Post by Drew on Oct 3, 2017 18:26:27 GMT -8
Greetings all,
I don't mean atheism might not be correct, that's another issue, I mean its a failure in capturing its fair share in the market place of ideas. The following is about atheism in the USA.
According to the Pew Research Center in a 2014 survey, self-identified "atheists" make up 3.1% of the US population, even though 9% of Americans agreed with the statement "Do not believe in God" while 2% agreed with the statement "Do not know if they believe in God".[2] According to the 2014 General Sociological Survey, the number of atheists and agnostics in the U.S. has remained relatively flat in the past 23 years, although it is difficult to accurately measure due to the stigma of disbelief. In 1991, only 2% identified as atheist, and 4% identified as agnostic. In 2014, only 3.1% identified as atheists, and 5% identified as agnostics.
This is startling because most atheists I have personally talked to are absolutely convinced they are right. They rarely state that atheism is a belief, they treat is as a fact that God doesn't exist yet seem unable to effectively communicate that fact. They blame the recipients of the message rather than examine their own messaging. Interestingly enough the USA has become increasingly more secular during this same time so it can't be solely to religion. Religious belief and organized churches are taking a hit in attendance but it hasn't benefited atheism.
I don't buy into the idea the USA is indoctrinated into religious belief. Think back 40 years ago gay people were heavily stigmatized as a sexual aberration and generally held in disdain or mockery. Today the stigma is nearly erased (I won't say there is no bias) and informing people you are gay isn't a big deal. If religious indoctrination were to blame for atheism's small footprint public opinion wouldn't have changed so much regarding homosexuality.
So what gives? I don't want to use a complete broad brush so these are generalities only.
1. Some atheists don't look at their lack of belief or disbelief as a movement and could care less if more people become atheists. I have seen some atheists express the desire for more to come into the fold so to speak.
2. Some atheists enjoy the notoriety of declaring themselves atheists and like being part of a small group that goes contrary to the majority. They like being outsiders and even outcasts to some degree.
3. Some atheists have an inner seething and hatred of theists in general but in religious people in particular. They see atheism as an opportunity to bash and shame those who do believe (especially for religious reasons) in the existence of God.
4. The public view of atheism is one of removing religious symbols, suing schools, seeking an injunction against religious displays and wishing Christmas would go away.
5. Atheism over the past 15 years or so has been re-defined as a lack of belief in God rather than a disbelief. Many atheists have adapted this definition as a debating tactic to make their adversary defend their claim. What they fail to see is if they don't have a claim to make, they don't have a claim to advance. They're not asking people to believe in something, they're asking folks to give up a belief, to believe in nothing.
In the article in Wikipedia cited above it stated people who don't believe in God prefer to call themselves agnostic because atheist is more antagonistic and they don't want to be associated with other atheists. Even though I'm a theist I'm going to give advice on how atheists could change their fortunes (though I'm supremely confident they won't heed me).
1. Drop the axiom there is no evidence or reason people believe we owe our existence to a Creator. People aren't going to accept the idea they believe in something for no reason when atheists offer no better explanation for why we exist or how a universe came into existence. Atheists scoff at the case I've made for theism yet its the reason most theists (in addition to religious upbringing) haven't rejected the belief we owe our existence to a Creator. Its not because people can't reject a belief in God or god(s). How many people believe in Zeus or Odin or Thor or the god of rain, the fertility god or earthquake god? How many myths and beliefs have people abandoned over the years? Lets give credit to science that has enlightened us to the nature around us. If the day comes to light that science discovers the answers to the big ticket questions such as how did the universe come into existence? What if anything caused the laws of physics? What caused time to exist? Why did the conditions obtain for life and humans to exist? There is some truth to saying some believe in the existence of God due to gaps in our knowledge. Why isn't that a legitimate reason to disbelieve or lack belief in atheism? There better explanation becomes we don't know why we exist we just know it wasn't God somehow or another.
2. Drop the hatred of theists. Since most people who aren't atheists are theists those are the people you want to reach. Calling them morons, imbeciles and idiots isn't a winning strategy. Telling them they believe for no reason and are suckers isn't going to endear anyone to your message.
3. Promote belief in naturalism and the awe of nature in general and in science. Cite the facts in favor of your belief and share why you think we owe our existence to such causes.
More soon
I don't mean atheism might not be correct, that's another issue, I mean its a failure in capturing its fair share in the market place of ideas. The following is about atheism in the USA.
According to the Pew Research Center in a 2014 survey, self-identified "atheists" make up 3.1% of the US population, even though 9% of Americans agreed with the statement "Do not believe in God" while 2% agreed with the statement "Do not know if they believe in God".[2] According to the 2014 General Sociological Survey, the number of atheists and agnostics in the U.S. has remained relatively flat in the past 23 years, although it is difficult to accurately measure due to the stigma of disbelief. In 1991, only 2% identified as atheist, and 4% identified as agnostic. In 2014, only 3.1% identified as atheists, and 5% identified as agnostics.
This is startling because most atheists I have personally talked to are absolutely convinced they are right. They rarely state that atheism is a belief, they treat is as a fact that God doesn't exist yet seem unable to effectively communicate that fact. They blame the recipients of the message rather than examine their own messaging. Interestingly enough the USA has become increasingly more secular during this same time so it can't be solely to religion. Religious belief and organized churches are taking a hit in attendance but it hasn't benefited atheism.
I don't buy into the idea the USA is indoctrinated into religious belief. Think back 40 years ago gay people were heavily stigmatized as a sexual aberration and generally held in disdain or mockery. Today the stigma is nearly erased (I won't say there is no bias) and informing people you are gay isn't a big deal. If religious indoctrination were to blame for atheism's small footprint public opinion wouldn't have changed so much regarding homosexuality.
So what gives? I don't want to use a complete broad brush so these are generalities only.
1. Some atheists don't look at their lack of belief or disbelief as a movement and could care less if more people become atheists. I have seen some atheists express the desire for more to come into the fold so to speak.
2. Some atheists enjoy the notoriety of declaring themselves atheists and like being part of a small group that goes contrary to the majority. They like being outsiders and even outcasts to some degree.
3. Some atheists have an inner seething and hatred of theists in general but in religious people in particular. They see atheism as an opportunity to bash and shame those who do believe (especially for religious reasons) in the existence of God.
4. The public view of atheism is one of removing religious symbols, suing schools, seeking an injunction against religious displays and wishing Christmas would go away.
5. Atheism over the past 15 years or so has been re-defined as a lack of belief in God rather than a disbelief. Many atheists have adapted this definition as a debating tactic to make their adversary defend their claim. What they fail to see is if they don't have a claim to make, they don't have a claim to advance. They're not asking people to believe in something, they're asking folks to give up a belief, to believe in nothing.
In the article in Wikipedia cited above it stated people who don't believe in God prefer to call themselves agnostic because atheist is more antagonistic and they don't want to be associated with other atheists. Even though I'm a theist I'm going to give advice on how atheists could change their fortunes (though I'm supremely confident they won't heed me).
1. Drop the axiom there is no evidence or reason people believe we owe our existence to a Creator. People aren't going to accept the idea they believe in something for no reason when atheists offer no better explanation for why we exist or how a universe came into existence. Atheists scoff at the case I've made for theism yet its the reason most theists (in addition to religious upbringing) haven't rejected the belief we owe our existence to a Creator. Its not because people can't reject a belief in God or god(s). How many people believe in Zeus or Odin or Thor or the god of rain, the fertility god or earthquake god? How many myths and beliefs have people abandoned over the years? Lets give credit to science that has enlightened us to the nature around us. If the day comes to light that science discovers the answers to the big ticket questions such as how did the universe come into existence? What if anything caused the laws of physics? What caused time to exist? Why did the conditions obtain for life and humans to exist? There is some truth to saying some believe in the existence of God due to gaps in our knowledge. Why isn't that a legitimate reason to disbelieve or lack belief in atheism? There better explanation becomes we don't know why we exist we just know it wasn't God somehow or another.
2. Drop the hatred of theists. Since most people who aren't atheists are theists those are the people you want to reach. Calling them morons, imbeciles and idiots isn't a winning strategy. Telling them they believe for no reason and are suckers isn't going to endear anyone to your message.
3. Promote belief in naturalism and the awe of nature in general and in science. Cite the facts in favor of your belief and share why you think we owe our existence to such causes.
More soon
