Godlessness & Skepticism are Not Respected:
Sometimes, America almost seems to be a land of gullibility and credulity: those who seek to introduce a bit of skepticism, dissent, and disagreement are looked down upon as if there were something unseemly about “rocking the boat.” The godless are treated like some of the worst offenders for daring to question, challenge, or even just ignore claims about the existence of a god or what an alleged god wants of people. People don’t respect those who are skeptical of traditional religion.
Sometimes, America almost seems to be a land of gullibility and credulity: those who seek to introduce a bit of skepticism, dissent, and disagreement are looked down upon as if there were something unseemly about “rocking the boat.” The godless are treated like some of the worst offenders for daring to question, challenge, or even just ignore claims about the existence of a god or what an alleged god wants of people. People don’t respect those who are skeptical of traditional religion.
Christian Right & Anti-Atheist Bigotry:
The Christian Right, and conservatives generally, have made it a policy to attack liberals as “godless.” This isn’t true, of course, because most liberals are theists and religious while some conservatives are irreligious atheists. The label is used because religious conservatives believe “godless” will be perceived in an exclusively negative fashion — and they do all they can to ensure that this continues by expressing some of the worst anti-atheist bigotry imaginable. Read More...
The Christian Right, and conservatives generally, have made it a policy to attack liberals as “godless.” This isn’t true, of course, because most liberals are theists and religious while some conservatives are irreligious atheists. The label is used because religious conservatives believe “godless” will be perceived in an exclusively negative fashion — and they do all they can to ensure that this continues by expressing some of the worst anti-atheist bigotry imaginable. Read More...
Liberals Buckling Under to Right-Wing Pressure:
Conservative attacks on liberalism for being “godless” have some liberals and progressives running scared. Rather than standing firm in defense of liberal atheists who themselves defend basic progressive values, some liberals are ready to toss them overboard. Atheists are told to sit down and shut up rather than speak out on science, evolution, or religious politics. This helps feed the idea that there is something immoral or shameful about being godless. Read More...
Conservative attacks on liberalism for being “godless” have some liberals and progressives running scared. Rather than standing firm in defense of liberal atheists who themselves defend basic progressive values, some liberals are ready to toss them overboard. Atheists are told to sit down and shut up rather than speak out on science, evolution, or religious politics. This helps feed the idea that there is something immoral or shameful about being godless. Read More...
Muslim Extremists Abroad:
Although it may sound odd, Muslim extremists abroad do represent a threat to godless nonbelievers in America — not directly through violence, but indirectly. Too many believers in America advocate domestic repression by appealing to the theocratic doctrines of foreign extremists. The idea is that extremists hate America for being so secular and free, so their solution is to make America less secular and less free. Instead of fighting for liberty, they would submit to repression and censorship.
Although it may sound odd, Muslim extremists abroad do represent a threat to godless nonbelievers in America — not directly through violence, but indirectly. Too many believers in America advocate domestic repression by appealing to the theocratic doctrines of foreign extremists. The idea is that extremists hate America for being so secular and free, so their solution is to make America less secular and less free. Instead of fighting for liberty, they would submit to repression and censorship.
New Age Nonsense:
Organized religion is not the only stumbling block for the godless — nonsensical beliefs promoted by devotees of New Age and the paranormal can also be a problem. The prevalence of such beliefs encourages gullibility and inhibits the development of skeptical habits of thinking. Even some godless people adopt New Age beliefs — being godless isn't the same as being skeptical. In this long run, though, such beliefs harm the cause of godlessness because it undermines the value of skepticism.
Organized religion is not the only stumbling block for the godless — nonsensical beliefs promoted by devotees of New Age and the paranormal can also be a problem. The prevalence of such beliefs encourages gullibility and inhibits the development of skeptical habits of thinking. Even some godless people adopt New Age beliefs — being godless isn't the same as being skeptical. In this long run, though, such beliefs harm the cause of godlessness because it undermines the value of skepticism.
Scientific Illiteracy:
Most godless Americans tend to focus on natural rather than supernatural explanations for events as well as solutions to human problems. Naturalistic explanations and solutions are, in turn, generally based upon a scientific approach. This means that scientific illiteracy creates a barrier between the godless and those who don’t understand or don’t appreciate science. Science may not cause godlessness, but it provides a foundation for a godless understanding of the world.
Most godless Americans tend to focus on natural rather than supernatural explanations for events as well as solutions to human problems. Naturalistic explanations and solutions are, in turn, generally based upon a scientific approach. This means that scientific illiteracy creates a barrier between the godless and those who don’t understand or don’t appreciate science. Science may not cause godlessness, but it provides a foundation for a godless understanding of the world.
Anti-Scientific Postmodernism:
In addition to mere ignorance of science, America also has a strong anti-scientific element encouraged by certain strains of post-modernist thinking and theories. It is argued that science is just another way of viewing the world with no inherent advantages or benefits over paranormal, supernatural, and irrational perspectives. Science is nothing of the sort, as demonstrated by its successes over the years, but this perspective remains appealing to some — even to some who are godless.
In addition to mere ignorance of science, America also has a strong anti-scientific element encouraged by certain strains of post-modernist thinking and theories. It is argued that science is just another way of viewing the world with no inherent advantages or benefits over paranormal, supernatural, and irrational perspectives. Science is nothing of the sort, as demonstrated by its successes over the years, but this perspective remains appealing to some — even to some who are godless.
Self-Righteous Agnostics:
Godless atheists are often attacked by people who are themselves also godless nonbelievers but who pretend that they hold a superior, more rational position of agnosticism. They misrepresent both atheism and agnosticism as they insist that they alone hold the most rational and reasonable position possible. This harms godlessness generally by sowing confusion about what being godless means and by instigating unnecessary strife over ultimately irrelevant issues.
Godless atheists are often attacked by people who are themselves also godless nonbelievers but who pretend that they hold a superior, more rational position of agnosticism. They misrepresent both atheism and agnosticism as they insist that they alone hold the most rational and reasonable position possible. This harms godlessness generally by sowing confusion about what being godless means and by instigating unnecessary strife over ultimately irrelevant issues.
Are Atheists their own Worst Enemy?:
Some argue that atheists may be their own worst enemy — that they are strident, brash, intolerant, and extremist in their dealings with religious believers. In some cases this is true, but no more so than with many religious believers who are more likely praised for their devotion than criticized for their arrogance. It’s certainly possible for atheists to harm their own long-term interests, but such threats are far more numerous and likely to come from outside sources.
Some argue that atheists may be their own worst enemy — that they are strident, brash, intolerant, and extremist in their dealings with religious believers. In some cases this is true, but no more so than with many religious believers who are more likely praised for their devotion than criticized for their arrogance. It’s certainly possible for atheists to harm their own long-term interests, but such threats are far more numerous and likely to come from outside sources.
Godless Americans Fight an Uphill Battle:
Given the amount of outright bigotry towards the godless and atheists, never mind basic disrespect, it’s not easy to be godless or skeptical in America today. Most American institutions are not only happy with the general level of credulity in the public, but in fact benefit from it. Politicians prefer that people not look too closely at their policies. Corporations prefer that people not look too closely at what their purchasing decisions really mean. Religious leaders certainly don’t want people in the pews to look behind the curtain to see if anyone is really there.
Given the amount of outright bigotry towards the godless and atheists, never mind basic disrespect, it’s not easy to be godless or skeptical in America today. Most American institutions are not only happy with the general level of credulity in the public, but in fact benefit from it. Politicians prefer that people not look too closely at their policies. Corporations prefer that people not look too closely at what their purchasing decisions really mean. Religious leaders certainly don’t want people in the pews to look behind the curtain to see if anyone is really there.
The only institutions in America which even come close to promoting skepticism and critical thinking generally are colleges and universities — but even they are being undermined by anti-scientific interests in the government and profit-hungry corporations. Scientific institutions benefit from godlessness and skepticism, but their overall social influence is too small. Ultimately, it comes down to the ability of individuals to influence those around them and the organizations to which they belong.
This means that the godless, the atheists, and the skeptics need to have an impact on a personal level. Unfortunately, it’s an uphill battle because neither a godless nor a skeptical perspective are usually very welcome. Such perspectives tend to upset popular beliefs, overturn traditions, and discomfit those who benefit or derive their power from the ability to mislead people. It’s a worthwhile battle to fight, though, because traditions and beliefs which cannot stand up to skeptical scrutiny deserve to be overturned — and the quicker, the better. Over time, godlessness and skepticism may become more generally respected in American society as they often are elsewhere in the world.
