Forum Discussion: Revealing Religion in Official Paperwork
Wednesday November 4, 2009
There are a number of circumstances in which you might be asked to tell others your religious affiliations -- typically in the context of an official encounter. The easiest example is when registering in a hospital, but it can also be a difficult example because it's so often a time when people are hurting and desperate. If you aren't religious and are concerned with backlash against atheists, having to answer "atheist" to questions about your religion or a loved one's religion may not be easy.
I had to go to the emergency room today. ...While registering, the woman taking my information (and who was wearing a big 'ol crucifix around her neck) asked, "May I put down a religious affiliation for you?" I told her I'm an atheist, so she should probably just put down "none."
She never batted an eye and said, "Sure, that's fine." And there it was on the paperwork she handed me. "Religion: None."
Living in the US, I would have expected an argument, or at the very least a raised eyebrow just a few years ago. NIce to have that on an official document without an adverse reaction from the clerk. Not that there should be an adverse reaction anyway, but our fundies can be mightily disagreeable!
This encounter went well -- almost surprising well, in fact -- but it's the very fact that it's surprising which highlights how difficult some atheists have had it. You know that Christians, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, and even Muslims don't have to stop to be concerned about such situations. Is this an example of how things are changing for the better, though? How have you handled such encounters and have they generally gone well or have you had problems?
Add your thoughts to the comments here or join the ongoing discussion in the forum.
You could always enter “FFI” on medical and other forms asking your religion – “free from infection” you would respond if asked to explain the initialism.
_____
As an open atheist, i am constantly challenged in a condescending tone by friends and colleagues that i should “respect” other beliefs. I honestly think they feel threatened by me.
Usually they are the ones who start the conversation and criticisms of me and in doing so have already disprespected me in assuming i should give automatic respect to them.
in Sweden you don’t get that question in hospitals
Why should that question even be asked anywhere ? what relevance does it have? the onlty thing i can think of is that it could make the medical staff assume things about you that may not be true – so it could actually have a negative effect.
If I had to guess, the question is asked in case something goes wrong. A religious person may want to have a clergyman present to pray with, or over them.
I’m just glad the woman treated my response as perfectly normal.
I had cornea transplant surgery in my Intelligently Designed, totally blind right eye on 27 June 2009, at Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge, MA. The very nice young lady that filled out my Admittance Form did not react in any unusual way when she asked “Religious Preference” and I said “atheist.” She simply entered it on the Form and asked the next question.
Just say Unitarian
#7,
Why lie?If you’re an atheist, just say so.Just say no to gods.
Exactly. Why lie, and prop up religion? What (positive thing) does that accomplish?
I live south of the Mason-Dixon line, and when I had to go to the emergency room a few years ago, I was asked the religion question. The lady entering my information into the computer never missed a beat, just entered “atheist” and went on to the next item.
Don’t some religions prohibit certain types of medical treatment? Blood transfusions and so on?