American Heathen®

My co-host Amie Quinn has offered up another interestingly eye-opening tidbit.  And, how true it is!

In the fury of the fight against religious bigotry I find myself perplexed sometimes.  A long time ago I came across an article that threw me for a loop.  The article was about a University of Minnesota study that looked at bigotry and prejudice against Atheists in America.  Recently, I answered an email from someone  my publicist had contacted about being a guest on my show.  The gentleman in question had a bone to pick with me with regard to an editorial piece I had done on the show some time ago titled “Death To Atheists?”  You can find the written version here and the audio version here.  Much to the chagrin of my publicist, Amber (and rightfully so), I answered the email without checking with her first.  Besides being a bad move on my part because I truly appreciate Amber and what she does, I found myself defending my editorial position against a fellow Atheist.  Anyway… The debate we are having has prompted me to review a critical part of my defense and, at the same time, caused me to marvel in a state of reflective perplexity at the seriousness of bigotry foisted upon Atheism and the Atheist community.  The University of Minnesota study truly underlines my position that the demonization of Atheists has the potential to breed acts of violence from threats of violence.  If, as the study states “Every group except atheists is being shown much greater tolerance and acceptance than 30 years ago. “, and the  “…analysis shows that attitudes about atheists have not followed the same historical pattern as that for previously marginalized religious groups. It is possible that the increasing tolerance for religious diversity may have heightened awareness of religion itself as the basis for solidarity in American life and sharpened the boundary between believers and non believers in our collective imagination.” then Atheists may be in for a really bumpy, and even violent ride.

In my email debate with the gentleman mentioned above, I have posited that threats of violence are in fact violence waiting to be unleashed. Given the right set of circumstances, there will be acts of violence against Atheists.   In my “Death To Atheists?” editorial I used a WAG mathematical hypothetical trying to give my audience an idea of just how serious I believe the threat of violence can be.  While the math was a WAG (and my co-host that night agreed it was) the numbers could be realistic.  Unfortunately, I can’t find a study or poll that asks people “Should Atheists be killed?” or “Should Atheists be beaten?” or any other question one may think to ask along the lines of sectarian violence against Atheists.  What’s more, how many christians would even admit truthfully to such thoughts?  Obviously, not every christian in the U.S. wants Atheists dead, but a certain unknown percentage probably do.   Anyway… The whole issue of violence against any group of people comes down to public perception.  If a group’s perceived to be a threat, dangerous, or lower than dirt, religion can easily be used as a justification for violence against that group.  We already see this type of demonization used against abortion doctors, gays, and Muslims.  My position is that, while there isn’t any substantive evidence supporting claims of violence against Atheists in the U.S. (there are anecdotal stories from time to time), how would we ever find out if there was any?  Really.  Some 80-85% of Americans claim to be christian.  How many christians would admit to violent acts against someone they thought or knew to be Atheist?  How many Atheists would prosecute a christian if they were attacked for fear of reprisals from other christians?

When anyone is considered to be lower than dirt, it’s really easy to stomp all over them and then sweep them away.  The question should never be whether violence WILL happen.  It should be WHEN will it happen, and to whom.  Mark my words when I say… It is going to happen, probably already has, and we’ll probably never hear about it. Or will we?

The following was passed on to me by my good friend Chuck.  The author is unknown.

10 - You vigorously deny the existence of thousands of gods claimed by other religions, but feel outraged when someone denies the existence of yours.

9 - You feel insulted and “dehumanized” when scientists say that people evolved from other life forms, but you have no problem with the Biblical claim that we were created from dirt.

8 - You laugh at polytheists, but you have no problem believing in a Triune God.

7 - Your face turns purple when you hear of the “atrocities” attributed to Allah, but you don’t even flinch when hearing about how God/Jehovah slaughtered all the babies of Egypt in   “Exodus” and ordered the elimination of entire ethnic groups in “Joshua” including women, children, and trees!

6 - You laugh at Hindu beliefs that deify humans, and Greek claims about gods sleeping with women, but you have no problem believing that the Holy Spirit impregnated Mary, who then gave birth to a man-god who got killed, came back to life and then ascended into the sky.

5 - You are willing to spend your life looking for little loopholes in the scientifically established age of Earth (few billion years), but you find nothing wrong with believing dates recorded by Bronze Age tribesmen sitting in their tents and guessing that Earth is a few generations old.

4 - You believe that the entire population of this planet with the exception of those who share your beliefs — though excluding those in all rival sects – will spend Eternity in an infinite Hell of Suffering. And yet consider your religion the most “tolerant” and “loving.”

3 - While modern science, history, geology, biology, and physics have failed to convince you otherwise, some idiot rolling around on the floor speaking in “tongues” may be all the evidence you need to “prove” Christianity.

2 - You define 0.01% as a “high success rate” when it comes to answered prayers. You consider that to be evidence that prayer works. And you think that the remaining 99.99% FAILURE was simply the will of God.

1 - You actually know a lot less than many atheists and agnostics do about the Bible, Christianity, and church history – but still call yourself a Christian.