in reality, aetheism is simply ANOTHER set of beliefs. Aetheists can no
more "prove" their own beliefs than those they ridicule.

Atheism is a belief system like being bald is a hair color.

I agree that toleration should extend to atheists as well as
believers. The most important idea, that should be pushed throughout
the world, is that what you believe about supernatural beings and what
they want is your own business and it should not be imposed on others.
If all religion was private, we would have all the benefits and few of
the problems.

I agree that toleration should extend to atheists as well as
believers. The most important idea, that should be pushed throughout
the world, is that what you believe about supernatural beings and what
they want is your own business and it should not be imposed on others.
If all religion was private, we would have all the benefits and few of
the problems.

Survey: U.S. trust lowest for atheists

By Jeannine Aquino

Atheists are America's least trusted group, according to a national
survey conducted by a Minnesota University sociology researchers.

Based on a telephone survey of more than 2,000 households and in-depth
interviews with more than 140 people, researchers found that Americans
rate atheists below Muslims, recent immigrants, homosexuals and other
groups as "sharing their vision of American society." Americans are
also least willing to let their children marry atheists.

"It tells us about how Americans view religion," said Penny Edgell, an
associate sociology professor and the study's lead researcher. "Many
Americans seem to believe some kind of religious faith is central to
being a good American and a good person."

The study will appear in the April issue of the "American Sociological
Review." Professor Joseph Gerteis and associate professor Douglas
Hartmann are study co-authors. It is the first in a series of national
studies conducted by the American Mosaic Project, a three-year project
that looks at race, religion and cultural diversity in the United
States.

Edgell said Americans traditionally have been a religious people and
associate faith with being a good citizen. The survey results indicate
that this belief hasn't changed, Edgell said.

Those surveyed tended to view people who don't believe in a god as the
"ultimate self-interested actor who doesn't care about anyone but
themselves," Edgell said.