Why? Death, of course. Which helps explain why religion has such staying power.
Sarah Robinson (AlterNet) wrote an interesting article, 6 People You Need to Start a Revolution (update; link no longer active, that is worth a read. Her argument is that no movement seeking meaningful change can hope to succeed without effectively utilizing diversity of talent. I agree completely, and this is part of why I have repeatedly called for "big tent" atheism (i.e., a recognition that the atheist movement needs all kinds of people performing different roles).
Details emerging from the Catholic clergy-abuse trial in Philadelphia paint a sickening picture of a truly corrupt organization. We recognize that child sexual abuse happens regardless of religion, but we also recognize that certain aspects of religious doctrine can facilitate it (e.g., the degree to which priests are placed on pedestals, the notion that they have a direct line to some sort of god, the idea that we should trust them).
You know how atheists are fond of saying that religious moderates are at least partly responsible for Christian extremism? We are good at identifying problems among religious believers, much better than we are at recognizing similar problems in our own community. We don't generally like to talk about it, but there is something similar going on in the atheist movement. We are willing to overlook quite a bit of bad behavior in order to maintain cohesion in the atheist community. This tendency is understandable, but it is not without peril.
Yesterday was National Ask an Atheist Day in the U.S. No, it isn't a cool new national holiday; it is an effort to raise awareness from the Secular Student Alliance. But here's the thing - I didn't find out about it until late yesterday afternoon. What would I have done if I had known it was coming ahead of time? I'm not sure, but I could have done something.
One of the accusations Christians regularly make against atheist bloggers is that we present a skewed and unrealistic view of their religion by covering only the most extreme examples. By doing so, we portray something that the individual Christian often feels has little resemblance to his or her faith. I think this is a valid criticism.
Aside from the existence of god(s) and the moral superiority many Christians claim for themselves, I think one of the biggest disagreements between Christians and atheists is whether moderate Christians have at least some responsibility for Christian extremists. I, along with most atheists, believe that they do. However, virtually none of the moderate Christians I know agree with this perspective. I suspect that this generalizes to moderates and extremists of other religious too.
I was looking at this site and my heart was hurt at some of the stuff that was said. I dont condemn or judge you for what you believe. Nor do I think harshly toward the way that you believe, that is your choice. Christianity and serving the One true, living God, is a choice I chose to take, and you choose not to. Thats your perogative. I dont know who you are but I will be praying for you that you will see the truth before, you have no choice. I know you might not like what I have said, but I dont even know you and I wanted to tell you the truth in love. Jesus loves you and died for you...One day every knee will bow and tounge confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, but the choice we make now to serve him or reject Him will determine if we willingly confess that in love and joy, or in shame and des! pair. The choice that we make now really is a matter of life and death. Its appointed unto man to die once then judgement. We all will die one day, but thats not the death that matters. If we dont go into eternity knowing Jesus, then we will die the second death, spending an eternity in hell where there is no hope. Is that a risk thats worth taking. Im 25 and God has delivered me from a bunch of junk. Hes given me a family and a beautiful daughter. I know my Jesus is not dead but alive. He loved me even whenI was a sinner and still died for me...and you. I love you mam or sir and I hope that you to will be able to experiance that peace and joy He gives. Im sorry and I apologive if the church has ever offended you or hurt you. Jesus is about love, and life. Not hippy love, real love, that type of love you would have for someone enough to lay your life down for them. That kind of love.
I'd never single out some random person and mock them for their private beliefs. It would be cruel to do so, and would likely accomplish nothing. Besides, I'd have no way of knowing what their private beliefs were in the first place. However, public beliefs are a somewhat different matter. Someone who introduces his or her beliefs into the public arena is asking for attention. In these cases, a response may be appropriate.
I regularly see posts in the atheist blogosphere suggesting new atheist-friendly holidays (e.g., Darwin Day) or co-opting existing holidays from the religious (e.g., celebrating winter solstice in place of Christmas). I've never been particularly excited about holidays (except for Halloween), and I think it is because I've rejected most of the traditions in which I was raised. But I would like to throw my hat into this ring anyway by suggesting another holiday for atheists to co-opt from the religious: Zombie Jesus Weekend.
The day that would become Good Friday was initially set aside by the Christian church during the fourth century to commemorate the death of Jesus. The "Good Friday" label was adopted by the Roman Catholics somewhat later and has persisted today.
Historically, Good Friday was a fairly somber occasion. Clergy wore black and did not light the usual candles so that the altar was bare. The solemn nature of the service was supposed to reflect grief over Jesus' death.
Taner Edis over at the Secular Outpost wrote a thought-provoking post in which he argues rather convincingly that secularism is under assault and perhaps weaker today than at many times in the past. I think this is an important read, especially in the context of recent celebrations of atheism like the Reason Rally and Rock Beyond Belief. It isn't that Taner is trying to rain on anyone's parade; he's simply reminding us that secularism (which is not synonymous with atheism) is fairly weak today. Unfortunately, I have to agree.
Dan Merica posted a fascinating article over at CNN's Belief Blog about the large number of Americans leaving the Catholic Church in recent years. Evidently, one in ten Americans is now an ex-Catholic! I realize that most ex-Catholics are not becoming atheists, but it is certainly a step in the right direction.
Have you heard the term "post-atheism" used by people in the atheist movement? What does it mean? I have encountered a few definitions of this term. I've always thought that the best one was the idea that post-atheism refers to the mindset that while one is still an atheist (i.e., one does not accept the theistic belief claim), one no longer considers atheism to be a significant part of one's identity.
One way to look at post-atheism would be to say that it would describe us all if religious belief were to disappear. In such a scenario, we'd all be post-atheists because atheism would be too irrelevant to have any value in our identity. This would be sort of a life-after-atheism scenario. But this is not the way most people use the term. Most use it to describe a step they reach after atheism.