American's increasing acceptance of religious diversity doesn't extend to those who don't believe in a god, according to a national survey by researchers in the University of Minnesota's department of sociology.

From a telephone sampling of more than 2,000 households, university researchers found that Americans rate atheists below 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.

Even though atheists are few in number, not formally organized and relatively hard to publicly identify, they are seen as a threat to the American way of life by a large portion of the American public. "Atheists, who account for about 3 percent of the U.S. population, offer a glaring exception to the rule of increasing social tolerance over the last 30 years," says Penny Edgell, associate sociology professor and the study's lead researcher. - link

I must say, what with the current political climate in the US, I don't find this poll result particularly surprising. Hard to stomach certainly, but not surprising.

I definitely think it's time for 'atheists' to make their position known. For too long the non-religious community has allowed their identity to be moulded by the section of society they are seen as being in opposition to. The problem is that 'atheism' has come to signify any person who does not instantly associate themselves with a religious position. And yet, more realistically, it is in the secular camp where you will find the most diverse range of ideals and beliefs than in any other section of society.

After the 9/11 attacks I awaited the resurgence of the 'red commie bastard' mentality in the West, this time focussed on the Muslim world. Muslim identity has indeed taken a beating over the past 5 years, but it appears that the religious morality so dearly regarded throughout America is now attempting to accept Islamlic faith rather than attack it.

Could it be that the next devil lurking in the American consciousness will be the atheist? If so it's time secular entities stand up and make themselves heard - stepping on the toes of faith has been the fear of the 'atheist' for too long. This tendency to avoid confrontation on matters of theological belief is what has caused the problem we are currently witnessing.

If you are interested in finding a secular community for whom the spreading of their ideals is paramount you can do no better than 'The Brights'. From their website:

Reason and Purpose:

Currently the naturalistic worldview is insufficiently expressed within most cultures, even politically/socially repressed. To be a Bright (someone who fits the definition and registers on this Web site) is to participate in a movement to address the situation.

There is a great diversity of persons who have a naturalistic worldview. Some are members of existing organizations that foster a supernatural-free perspective. Far more individuals are not associated with any formal group or label. Under the broad umbrella of the naturalistic worldview, the constituency of Brights can undertake social and civic actions designed to influence a society otherwise permeated with supernaturalism.

The movement's three major aims are:

1. Promote the civic understanding and acknowledgment of the naturalistic worldview, which is free of supernatural and mystical elements.
2. Gain public recognition that persons who hold such a worldview can bring principled actions to bear on matters of civic importance.
3. Educate society toward accepting the full and equitable civic participation of all such individuals.

Here's to more Brights making themselves known before the current Atheist Witch-Hunt gets out of control. Atheists unite:

• On the Nature of Shattering God in a Stained-Glass Universe
  
  

Via Metafilter & Pharyngula...
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