When I was in my 20’s, I was called a “God damned atheist” by a man who was sorely disappointed that I didn’t march off to the Catholic Church with his family. I was dating his daughter at the time, and I had been welcomed to visit her family home for that weekend. Everything was going well until Sunday morning. After I declined his invitation to go to Mass, the livid father announced that I was no longer welcome in that house. It was as if I had tried to set the house on fire. Worse yet, my then-girlfriend’s father was a college philosophy teacher—I had assumed that professors would be more tolerant than that. I was shocked at his intolerance and I abided by his request.
I could give many other stories documenting that I have experienced discrimination, including discrimination that took the form of wholesale emotional rejection by adults when I was young and vulnerable. My stories would not be unique. Here is an especially disturbing episode involving another young man.
In many parts of America, those who don’t believe in God are stigmatized by members of their own communities. That is the reason for the “Out” campaign.
As more and more people join the OUT Campaign, fewer and fewer people will feel intimidated by religion. We can help others understand that atheists come in all shapes, sizes, colours and personalities. We are labourers and professionals. We are mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, sisters, brothers and grandparents. We are human (we are primates) and we are good friends and good citizens. We are good people who have no need to cling to the supernatural.
It is time to let our voices be heard regarding the intrusion of religion in our schools and politics. Atheists along with millions of others are tired of being bullied by those who would force their own religious agenda down the throats of our children and our respective governments. We need to KEEP OUT the supernatural from our moral principles and public policies.
If you want to make your rejection of bureaucratic religion visible, you can buy t-shirts or bumper stickers.
I must admit, though, that I am ambivalent about this campaign. On the one hand, it is shameful that so many people ostracize those of us who don’t claim allegiance to a religion, as though we are per se immoral. Statistics don’t bear out that non-believers are any less willing to help those in need than believers. As I’ve argued before, non-religious altruism is a higher form of morality. It is a purer form of morality to help others because it is the right thing to do, rather than because “God” ordered one to do it under threat of burning in hell. Yet, somehow, the alleged immorality of non-believers is taken as a given by many Americans.
For this reason that non-believers are unfairly criticized and politically ostracized, the “Out” campaign is critically important and I do hope it succeeds in its goals. As Richard Dawkins writes, there are huge numbers of non-believers out there–if more of them would stand up and be counted, it would be harder to discriminate against all of us.
On the other hand, I am not comfortable with the term “atheist” being at the vanguard of the movement. “Atheist” comes loaded with connotations of immorality and stridency. “Atheist” is also a term that suggests, to many people, that one does not have a poetically spiritual side, that one does not appreciate walks in the forest, meditation, or the mutually-healing power of doing good works for others. The problem is that the forces of intolerance have successfully commandeered the word “atheist.”
Personally, I find that it makes a huge difference whether I call myself an “atheist” or, rather, whether I characterize myself as someone who doesn’t “believe in God” or “follow a religion.” When I’ve described myself in a way that doesn’t use the term “atheist,” I’ve found that the people with whom I am conversing are much less threatened and much more willing to engage in meaningful dialogue.
An even better approach, in my experience, is to announce that I reject “bureaucratic religion.” I find that this approach is quite well accepted by most of those who claim to belong to religions. In my experience, most believers are troubled (some more than others) that religions try to get their members to assert factually vacuous claims in order to inspire or scare the members into conforming to programs that are essentially political. It is amazing to me how many people, including church-goers, are at least somewhat suspicious of organized religions for this reason (and other reasons).
What is the alternative to belonging to a religion? How about making the search for ultimate truth a private decision for each person? What if each of us undertook his or her search for “God” or “Meaning” in a manifestly unregimented way? Most people are quite open to this idea, at least in principle. It’s an idea that meshes well with freedom of expression. This approach would be a lot more work for the many who belong to the most regimented religions. Many such people consider the search for meaning accomplished by engaging in rote oxymoronic chatter once per week. I’m not trying to be cruel when I write this criticism–addressing one’s God with a rote prayer makes no more sense to me that if you regularly addressed your parents, children or friends with rote passages written hundreds of years ago instead of talking with them. Reading things at each other strikes me as an odd way to try to communicate.
I’m aware that the negative connotations could change over time if this “Out” campaign is successful, but I’m afraid that shoving “atheist” in people’s faces might kick up the temperature without generating productive dialogue.
I’m for coming “out,” of course. All of us should come “out” to our well-founded beliefs. I just want to make sure that when non-believers do it, it is done in a way that achieves the stated goals of the campaign: to put a halt to the discrimination and intimidation.
Sounds a lot like a Unitarian to me.
I appreciate your views. I joke with my coffee shop friends that if there is a God he would like his athiests because he knows that we aren't "Suck-Ups." I suggested that an appropriate bumper sticker would say, "Evolution is Intelligent Design. Get over it and do your homework!" I think you are right that identifying ourselves with the "Hard Label of Atheist" probably makes us prone to provoking negative responses where as calling ourselves "Skeptics" or "Non-Burecratic" moralists give us more of a chance to engage in dialogue with others, rather than shouting matches. I appreciate your article. John
eric,
it sounds like you have had some sour run ins with men and women who call themselves Christians. i too have had similar confrontations. but, the Bible does not call Christians to act this way. there are bad people in both religious communities and "atheist". i don't think it's fair to characterize the whole Christian faith over some bad apples, however many you've met. you mention knowing Christians who are weary of some organizations within their faith. this speaks to what i'm saying. just because someone says their catholic, protestant, whatever does not make them such. it is our actions that define us. the Bible calls believers to live a life loving God and others not because we will go to hell if we don't but because we love God and want to serve Him. Christ died that i may go to heaven. NOTHING i can ever do will add or subtract from that. believing otherwise contradicts the Bible. also, it is not my job to force my beliefs on you but present them. that Christ died on the cross for your sins, was raised to life by the Father on the third day and reigns in heaven. thats it. it is up to you or others whether or not to accept that. but it is my prayer that you do. God bless.
I think that the reason that people refuse to believe that there is a God is because they want to do and live however they want to and not have any fallout over anything that they might decide to do.Women are dead set on killing unborn babies because it is their right and they dont want to be told that it is the wrong thing to do when all they have to do is abstain .
I dont think that someones religion should be shoved down someone elses throat but others work as hard as they can to put it down.If a religious person is trying to live like they think God would have them live then they are made fun of and mocked.
People who do not believe try their hardest to have God removed from anything that they can sit around and think up. And to me that is sad.
I do not consider myself a primate to me that goes along with we all came from monkeys. If that were the case wouldnt there be some kind of proof . There is all kinds of proof that God does indeed exist. All you have to do is believe.
Amen! Oh, can I say that? I work in a government office, surrounded by supervisors and upper ranking management who basically answer every problem with a religious/bible based anecdote. I am hesitant to reply or even verbalize my opinion for fear of being subjected to a sermon or worse, losing my job. Pagan, that is the word of choice for those around me; I agree that "atheist" leaves a bad taste on the tongue and mind. I have a higher power, the force of good, I consider myself a good person, I have raised my kids to make their decisions based on right and wrong, and most people who don't know my family's personal beliefs will tell you we are good "Christians." After spending the majority of my young life being "brainwashed" in the Catholic church (just to find out that they, meaning the Catholic theologians, are aware of the hypocracy they teach) I am more than aware of the judgments that are passed by believers on everyone who does not find their salvation in Jesus Christ. I am excited to find there is a movement in the wings, and once again I say AMEN! Your words truly hit home with me.
First I would have to agree with gabe. It is very sad that so called christians start to force their beliefs on others instead of letting their actions speak for them. Please do not let the few bad apples drive you to believe that all christians are like this. I love God and Jesus. I know that his death is what is securing my way into heaven. If you feel that this is something that you cannot belive in, then so be it. It all comes down to a choice. God wouldn't be God if he forced you to love him and live a certain way. I hope that one day you will meet a sincere christian whoes beliefs are true and shows you what an awesome relationship we have with God.
Remember to stay strong in your beliefs and do not become luke-warm. Stay hot or stay cold and when the time comes, the truth will set us free.
Peace brothers. God loves you.
The real problem with the term athiest is that is describes what we are not. Law abiding sounds much better than non-criminal, patroit is much better than non-traitor. I much prefer "rationalist." But when pressed on the matter at dinner parties or in taverns I say that "I do not believe in a personal living god who intervenes in the affairs of man." Now if you want to believe in a non-personal god who does not intervene in the affairs of man, be my guest but there is absolutely no evidence to the contrary other than our fears which have been cruelly instilled when we were defenseless children.
Eric,
I can appreciate your comments, even though I don't agree with everything you said. I am a Christian. There are good people who are Christians, and good people who are atheist. However I to take exception with so called Christians who try to shove religion down someones throat, and get mad when people don't believe.That is not what the Christian experience is about. It is left up to the individual as to whether he or she accepts God. You don't shove religion, you get people to see Christ by your kindness, your service to your fellow man, your life style you live in Christ. Another thing that upsets me is those who judge others because of what they believe in. For instance, Pope Benedict made a statement that Catholicism is the only true religion of salvation and that other religions were defective. I was perturbed at such a comment. Religion is not going to save a person. Ultimately it is a persons faith, and personal relationship with Christ. I serve God out of love not fear and damnation.
Whatever people believe, and I might not agree, I have no contempt, but love for my fellowman, a love that Christ displays for each of us no matter what we believe. It is he, and only him who has the right to judge.
I call myself an infinitist. I believe in infinity. There never was a beginning and there will never be an end. Infinity has no place for a creator nor a reason to strive for a place to spend eternity. I could be called a trancendentalist because I believe that we transcend only in that we are born, we live, and then we die. End of it: however, infinity continues. I am a part of a multitude of infinities just as the universe is made up of a multitude of infinities. Nothing begins or ends but just transcends through the universe. My atoms will transcend to another form of matter or energy, but, my totality of existence will cease.
I do what I do because it is the right thing to do. I do not believe that I should do what is right to please anyone or anything but because it is the right thing to do. I taught school because I felt that I contributed to the well being of humankind. I believe that if all mankind would look at the world as a continuem which depends on each individual to bridge that moment of existence so that those that follow can also bridge their moment of existence so that the infinity continues optimally then we would have a much more turbulent world. Religion has contributed to world unrest more than any other development of man. Greed drives mankind and religion.
Erich – What a cruddy experience you went through in your 20s. The hypocrisy and the male hierarchy drove me from the Catholic church. The farther I got away from the teachings that my family chose for me, the more I realized that I never really fit with the Catholic ideology. If I still considered myself a Christian, I can tell you that the behavior you have endured is not how any Christian should behave. I consider myself an agnostic. The organized religion that I find most sympatico with my beliefs is Unitarian Universalism, which welcomes atheists, as well as people of all faiths. The individual search for truth and meaning is the first principle of Unitarian Universalism. The one trouble with the UU church is that its followers don't believe in forcing people to go to church, so it can be pretty hard to get our message of openness out. Good luck on your quest for finding widespread acceptance of atheists.
It is a shame you have had some bad experiences, but in today's world, there are bad apples in all aspects of society. I am a Christian who, at times, finds herself doubting, but, being a scientist, I have come to realize that this world/universe is so perfect. . . so intelligently designed. . . that there is only one explanation of our existence- a higher power or intelligence. The more one studies how and why our earth is as it is, how life evolved , and how little we are in this unimaginably large universe, the more one sees the perfection in mathematics and science, thus revealing a creator or some sort. We are not random, therefore we are not meaningless. There is a plan for us. For me, I chose Jesus, and even though some of the earlier Biblical stories of creation and destruction may have been passed down for generations via word of mouth, many parts of the Old Testement and all of the New Testement were recorded in writing as historical documents or letters or laws. Let's face it, most cultures have creation stories, etc. And most cultures have a god or gods. The Jews, Muslims, and Chrisitians all have the same God, believe it or not. The Muslims have Mohammed and the Christians have Jesus. I am not a formal member of any organized church. As with so many organizations, there is so much power seeking and hypcracy, but I do attend a rather small church where Bible study is the center of the church theoloy and actions. I realize you have heard all this before and I am just another crazy Jesus freak in your eyes (I am quite humble about my beliefs though), but I will say a prayer for you and the other non-believers. In reality, I am a minority in this world. Most of us are not Christians and even fewer who claim to be truely are. I will say a prayer for all of you and hope that you find answers to your questions and that one day, in a quiet moment, while looking at something wonderful and beautiful, you see the complexity of what was created and realize the simplicity of the answer.
I am so atheist Madalyn Murray O"Hair wrote a letter to the local Atheist director, kicking me out of her group because I won't tithe to her group. That was 1980. I don't know why people must label and categorize each other. Atheism means just what it says. I don't believe or give credit to the belief of a god, Jehovah, Allah or whatever you want to call it. We still live and die just like the rest of those who want to believe. I kind of like he buddist now. They believe all sentient beings suffer and that it is our mission to pursue happiness. Kinda sounds American doesn't it. Okay then, I think I'm a Buddist, without the reincarnated into a monkey bit…..
If "atheist" means one who is certain there is no god, might that not be as arrogant a statement as one that insists that there is a diety? I prefer to say that I am an agnostic, because it seems impossible to prove the nonexistence of something that we have never actually encountered directly. Believers consider everything to be a manifestation of their diety, but it is very difficult to come up with adequate proof for the nonbeliever. I have often wondered what people would believe if they had been raised in a society entirely without religious concepts until the age of 30, and were then exposed to all of the world's religions. Wouldn't they readily accept the logical questions of Epicurus (search the web if you don't know them) in regard to a supposed diety?
I agree that religion should be completely separate from government. No to those who always say that's you trying to destroy religion. This is not the case. I've had so many discussions with people who say that it is impossible for atheists to have morals and that to be a good person you must have the love to serve god. I do not believe this is true and indeed it is arrogant and ignorant to think so. Why do you have to have the love to serve god to be moral. In fact their are many extremists who believe they are serving god and killing many innocent people. I have the love for humanity and the love for my fellow man. It is that part that i agree with the bible, love your neighbor as you would love yourself. The words of all religions are so often misused for evil that i feel that having organized religion influence politics is incredibly dangerous for that has happened throughout history with dire consequences.
Bravo! I was raised in a Seventh Day Adventist family. Religious schools and the rest. I found it took me many years to shake the brainwashing I was subjected to as a child and a youth. Bureaucratic religion started as a fairy tale for adults but I fear as with all faith based beliefs it has evolved into a vehicle for the advancement of political and fundamental agendas. There is, in my mind, little difference between the "Christian fundamentalist" and the groups we label as terrorists. Left unchecked any fundamentalist ideology will ultimately resorts to some sort of force to further it's agenda.
What is amazing to me is that Christians have a vision of a God that is two thousand years old. You know your God is going to destroy your enemy, well I quess that has not changed. You know a God that will destroy you if you don't believe. That sounds like an intelligent God.
Where to begin to respond. …you are creating an "OUT" Campaign. It is a belief, a way of thinking, a gathering of people who want refuge from other groups. Interestingly, it is a way – a path, another choice someone can make to be part of a community. This is exactly how all religions originally started …is it not. You chose not to believe dispite life on this world. How would you explain life forms deep in the oceans where life should not exist? Simple discoverys science have lead strangely away from connecting us closer to the Earth and to each other. Why? believe in anything…there is evolutionary evidence, there is religious relics, there is communitys all over the world who try and understand there existance by talking to eachother in gatherings. A Sunday gathering, a Saturday gathering…days to reflect and be thankful for your existance to be able to share your thoughts and understand you are not alone. Are we alone in the Universe? Are there beings that have a longer life span than you?…Of course…on Earth the Cedar trees of Lebanon…oldest living creature…4000 years. Supernatual…is science…you live everyday with the supernatual…so your wrong. Science is your proof that a great scientist exists. (read Mary's comments again) All these religions are only a small part of the overall path …your path,…my path…., all paths lead in the same direction. You can't blame people who are guided in one direction but don't get a chance to realize the other directions. No one has all the answers…More importantly no one is in control…When you give up your ways of trying to find answers for countless people then you may find some answers. Don't try and turn OUT the light.
I don't judge anyone who believes in a supernatural-based entity (a god, goddess, totem, etc.). However, there is absolutely no supporting evidence for such a being. There is evidence for energy and manifestation of forms and evolution of form and thought. Religions are geographic in nature, and most are spread through warfare, conquering local people, and then frequently co-opting their local beliefs–weaving them into the fabric of the religion held by the conquerors. All had a cultural basis–they sprang from a particular group of ancient people who recorded their folklore and wisdom.
I see people as a global group finally reaching a point where they begin to question belief, investigate the nature of belief, and ultimately determine how to keep the positive practices (meditation/prayer/affirmation, for example) and yet not associate these or ethics with some supernatural power. The power is quite natural, and no magic is necessary to explain it.
Atheist, Agnostic, whatever they all have negative connotations associated with them. I was raised in the commercial Catholic faith. I consider all of the major faiths to be commercialized.
I follow the 10 commandments. Therein, I find the answer to almost every question. I help others in their times of need. I donate my time and I adopt and love homeless dogs. I pay my taxes and work everyday.
In my mind I am better than the commercial faith followers. Many of them are busy coveting thy neighbors wife and stealing or bearing false witness. And they think I am the one who is "bad". I just don't know if God exists. No one can really say for sure.
On the other hand, I am not comfortable with the term “atheist” being at the vanguard of the movement. “Atheist” comes loaded with connotations of immorality and stridency.
Really? In New Zealand it isn't loaded like that. I guess we're lucky, here. No, I know we're lucky. I suspect it's the perceived normality of atheism that makes the biggest difference. You may think you've lost the battle over that word, but I have to point out that the battle has only been lost within one particular region of the English-speaking world — and I can't imagine the problem spreading any time soon.
I'm not saying you should use the term, yourself, though; that's up to you and I can see why your decision to say "non-religious" or some other variant makes sense. On the other hand, perhaps you can see why, for a Brit like Dawkins, using the word 'atheist' would make perfect sense, because the connotations it has just look like a weird American thing, from the outside — like something that (oh, surely…) ought to be changeable.
If “atheist” means one who is certain there is no god, might that not be as arrogant a statement as one that insists that there is a diety?
That isn't really what 'atheist' means, though, as the term is generally used.
I used to call myself an agnostic (I was agnostic about whether or not I was a brain in a lab somewhere being fed sensory input, too), but over the years I decided that since I'm effectively an atheist in terms of how I behave and the decisions I make, I might as well accept the term. Of course, it's a lot easier for me than it is for some!
If you understand the history of Christianity, you would know about the Christian Crusade and Inquistion of murderers storming the countryside slaying anyone who would not accept their belifefs. Anyone who is a Christian or not should know the history of where their religion started. Also as far as God is concern, he did not create any religion, man did and that is why there are so many ignorant people in the world today. What is a Christain..a catholic,a baptist, a methodist, a pentecostal, protestant, Jehovah,presybterian, evangelist, etc, etc, they dont't even know. I myself am not an atheist, but a believer of God, not a beleiver of some man made religion that no one understands. I was an atheiest for many years due to being raised in a Baptist upbringing that did not make any since such as you should obey the Ten Commandment, but if you are a Christian.you don't need to cause you will be forgiven. I knew that did not make sense. It was not until recently I started having dreams and wrote a book called "Jesus Is No Excuse" that explains the bible. It answers why Jesus was crucified and if he returned. It also answers why he told his followers to pick up snakes and drink all deadly things. The next time someone ask you out of their house due to their Christian belief, go to their kitchen and get them a glass of Drano.
I think you will find a lot of answers from this book,it made me a believer.
Go to http://www.jesusisnoexcuse.com for excerpts.
Evolution is OK. Darwinism [All creation derives from a single entity] may be right, if we define the entity as "God."
Other than that, Atheists are just as one-way as any believer can be. They're no better than any one else. Plus, I think, that they're less likely to go to hell because they, at least, will have the potential excuse that they believe in nothing. We believers have no excuse for what we say and do.
I read your article with great interest. It seems to me that the spiritual arguments you raise fall squarely in the fold of the Unitarian Universalists perhaps unbeknownst to you. You may wish to explore this marvelous freeing faith where the individual's right to think and reach spiritual wholeness is a completley personal journey. The inherent worth and dignity of the individual is upheld as is the right of the conscience. UU's are a blend of Unitarians (migrating from Europe in the 1700's) and the Universalists who believed that all people are universally valued and have equal access to salvation. Today the term Unitarian affirms that we believe there is a unity of all life, what the UUA Principles and Purposes calls "the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part." The term Universalism indicates universality of religion itself. In the UUA Principles and Purposes, we affirm that you can find wisdom in all the world's religions. Check http://www.uua.org. or a quck overview: http://www.uunashua.org/100quest.shtml
From the most primitive tribes to the most developed of societies, there has been a consistant belief in a GOD. Theists believe that this is so, because GOD designed us all. I believe that this is so, because of mankind's shared genetic code, from which our genetically based behaviors arise. Mankind simply cannot/could not cope with the fact that once the organic body dies, so does it's consciousness. In response to this seemingly catastrophic end of "self", mankind evolved a behavioral response, that of a resurrection, to help the species survive and reproduce. Religion and a belief in a GOD was/is a survival trait. Religion is a coping mechanism. I prefer to place my "faith" in rationality, not some adult mythology. This world is big enough for us all: Theists, Atheists, and Anti-Theists. I am disappointed that "tolerance" has not yet evolved along with other these other survival skills.
The real problem between OUT's and the religious isn't really God. The simple truth is that there is no afterlife. Afterlife is the belief that injustice in this world will be corrected or balanced in the next. Afterlife is the ruse that keeps most people satified with a poor lot in life.