One Nation Under God: Are we free to not believe?
Just west of the University of Texas tower, students are ducking fliers like bullets on their way to class. Representatives of political causes and organizations stand along the edges of the gardens the University constructed to deter protests and riots (West Mall is the so-called "Free Speech Zone"). They man booths and more often than not hand out paper leaflets promoting ideas and memberships to different groups. On any given day, an unsuspecting passerby may be asked to donate to breast cancer research, rethink Roe v. Wade, and join a student organization.
It's not uncommon for Christians, many not enrolled at UT, to take advantage of the progressive public university spirit toward the sharing of ideas (despite the overbearing, strategically placed plants) and precede to evangelize folks in West Mall. And because we live in America, they have the right to save the masses from damnation. Or try to.
I don't blame them for exercising that right either. College students are at risk of developing dangerous non-Christian beliefs, as they are taught to think critically about the universe, rather than blindly follow irrational dogmas. Hey, if I were a Christian fanatic, I'd definitely set up shop at institutions of higher learning; universities are breeding grounds for hell-bound heathens -- professors are determined to reverse the brainwashing we young scholars endured growing up.
When I see Christians reaching out to students who are trying to make it to class on time, they usually have a very calm, peaceful look on their face, as if to say: "hey, I've got the secret to happiness."
A little arrogant, if you ask me. But the thing is, those of us who aren't Christian just smile right back at these religious activists and go on with our day. Sometimes we might even take a flier just for shits and giggles. Or maybe they're giving out candy to go with the flier, so we figure, why not? Eating candy won't turn me into a Christian.
It's all very quaint.
I wonder what would happen if I made fliers promoting a non belief. What if I was to make a flier that said "religion is a delusion" or "Jesus will not answer your prayers" or "God is imaginary"? What kind of reaction would I get? Would people be afraid to take my fliers? Would they give me dirty looks? Would they be offended? I have a slight suspicion I would get a cold reception at West Mall... even though Austin and UT are about as liberal and secular as Texas gets. Why do I think this? Well, surprisingly, Facebook turned up fewer than 100 declared atheists at UT! Truth is, though, I haven't run this experiment, so I don't know for sure what would happen.
What we do collectively know for sure is that the majority of Americans are Christian and atheists have a tiny voice in this country. In fact, when atheists do speak up, they are frequently blasted by enraged Christians and even CNN. Think about it... if you're a religious or racial minority here in the States, you probably haven't been overtly called an unpatriotic non-citizen by a U.S. president. But atheists sure have! This is probably because they are the most mistrusted minority in America:
American's increasing acceptance of religious diversity doesn’t extend to those who don't believe in a god, according to a national survey by researchers in the University of Minnesota’s department of sociology.From a telephone sampling of more than 2,000 households, university researchers found that Americans rate atheists below Muslims, recent immigrants, gays and lesbians and other minority groups in "sharing their vision of American society." Atheists are also the minority group most Americans are least willing to allow their children to marry.
Kind of interesting, then, that Christians are overrepresented in the prison system and atheists are underrepresented. But it's not facts about atheists that scare people... it's the ideas atheists have.
The atheist message is "think," not "YOU'RE GOING TO HELL!" So why are the atheists hated in this nation? What is so threatening about a non belief? You don't even have to capitalize the word 'atheist!' So how scary can an atheist be really?
I guess such "non belief" comes from the Tree of Knowledge, and the Bible says we shouldn't eat from that Tree. Well, I'm thinking maybe we should band together and tell people that if they don't start chomping down on some knowledge-ridden apples, they're all going to spread infectious ignorance and blow each other up.
But what do I know at the end of the day? I don't believe in anything.
11 comments:
Huh, I never thought of it like that. I don't much believe in anything ever, but I guess that's as much of a statement as believing in Jesus!
-m
Ooh, we haven't talked religion in a long time.
I think the problem society has with "atheists" today is that they deny the existence of any deity therefore putting down all religions. And, although it's hard to find in our government or anywhere, we were originally founded by a group escaping religious persecution. I would say most people who don't worship any particular religions label themselves as skeptics or agnostic to avoid the stereotype. You said Christians have the reputation of a "You're going to hell" mindset, and I think they perceive atheism's to be "You're not going to heaven," which would scare or anger anyone that believes they are. So, I think if the Atheist population and the Christian population could realize that whatever your religious beliefs, the way to spread the word is not to bombard stressed out college students as they rush to class. Let's all just chill out and be friends.
Also, I would call those "anti-beliefs" rather than "non-beliefs."
:)
I don't think I'm talking about anti-beliefs at all. I have lots of beliefs. I believe, for one, that it is silly to follow something that not only has no scientific evidence, but also *contradicts* science. I believe religion is an institution. I believe if we all accepted that there is a big unknown, rather than try to solve mysteries with ancient religions that go against human reason, we'd all be better off.
I don't think what I've just said should be any more offensive than saying "I'm Muslim" or "I'm Christian." :P But yes, I'd agree that passing out fliers is a little obnoxious.
Atheists say "no one knows." Religious people are the ones who claim to know how things happened and ultimately, when it comes down to it, exclude other groups from heaven/etc. :P
I meant to put "potentially dangerous" before institution.
What I meant by "anti-beliefs" was that they directly contradict other religions, not that they were non-existent. I would think non-beliefs would be the belief in nothing, which is clearly not the case.
And the definition of Atheism, as I understand it, is the belief that all other religions are wrong (incorrect, that is). I think Agnostics are the ones who say "no one knows." You can double check that one though.
That's why I would set apart Atheism from all other religions, because it's a sort of anti-religion. It's not even the belief in nothing, but the belief against all other beliefs. I think that's why the general public finds it offensive.
And just for the record, this is me arguing for fun, not being offended.
And...are you speaking of Creationism only? Or does Christianity go against all science? And really, couldn't God have flipped the switch for the Big Bang?
:)
Hehe, oh, I know. You're always fun to argue with. You're right -- atheism does say the modern-day religions are wrong, in that they contradict scientific evidence.
And yes, God could've started the Big Bang... but there's much more beef a scientist could have with Christianity/the Bible than just that... MUCH more. It's so overwhelming (the historical inaccuracies/internal contradictions/unscientific and incorrect assumptions), in fact, that a scientist can *only* be a Christian through faith, not logic, as the only way the Bible and Christianity actually *makes sense* is through the lens of a nonbeliever. In other words, the historical inaccuracies/internal contradictions/unscientific and incorrect assumptions can be explained by a scientist and only creatively/illogically rationalized or at worst, deemed unimportant or beside the point or somehow "symbolic," by Christians.
But atheists say the religions are wrong *by saying* "no one knows." We say no, there's no evidence Jesus died on the cross for our sins. But we also say "no one knows beyond what we have scientific evidence for." As we get more evidence, our beliefs change and improve. Religions claim to know beyond any evidence (and often against), based on faith alone. (That's what I meant really.)
When I say religion fundamentally contradicts science, I mean to say that evidence actually points to there being only simpler things before us. Just because we don't understand how it all started (before evolution got underway, etc) doesn't mean there's a fatherly figure sitting on a cloud up there who is in our image and thinks like us (but of course is smarter). Now, obviously, Christianity is a lot more complicated and sophisticated than that. But I was just making a point.
Additionally... you could say a Christian is almost an atheist. Christians, at least those that are truly Christian, believe all the other religions to be wrong. They just have one more god than atheists.
check this out. Its Tom Robbins on religion:http://www.sheldondrake.com/TRobbins_religion.html
-kyle
...that URL ends religion.html
sorry
That's a way cool read.
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