[Dhaal_Chawal]

The Pew survey shows that, in terms of adherents[110]
77% of Americans have favorable opinions of Jews
73% favorable of Catholics
57% favorable of "evangelical Christians"
55% favorable of Muslims
35% favorable of Atheists
(source, page 7)
Why do you think this is?

[AverageExcellence]

Them godless heathens (only kidding) :P

[DaveSmith99]

America is a backwards country.

[chickenonsteroids]

It's because a lot of Americans are really religious. So they see people defying religious authority and untrustworthy. It also doesn't help that the more religious a church is the more likely they are to teach creationism and other pseudo science. Which then leads to more mis information because they might think that you need to be an atheist to believe in evolution.

But if anything happens, just ask them to forgive you.

[Blazara]

Dated 2005, so hardly the most modern opinions.

Otherwise, predictable outcome, it's a country founded by religious refugees - they're going to like religion.

[Tahooper]

It's because of the Deep South that polls like this end up having skewed results.

[lindie]

It could be because the angry atheists are often louder than regular atheists which rubs the wrong way on a largely religious nation.

[Politricks]

(Original post by DaveSmith99)
America is a backwards country.

Backwards like Somalia or Saudi Arabia?

[lukas1051]

Well it's obviously because us atheists are an evil subhuman race of debaucherers, murderers and Satan worshippers with no morals. God forbid we attempt to think freely and rationally.

[DaveSmith99]

(Original post by Politricks)
Backwards like Somalia or Saudi Arabia?

Not that backwards, but still pretty backwards.

[Politricks]

(Original post by Blazara)
Dated 2005, so hardly the most modern opinions.

Otherwise, predictable outcome, it's a country founded by religious refugees - they're going to like religion.

The founding fathers of America wanted religion to be separate from politics.

[Jackso]

Probably because some atheists come off as extremely arrogant and condescending and people just remember those ones as opposed to the majority. It's the same with Christians a lot of the time.

[MancStudent098]

If congress was actually representative of the US population, atheists would be the 3rd largest religious group. At present there's one openly atheist congressman.

6 US states constitutionally ban atheists from holding office. For anyone who thinks it's only the south, one of those states is Maryland.

[noisy06]

(Original post by DaveSmith99)
Not that backwards, but still pretty backwards.

How do you define 'backwards' then? They are the most progressed in technological and military capability and have the strongest economy. It sure as hell would be 'backwards' if US degenerated to being like Britain for example, wouldn't it?

[Blazara]

(Original post by Politricks)
The founding fathers of America wanted religion to be separate from politics.

Fortunately I wasn't talking about the founding fathers, I was talking about the people who actually lived there.

[DaveSmith99]

(Original post by noisy06)
How do you define 'backwards' then? They are the most progressed in technological and military capability and have the strongest economy. It sure as hell would be 'backwards' if US degenerated to being like Britain for example, wouldn't it?

Backwards in the sense that the state still kills people. Backwards in the sense that its a nation built on the separation of church and state, and church and state are anything but separate. Backwards in the sense that the real political power is still in the hands of big companies. Backwards in the sense that every American thinks they have a constitutional right to own a gun. Backwards in the sense that up until recently you were a second class citizen if you were black. Backwards in the sense that there are more black people in jail than in college. Backwards in the sense that you can kiss goodbye to a career in politics if you are anything but christian, chances are even smaller if you dare be an atheist.

Need I go on?

[OSharp]

only 1% of anyone has a favourable view of Americans.

[noisy06]

(Original post by DaveSmith99)
Backwards in the sense that the state still kills people. Backwards in the sense that its a nation built on the separation of church and state, and church and state are anything but separate. Backwards in the sense that the real political power is still in the hands of big companies. Backwards in the sense that every American thinks they have a right to own a constitutional right to own a gun. Backwards in the sense that up until recently you were a second class citizen if you were black. Backwards in the sense that there are more black people in jail than in college. Backwards in the sense that you can kiss goodbye to a career in politics if you are anything but christian, chances are even smaller if you dare be an atheist.

Need I go on?

I don't agree with half of what you're saying first of all, so that makes it your own personal opinion of what "backwards" actually means. Secondly, there is no such thing as a perfect society, there will always be problems, so classing it as "backwards" is inaccurate and gives the impression that foundations of a fair, moralistic society is absent. I think the underlying principles governing the country are progressive and fair. It is certainly not backwards, even if it does have some "backward" elements (depending on what you view as backward of course)

[Ayshizzle]

Well anyone who judges someone solely on whatever belief system they adhere to (or don't) is probably quite silly.

[Politricks]

(Original post by Blazara)
Fortunately I wasn't talking about the founding fathers, I was talking about the people who actually lived there.

Actually, religion became more and more popular and relevant to Americans after a religious surge during the Civil War.