Comments on: The myth of atheists being “less” than religious people http://theangryblackwoman.com/2010/05/18/the-myth-of-atheists-being-lesser-than-religious-people/ Race, Politics, Gender, Sexuality, Anger Mon, 13 Feb 2012 00:10:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: SugarLeigh http://theangryblackwoman.com/2010/05/18/the-myth-of-atheists-being-lesser-than-religious-people/comment-page-1/#comment-52412 SugarLeigh Wed, 02 Jun 2010 19:18:24 +0000 http://theangryblackwoman.com/?p=1460#comment-52412 Got linked here today and am super happy to see this post. Thank you for writing it! Well said. I'm a folklorist, which occupies an interesting enough niche in the academic world (I like to think of myself as an anthropologist with a puppet over one hand), but the topic of my dissertation is about belief. Specifically, belief, fear, and the intersectional narratives governing belief. One of the ideas which comes up again and again is what you have brought up here that "only religious people have morals, and/or, morality comes from religion and can't exist without it." I hate this idea. People who believe it terrify me. It means they can empathize with someone who would wontonly cause wholesale harm to others and get a kick out of it if only the fear of punishment were removed from their lives. What a terrible basis for any supposed "morality!" All that is needed to possess a moral compass is empathy. Because I empathize with other feeling beings, doing harm to other humans or animals is INHERENTLY unpleasant. What further motivation do I need to not hurt than knowing what hurt is and that others experience it? Anyway, thanks for a great and timely post. Stokes that fire in my belly. Maybe my research will "give a contribution to knowledge" after all. Got linked here today and am super happy to see this post. Thank you for writing it! Well said.

I’m a folklorist, which occupies an interesting enough niche in the academic world (I like to think of myself as an anthropologist with a puppet over one hand), but the topic of my dissertation is about belief. Specifically, belief, fear, and the intersectional narratives governing belief. One of the ideas which comes up again and again is what you have brought up here that “only religious people have morals, and/or, morality comes from religion and can’t exist without it.”

I hate this idea. People who believe it terrify me. It means they can empathize with someone who would wontonly cause wholesale harm to others and get a kick out of it if only the fear of punishment were removed from their lives. What a terrible basis for any supposed “morality!” All that is needed to possess a moral compass is empathy. Because I empathize with other feeling beings, doing harm to other humans or animals is INHERENTLY unpleasant. What further motivation do I need to not hurt than knowing what hurt is and that others experience it?

Anyway, thanks for a great and timely post. Stokes that fire in my belly. Maybe my research will “give a contribution to knowledge” after all.

]]> By: Virginia http://theangryblackwoman.com/2010/05/18/the-myth-of-atheists-being-lesser-than-religious-people/comment-page-1/#comment-52280 Virginia Wed, 19 May 2010 20:02:10 +0000 http://theangryblackwoman.com/?p=1460#comment-52280 There is more than just the atheist vs. Gawd believing side of TV stereotypes. Spiritual people who don't believe in the great Gawd in the sky are often used as comic relief. I often see people like me depicted as spaced out New Age kooks who tell the future and talk to trees and dead people. There is more than just the atheist vs. Gawd believing side of TV stereotypes. Spiritual people who don’t believe in the great Gawd in the sky are often used as comic relief. I often see people like me depicted as spaced out New Age kooks who tell the future and talk to trees and dead people.

]]> By: Ide Cyan http://theangryblackwoman.com/2010/05/18/the-myth-of-atheists-being-lesser-than-religious-people/comment-page-1/#comment-52278 Ide Cyan Wed, 19 May 2010 06:29:27 +0000 http://theangryblackwoman.com/?p=1460#comment-52278 One way to make a difference in the portrayal of atheism on television would be for births/weddings/funerals not to automatically default to religious ceremonies. There are a *lot* of funerals on television, which are part of dramatic storylines because, well, they're shorthand for uniting other characters after someone's death. And aside from on the late Six Feet Under, there isn't much thought given to the subject. One way to make a difference in the portrayal of atheism on television would be for births/weddings/funerals not to automatically default to religious ceremonies. There are a *lot* of funerals on television, which are part of dramatic storylines because, well, they’re shorthand for uniting other characters after someone’s death. And aside from on the late Six Feet Under, there isn’t much thought given to the subject.

]]> By: unusualmusic http://theangryblackwoman.com/2010/05/18/the-myth-of-atheists-being-lesser-than-religious-people/comment-page-1/#comment-52275 unusualmusic Wed, 19 May 2010 01:04:57 +0000 http://theangryblackwoman.com/?p=1460#comment-52275 I disagree. Crime shows often always bring up religion in cases where there is a particular crime that is out of bounds. A bit of discussion on atheist beliefs there is not out of place. Religious bigotry towards atheists could be a plot point in some other show. The differences between atheists, say on the subject of race and religion something that intertwines could be discussed. And that's off the top of my head. Simply pointing out that a character is atheist and not making them House or Dr. Brennan in Bones or white would be a start. Hell, make the atheist break with the church, not over some dramatic priestly or parent's unforgivable sin, but because they read the Bible and objected to the misogyny therein. Or what God did to Job or something. Religion pops up in all sorts of places. So can atheism. I disagree. Crime shows often always bring up religion in cases where there is a particular crime that is out of bounds. A bit of discussion on atheist beliefs there is not out of place. Religious bigotry towards atheists could be a plot point in some other show. The differences between atheists, say on the subject of race and religion something that intertwines could be discussed. And that’s off the top of my head. Simply pointing out that a character is atheist and not making them House or Dr. Brennan in Bones or white would be a start. Hell, make the atheist break with the church, not over some dramatic priestly or parent’s unforgivable sin, but because they read the Bible and objected to the misogyny therein. Or what God did to Job or something. Religion pops up in all sorts of places. So can atheism.

]]> By: Sam http://theangryblackwoman.com/2010/05/18/the-myth-of-atheists-being-lesser-than-religious-people/comment-page-1/#comment-52274 Sam Tue, 18 May 2010 23:45:42 +0000 http://theangryblackwoman.com/?p=1460#comment-52274 The problem with atheism in a dramatic show, unless it's specifically reacting against some flavor of oppression, is there just is not much drama in atheism. The religious have a reason/need/compulsion to declare, well, whatever the particular mythology compels. Consider the most basic theater, a joke. Take the old basic priest/rabbi/minister gag, now make all three atheists. Just try to make that funny... :-) The problem with atheism in a dramatic show, unless it’s specifically reacting against some flavor of oppression, is there just is not much drama in atheism. The religious have a reason/need/compulsion to declare, well, whatever the particular mythology compels. Consider the most basic theater, a joke. Take the old basic priest/rabbi/minister gag, now make all three atheists. Just try to make that funny… :-)

]]> By: Lesley http://theangryblackwoman.com/2010/05/18/the-myth-of-atheists-being-lesser-than-religious-people/comment-page-1/#comment-52273 Lesley Tue, 18 May 2010 23:32:25 +0000 http://theangryblackwoman.com/?p=1460#comment-52273 THANK you! Being atheist does not make me a hateful person, morally bankrupt, or someone who is unhappy with life. I am the opposite of all those things. THANK you!

Being atheist does not make me a hateful person, morally bankrupt, or someone who is unhappy with life. I am the opposite of all those things.

]]> By: Diana http://theangryblackwoman.com/2010/05/18/the-myth-of-atheists-being-lesser-than-religious-people/comment-page-1/#comment-52272 Diana Tue, 18 May 2010 20:50:41 +0000 http://theangryblackwoman.com/?p=1460#comment-52272 I watch Bones, and while her relationship with Booth changes Bones, it's never about their differences in faith. Bones still staunchly rejects Booth's God. I think that's pretty awesome, and I say that as a person of faith. We do need to see a broader variety of people reflected in our pop culture media. You know, like in real life. I watch Bones, and while her relationship with Booth changes Bones, it’s never about their differences in faith. Bones still staunchly rejects Booth’s God. I think that’s pretty awesome, and I say that as a person of faith. We do need to see a broader variety of people reflected in our pop culture media. You know, like in real life.

]]> By: Isabel S. http://theangryblackwoman.com/2010/05/18/the-myth-of-atheists-being-lesser-than-religious-people/comment-page-1/#comment-52271 Isabel S. Tue, 18 May 2010 20:01:41 +0000 http://theangryblackwoman.com/?p=1460#comment-52271 As a religious person, I am deeply ashamed of my fellow religious people. They should know better. Their attitude is what is un-religious. As a religious person, I am deeply ashamed of my fellow religious people. They should know better. Their attitude is what is un-religious.

]]>