Some atheists claim that they are more oppressed than Muslims in the USA, citing polls like that. I'd ask them a question: are Guantanamo detainees largely Muslims or atheists? The answer is clear.
As for the question of income and religious belief, the Barna group says:
One of the intriguing findings from the research is
that education and income are negatively correlated
with belief in Heaven and Hell. In other words, the
more education a person gets or the more income
they earn, the less likely they are to believe that Heaven
or Hell exists. While most high-income households
and college graduates maintain belief in Heaven
and Hell, the finding reinforces the popular notion -
and, indeed, Jesus' teaching - that people of economic
means and those with considerable education struggle
to embrace biblical teachings on such matters.
("Americans Describe Their Views About Life After
Death," 21 October 2003, <http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdate&BarnaUpdateID=150>)
That's a fact. The dilemma for secular leftists in the USA as well as the global South, who come from various class backgrounds but are all well educated, through formal schooling or otherwise, is how to overcome the social and cultural gaps between themselves and the majority -- the working class, who are largely religious, one way or another -- with whom they wish to stand in solidarity. We can't overcome the gaps if we deny their material existence by burying our heads in the metaphysical sands. -- Yoshie