Godless America, Americans: Godless Government, Culture, Media
It's common to hear laments about the absence of God in government, media, culture, or society. The truth is that a godless America is good for everyone: it's good for the government, it's good for employees, and it's good for all the citizens. A godless America is better than a theocratic America - this is especially true in an increasingly religiously pluralistic society like modern America.
Why Do Religious Extremists Hate America? Muslims & Christians Agree...
For someone like Sayyid Qutb, secularism undermines religious values and must be eliminated. Secularism leads to atheism, and that is perhaps the worst thing that can happen to either a person or a society. Qutb's stated goals are much the same as the stated goals of Western invaders of the Middle East, including America. Qutb, though, is often cited as a symbol of what Western powers regard as the problem in the Middle East.
For someone like Sayyid Qutb, secularism undermines religious values and must be eliminated. Secularism leads to atheism, and that is perhaps the worst thing that can happen to either a person or a society. Qutb's stated goals are much the same as the stated goals of Western invaders of the Middle East, including America. Qutb, though, is often cited as a symbol of what Western powers regard as the problem in the Middle East.
Is There a Godless Church of Liberalism or Atheism? Responding to Ann Coulter
Ann Coulter is not the only conservative to use the label 'godless' as a political smear, but she has used it far more than anyone else. Because of her efforts and the efforts of others, it's become common in America to treat 'godless' like a scarlet letter. For some reason, many of these same people imagine that accusing godless liberalism of being a 'church' would constitute a further criticism. Why would people who make a big deal out of being religious believers themselves think this?
Ann Coulter is not the only conservative to use the label 'godless' as a political smear, but she has used it far more than anyone else. Because of her efforts and the efforts of others, it's become common in America to treat 'godless' like a scarlet letter. For some reason, many of these same people imagine that accusing godless liberalism of being a 'church' would constitute a further criticism. Why would people who make a big deal out of being religious believers themselves think this?
Godless Intellectual Values: Intellectual Values are Important, Godless, Secular
When people in America talk about 'values,' they are usually talking about moral values -- and moral values concentrated around controlling people's sexuality, to boot. Neither moral values nor sexual morality are the only sorts of values that exist, however, and they certainly aren't the only sort which should be emphasized. There also exist very important intellectual values which are necessary for human society. If religious theists won't promote them, then irreligious, godless atheists must.
When people in America talk about 'values,' they are usually talking about moral values -- and moral values concentrated around controlling people's sexuality, to boot. Neither moral values nor sexual morality are the only sorts of values that exist, however, and they certainly aren't the only sort which should be emphasized. There also exist very important intellectual values which are necessary for human society. If religious theists won't promote them, then irreligious, godless atheists must.
Godless Political Values: Importance of Godless Values to Modern Democracy
Politics in a liberal, democratic democracy cannot long proceed or survive simply by inertia; instead they must be constantly fed by people who are engaged in the political process and who share some of the basic values necessary for such a democracy to thrive. None of these values depend in any way upon religion or theism; this means that they necessarily 'godless' - that they exist independently of people's religions and gods.
Politics in a liberal, democratic democracy cannot long proceed or survive simply by inertia; instead they must be constantly fed by people who are engaged in the political process and who share some of the basic values necessary for such a democracy to thrive. None of these values depend in any way upon religion or theism; this means that they necessarily 'godless' - that they exist independently of people's religions and gods.
What is Godlessness? Defining Godlessness, Godless Secularism, Godless Atheism
It's true that atheists are by definition godless, but it's possible to draw a subtle distinction between the two concepts. Atheism is the absence of belief in gods; godlessness is the absence of gods and is generally defined as not recognizing or worshipping any gods. Technically, a person could believe in the existence of gods they don't worship. This might be rare, but the implications are important. Godlessness need not deny the existence of gods, but it does dismiss their importance.
It's true that atheists are by definition godless, but it's possible to draw a subtle distinction between the two concepts. Atheism is the absence of belief in gods; godlessness is the absence of gods and is generally defined as not recognizing or worshipping any gods. Technically, a person could believe in the existence of gods they don't worship. This might be rare, but the implications are important. Godlessness need not deny the existence of gods, but it does dismiss their importance.
Who Are America’s Godless? Diversity of Godless Americans in the United States
In the past, religion and religious beliefs tended to define most things people did in their lives as well as most public institutions. With the growth of secularism and the increase of religious diversity, however, religious beliefs previously assumed to be common and basic began to fall away. Today secularism and godlessness define an increasing number of people's lives and public institutions. This social development cannot be ignored, though the Christian Right is determined to fight it.
In the past, religion and religious beliefs tended to define most things people did in their lives as well as most public institutions. With the growth of secularism and the increase of religious diversity, however, religious beliefs previously assumed to be common and basic began to fall away. Today secularism and godlessness define an increasing number of people's lives and public institutions. This social development cannot be ignored, though the Christian Right is determined to fight it.
America's Godless Government: Why American Government must be Godless, Secular
Many claim that America is a Christian Nation, but a better argument can be made for the idea that America's government is and should be godless. American government is godless because gods have no role in creating, executing, enforcing, or deciding the constitutionality of laws. Gods have no role in the structure of government, who serves in the government, or how it operates. Despite some references to a god, the simple fact is that gods are fundamentally irrelevant and should remain so.
Many claim that America is a Christian Nation, but a better argument can be made for the idea that America's government is and should be godless. American government is godless because gods have no role in creating, executing, enforcing, or deciding the constitutionality of laws. Gods have no role in the structure of government, who serves in the government, or how it operates. Despite some references to a god, the simple fact is that gods are fundamentally irrelevant and should remain so.
Godless Morality & Ethics: Being Good Without Gods or Religion is Possible and P
Can there be a godless morality? Can we assert a superiority for a godless morality over traditional, theistic, and religious morality? Yes, I think that this is possible. Unfortunately, few people even acknowledge the existence of godless moral values, much less their significance. When people talk about moral values, they almost always presume that they have to be talking about religious morality and religious values. The very possibility of godless, irreligious morality is ignored.
Can there be a godless morality? Can we assert a superiority for a godless morality over traditional, theistic, and religious morality? Yes, I think that this is possible. Unfortunately, few people even acknowledge the existence of godless moral values, much less their significance. When people talk about moral values, they almost always presume that they have to be talking about religious morality and religious values. The very possibility of godless, irreligious morality is ignored.