meeting-atheism-26370.html An Atheist Walks into a Christian Meeting about Atheism] by Kevin Davis</ref>
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=== Sociology of "atheism is un-American" view ===
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''See also:'' [[Sociology of "atheism is un-American" view]]
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The 2013 Freedom of Thought report published the International [[Secular humanism|Humanist]] and Ethical Union indicates: "...the U.S. has long been home to a social and political atmosphere in which atheists and the non-religious are made to feel like lesser Americans or non-Americans."<ref>[http://freethoughtreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/FOTReport2013.pdf 2013 Freedom of Thought] by  International Humanist and Ethical Union</ref>
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The [[Sociologist|sociologist]] Phil Zuckerman, who is an atheist, wrote in his ''Psychology Today'' article ''Why Americans Hate Atheists'':
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{{Cquote|'''1.''' Americans equate a lack of religiosity in general – or atheism specifically – with immorality.
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'''2.''' Americans equate a lack of religiosity in general – or atheism specifically – with being un-American and/or unpatriotic.
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'''3.''' There is no stigma concerning the expressed dislike of the non-religious. While there is a stigma (to varying degrees, depending on one’s social milieu) attached to being racist, or anti-Semitic, or [[Islamophobia|Islamophobic]]... – there has never existed a social or cultural backlash against people who openly express disdain for secular folks. So people simply feel much more comfortable expressing their dislike for atheists than, say, Latinas/os or women.<ref>[https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-secular-life/201406/why-americans-hate-atheists Why Americans Hate Atheists] by Phil Zuckerman</ref>}}
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== Atheism is significantly less appealing to women ==
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See also: [[Atheism and women]] and [[Atheism and marriageability]]
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Survey data and website tracking data of prominent [[atheism|atheists]]' websites indicate that in the [[Western World]], atheism is significantly [[Atheism and women|less appealing to women]].<ref>http://www.americanreligionsurvey-aris.org/reports/NONES_08.pdf</ref><ref>http://www.livescience.com/culture/090227-religion-men-women.html</ref><ref>http://www.conservapedia.com/Atheism_appears_to_be_significantly_less_appealing_to_women</ref>
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== American racial minority views of atheism ==
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''See also:'' [[Western atheism and race]]
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In 2015, ''BloombergView'' reported concerning the [[United States]]:
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{{cquote|According to a much-discussed 2012 report from the Pew Research Center on Religion and Public Life, only 3 percent of U.S. atheists and agnostics are black, 6 percent are Hispanic, and 4 percent are Asian. Some 82 percent are white. (The relevant figures for the population at large at the time of the survey were 66 percent white, 11 percent black, 15 percent Hispanic, 5 percent Asian.)
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...Craig Keener, in his huge review of claims of miracles in a wide variety of cultures, concludes that routine rejection of the possibility of the [[supernatural]] represents an impulse that is [[Secular Europe|deeply Eurocentric]].<ref>[http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2015-03-27/the-atheism-gap The Atheism Gap] By Stephen L. Carter, ''BloombergView'', Mar 27, 2015 4:26 PM EDT</ref>}}
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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>
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{{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}}
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== Religious groups in America and their views on atheists ==
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Pew Forum reported about various religious groups in America and their views on atheists:
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{{Cquote|We asked Americans to rate eight religious groups on a “feeling thermometer” from 0 to 100, with higher numbers indicating warmer, more positive feelings and lower numbers indicating colder, more negative feelings. On average, [[Roman Catholic Church|Catholics]] give atheists a rating of 38, and [[Protestantism|Protestants]] give them a frosty 32 – lower than either group’s ratings for Buddhists, Hindus, Jews, Mormons or Muslims. White [[Evangelical Christians|evangelical Protestants]] express particularly cold feelings toward atheists, with an average thermometer reading of 25.<ref>[http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/07/16/u-s-evangelical-christians-are-chilly-toward-atheists-and-the-feeling-is-mutual/ U.S. evangelical Christians are chilly toward atheists – and the feeling is mutual]</ref>}}
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== Hate crimes in the United States against atheists/agnostics are very low in number ==
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''See also:'' [[Persecution of atheists]]
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According to a 2007 Pew Forum survey, about 4% of Americans are atheists/[[agnosticism|agnostics]].<ref>[http://religions.pewforum.org/reports Pew Forum Religious Landscape Survey - Key findings]</ref> A 2008 [[Gallup poll]] showed that 6% of the U.S. population believed that no god or universal spirit exists.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gallup.com/poll/109108/belief-god-far-lower-western-us.aspx |title=Belief in God Far Lower in Western U.S |publisher=Gallup.com |accessdate=2012-02-05}}</ref>
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According to 2013 [[FBI]] statistics, 6/10 of a percent of [[hate crime]]s were against atheists/agnostics.<ref>[http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/hate-crime/2013/topic-pages/victims/victims_final 2013 FBI hate crime statistics]</ref><ref>[http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/04/06/atheism-the-next-civil-rights-movement.html Atheism: The Next Civil Rights movement], Vlad Chituc, ''The Daily Beast'', 4-6-2015</ref>
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== Atheism and public relations efforts ==
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''See also:'' [[Atheism and public relations]]
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[[File:Richard Dawkins Cooper Union Shankbone.jpg|alt=Richard Dawkins|thumbnail|200px|left|Although the [[New Atheism|New Atheist]] [[Richard Dawkins]] was always known for [[Abrasiveness of Richard Dawkins|his abrasiveness]] and [[Atheism and arrogance|arrogance]], post [[Elevatorgate]] and subsequent to his various embarrassing Twitter posts, many atheists are now asking if he is a liability for the [[atheist movement]].<ref>
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*[http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/religion/richard-dawkins-atheisms-asset-or-liability/2014/08/07/9f19a7a2-1e58-11e4-9b6c-12e30cbe86a3_story.html Richard Dawkins: Atheism’s asset or liability?] by Kimberly Winston, ''Washington Post'', source: ''Religion News Service'',  August 7, 2014
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*[http://www.newrepublic.com/article/119596/appetite-wonder-review-closed-mind-richard-dawkins ''The Closed Mind of Richard Dawkins''], New Republic by John Gray
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*[https://twitter.com/jennifurret/status/405391218273554433 Jennifer McCreight on the Twitter about the Elevatorgate scandal]
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*[http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/downs-syndrome-girl-passes-six-4095031 Down's Syndrome girl passes six GCSEs as dad calls Richard Dawkins 'an ignorant idiot'], Mirror by By Grace Macaskill, Aug 23, 2014 15:41
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*[http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/08/21/the-12-stages-of-a-richard-dawkins-twitter-scandal_n_5698443.html The 12-Stage 'Evolution' Of A Richard Dawkins Twitter Scandal] by Paul Vale, The Huffington Post UK, Posted: 22/08/2014 02:06 BST</ref> ]]
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The biggest challenge facing [[atheism|atheist]] public relations efforts is that most theists do not think about atheism and would prefer not to as they it is an [[Atheism and irrationality|unreasonable]], [[Atheism and arrogance|arrogant]] and [[Unattractiveness of atheism|unattractive worldview]]. As a result, many atheist campaigns, particularly one's by [[militant atheism|militant atheists]], are designed to be provocative which has the effect of further lowering the public's view of atheism/atheists (see: [[Atheism and public relations]]).
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In areas of the [[Western World]] where theists are in the majority, 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>
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For example, the atheist population in the United States 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.
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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>
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Furthermore, atheists have earned a reputation for arrogance and quarrelsomeness (see: [[Atheism and arrogance]] and [[Atheism and social/interpersonal intelligence|Atheism and social intelligence]] and [[Atheist factions]]).
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In addition, atheism is seen as symptom of moral decay and atheists have often promoted and engaged in immorality (see: [[Atheism and morality]] and [[Moral failures of the atheist community]]).
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Another problem the atheist community faces in terms of its public perception is its intellectual cowardice that first became noticeable within the [[Western World]] since the 1980s and has continued to the present (see: [[Atheism and cowardice]]).
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== See also ==
 
== See also ==
    
*[[Atheism and intelligence]]
 
*[[Atheism and intelligence]]
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== Notes ==
 
== Notes ==
 
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{{reflist|2}}
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