12.30.2011

Redditgate and How it Has Been Handled

68xb2

I had somehow missed the latest controversy to hit the atheist blogosphere until yesterday: Redditgate. What happened? A 15 year-old girl posted a picture of herself holding Carl Sagan's The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark in the r/atheism section with a brief message about how her religious mother bought it for her as a Christmas present (see the Reddit thread). This was very cool of her mom, and most of the people who commented on her post said so or shared accounts of how Sagan's wonderful book inspired them. Unfortunately, a few decided to make inappropriate comments about the sexual acts they'd like to perform on the girl. She initially joked back with them, and some seemed to take that as an invitation to become increasingly graphic in their descriptions. And then Rebecca Watson of Elevatorgate fame (Skepchick) blogged about it. Rebecca says that she has since been subjected to all manner of attacks on Reddit (including threats of rape and death).

12.25.2011

'War on Christmas' Generates Money for Conservative Organizations

war on ChristmasYou and I both know that there is no war on Christmas. Encouraging people to be respectful of one another (e.g., saying "happy holidays" rather than presuming to know which holidays someone celebrates) is not a war. Reminding government that it is not legal for them to promote one religion via sectarian holiday displays without allowing displays from other belief systems is also not a war. Nobody is trying to ban Christmas, not even those of us who are proud members of the evil atheist horde.

But if that's the case and there really is no war on Christmas, why must we hear about it every year? The answer is money. Scaring people about an imagined war on Christmas has proven to be an effective way for conservative organizations with Christian extremist leanings to raise money. In the United States, conservative politics comes wrapped not only in an American flag but in a Christian flag. Cleverly designed propaganda that exploits one's fear of change, sense of patriotism, and love of the Jesus concept translates into donations.

12.22.2011

Why I Focus on Christianity

Christianity

With all the world religions, why do I focus on Christianity instead of devoting equal time to them all? I have addressed this question more extensively in previous posts, but it continues to be the single most common question I receive. I thought it was time for an updated response that I could include in the FAQ I'm working on.

My reasons for focusing on Christianity in general and Christian extremism in particular are as follows:

  • I started this blog to address Christian extremism in the U.S. because I grew tired of hearing my Christian neighbors and the national media obsess about Islamic extremism abroad while ignoring or embracing Christian extremism here at home. Today, this hypocrisy is as great as it ever was.
  • Christian extremism influences U.S. politics in a way no other form of religious extremism can claim.
  • I was raised in the Christian religion, and I am surrounded by it. I know more than enough about it to be effective in addressing it. This simply isn't the case for every other religion. I have seen what Christianity does to others about whom I care. I might encounter a Muslim once a year; I encounter Christian proselytizing and condemnation at least a few times a week.
  • In the U.S., Christians are the primary culprits of bigotry and discrimination against atheists.
  • In general, I believe that we need to resolve some of the fundamental problems we have at home (i.e., Christian extremism) before we are on solid ground trying to influence problems with other religions in other nations. It seems hypocritical for one of the most religious countries in the world to push the idea of secular democracy in Muslim nations when we seem so uncomfortable with doing it right here.

Of course, none of this means that I have positive feelings toward other religions. Many of them also cause harm, and so I recognize that it would be a mistake to focus exclusively on Christianity. I hope that helps.

12.21.2011

Atheists Do Not Need to Be Defensive About Christmas

Axial tilt

Some atheists really enjoy Christmas. I think it is great that they enjoy the holiday, but I am somewhat puzzled by the defensiveness that often seems to surround it. If celebrating Christmas is something you enjoy, I hope you have a blast celebrating it. There is no need to be so defensive about doing so. After all, you deserve to celebrate whatever you'd like to celebrate.

Some of us choose not celebrate Christmas - not because we think other atheists should do the same - but because we do not enjoy the holiday or do not find it worth celebrating. I have seen very little effort on the part of those of us who do not celebrate the holiday to convince the celebrating atheists that they are wrong. This leads me to speculate that the defensiveness with which some atheists approach their personal decision to celebrate Christmas might be more about their own discomfort and less about the reactions they receive from others.

12.20.2011

Hitchens and the Christian Reactions to His Death

Hitchens

I had not planned on writing the seemingly obligatory post about Hitchens that nearly every other atheist blogger has written. I never met Christopher Hitchens, and I won't pretend that he influenced me in some meaningful way simply because he's dead. What could I possibly say about him that hadn't already been said many times over. That being the case, I'm writing this post in response to a couple questions I've received. I hope to accomplish two things by writing it. First, I'm sharing the main lesson I take away from Hitchens. Second, I am explaining why I have not been surprised by many of the venomous reactions to his death by some Christians.

12.14.2011

Improving the Accuracy of Identifying Atheists in Survey Research

survey research

Austin Cline (About.com Agnosticism/Atheism) recently compared Gallup survey data over several decades to show that increasing numbers of Americans are walking away from religion (update: link no longer active). Good news indeed, but that isn't what I want to address here. In his post, Austin brought up the reluctance of many Americans to identify themselves as atheists, even though some undoubtedly are atheists. This is a problem plaguing this sort of research, one I've recently been considering.

12.11.2011

Maybe Christmas Should be Time to Reconsider Consumer Culture

Consumerism

Some people want to tie the annual Black Friday tragedies and other bad behavior committed by holiday shoppers to the dismal economy. They have a point in suggesting that dire economic circumstances can make people more desperate, increasing the chances of bad behavior. When the act of shopping begins to feel like a competitive high-stakes venture, we should expect higher levels of aggression. But most of the articles I've read on the subject seem to be missing something important.

We are not automatons without the ability to examine how we got in this mess and how it might be time to consider some radical changes. Frankly, I'm not sure we have been well served by our consumer culture. Perhaps the holiday season is an appropriate time to ask ourselves whether we might be better off by making some changes.

12.09.2011

Only 38% of Americans Think Some God is Behind Natural Disasters

I was reading a post from Austin Cline this morning about a 2011 poll from the Public Religion Research Institute and the Religion News Service showing that 38% of Americans believe that natural disasters are signs from some sort of god. While I was encouraged to see that a majority (still only 51%) disagreed with the suggestion that a god uses disasters to communicate with humanity, I found myself focusing on the 38% who agreed.

In survey after survey, approximately 30% of Americans believe the most absurd things! And then an image flashed through my mind that looked much like this one:

IQ test graph

12.07.2011

Leave the Nativity Scenes Alone: Objections From Atheists

Nativity Scene

Most atheists understand why it is inappropriate for public school officials to lead children in prayer during school hours. Most atheists understand why it is inappropriate for local or state government officials to erect a Ten Commandments monument on the grounds of a courthouse. And so, I have to admit being somewhat surprised by the number of atheists I've heard from who do not seem to understand why it is problematic for local or state government officials to allow religious Christmas decorations in public buildings this time of year.

12.06.2011

Socrates Was Right About the Unexamined Life

Socrates

In Apology, Plato quotes Socrates as saying, "The unexamined life is not worth living for a human being." I couldn't agree more. That is not to say that one cannot be happy living an unexamined life; many people manage to do it every day. But for the freethinkers among us, it is unimaginable to trade reasoned inquiry for happiness. It is not simply that we enjoy thinking, although some of us certainly do. Rather, it is that we cannot imagine living our lives in any other way. It is in our nature to question things which others seem to take for granted. We are freethinkers.

12.04.2011

Why It Makes People Uncomfortable When You Talk About Your Religious Beliefs

I have heard many religious believers, mostly Christians, ask why it makes other people uncomfortable when they talk about their religious beliefs. It is a fair question, and as you might expect, different people are going to have many different answers. I'll highlight a few of the reasons it makes me uncomfortable. Please recognize that my reasons may be a bit different from those of other atheists based on differences in our experiences.

Let me acknowledge at the outset that it does indeed make me a bit uncomfortable when someone begins to talk about their religious beliefs, especially when I do not know the person very well. The primary reasons for this are as follows:

  1. I was raised in an environment where religion was a private matter, and it was considered rude to talk about it with people one didn't know fairly well. This leaves me reacting in a visceral way with something like "I don't know you that well" or "we don't have that kind of relationship" when a casual acquaintance or stranger approaches me to talk about their religious beliefs or ask about mine. For me, a complete stranger asking where I attend church is comparable to how you might feel if a complete stranger were to ask you when you last had sex. It is an intrusive violation of privacy.
  2. I worry that I might laugh in your face. I don't say this to be mean, but I find religious beliefs so absurd that my immediate reaction tends to be very similar to how I would react if you told me that you can fly like Superman. Because I generally try to be polite in social situations, the amount of self-censorship required of me when you bring up your religious beliefs can be taxing.
  3. I have little use for one-way conversations. I have found that most of the time people bring up their religious beliefs, they are interested in having them confirmed by others and not critically evaluated. I am not only not going to do this, but I might criticize your beliefs. Since this is typically met with hostility, these one-way conversations quickly become uncomfortable. If you've ever been in a conversation where you felt like the other party didn't want to hear what you thought, you know what I mean.

I cannot speak for other atheists, but these are the main reasons it makes me uncomfortable when you approach me to talk about your religious beliefs. I do support your right to your religious beliefs; I do not support your right to involve me in your religious beliefs against my will.

12.01.2011

How to Get Rid of Nativity Scenes on Government Property

Crush a crecheThis may be an unfair generalization, but I'll assume that most atheists would prefer not to see religious displays (e.g., nativity scenes) in government buildings. There are many ways to pursue the goal of eliminating them. One can contact officials and educate them about separation of church and state, threaten lawsuits, or one can adopt what has become one of the most effective strategies yet and join them by adding an atheist display. That's right, simply adding an atheist display is an excellent way to accomplish the goal of getting rid of future religious displays.