Why are atheists so mistrusted (despised?) by those who believe?

[birdie1971]

I've often heard it said (mostly by Americans on TV) that they'd rather vote for someone who was religious, regardless of their religion, than they would an atheist.

So two questions:

Question A: Christians, who would you prefer to have as a neighbour - a muslim or an atheist?
Question B: Muslims, who would you prefer to have as a neighbour - a christian or an atheist?

[baza]

why the brackets, question A , I don't mind as long as they don't play loud music or party all night.
Question B n/a.

[beso]

Because atheists reveal the truth about faith.

[birdie1971]

Baza - “... why the brackets...”

Correct me if I'm wrong on this but I get the impression that your average religious American thinks that atheists are beneath contempt.

[baza]

surely your header did not need the brackets to present your point, I was not referring to the second brackets but the first.

[lcg]

or c) why do you distrust religious people.......i don't because they are usually supercillious (sp.) and hypocrites.

i would prefer a nice person next door, not a lunatic or asbo neighbour.
lord knows about q.2

[woofgang]

Dunno, I believe in gd and I don't despise and mistrust atheists en masse any more than I trust and admire religious people en masse.

[naomi24]

I’m neither Christian nor Muslim, so I can’t answer the last bit of your question. However, I don’t think it’s just ‘your average American’ that mistrusts and despises atheists– it extends beyond that. To use the word ‘suspicion’, in many instances, understates the reaction of the religious when confronted with atheism. Here in the UK, as in the US, atheists are often viewed, not simply with suspicion, but with hatred. Why? I can only assume it’s because the argument against religion is unassailable and therefore those who feel compelled to defend their God despite the evidence against him, or feel that the status quo is in danger of collapse – or, more often, who don’t like truth and rationality to get in the way of fantasy, deem atheism a threat – and one that religion is powerless to challenge. It’s the old story. When people have no intelligent defence against the message, they adopt a victim mentality and resort to attacking the messenger in whatever way they can – and if that means demonising him, or ridiculing him, or ostracising him, then that’s what they do. The psychology of the religious makes fascinating study. ;o)

[boxtops]

I don't mind who lives next door to me, we have church-going Christians, practising and non-practising Muslims (in different houses), some Chinese people, and the don't-do-anythings in our street. It doesn't appear to bother any of us.

[RATTER15]

Its very easy for some to despise those who question their beliefs, especially religious beliefs, it makes their beliefs sound rather foolish and childish, its easier to dismiss these people as idiots and many people automatically detest idiots.

[RATTER15]

I dont give a hoot who lives next door as long as they are pleasant trustworthy people it makes no odds to me.

[jomifl]

Follow this line of reasoning. Communists are atheists, therefore atheists are communists. Communists are anti-american, therefore atheists are anti-american. Atheists want to destroy America therefore we must hate them because jesus is love. Clear?

[modeller]

I don't know or care what people are and in view of the fact 90% of our population don't go to a place of worship I think that it is probably true of most people.

[atalanta]

Religion is a synonym for control of the population. Make them feel guilty if they break your rules, make them feel guilty if they have some pleasure, give them a way of not fearing death if they do as they are told - atheists are free of all this mumbo-jumbo. They don't have to accept control by priests or mullahs or imams - they control themselves. They will not accept your rules or your guilt, so they can be independent and free. It is freedom from control that religious leaders fear and hate, and which they teach their followers to hate. But in fact the faithful are envious of the atheists' freedom, so their priests and ayatollahs have to brainwash the worshippers more ferociously than ever. Carrots and sticks, heaven and hell, threats and promises. Or just be free and use your own powers of reasoning and live your own life. Your choice.

[keyplus90]

Because Atheists are arrogant.

[LazyGun]

@Keyplus - But when atheists attempt to persuade people of the benefits of atheism, we do not do it at the point of a gun, or under the threat of a bomb,unlike some of the more fervent believers of religion.

The worst that can be said of atheists in that regard is that they display little humility, and might ruffle a beleivers convictions a little :)

Nor do atheists have any social or cultural issues which they attempt to enforce at the point of a gun, unlike the Taliban who shoot young girls in the head when they stand up for their right to an education.

The worst an atheist will do is to encourage you to exercise a bit of reason, a bit of rational thinking, when examining your beliefs.

Atheists will not beat you up or kill you if you are a homosexual. Atheists will not prevent you from marrying your partner, or adopting kids.Atheists will not kill you if you offer or perform abortions.Atheists will not pour acid in your face and kill their own children for looking at a boy twice.

Atheists do not bomb churches with the worshippers inside, as a form of ethnic cleansing.

We ask you to challenge your convictions, examine your certainties, and in your dealings with others to employ the golden rule......

[mibn2cweus]

Why Are Atheists So Mistrusted (Despised?) By Those Who Believe?

Fear of retribution?

[LazyGun]

One of the cornerstones of belief, drilled into the faithful from an early age, is that your moral compass is derived from the teachings of your particular flavour of church.

Atheists challenge the foundations of their belief - ridicule the faithful, mock the religious narratives, defend the right to mock and be critical. This will obviously make the faithful mistrustful. More - since atheists are non-believers, they must, by the faithfuls logic, be immoral, so not to be trusted.

[naomi24]

Keyplus, //Because Atheists are arrogant.//

What is more arrogant than believing you possess positive knowledge of the ultimate truth? Atheists don’t do that – but I know a man who does. ;o)

[jomifl]

Keyplus, does that statement not demonstrate your arrogance? You have made a broad statement without giving any supporting evidence. It is also almost certainly demonstrably untrue so you have uttered a lie, perhaps you had better come to an accommodation with your god otherwise you will not be destined for paradise