Atheists can be such uptight downers. And I say that completely seriously and non-sarcastically, despite being a card-carrying atheist myself.
The latest example appears at the Illinois State Capitol, where someone from Freedom From Religion Foundation had the genius idea of erecting this sign among the holiday displays (via PZ):
At the time of the winter solstice, let reason prevail. There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell. There is only our natural world. Religion is just myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds.
Well now, there’s an uplifting and positive message. I’m sure that lots of religious folks came along to read that sign, and immediately thought “Gee, whoever wrote that sounds so much smarter and more correct than me! I will throw off my superstitious shackles and join them in the celebration of reason.”
There is a place to argue for one’s worldview — but not every single place. I happen to agree with all of the sentences on the sign above, but the decision to put in front and center in a holiday display merits a giant face-palm. (So does calling it “hate speech,” of course.) It’s like you’re introduced to someone at a party, and they immediately say “Wow, you’re ugly. And your clothes look like they were stolen off a homeless person. And you’re drinking a domestic beer, which shows a complete lack of sophistication.” I don’t know about you, but I’d be thinking — “Such taste and discernment! Here’s someone I need to get to know better.”
Until atheists learn that they don’t need to take every possible opportunity to proclaim their own rationality in the face of everyone else’s stupidity, they will have a reputation as tiresome bores. They could have put up a sign that just gave some sort of joyful, positive message. Or something light-hearted and amusing. Or they could have just left the display alone entirely, and restrained the urge to argue in favor of waiting for some more appropriate venue. (Maybe they could start a blog or something.)
Understanding how the real world works is an important skill. So is understanding human beings.
Since I am typing this from the UK at the moment (Merry Christmas everyone!) I will simply point out that the thoroughly secular Brits, including the near 50% non-believers, just carry on and celebrate Christmas as they have always done. Indeed, many of them were either in church for the Midnight service or will be there on Christmas morning — there’s nothing like blasting out a few traditional Christmas carols at full volume to get you in the mood for the festivities ahead. Most of the kids will have either watched or been in a Nativity play and they will have learned a couple of timeless religious Christmas carols at their state school, and in many of their homes there will be manger scenes on the sideboard and advent calendars on the wall with one door left to open and a final chocolate to be consumed.
For many they are just another part of a traditional Christmas, stripped of any real religious meaning, and not worth getting all upset or overheated about. They are merely the spoils of the War on Christmas that has already been won — many years ago.
That’s the tack I believe more American atheists should take. Nothing would infuriate the Religious Right more than if non-believers stopped giving them something to whine and complain about at this time of year and, instead, adopted the traditions for themselves and thereby stripping them of their religious significance. Christianity in Britain is dying through benign neglect. Deprive American Christians of some of their rabble rousing battles and the same thing will probably begin to happen in the US too.
I’m a secular Jew and ultra-atheist who spent a wonderfully uplifting and magical Sunday evening singing Christmas songs in New Orlean’s Jackson Square. It was as if I were in Whoville.
Dromeda,
No, that’s not what I’m saying. I’m saying that religion can inspire and motivate many people to do so. It’s a catalyst. And I’m sure that without it, less people will want to be charitable to others. Yes, I do think less of humanity.
“I’m saying that religion can inspire and motivate many people . . . It’s a catalyst. And I’m sure that without it, less people will want to be charitable to others. Yes, I do think less of humanity.”
Sure, it can inspire people. So can other things. Anything that can inspire people is great. Things that partially inspire should be looked at closely to understand why they work that way before they are incorporated to the extent that they move people forward. Singing Xmas songs can be a wonderful experience — some of the tunes are great fun. Xmas has very little traditional meaning any more; at least I hope that’s the way it continues to develop. Among the 30,000 different interpretations of Christianity there are a multitude of good people. Sean says that “[u}ntil atheists learn that they don’t need to take every possible opportunity to proclaim their own rationality in the face of everyone else’s stupidity, they will have a reputation as tiresome bores.” I think that’s right. but really that just means that folks just shouldn’t take themselves too seriously; life if too short. Cherish the time you have and the people you love. Everybody . . . have a great holiday season!!
Awesome article. I also find that athiests can go a bit far in “freeing” people from religion. I consider that that may be a symptom of being smart, but not the cause. I identify myself as a christian, although I use that loosely because I’m pretty agnostic when people talk about religion either in defense or against it. There are no absolutes in religion, embracing it won’t make you a perfect person nor will rejecting it.
~ “Understanding how the real world works is an important skill. So is understanding human beings.”
I like.
The sign is good, necessary, and uplifting. Albeit offensive and threatening to many. Imagine you are an early 19th century person who believes slavery is wrong and you see a sign that says: “Slavery is wrong.” It’s uplifting. You feel a sense of community in that you are not alone in your belief. Or, you are a late 19th century person and you see a sign that says: “Women should have the right to vote.” It’s uplifting. You feel a sense of community in that you are not alone in your conviction. Or, you are an early 20th century person and you see a sign that says: “E = hv.” It’s uplifting. You feel a sense of community in that you are not alone in adopting the new thinking. Or, …..
I’m sorry, but you sir are being a hypocrite. If douches can come to my house and make me late for work by trying to convince me of the truth of the bible, if a catholic friend can tell me that the bible is the word of god, but the mahabharata and ramayana are just story books, if muslims can burn cars and proclaim death sentences for minor transgressions that they make up on the spot, how do you find this message being too in your face? The fact is that people seem to give religion some sort of special license to propagate and push their propaganda on people whether they want to or not, but the minute an atheist tries to push their agenda the slightest bit, everyone cries foul. And this isn’t propaganda, or an attempt to bludgeon people into giving up their faith, mind you. This isn’t homophobia and being anti-choice, and killing doctors who help poor women get rid of unwanted pregnancies. This is a perfectly valid political statement. Do you not agree that religion has no place in politics? Then how is it that religion can flood our collective mindspace with their insidious and bigoted propaganda, but any attempts to counter it are met with immediate proclaimations of ”ooh, don’t be a dick”?
I think something is missing here about toleration, because for example Christianity can be understood rationally, and one will be sure of it if this one reads the “Theologico-Political Treatise” by Spinoza. But a fact is what is important is the way to understand things, there are some intelligent Christians and some stupid ones, nonetheless that is the same for atheists.
If you look at the above comments, you can see how different people interpret the same thing in their own ways.
I’m an atheist and I remember getting a few similar reactions when I raised my voice against the ‘Atheist Bus’ campaign with a post on my blog. Stuff like, “As an atheist, I was proud to see the our people speaking out” and things like that. To me, the world’s going to be a better place only when everyone keeps their beliefs to themselves, and stops using it to judge people around them. The tit-for-tat game will never end, so it’s best to be the first to stop.
Religion is a good thing if you get inspired by the social aspect of it, things like “be good to others” for instance. And it isn’t the only catalyst for such deeds. I enjoy doing a lot of charity work myself and I didn’t need any holy book to tell me to do so.
It’s just human nature at the end of it. I hope people become more tolerant to such nuances, because after all, it’s our differences that make us human. BTW, awesome post Sean!
Merry Christmas everyone!
As a card carrying athiest I thank God every day that I did not grow up in the Soviet Union.
People are just trying to make sense of why the world is the way it is, and unfortunately
athiests have no more clue than anyone else – and are just as deluded as everyone else.
The problem is when they get power, and then, in spite of professing morality and that
the Golden Rule is a good thing -they do not practice what they say. They are not even
gracious enough to give credit where credit is due.
So I heartily recommend “The Theme is Freedom” by M. Stanton Evans, and his
interview with Brian Lamb on c-span.
joel rice: “As a card carrying athiest [sic] I thank God [sic] every day that I did not grow up in the Soviet Union. People are just trying to make sense of why the world is the way it is, and unfortunately athiests [sic] have no [sic] more clue than anyone else – and are [sic] just as deluded as everyone else.”
Joel, you leave me no choice but to revoke your membership. Hand over your card.
God is everywhere, if you have the eyes to see.
Card carrying? Where do I get my official atheist membership card?
Religion gets a free pass always—–you can criticise atheists, or anything else, but not Religion…it might upset folks, and besides, it isn’t in good taste. Bul@#H$t.
Yes, pick your fights, but superstition=dangerous ignorance. Remember the John Lennon song.
Jewel: “Card carrying? Where do I get my official atheist membership card?”
I got mine from AAA. But I’m not sure why it came with free towing?
Good article. Thank you for sharing.
As a Catholic, of course I have substantial religious beliefs. One of the things we belive in is free will. Whether or not that free will is used is up to the individual.
I do not believe in swaying people to my side of the fence. However, I do believe that I have just as much right as the person that celebrates Soltice, Kwanzaa, Chanukah, or anything else to display what I worship.
So many times I’ve seen Atheism translated to “Anti-Christian.” It doesn’t make sense. If something is said or done against Jewish people it’s considered antisemitism. If something is done against Africa Americans celebrating Kwanzaa, then it’s racism. If something is done against Christians/Catholics, it’s encouraged.
Granted, there are Christians that are blatantly stupid, but there are people that we all wish would be removed from the gene pool from all religions/non-religions. However, that doesn’t mean that we have to sink to their levels by posting things like that sign.
My issue with the sign is that it clearly was meant to be provocative, and itself is a contradiction. A definition of religion reveals that atheism is functionally a religion in all but name, so the sign is ludicrous.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/religion
–noun
1. a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, esp. when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.
2. a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects: the Christian religion; the Buddhist religion.
3. the body of persons adhering to a particular set of beliefs and practices: a world council of religions.
4. the life or state of a monk, nun, etc.: to enter religion.
5. the practice of religious beliefs; ritual observance of faith.
6. something one believes in and follows devotedly; a point or matter of ethics or conscience: to make a religion of fighting prejudice.
7. religions, Archaic. religious rites.
8. Archaic. strict faithfulness; devotion: a religion to one’s vow.
Get out and celebrate the Holiday Season. Eat, drink and be merry. Make it a thoroughly secular holiday. While we all raise our glasses in front of the pagan phallic fir tree and steal kisses beneath the Druidic mistletoe.
Happy whatever you want to call it. Seasons Greetings!
@two cents
Reading your set of dictionary definitions of religion it is quite clear that atheism is not “functionally a religion in all but name”. Atheism – the absence of belief in a personal god, does not fall within any of those definitions.
You are in fact as bad as those behind the sign at Illinois State Capitol. You a being provocative and trying to insult people at a time when you you should be out there promoting seasonal goodwill and encouraging everyone to have fun!
Finally the best and most witty Christmas sign was put up by an Anglican priest in New Zealand on a billboard outside his church. The Virgin Mary and Joseph in bed together with the caption “Poor Joseph. God was a hard act to follow”.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8417963.stm
We atheists should be as witty as that with our signs. I have always had a soft spot for the more progressive elements of the Anglican Church. Hell I was even baptised one by my secular humanist parents. The sign was rapidly defaced with brown paint by a passing evangelical Christian. That’s the problem with that sort of Christian – no fun!
two cents says: atheism is functionally a religion in all but name
If atheism is a religion then not collecting stamps is a hobby.
I completely agree John, nice postage buh-dee!
At scum and arrow
be·lief (b-lf)
n.
1. The mental act, condition, or habit of placing trust or confidence in another: My belief in you is as strong as ever.
2. Mental acceptance of and conviction in the truth, actuality, or validity of something: His explanation of what happened defies belief.
3. Something believed or accepted as true, especially a particular tenet or a body of tenets accepted by a group of persons.
I think you will find that “the absence of belief in a personal god” qualifies as a belief, (since there is no way to generate proof) therefore, under the definition of religion (number 2) atheism qualifies. Religion is a very general word, much like creed
creed (krd)
n.
1. A formal statement of religious belief; a confession of faith.
2. A system of belief, principles, or opinions
I agree there is no evidence for god; and any test I could perform would also not reveal any evidence of god. However, is that proof? Do I have at my disposal the ability to logically show that there can be no god? I still can’t prove any of you exist…so how can I prove that something doesn’t exist? By observation?
I might be able to show that the universe doesn’t require a god to come into existence; but that still does me nothing in terms of proof.
proof (prf)
n.
1. The evidence or argument that compels the mind to accept an assertion as true.
2.
a. The validation of a proposition by application of specified rules, as of induction or deduction, to assumptions, axioms, and sequentially derived conclusions.
b. A statement or argument used in such a validation.
3.
a. Convincing or persuasive demonstration: was asked for proof of his identity; an employment history that was proof of her dependability.
b. The state of being convinced or persuaded by consideration of evidence.
4. Determination of the quality of something by testing; trial: put one’s beliefs to the proof.
5. Law The result or effect of evidence; the establishment or denial of a fact by evidence.
6. The alcoholic strength of a liquor, expressed by a number that is twice the percentage by volume of alcohol present.
7. Printing
a. A trial sheet of printed material that is made to be checked and corrected. Also called proof sheet.
b. A trial impression of a plate, stone, or block taken at any of various stages in engraving.
8.
a. A trial photographic print.
b. Any of a limited number of newly minted coins or medals struck as specimens and for collectors from a new die on a polished planchet.
9. Archaic Proven impenetrability: “I was clothed in Armor of proof” (John Bunyan).
Peter Davis: “There are only two rules, “love thy God” and “love thy neighbor,” with everything else falling out of those…”
This is technically true, but only when you use the arbitrary Biblical definition of “love,” which relies on the concepts of sin and virtue. Summarizing the Christian religion in this way only serves to disguise the objectionable and irrational elements.
two cents: the absence of a belief is not simply another form of belief. For example, I do not believe in unicorns. Does this single statement qualify me as being in some sort of “aunicornist religion,” in your understanding?