# Believers deem atheists as untrustworthy as rapists **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [December 1, 2011, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/believers-deem-atheists-as-untrustworthy-as-rapists/604739 "2011-12-01T20:17:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2011, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/believers-deem-atheists-as-untrustworthy-as-rapists/604739/21 "2011-12-02T07:18:57Z")
> [@Trepa\_Mayfield](#): > > Uggh…that reminds me of the time I went to an atheist church. It was kind of cool at first, but the sermons were so incredibly boring, and they just invited everyone to bicker every single week. Yeah, atheists make terrible preachers. You’re going to the wrong atheist church. At mine, the non-preacher says at the top of his lungs: “I disbelieve with a perfect lack of faith …” Quite moving, really. ---
**Author:** ![mac\_bolan00](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b3f665/32.png) [@mac\_bolan00](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mac_bolan00)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2011, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/believers-deem-atheists-as-untrustworthy-as-rapists/604739/22 "2011-12-02T07:21:18Z")
did it also mention the study that most women hold rape as their main sexual fantasy? ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2011, 8:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/believers-deem-atheists-as-untrustworthy-as-rapists/604739/23 "2011-12-02T08:32:32Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > I think that, or something very like it, truly is the way they think: either atheists don’t have a conscience, or they don’t have a belief in Good and Evil: that they believe we live in an amoral universe in which nothing is inherently wrong or right. Or they think we’re lying because “everyone knows there’s a God”. > [@mac\_bolan00](#): > > did it also mention the study that most women hold rape as their main sexual fantasy? Never heard of it, and I don’t see the relevance of such a study to this discussion anyway. ---
**Author:** ![SantaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/da6949/32.png) [@SantaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SantaMan)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2011, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/believers-deem-atheists-as-untrustworthy-as-rapists/604739/24 "2011-12-02T08:47:04Z")
I guess I must preface this with “I do not agree by any measure, but I can understand it” If we are talking about a community where just about everybody follows certain norms, someone who is noticably outside those norms may give one pause. Since I am gay, I can understand (but not agree!) that people who do not have direct experience with people like me might wonder - “If they do one thing which (even ignoring the ick factor) is so beyond my experience outside the norm that I would not never consider doing, what else would they do?” ETA: I sometimes see the opposite within my subcommunity where some folks automatically look at me with suspicion because I am a man of faith, and thus might be on of those evul Xtians who oppresses everybody. ---
**Author:** ![Untoward\_Parable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/51bf81/32.png) [@Untoward\_Parable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Untoward_Parable)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2011, 8:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/believers-deem-atheists-as-untrustworthy-as-rapists/604739/25 "2011-12-02T08:58:03Z")
Another way to look at this, maybe the faithful are just really not that tweaked about rapists. In their world rapists can be redeemed and forgiven. Also if a woman is raped she must be asking for it right churchies? ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2011, 9:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/believers-deem-atheists-as-untrustworthy-as-rapists/604739/26 "2011-12-02T09:04:44Z")
> [@Untoward\_Parable](#): > > Another way to look at this, maybe the faithful are just really not that tweaked about rapists. In their world rapists can be redeemed and forgiven. Also if a woman is raped she must be asking for it right churchies? The way the article worded the claims, it sounded closer to “statistically, Christians are less likely to trust an atheist than a rapist (and both statistics are rather low)” as opposed to “respondents were directly asked whether they’d prefer a rapist to an atheist.” ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2011, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/believers-deem-atheists-as-untrustworthy-as-rapists/604739/27 "2011-12-02T11:04:49Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > This is my take on it, too. I trust atheists just fine-- Who I _don’t_ trust is the people who can’t trust atheists. You need to be very, very adept at ignoring your own conscience to think that conscience doesn’t even exist, and people who are that skilled at ignoring their conscience are _dangerous_. Or, you know, they can think their conscience comes from God, or at least is based on Christian teaching, and thus atheists don’t have one that is compatible. And I wouldn’t trust an atheist to take half the time of raising my kid. I’ve seen how badly atheists on the Dope freak out about a parent’s right to teach their kids their religion. If they were older, then I might be okay. But not at daycare age where all learning is essentially brainwashing. Now being more afraid than of a rapist is siilly. But seeing as the two were apparently not directly compared, I’m not sure that that is relevant. Just because more people say no to atheists doesn’t mean they would say they preferred the atheist to the rapist. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2011, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/believers-deem-atheists-as-untrustworthy-as-rapists/604739/28 "2011-12-02T11:11:57Z")
> [@Cheshire\_Human](#): > > Personally, I’d kill the kid and rape the wife, but that’s just me. Look, this thread is about atheism. If you want to debate agnosticism, start your own thread. ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2011, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/believers-deem-atheists-as-untrustworthy-as-rapists/604739/29 "2011-12-02T11:12:28Z")
Honestly, I think there’s a world of difference between people who respond when asked and people who self-identify. As an atheist, I’d trust a Christian, Atheist, Buddhist, whatever that responds with their religion when I ask them. With child care I probably would be much, much more wary of anybody, regardless of whether they shared my beliefs or not, if they shared this information unsolicited. The difference is that when people just offer up information from nothing it tends to be a core part of their identity, and they tend to be fond of (even unknowingly) attempting to thrust it upon others. There’s a world of difference between someone who opens an interview with “I’m a good Christian” and one who casually mentions going to church when you ask them to tell a story about themselves. Likewise, there’s a difference between somebody who randomly says “I’m an atheist” and the guy who only really admits it when the topic of religion comes up. ---
**Author:** ![Uzi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/91b2a8/32.png) [@Uzi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uzi)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2011, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/believers-deem-atheists-as-untrustworthy-as-rapists/604739/30 "2011-12-02T11:20:25Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > And I wouldn’t trust an atheist to take half the time of raising my kid. I’ve seen how badly atheists on the Dope freak out about a parent’s right to teach their kids their religion. If they were older, then I might be okay. But not at daycare age where all learning is essentially brainwashing. But you don’t have a problem with kids being brainwashed with religion? So, you wouldn’t mind them coming home thinking that Vishnu was god, correct? Just if someone said he wasn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Troppus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a587f6/32.png) [@Troppus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troppus)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2011, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/believers-deem-atheists-as-untrustworthy-as-rapists/604739/31 "2011-12-02T11:24:43Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > Or, you know, they can think their conscience comes from God, or at least is based on Christian teaching, and thus atheists don’t have one that is compatible. > > And I wouldn’t trust an atheist to take half the time of raising my kid. I’ve seen how badly atheists on the Dope freak out about a parent’s right to teach their kids their religion. If they were older, then I might be okay. But not at daycare age where all learning is essentially brainwashing. > > Now being more afraid than of a rapist is siilly. But seeing as the two were apparently not directly compared, I’m not sure that that is relevant. Just because more people say no to atheists doesn’t mean they would say they preferred the atheist to the rapist. So you just throw “We are all God’s children/we are as God made us” right out the window huh? Well, that, and you assume that the persons participating in an online, relatively anonymous discussion about religious practice have a desire to brainwash toddlers at the daycare. Speaking for myself, I prefer for religion to remain separate from politics, work, school, and nearly all professional environments, and I absolutely resent religious discussion outside the context of church and politely change the subject at the first opportunity. I certainly wouldn’t dream of sparking doubt or fear in the mind of an innocent child whether a parent chooses to create the illusion of Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy, or God, Jesus, and/or the Holy Ghost. However, since you apparently believe, I suppose you wouldn’t hesitate to describe a flaming Hell, the torment of Eternal Damnation, or invoke the terrifying spector of Satan in order to influence your child’s behavior. Noted, and likewise: I wouldn’t think of entrusting my child to a Christian, as I prefer a safe, nuturing daycare environment for my child. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2011, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/believers-deem-atheists-as-untrustworthy-as-rapists/604739/32 "2011-12-02T13:42:06Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > You’re going to the wrong atheist church. At mine, the non-preacher says at the top of his lungs: > “I disbelieve with a perfect lack of faith …” > > Quite moving, really. The only thing the preacher at my atheist church says is: “You guys need another round?” ---
**Author:** ![New\_Deal\_Democrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9d8465/32.png) [@New\_Deal\_Democrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/New_Deal_Democrat)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2011, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/believers-deem-atheists-as-untrustworthy-as-rapists/604739/33 "2011-12-02T14:06:05Z")
Never in my life has my religion been a factor in getting a job. I believe it is illegal to ask a job applicant about the applicant’s religious beliefs. As a voter I prefer candidates who are conventionally Christian or Jewish. I would be reluctant to vote for a militant atheist because such a person would be likely to try to remove “In God we trust,” from the currency, tax church property, and so on. I would be reluctant to vote for someone who believes in the literal truth of the Genesis creation story, because such a person will believe anything he or she wants to believe in. I would be reluctant to vote for a Mormon because Joseph Smith was a religious charlatan. Anyone who makes a thorough and dispassionate study of the origins of the Church of Latter Day Saints will agree. I would be reluctant to vote for a Muslim because I would doubt that person’s loyalty in the War on Terrorism. I would also doubt that persons commitment to the survival and well being of Israel. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2011, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/believers-deem-atheists-as-untrustworthy-as-rapists/604739/34 "2011-12-02T14:06:52Z")
For what it’s worth, I know some atheists whom I would theoretically trust to probably not rape my children. So it’s not all believers! ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2011, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/believers-deem-atheists-as-untrustworthy-as-rapists/604739/35 "2011-12-02T14:36:26Z")
> [@Skammer](#): > > For what it’s worth, I know some atheists whom I would theoretically trust to probably not rape my children. So it’s not all believers! _sniffle_ I can’t tell you how happy this makes us. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2011, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/believers-deem-atheists-as-untrustworthy-as-rapists/604739/36 "2011-12-02T14:53:58Z")
:mad: I say an atheist can make a **perfectly** trustworthy rapist! What, just 'cause he can’t pray to rise to the occasion?! There’s such thing as Viagra, you know! ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2011, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/believers-deem-atheists-as-untrustworthy-as-rapists/604739/37 "2011-12-02T15:07:10Z")
> [@mnemosyne](#): > > Do the religious people in the SDMB have a fundamental lack of trust of atheists? Are there some tasks that you simply wouldn’t trust an atheist to do (other than leading a sermon or things of that nature, obviously!) I don’t like the comparison of atheism vs. a particular religion as that is not a valid comparison. Theism vs atheism would be the basis of a fair comparison that has meaning. Atheism has many subsets as does theism and in both we have people placing their faith and trust in something. I consider myself a non religious believer. One thing about religious believers is you know where they stand. Their morals are hard coded in their religion. This may be of benefit of knowing if they would be appropriate for a position, however this is only a assumption that has been shown to be false at times, so it is a dangerous one. Atheists OTHO cover a very broad spectrum (as does theists), many atheist appear to me to be equally as religious and fundamentalist in their views as some believers. So it is getting to know the person, to know their heart, which is the determining factor for either theists or atheists. ---
**Author:** ![acetylene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@acetylene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/acetylene)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2011, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/believers-deem-atheists-as-untrustworthy-as-rapists/604739/38 "2011-12-02T15:09:37Z")
Interesting. Apparently this has been studied before. [2006 University of Minnesota](http://www1.umn.edu/news/news-releases/2006/UR_RELEASE_MIG_2816.html). > [@](#): > > university researchers found that Americans rate atheists below Muslims, recent immigrants, gays and lesbians and other minority groups in “sharing their vision of American society.” Atheists are also the minority group most Americans are least willing to allow their children to marry Before today I never really considered myself as being a member of a minority group. It’s kind of weird. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2011, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/believers-deem-atheists-as-untrustworthy-as-rapists/604739/39 "2011-12-02T15:12:06Z")
> [@New\_Deal\_Democrat](#): > > As a voter I prefer candidates who are conventionally Christian or Jewish. I would be reluctant to vote for a militant atheist… Let’s stop you right there. What is a “militant atheist”? what defines them? What is a non-militant atheist? what defines them? and would you be perfectly happy to vote for them instead? ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2011, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/believers-deem-atheists-as-untrustworthy-as-rapists/604739/40 "2011-12-02T15:19:40Z")
> [@acetylene](#): > > Before today I never really considered myself as being a member of a minority group. It’s kind of weird. It’s also kind of new. Does anyone know when distrust of other religious denominations was replaced with distrust of atheists? Protestant and catholic used to shun each other, and both shunned jews; now they team up as “Christians” to either shun the Muslim or the atheists. It seems they haven’t really decided yet which is the bigger enemy. Is that progress? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/believers-deem-atheists-as-untrustworthy-as-rapists/604739.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/believers-deem-atheists-as-untrustworthy-as-rapists/604739.md?page=3)