Author: Nameless Heathen

I just read the transcript of this speech and as always I was highly impressed with Sam Harris’ words. Sam made two points that I’d like to ponder. The first is that non-believers do themselves a disservice by being labeled atheist. The name becomes a pigeon hole, and we are forced to live there. He says just go about your life practicing reason and demanding proof for superstitious beliefs and the world will be better. No need to oppose region in general (because there’s no such thing he says) but rather oppose specific bad ideas.

Now I can see the sense in what he says, but it seems a one sided rule. The first time you criticize any religious idea that religion’s adherents will label you regardless of your wishes. Oppose the ten commandments in the courtroom? You’ll be the evil spawn of the godless ACLU. Suggest that stem cells which would otherwise be destroyed could save the live of actual people? Godless heathen. I suggest that the only practical way to avoid being labeled an atheist is to follow my course, and be a nameless heathen. Avoid identifiable public discussion and support reason in whatever private method is available to you.

The second point Sam raised was that we don’t need to be even handed with religions. Most of my time is spent thinking of the issues raised by Christianity in the US, and I have felt the need to balance the evils of Islam with the evils of Christianity. Still I know that I would much rather live among Christians than Muslims. They would ostracize me if they knew what I was thinking, but they probably wouldn’t hurt me unless I did something really stupid. (I suspect I’d most enjoy living among Buddhists, but I don’t see how to arrange that as an American).

Even the Iraqi Sunni’s are beginning to choose American infidels over Al-Quaida after some of the latter’s more horrific crimes. I’m free to do the same. I know that I was horrified when that Afghan who wished to convert to Christianity was sentenced to death (even though he was eventually released). What shocked me so were clerics being described as “moderates” agreeing with the sentence. Reading Richard Dawkins latest column helps me believe that these attitudes aren’t isolated to backwards countries, but rather represent some significant percentages of Muslims.

So, while I’d prefer a world without superstition, I think it’s best to focus my concern on truly dangerous ideas. I’m still pondering to what degree that makes me an ally of the religious right in the current geopolitical situation.

In this video, Bill Maher talks about religion and presidential politics, describing Mitt Romney’s Mormanism as a belief in “magic underpants that will protect him” and suggesting that “Maybe a President who didn’t believe our soldiers were going to heaven might be a little less willing to get them killed.” He also says that he wouldn’t vote for any theist to be in charge, if you believe you have a relationship with a “Space Daddy”, who’s going to party through eternity with you after you die, that you’re crazy, you have an “electrical storm in your head.”

I wonder at the reaction Bill’s going to get attacking the sanity of all believers, but I sure wish there were more people like him speaking out. He says ten to fifteen percent of Americans agree with him, and that he prefers to call them Rationalists. And according to Bill, there’s hope, 20% of those under thirty agree with him.

It’s still a long way until the percentages are the other way around. The depth of ignorance and inconsistency is astounding. An about to be published column in The Nation about the evolution vs creationism debate , points out that a 2007 survey shows that more than half of Americans believe god created the first humans less than 10,000 years ago. It doesn’t mention that the poll shows huge inconsistencies.

In reporting it USA today said:

“Two-thirds in the poll said creationism, the idea that God created humans in their present form within the past 10,000 years, is definitely or probably true. More than half, 53%, said evolution, the idea that humans evolved from less advanced life forms over millions of years, is definitely or probably true. All told, 25% say that both creationism and evolution are definitely or probably true.”

That’s one hell of an electrical storm. At least Bill knows what he believes.