Why do some progressive Democrats ignore bigotry and intolerance in religions?

[MineralMan]

24. Really, there is no "atheist community."

After being an atheist for more than 50 years, I still know only a few atheists personally. Why is that? Probably because there is no central idea or principle that would bind atheists together. There's no doctrine or belief system or anything else that would lead atheists to gather in groups, really.

I associate with and have associated with many groups. Each has a central focus. Music, technology, career, hobby, common interests, etc. None are "atheist" groups. Instead, all are made up of a wide range of people, but who have some single thing in common. All are social in nature, but with a focus on some interest.

Religion is also social, and it also has a common focus, and that focus is a shared belief system. Whatever the religion or denomination, the tenets and principles are shared by the group that socializes in it.

Atheism is non-belief in the things religion believes. That is not anything that has enough common interest to form social groups of atheists. The only thing atheists have in common, really, is non-belief, and there's not much to socialize about in that. When I do encounter another atheist, we talk about some topic we have in common, but almost never about our non-belief. What's to talk about.

So, you're right. Religion is a social thing, but it has a focus. It has shared beliefs. They are what bring the people together. They are also why there are so many different variations on the theme of religion. When it comes to beliefs, people are most comfortable with people who believe pretty much as they do. Religious gathering are centered around beliefs. While there are social events by religious groups that may not seem religious, religion always plays a role.

Atheism has no such common ground. So, there aren't many atheist organizations. There are even fewer that have regular meetings of large groups of people. Atheism just doesn't have enough stuff to talk about, really. We just don't believe in religious stuff. But, we have many other interests, so we socialize based on those interests.