I came across this article on cbs2chicagos website. It's called Atheists An Increasingly Outspoken Minority. I've noticed a number of articles with similar titles or subjects being written and it's kind of interesting to me. It's as if people are so shocked that atheism is becoming more mainstream. It's as if people forget that less than 300 years ago you could be accused of "witchcraft" or some other nonsense and be stoned to death or hanged if you expressed a non-belief in the Christian God in this country. It's like people still don't pay attention to the public opinion polls that show that over 50% of the country STILL wouldn't vote for an atheist Presidential candidate because they believe that atheists have no morals.... but that number is down from the 80-90% it was at years ago.
From the article:
Why are atheists today so open? Non-believers and believers alike agree on one point: Different views are more tolerated in a country that is more diverse than ever.
"I don't know whether there are more atheists or we've created a culture where it's safer for people who have struggled with faith, or don't believe in God to be more forthright and honest about that," said Bishop Mark Hanson.
North Park College Professor Scott McKnight, himself a Christian, offers another reason for what he calls the new atheism. Atheists, he says, are vigorously responding to outspoken Christians who are involved in politics – the so-called religious right.
Can I answer? I know I'm not a bishop or a college professor but... I'd like to go ahead and say as an atheist that it is definitely a combination of all three.
There Are More Atheists
There are more atheists in the United States of America (as well as around the world). This is obvious. Science has advanced tremendously in the past century.. even in the past twenty years... and this new science has caused people to think about the world around them a bit more. The observable evidence is vast and has lead to a number of people who would normally have just accepted what they were told to actually look around and then come to their own conclusion. It's easier to accept an explanation for the world (that you are taught when you're just a baby) when there is nothing to contradict it than it is when there is evidence against it all around you. Obviously this has not made every believer a non-believer but it has certainly raised the numbers.
Safer Culture for Atheists
Uhm. Yes? Just as there is a safer culture for Wiccans. Witches and atheists alike no longer have to fear entire communities coming after them in the night and accusing them of heresy, turning people into cats, eating children, etc. In a more modernly relevent sense, there are less people who fear being disowned by their families or fear losing friends because they no longer believe in gods. Just as we see an apparent "rise" in the number of homosexuals in this country... there are more people willing to admit to themselves that they are not "the norm" and so find comfort in finally coming into themselves and less fear in expressing themselves to others. Instead of a 99% majority of god believers... it's down to 80% or so (I think less). It might not seem like a lot but it really is. 10-20% of the population being non-believers is a large number. A large enough number to provide safety for others, a sense of belonging, and an environment for people to be able to admit to themselves or others that they are not a theist without feeling as if they are completely alone.
Christians in Politics... or Better Yet... Atheists in Politics
Obviously it is important for any minority to voice their opinion in a democratic republic. Otherwise there would be no change. With the advancement of the previous points... so follows the willingness of atheists to come forward and say "This is bullshit! Why are you getting special treatment even when it is blatantly against this Constitution that you hold so dear to your hearts?" In fact I would have to say that all of the non-Christian religions out there should feel a little bit grateful to the non-believers who have stepped forward to make sure that Christian doctrine is not being shoved down the throats of the public... because you better believe that Hinduism was never going to get the same amount of press time.
When a religion is threatening everyone else with theocracy in a democratic republic.. it is important for some to come forward and say "GTFO!". Not just for atheists. Atheists will take the heat because it really is easier for us to. There is no group to attack.. no leader to ostracize.. no huge meetings to protest... All the opposition can really do is bitch about it in a newspaper article somewhere or try to get an atheist book writer on television so they can try to publicly mock them. That achieves nothing, honestly. Atheists are becoming more outspoken for a variety of reasons, not just one.
From the article:
And statistics show there are more young atheists than older ones. At the University of Illinois at Chicago a group called the Rationalists and Free Thinkers includes students who don't believe in God, though some grew up in religious homes.
Again, this doesn't surprise me at all. Some would say it doesn't surprise them either because these are wide-eyed, naive youths who will grow up to realize that there really is a higher power once they get more real-world experience. For some.. that may happen. But I am almost positive that for the majority it will not and the number of older atheists will rise as my generation ages. The science has more backing it up than tradition, brain-washing, and comfort. Science does not claim to have all the answers.. never have.. never will. But it has evidence (observable) on it's side... my generation looooooves it's evidence.
From the article:
As a man of faith, Bishop Hanson still has a key question for those who don't believe in God.
"Where do you place your trust in times of need? Where do you place your hope in the time of a crisis of confidence?" Hanson said.
Ah, one of my favorite questions ever. An atheist in the article provides this answer:
"An atheist will just deal with it, try to find a logical and reasonable solution," Van Maren said.
I would say "In my opinion, the average atheist... etc" since it's completely impossible to know what "an atheist" would do. This atheist does just what Van Maren said. I deal with the problem at hand. I think about it. Where do I place my hope in my time of crisis? With MYSELF (a.k.a. someone who can do something about the situation) or with my supportive friends and family. They have done ... so much more for me than any god ever did. I'll tell you what I don't do... is sit around talking to an invisible being that has never given any hint of it's existence and/or giving a shit about what happens to me or anyone around me. I do not place my trust in nothing. I do not place any hope in nothing. Saying that is a complete waste of time is the understatement of the millenium.
Oh.. and then the article finishes up with this.
One particular question that bothers the Lows is when people ask "how can an atheist lead a good and moral life, without God?"
Can I answer this question with a question? Here it is... How much does it say about you if the only reason why you are a "good person" who is leading a "moral life" is because you are afraid of being punished eternally by a god? You and others like you are only not stealing, killing, raping, etc. because you are afraid of someone throwing you into a lake of fire? Without this threat.... you would be ripping peoples' eyeballs out, having sex with your kids, or breaking into cars just to go for joyrides? And you must have no 'faith' in your kids either if you feel like you have to scare them into being good people by drilling into their heads that they might think timeout in the corner is bad now... but just wait till god gets to them! That's shitty. I feel no threat of burning forever... and I don't do those things.
Actually.. here's an even better question: How can a theist lead a good and moral life without God?
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