Why is Atheism so scarce among Black people?

one reason is that when blacks we enslaved, they were all so religious and their religion was so important since it seemed like one of the few things they could control, they put all their belief in god for a better life, so it just carried down, you know wit everything they went through they always turned to religion.

Well, I don’t know any athiests anymore, but maybe try just finding other athiests? Why do they have to be black for you to get along with them? Also, if you’re multi-racial, a lot of black people won’t consider you black. On top of that, being gothic tends to be a point of accepting that you’re a reject from “normal” society.

I’m not trying to criticize you, I’m just stating facts here. Being a Multi-Racial, Gothic Athiest has got to be an incredibly difficult “Where do I fit in?” circumstance because any one of those three has its own difficulties. To be more clear, my nephew is half-black and half-white. He looks black, though, with lighter skin, so it is likely he will always be considered a black man. The problem for him, though, is that he will grow up feeling like he has to choose to be black or white. The thing is, he is neither. He is a multi-race individual and hopefully one day he’ll accept that about himself. Its likely, though, that he’ll go through life a bit confused about where he belongs. That sucks, cause I love the little guy, and I certainly hope our future world is more accepting of him than the one we have now.

At the same time, whenever a group of gothic kids walks through a mall, EVERYONE notices. You don’t exactly see people climbing over one another to go talk to them, either. Choosing to dress and BE Goth involves accepting that you’re a social reject. Obviously I don’t hold this view, but rather accept that if someone is dressing like that, they probably don’t want to talk to a plain-clothes guy like me. I’m cool with that, and you have to admit, you do look kind of bad-a$$, “don’t you fucking talk to me” when you go around places.

Athiests have a really bad rap. A few loud-mouthed, over-zealous punks join up and start trying to challenge and “defeat” anyone with religious views and all athiests are seen as a bunch of selfish, unfeeling a-holes. I can’t say its unfair, as religous types suffer from the same issues, and on a much larger scale, but it does seem very skewed because there really aren’t as many athiests in the world as I once thought. In fact, reading a few poles out there and studying wikipedia, it seems that the world only holds about 3% athiests.

ANYWAY, You really are choosing a difficult road. One of which you can’t ever change, but two more that, if you’re feeling particularly estranged, you could change. I’m not saying you’re going to find any better people by doing this. Being Christian myself I’ve ran into a lot of good, wonderful people… but I’ve ran into more uncaring, selfish, overly-opinionated Christians than I have good ones. The difference, I think, is that in religion, everyone is forcing themselves to behave as though they never make mistakes… while in the Athiest and Gothic world, you learn to accept that if you’re going to try and be a good person, it is out of your own will and has nothing to do with some greater power.

I do see the temptation in living a life where any rules you follow are your own. You can accept or reject any moral code you desire without anyone expecting better of you. It seems the social rejection is getting to you, though… Maybe look around outside the scope of “Athiest Black People” and see if you can just find good people who don’t care if you’re athiest, black or gothic.

I know I don’t care. I’ll be your friend.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_atheism

well to the last reply a lot of gangbangers are not Atheists, to me they are just plain igorant, there is a big difference between the two…and I do agree with a lot of you that talked about the civil rights movement and how religion seemed to be embedded into the culture for many yesrs from slavery and still now in the 21st century.

So, assuming for a minute this isn’t some kind of racist, backhanded slap against the black American community.

You should know the history of black people in the US, right? Slave ships…evangelical Christians…the use of the Bible as the REASON for enslavement, etc, etc.

In assimilating into the culture (such as they could)…why wouldn’t you, by and large, end up adopting the religious belief system of your oppressor?

Name a country where that didn’t happen…it’s incredibly rare. Most countries, most people that get conquered, end up adopting the faith and traditions of their oppressors.

It’s why Christianity and Islam are such big religions. Native belief systems simply don’t survive cultural devastation. It’s the way of the world.

~*~reply about Goth, I’ld say I agree with Thex13thxChild Being a Goth isn’t about accepting you’re a reject. Given I myself was an outcast until high school. But that’s not why I chose to accept my place in the Goth subculture. It’s just who I am.

~*~ There are a lot of closet atheist. But one thing you have to put into consideration, not for anyone to take offence or anything, but Caucasian is still the majority. African Americans are still part of the minority. So it may seem as though it’s more rare amongst African Americans, but, again, you have to consider their still part of the minoirty, so really it may not be.

Hmmm. Good question really, because according to the wiki, it actually is true that blacks are less likely to be atheist.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_atheism#Race_Distribution

As to why, my guess is that it has to do with economics. Sadly, blacks still tend toward the lower end of the economic scale, and study after study show a strong anti-correlation between wealth and religiosity.

True You also have to put into consideration what Hourglass typed, she does have a good point. 1_~ Can’t say I knew too many proclaimed athiest back in igh school under the age 18

I have a met a few black atheists over the years. It does seem to be rare though.

One possibility I’d toss out is the strong cultural ties black communities traditionally have with their church. During the civil rights struggles black churches saw equality as a moral issue and ministers were active in the movement. Since churches are a source of strength and cohesion in black communities blacks who turn their backs to religion are seen as also turning against their communities.

@ thex13thxchild

I strongly agree with what you said and it doesn’t mater to me at all what people think about me and what I like and for that matter what I do,l just kow that everyone isn’t like me when it comes to how I feel about people and how that perceive me to be…and thanks for your clarification and your opinion…

and for the last question I have met other Atheists in that age bracket, and some younger and a few that are older too…

D@amn, toadaly got that one (I should have brought it up).

As he said, globally, those most poor are the most fanatic about religion…the reason being if you have less, you’re more likely to want to both blame an external factor and believe it’s the divine plan to reward you in the afterlife.

For example some poor countries actually force their citizens to the religion of the state, and forbid you to disavow said religion.

These are never wealthy countries, but the poorer nations that do this.

well thanks…but I’m not just trying to find people in the Black Community only I just feel that there are more Atheists in the Black Community that my feel scared of coming out and expressing themselves, but for that matter I’m not looking just asking…

And oh yeah about thewhole Goth thing I wouldn’t call mysel a social reject just someone who likes different things, and has dfferent tastes, well not a complete social reject anyway I do have some friends…

Well I am an African American ( multi racial really) and it just seems like people in the Black community feel that being an Atheist is somehow wrong because for the simple fact that I am Black.

The people that I have talked to about this in my local commnity all say that for me being an Atheist somehow says that I have left the black community, and I think thats bull because I have never been Christian and never will, and that doesnt make me less of a black person because of it.

a lot of Gangbangers are Atheists,and yes im Black

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Hi, I am jeaniffer! please how are you! hope you are fine and in perfect condition of health.I went through your profile and i read it and took intersest in it,please if you don’t mind i will like you to write me on this ID (jeaniffer_4 @yahoo.com)hope to hear from you soon,and I will be waiting for your mail because i have something VERY important to tell you. Lots of love jeaniffer!

back in the day when black were slaves..and of course this was a full christian country..one of the only free times they had were to go to church on sundays..so they develop relationship of attending to church and of course you have to believe if you go…so pretty much with the time blacks are use to going to church and well actually believing

ok im black and im a christian, and what yur sayin is well partially true, yes u went to church on sundays but it wasn’t all because of slavery. if u look closely to blacks today and trust me i knw, u see that alot of them “make” their kids go to church make them do this and that, which i think is wrng, u shouldn’t have to make ur child go to church bc it’s their life and who says that they’re evern goin to be christian when they get older. and like u said during slavery, that’s all most blacks knw in religions. although today u see more biracial churches bc it’s been brought to attention why white and black go to seperate churches. God didn’t judge so why are we ya knw?? i actually like goin to a mix church betta than the one i used to go to. see people speak of segregation, but yet still they sitten here doin it, and the most common is the seperate churches. so gothichic89 i agree with u