Atheists face obstacles at the personal, community and national levels.

Photo by Johanna Huckeba | The State Press Photo illustration done on Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016.

By Caleb Vinson | 02/07/2016 6:03pm

My atheism has been a deal-breaker in past relationships. I have been told that people could not be friends with me because I am atheist. Those same barriers toward meaningful relationships existed for people of color as recently as the 20th century. Those same barriers are still sometimes shown to individuals because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

The discrimination goes beyond a personal level and can be felt in a community as small as the one at ASU. As an openly non-theistic individual, I have experienced alienation within the ASU community. There are over 50 organizations for students that practice Christianity. There far fewer student groups specifically for atheists. Despite the fact that non-theism is as diverse and multifaceted as theistic belief systems, there are a disproportionate amount of legitimate organizations for students that are Christian.

While I am not suggesting that atheists face the same institutionalized discrimination faced by people of color or the LGBT community, they do face discrimination. In a country that prospers on its supposed ideals of greater freedom, the marginalization of communities because of their beliefs is unacceptable.

Much of the hatred directed towards atheism lies in an incomplete understanding of what it means to be atheist. Many assume that atheists are simultaneously nihilists, that atheists hate Christians or that atheists are anarchists. These assumptions are misguided.

Atheism is not a system of beliefs. Atheism is not a denial of the existence of gods. Nor is it a belief system that criticizes those who do believe in gods. Atheism is simply a lack of belief in gods. As Bill Maher said in 2012, “If atheism is a religion, then abstinence is a sexual position.” In fact, many mainstream religious systems are inherently atheistic. This umbrella encompasses a variety of convictions, and there is no single universal atheistic ideal. For example, Buddhism is an atheistic faith. So is Daoism.

Despite the measured position of atheism practiced by most individuals, society unfairly portrays atheists as anarchists. There is an inherent bias toward atheists present in mainstream American society. Those who hate atheism love to point towards Joseph Stalin and Pol Pot as examples of the atheistic ideal, rather than individuals like Carl Sagan or even ASU’s own Pat Tillman.

Seven state constitutions have religiosity exams that would bar atheists from holding public office. Those states include Arkansas, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas. The Boy Scouts of America do not allow atheists as members. In child custody cases, atheism has been used to deny custody to non-religious parents. It was not until 2007 that Rep. Pete Stark (D-California) came out as the first openly atheist member of Congress.

It is important to allow your peers to express their beliefs, whether they are theistic or non-theistic. Acceptance and reciprocity are standards that are practiced by individuals of good moral character. Love does not fly as a flag exclusively on crosses. College is a place students to be exposed to the many ways that people view the world.

America, a secularist country, should be open to any and all who want to be good citizens. Beyond that, the world would be a better place if acceptance were practiced more than forced assimilation.

Just because I am an atheist, does not mean that I don’t believe in love.

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Reach the columnist at ctvinson@asu.edu or follow @caleblikevauben on Twitter.

Editor’s note: The opinions presented in this column are the author’s and do not imply any endorsement from The State Press or its editors.

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