The Elm

Atheists are an invisible minority who are stigmatized, negatively stereotyped, marginalized, discriminated, and persecuted with pervasive anti-atheist prejudice being common throughout the world.

---

Do you believe in God? That is a loaded question; meaning, there is an assumption that there is some concept called “God” that has a unique definition, and the question reflects an implicit bias from the questioner. One cannot answer this question with a yes or no without acknowledging the assumption made. There are an unknown number of religions in the world that include monotheistic, polytheistic, and non-theistic beliefs.

An atheist is simply one who rejects the assertion that there are any deities. Atheism is not the disbelief or the lack of belief in a god or gods; it is not a religion or a system of beliefs. Identifying as an atheist does not imply any other identities or beliefs.

In surveys and research, atheism is often categorized along with agnosticism — which makes an epistemic claim that if there is or is not a god or gods, it is unknown or unknowable — and the “nothing in particular” group. This trio is categorized as the “religious nones.”

When surveyed with religious groups, the religious nones are the fastest-growing group in the U.S., the second-largest group in the U.S., and the third-largest group in the world.

According to 2014 Pew Research, 25 percent of Baltimoreans reported fitting into this group. That is a higher percentage than both the state of Maryland and the country overall. From that survey, 14 percent of Baltimoreans affirmed that they “do not believe in a god.” National polling and measures have the percentage of atheists in the country at 11 percent or higher. The U.S. population this year is over 332 million (U.S. Census Bureau). Eleven percent of that is 36.5 million people.

Maryland has a history of oppression against this group. The Maryland Act Concerning Religion of 1649 (paradoxically aka The “Toleration” Act) wrote that anyone who blasphemes against or denies the main tenets of Christianity “shall be punished with death and confiscation or forfeiture of all his or her lands.”

Currently, Article 36 of the Maryland State Constitution deems that for someone to be a juror or witness in court, they must believe “in the existence of God,” though this has been struck down by various courts. Also, Article 37 says that to hold public office one must make “a declaration of belief in the existence of God,” which again, has been challenged in court and nullified. Six other U.S. states ban atheists from holding public office under their current state constitutions.

There is a pervasive anti-atheist prejudice that elicits negative feelings and views against them based upon false, negative stereotypes. Atheists are viewed as being immoral and more untrustworthy than most groups, and one survey found that atheists were distrusted at the same level as rapists. People view atheists as more likely to engage in criminal behavior and commit immoral, heinous acts compared to other groups.

Surveys found anti-atheist prejudice to include thinking that atheists are less patriotic and do not hold the same vision for society as others; that people are least likely to vote for a qualified atheist presidential candidate; and that atheists are less desirable for long-term relationships and more likely to be unfaithful to their partner.

Atheists are regularly discriminated against (when their identity is known) by family, friends, and the community, including educational institutions, organizations, and in the workplace. Examples of this include: being fired from their job, rejection from private organizations, social ostracization, vandalism, harassment, physical abuse, aggressive proselytizing, and familial estrangement or disownment.

Atheism is a crime in many countries and offers the legal penalty of receiving a lashing, being sentenced to decades in prison, or receiving a death sentence (including hanging and execution). Sometimes, before that can happen, religious extremists gather and will murder someone identified as an atheist or blasphemer. Recent incidents in news reports include hacking someone to death, beating and burning someone to death, lynching someone to death, decapitation, mob killing, and stabbing.

Over 70 countries criminalize blasphemy, which can include atheism. Harsh punishments, including death sentences, can be given to someone for blasphemy in a number of countries. There are 10 countries where apostasy is a death sentence. There are countries where it is illegal to be an atheist with 13 countries legalizing the death sentence for such a crime. What’s more, Saudi Arabia has a royal decree that brands all atheists as terrorists.

Because of stigma, it is understandable that atheists may feel as if they do not belong and are not valued in society. They are considered more of an outgroup when compared to religious minority groups in the U.S., such as Jews or Muslims. And as a way to cope and try to avoid this stigma — and being killed by a mob — they may hide their identity. In the U.S., women, Republicans, and Southern residents who are atheists have higher levels of identity concealment. They conceal it by actively avoiding people, conversations, and situations that deal with religion to remain hidden. In some situations, this concealment may be paramount to their life and freedom.

We must realize the broad array of beliefs and identities that we may find in each individual we work alongside and the patients and clients we see in our professions. As we all will undoubtedly come across people different from ourselves, we have an opportunity to expand our knowledge about the human experience and contribute to the acceptance of others in our constantly changing global community.

Disclaimer: Elm Voices & Opinions articles reflect the thoughts or opinions of their individual authors, and may not represent the thoughts or values of UMB as an institution.