# Is it socially acceptable to be an atheist in the US? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [August 5, 2014, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-socially-acceptable-to-be-an-atheist-in-the-us/694837 "2014-08-05T01:15:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![filmstar-en](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/50afbb/32.png) [@filmstar-en](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmstar-en)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-socially-acceptable-to-be-an-atheist-in-the-us/694837/1 "2014-08-05T01:15:04Z")
The attitude towards religion seems to be significantly different in the US compared to Europe. While the US constitution guarantees freedom of religion, does that mean protection is not exend to those who have no religion? No fighting between religions but quite okay to kick the backside of the Godless? Do people really have to hide the fact that they do not believe in God because of a fear of being ostracised socially? Is that how it is? Is stigma widespread or concentrated in just some areas? > **[The stigma of being an atheist in the US](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-28616115)** > > Atheists launch a new TV channel and provide support for those "coming out" with their beliefs. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-socially-acceptable-to-be-an-atheist-in-the-us/694837/2 "2014-08-05T01:23:10Z")
You get some flak for it. Some people assume all atheists are bitter people who want to believe in god but are too damaged to do so. Others equate atheism with a rejection of christianity as if those are the only options (which is like equating being sober with a rejection of gin). Its not horrible flak though, not from what I’ve seen. You’d get a lot more flak for being a satanist. US religious heirarchy (I assume, I’m guessing) Socially acceptable christians (catholic, protestant, etc) weird christians (mormon, etc) other faiths except Islam Islam Atheism Satanism ---
**Author:** ![yellowjacketcoder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/4bbf92/32.png) [@yellowjacketcoder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowjacketcoder)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-socially-acceptable-to-be-an-atheist-in-the-us/694837/3 "2014-08-05T01:26:35Z")
Like most social questions, it depends on where you live. Portland, Oregon, nobody will care. Vidalia, Georgia, why they might just have to run you out of town on a rail. I’m an atheist in the South, but I only mention it to my friends and just keep my mouth shut otherwise. Although honestly, I’m not sure how it’s supposed to come up. It’s not like you’re going to be waiting in line at the grocery store and decide to announce to the person behind you that you don’t believe in a god. ---
**Author:** ![rat\_avatar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rat_avatar/32/255_2.png) [@rat\_avatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rat_avatar)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-socially-acceptable-to-be-an-atheist-in-the-us/694837/4 "2014-08-05T01:29:50Z")
It depends on the part of the country you are in, but in most of the country, no. Atheists poll as being as trustworthy as a known rapist. Many people will never knowingly higher an atheist. [http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/in-atheists-we-distrust/](http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/in-atheists-we-distrust/) It is getting better but it is not “socially acceptable” for most people in the US. ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-socially-acceptable-to-be-an-atheist-in-the-us/694837/5 "2014-08-05T01:34:29Z")
My husband has been an atheist living in NJ and NYC. No one cares. No one has brought it up with him nor mentioned anything negative to him about it. So in our experience in the northeast it is a non-issue. However, even here I think a pol would have a hard time getting elected if that pol did not at least pretend some kind of mainstream religious affiliation. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-socially-acceptable-to-be-an-atheist-in-the-us/694837/6 "2014-08-05T01:37:20Z")
> [@filmstar-en](#): > > Do people really have to hide the fact that they do not believe in God because of a fear of being ostracised socially? > > Is that how it is? Is stigma widespread or concentrated in just some areas? From what I’ve heard, it does vary significantly depending on what part of the U.S. you’re in (and, of course, on the particular people you hang around with). I know this is something we’ve discussed in a few threads before, but the only one I could find offhand was this one: [Believers deem atheists as untrustworthy as rapists](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=633334) ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-socially-acceptable-to-be-an-atheist-in-the-us/694837/7 "2014-08-05T01:39:41Z")
It varies a lot by social circle, and by region. But no, atheists are often forced to choose between lying about our beliefs, or making enemies. I have many times given the wrong answer to the question, “Where do you go to church?” I was once told by my boss (a secular Jew) that if I wanted to get promoted, I needed to keep quiet about my beliefs, because his religious Christian boss would not only refuse to promote me, but would actively lobby against it. I once told a co-worker I was an atheist, and his response was to ask whether that meant I worshipped Satan. Just the other day, a religious co-worker told a joke about an atheist being eaten by a shark. In light of such experiences, it’s especially frustrating to hear Christians declare that \*they \*are the ones suffering discrimination for their beliefs. To which I always propose the following experiment: we each walk around with a picket sign and pamphlets. My sign will say, “Jesus is Lord”. Yours will say, “There is no God”. The first one to get punched out ‘wins’. ---
**Author:** ![rat\_avatar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rat_avatar/32/255_2.png) [@rat\_avatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rat_avatar)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-socially-acceptable-to-be-an-atheist-in-the-us/694837/8 "2014-08-05T01:46:00Z")
Yep, when working at a well known bay area movie post production house I was cornered by my christian boss who yelled “did he know Jesus”…for 30 min until I said “yes” when I notified him that I needed to take time off to go to my Grandfather’s funeral. Even in liberal Seattle I had people refuse to talk to me after begging me to join their fraternal order. I tried to duck the reason by saying “I have a reason you won’t accept me” but they liked me and wanted me to join. The second I told them the truth I was never talked to again. I tell trusted friends and some family, it can be a career limiting bit of information especially if you work in an industry like mine which is completely based on trust. That generation will die off eventually though. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-socially-acceptable-to-be-an-atheist-in-the-us/694837/9 "2014-08-05T02:24:46Z")
I think it varies a lot by region. I’ve never had anyone care, and it’s never been at all a factor in my life. But I’ve always lived on the coasts. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-socially-acceptable-to-be-an-atheist-in-the-us/694837/10 "2014-08-05T02:29:57Z")
It’s terrible. There are news stories every day of atheists being attacked, beaten or even killed. Or not. You probably would have trouble running for public office, but mostly it’s no big deal. I’ve never had it come up even once. I’m an atheist and it never made one ounce of difference. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-socially-acceptable-to-be-an-atheist-in-the-us/694837/11 "2014-08-05T02:33:40Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > It’s terrible. There are news stories every day of atheists being attacked, beaten or even killed. Or not. > > You probably would have trouble running for public office, but mostly it’s no big deal. I’ve never had it come up even once. I’m an atheist and it never made one ounce of difference. In what region of the country do you live? ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-socially-acceptable-to-be-an-atheist-in-the-us/694837/12 "2014-08-05T02:37:23Z")
In the liberal parts of California, it’s the other way around, people hardly know what to say or where to look if you say you are a Christian. People are either atheist or “spiritual”. So, yeah, varies a lot. Also, in some heavily evangelical/fundamentalist parts of the country (southeast, south, southwest), even being a different kind of Christian than them will get you in trouble, much less being a atheist. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-socially-acceptable-to-be-an-atheist-in-the-us/694837/13 "2014-08-05T02:41:40Z")
There will be a lesbian president before there will be an atheist. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-socially-acceptable-to-be-an-atheist-in-the-us/694837/14 "2014-08-05T02:46:47Z")
I have lived in the USA for 25+ years. I’ve been an atheist the entire time. I’ve lived in NYC, DC area, Kansas City, Atlanta and New England. The fact that I am brown has been 100 times a bigger issue than being an atheist. Of course you can’t tell I am an atheist by looking at me. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-socially-acceptable-to-be-an-atheist-in-the-us/694837/15 "2014-08-05T02:47:45Z")
> [@Lamar\_Mundane](#): > > In what region of the country do you live? If memory serves, he lives somewhere you’d expect nobody to care if you’re an atheist. Although I think this is probably more an issue of your social position rather than being a function of just geography. ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-socially-acceptable-to-be-an-atheist-in-the-us/694837/16 "2014-08-05T02:48:23Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > It’s terrible. There are news stories every day of atheists being attacked, beaten or even killed. Or not. You’re so right - there is nothing between “socially acceptable” and “attacked beaten or even killed”. :dubious: IIRC, you’re rich and retired from a career in Silicon Valley. It’d be interesting to see how your beliefs would go over expressed by a GS-07 physicist working for the military in Alabama. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-socially-acceptable-to-be-an-atheist-in-the-us/694837/17 "2014-08-05T03:02:49Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > It’s terrible. There are news stories every day of atheists being attacked, beaten or even killed. Or not. > > You probably would have trouble running for public office, but mostly it’s no big deal. I’ve never had it come up even once. I’m an atheist and it never made one ounce of difference. So, having no real political influence so no big deal to you? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-socially-acceptable-to-be-an-atheist-in-the-us/694837/18 "2014-08-05T03:06:23Z")
> [@filmstar-en](#): > > While the US constitution guarantees freedom of religion, does that mean protection is not exend to those who have no religion? No fighting between religions but quite okay to kick the backside of the Godless? > [@F.U.Shakespeare](#): > > You’re so right - there is nothing between “socially acceptable” and “attacked beaten or even killed”. :dubious: Did you read the OP? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-socially-acceptable-to-be-an-atheist-in-the-us/694837/19 "2014-08-05T03:07:25Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > So, having no real political influence so no big deal to you? Do you know what the word “mostly” means? Most people don’t run for political office. I didn’t say anything about influence.d Political influence depends mainly on $$, not religion. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-socially-acceptable-to-be-an-atheist-in-the-us/694837/20 "2014-08-05T03:14:00Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Do you know what the word “mostly” means? Most people don’t run for political office. I didn’t say anything about influence.d Political influence depends mainly on $$, not religion. Could an open atheist become governor of your state or mayor of your city? edited to add: Or Senator or Representative? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-socially-acceptable-to-be-an-atheist-in-the-us/694837.md?page=2)