Are there any black atheists?

lundberg500 · September 23, 2010, 05:00:49 PM

In all the years that I have been an atheist, I have never met a black atheist. I am your typical Caucasian male atheist, by the way. Is this purely an educational level or intellectual thing? Is it a social thing where black families raise their children to be Christian and none of these children break away from religion as so many of us atheists have done? Are black people generally more spiritual?

The main thing I have noticed throughout my discussions with both atheists and Christians (both white and black) is that the atheists are ALWAYS more intellectual. They read prolifically and intelligently inquire into everything. They are natural skeptics who base everything on logic and reason. This is not to say that there are absolutely no intelligent Christians. But still, the atheists that I have conversed with ALWAYS seem to have a higher educational level than the Christians that I have been around. Every single time.

There are many college educated black people out there and I'm sure they are well educated but are any of them atheists? I would LOVE to meet some black atheists and get their views on what it is like living in a Christian dominated America. Not to stereotype, but every black person that I have talked to is ALWAYS Christian, every single time. There are several black people at my work and I am friends with many of them and every single one of them are Christian. Are there any black atheists on this forum? Do any of my fellow atheists here know of any black atheists living in America?

Asmodean · September 23, 2010, 05:07:16 PM

We have a few black atheists right here on HAF

The Magic Pudding · September 23, 2010, 05:13:30 PM

We have black atheists, they don't necessarily label themselves as such, but we have them.
I'm not aware of any female black atheists living in the USA on the forum.

lundberg500 · September 23, 2010, 05:14:24 PM

Excellent! That's good news. I would like them to post here so I can get to know and chat with them.

SSY · September 23, 2010, 05:16:24 PM

Well, you will certainly appreciate that your title is factually incorrect, I think we have a couple of black atheists on this forum in fact.

The main thrust of your post seems to be about intelligence. While it seems to be true that atheists tend to have higher IQs and there is some research that suggests the average IQ amongst black people is lower than that of white people, this is an area that could probably do with a bucket load of of caveats ( IQ=/=intelligence, correlation=/=causation to name but two).

If we accepted that white people tend to be more intelligent than black people, and being more intelligent tends to increase the likelihood of one leaving their religion, then this disparity in intelligence would certainly explain at least some of the disparity in theism rates you notice (though again, sample size caveats, having said that other people on the forum have also noted the high theism rates amongst black people). Interestingly, if we also consider the heritability of intelligence, then this gap could well widen in time, as irreligious parents would (I presume) raise kids who are less likely to religious.

I think it should also be noted though, that it takes a lot more than intelligence to break away from religion, which is why you see so many college educated Christians (cognitive dissonance is a powerful thing), also, certain aspects of the culture black people find themselves in may discourage one from dissenting with regards to religion, which could also explain part of the trend you notice.

Edit: too slow, I thought I was first

Of course, I may have read your post wrong, and the points I make may have no relevance to your line of reasoning, in which case, I apologise.

lundberg500 · September 23, 2010, 05:31:25 PM

QuoteI may have read your post wrong, and the points I make may have no relevance to your line of reasoning, in which case, I apologise

No SSY, you made some good points. I appreciate your input and I agree:

Quoteit takes a lot more than intelligence to break away from religion

Just looking for some ideas on why every black person I seem to meet is a proud Christian.

Tank · September 23, 2010, 06:34:55 PM

I have never met a black atheist in real life. But we have at least 3 here to my knowledge.

keith2004 · September 23, 2010, 07:20:39 PM

I am a Black Atheist, and I will tell you it is rare, for a number of historical and cultural reasons, african americans tend to be more religious and it perpetuates through generations.

Tank · September 23, 2010, 07:48:57 PM

Quote from: "keith2004" I am a Black Atheist, and I will tell you it is rare, for a number of historical and cultural reasons, african americans tend to be more religious and it perpetuates through generations.

And Keith makes 4

lundberg500 · September 23, 2010, 08:18:53 PM

Hi Keith2004!

It's really great to see you here. I am a white atheist living in the southern US (Texas). I can tell you that it's very difficult sometimes being an atheist here. It seems like everyone I come in contact with is a Christian, regardless of race. I noticed that you live in Maryland. I would imagine that it would be a little better living up north away from the bible belt. Down here, there are Christian churches on every block it seems. Someone is always mentioning something about Jesus around here too. I can't even read a book in my lunch room at work without someone asking me if I have ever read the bible instead of what I was reading. I couldn't believe someone would ask me that. I believe that he soon regretted asking me that when I revealed myself as an atheist and we began talking about religion. It's funny because this guy had the bible in his hand and I had a book called "Biblical Nonsense" by Dr. Jason Long that I was reading.

Also, my entire family (even my own wife) is Christian. We just don't talk about religion. She is fully aware that I am an atheist. We just don't talk about religion and that works for us. She goes to church most Sundays while I stay home or I meet them later on for lunch after church. Do you have to deal with things like that? Is most of your family Christian? I've at least heard of black men atheists and it's so nice to be able to chat with you but tell me, why is it that there seems to be no black women atheists?

EssejSllim · September 23, 2010, 09:45:11 PM

I am fairly certain that the main reason for the discrepancy in the religiousness between Caucasian-Americans and African-Americans is the country's history of slavery. The Christian faith was something that was pushed upon slaves. Many slave-owners viewed it as their duty to Christianize their slaves and be their "guides" to heaven. Thus, their faith became the one semblance of freedom and independence that slaves had. Then, when slavery was abolished, the Christian Church was really the only thing whites did not fervently try to keep from blacks. It became the center for solidarity among African-Americans. That's also why the civil rights movement was led (on the African-American side) mainly by religious leaders.

lundberg500 · September 23, 2010, 09:51:44 PM

Good point Essej. That makes sense.

Whitney · September 23, 2010, 10:37:08 PM

I think blacks have greater social pressure to remain in the closet on their atheism (and homosexuality for that matter) because of the high pressure the black community puts on them to be religious; it's a cultural issue rather than a race issue. I think this is also why you don't hear of many atheists/homosexuals who have spent their whole life in a small town...the culture makes it hard to be open or to even be at a mental place where you feel safe to question.

NothingSacred · September 24, 2010, 02:58:22 PM

Quote from: "lundberg500"In all the years that I have been an atheist, I have never met a black atheist. I am your typical Caucasian male atheist, by the way. Is this purely an educational level or intellectual thing? Is it a social thing where black families raise their children to be Christian and none of these children break away from religion as so many of us atheists have done? Are black people generally more spiritual?

The main thing I have noticed throughout my discussions with both atheists and Christians (both white and black) is that the atheists are ALWAYS more intellectual. They read prolifically and intelligently inquire into everything. They are natural skeptics who base everything on logic and reason. This is not to say that there are absolutely no intelligent Christians. But still, the atheists that I have conversed with ALWAYS seem to have a higher educational level than the Christians that I have been around. Every single time.

There are many college educated black people out there and I'm sure they are well educated but are any of them atheists? I would LOVE to meet some black atheists and get their views on what it is like living in a Christian dominated America. Not to stereotype, but every black person that I have talked to is ALWAYS Christian, every single time. There are several black people at my work and I am friends with many of them and every single one of them are Christian. Are there any black atheists on this forum? Do any of my fellow atheists here know of any black atheists living in America?

I moved to australia this year but I was born and raised in america. I can tell you the issue is not an intellectual issue but an issue of culture.The black church has taken credit for nearly every civil rights advancement in the black american community, They are the most vocal about community outreach,and they take credit for any moral advances. The church is seen as the pillar of the community. In a minority community any deviation from the group is frowned upon because the group already feels marginalized. One must also take into account the indoctrination of christianity into the slave community. Slaves felt that only the christian god could save them from their plight which is ironic considering what the bible has to say about the issue of owning people..... in short most black atheists especially females keep silent about their atheist because of the social pressures. No one I know wants to be the minority within the minority.

News:

Are there any black atheists?