How Can I Change Things? Fighting Anti-Atheist Bigotry, Discrimination
Godless atheists are the most despised and discriminated against minority in America. They face bigotry in a wide variety of ways and when it's known that they are godless or secular, their views on various political and social views may be immediately dismissed. Religion generally and Christianity in particular benefit from widespread privileges, but godless atheists can make a difference if they want. There are ways to fight and to promote justice for themselves as well as other secularists.
Church Voter Guides - Atheists Should Monitor Church Voter Guides
Every election year, and especially during presidential election years, there are complaints about voter guides distributed to churches by Christian Right and Christian Nationalist organizations. These guides purport to be neutral explanations of candidates' positions, but in reality they are designed to promote particular candidates at the expense of others. The purpose is to help elect conservatives who will push the Christian Nationalist agenda. You can help fight this.
Every election year, and especially during presidential election years, there are complaints about voter guides distributed to churches by Christian Right and Christian Nationalist organizations. These guides purport to be neutral explanations of candidates' positions, but in reality they are designed to promote particular candidates at the expense of others. The purpose is to help elect conservatives who will push the Christian Nationalist agenda. You can help fight this.
Get Excommunicated! Ex-Catholic Atheists Should Seek Excommunication
If you are an atheist who was once a Catholic, you should consider having yourself excommunicated. There are few more definitive and public steps you can take on behalf of the rejection of religion. Unless and until you are excommunicated, you are still counted as a Catholic. Why would you allow them to regard you as even provisionally Catholic? What are you afraid of? Do you still have doubts about believing in God and are keeping your options open in case you want to return to the Church?
If you are an atheist who was once a Catholic, you should consider having yourself excommunicated. There are few more definitive and public steps you can take on behalf of the rejection of religion. Unless and until you are excommunicated, you are still counted as a Catholic. Why would you allow them to regard you as even provisionally Catholic? What are you afraid of? Do you still have doubts about believing in God and are keeping your options open in case you want to return to the Church?
How to Counter Gideon Bible in Hotels & Schools
The Gideons International distribute Bibles all over the world. They don't do this to educate people about the Bible or even to provide Bibles to those who otherwise can't afford to purchase one themselves. The purpose of the Gideons is, in their own words, to 'win men, women, boys and girls to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.' They exist solely to evangelize Christianity and convert people to Christianity. You can take a stand against the Gideons when they actions break the law.
The Gideons International distribute Bibles all over the world. They don't do this to educate people about the Bible or even to provide Bibles to those who otherwise can't afford to purchase one themselves. The purpose of the Gideons is, in their own words, to 'win men, women, boys and girls to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.' They exist solely to evangelize Christianity and convert people to Christianity. You can take a stand against the Gideons when they actions break the law.
Atheists Should Distribute Freethought, Atheist Tracts
A popular means used by religious believers, and Christians in particular, to spread their ideas is the ubiquitous religious tract. Tracts are so common and have spread so far that people tend to overlook them and forget they are there. This is unfortunate because I believe that it causes atheists to also overlook the impact atheist tracts might have. Religious organizations and churches are not the only ones who can benefit from short pamphlets focusing on particular issues.
A popular means used by religious believers, and Christians in particular, to spread their ideas is the ubiquitous religious tract. Tracts are so common and have spread so far that people tend to overlook them and forget they are there. This is unfortunate because I believe that it causes atheists to also overlook the impact atheist tracts might have. Religious organizations and churches are not the only ones who can benefit from short pamphlets focusing on particular issues.
Monitoring Local Media for Activism
Newspapers may be having problems because of falling advertising revenue, but many people continue to get their news from local newspapers, radio, and television. It's easy to get so involved in the online world that one ignores local, traditional media but that is a mistake. If you want to be a local activist on behalf of atheism, secularism, and science, you must pay attention to local news sources which play such a large role in defining what your neighbors know and the opinions they form.
Newspapers may be having problems because of falling advertising revenue, but many people continue to get their news from local newspapers, radio, and television. It's easy to get so involved in the online world that one ignores local, traditional media but that is a mistake. If you want to be a local activist on behalf of atheism, secularism, and science, you must pay attention to local news sources which play such a large role in defining what your neighbors know and the opinions they form.
Using BCE & CE, not BC & AD, as Dating Conventions
There is a trend among scholars towards using BCE and CE as year markers rather than BC and AD. As abbreviations for Before the Common Era and Common Era, they do not specifically privilege Christianity; instead, they simply make reference to the fact that we are living in an era shared in common between Christians and other religions - though Christianity and Judaism are the two religions usually in mind. Some regard this as anti-Christian or an atheist conspiracy against Christianity.
There is a trend among scholars towards using BCE and CE as year markers rather than BC and AD. As abbreviations for Before the Common Era and Common Era, they do not specifically privilege Christianity; instead, they simply make reference to the fact that we are living in an era shared in common between Christians and other religions - though Christianity and Judaism are the two religions usually in mind. Some regard this as anti-Christian or an atheist conspiracy against Christianity.
Get Atheist Books in the Public Library
If you enjoy some of the books written by prominent atheists, haven't you also wished that more people could be encouraged to read them as well? You probably aren't rich enough to buy a thousand copies to distribute to homes around your community, but you can achieve some of the same effect by ensuring that copies are available in your local public libraries. Public libraries continue to be an important source of books and information for many in America - and you can help.
If you enjoy some of the books written by prominent atheists, haven't you also wished that more people could be encouraged to read them as well? You probably aren't rich enough to buy a thousand copies to distribute to homes around your community, but you can achieve some of the same effect by ensuring that copies are available in your local public libraries. Public libraries continue to be an important source of books and information for many in America - and you can help.
Affirming vs. Swearing Oaths in Court
Court scenes in American movies, television, and books typically show people swearing an oath to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Usually they swear an oath "to God" and with a hand on the Bible. Such scenes are so common that most people seem to assume that it's required, but it's not. You have a right to just "affirm" that you will tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. No gods, Bibles, or anything else religious need to be involved.
Court scenes in American movies, television, and books typically show people swearing an oath to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Usually they swear an oath "to God" and with a hand on the Bible. Such scenes are so common that most people seem to assume that it's required, but it's not. You have a right to just "affirm" that you will tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. No gods, Bibles, or anything else religious need to be involved.
Voting in Church Polling Stations - Atheist Responses to Voting in Churches
Many communities in America set up polling stations in churches instead of fire halls, town halls, libraries, schools, or other neutral sites. Some Christians don't understand why using their religious institutions for voting in secular, civil elections would be a problem for non-Christians or even other Christians. If their church is the center of their social and community life, why shouldn't it be for others as well? Such institutional mixing of religion and government is unacceptable.
Many communities in America set up polling stations in churches instead of fire halls, town halls, libraries, schools, or other neutral sites. Some Christians don't understand why using their religious institutions for voting in secular, civil elections would be a problem for non-Christians or even other Christians. If their church is the center of their social and community life, why shouldn't it be for others as well? Such institutional mixing of religion and government is unacceptable.
Atheists & Roadside Memorials - Atheist Responses to Roadside Memorial Crosses
It's common to see roadside memorials where people have died in car accidents. These memorials are usually private and not technically permitted - when the state cleans up along the roads, they should take down the memorials. Some would like the see such memorials protected, even if they are large and send a religious message. Are you ever bothered by the increasing number of memorial crosses littering America's roadsides? If so, you can and should do something.
It's common to see roadside memorials where people have died in car accidents. These memorials are usually private and not technically permitted - when the state cleans up along the roads, they should take down the memorials. Some would like the see such memorials protected, even if they are large and send a religious message. Are you ever bothered by the increasing number of memorial crosses littering America's roadsides? If so, you can and should do something.
Religious Solicitation at Work - Dealing with Religious Solicitation at Work
It's not unusual in America for people to solicit colleagues at work for money for charities. Sometimes this takes the form of fund raisers (like Girl Scout cookies) and sometimes it takes the form of outright donations. The pressure to give is enough of a problem regardless of the context, but this becomes worse if you are pressured to donate to a religious charity. There are risks to taking a stand, but opposing this kind of behavior can be important and provide a basis for activism.
It's not unusual in America for people to solicit colleagues at work for money for charities. Sometimes this takes the form of fund raisers (like Girl Scout cookies) and sometimes it takes the form of outright donations. The pressure to give is enough of a problem regardless of the context, but this becomes worse if you are pressured to donate to a religious charity. There are risks to taking a stand, but opposing this kind of behavior can be important and provide a basis for activism.
How to Blog More Effectively About Atheism, Freethought
Not every blog is created equal and there are strategies you can use which will improve the quality of what you write, attracting more readers and attention to your ideas. This advice focuses on blogging about atheism, but the key to writing a better blog about atheism or anything else may simply be to avoid doing the same things everyone else does.
Not every blog is created equal and there are strategies you can use which will improve the quality of what you write, attracting more readers and attention to your ideas. This advice focuses on blogging about atheism, but the key to writing a better blog about atheism or anything else may simply be to avoid doing the same things everyone else does.
Godless in Society: How Can a Godless Person Make a Difference?
Godless people are atheists, skeptics, agnostics, freethinkers, and irreligious nonbelievers. In a society as soaked in religion and pop spirituality as America, godless people feel like outsiders in a variety of ways. They aren't included in public calls to prayer and devotion, in the ever increasing presence of religion in the public square, or in the constant god-talk which believers may engage in. Is there anything the godless can do to demonstrate that they exist and matter?
Godless people are atheists, skeptics, agnostics, freethinkers, and irreligious nonbelievers. In a society as soaked in religion and pop spirituality as America, godless people feel like outsiders in a variety of ways. They aren't included in public calls to prayer and devotion, in the ever increasing presence of religion in the public square, or in the constant god-talk which believers may engage in. Is there anything the godless can do to demonstrate that they exist and matter?
Atheist Activism: Write Letters to the Editor & Reach Out to People in your Community
One of the few remaining forums for public opinion, accessible to nearly anyone and read by so many, is the letters to the editors page in newspapers. Most papers have one and you should take advantage of them if you are looking for a way to publicize a godless, secular, humanist, atheist perspective. Make it clear that your perspective is godless and respectable. Write often; your name may be remembered and your letters may rise to the top when controversial issues are discussed.
One of the few remaining forums for public opinion, accessible to nearly anyone and read by so many, is the letters to the editors page in newspapers. Most papers have one and you should take advantage of them if you are looking for a way to publicize a godless, secular, humanist, atheist perspective. Make it clear that your perspective is godless and respectable. Write often; your name may be remembered and your letters may rise to the top when controversial issues are discussed.
How Can I Help? Ways Readers can Contribute to the Agnosticism / Atheism Site
Every so often I get an email from someone saying how much they like the site and wondering if there is anything they can do to help with it. I'm sure that there are many more who feel the same way but who don't write. Fortunately, there are several things that you, the readers, can do to help the site grow. All are very easy and most don't require you to do anything very different from what you're doing right now! All of these suggestions can also be applied to other sites you like.
Every so often I get an email from someone saying how much they like the site and wondering if there is anything they can do to help with it. I'm sure that there are many more who feel the same way but who don't write. Fortunately, there are several things that you, the readers, can do to help the site grow. All are very easy and most don't require you to do anything very different from what you're doing right now! All of these suggestions can also be applied to other sites you like.