Also, this:

[kv0925]

While I'm on a political bent, here is a very interesting article about Americans' perceptions of atheists. Apparently, Gallup periodically conducts a poll asking whether people would refuse to vote for a "generally well-qualified" Presidential candidate who happens to be x, where x is (among other things) black, female, Jewish, Muslim, atheist, or gay. Since 1958, the percentage of Americans who would refuse to vote for a black person has gone from 63% down to 5%--as evidenced, perhaps, by the current Presidential campaign! In the same time, the percentage of people who would refuse to vote for an atheist has only dropped from 73% to 48%--and apparently that number is back on the rise. So half or more of Americans would refuse to vote for a candidate who didn't believe in God. Meanwhile, only 38% would refuse to vote for a Muslim. So belief in *some* God is regarded as better than belief in *no* God. And as far as a homosexual, that has dropped from 74% in 1978 to 37%--just below Muslims, but well above atheists. It boggles my mind, frankly.

The rest of the article is about more general polls that reflect similar attitudes--in 2003, 52% of Americans had a "Mostly Unfavorable" or "Very Unfavorable" perception of atheists. Non-religious fared quite a bit better (33% unfavorable) and Muslims better yet (31% unfavorable). That was for the general population; fully 92% of born-again Christians surveyed regarded atheists as having a negative impact on society (compared to 71% for Muslims).

I guess I just don't understand why people think a belief in God means.. well, anything at all. I can only really point to myself and my wife as examples. She is an atheist, I consider myself merely agnostic. But I'd have to say that we're two of the most moral people I know. Meanwhile, you don't have to look far to find religious folks acting immorally, often even in the name of their religion. I've said for years that what's regarded as Christian morality in this country has little to do with Christianity. What's right is right because it's right, and needs no deity to initiate or perpetuate it.

I'm just rambling and not looking to start a debate, really. It just bugs me that someone who could be perfectly suited to be President--but has, for whatever reason, rejected a belief in God--wouldn't stand a chance at being elected. Meanwhile we get jackasses in office who seem to view it as their sole purpose as President to hasten the return of Christ by bringing about Armageddon as described in the Bible. It should be clear which President I'd rather see. :)

Comments

[cp.livejournal.com]

Heh, I always said that 99.74% of people are idiots, and the rest merely doubtful.

Hm, rabbit piss as paint stripper, I like it. But the store-bought stuff stinks bad enough!