Theist in-group favouritism and strong dislike of the other
Author(s): Scott Douglas Jacobsen
Publication (Outlet/Website): Medium (Personal)
Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2024/04/19
One of the unfortunate statistical prejudices found in many countries deemed more secular is a profound dislike about atheists more than any other group. The hate being spewed from various religious platforms and general distrust derivative of this over time makes an intolerant culture.
As Pastor Mark Driscoll’s surveys into the Christian church find, the main issue facing publicity for Christians in North America is being seen as intolerant, because, simply for the fact, many are prejudiced.
The issues facing atheists in history and even into the 2020s, even following the mostly great work of the New Atheist movements is the continuance of strong dislike — which seems like a euphemism for hatred — of atheists in general culture.
Another trend tied to this is the general finding of a strong in-group bias of Christians for Christians and against atheists, even when atheists do not show or share this. In that, atheists will treat a Christian — despite their stereotypes to the contrary — pretty much the same as another atheist.
To the generic atheist in North America, there is no significant distinction between the ethical value of a Christian over an atheist. This is not so true given the empirical evidence from some social scientific surveys so far. I do not want this to be so; I would like a more equitable system of treatment and fair consideration.
However, we are stuck with the inevitable prejudice of the average Christian against the atheist, based on a strong dislike almost over every other group followed by a strong in-group bias. Which means, as advice to atheists in North America, at least, for the foreseeable future, you should expect unfair treatment and strong prejudice from the moment of first interaction with most people in your societies, and a strong in-group favouritism of Christians not shared with you or by other atheists.
It sucks. It is unfair. It is, fundamentally, unjust, but it is a social fact. These must be taken into account when making moral deliberations and inter-faith solidarity. You will be swimming upstream everything in society based on general dislike and through something worse than molasses if dealing with the marginally dominant Christian religion. Good luck, and do not shoo the messenger, simply look through the data so far, for yourself.
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