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Atheism or Religion: Which is treated harsher by the Media?

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HandsomeRob Leader of the Holey Brotherhood from The land of broken records Since: Jan, 2015
Leader of the Holey Brotherhood
#1: Mar 11th 2012 at 11:31:06 AM

Oh Snap! I went there.

From the guy who Brought You the Lawful vs Chaotic topic (which I haven't been able to find) and the Idealism vsCynicism topic (which I also can't find), as well as the "Why is God either Evil or Incompetent" topic, I know bring you this.

I am a religious man, though not by much. Barely read the bible, and only go to Church on Christmas and Easter, but I do believe. I like the idea of something after death, and the possibility that the laws of the universe were created by something. However, I can understand those who disbelieve, and even dislike religion flat out, due to the many tragedies that have been caused by it.

The Media usually greatly simplifies things when it comes to these two topics. The Hollywood Atheist, and The Fundamentalist are the most likely characters you will see, if Religion is ever mentioned at all.

After spending a long time thinking about it, I've decided to write this topic, and ask this question. Between the two, who do you think the Media treats more harshly?

Discuss...but don't derail. I'm asking this here because previous religious topics have managed to stay quite decent, so I figured it was safe to ask.

So discuss.

One Strip! One Strip!
Zyxzy Embrace the mindscrew from Salem, OR Since: Jan, 2001
Embrace the mindscrew
#2: Mar 11th 2012 at 11:33:17 AM

It's very dependent on the specific piece of media.

What's the frequency Kenneth?|In case of war.
Aondeug Oh My from Our Dreams Since: Jun, 2009
Oh My
#3: Mar 11th 2012 at 11:33:19 AM

They're allowed nowhere near either in most cases in my experience. At least if you want something carefully researched, accurate, and respectful.

As is it's a case by case thing.

In general "NOWHERE NEAR EITHER" is a good rule.

edited 11th Mar '12 11:33:52 AM by Aondeug

If someone wants to accuse us of eating coconut shells, then that's their business. We know what we're doing. - Achaan Chah
RainbowMatt Prettiest Pony :3 from the cave of unspeakable naughtiness Since: Oct, 2011 Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
Prettiest Pony :3
#4: Mar 11th 2012 at 12:22:45 PM

I am athiest, but I do not know how you could not notice an overall bias against religion in the overall media.

Devypu's~ Big Pony :3
Carciofus Is that cake frosting? from Alpha Tucanae I Since: May, 2010
Is that cake frosting?
#5: Mar 11th 2012 at 12:25:06 PM

Both are treated fairly horribly, I think. Which one has it worse depends on the specific author; but really, most of the times neither is treated particularly well.

But they seem to know where they are going, the ones who walk away from Omelas.
KrisMahai Hm? Since: Jan, 2013
Hm?
#6: Mar 11th 2012 at 12:34:05 PM

Are we talking about media as in news media/paparazzi (as in, Real Life?) or media as in books, films, etc? Because if we're talking about Real Life, I'd say atheists are treated much more offensively by the media than fundamentalist Christians. If we're talking about fiction, I'd still say atheism is still treated more offensively, though perhaps not as purposely (atheists are just angry at god, you see, instead of outright Satanists).

...But maybe I feel this way because I live in Kansas.

“Isn't it enough to see that a garden is beautiful without having to believe that there are fairies at the bottom of it too?”
randomtropeloser Since: Jan, 2001
#7: Mar 11th 2012 at 12:54:23 PM

A lot of media are fairly full of strawmen, corrupt churches and Hollywood atheists, and I personally think it 's a tie.

TheDeadMansLife Lover of masks. Since: Nov, 2009
Lover of masks.
#8: Mar 11th 2012 at 1:12:05 PM

Depends. Real life media? Atheists. Sci fi? Religious. Everywhere else. So so.

Please.
Kexruct nonarySpade from Vvardenfell Since: Mar, 2011
nonarySpade
#9: Mar 11th 2012 at 1:48:58 PM

Depends on what you are offended by. For example, being called stupid as a result of being a theist might not offend someone as much as, say, being called GODLESS HEATHEN SCUM for being an atheist.

They call themselves seamstresses -Feet Of Clay
HandsomeRob Leader of the Holey Brotherhood from The land of broken records Since: Jan, 2015
Leader of the Holey Brotherhood
#10: Mar 11th 2012 at 1:49:31 PM

I was mostly thinking of Fiction, but we can toss Real Life in there as well.

I think the only two Sci-fi shows that showed respect towards Religion were Deep Space Nine (considering the Status of the Prophets were a key part of the story), and apparently Babylon Five (which still had the Atheist as the best dressed one).

One Strip! One Strip!
feotakahari Fuzzy Orange Doomsayer from Looking out at the city Since: Sep, 2009
Fuzzy Orange Doomsayer
#11: Mar 11th 2012 at 3:26:19 PM

Don't forget the third side of the triangle. I've read "good Christians versus evil atheists" stories, "good Christians versus evil pagans" stories, "good pagans versus evil Christians" stories, and "good atheists versus evil Christians" stories (though, peculiarly, I have never read a story in which atheists fought pagans.)

That's Feo . . . He's a disgusting, mysoginistic, paedophilic asshat who moonlights as a shitty writer—Something Awful
ThatHuman someone from someplace Since: Jun, 2010
someone
#12: Mar 11th 2012 at 3:28:55 PM

Discuss...but don't derail.
Dude, this isn't OTC.

edited 11th Mar '12 3:29:17 PM by ThatHuman

something
inane242 Anwalt der Verdammten from A B-Movie Bildungsroman Since: Nov, 2010
Anwalt der Verdammten
#13: Mar 11th 2012 at 3:31:15 PM

THIS

IS

YACK FEST

DINNER

RE: The topic: Atheism.

The 5 geek social fallacies. Know them well.
Kexruct nonarySpade from Vvardenfell Since: Mar, 2011
nonarySpade
#14: Mar 11th 2012 at 3:45:12 PM

It's also a matter of who is defending each side: Who are you going to take more seriously, a fundie raving about Family Guy or Richard Dawkins raving about The Chronicles Of Narnia?

They call themselves seamstresses -Feet Of Clay
Pykrete NOT THE BEES from Viridian Forest Since: Sep, 2009
NOT THE BEES
#15: Mar 11th 2012 at 5:27:34 PM

Pretty much the only criticism of atheism I see on TV is when I walk in and see dad's been asleep with the remote long enough for something ridiculous like the 700 Club to come on. I don't really see actual news programs show the kind of crap the American Atheists pull, for example, or the Happy Atheists trying to picket the Jesus ♥ U guy off my college campus.

edited 11th Mar '12 5:29:47 PM by Pykrete

spasticgecko Dat Troper from Maryland Since: Oct, 2011
Dat Troper
#16: Mar 11th 2012 at 5:43:12 PM

I think that religion is treated harsher, but it's only been this way for a short time.

randomtropeloser Since: Jan, 2001
#17: Mar 11th 2012 at 6:02:28 PM

Regarding sci fi series and religion, I think Firefly was fairly respectful. That old preacher guy was pretty awesome.

Pykrete NOT THE BEES from Viridian Forest Since: Sep, 2009
NOT THE BEES
#18: Mar 11th 2012 at 6:04:15 PM

There was nothing not amazing about Book.

BobbyG vigilantly taxonomish from England Since: Jan, 2001
vigilantly taxonomish
#19: Mar 11th 2012 at 6:35:39 PM

It varies hugely depending on the region, the target audience and the writers. It also depends on the religion in question.

In my experience Christian concepts, rhetoric and traditions are fairly prevalent, and seldom subject to worse than mild ribbing. The most notable exception would be in "edgy" comedies, which seldom rip into atheism but often attack Christianity and other religions.

Religions other than Christianity are rarely attacked quite so viciously, but are frequently subject to ignorant and condescending portrayals, when they're represented at all, and atheism is seldom mentioned, positively or negatively.

That's on TV broadcast in Britain. I know things can be very different internationally.

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pagad Sneering Imperialist from perfidious Albion Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
Sneering Imperialist
#20: Mar 12th 2012 at 1:08:41 AM

Pretty much the only criticism of atheism I see on TV is when I walk in and see Fox News

Fixed that for you. tongue

Or so I have been led to believe by things like this...

With cannon shot and gun blast smash the alien. With laser beam and searing plasma scatter the alien to the stars.
LatverianBadger Calamity is a housewife from gacha hell Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: I'm just a poor boy, nobody loves me
Calamity is a housewife
#21: Mar 12th 2012 at 7:19:49 AM

Speaking honestly, I see religion being treated alot harsher in the general media than atheism.

Then again, I'm a catholic so I may be biased. tongue

"Shake the dust." - Anis Mojgani
InverurieJones '80s TV Action Hero from North of the Wall. Since: Jan, 2010 Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
'80s TV Action Hero
#22: Mar 12th 2012 at 7:51:00 AM

In my neck of the woods atheism is assumed to be the norm, so it doesn't get treated harshly. Nor does religion, really, unless it's some kind of freaky cult. Christianity is largely seen as being quaint or something for older folk, but that's about as harsh as it gets.

That said, American-style religious fundamentalism gets the piss ripped out of it at every opportunity.

edited 12th Mar '12 7:54:33 AM by InverurieJones

'All he needs is for somebody to throw handgrenades at him for the rest of his life...'
wuggles (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#23: Mar 12th 2012 at 8:21:30 AM

It depends. I honestly rarely hear a criticism of atheism on TV unless it's some super religious show. On the internet I hear more criticism of both sides.

NLK Mo A Since: May, 2010
#24: Mar 12th 2012 at 5:04:26 PM

Nowadays? Religion, totally. I might be biased, but I at least haven't ever seen an atheist be portrayed as negatively in media as the religious often are.

Likes many underrated webcomics
feotakahari Fuzzy Orange Doomsayer from Looking out at the city Since: Sep, 2009
Fuzzy Orange Doomsayer
#25: Mar 15th 2012 at 1:52:38 AM

^ The sorts of works that really slam atheists tend to be niche novels (most frequently high fantasy or soft sci-fi.)

That's Feo . . . He's a disgusting, mysoginistic, paedophilic asshat who moonlights as a shitty writer—Something Awful

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