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 ChahI 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 :3Are 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?”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 ClayI 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!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 AwfulIt'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 ClayPretty 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
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.
Welcome To TV Tropes | How To Write An Example | Text Formatting Rules | List Of Shows That Need Summary | TV Tropes Forum | Know The StaffFixed that for you.
Or so I have been led to believe by things like this
...
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...'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^ 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

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!