Religion

cbayer

(146,218 posts) Fri Feb 28, 2014, 10:02 AM Feb 2014

The right’s atheism problem: Why it should rethink its marriage with Christianity

http://www.salon.com/2014/02/27/the_rights_atheism_problem_why_they_should_rethink_the_marriage_with_christianity/

THURSDAY, FEB 27, 2014 07:30 AM CST

After getting kicked out of the premier right-wing conference in America, an atheist leader sounds off to Salon

JOSH EIDELSON

Mike Huckabee (Credit: Jeff Malet, maletphoto.com)

For a few hours Tuesday, American Atheists was scheduled to have a booth at CPAC, the premier right-wing conference the American Conservative Union will host that week. Tuesday afternoon, ACU announced that the invitation had been rescinded, and accused the atheist nonprofit of having “misrepresented itself about their willingness to engage in positive dialogue and work together to promote limited government.” (Featured CPAC speakers this year include Donald Trump, Sarah Palin and National Rifle Association CEO Wayne LaPierre.)

“What CPAC has done is effectively bury its head in the sand …” American Atheists president David Silverman countered in a Wednesday interview with Salon. “They are pretending that atheists aren’t relevant. And they are pretending that Christianity still holds water in American society.” A condensed version of our conversation follows.

Why did you want a booth at CPAC?

To raise the awareness of the fact that 20 percent of America’s conservatives are non-religious people — they never pray, according to Pew …

And they should include the non-religious in their talks … They should acknowledge the non-religious. And they should rethink the conservative marriage with Christianity …

more at link

11 replies

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Highlight:

The right’s atheism problem: Why it should rethink its marriage with Christianity (Original Post) cbayer Feb 2014 OP

Not a big fan of Silverman. longship Feb 2014 #1

I still think much of this was a stunt, cbayer Feb 2014 #2

You very well may be right. longship Feb 2014 #3

Yes, I don't think his stated intention was his true intention, cbayer Feb 2014 #4

Why does it not surprise me that LostOne4Ever Feb 2014 #5

He's in the ranks of the libertarians. rug Feb 2014 #6

Sooo hes defining himself as a selfish prick LostOne4Ever Feb 2014 #7

I'm thinking he's the wrong guy for this job and may find himself on the market soon. cbayer Feb 2014 #11

The Randies okasha Feb 2014 #8

When I was a teenager I was seduced by RW libertarianism LostOne4Ever Feb 2014 #9

And me. okasha Feb 2014 #10

longship

(40,416 posts)

1. Not a big fan of Silverman.

Reply to cbayer (Original post)

Fri Feb 28, 2014, 10:44 AM

Feb 2014

However, I agree with what he says about the religious right being theocratic and the social agenda.

I do not agree with his conservative politics at all.

But if this flings a wedge between the religious right and the GOP, all the better.

cbayer

(146,218 posts)

2. I still think much of this was a stunt,

Reply to longship (Reply #1)

Fri Feb 28, 2014, 10:53 AM

Feb 2014

and a very effective one at that as he is getting lots of publicity.

Some of what he says in this interview makes good sense. Some of it is just not accurate. And some of it is offensive.

You can't expect to be welcomed into a conference composed primarily of people from the religious right and say things like, "Atheism is a much better and healthier place to be mentally".

But I recognize that this is this guy's MO.

At any rate, if it helps take CPAC down, I support what he is doing.

longship

(40,416 posts)

3. You very well may be right.

Reply to cbayer (Reply #2)

Fri Feb 28, 2014, 11:04 AM

Feb 2014

You are aware of my position on the religious right and the GOP, that they are one and the same. From the article, it seems Silverman agrees with that assessment. So if Silverman did this as a stunt, it was a very good one, IMHO. The reaction of returning the atheists' money plays perfectly into that narrative.

cbayer

(146,218 posts)

4. Yes, I don't think his stated intention was his true intention,

Reply to longship (Reply #3)

Fri Feb 28, 2014, 11:07 AM

Feb 2014

and in light of that, I agree that it was pretty effective.

I, like you, do not think you can cleave conservatism from the religious right, which will hopefully lead to their demise.

LostOne4Ever

(9,296 posts)

5. Why does it not surprise me that

Reply to cbayer (Original post)

Fri Feb 28, 2014, 02:37 PM

Feb 2014

Silverman is an economic conservative...

This actually explains some his bad decisions and why he wants to reach out to conservatives.

rug

(82,333 posts)

6. He's in the ranks of the libertarians.

Reply to LostOne4Ever (Reply #5)

Fri Feb 28, 2014, 04:11 PM

Feb 2014

Recently, I’ve defined myself as a fiscal conservative and a social liberal.

Gee, I wonder what he thinks about raising the minimum wage and the ACA.

LostOne4Ever

(9,296 posts)

7. Sooo hes defining himself as a selfish prick

Reply to rug (Reply #6)

Fri Feb 28, 2014, 05:05 PM

Feb 2014

No wonder his group chose such a piss poor ad for their superbowl billboard.

They could have created an inclusive ad that showed unity, and instead chose to take a pot shot at Christianity. What a squandered opportunity. Oh well, its their money.

cbayer

(146,218 posts)

11. I'm thinking he's the wrong guy for this job and may find himself on the market soon.

Reply to LostOne4Ever (Reply #7)

Fri Feb 28, 2014, 07:37 PM

Feb 2014

I think we are at a cusp of really seeing some change in terms of separation issues and increasing understanding and acceptance of non-believers.

His attitude does not bode well for that. IMO, he should be distancing himself from people in CPAC, not trying to form some kind of alliance with them.

okasha

(11,573 posts)

8. The Randies

Reply to LostOne4Ever (Reply #5)

Fri Feb 28, 2014, 06:17 PM

Feb 2014

generally are just not nice people. I used to know a woman from the Cato Institute who thought she was tremendously liberal on LGBT issues because she once attended a women's professional basketball game. (And the "used to" is there because she's an utter homophobe.)

LostOne4Ever

(9,296 posts)

9. When I was a teenager I was seduced by RW libertarianism

Reply to okasha (Reply #8)

Fri Feb 28, 2014, 06:34 PM

Feb 2014

But I quickly saw that while they played lip service to social liberalism they were actually no different than the republicans. They are completely self-absorbed hypocrites who don't give a damn about anyone other than themselves and their precious money.

Typical RW Libertarian Hypocrisy:

Oh I support Gay rights....so long as they don't interfere with a states right to discriminate. Oh I am prochoice though I also support the states right to ban them. "Blacks" should have the same rights as "whites" including the right to discriminate against them.

Apparently when they say they want small government they mean that the state should be able to be mini totalitarian dictatorships. Again, all they really care about is their money and themselves.

Here is a small list of just some of the hypocrisies of Ron Paul:

* define life as starting at conception: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c110:H.R.2597

* build a fence along the US-Mexico border: http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2006/roll446.xml

* prevent the Supreme Court from hearing Establishment Clause cases or the right to privacy (a bill which he has repeatedly re-introduced: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c110:H.R.300:

* pull out of the UN: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c110:H.R.1146:

* disband NATO: http://www.house.gov/paul/congrec/congrec2004/cr033004.htm

* end birthright citizenship: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c110:H.J.RES.46:

* deny federal funding to any organisation "which presents male or female homosexuality as an acceptable alternative life style or which suggest that it can be an acceptable life style": http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d096:h.r.7955:

* and abolish the Federal Reserve: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c110:H.R.2755:

* in order to put America back on the gold standard: http://www.house.gov/paul/congrec/congrec2006/cr021506.htm

* He was also the sole vote against divesting US federal government investments in corporations doing business with the genocidal government of the Sudan: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/vote.xpd?vote=h2007-764

Oh, and he also:

* believes that the Left is waging a war on religion and Christmas: http://www.lewrockwell.com/paul/paul148.html

* is against gay marriage: http://www.lewrockwell.com/paul/paul197.html

* is against the popular vote: http://www.lewrockwell.com/paul/paul214.html

* wants the estate tax repealed: http://www.lewrockwell.com/paul/paul328.html

* is STILL making racist remarks: http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2007/06/02/ron_paul/

* believes that the Panama Canal should be the property of the United States: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d106:h.con.res.231:

* and believes in New World Order conspiracy theories: http://www.infowars.com/articles/nwo/ron_paul_first_bush_was_working_towards_nwo.htm

* not to mention his belief that the International Baccalaureate program is UN mind control: http://www.congress.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?r109:E14AP5-0007:

How anyone can think there is ANYTHING liberal about these people is beyond me.

okasha

(11,573 posts)

10. And me.

Reply to LostOne4Ever (Reply #9)

Fri Feb 28, 2014, 07:35 PM

Feb 2014

But I do give them credit for pushing me even further left than I might be otherwise. Last time I took that political compass test thingie, I was only one square from dropping off the bottom left(libertarian/socialist; yeah, you can be both) corner.

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