Why Don't Atheists Just Shut Up?
How many times have I been asked a question along the lines of "Why can't atheists just respect others' beliefs," or "Why are atheists so focused on something they don't believe in?" And believe it or not, these are the more reasonable questions. More often than I like, it's "Why don't atheists just shut up?"
The people who come to me with these types of questions tend to often be people who I know, have some sort of dealings with or sometimes, they're good friends and family. At the very least, they're the types of people who have enough intestinal fortitude to even ask in the first place and I kind of respect that in a person. So I'm going to offer what I see as perfectly valid reasons for us non-believers to discuss religion in general. I can only speak as an American atheist.
Freedom of religion is also freedom from religion. Here in the United States, our founding documents detail a separation of church and state. The First amendment states clearly, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." As well, in Article 11 of the Treaty between the U.S. and Tripoli, signed by President John Adams it states in part, "As the Government of the United States is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion..." further demonstrating that America is a secular nation.
There are, however, some people who wish for a government under which the rules of some "God" (or their version of a God anyway) be the guidelines by which our country is ran. Whether this theocracy is established under the rules of Sharia Law, Christian Dominionism or any other religion matters not. It is the idea of any one religion determining the lives of everyone which is the concern.
These particular interests would have their non-scientific creationism beliefs taught as science in our schools. They would have themselves as a dominant class in American society. Or would lead this country into global warfare for their desire for the apocalypse, should they gain majority power within our government and in control of our military. Read my embedded links if you don't believe that last claim.
Richard Lederer said, "There once was a time when all people believed in God and the church ruled. This time was called the Dark Ages." We secularists, humanists, atheists - whatever label you want to slap on us or we affix to ourselves - we watch for this and will resist and resent it in every way we must. So yes, religion is a big topic to us. You're all very welcome by the way.
As pointed out by the brilliant Christopher Hitchens, now that religion has finally surrendered so much ground in light of scientific discovery and rational thought, and is nowhere near as strong as during its glory days, churches try to make a more "friendly" appeal. We must not forget how religion behaved when it was strong. I'm paraphrasing. Gone are the days when any religion can make a "convert or die" demand.
We non-believers discuss this history, these modern appeals and other topics of religious memes. We talk about the God concept and the effects of religion on society because we will never allow a world where the church rules completely ever again, meanwhile working to end its rule over individuals wherever else we can.
Sources:
Embedded
Personal beliefs and experience
Published by Donald Pennington - Featured Contributor in Politics
Donald contributes on a wide variety of topics. Among his favorites are movie reviews, political commentary, divorce, and crime commentary. See something you like? Share it on Twitter! View profile
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20 Comments
Post a CommentDon, I've read a few of your articles and while I respect your freedom of speech I do find flaws with a few of your statements. For one Christianity cannot be blamed for the Dark Ages starting or continuing. The Dark Ages began due to a large population of Gothic refugees, and a lack of Western Roman government which was shattered by said refugees. These refugees were for the most part pagan, not Christian, but religion plays no role in why these people sacked Rome and other Roman cities, they were mostly driven by hunger and resentment of the Romans. With no government learning institutions collapsed and illiteracy flourished, without which skills such as science, architecture, math, etc. were lost, causing the Dark Ages. If anything, the Church could be thanked for Western learning to not be lost as monks continued to read and record history, philosophy, math, and even science.
Oh hold on, ShockofGod? Now I remember. Nah. That pansy's nothing but a pathological liar and a bigot. Have a nice day.
Why would there be an interest in trying to discuss anything with folks who only use strawman arguments and assumptions? If someone's not at least in touch with reality, there's no need to try reaching them. you want folks to take them out of their comforting insanity? As long as they don't piddle around in government - or otherwise try to bully others, I have no problem.
Opps Typo ~ Shockofgod
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Christopher Hitchens is Constantly Losing debates with Creationist !
You the Editor of this article outta go debate "Shickofgod" on youtube, I dare ya !
*****
Stop making me think you know I don't like to do that.
I agree. Your statement "Freedom of religion also means freedom from religion." is an excellent statement. It speaks volumes. Great article.
Don, love the article, as usual. You always write such thought provoking subjects. As for shutting up, why should atheists shut up. No one else does. Everyone has an opinion on everything from politics to shoes. Religion is voicing their beliefs all the time, so why shouldn't you. Also, religion is trying to get their paws into every aspect of our lives. They go as far as telling us what to eat, wear, marry, and have sex with. They need to be stopped. Someone has to get the message out there that they are not all powerful and to think for ourselves. So keep up the good work.
Donald, first of all I enjoy your thoughts and work immensely. I agree with all you stated in your article and then some. If all we had to worry about were people believing for their own comfort we could shut up. Unfortunately, the religion itself teaches that there are souls to save. The believers of this take it very seriously. And then, of course, you have others who take the bible literally. Who would have as law the stoning of our children, the stoning of adulterous people, and the deat of all who disbelieve. These things scare me the more we see religion seep it's wormy way into politics. We MUST speak up, now more than ever!