Prejudice

I am reading an article today from the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. I'm not a psychologist, but this article hit pretty close to home: Do you Believe in Atheists? Distrust is Central to Anti-Atheist Prejudice

This only really appealed to me because I generally identify as an atheist, or at least a Humanist if I'm feeling Vonnegutian. Just reading the abstract I learned that other people, particularly steadfast Christians, aren't so much disgusted by me (as they are by homosexuals) as they are distrustful of me. Turns out I'm about as trustworthy as your everyday rapist.

Flattered.

I'm not going into the many, many, many reasons why this is illogical, or how you can believe that a godless life is necessarily an immoral one. I just have a lot of questions about how this affects the lives of Abortioneers. It seems like a lot of the prejudice against non-religious folks stems from the really religious folks, as does the prejudice towards abortion and Abortioneers. Does that mean, then, that:

1. A religious Abortioneer is more trustworthy than an atheist one?
2. Antis will target atheist Abortioneers more than religious ones?
3. It is more "sinful" to abortioneer if you are religious than if you are not?

For example. I mean, my overall impression is that antis suck and won't really give you the benefit of the doubt just because you go to church. (Dr. Tiller much?) And when the majority of anti sentiments are religious ones, it's clear that they think we all have topsy-turvy moral codes. So maybe it doesn't make a difference.

But still, I can't help but feel doubly judged. These people hate my guts because I'm an Abortioneer, but also because I don't share their general philosophies on what happens when you die and what you should be doing with your weekends. And every time I'm handed a rosary or prayed for by an anti, I just feel so angry. I know there is nothing wrong with me, and yet these folks are convinced that there's a major bug in my system.

I have to say, I can't help but feel a little bit "off the hook". I'm spared all the debates about whether or not religion is accepting of abortion because all I can contribute is





And more importantly, to the people I serve, I am trustworthy. My views may certainly clash with theirs, but I'll escort them through the hellfire and brimstone if that's what it takes. And they thanks me for it every time.