Public Enemy #1
I note from this poll that while a huge (and increasing) proportion of USians distrust Muslim politicians (38%), they reserve their especial disdain for atheist politicians (52%).
Atheism is a particular concern for white evangelical Protestants and African-Americans ? majorities of each say there are reasons why they might not vote for an atheist.
In fact, most Americans polled basically dislike atheists more than any other identified group, even the dreaded Muslims.
Muslims are less popular than people of other religious faiths but more popular than atheists. Muslim-Americans and Muslims are seen less favorably than Jews (72% favorable), Protestants (70%), and Catholics (69%), and slightly below evangelical Christians (58% favorable, 18% unfavorable). “People who aren’t religious” receive favorable ratings similar to Muslims (50%), but the public has a more unfavorable view of the non-religious (33% unfavorable). Majorities of the public continue to give atheists an unfavorable rating: 52%.
Is it really better to be feared than to be loved? And yet the number of “nonreligous” people in the US has gone up from 8% (14.3 million) in 1990 to 14.3% (29.4 million) in 2001. Atheists and fundies seem to be eating into the centrist body of US culture, polarizing opinions on both sides. Maybe it really will all end up in all-consuming stand-up fight, as per the wet dreams of certain apocalyptic nutters?
