RE: The Image Problem With Atheism in America
August 1, 2014 at 6:01 am
(This post was last modified: August 1, 2014 at 6:02 am by Bad Wolf.)
(August 1, 2014 at 2:37 am)Polaris Wrote: http://www.washingtonpost.com/posteveryt...-atheists/
Faith-based institutions provide resources to these poor and working-class families. They also fight racial discrimination, offer a foundation for community organizing and create access to social welfare, professional networks and educational resources. These are essential issues, and atheists of color often find themselves allied in these missions.
They also systematically hide pedophiles from justice, condemn homosexuality and bomb planed parenthood clinics.
(August 1, 2014 at 2:37 am)Polaris Wrote: White atheists have a markedly different agenda....White organizations go to battle over church/state separation and creationism in schools. They largely ignore the fact that black nonbelievers face a racial and gender divide....But when we look to atheist and humanist organizations for solidarity on these issues, there is a staggering lack of interest...
OK firstly, I didn't even need to click the link to know this was written by a black guy/girl. 'White organizations' really?
I don't think the lack of interest for the racial and gender divide from atheist groups is staggering. Its exactly what you would expect seeing as atheism has nothing to do with these things. There are plenty of other organizations that campaign for equality and against discrimination. Atheist groups don't want to waste their time campaigning for something that a lot of other groups are. They prioritise and so choose church/state separation issues because they are the only group who are actually going to fight against it. If there weren't any relevant issues at hand for an atheist group to address, i'm sure they would turn their sights to issues of race and gender.
(August 1, 2014 at 2:37 am)Polaris Wrote: Ultimately, if people of color don’t see atheists and humanists stepping up on issues that directly affect their communities, atheists proselytizing about the evils of organized religion will be dismissed as empty paternalism.
Atheists and humanists are different things. One does not come hand in hand with the other.
(August 1, 2014 at 2:37 am)Polaris Wrote: Thoughts? This has been an issue for many years where the outspoken atheists in America are seemingly dominated by mainly middle-class, white men who are are often seen as self-serving by minority atheists. I have even read articles by minority atheists that view these white atheists as closet white supremacists and want absolutely nothing to do with them. Agnostic Atheist, But Not Interested In White Supremacist Atheism
And I have read articles by minority 'scientists' who believe the pyramids in Egypt are landing platforms for spaceships.
'The more I learn about people the more I like my dog'- Mark Twain
'You can have all the faith you want in spirits, and the afterlife, and heaven and hell, but when it comes to this world, don't be an idiot. Cause you can tell me you put your faith in God to put you through the day, but when it comes time to cross the road, I know you look both ways.' - Dr House
“Young earth creationism is essentially the position that all of modern science, 90% of living scientists and 98% of living biologists, all major university biology departments, every major science journal, the American Academy of Sciences, and every major science organization in the world, are all wrong regarding the origins and development of life….but one particular tribe of uneducated, bronze aged, goat herders got it exactly right.” - Chuck Easttom
"If my good friend Doctor Gasparri speaks badly of my mother, he can expect to get punched.....You cannot provoke. You cannot insult the faith of others. You cannot make fun of the faith of others. There is a limit." - Pope Francis on freedom of speech
'You can have all the faith you want in spirits, and the afterlife, and heaven and hell, but when it comes to this world, don't be an idiot. Cause you can tell me you put your faith in God to put you through the day, but when it comes time to cross the road, I know you look both ways.' - Dr House
“Young earth creationism is essentially the position that all of modern science, 90% of living scientists and 98% of living biologists, all major university biology departments, every major science journal, the American Academy of Sciences, and every major science organization in the world, are all wrong regarding the origins and development of life….but one particular tribe of uneducated, bronze aged, goat herders got it exactly right.” - Chuck Easttom
"If my good friend Doctor Gasparri speaks badly of my mother, he can expect to get punched.....You cannot provoke. You cannot insult the faith of others. You cannot make fun of the faith of others. There is a limit." - Pope Francis on freedom of speech
