Finally!! Someone sees it! I'm pagan (which is sometimes considered worse), but in light of being a more 'official' religion, I get less flack than my husband, who is an atheist.
Yeah, my BF's mom is Catholic, and she believed we had common ground as long as I believed in something, even when she thought it was pagan/druidic -- but when I told her that I was an atheist, she shut down FAST. Even though the entire conversation was in the context of finding common ground in deep experiences despite variety of beliefs. Apparently "Lack there of" was the step too far.
I wouldn't be surprised if that's different in a non-western setting, though. "God is all God and we need to get along" is a a message that the more peaceful-oriented members of Abrahamic religions have been trying to push for years (and good for them!). That gives you the open-minded-to-an-extent "As long as you believe in *something*" kind of idea.
In at least seven U.S. states, constitutional provisions are in place that bar atheists from public office and one state, Arkansas, has a law that bars an atheist from testifying as a witness at a trial, the report said.
damn, though I wonder how often these things are enforced. My guess is not much because that seems ridiculously unconstitutional.
They were ruled unconstitutional in 1961 (Torcaso v. Watkins) (sorry about the Wikipedia link). But they're still there in the state constitutions, which rankles.
And all of these laws are potentially enforcable. But if you are convicted of any of them, you could appeal on the grounds that they are unconstitutional.
In many of these countries, and others like Malaysia, citizens have to register as adherents of a small number officially-recognized religions -- which normally include no more than Christianity and Judaism as well as Islam.
Hmm... I can't really remember if I had to write down on what religion I'm associated with because I've been back in Malaysia for only about a couple of months, but I certainly might remember some forms asking for it. Most of the time, I just write down 'Buddhism'. But I'm half Buddhist/Atheist, with no problems with it so far.
I haven't told my family I'm an Atheist because I worry about how they'll treat me once they find out. They already treat me like shit, so I'd hate to get treated even more like shit by them.
1) Commenting in posts about folks who are persecuted by religion asshats about how all religion is evil/backwards and ignoring the social context of what's happening and how the language and ideas they're espousing are just the same old racist, colonialist bullshit about the ignorant brown/black/yellow/red people and their backwards beliefs
2) Talking about stuff they face in America (which is bullshit and not at all OK) and acting like they are an oppressed class, ignoring the very real dangers that atheists in other parts of the world face or using those stories to illustrate their own perceived victimization.
Having people treat you badly because you're an atheist/agnostic is bullshit, I'm not saying otherwise. But it's not at all the marginalization that many white atheists (often middle-class white cis dudes who jiz over Dawkins, Hitchens, Harris and Dennett) seem to assume it is. As someone who's agnostic it's really insulting.
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I wouldn't be surprised if that's different in a non-western setting, though. "God is all God and we need to get along" is a a message that the more peaceful-oriented members of Abrahamic religions have been trying to push for years (and good for them!). That gives you the open-minded-to-an-extent "As long as you believe in *something*" kind of idea.
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damn, though I wonder how often these things are enforced. My guess is not much because that seems ridiculously unconstitutional.
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And all of these laws are potentially enforcable. But if you are convicted of any of them, you could appeal on the grounds that they are unconstitutional.
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Hmm... I can't really remember if I had to write down on what religion I'm associated with because I've been back in Malaysia for only about a couple of months, but I certainly might remember some forms asking for it. Most of the time, I just write down 'Buddhism'. But I'm half Buddhist/Atheist, with no problems with it so far.
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Regardless of what you decide, there's no excuse for anyone treating you like that, but especially family. I hope things work out. <3
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1) Commenting in posts about folks who are persecuted by religion asshats about how all religion is evil/backwards and ignoring the social context of what's happening and how the language and ideas they're espousing are just the same old racist, colonialist bullshit about the ignorant brown/black/yellow/red people and their backwards beliefs
2) Talking about stuff they face in America (which is bullshit and not at all OK) and acting like they are an oppressed class, ignoring the very real dangers that atheists in other parts of the world face or using those stories to illustrate their own perceived victimization.
Having people treat you badly because you're an atheist/agnostic is bullshit, I'm not saying otherwise. But it's not at all the marginalization that many white atheists (often middle-class white cis dudes who jiz over Dawkins, Hitchens, Harris and Dennett) seem to assume it is. As someone who's agnostic it's really insulting.
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