There is good bad in everything

I think there's a strain of libertarian Ayn-Rand-Fan atheists who are at least comfortable with racism. They don't think, for example, that the government should tell businesses that they must serve black customers (Rand Paul expressed sympathy with that view, but later backtracked).

Otherwise, atheists include a wide variety of people - the only thing we necessarily have in common is that we don't believe in something that others do.

I think it might depend also where in the country you live. I've known some truly accepting religious people over the years who are so open and accepting you would be surprised. I've also known non religious people who have been so closed off it was scary.

Churches, groups, political parties all seem to collect a majority of certain types according to how the leaders conduct and portray themselves so I'm not entirely sure it has to do with religion specifically or just how people in groups work. Crowd mentality is complicated and can vary according to how strict or loose views are throughout.

It feels more that racism is geographic in nature to me. I live in the deep South of the U.S. Here it is prevalent around every corner. It is also very conservative, and there is a church around every corner. In my little town there are more churches than fast food places.

I think it is more on your location in this old world. If I lived in the U.K. I don't think it would be nearly at all. And I'm sure many U.K. folk are religious. Good question by the way.

First, I need to understand what is meant by 'racist." Personally, as a AA womun who has lived in a supremacist institutionalized/systemic racist system, I think some, many, a few, most atheist can and are just as racist as some, many, a few, most religious persons.

Yes, race does define and should define. The humyn race consists of many a diversity of people ad difference is good and should be valued.

Again, I say there must be an honest and realistic understanding of what racism is and how it expresses itself and exists in this society. Personally, I have met very few truly good spiritual, humynistic people and too many who profess to be Christian, godly [whatever that is] etc. and vey bad and evil

We are not the same and should not be. We are all different. We are not all racist...I, as a womun of African heritage, am prejudice about many things and work everyday to distinguish between realistic prejudices [those that are beneficial to my survival in a supremacist, racist institutionalized/systemic culture] and those that are just down right unrealistic so that they will not have such an unhealthy impact on my life and the life of others. but I try not to get into discussions on racism unless there has been a clear cut understanding of what it is.

Racism is not entirely linked with racism. Some atheists and agnostics are still quite racist.

I am sure there are fanatics on the extreme end of every spectrum. Talking to many non theists, I have found many not to be racist and more open minded in accepting things, not so quickly to judge like most religious people because they are brain washed to think like that. The bible has got to be one of the most bigoted, racist, judgemental books out there so if xians follow that, then they tend to be more racist in their beliefs.

In terms of inherent bias, I do feel that atheists are just as racist. However, they are more likely to view that bias with a critical eye and make more appropriate determinations as to the cause of said bias.

Speaking for myself only, as someone who is looking for a partner , I would say more So in some ways. perhaps it's not racism, but I'm guilty of over generalizing african American and hispanics/latino men. I find most of them too religious, traditional and family oriented for me. Perhaps it's just negative experiences ive had with them on dating sites.

Im not racist. I hate everyone equally.

Usually Atheists are a lot more intelligent than the rest...so, racism isn't an issue for us.

Being an atheist is not a protection against having other flaws; it is no guarantee of being a good person. however, since religion is so often used as an excuse for racism, among other bad thought processes and bad behaviors, it is likely true that a higher percentage of christians than of atheists are racists. in addition, anyone who lives with societal rejection has a better chance of reacting with more empathy and inclusion (again, it's not a guarantee).

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I am inclined to think that racism is a characteristic of those who are deficient in the department of reason. Therefore, racism knows no bounds when it comes to beliefs, religious or otherwise.

Im a recent skeptic, but we are probabile more accepting of others.

I think the religious are worse. My experiences tend to go with the OP on this.

It would seem to be that racism is less prevalent in the atheist camp.

Look how they treat gay people. Of course the fools are racist than we are.

Based on my experience I would say theists (with notable exceptions) are generally more racist then atheists. I think this is a result of two possible factors. Number one I think is out-group homogeneity effect. I have played a major role in freeing a few theists from their world of superstition to a world view based on reality. To my surprise, two of them (while thanking me for and detailing their benefits of no longer being burdened by religion) noted that their life was now much better because, in addition to no longer fearing burining in hell forever and being able to evaluate the world with facts not fiction, they no longer feared anybody that was not a member of their church. Yes. Both of those I am talking about specified now accepting with equal footing people of a different race as they no longer considered other races inferior or worthy of fearing. Number two factor could be the correlation (I am not necessarily claiming causality) of intelligence, religious, and racism. There are many studies that demonstrate increased intelligence generally yields decreased theism. There are also studies that demonstrate increased intelligence generally yields decreased racism. (Separate studies)

People arrive at "truth" by many roads, but I have found that the search itself stretches the brain, so I think agnostics/atheists may be a significant % of Mensans. Early SciFi interest could suggest a flexibility of mind that can jump in and out of the box and find solutions. Math is a surprisingly painless way to develop that flexibility (among others), and tends to lead away from painful circular religious arguments. But I've been wrong before.

I like to think it's a matter of upbringing. We, as Atheists or Agnostics, tend to cast off some or all of the norms that we were raised with, and I guess I lump religion and racism into the same bag of beliefs that we pick up from our background.

I don't know really, I don't know why I am commenting as I know of no polls about this - I know that I was taught not to be racist by my parents who lived in the East end of London where most of the first immigrants came as a starting off place. My father was not a believer and my mother had a personal god who could whop anybody elses' god,I was taught at an early age that we are all equal citizens regardless of any differences and my mother would tell me whoever knocks at the door to let them in, But this was the 1950's and we were dependent upon nurses coming over from the Carribean to work in the understaffed NHS. Our population was depleted due to the war and I was one of the baby boomers

While attending local non-believer get togethers, I have unfortunately heard some white people make gross generalizations about other ethnicites. Including the statement "if black people would just stop playing the victim and move on they would be a lot better off."

In my experience they generally are not. But that's not to say that they were not racist at one point in their lives, but at least they have the capacity for logic that furthers their thinking and reasoning. That pretty much takes care of racist ideas.

racism I've come to discover is more of a geopolitical issue than anything else because I've lived in towns where there are no black people and no racists but then I've lived in towns where there were no black people in a bunch of racist and vice a versa and can also say it would be more along the grounds of how you were raised but I lived in a small Backwoods codone town where there were no black people + 50 y Del righties

I think to be atheist is maybe to be a freer thinker, possibly more acceptant of other belief systems because they don't threaten us - I would never ever put down someone else's defence system against a cruel world - if it helps to believe in something that eases the pain of humanity - I'm all for it - sometimes I wish I had that simplicity myself & yes I share your last sentiment - and I was brought up to make my own mind up freely about what my spirituality would be.