--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, TurquoiseB <no_re...@...> wrote: > > So you're sayin' that a potential employee has > a right to believe in something that you don't > as long as he keeps it in the closet, and never > puts it in your face where you have to deal > with it, as if he believed something different > than you believe. > > White of you.
No, actually, very WHITE of you, Barry. I reserve the right to not hire racists, KKKers, and Nazis. You, apparently, want to force me to hire them. > > If you meant something else, please explain. > > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "ShempMcGurk" <shempmcgurk@> wrote: > > > > I have a problem lumping "atheists" in with some of the other identifiable > > groups such as "whites" or "homosexuals". > > > > One's skin color is not a choice that one makes. And, the argument can be > > make, neither is one's sexual persuasion. > > > > But "atheism" IS a life choice, just as being a "Nazi" or racist is. > > > > Is it not appropriate in certain circumstances to judge a person based upon > > such an identification? How wrong is it when deciding to be intolerant or > > prejudicial against someone with whom you disagree on basic fundamentals > > about life? > > > > We as free humans do this all the time at any point during a 24-hour period. > > > > If someone comes to my place of business (assuming I were a boss and had a > > place of business) dressed up in Nazi regalia asking to fill the position > > of accountant, I'm simply not going to give him the position regardless of > > how great a numbers-cruncher he may be. > > > > Is this not an "intolerance" that any of us would find understandable and > > acceptable...and perhaps even admirable? > > > > And if a religious person who places the belief in God above all others > > wants to reject a person because of his atheism, should he not be alowed to > > do so? > > > > Of course, if an atheist wants to conceal his atheistic beliefs from a > > potential employer, he should have the right to do so. > > > > Note that philosophical beliefs is NOT a prohibited basis of discrimination > > in most charter of rights. "Religion" is but that applies more to the > > outward expressions of religious belief (ie, wearing a yarmulke or hajib) > > than it is to what one's inner beliefs are (which one can't discern by > > looking at someone). > > > > > > > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, TurquoiseB <no_reply@> wrote: > > > > > > Emphasis below is mine > > > Research Finds that Atheists are Most Hated and Distrusted Minority > > > By Ole Ole Olson <http://newsjunkiepost.com/author/ole-ole/> > > > > > > NEWS JUNKIE POST > > > > > > [atheist-symbol-altered-03a] > > > <http://newsjunkiepost.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/atheist-symbol-alt\ > > > ered-03a.png> > > > > > > Intolerance is a bitter beast. There are many groups in America that are > > > subject to discrimination and prejudice, but none are more hated than > > > atheists. Research > > > <http://www.soc.umn.edu/%7Ehartmann/files/atheist%20as%20the%20other.pdf\ > > > > conducted a couple years ago at the University of Minnesota in > > > Minneapolis found that atheists are more distrusted than muslims or > > > homosexuals in the US. > > > > > > Austin Cline > > > <http://atheism.about.com/od/atheistbigotryprejudice/a/AtheitsHated.htm> > > > from about.com writes, "Every single study that has ever looked at > > > the issue has revealed massive amounts of bigotry and prejudice against > > > atheists in America. The most recent data shows that atheists are more > > > distrusted and despised than any other minority and that an atheist is > > > the least likely person that Americans would vote for in a presidential > > > election. It's not just that atheists are hated, though, but also > > > that atheists seem to represent everything about modernity which > > > Americans dislike or fear. > > > > > > The most recent study was conducted by the University of Minnesota, > > > which found that atheists ranked lower than "Muslims, recent > > > immigrants, gays and lesbians and other minority groups in 'sharing > > > their vision of American society.' Atheists are also the minority > > > group most Americans are least willing to allow their children to > > > marry." The results from two of the most important questions" > > > > > > This group does not at all agree with my vision of American society > > > Atheist: 39.6% > > > Muslims: 26.3% > > > Homosexuals: 22.6% > > > Hispanics: 20% > > > Conservative Christians: 13.5% > > > Recent Immigrants: 12.5% > > > Jews: 7.6% > > > > > > > > > I would disapprove if my child wanted to marry a member of this > > > group . > > > Atheist: 47.6% > > > Muslim: 33.5% > > > African-American 27.2% > > > Asian-Americans: 18.5% > > > Hispanics: 18.5% > > > Jews: 11.8% > > > Conservative Christians: 6.9% > > > Whites: 2.3% > > > > > > The degree of this intolerance is a bit surprising. My experience has > > > taught me that atheists tend to be very intelligent > > > <http://www.answers.com/topic/religiosity-and-intelligence> , thoughtful > > > people with a high standard of ethics that they carry through to their > > > everyday lives. > > > > > > So why the fear, why the hatred? This situation is not the norm for most > > > of the planet. Most East and South Asian countries don't exhibit > > > this fear of atheists or agnostics. In fact, many of these countries > > > have a significant portion of their population that does not believe in > > > any deity <http://www.swivel.com/graphs/show/8244121> . > > > > > > European countries have large portions of the population that are > > > atheist <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Europe_No_Belief.png> . There > > > is not the mass discrimination there based on one's freedom to > > > believe or not to believe. About the only places in the world that tend > > > to have intolerant attitudes are nations with strong monotheistic > > > cultures, such as both latin and anglo America, and the Islamic > > > countries (particularly Turkey). > > > > > > Considering that atheist nations are more peaceful > > > <http://bhascience.blogspot.com/2009/06/atheist-nations-are-more-peacefu\ > > > l.html> , it seems particularly odd that there would be a predilection > > > towards animosity towards atheists. When one group is being > > > discriminated against, it detracts from the freedoms of every group. A > > > society based on tolerance must support the rights of minority groups, > > > including atheists. > > > > > >
