Atheists as “other”: Moral boundaries and cultural membership in American society

Anti-atheist prejudice affects employment, elections, family life, and broader social inclusion.

“Anti-atheist prejudice-a growing concern in increasingly secular societies 14 -affects employment, elections, family life, and broader social inclusion 12,13 .”

Aspects of religion may promote or exacerbate conflict with those outside a given religious group, including regional violence, intergroup conflict, and tacit prejudice against nonbelievers.

“Moreover, aspects of religion may promote or exacerbate conflict with those outside a given religious group, promoting regional violence 10 , intergroup conflict 11 , as well as tacit prejudice against nonbelievers 12,13 .”

Atheists form the social group that Americans believe to be least in agreement with their vision of America.

“In fact, atheists form the social group that Americans believe to be least in agreement with their vision of America [1].”

There is a widespread cross-cultural stereotype that atheists are untrustworthy and lack a moral compass.

“There is a widespread cross-cultural stereotype suggesting that atheists are untrustworthy and lack a moral compass.”

Homosexuals may be perceived as a threat to traditional moral values about marriage and sex, whereas atheists may be perceived as a threat to the religious moral community more generally.

“For example, homosexuals may be perceived as a threat to traditional moral values about marriage and sex [26], whereas atheists may be perceived as a threat to the religious moral community more generally [1, 7].”