Persecuted Atheists Around the World

[Michael Hardner]

If you want to pretend that a denomination like the catholic church with over a billion members is just a sub-group or individuals then you should probably move on.

The entire 1 billion Catholics support harmful acts ? How so ?

[Mighty AC]

The organization supports them from the top. The members that continue to support the organization lend support to those acts and positions.

[Sleipnir]

The organization supports them from the top. The members that continue to support the organization lend support to those acts and positions.

The same logic could be used for people supporting child abuse through purchasing goods through walmart or other companies that are known to employ child labour.

[Mighty AC]

Hey those kids would be unemployed if it wasn't for sweatshops!! ~

[Guest]

Starving, even.

[Michael Hardner]

The organization supports them from the top. The members that continue to support the organization lend support to those acts and positions.

Kind of like blaming all Americans for the policies of America or all Muslims for 911 I guess. Well, lots of people do that but I don't.

[Merlin]

Atheists are beheaded in Islamic nations.

[Merlin]

Hey those kids would be unemployed if it wasn't for sweatshops!! ~

Sweatshops are good for the nations that they are in. The people who live in those nations aren't asking the sweatshops to leave, they are asking that more be built. These sweatshops provide wages that are much higher then the national average and much more then can be made by farming.

[The_Squid]

I certainly don't think that atheists are persecuted in North America, but here's a great example of discrimination:

Arkansas (Article 19, Section 1): "No person that denies the being of a God shall hold any office in the civil departments of this State, nor be competent to testify as a witness in any Court."

Maryland (Article 37): "That no religious test ought ever to be required as a qualification for any office of profit or trust in this State, other than a declaration of belief in the existence of God; nor shall the Legislature prescribe any other oath of office than the oath prescribed by this Constitution."

Mississippi (Article 14, Section 245): "No person who denies the existence of a Supreme Being shall hold any office in this state."

North Carolina (Article 6, Section 8): "The following persons shall be disqualified from office: First, any person who shall deny the being of Almighty God."

South Carolina (Article 17, Section 4): "No person who denies the existence of a Supreme Being shall hold any office under this Constitution."

Tennessee (Article 9, Section 2): "No person who denies the being of God, or a future state of rewards and punishments, shall hold any office in the civil department of this state."

Texas (Article 1, Section 4): "No religious tests shall ever be required as a qualification to any office, or public trust, in this State; nor shall anyone be excluded from holding office on account of his religious sentiments, provided he acknowledge the existence of a Supreme Being."

Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/339708#ixzz2H2CEpAQT

Edited January 4, 2013 by The_Squid

[cybercoma]

Discrimination is a form of persecution.

[The_Squid]

Discrimination is a form of persecution.

That's too vague. Canada grants refugee status to persecuted groups. I am absolutely positive that atheists from western nations do not fit the criteria.

[cybercoma]

That's too vague. Canada grants refugee status to persecuted groups. I am absolutely positive that atheists from western nations do not fit the criteria.

You're using a legal definition of persecution, which is not what we're talking about here.

[Eyrie]

You're using a legal definition of persecution, which is not what we're talking about here.

I personally think he has a point though. Discrimination and persecution are two VERY different things, and I don't think they should be so lumped together. However, I think that discrimination CAN get to a point where it could be considered prosecution, especially if it's the government doing this discrimination.

[nwontariohunter]

Yes, in order to keep the make believe stories alive persecution is needed. Fortunately the walls are crumbling. Reason is slowly starting to infiltrate.