Race and religion

[Sweetdeath]

I hope this is okay here. I wasn't sure if I should if put it here or life as an atheist.
Anyway, just curious as to how many atheists you know are white/ caucasion? 

99% of my atheist friends are of German, Irish or Russian descent. I myself am mixed or mostly Irish  with a little Spanish. My gf is chinese, but agnostic.

I was watching a stupid court room show with a afrian american judge (judge Mathis I think?). He was doing a domestic abuse case, and in the middle of it, he went on to give the woman advice about attending his church to ask the lord for strength. I was like "wtf? That  seems really unprofessional..."

Instead of giving her like "go to domestic violence shelter"  or  something.
Anyway, my question is:   How many hispanic and african american atheists have you met?

From my personal experience , many of these two ethnicities are highly, highly religious.....

Please share your stories 

[Ali]

I'm Hispanic.  Well, half.  So is my brother, and he is also an atheist.  So now you've met one.   

[Sweetdeath]

I'm Hispanic.  Well, half.  So is my brother, and he is also an atheist.  So now you've met one.   

XD haha, cool. I mean, It's funny. The only non religious hispanics I know are mixed.

What are you half of?

[Ali]

Mixed.  Makes me sound like a cake.

I'm half Mexican, half Irish/Scottish with a bit of American Indian thrown in.  I can't know for sure, but I suspect that all things being equal, I would have had the capacity of coming to my atheism even if I weren't "mixed."  Certainly my mom (the white one) is every bit as religious as my dad if not more so, so I don't really believe that it's her white genes that allowed me to outthink my religious upbringing.

[Tank]

There is absolutely no causative relationship between race and religion.

[Sweetdeath]

There is absolutely no causative relationship between race and religion.

I suppose I should have been more specific about cultural upbringing. o_o
That's what I mean.

[Ali]

I will agree that religion plays a heavy part in Hispanic culture. I don't "mixed" or not really matters though about whether or not someone is able to leave their religious upbringing.  

Sorry, I really hate being called mixed.  I can't explain it very well, except that it doesn't sound like something you call a person.  It's like food or paint or something.  Mixed.

[ThinkAnarchy]

I think Hispanics and blacks might hide their atheism from others, due to the fact religion is such a huge part of their culture. There may simply be more closet atheists in those communities.

[Sweetdeath]

I will agree that religion plays a heavy part in Hispanic culture. I don't "mixed" or not really matters though about whether or not someone is able to leave their religious upbringing.  

Sorry, I really hate being called mixed.  I can't explain it very well, except that it doesn't sound like something you call a person.  It's like food or paint or something.  Mixed.

I'm sorry, i'm of mixed race as well though. What exactly is a better term?

[Tank]

I think Hispanics and blacks might hide their atheism from others, due to the fact religion is such a huge part of their culture. There may simply be more closet atheists in those communities.

On the basis of what some members here have said I think you are absolutely correct in this assessment.

[Ali]

I will agree that religion plays a heavy part in Hispanic culture. I don't "mixed" or not really matters though about whether or not someone is able to leave their religious upbringing.  

Sorry, I really hate being called mixed.  I can't explain it very well, except that it doesn't sound like something you call a person.  It's like food or paint or something.  Mixed.

I'm sorry, i'm of mixed race as well though. What exactly is a better term?

I don't know, to be honest.  I'm not one one of those that thinks no one should ever talk about race in frank terms.  There is just something about calling someone "mixed" that puts my teeth on edge.  I think because I only ever heard it used in a derogatory way when I was growing up, as in being "mixed" is a bad thing.  

[Tank]

People with ancestors that have a widely separated/divergent genetic heritage have the advantage of being more heterozygous than those with ancestors that share a common genetic heritage.   

[Ali]

Well yeah, it's not like I think it really is a bad thing to be of mixed heritage, I just always get a little edgy when people start calling someone "mixed."  I like the fact that I'm half Mexican half Irish-ish.  One of my exes (himself a proper Irishman from Ireland) once told me that I look like a mix between J Lo and Marsha Brady.  I know a complement when I hear one.  It's just the term "mixed."  Mixed. 

[Sweetdeath]

People with ancestors that have a widely separated/divergent genetic heritage have the advantage of being more heterozygous than those with ancestors that share a common genetic heritage.   

Heterozygous? Ooh, what does that mean?


Ali: I have never heard the term mixed race used in a derogatory manner. I mean, at this point everyone is mixed in some way. I dont mean to offend you, but I have no idea what term you want me to use.

Tip toeing around race and  cultural issues is exactly what is wrong with Western society.

[Ali]

People with ancestors that have a widely separated/divergent genetic heritage have the advantage of being more heterozygous than those with ancestors that share a common genetic heritage.   

Heterozygous? Ooh, what does that mean?


Ali: I have never heard the term mixed race used in a derogatory manner. I mean, at this point everyone is mixed in some way. I dont mean to offend you, but I have no idea what term you want me to use.

Tip toeing around race and  cultural issues is exactly what is wrong with Western society.

Heterozygous = same genes. 

It's fine.  It's probably also a regional thing.  I grew up in rural OH where there were plenty of racist jerks who really did think that being mixed is a bad thing.  Probably why I immediately associate it with racism.