First the numbers: According to the recently released 2008 American Religious Identification Survey by researchers at Trinity College in Hartford, Conn., the percentage of people who identified themselves as having no religion has almost doubled since 1990, from 8.2% of the population then to 15% today, the largest gain in any group. And that number may be low because some Americans still prefer to give no answer, and others identify with a religion, even if they no longer really believe in it. That “no answer” number grew as well, from 2.3% to 5.2%, meaning that just over 20% of the population has no overt religious identity. Simply put, that means more people are willing to identify themselves as being outside of religion or without belief in a supernatural being. If this trend continues, expect even more atheists to come out of the closet in the years ahead.
This isn’t to say we’re taking over the nation, and that God-fearing Americans now have something else to fear. On the contrary, atheists like me are just content to be able to be religion-free without the social stigma that has been attached to “my kind” the irreligious minority in this country. Of course, the simple math shows that 80% of you do believe in God or some greater being, so the numbers still run heavily in the faithful’s favor.
My great hope, though, is that the 80% will have a greater understanding of the 20% of which I am a part. I am hoping that this new survey will help bring much-needed changes in the relations between the faithful and those who are outside of the established faiths.
[blockquote]Some atheists out there might wish to de-convert believers, pull them away from their faith or disprove their gods, and it is true that those are the atheists who write the books that make the best-seller lists. Indeed, Richard Dawkins and his The God Delusion ilk have made a pretty penny stirring this controversy. But many of us — dare I say most of us — would prefer coexisting over combat.[/blockquote]
Perhaps this “pretty penny” idea is why Nica Lalli herself is authoring a book about atheism but she’s not like that combative guy Richard Dawkins, is she? She’s a cordial atheist. [blockquote]Nica Lalli is a writer, educator and former PTA president. Her latest bookis Nothing: Something to Believe in.[/blockquote]
[b]Dcn Dale[/b] says:
[quote]Perhaps this “pretty penny†idea is why Nica Lalli herself is authoring a book about atheism …[/quote]
And if so … ? Do you really think that all the Your Demographic ™ Bibles of the last some years were produced because the “plain” ones really just weren’t good enough?
[quote] … but she’s not like that combative guy Richard Dawkins, is she? She’s a cordial atheist.[/quote]
Again, so … ? Christians are not all hellfire-and-brimstone types or Westboro lunatics. I’ve found many of them to be quite cordial themselves. Reasonable, even, within their reference frame.
Though I am beginning to take the matter under advisement, I am, as I type, an atheist by default. Speaking for myself, I have no desire whatsoever to insult or belittle Christians, no need to convert them to my way of thinking, nor any wish to induce their children to apostasy. I like to think that I would be as good a neighbor as anyone (though perhaps not as clubbable as some). If “cordial” were the worst anyone could say about me (it’s not), I would wear it proudly.
Other than that she’s writing a book (and may make some money by) suggesting that cordial coexistence between people of differing views is possible and perhaps even desireable, is there anything else wrong with Ms. Lalli’s point of view?
regards,
JPB
#2. Just Passing By,
I prefer the intellectual honesty of a Richard Dawkins. It seems initially as if she is offering a different approach. It is certainly less confrontational. She would state it something like this. “I’m an atheist, can’t we all just get along. I won’t try and convert you if you don’t try and convert me.” Sorry JPB, as a Christian I cannot call a truce. I am compelled by my Lord Jesus Christ to spread the Gospel. Thanks for passing by. By the way, nothing happens by chance.
Blessings,
[b]Dcn Dale[/b] [url=”http://new.kendallharmon.net/wp-content/uploads/index.php/t19/article/21626/#351956″]3[/url] replies:
[quote]… as a Christian I cannot call a truce.[/quote]
I don’t believe either I or Ms. Lalli are asking you to call a truce. But, to stay with the metaphor, it would be good if both sides could observe the Laws of War customary in our society. I don’t think either side always thinks very clearly about what “victory” would be, or how best to attain it.
[quote]Thanks for passing by.[/quote]
Actually, I’ve been reading and sometimes commenting here for several years now. But since I’m not here to bait anyone, my ability to contribute as an outsider is somewhat limited. 🙂
regards,
JPB
[blockquote]I don’t think either side always thinks very clearly about what “victory†would be, or how best to attain it.[/blockquote] We are not called to win. We are called to die.
blessings,