This whole debate (and the TV shows) seem peculiarly American. > Yes, the conflation between atheism and science is very frustrating, and harmful to science's

This whole debate (and the TV shows) seem peculiarly American. > Yes, the conflation between atheism and science is very frustrating, and harmful to science's image. In particular, this attitude seems to be prevalantly American. Being an atheist carries less of a stigma outside the US, and the correlation between scientific understanding and a tendency to irreligious beliefs is taken for granted.