Andrew Sullivan: Politicization of Christianity fuels atheism in U.S.

[Joseph8th]

[link:http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/04/08/andrew-sullivan-politicization-of-christianity-fuels-atheism-in-u-s/]

“They have become fused with one political party, the Republican Party — a party that is now defined by a particular religious faith, evangelicalism or far-right Catholic hierarchy. And that is making many people feel that faith in Jesus is about politics and power and partisanship, in ways that’s turning off an entire generation. The biggest growth in any belief sector in this country in the last ten years has been atheism.”

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Aaaaahhhh... yup.

I wonder -- how many of you fellow atheists agree that, if it wasn't for the continual attempts to force godbelief on others, there would be no such thing as "movement atheism"? I for one am not a joiner, so I don't need a 'community' (that fruitless panacea of our times) to support my disbelief. Atheism's pretty easy, actually, once you get past the fear factor. I've never been to a meatspace atheist meeting... just this trolling, where I just as often engage believer-bullies trying to convince fence-sitters they're going to hell, as I do other atheists.

It seems to me that movement atheism is political, first and foremost. It doesn't address the non-existence of gods at all, but rather is completely defensive. Almost reflexive.

Thoughts?

[PassingFair]

1. I tend to agree with this concept.

I give money to the Freedom from Religion Foundation, not so much
for the newsletter, but to keep on top of religious inroads in the public
sphere, especially SCHOOLS.

Also, they mount legal challenges to religious power grabs.

I've been to Atheist meet-ups, but I don't particularly feel
as though I have the same commonality and esprit d'corps
as I feel at Democratic functions.

I HAVE enjoyed a few events with the Center For Inquiry, including
meeting Richard Dawkins.

[Joseph8th]

6. Yah!... FFRF is good ppl.

I haven't been to any meet-ups, but I'm getting ready to move to rural Missouri, so who knows... I do know I hadn't even heard of "New Atheism" or Hitchens, et al, until the Godbeliever media got their sacred undies in a bunch and clued me in. Had no idea there was such a thing, so in that respect, yeah... the Fundies have helped create the cause.

But the Cause itself, even, I think, is political, and little else. It's why atheism doesn't get capitalized and doesn't belong in the religion section at DU. What else could movement atheism be? It's not religious or spiritual movement, so those're out. Atheism itself isn't the cause, either... to get everyone to stop believing (though I wouldn't complain if that fantasy came true).

It really is just equal protection under the 1st amendment kinda issue. It's about NOT pushing god in politics, and that's in everyone's best interest, not just atheists'.

[skepticscott]

2. What's silly about this

is that the reasons he's offering for people switching to atheism have nothing whatsoever to do with whether the god in question actually exists. As usual, Sullivan is somewhat clueless in not getting the difference between atheism and anti-theism, but for a change, he has some company in that.

[Joseph8th]

3. Right! I thought...

... the same thing. Noticed he incorrectly applies the term "belief-system" to atheism, which is characterized by the singular lack, thereof.

[Lucy Goosey]

5. I agree

My first thought on reading the quote was that the only thing "fueling" my atheism is the fact that there are no gods.

[skepticscott]

7. I also wonder whether

he isn't including people who simply indicate "no religious affiliation" in polls, (or something to that effect) as atheists. I have no doubt that there are people who have gotten fed up with organized religion of just about any stripe in this country, for the reasons he mentioned, but who haven't necessarily gone atheist.

[immoderate]

4. I agree that if there's no religion, there would be no atheism.

After that, we're talking about some complex interaction.

People, or many of them, are affiliative. They will join with others in something that captures their interest. If not for religion, they might sign up for canasta, or SCUBA lessons.

And I have heard atheist commentators who can't imagine why atheists would want to congregate for any reason. I belong to some free thought groups, but I can understand that there are some who don't want to be bothered by atheist groups any more than they wanted to go to church.


--imm

[Curmudgeoness]

8. I do think that the movement to force beliefs on us all

is fueling the atheist movement. It is one thing to have someone knocking at my door to preach to me or handing me a pamphlet on the street. It is another thing to have them try to legislate Christianity into every aspect of our society. I am ambivalent about religion. I could care less if you believe or not....but I do care if you intend to force me to live by your religion.

Yes, that is enough to get me involved in this mess.

[laconicsax]

9. Don't say that in R/T!

You might get accused of making personal attack #20

[Curmudgeoness]

10. Again???? nt

[dimbear]

11. Atheism should expand and grow and spread until it is irrelevant.

I like the sound of that.

[Joseph8th]

12. Sounds good to me, too! nt

[Warpy]

13. Oh, I don't think it's fueling the growth of atheism

but constant religious bullying has forced us out of our "I'm just not religious" closets into confronting bigotry and bullying head on. I know I'm a lot less reticent than I used to be, although there were always idiots down south who got an earful as well as the occasional Catholic true believer in Boston.

It's entirely defensive at present, as we're about the only people out there fighting for that wall between church and state. Support from mainstream godly has been anemic, at best.

[Fumesucker]

14. Coming out of the closet is a very apt description..

You would think Sullivan could get the analogy but then Sullivan is not noted for being able to walk a click in someone else's moccasins, just the opposite in fact, he only notices injustices if they impact him personally.

[truebrit71]

15. What never ceases to amaze me is that the least christ-like party, has hijacked that religion...

..in this country...

The Jesus described in the bible took care of the poor, and the sick and the hungry. He healed people. He raged against the machine (of his day) and he DESPISED the rich and the religious hierarchy...how this person's alleged activities can be squared with the republican agenda just baffles me...

If ever there was a dirty, hippy, Occupy-deity it would be the man described in the book so many hate-filled rich bigots like to claim as their own...

[AlbertCat]

16. movement atheism is political

Not entirely.

It's not really about grabbing power

It's more about diverting disaster. Dawkins, who everyone seems to think is the core, is British, not American. He, like me, feels it's just time to stop pretending religion is any kind of solution to the big problems we face, locally or globally. There's just no more time for fruitless debate about the supernatural when it comes to problem solving. You do solve problems thru politics, but also thru education. It's not just about the USA and Christians.

[Riktor]

17. It isn't political Christianity that is "fueling" atheism...

I knew Christianity was nonsense long before I became politically aware. I can only conclude therefore, that I would be atheist regardless of what the Christians are doing politically.

Now, if Christians weren't working to legislate their bronze age morality on us all, I would probably be less vocal about my atheism, but I would still be an atheist nonetheless.

[Namvet67]

18. The nuns put the fear factor in many of us as youngsters.......

It actually was hard to get past that.....so ingrained.....they told me personally..."think of your worst nightmare, then imagine it for eternity". So I asked her....would god set me on fire then bury me alive?...answer......"yes".I told her that didn't sound very merciful to me.....she kept me after school for about 2 weeks and made me kneel on pencils......Marine Corps boot camp was a breeze after these sadists!!!! I was 12 fucking years old!!!! I asked my father about it (non catholic...episcopalian)....he said..."they should have their asses kicked for scaring you with that bullshit"...took me out of school over my mother's protestations and sent me to public school.....thankyou jesus!.....hehehehe.....that got me past it