Atheism For Dummies (For Dummies (Religion & Spirituality)) (68 page)

It may seem ironic that creating a better culture and community for younger nontheists makes it easier for them to decline to join it, but that’s the way cultural movements work. Ask a feminist who fought for better treatment of women through the 1960s and ’70s, only to have her own daughter grow up so far removed from the struggle that she takes the progress for granted and asks her mom, “Why is it
always
about gender with you?” Same with racial progress, sexual orientation, and countless others. Maddening as it is to the veterans of each movement, it’s actually a sign of progress when our kids can roll their eyes at us.

Answering the Question: “Why Are Atheists So Angry?”

Things are much better for atheists than they were a while ago. If that’s the case, why are atheists so angry? I hear this question quite a bit. But despite high-profile court cases and protests when religion pokes its nose where it shouldn’t be, not all atheists are angry.

Even those atheists who are (rightfully) angry about discrimination and ignorance aren’t angry most of the time. Greta Christina, one of the great atheist bloggers and the main source for this section, notes that she’s usually quite cheerful, that her life is full of joy and pleasure, and that she’s conscious of how fortunate she is. Same with me and with most atheists I know.

Greta continues by saying that some things are indeed worth being angry about, and that anger over injustice and mistreatment of anyone is valid, moral, useful, and necessary. Right again. You and I may or may not agree about what counts as injustice, but I’m sure you’ll agree that injustice is worth getting angry about.

To illustrate this, allow me to describe some issues around the attacks of September 11, 2001, a day that galvanized the freethought movement in several ways. The attacks were every bit as heartbreaking and terrifying for atheists as for religious people. But a few elements added a unique pinch to the pain and rage felt by those who don’t believe in God.

Try to put yourself in the shoes of a nonbeliever — someone who is dedicated to being a good, honest, productive person, who was equally devastated by that terrible day, but who doesn’t believe in God. From that perspective, consider the following:

Religious extremism played an essential role in the motivation and the execution of the attack.

The media hastily downplayed the role of religion.

The response to a religiously motivated attack was a national call for prayer.

The president claimed that he was doing God’s will by launching two wars in response, including one on a country with no connection to the attack.

Prominent televangelist Jerry Falwell said the attack was God’s wrath for those who tried to “secularize America,” including feminists, gays and lesbians, and organizations working to secure the constitutional rights of all Americans.

The speeches and ceremonies commemorating the tragedy included religious language and symbols — including a Christian “cross” from the wreckage — without ever acknowledging that hundreds of those who died were nonreligious.

Some subsequently used the tragedy to stir up hatred toward Muslims generally, including the controversy over a proposed, entirely peaceful Islamic community center several blocks away from the site.

For some time, patriotism and Christian religious belief became intertwined like never before.

Even as I write that list, I’m tugged between emotions that are very common for atheists. First, the pain and outrage I felt all those years ago well back into my heart, including the parts that colored it differently for me as a nonbeliever. But the second major emotion is a feeling that I ought to
pull back,
that I shouldn’t let my anger show. Then I remember that there are things to be angry about, and indifference in the face of injustice can be frankly immoral.

Here’s a greatly abbreviated list of other things that bring out the hurt and anger of many atheists:

Several polls show that atheists, despite an extremely low incidence of violence and incarceration (see the nearby sidebar), are the most mistrusted minority in the United States. Most people say they would rather have just about anyone else dating their daughter or serving as President.

Atheists routinely and without justification are accused of being immoral
because
they aren’t believers in any gods (See
Chapter 15
for more on atheism and morality)