Using Our Power As Consumers To Bring About Change

I am about to describe a hypothetical situation. I've based it (loosely) on something happening in one of the many hobby communities found on Reddit. Which one isn't relevant, and neither are the people involved. Something similar could happen to those of us involved in almost any hobby. I suspect that something similar has already happened to some of us, and I know it has for me.

Imagine that there is a business and that you have bought items from them several times over the years. It could be a local shop or an online storefront. It is not a massive corporation but a small family-run business. What they sell isn't relevant, and neither is what you've bought. What matters is that you have been content to spend some of your money there. You have been happy with their prices and their service. 

Your Complaints Protect the Separation of Church and State

We've all seen signs encouraging people to wash their hands in restaurant restrooms. Many of us appreciate these prompts. We don't like to think about the people who are preparing our food disregarding this advice.

The idea of such a reminder hanging on the wall of a public school restroom doesn't seem like a bad idea. These are high-traffic areas, and illness spreads quickly. One sick kid leads to many sick kids, and they bring whatever they catch home with them. It seems like another good place to encourage hand washing.

What don't picture is a sign like the one here. It says, "Wash your HANDS and say your PRAYERS because Jesus and GERMS ARE EVERYWHERE." This would be fine in a church restroom, but we don't expect it in a public school. The Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) intervened after a student attending a California public school found it there.

The good news is that the Victor Valley Union High School District promptly removed the sign. The bad news is that this required a letter from an FFRF attorney after a student complained. The sign would still be there if nobody in the school had the courage to come forward. This seems to be the case with most church-state violations, and that's disappointing. We all know how much pressure there is to keep quiet about them.

Remaining Hopeful in the Face of Christian Nationalism

In a post earlier this month, Rhys Long (Americans United for Separation of Church and State) wrote:

Around the country, good people have been pushing back against the forces of religious extremism, protecting the fundamental rights of the public. I have read and written about stories that prove that America is not lying down in the face of Christian Nationalism but is fighting back.

This is a good reminder. The future of separation of church and state can look bleak at times, but it would be a mistake to give up.

Two Wins for Secular Activism in Two Unlikely Places

When it comes to secular activism, it often seems like we don't have many victories. At least, it has seemed like that lately. This makes it even more important to celebrate those we do get. And so, I'd like to highlight two recent victories that might be missed.

Mississippi Drops God-Pushing License Plates

Thanks to some good work by American Atheists, the state of Mississippi has removed "In God We Trust" from our standard license plate. The new design is not only more attractive than the current godly one, but it is more accurate. I'm not sure how to trust something I don't think is real. I am looking forward to receiving my new plate next year!

Theocratic States Are Less Appealing for Talented Healthcare Professionals

I had wondered whether this might happen, and it now sounds like there is cause for concern. Those living in states with extreme anti-abortion measures may see a decline in the quality of our healthcare services. Why? Talented healthcare professionals are leaving and fewer are moving here. It is not hard to understand why.

Americans United for Separation of Church and State noted:

Consider Texas, which has one of the strictest abortion laws in the country. Growing numbers of doctors and nurses, especially those who work in the field of obstetrics, are leaving the state, switching fields or retiring, Slate reported recently.

Avoiding Burnout When Secular Activism Entails Exposure to Political Outrage

Flashes of insight are great. Flashes of insight where the insight seems so obvious you can't believe you didn't get it can be humbling. I'm still trying to come to terms with how I could have missed this one for so long. I hate to even admit it because I know it will seem obvious to everyone but me.

I value the separation of church and state. I'm not content with maintaining the fragile wall between them; I want to strengthen this wall. Secularism strikes me as the only way to have true religious freedom. And we don't get religious freedom without freedom from religion. I'd like government officials to stop promoting Christianity and even religiosity in general.

Because we are a long way from where I'd like us to be, we need secular activism. The separation of church and state is under attack, and we need activists to defend it. We also need secular activists who can think ahead and engage in proactive efforts. Working to end religious privilege would be a good example of a long-term goal.

It Is Vital to Sustain Secular Activism Year Round

There are some good reasons to use social media in the context of secular activism. Raising awareness is one of the big ones. People are unlikely to engage with issues they've never heard of or may not see as relevant. Using social media to amplify stories is often helpful.

In "We Have To Keep Paying Attention: Engaging With Church-State Separation Beyond When It’s Trending," Katherine Yordy (Americans United for Separation of Church and State) wrote:

Sharing information online is one of the quickest ways to bring people up to speed on what’s happening. Social media can amplify the voices of the oppressed, organize entire movements and spotlight injustice when we share and engage with posts. Just because it’s quick and easy, however, doesn’t mean we should not be intentional in our usage.

How Not Being Joiners Holds Some Atheists Back

Atheists are diverse, and it is no surprise that we won't agree on everything. It sometimes seems like we struggle to agree on much of anything! Of all the disagreements affecting atheists, which is the most important? Which is the most intractable? Which holds us back secular activism like no other?

These aren't easy questions, but I'm going to take a stab at an answer. I'll suggest that our most important disagreement is whether to build a community. Do we gather with other atheists or not? Do we want to create a meaningful community of secular activists? Do we organize atheists or try to go it alone?

Church-State Activism vs. Secular Activism: Is One Clearer Than the Other?

When I shared the recent post, Many Atheists Are Not Secular Activists, on Medium, I got a great comment in response. The commenter noted that he almost skipped over it because he saw "secular activist" in the title and thought, "I'm not a secular activist." He didn't think it applied to him because he assumed "secular activist" referred to "...one of those atheists who works to convince others that atheism is the only correct way of thinking." But it did apply to him.

Then reading between the lines of your story I realized you meant secular activism as working against problems caused by people not observing proper separation of church and state.

I do that all the time.

It just never would have occurred to me to call it secular activism.

Many Atheists Are Not Secular Activists

Many atheists are not secular activists. This can sometimes be a source of frustration for those of us who want to see more effective secular activism. We'd like to persuade others to join us. We would be more successful in doing so if we sought to understand why many atheists are not secular activists or are uninterested in church-state issues. Removing obstacles is bound to be easier once one understands what they are.

I wrote a post in 2018 in which I asked readers to share some of the arguments they'd heard from other atheists against participating in secular activism. My intent was to write a follow-up post or even a series in which I examined some of the more common arguments against church-state activism. The post went nowhere, and I forgot about it until a few months ago. That was when I decided to start listening to what I was hearing from atheists on social media about secular activism and church-state issues.

Could Atheist Think Tanks Lead to More Effective Secular Activism?

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

George Lakoff's Don't Think of an Elephant: Know Your Values and Frame the Debate--The Essential Guide for Progressives was an interesting read. It is a brief manual to teach progressive politicians why Republicans have been so successful. It also aims to provide them with practical advice for turning the political tide in their favor. Some of Lakoff's suggestions could also benefit those interested in secular activism.

Early in the book, Lakoff raises an interesting question. Republicans have developed countless think tanks to assist their politicians. Why do progressives have so few in comparison? Lakoff's answer refers to differences in funding mechanisms and values. He also suggests that progressives need to rethink values that stress immediate gains. We'd do well to consider how developing a think tank infrastructure could provide long-term benefits.

How You Can Change the World in 5 Minutes a Day

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

What are you most outraged about at the moment? Gun violence? The prospect of women losing their reproductive freedom? The climate crisis? The attacks on transgendered persons? The erosion of church-state separation? The inability of our lawmakers to solve any of the problems confronting us today? Whatever your choice, I'm sure it is a good one.

The question I'd like you to consider is what you are doing about it on a daily basis. If you are like most of us, the answer is "not much." You may do all kinds of things to bring about change, but you aren't doing them every single day. I know I'm not.

Atheists With a Broad View of Social Justice Can Make a Difference

Image by Joshua Choate from Pixabay

Being an atheist does not mean that one wants to make the world a better place. One could be an atheist and be apathetic about such things. One could be an atheist and feel hopeless about one's ability to make a difference. I suppose one could even be an atheist (though probably not a humanist) while being so misanthropic that one did not believe others were worth the effort.

It seems safe to assume that those of us who participate in secular activism (e.g., promoting the separation of church and state, human rights, reality-based education, data-driven public policy) want to bring about positive changes. We have observed something we do not like (e.g., how atheists are treated, the high costs of religion, the manner in which our rights are restricted by religiously based legislation), and we hope to change it. We may do this to improve our own experience, because we are concerned with the plight of others, or even for future generations.

There Are No Holy Lands: Proactive Approaches to Ending Religious Privilege

Image by Jolyne D from Pixabay

I turned on the cable TV news a few nights ago because I wanted to see if the pro-choice protests were being covered. PBS NewsHour is the only national news show I watch these days, so that's what I selected. There was little coverage of the protests, but something else caught my attention. The anchor referred to portions of Israel and Palestine as "the holy land." The graphic that filled the screen did the same. Holy land? Are you serious?

This was not the first time I had heard this phrase. I have heard it thousands of times. We all have. But on this night, I recognized it for what it was: religious privilege.

Defeating the Christian Right Requires Better Organization and Strategy

Image by ha11ok from Pixabay

Two large armies have set up encampments on opposite ends of a large battlefield. They are similar in size, but that is about all they have in common. I'll summarize the key characteristics of each army. Afterward, you can venture a guess about who will prevail.

Army A: Well-Organized, Strategic, and Formidable

Army A is so well-funded that they can get anything they want. No piece of equipment is too extravagant for their donors. Weapons, ammunition, and other supplies will not be a problem for them. They have the sort of determination only religious fervor can bring. They believe they will prevail against all opponents.

Army A's greatest assets are its organization and persistence. They have what some might call a "hive mind." The leaders issue orders and the troops do not question them. They all share a common purpose, and they have been training for some time. Watching them in action, one sees a well-oiled machine.

All Hands on Deck as Supreme Court Plans to Overturn Roe

Image by Mark Thomas from Pixabay

I grew up in a family with a small sailboat my dad used to race, but I'm no sailor. That said, I've always liked the expression "all hands on deck." Even when far away from boats and water, it has always resonated with me for some reason. It is such a cool way of saying, "We need everybody working on this if we're going to make it."

Now that it is becoming clear that the U.S. Supreme Court is about to overturn Roe v. Wade, it seems like an apt expression. We need all hands on deck. There is far too much at stake here for anyone who values human rights to sit this one out.

Perceived Relevance is Crucial for Sustaining Effective Secular Activism

Activist-oriented efforts often fail since there many things that can go wrong. The other side will win some battles, but this is not the only problem activists will encounter. Activist organizations can make missteps that undermine their well-intentioned efforts. They might hire the wrong people or go so far off-message they begin to alienate their own supporters. There are all sorts of potential mistakes waiting for them. But when it comes to activism, the obstacle we do not hear enough about is perceived irrelevance. Activists have their hands full trying to stay relevant to their supporters and potential supporters.

Most of the national secular organizations in the United States have faced criticism from some for going down the "woke" pathway. The point isn't whether this criticism is warranted; the point is that it highlights the problem of perceived irrelevance. Many secular groups have embraced various forms of social justice. Some see this as coming at the expense of their core mission. That is, they worry about a decline in relevance. One could also argue that they are trying to find creative ways to appeal to new and presumably younger potential supporters. To expand, they need to do more than continue giving long-time supporters more of what they want. How else is an organization supposed to attract new members?

Looking for a New Year's Resolution? Thank a Secular Activist

Everybody deserves some time off from the grind, and secular activists are no exception. And yet, I often find myself wondering why the national secular organizations in the United States often seem to be so much quieter this time of year. Much like accountants during tax season, I would expect this to be their busiest time of the year due to all the Christian efforts to insert their faith into government. It does seem like we usually hear more from them about this right after Thanksgiving, but it seems to taper off as December progresses.

Want to Transform the World? Reason is Not Enough

Reason is a wonderful thing. We'd do well to cultivate more of it, especially when it comes to our political discourse. And yet, I think it is important that we are honest with ourselves by recognizing that reason is not enough. If you are an atheist living in a predominately religious country, you already know that reason is far from sufficient. If it was, religion would have disappeared long ago. We know this, but we sometimes forget that "more reason" is not a complete answer. As much as I'd like to see more reasonable atheists, I recognize that we are making a serious mistake by promoting reason at the expense of all else and expecting it to solve our problems.

The problem we face is that many of our friends and neighbors are not persuaded by reason. If you doubt this, try providing one of your Christian friends with a solidly reasonable argument that their preferred god probably doesn't exist. It rarely works because most people do not base their beliefs on reason. We know this, but we often struggle to remember it. If we want to change the world, we are going to have to connect with people to persuade them. To do so, we are going to need to be able to speak their language. And if we're honest with ourselves, I think we know that their language isn't reason.

Ignoring Christian Extremism Complicates Efforts to Understand Opposition to Reproductive Rights

If x is really bad (i.e., something almost everyone detests), I suppose that trying to build an association between x and whatever else we don't like is an understandable impulse even if it isn't rational or justified in many cases. What often puzzles me about this is that the thing we are desperately trying to connect to x, we'll call it y, is often already pretty bad on its own. Concocting a weak connection from y to x seems like a waste of time in these cases. And what's worse, doing so can be discrediting. Either the person doing it fails to appreciate how bad y is on its own or is so desperate to paint y in an even more negative light that they are willing to distort reality to do so.