Study not good for atheists
The University of Minnesota did a survey and the results aren't good for atheists. The question asked was "I would disapprove in my child wanted to marry a member of this group....
atheists 47.6
muslim 33.5
african-american 27.2
asian-american 18.5
hispanic 18.5
jews 11.5
conservative christian 6.9
whites 2.3
atheists deserve a low mark
Side Score: 6
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unfair to atheists
Side Score: 17
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The Framing of this argument is questionable. This is not poor reflection on atheists or any member of the listed groups. The study is likely gauging how people feel about these groups and not commenting on the groups themselves. This study could be presented as 'People show bigoted beliefs towards X group'. For instance African Americans were rated on this list, would this study be a poor reflection on the African Americans or the people who would not approve of their children marrying this group? Or would the study just simply be measuring how people feel and not justifying those feelings? Have a link to this study? Side: unfair to atheists
http://www1.umn.edu/news/news-releases/ Here is the U of M write up on the study. The study is on public opinion not on any of the listed groups. "The researchers also found acceptance or rejection of atheists is related not only to personal religiosity, but also to one’s exposure to diversity, education and political orientation—with more educated, East and West Coast Americans more accepting of atheists than their Midwestern counterparts." So one could conclude that those who ostracize these groups are generally less exposed to diversity as well as less educated than those who accept these groups. This study is in no way a reflection on the beliefs or ethnicity of the chosen groups but of public opinion. To use this study as a 'proof' of any of the the listed groups to be legitimately ostracized would be committing the fallacy of ad populum. Not sure how this is bad for any of the listed groups. Side: unfair to atheists
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The thing about surveys like this... People who believe in god want their children to believe too... Or at the very least they want them to have something to believe in. They have more trouble with giving out independence. Atheist don't typically have as huge of a problem with that, although they do have their own issue. Just stating why a survey would turn out this way, it's truly not surprising. Side: unfair to atheists
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