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Save a seat for an atheist
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These guys cannot be wrong, can they?
Several years ago, I was a regular patron of the Metro Transit bus system, taking the 5-line from South Minneapolis all the way into downtown. I would often occupy my time during the 35-minute ride by reading a good book (though, not THE Good Book). On one of these many trips, a thought occurred to me: If I were reading an atheist book and had an empty seat next to me and the person across the aisle was reading the Bible and had an empty seat next to them, with whom do you suppose would an arriving passenger choose to sit?
This thought might seem absurd to the average believer, but as I mentioned in my last article, there remain numerous biases against atheists. Look no further than a 2006 survey published in the MN Daily titled “Survey: U.S. trust lowest for atheists.” The results of the survey conducted by the University of Minnesota – which involved calling 2000 households (perhaps not the most statistically-significant number, but revealing nonetheless) and asking participants to rank various groups based on sharing their vision of American society – were surprising: atheists were ranked lower than Muslims, recent immigrants and homosexuals.
Dead last.
In this time of widening tolerance, it is shocking and disheartening to hear of any bigotry, but this survey says quite a lot about how prevalent and integral a belief-system is in our society.
In all fairness, relative to those states within the Bible Belt, I think Minnesotans are far more likely to be of a progressive mind with regard to atheism. After all, we elected former feathered boa-wearing wrestler Jesse Ventura to the highest state office. We elected comedy writer Al Franken to the U.S. Senate (how much longer can you really drag this out, Mr. Coleman?). We have a Gay Pride Festival that draws over 100,000 attendees annually. Tolerance seems to be our way of life; or could it simply be that we are too much of the “Minnesota Nice” ilk to say how we really feel?
Despite our liberalist attitudes, the subject of atheism is still hotly debated both state-wide and nationally. It seems silly that we care so much which god each other does, or does not, pray to, when the very existence of God cannot even be proven. By the same token, I cannot disprove the existence of God, any more than I can truly disprove the existence of Zeus or Poseidon. Yet, we do not seem to have intolerance for those who do not believe in the gods of the Greeks. So why is it the God of Abraham still means so much to so many?
Perhaps this is something I can continue to ponder on my long, lonely bus rides through Minneapolis.
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