Atheists Beware
It probably won’t come as a great surprise to discover that I’m an atheist, and am all in favour of atheists as a group standing against the bombardment of religiosity that surrounds us.
However, I spy on the horizon a worrying shift within the, can we call it an “atheist movement”, that smacks of proselytising. As a “no-believer” I have no more right to attempt to convert people of faith, than they have to convert me.
Once, as a group, we start saying “you need to be shown the error of your ways for your own good” we become no better than the missionaries who have forced religions of various flavours on previously happy populations.
Atheists beware – we’re in danger of becoming “more rational than thou”.
I’d argue that there are plenty of atheists who have been “more rational than thou” for a long time now. It is human nature to seek out validation of our beliefs and one way some folks accomplish that is by convincing other people to adopt their beliefs (or lack of beliefs as the case may be). Is an ad on a bus telling folks that there probably isn’t a God so they should stop worrying and enjoy their lives a form of proselytizing? I suppose it could be considered such, but, compared to some forms of proselytizing I’ve come across, it’s a fairly mild form.
While I agree there isn’t necessarily a right to try and convert other people, folks do have a right to free speech, at least in America in most cases. I don’t believe the atheist bus ads will convert many, if any, people to atheism, but I’d be lying if I didn’t say that they make a nice change from the constant bombardment of religious messages. Feeling like you belong is yet another aspect of human nature after all. I’d also be lying if I didn’t admit that any minor thing that gets the Religious Right’s panties all in a bunch didn’t please me to no end.
There is always the possibility that the folks who are proselytizing may become needlessly shrill and when they do they should be called on it, but overall I don’t think it does any great harm. We’re already the most despised group on the planet as it is so it’s hard to imagine how other people’s opinions of us could get any worse.
Thanks for your comments Les, excellent point about the need for validation – I hadn’t thought of it in those terms before.
Apologies if it read as though I were talking about the Atheist Bus campaign – far from it, I’m a big supporter (this may be the downside of writing posts in the small hours of the morning!)
The post was actually inspired by this video, I’m a fan of Professor Dawkins, but there are moments in the conversation where a certain degree of “we need to save them from themselves” creeps in.
That said there are also some excellent points in the video, and it’s well worth a watch to see real intelligence in action.
I’ve also seen a degree of proselytism in various forums and blog-comment discussions – it’s this that concerns me to a degree.
Hope I’ve cleared up some confusion and thanks for taking the time to comment.
Thanks for the message via Twitter…
For what it’s worth, yes, I do think there is a bit of a danger of that – especially among the ‘all religious folks are just irrational, hence I’m an atheist’ crowd.
Probably the reason why the Atheist Bus Campaign worked was because it was not like that. It was chirpy, fun and optimistic, and it asked questions, it was not categoric or preaching in its tone. It was about saying I’m an atheist and I am OK with that – it was never the point to convert religious folks to atheism, more to emphasise that not being religious is fine and normal.
I’d argue that we aren’t proselytizing enough. It’s no longer a case of live and let live, as long as the Religious Right continues to function at its current level of power, scientific and social progress in many areas will cease to exist. (Obvious examples: stem cell research & gay marriage) They aren’t concerned with improving life on Earth, their thoughts are on the next, fairy tale, level of existence. The only way to break through that barrier is to eat away at their base and start bringing folks over to our side.
That’s why I have to adhere to the Bertrand Russell Agnostic school of thought. I can not pretend to know for a fact that there isn’t a deity out there, but willing to guess there isn’t. Still can’t be so arrogant as to know the answer.
Thankfully here in NZ religious right and other such notions are very much in the minority, although getting foothold in the Polynesian communities.