From: "Michael M. Butler" <butler@comp-lib.org>>
>
> Eugene Leitl wrote:
> >
> > On Fri, 21 Sep 2001, Michael M. Butler wrote:
> >
> > > I consciously adopt the language of my audience. At the end of a
> > > recent post, I mentioned God even though I'm an agnostic. Was the rest
> > > of the content valuable, or rendered valueless?
> >
> > The latter.
>
> I do not consider the expression "God bless America" inscrutable.
> People who use it _are_ deserving of close inspection. Some are OK.
> It is a trope. There is a limit on everyone's attention. Choose wisely.
>
> The trick is to make no unnecessary enemies. If it is a foregone
> conclusion that anyone who believes in a supreme being is an enemy,
> you have made 80% of the world your enemy. I repeat, choose wisely.
Believers often render unbelievers (real people) to the status of
"invisible," all the while lending reality to the "invisible." Don't ask.
Nontheists do not HAVE to make "enemies" of believers - this is, after all,
a pluralistic society. And believers need to "understand" that just as
there are Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, etc., there are nontheists in their
midst, too. Believers also need to understand that we do not just have
freedom of religion, but freedom from religion, as well. Was it Clinton(?)
who not too long ago came up with the brilliant quote along the lines of,
"Just because we have freedom of religion doesn't mean we have freedom from
religion?" Sheeesh.
Nontheists need to come out of the closet. That way, I won't have to face
GROWN people telling me, "Wow, I've never met an atheist before," or "Gee,
but you're too nice to be an atheist." On a more serious note, it may may
help our society get up to scientific speed, as well, to have a more vocal
nontheistic presence (although this may be difficult to calculate) Think
about all the good potential scientists and rational thinkers among the
young - and think about how many of them are lost to us forever because they
just can't see through the thick fog of religiosity. Certainly, some kids
find their way out. But why make it so difficult, by giving the "default"
position to the religious viewpoint? Children need more nontheistic "role
models."
Olga
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