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Love thy Neighbour… or not: Christians, but not Atheists, Show High In-Group Favoritism

Justanatheist

Well-Known Member
Abstract
Atheists are among the most disliked groups in America, which has been explained in a variety of ways, one of which is that atheists are hostile towards religion and that anti-atheist prejudice is therefore reactive. We tested this hypothesis by using the 2018 American General Social Survey by investigating attitudes towards atheists, Christians, Buddhists, Hindus, Jews, and Muslims. We initially used a general sample of Americans, but then identified and isolated individuals who were atheists, theists, nonreligious atheists, religious theists, and/or theistic Christians. Logically, if atheists were inordinately hostile towards religion, we would expect to see a greater degree of in-group favouritism in the atheist group and a greater degree of out-group dislike. Results indicated several notable findings: 1). Atheists were significantly more disliked than any other religious group. 2). Atheists rated Christians, Buddhists, Jews, and Hindus as favourably as they rated their own atheist in-group, but rated Muslims less positively (although this effect was small). 3). Christian theists showed pronounced in-group favouritism and a strong dislike towards atheists. No evidence could be found to support the contention that atheists are hostile towards religious groups in general, and towards Christians specifically, although this may have been a Type II error. If atheist groups do dislike religious groups, then this hypothetical dislike would be significantly smaller in magnitude than the dislike directed toward atheists by Christians.
Secularism and Nonreligion

This is an interesting report it actually confirms what I thought was my possibly biased perception that many Christians see atheist as the bogeyman.

Of course this is only for the US it would be interesting to see if results were different in other countries, especially less monotheist based.ones

So what is it that some Christians find so upsetting about atheists
Edit, on further reading and discussion, this is not a fair representation of the report.

Christians on average appear less tolerant of atheists than atheists are of Christians, why is this?
 
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Justanatheist

Well-Known Member
I see the atheists I've met as getting a bit clique-y, actually, but I don't see them as harmful, evil, bad, or against religion.
That is interesting, I do not think I have ever been in or with a group of atheists in this country, very rarely does anyone talk about religion. Is it different where you are?
 

PoetPhilosopher

Veteran Member
That is interesting, I do not think I have ever been in or with a group of atheists in this country, very rarely does anyone talk about religion. Is it different where you are?

Everyone's a Trump Christian in my area. I was talking more about my experiences when I go to sites that are catered toward atheists. The atheists there have a certain fear of losing an argument to a theist who doesn't know what they're talking about, yet still might win the argument due to being the better arguer - so they kind of just team up on people.
 

beenherebeforeagain

Rogue Animist
Premium Member
3). Christian theists showed pronounced in-group favouritism and a strong dislike towards atheists. No evidence could be found to support the contention that atheists are hostile towards religious groups in general, and towards Christians specifically
Your thread title says that ATHEISTS show in-group favoritism, yet the text you quoted from the articles says exactly the opposite...
 

ChristineM

"Be strong", I whispered to my coffee.
Premium Member
Abstract
Atheists are among the most disliked groups in America, which has been explained in a variety of ways, one of which is that atheists are hostile towards religion and that anti-atheist prejudice is therefore reactive. We tested this hypothesis by using the 2018 American General Social Survey by investigating attitudes towards atheists, Christians, Buddhists, Hindus, Jews, and Muslims. We initially used a general sample of Americans, but then identified and isolated individuals who were atheists, theists, nonreligious atheists, religious theists, and/or theistic Christians. Logically, if atheists were inordinately hostile towards religion, we would expect to see a greater degree of in-group favouritism in the atheist group and a greater degree of out-group dislike. Results indicated several notable findings: 1). Atheists were significantly more disliked than any other religious group. 2). Atheists rated Christians, Buddhists, Jews, and Hindus as favourably as they rated their own atheist in-group, but rated Muslims less positively (although this effect was small). 3). Christian theists showed pronounced in-group favouritism and a strong dislike towards atheists. No evidence could be found to support the contention that atheists are hostile towards religious groups in general, and towards Christians specifically, although this may have been a Type II error. If atheist groups do dislike religious groups, then this hypothetical dislike would be significantly smaller in magnitude than the dislike directed toward atheists by Christians.
Secularism and Nonreligion

This is an interesting report it actually confirms what I thought was my possibly biased perception that many Christians see atheist as the bogeyman.

Of course this is only for the US it would be interesting to see if results were different in other countries, especially less monotheist based.ones

So what is it that some Christians find so upsetting about atheists


It makes sense to me and confirms the experiences I've had.
 

Justanatheist

Well-Known Member
Everyone's a Trump Christian in my area. I was talking more about my experiences when I go to sites that are catered toward atheists. The atheists there have a certain fear of losing an argument to a theist who doesn't know what they're talking about, yet still might win the argument due to being the better arguer - so they kind of just team up on people.
I am envious never been to an event like that, wanted to go to one in Brighton last year but because of covid It was cancelled. Hope I would not be clique.
 

Justanatheist

Well-Known Member
Your thread title says that ATHEISTS show in-group favoritism, yet the text you quoted from the articles says exactly the opposite...
I used the title of the article, the basic proposition was that atheists show high in group favouritism and that is why they are treated the way they are, but in fact as you see the opposite is true. I thought it best to use the original title.
 

JustGeorge

Not As Much Fun As I Look
Staff member
Premium Member
I'm in the Midwestern US, and am a Hindu theist. My experience is that most folks, religious or not, that have no interest in converting others tend to be fairly agreeable to others both like and not like them. Those that are bothered by the beliefs of others and seek to change them tend to act like turds, and this is regardless of which religion/non religion they belong to. They definitely have in group favoritism, though this is the trait I personally find they have in common, not any one worldview.

And yes, some atheists around here(meaning my physical locale) are interesting in 'converting' others. We have a local atheist association that likes to worry about other people's beliefs, though I've heard from friendly atheists online that its the group that's the problem, not atheism, and I take their word for it.
 

epronovost

Well-Known Member
So what is it that some Christians find so upsetting about atheists

This is a baseless assertion to me. A in-group favoritism can be caused by simple segregation. It's **** easy for Christians to live basically exclusively amongst themselves and thus develop codes of conducts, specific social references and the like. Atheists, being much less numerous and heavily concentrated in urban areas, are likely to interact with people of a variety of religion which forces a certain tolerance and knowledge of the other's codes of conducts and specific references. There is nothing in the study you quote that implies that atheism causes people to me more open-minded or Christianity to be less so. It only states that atheists are generally more tolerant and have less in-group bias and Christians less so on average. It doesn't explain why or how nor does it isolate for other factors like urbanity vs rurality, level of education, wealth, travels, if they speak fluently more than one languages, etc. which could all play a part with this.
 

Justanatheist

Well-Known Member
This is a baseless assertion to me. A in-group favoritism can be caused by simple segregation. It's **** easy for Christians to live basically exclusively amongst themselves and thus develop codes of conducts, specific social references and the like. Atheists, being much less numerous and heavily concentrated in urban areas, are likely to interact with people of a variety of religion which forces a certain tolerance and knowledge of the other's codes of conducts and specific references. There is nothing in the study you quote that implies that atheism causes people to me more open-minded or Christianity to be less so. It only states that atheists are generally more tolerant and have less in-group bias and Christians less so on average. It doesn't explain why or how nor does it isolate for other factors like urbanity vs rurality, level of education, wealth, travels, if they speak fluently more than one languages, etc. which could all play a part with this.
Yes on re reading the paper I agree my original question is unfair, I will amend it accordingly.
 

Quagmire

Imaginary talking monkey
Staff member
Premium Member
I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that atheists don't tend to see themselves as part of a group. Not anywhere near the way that members of the same religion do, anyway.

I mean, how many atheist picnics, bake sales, or potlucks do you see?

Almost none.
 

Justanatheist

Well-Known Member
I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that atheists don't tend to see themselves as part of a group. Not anywhere near the way that members of the same religion do, anyway.

I mean, how many atheist picnics, bake sales, or potlucks do you see?

Almost none.
Never seen one in the UK.
 

Wildswanderer

Veteran Member
Abstract
Atheists are among the most disliked groups in America, which has been explained in a variety of ways, one of which is that atheists are hostile towards religion and that anti-atheist prejudice is therefore reactive. We tested this hypothesis by using the 2018 American General Social Survey by investigating attitudes towards atheists, Christians, Buddhists, Hindus, Jews, and Muslims. We initially used a general sample of Americans, but then identified and isolated individuals who were atheists, theists, nonreligious atheists, religious theists, and/or theistic Christians. Logically, if atheists were inordinately hostile towards religion, we would expect to see a greater degree of in-group favouritism in the atheist group and a greater degree of out-group dislike. Results indicated several notable findings: 1). Atheists were significantly more disliked than any other religious group. 2). Atheists rated Christians, Buddhists, Jews, and Hindus as favourably as they rated their own atheist in-group, but rated Muslims less positively (although this effect was small). 3). Christian theists showed pronounced in-group favouritism and a strong dislike towards atheists. No evidence could be found to support the contention that atheists are hostile towards religious groups in general, and towards Christians specifically, although this may have been a Type II error. If atheist groups do dislike religious groups, then this hypothetical dislike would be significantly smaller in magnitude than the dislike directed toward atheists by Christians.
Secularism and Nonreligion

This is an interesting report it actually confirms what I thought was my possibly biased perception that many Christians see atheist as the bogeyman.

Of course this is only for the US it would be interesting to see if results were different in other countries, especially less monotheist based.ones

So what is it that some Christians find so upsetting about atheists
Edit, on further reading and discussion, this is not a fair representation of the report.

Christians on average appear less tolerant of atheists than atheists are of Christians, why is this?
It's probably due to athiests who try to get Christmas scenes taken down. Even nominal Christians and even people from other religions like Christmas.
 

PoetPhilosopher

Veteran Member
I can only talk of my own experience, i find it's definitely true in some cases. I would say a small percentage of posters here harbour hatred for atheism.

Hopefully I don't come off as one who hates atheists. I have my concerns sometimes when a Creationist posts about Creationism in the science board, though.... it's kind of like putting an apple in your mouth and asking to be baked. I remember the subject got to science vs. religion a few times on RF on other subjects and I may have had to debate atheists. While it was an unusual debate - I realize now, in 2021, that science is what's probably kept me alive in regards to medical science etc, while I can't make quite that drastic a statement about religion.
 
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