03/31/2013
Today, millions of Christians the world over celebrate one of their most holy days: Easter.
According to some polls, an approximate 20% of Americans (that's one out of every five!), when asked to identify their religious beliefs, check "None". We are a large portion of the population, and yet, we are marginalized.
A recent study conducted by psychologists at the University of British Colombia and the University of Oregon showed that atheists are less trusted than rapists.
Another study done by the University of Minnesota asked respondents which groups did not "share [their] view of American society" and which groups they would disapprove of their children marrying a member of. In both cases "Atheists" was the top answer (also in both cases, "Muslims" took second place).
In April of 2010, the Urban Enlightenment formed as a group aimed, in part, at improving the public's views on atheism and atheists as a group. More recently, a wealthy atheist by the name of Todd Stiefel has been donating money and making public speeches in an attempt at very much the same thing.
We here at the UE would like to know your opinion: Do Atheists have a civil rights issue on their hands? Should the largely disorganized minority known as the "Nones" become more outspoken and fight for better recognition? What do you think?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNHGEyT0rIk
"Nearly one in five Americans now identify themselves as being religiously unaffiliated — a figure that's been on the rise for the past two decades. But as a...
