How can we best support the separation of church and state and fight bigotry against atheists?
The report pointing out that atheists are the least popular potential son/daughter-in-law has been posted multiple times here. That follows upon previous polls showing that atheists would be among the least popular presidential candidates (and the study showing that resumes revealing atheism suffered a severe drop in call-backs). Its safe to say that those of us that think that atheists should be free to speak out and get a fair hearing without being subject to hatred and discrimination have their work cut out for them.
It would be nice to improve upon rhetorical support in this forum and have a plan that involves tangible contributions. Any thoughts? The first thing that came to my mind is joining the ACLU, Americans United, or the Freedom From Religion Foundation, if not already a member. What else?
= new reply since forum marked as read
Great poster child you make!
Or maybe you are. Hmmm!
The best way to support the separation of church and state...is to support the separation of church and state.
All too often even people who claim to support the separation make exception. Whether its the WTC Cross, or the pledge (which at the time of Newdow case had something like 70% of LIBERALS supporting the current pledge) people make exceptions. Its one thing to say that we need to pick our battles better, its another entirely to say we shouldn't fight it at all in this one specific case. The former is about resources, the latter is giving ammunition to those who want to destroy the wall.
This is not to say joining the ACLU or other similar organizations is bad idea, in fact thats a fantastic idea imho. But consistency would go a long way as well.
As for fighting bigotry, there is a lot that can be done. I think the LGBTQ movement in particular has many parallels and we can use many of their tactics. One thing that is important is to highlight non-believers in our society. Especially those who are doing good, or are just normal people. Its important to show that we are just like everyone else with our triumphs and failures. That we have families we love and who love us and that we bleed just like they do. The woman in the Wolf Blitzer Ok. tornado interview did that in a huge way imho.
For the most part this falls on those of us who can be open coming out openly as atheists and not being silent on our views. This is not easy. The very suggestion that their most deeply held beliefs are false is inherently offensive to many people, and often our own families will disown us for coming out. Being told to keep our views to ourselves, while being accepting of believers expressing their beliefs no matter how disagreeable or unbelievable does not help. This is not to say that we should not be called out if we say something truly hateful, but there is a bit of a double standard and it helps to realize that.
For instance, on Easter, I can guarantee you most of us nonbelievers had our ears and eyes flooded with expressions of faith and had to keep silent. Any statement of disbelief would only result in scorn and marginalization from both friends and family. And its not JUST on the holidays...its every single freaking day. Family member puts up a post on FB saying how "persecuted" christians are in america today, and blaming all society's ills on secularization and removing god from school and public and I can't even respond to defend myself! How is that for persecution? She can post that without fear of losing friends, families or her job and I can't even respond without fear of losing those very things.
But believers who want to encourage change have a lot that they can do.
One thing in particular is that it is important that they stop trying to define us. We have to deal with that enough as it is from other non-believers who don't want to be called atheists because of the stigma or their own bad perceptions of what atheim entails. By changing the definition of atheist you are undermining our representation. This only helps make us look like some tiny fringe minority and marginalizes us. Every poll that divides atheists and agnostics does this. Atheism is about belief, and agnosticism is about knowledge. Many of us are both, and by creating this false dichotomy our representation is decimated.
Interestingly, while some believers try to narrow the definition of atheism, they will also make us out to be more than we are. Usually along the lines of making atheism sound like it is just another religion. Atheism is to religion as bald is to hair color. Being aware of this helps prevent people from ascribing positions to our lack of belief that have nothing to do with atheism and fights the stereotypes we face.
Another thing is to realize why we object to some of the things believers say and don't realize how offensive they are. After one school shooting happened I had a normally liberal internet friend say that all these shootings were happening because they took god out of our schools. Again, goes back to the you have to be religious to be moral. Nevermind, that the shooter was a believer. Nevermind that atheists are underrepresented on deathrow. Never mind that many of the victims were believers. Never mind that school shooting happen at both religious and secular schools. Nope, it is caused by taking god out of school.
Similarly many believers have a tendency to say that when someone or a group does something you don't like that they are not "really" religious. Because, only a non-religious person, an atheist, would do something like that. I get that you are just trying to defend the honor of your religion but by doing so with these NTS defenses you are putting all the blame on everyone else and depending on how you phrase it on non-believers specifically.
By being aware that you do this, even if it is with nothing but good intentions, and avoid doing it would go a great way in ending the meme that we are immoral.
Going back to the video of wolf blitzer, one thing that can be done is to not assume everyone is a believer till proven otherwise. Many of the violations of the wall come from believers wanting to post something to honor people and using their specific religious imagery to represent everyone. They throw up a cross to represent everyone and then they get mad at US for objecting. Its like the WTC cross. They just assumed no one would have an objection then we are the insensitive ones. Even offering to provide a plaque at their own expense did not stop people from misrepresenting AA on that case.
I read an article on LGBT inclusion in a video game that called this tendency to assume everyone is the same as the majority and act as if others don't exist is called erasure. This is exactly what happened in the WTC cross situation when it came to us, Muslims, Jews, Hindus, etc. It is also part of the reason it is important not to decimate our representation. Only by being more open can we fight this and make sure these situations don't happen.
This post is now way too long as it is already and that is all I am able to think of on the subject for now. I don't expect you to agree with me on everything, but I hope this gave you some things to think about.
it did not stick out well enough in my mind to remember.
I am sure there are some atheists as you describe. We are human after all, and subject to the same pitfall and failings as anyone else. We are just as prone to using colloquialisms and generalizations as anyone else. But when it comes to important issues like these, it is important to be precise as one can be with our words. Similarly, it is important to understand others are often not that precise (or tactful) and try and gleam what they actually mean when dealing with them.
I am sure that, whether you are a believer or non-believer, you can agree that if you words can be twisted...they will be.
Thanks for taking the time to read my (admittedly) long posts.
I found our discussion most interesting. Have a good night!
Other than acknowledge each others plights and try to mindful of behaviours that lead to that type of bigotry.
At least on DU, I can (for the most part) get away from that sort of thing. Sadly as the poll thread in GD shows, you can't get away from it even here on a far left forum. That one guy won't even back down after being confronted.
I alerted on him/her, but I doubt that poster will get hid. Maybe the day will come we will both be judged based on our character rather than the misconceptions and stereotypes. I wish you well and a good night!
Edit: Was 5-2 to leave. Not surprised.
Respect!
