# Why are the media so unfair in portraying atheists? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 23, 2015, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-media-so-unfair-in-portraying-atheists/718367 "2015-04-23T16:42:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2015, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-media-so-unfair-in-portraying-atheists/718367/41 "2015-04-23T19:28:23Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > Well Futurama DID have the Space Pope… And Bender spent part of an episode floating in space and talking to God. “I was a god once” “Yes, I saw. You were doing well until everyone died.” ---
**Author:** ![Valteron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f17d59/32.png) [@Valteron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valteron)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2015, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-media-so-unfair-in-portraying-atheists/718367/42 "2015-04-23T19:30:02Z")
> [@Robert163](#): > > A few points: > I too am annoyed at the “science doesn’t know everything” depictions as well as the depiction of an ATHEIST scratching their head in wonder at the end of the show because they can’t explain… When you get right down to it, what Atheists are riled about is the fact that their viewpoint is still not regarded as a valid viewpoint, compared to other religious opinions. Of course we have all seen shows in which the atheist (or unspecified unbeliever) is scratching his head in wonder at the end of the program because he can’t explain some wondrous occurrence, and the audience is invited to laugh at the unbelieving fool. Now imagine for a second how likely this would be in a TV program: a religious believer and an atheist debate whether God really does watch over us like a loving Father. And just as the show ends they are watching TV and the newscaster reports the recent story (this really happened a few days ago) in which one person died and 18 were gravely ill from botulism at a church picnic. The program ends as the atheist grins smugly and the religious believer stands there looking foolish. How likely are we to see this anytime soon? Imagine if someone proposed that US dollars say, “In God and his son Jesus we trust.” Such a proposal would never pass because it would, quite rightly, be seen as ignoring the rights of Jews and Muslims, among others. But what of the complaint that “In God we trust” ignores the opinions of the Atheist minority, which is perhaps bigger than Jews and Muslims combined? We are a minority that can be told to fuck off. It is as simple as that. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2015, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-media-so-unfair-in-portraying-atheists/718367/43 "2015-04-23T19:41:47Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > And Bender spent part of an episode floating in space and talking to God. > > “I was a god once” > “Yes, I saw. You were doing well until everyone died.” My all-time favorite episode. I also think that episode showed God in a pretty favorable light too given the source ---
**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:** [April 23, 2015, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-media-so-unfair-in-portraying-atheists/718367/44 "2015-04-23T19:45:34Z")
Has there ever been a show where a regular character developed from being religious to being non-religious? ---
**Author:** ![Valteron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f17d59/32.png) [@Valteron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valteron)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2015, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-media-so-unfair-in-portraying-atheists/718367/45 "2015-04-23T19:46:01Z")
“Bones has Asperger’s. That is why she is robotic and stiff minded.” I am not saying this is not true. But I am a big fan of Bones and have streamed most of their shows, and I don’t remember anything about Asperger’s. It may well have been mentioned, but frankly, my example is still valid. Bones is shown as an atheist who is also incapable of humour or empathy. Come to think of it, so is the character of Sheldon Copper. He fails to understand humour or sarcasm, and he makes hurtful comments without realizing they are hurtful. Typical atheist, right? Having rejected God, they must function like machines, like Data in Star Trek. Asperger’s or no, that is how Bones comes across. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2015, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-media-so-unfair-in-portraying-atheists/718367/46 "2015-04-23T19:47:47Z")
Other than that strange episode when Raj was unemployed, multiple religions and similar woo take a heavy beating in The Big Bang Theory. They’re always smug, but at least the media’s portrayal of Atheists is almost universally as intelligent professionals. It could be worse. ---
**Author:** ![Robert163](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2015, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-media-so-unfair-in-portraying-atheists/718367/47 "2015-04-23T19:49:49Z")
> [@Valteron](#): > > “Bones has Asperger’s. That is why she is robotic and stiff minded.” > I am not saying this is not true. But I am a big fan of Bones and have streamed most of their shows, and I don’t remember anything about Asperger’s. It may well have been mentioned, but frankly, my example is still valid. Bones is shown as an atheist who is also incapable of humour or empathy. > > Come to think of it, so is the character of Sheldon Copper. He fails to understand humour or sarcasm, and he makes hurtful comments without realizing they are hurtful. > > Typical atheist, right? Having rejected God, they must function like machines, like Data in Star Trek. Asperger’s or no, that is how Bones comes across. I think it is like there but not specifically stated. I seem to recall various Aspergers sites giving the character a positive nod. But I could of gotten some details mixed up about that. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2015, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-media-so-unfair-in-portraying-atheists/718367/48 "2015-04-23T20:02:23Z")
> [@Labdad](#): > > Alicia Florrick, the title character in “The Good Wife,” is consistently portrayed as an atheist. Good example. I actually like how Christianity is portrayed in “The Good Wife”, because Grace, Alicia’s daughter, is actually an intelligent thinking mainline Protestant, as opposed to the generic stereotype of the knee jerk Christian. I think Grace is the only religious person the show, IIRC - though I wish she were more than simply someone to advance the plot in getting Alicia to realize what to say publicaly on faith related issues. Though in most TV shows I watch, religion (or lack thereof) never comes up. I mean, does anyone even know about the religion of the characters in “The New Girl” (I mean Schmidt is Jewish, but more ethnically than faith-wise), for example. IIRC, Malcolm Reynolds on Firefly was an atheist and portrayed in a good light. Kurt Hummel on glee (who tells his father that he doesn’t believe in God). The main character in the Mentalist as well, I think, was an atheist who was a decent guy. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2015, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-media-so-unfair-in-portraying-atheists/718367/49 "2015-04-23T20:13:46Z")
> [@Valteron](#): > > I am not saying this is not true. But I am a big fan of Bones and have streamed most of their shows, and I don’t remember anything about Asperger’s. It may well have been mentioned, but frankly, my example is still valid. Bones is shown as an atheist who is also incapable of humour or empathy. I think you’re looking at it backwards. Bones’ personality (Aspergers or not) is one of rationality and literalness that causes her to be excellent at her job, despite the social awkwardness. Because of her scientific proclivity, she is an atheist. Her atheism has zero to do with her social issues. She’s not an “atheist who is also incapable of humour or empathy”, her atheism is a distant secondary consideration to her primary traits. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2015, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-media-so-unfair-in-portraying-atheists/718367/50 "2015-04-23T20:20:38Z")
Re Star Trek Gene Roddenberry was an atheist and felt humanity would outgrow religion. While there was occasional talk of souls (Spock’s funeral, the judge’s ruling in the TNG ep The Measure Of A Man), all the humans were believed to be atheists. The Klingons have Kahless and other gods. The Ferengi have gods. The Bajorans believe the beings who dwell in non-linear time in the wormhole are gods. The Vulcans used to have gods, but no longer believe in them. Re Futurama In the Simpsons/Futurama crossover, Prof Farnsworth confirms he is an atheist and says lovely little prayer IIRC “To nobody, who art nowhere” and so forth Back To The OP What about Brian on Family Guy? He has problems but he certainly isn’t unemotional or uncaring. PS **Procrustu** You’re okay by me. But I will NOT spend the night at your place. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2015, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-media-so-unfair-in-portraying-atheists/718367/51 "2015-04-23T20:21:51Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > I can name many shows that put religion in a _very_ positive light, including several that feature characters that are actually angels(therefore leaving no chance for doubt about that particular religion). On _no_ show that has a religious premise, if doubt is raised as to the veracity of said religion, is there any doubt about said veracity by the end of the episode. > On the other hand, on the few shows that dare to feature atheists, constant “evidence”(and sometimes even blatant miracles) are thrown in their faces, and almost always by the end of the episode there is some small doubt as to whether the incident was natural or supernatural in nature. This allows the audience to hope that the atheist will eventually develop into a “normal” human being. I don’t disagree with this at all. It is particularly offensive to have atheists suddenly become believers. A show which had Jews suddenly accepting Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior would be roundly criticized (save for the fundies). ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2015, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-media-so-unfair-in-portraying-atheists/718367/52 "2015-04-23T20:25:11Z")
> [@DocCathode](#): > > **Procrustu** I see what you did there. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2015, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-media-so-unfair-in-portraying-atheists/718367/53 "2015-04-23T21:30:30Z")
Am I the only one who assumes everyone on TV is an atheist, unless stated otherwise? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2015, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-media-so-unfair-in-portraying-atheists/718367/54 "2015-04-23T21:34:54Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Am I the only one who assumes everyone on TV is an atheist, unless stated otherwise? I’m kind of like that. I wouldn’t assume any character has any religion at all unless it was part of the story. I think most of the earth’s claimed believers are pretty much atheists despite what they claim to believe. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2015, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-media-so-unfair-in-portraying-atheists/718367/55 "2015-04-23T21:46:21Z")
^^^ this ^^^ Fits the etymology of the word “atheist,” too. “Without god(s).” IMO, most people spend the majority of their time just boppin’ along, livin’ life as though the presence or absence of a deity is irrelevant to their day-to-day activities and thoughts. ---
**Author:** ![Algher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Algher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algher)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2015, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-media-so-unfair-in-portraying-atheists/718367/56 "2015-04-23T22:09:25Z")
I am not watching a lot of TV these days - but most shows don’t show any religion except for a specific episode or if it is core to a character (Booth is a Catholic, Daredevil is a Catholic, Touched by an Angel, etc). Looking at the wiki list: > **[List of fictional atheists and agnostics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fictional_atheists_and_agnostics#Television)** > > The following is a list of fictional atheists and agnostics limited to notable characters who have, either through self-admission within canon works or through admission of the character creator(s), been associated with a disbelief in a supreme deity or follow an agnostic approach toward religious matters. Come on - Atheists got Malcolm Reynolds and Skye from Firefly! What is the complaint again? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![yanceylebeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yanceylebeef/32/12290_2.png) [@yanceylebeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yanceylebeef)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2015, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-media-so-unfair-in-portraying-atheists/718367/57 "2015-04-23T22:13:59Z")
> [@The\_Joker\_and\_the\_Thief](#): > > The meaningful difference is that atheism is a choice, something that can be changed. Other caricatures are offensive because they are based on intrinsic characteristics that can’t be changed. I’d make the point that it’s religion that is the choice. We are all born atheists, but some of us have religion introduced to us at a very young age. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2015, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-media-so-unfair-in-portraying-atheists/718367/58 "2015-04-23T22:24:39Z")
> [@The\_Joker\_and\_the\_Thief](#): > > (snip)The meaningful difference is that atheism is a choice, something that can be changed. Other caricatures are offensive because they are based on intrinsic characteristics that can’t be changed. You’re right of course, religious belief **IS** a choice and all the atheists could believe in any god they choose. Why you can prove it yourself. Just choose to believe in Odin for a while, or Allah, or Quetzalcoatl, or Zeus. It’s easy, isn’t it? I don’t know why all those atheists don’t do the right thing and believe like everyone else. It baffles the mind. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2015, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-media-so-unfair-in-portraying-atheists/718367/59 "2015-04-23T22:28:14Z")
I remembered another- Lois (last name unknown) from Malcolm In The Middle. In one episode, Hal makes an off hand comment about how they will be together in heaven. Lois reveals she doesn’t believe in a deity or an afterlife. At the end of the episode, Lois still does not believe nor does she have doubts. She does lie to Hal and say she believes. But, it’s clear to the audience she’s just lying to him to spare his feelings and stop a fight. In other episodes, the family joins a church of some odd sect. But Hal and Lois just do that for free day care. Lois also participates in St Grotus’ day festivities with her mother. But, it’s clear she does this only out of guilt and a sense of familial obligation. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2015, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-media-so-unfair-in-portraying-atheists/718367/60 "2015-04-23T23:42:08Z")
> [@Valteron](#): > > Now imagine for a second how likely this would be in a TV program: a religious believer and an atheist debate whether God really does watch over us like a loving Father. And just as the show ends they are watching TV and the newscaster reports the recent story (this really happened a few days ago) in which one person died and 18 were gravely ill from botulism at a church picnic. The program ends as the atheist grins smugly and the religious believer stands there looking foolish. How likely are we to see this anytime soon? Plenty of similar discussions were going on in the late summer and early fall regarding the first three Americans diagnosed with Ebola, who are all Christian missionaries. (Two of them have gone back to Africa, too! 🆒 ) I later saw a Facebook meme quoting a fundie preacher who said that Ebola is a good thing because it will rid the world of “gays, atheists, and sluts.” I replied, “That all the identified American victims to date have been heterosexual Christians (with one possible exception, and he’s most likely Jewish) blows this out of the water.” :dubious: One of my FBFs who has also been following the Ebola story from the beginning and in addition knows a lot more about world religions than I do PM’d me and gave me some links about the NBC cameraman, about whom he guessed correctly was the possible Jew. And ethnically, he is, but he’s a practicing Buddhist, as is his extended family, and on top of it, some people even believe that he is a deity in his own right. :eek: The official term is “Tulku”, and there’s a documentary with this title that was made by his half-brother for Canadian educational television in 2009, and is now on You Tube. He does not believe that he is, BTW; he’s just a man from a family that is prominent in the Tibetan Buddhist community. ETA: He also returned to Liberia for a while, to report on current conditions. IDK if he met up with the missionaries while he was there; they did meet on the “Today” show just before Thanksgiving. I later found out that the Time “Person of the Year” had already been decided, and they were actually there to make a video that’s on the Time website. My reaction to this? I had just taken a swig of water, and sprayed it all over my computer screen. 😛 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-media-so-unfair-in-portraying-atheists/718367.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-media-so-unfair-in-portraying-atheists/718367.md?page=4)