Atheism, the Hidden Prejudice
Prejudice has plagued our society since its conception. There have been great strides taken in educating people to the ignorance of racism, hatred, and bigotry. The majority people feel that it is wrong to judge someone based on their race, sexual preference, or sex. Mention to people that you do not believe in a god, and you will often find hate-filled stares, ignorant remarks, and judgments made. To better understand this, we will discuss the following in this paper: the history of Atheism, religious freedom in the United States, examples of religious prejudice, and some reasoning why religious discrimination occurs.
Many people feel that Atheism is a “new age” trend; this is incorrect. The term Atheism originated in approximately 16 C.E.*, but philosophical Atheistic thinking appeared between the 5th and 6th century B.C.E. (“History of Atheism”). During the Renaissance, criticism of religion became a more frequent occurrence, but being labeled as an Atheist normally led to execution. By the Age of Enlightenment, Atheism was ceasing to be a dangerous accusation, and was a position openly held by some. Although it was no longer deadly to believe in Atheism, most Atheistic literature was banned or publicly burned. The modern era has seen the greatest amount of Atheistic thought. Karl Marx, Charles Bradlaugh, and Friedrich Nietzsche were among the most outspoken Atheists. Often criticized, the works that these men created are what developed into the school of Atheistic thought we have today.
Throughout history, people of different beliefs have been persecuted. The founding fathers of our country were no exception. Many of the early Colonists came to America fleeing religious persecut...
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...e Christians; this will probably never come to light. People are often afraid to accept something they cannot understand. Perhaps one day the religious freedoms we are all guaranteed will be given and separation of church and state will finally be complete. Until that time, all we can do is fight for our rights, or hide in the closet.
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Prejudice meaning pre-judging someone and having an unwarranted bias occurs often in today’s society and has been around since the beginning of time. Prejudice can effect people’s decisions and have an unfair impact on society. The text ‘To kill a mocking-bird’ written by Harper Lee and the movie ‘Philadelphia’ directed by Jonathon Demme explore this idea thoroughly.
God (p.129-145) regarding the prejudices present in the minds of human beings. For, it is
This passage captures the essence of how the average religious person views atheism. Atheism is probably the least popular and least understood philosophical position in America today. It is often approached with fear and mistrust, as if one were about to investigate a doctrine that advocates a ...
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