The intolerance of religious people.

Over the years I have discovered that to tell people that I no longer believe in any religion is to either frighten them off or to invite an angry outburst. Apparently I am not alone in having had such experiences.

In 2008, Atheist Nexus recorded stories from some 8000 people who described themselves as atheist, humanist, freethinker, agnostic, skeptic, and so on.

One said, “I've had people literally, physically BACK away from me upon hearing I am atheist. My children were told to run away from our evil home."

Another said: “My wife told me that I'm caught in Satan's grip, and confessed that after I deconverted she considered leaving me.”

Elsewhere a young woman tells of losing thirty-four Facebook friends when she announced her lack of belief.

In the U.S. atheists are less electable than reviled minorities including Muslims and gays. Seven states still have laws on the books that ban non-believers from holding public office.  A Florida minister whose deconversion recently made national news said that job interviews were cancelled when prospective employers found out. If such is the case in an advanced country like America just imagine how much worse it would be in the fanatically religious Muslims countries. Muslims are notorious for refusing to accept any arguments against their religion.

In the minds of many believers non-belief is linked with immorality, and despite tons of evidence to the contrary, religious leaders reinforce this stereotype.