Atheists In America

The article by Penny et al. (2006) Atheists as “Other”: Moral Boundaries and Cultural Membership in American Society investigates why while there is a growing acceptance of a broader range of religions, negative and distrustful views on atheists stay steadfast. To examine this phenomenon, Penny et al. (2006) used data from a national survey, results showing that atheists out of all minority, ethnic, or racial groups are least accepted, regardless if it is private or public. This is formed by people's broad values, religious predictors, and social location (Penny et al. 2006). This article connects to Back et al.’s (2012) religion chapter as they write about Atheist and non-religious identifying people's association to society. In 2000, 2.5 percent of the world's population identified as atheist and 12.7 percent of the world's population as non-religious, with numbers growing (Back et al. 2012). While atheists are increasing in number, in American society atheists remain the least trusted out of often marginalized and mistrusted groups.

writes that “from a list of groups that also include Muslims, recent immigrants, and homosexuals, Americans name atheists as those least likely to share their vision of American society” (2006:212). It would make sense then Americans distrust atheists because as Back et al. (2012) wrote, our human need for meaning of life, and social solidarity has increased because of divorce, poverty substance and addiction, to name a few. Religion fulfills those needs (Back et al. 2012). This may be why people who don’t identify as nonreligious or atheist would distrust atheism, as it rejects the essence of how they connect with others and create meaning in their