Atheism, the hidden prejudice Prejudice has plagued our society since its conception. Great strides have been made in educating people to ignore racism, hatred and bigotry. Most people believe that it is wrong to judge someone based on their race, sexual preference, or gender. Tell people you don't believe in a god and you'll often find hateful stares, ignorant comments, and judgments cast. To better understand this, we will discuss the following in this article: the history of atheism, religious freedom in the United States, examples of religious prejudice, and some reasons why religious discrimination occurs. Many people believe that atheism is a “new age” trend; this is not correct. The term Atheism originated around 16 AD*, but atheistic philosophical thought appeared between the 5th and 6th centuries BC (“History of Atheism”). During the Renaissance, criticism of religion became a more frequent occurrence, but being labeled an atheist normally led to execution. In the Age of Enlightenment, atheism ceased to be a dangerous accusation and was a position openly held by some. Although it was no longer deadly to believe in atheism, most atheist literature was banned or publicly burned. The modern era has seen the greatest amount of atheistic thought. Karl Marx, Charles Bradlaugh and Friedrich Nietzsche were among the most outspoken atheists. Often criticized, the works created by these men are what developed into the atheist school of thought we have today. Throughout history, people of different beliefs have been persecuted. The founding fathers of our country were no exception. Many early settlers came to America fleeing religious persecution...... middle of paper......and Christians; this will probably never come to light. People are often afraid to accept something they can't understand. Perhaps one day the religious freedoms we are guaranteed will be granted and the separation of church and state will finally be complete. Until then, all we can do is fight for our rights or hide in the closet. Works Cited “Arkansas Constitution.” 1874.Cline, Austine. “Atheist Activism and Politics.” 2008. By the way. February 21, 2008."History of atheism". February 17, 2008. Wikipedia. February 19, 2008. Robinson, B. A. "Americans' Prejudice." February 15, 2008. Religious tolerance. February 20, 2008 .Sagan, Carl. The world haunted by demons. New York: Random House, 1996.