Atheists distrusted by religious as much as rapists, study finds

[barbad0s]

Source: http://blogs.vancouversun.com/2011/...lievers-distrust-atheists-as-much-as-rapists/

Do Christians believe in atheists? UBC study finds believers distrust atheists as much as rapists


Religious believers distrust atheists more than members of other religious groups, gays and feminists, according to a new study by University of B.C. researchers.

The only group the study’s participants distrusted as much as atheists was rapists, said doctoral student Will Gervais, lead author of the study published online in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.

That prejudice had a significant impact on what kinds of jobs people said they would hire atheists to do.

“People are willing to hire an atheist for a job that is perceived as low-trust, for instance as a waitress,” said Gervais. “But when hiring for a high-trust job like daycare worker, they were like, nope, not going to hire an atheist for that job.”

The antipathy does not seem to run both ways, though. Atheists are indifferent to religious belief when it comes to deciding who is trustworthy.

“Atheists don’t necessarily favour other atheists over Christians or anyone else,” he said. “They seem to think that religion is not an important signal for who you can trust.”

The researchers found that religious believers thought that descriptions of untrustworthy people — people who steal or cheat — were more likely to be atheists than Christians, Muslims, Jews, gays or feminists.

Gervais was surprised that people harbour such strong feelings about a group that is hard to see or identify. He opines that religious believers are just more comfortable with other people who believe a deity with the power to reward and punish is watching them.

“If you believe your behaviour is being watched [by God] you are going to be on your best behaviour,” said Gervais. “But that wouldn’t apply for an atheist. That would allow people to use religious belief as a signal for how trustworthy a person is.”

Religious belief is known to have a variety of social functions. Past research has found that common religious beliefs can promote cooperation within groups.

Gervais started his line of inquiry about the exclusion of atheists after seeing a Gallup poll that suggested the majority of Americans would not vote for an atheist presidential candidate. Gervais and his colleagues conducted a series of six studies on a group of 350 American adults and a group 420 UBC students.

But even in more secular Canada, distrust of atheists ran high.

“We see consistently strong effects,” he said. “Even here in Vancouver, our student participants still say atheists are really untrustworthy.”

Thoughts?

 

[Capt Charisma]

I distrust people who equate Atheism with morally bankrupt people.

To elaborate: I always felt that if someone judges you by your flag, (so to speak) they generally going to be the more or less "concluded" types of people, you know the I know everything and everyone, therefore I am the Protagonist in mankind's epic battle with moral debauchery and such.

Protip: Just because someone is an atheist doesn't mean they don't have a set of morales. Some of the most moral people I have ever met were Atheist.

 

[Blind Bandit]

I distrust people who equate Atheism with morally bankrupt people.

Same, I can't lie my distrust goes back the same way it came from religious folks. Religious folks scare the crap out me. Spiritual people no, but religious people most defiantly. The difference a spiritual person will ask questions and seek answers and a religious person will not. To be clear you can have mainstream religion and still be spiritual in that you seek your own answers and are willing to move to a belief that makes more sense.

And I'm sick of being told morality is tied to religion. UMMm how hello people there is a entire branch of philosophy called ethics that deals with morality.

 

[88chaz88]

Only over the Atlantic.

 

[Matariki]

As a theist and A Christian in particular I find this quite disturbing considering the second most important commandment in our beliefs is 'love your neighbor'. I understand not being able to trust people willy nilly, no one should, but to regard atheists less than everyone else because of their worldview, I find contradictory. Though on the other hand I have meet many atheists that disregard theists as being disillusion and nonintellectual because of their beliefs, yes, some are I must admit, but not all. Black and white thinking will always stand out in comparison to the shades of gray that do exist in both communities.

 

[turquoise]

Well, this explains the way I was treated when I went to the community festival that Greek Orthodox church put on.

 

[Matariki]

Well, this explains the way I was treated when I went to the community festival that Greek Orthodox church put on.

Greek Orthodox? Hmm... must of been that particular church, but most people I have spoken to from the Orthodox denomination are cool with athiests. You'll find that most Christians are, the problem is with Christians who presume that atheism is anti-theism or more accurately, anti-christian (which isn't true), thats probably the reason why some Christians appear hostile. However Christians should know better, Atheism in reality is not a threat to Christianity, yet alone any religion. It is what it is.

 

[turquoise]

Greek Orthodox? Hmm... must of been that particular church, but most people I have spoken to from the Orthodox denomination are cool with athiests. You'll find that most Christians are, the problem is with Christians who presume that atheism is anti-theism or more accurately, anti-christian (which isn't true), thats probably the reason why some Christians appear hostile. However Christians should know better, Atheism in reality is not a threat to Christianity, yet alone any religion. It is what it is.

Well, I don't mean to hate on Greek Orthodox people; indeed they were the only ones I've met, afaik. Without going into the whole story they basically treated me like I was going to steal something the entire time I was there. When I went to buy some food they were selling they actually wouldn't sale to me until the others (who had come in after me) had been dealt with. I have no idea what caused this, it's not a reaction I've gotten anywhere else, and it's not like I was going around discussing religion with them even, nor can I think of any physical features that could possibly have given a negative impression (tattoos, piercings, etc.). Most couldn't have even known my religious status, unless they just guessed.

I honestly think they were just a very xenophobic community, and that probably had more to do with it than religious differences. (incidentally, I really consider myself more ignostic than atheist, but for all practical purposes atheist works) Anyhow, just a personal anecdote of when I think I witnessed this distrust thing.

 

[sweaverit]

Well, from one Christian to all atheists present.... *HUG* I do not think you're morally bankrupt.

 

[invisible]

feminists are rapists! rapists! rapists! rapists!

 

[Billy]

Religious people base their decisions on faulty assumptions? What gave it away? That they try to enforce a moral code that is 2000 years out of date or that they believe in magical sky wizards?

 

[invisible]

i am a superb waitress by the way.

 

[christmas]

i lurve atheists. COME GIVE ME A HUG.

to be honest, i think i trust atheists more than my fellow xians. that's kinda sad.

 

[Stu]

I have found atheists to be the most honest of people.

 

[Matariki]

Religious people base their decisions on faulty assumptions? What gave it away? That they try to enforce a moral code that is 2000 years out of date or that they believe in magical sky wizards?