Difference between revisions of "Persecution of atheists"

Revision as of 17:44, April 25, 2015

The president of the American Atheists organization, David Silverman, was given the label of an atheist whiner by the American woman Natalie Rothschild.^[1] See also: Atheism and public relations

As atheism vs. Islam conflict has increased in the world, there are growing reports of Islamic governments imprisoning/executing atheists and radical Islamacists killing atheists, but they are still relatively few in number.^[2] This is especially true when you consider the large scale persecution of theists that has occurred in history by atheists and the persecution of religious people that still occurs in China and North Korea (see: Militant atheism and Atheism and mass murder).

It is estimated that in the past 100 years, governments under the banner of atheistic communism have caused the death of somewhere between 40,472,000 to 259,432,000 human lives.^[3] Dr. R. J. Rummel, professor emeritus of political science at the University of Hawaii, is the scholar who first coined the term democide (death by government). Dr. R. J. Rummel's mid estimate regarding the loss of life due to communism is that communism caused the death of approximately 110,286,000 people between 1917 and 1987.^[4]

Hate crimes in the United States against atheists/agnostics are very low in number

See also: Atheism statistics

According to a 2007 Pew Forum survey, about 4% of Americans are atheists/agnostics.^[5] A 2008 Gallup poll showed that 6% of the U.S. population believed that no god or universal spirit exists.^[6]

According to 2013 FBI statistics, 6/10 of a percent of hate crimes were against atheists/agnostics.^[7][8]

Claims of being an oppressed minority by American atheists are often not taken seriously

Dennis Prager is a vocal opponent of atheist indoctrination in public schools.^[9]

See also: Atheism vs. Christianity

Atheist Tom Krattenmaker was quoted in Time magazine as saying about American atheists, "Even though we’re despised in some parts of the country and discriminated against in some ways, we don’t really get bullied or picked on. That makes it harder to gain sympathy for our views."^[10]

In the United States, a significant amount of atheists are white males and the American atheist population has been criticized for its lack of racial diversity and lower amount of females in its population (Western atheism and race and Atheism and women). The Pew Research Forum reported in 2013 concerning American atheists: "About four-in-ten atheists (43%) have a college degree, compared with 29% of the general public."^[11] In 2012, the Pew Research Forum reported regarding American atheists: "And about 38% of atheists and agnostics have an annual family income of at least $75,000, compared with 29% of the general public."^[12] Also, atheists within the United States have developed a reputation of uncharitableness as they gave far less to charities, even if church donations are not counted (see: Atheism and uncharitableness). As a result of these factors, claims of being an oppressed minority by atheists are often dismissed even by fellow atheists (See: Atheist whining).^[13]

In addition, given the favorable treatment atheist activists often receive in the media and the atheistic indoctrination that occurs in public schools/universities, the notion of atheists as an oppressed minority is often rejected by Americans.

At the same time, in America as in many theistic societies, atheists are the least trusted group and many Americans have a low opinion of atheism/atheists (see: Views on atheists and Atheism and social outcasts). Many Americans disagree with the relativistic morality and immoral behavior that many atheists display (see: Atheism and morality and Moral failures of the atheist population).

Historically, many Christians have shown a significant amount of patience/tolerance towards atheists - even in face of persecution by atheists (see: Christian patience, forgiveness and long-suffering towards atheists).

Ex-Muslim atheists are becoming more outspoken, but Muslim tolerance is still rare

According to The Economist, in a handful of majority-Muslim countries atheists can live safely, if quietly. Turkey is one example.^[14]

In 2012, The Economist indicated in an article entitled Ex-Muslim atheists are becoming more outspoken, but Muslim tolerance is still rare:

Turkey and Lebanon have had significant Christian influence in their cultural past. For example, the churches listed in the Book of Revelation were located in Turkey and Constantinople was renamed Istanbul after the Muslim conquest of the city.^[16]

Islamic violence against atheists: Recent high profile incidents

In 2015, there were violent incidents which involved militant Muslims killing atheists and an American incident which involved a militant atheist killing three American Muslims.^{[17][18] [19]}

Below are some statistics and other relevant information relative to atheist/Muslim violence (see also: Atheism statistics).

Muslim violence against atheists/secularists

Charlie Hebdo incident

France has the 8th highest rate of atheism in the world with 43 - 54% of the population being atheists/agnostics/non-believers in God.^[20]

France has the 8th highest rate of atheism in the world with 43 - 54% of the population being atheists/agnostics/non-believers in God.^[21] In addition, France has the 4rth highest belief in evolution in the Western World.^[22]

Specifically, in November 2011, the Paris offices of Charlie Hebdo were fire-bombed by Muslim jihad terrorists and their website was hacked. On the 7th of January 2015, in the liberal gun free zone of Paris, three extremist Islamic terrorist French-born males armed with fully-automatic AK-47s murdered, execution-style, 10 of the staff and 2 policeman and wounded other ten people. Well known socialist cartoonists Charb, Cabu, Honoré, Tignous and Wolinski were all killed.^[23]

Denmark terrorist incident at meeting entitled Art, Blasphemy and Freedom of Speech

In 2005, Denmark was ranked the third most atheistic country in the world and the website adherents.com reported that in 2005 43 - 80% of Danes are agnostics/atheists/non-believers in God.^[24] Denmark has the highest rate of belief in evolution in the Western World.^[25]

In February of 2015, Vox Day reported:

The event discussed the topic of drawing of pictures of Mohammed which many Muslims consider to be blasphemous.^[27][28]

String of atheist bloggers killed by Islamic extremists in Bangledesh

In 2015, it was reported that there has been a recent string of atheist bloggers being killed by Islamic extremists.^[29]

See also

• Atheophobia

• Atheist actions against homosexuals

• Desecularization

Notes