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 :D
I'm Hispanic. Well, half. So is my brother, and he is also an atheist. So now you've met one. ;)
Quote from: Ali on February 24, 2012, 07:35:36 PM
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?
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.
There is absolutely no causative relationship between race and religion.
Quote from: Tank on February 24, 2012, 08:01:03 PM
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.
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 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.
Quote from: Ali on February 24, 2012, 08:04:22 PM
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?
Quote from: ThinkAnarchy on February 24, 2012, 08:45:23 PM
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.
Quote from: Sweetdeath on February 24, 2012, 08:48:43 PM
Quote from: Ali on February 24, 2012, 08:04:22 PM
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.
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.
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.
Quote from: Tank on February 24, 2012, 09:02:02 PM
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.
Quote from: Sweetdeath on February 24, 2012, 09:14:24 PM
Quote from: Tank on February 24, 2012, 09:02:02 PM
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.
Quote from: Ali on February 24, 2012, 09:18:52 PM
Quote from: Sweetdeath on February 24, 2012, 09:14:24 PM
Quote from: Tank on February 24, 2012, 09:02:02 PM
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.
Yeah, okay. I'm from/live in NYC, where we have every race here. I like it.
Quote from: Ali on February 24, 2012, 09:10:53 PM
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.
How about "lovingly blended"?
Quote from: Ali on February 24, 2012, 09:18:52 PM
Quote from: Sweetdeath on February 24, 2012, 09:14:24 PM
Quote from: Tank on February 24, 2012, 09:02:02 PM
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.
Heterozygous = different alleels on a gene
Homozygous = same allels on a gene
Hetro = different
Homp = same
^
Thanks , Tank~ :D
LOL Oops. I really did know that. LOL
Yes, lovingly blended is awesome.
99% of atheists I have met in person have been norsemen (I wonder why). The rest are one russian (guess who), an Irish american and some very cute japanese exchange students. There are probably others, but religion is not always a subject.
Quote from: Guardian85 on February 24, 2012, 10:32:01 PM
99% of atheists I have met in person have been norsemen (I wonder why). The rest are one russian (guess who), an Irish american and some very cute japanese exchange students. There are probably others, but religion is not always a subject.
Oh, you sexy Norse. :)
Quote from: Ali on February 24, 2012, 09:18:52 PM
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.
Fuck 'em, who cares what a bunch of racist arseholes think. Mixed is lovely and a preference in my book.
on a similar note to SD's original question, I have sometimes wondered if there's possibly a slight relationship between climate and non-belief. Northern European countries are generally pretty secular, and I do wonder if countries with harsher colder wetter climates have a higher level of non-belief?
I don't know any non-white Atheists (or Agnostics).
But considering how few Atheists/Agnostics I know, it doesn't really matter anyway.
I don't think it has anything to do with skin colour, and almost everything to do with culture. When you're raised in a culture that has a very heavy religious bent to it, you'll almost certainly have many religious folks around you, even if you're not religious yourself. And by culture, I don't mean by race/ethnicity -- I mean a particular geographic area, setting or group of people. It's a fact that I was raised in a more liberal country but in a more conservative city within that country, and on top of that, I had immigrant ancestors who were devoutly Catholic and brought their home land's culture with them... so there was just a higher chance I'd be Catholic as a child, too. Had my relatives come from Saudi Arabia, I could have easily been Muslim; had they come from the UK, likely either Anglican or non-religious. It really just seems to be culture.
For what it's worth though, I've known many people of all ethnic heritages who have stepped outside of their cultural 'stereotypes' in several different directions -- including atheism, agnosticism, etc. It can be very hard to do that, and there may be MANY atheists/freethinkers 'in the closet' in their own communities.
Thanks for all your responses. Amicale has he best answer I think with religion being a geographic thing. Though I mention blacks and hispanic, because even in America where atheists are becoming more open, I have yet to meet many multiculture ones.
I would feel better in the UK anyway. Maybe I got lucky because I was never close to my family , so I wasnt caught in its religious web, unlike my idiotic sister. (Who I know is going to sadly raise her daughter religiously. She got her a bible at 6 months old.)
Quote from: Ali on February 24, 2012, 07:54:07 PM
Mixed. Makes me sound like a cake.
I like cake. Cake is one of the ultimate good things.
I'm what I think of as the standard American mutt mix: Irish, Scottish, German and American Indian. There was a black guy used to run a local atheist/agnostic group and for a long time he was the only non-white atheist I knew, and then my girlfriend's daughter (black) told us she was agnostic. So that's two.
Quote from: BooksCatsEtc on February 25, 2012, 05:06:34 AM
Quote from: Ali on February 24, 2012, 07:54:07 PM
Mixed. Makes me sound like a cake.
I like cake. Cake is one of the ultimate good things.
I'm what I think of as the standard American mutt mix: Irish, Scottish, German and American Indian. There was a black guy used to run a local atheist/agnostic group and for a long time he was the only non-white atheist I knew, and then my girlfriend's daughter (black) told us she was agnostic. So that's two.
As usual, you 1 uped me, BooksCatsetc!
Seriously, that's awesome though. :)
Quote from: Sweetdeath on February 25, 2012, 05:13:42 AM
As usual, you 1 uped me, BooksCatsetc!
Seriously, that's awesome though. :)
I'll admit to being privately thrilled to have more freethinking company.
Quote from: BooksCatsEtc on February 25, 2012, 06:18:36 AM
Quote from: Sweetdeath on February 25, 2012, 05:13:42 AM
As usual, you 1 uped me, BooksCatsetc!
Seriously, that's awesome though. :)
I'll admit to being privately thrilled to have more freethinking company.
Same. I would actually love to meet some black and hispanic free thinkers. Woo :)
Quote from: Sweetdeath on February 25, 2012, 06:22:18 AM
Quote from: BooksCatsEtc on February 25, 2012, 06:18:36 AM
Quote from: Sweetdeath on February 25, 2012, 05:13:42 AM
As usual, you 1 uped me, BooksCatsetc!
Seriously, that's awesome though. :)
I'll admit to being privately thrilled to have more freethinking company.
Same. I would actually love to meet some black and hispanic free thinkers. Woo :)
In New York (that is where you are, right?) I'm honestly very surprised you haven't met tons of freethinkers. I don't know NYC all THAT well, but I do know the arts community/LGBT community (not one in the same, but often overlap) are generally liberals, and quite usually freethinkers. When I went to see RENT with a friend on its last run there, I met a TON of awesome folks that were just open minded and warm, friendly and welcoming. If you can stomach the theatre scene (I love it, personally), it's worth a shot. People of all makes and models there. ;D
Quote from: Amicale on February 25, 2012, 06:25:31 AM
Quote from: Sweetdeath on February 25, 2012, 06:22:18 AM
Quote from: BooksCatsEtc on February 25, 2012, 06:18:36 AM
Quote from: Sweetdeath on February 25, 2012, 05:13:42 AM
As usual, you 1 uped me, BooksCatsetc!
Seriously, that's awesome though. :)
I'll admit to being privately thrilled to have more freethinking company.
Same. I would actually love to meet some black and hispanic free thinkers. Woo :)
In New York (that is where you are, right?) I'm honestly very surprised you haven't met tons of freethinkers. I don't know NYC all THAT well, but I do know the arts community/LGBT community (not one in the same, but often overlap) are generally liberals, and quite usually freethinkers. When I went to see RENT with a friend on its last run there, I met a TON of awesome folks that were just open minded and warm, friendly and welcoming. If you can stomach the theatre scene (I love it, personally), it's worth a shot. People of all makes and models there. ;D
I tend to hang with the cosplay, videogame, nerd community. Religion was only a vexation ONCE with (sigh-sadly) this black girl I was becoming friend's with.
Other than that, I dunno. Germans, irish, russians and asians gravitate to me. :)