In comparison to the doltish fundamentalists who plague them so relentlessly, atheists such as Landon Ross brag about their own brain pans:
[A]llow me to make some blunt observations that might not be politically correct, but are nevertheless obvious:Ross thinks zealots are responsible for the decline in the study of math and science in the U.S. and wants to hire teams of lobbyists to get religion out of policy and politics. He also evidently wants to confront your local youth group:
-Non-believers tend to be well-educated, scientifically minded, and smarter than average: 93% of the National Academy of Sciences do not believe in a personal God, yet roughly 80-90% of the general public do.
-In countries where there is a high standard of living and education...roughly 80% of the population are non-believers (Sweden, Norway, Denmark etc.).
It has become trendy to be completely irrational, and 'cool' for teens to be "down with Jesus;" therefore, secularists should do everything in our power to make it un-cool. We must get past this ill-advised notion that we should "respect" other peoples beliefs.Odd that a smart guy like Ross overlooks a whole category of well-educated, progressive, politically influential Christians who would probably agree with 99% of his scientific perspective (except the part that insists that the whole mighty engine of all that is creative and magnificent and beautiful started up all by itself one fine day -- and also that human beings are doing a fine job as peaceful, loving stewards of creation all by themselves).
If atheists are concerned about achieving policy outcomes in education and scientific research, they might consider making common cause with mainline Protestants and even U.S. Roman Catholics. But if it's all about affirming and validating that their own theological faith in faithlessness, they should continue as as they are. Either way, God delights in them.
3 comments:
I just came across this... You totally took that out of context, I read his article.
"It has become trendy to be completely irrational, and 'cool' for teens to be "down with Jesus;" therefore, secularists should do everything in our power to make it un-cool. We must get past this ill-advised notion that we should "respect" other peoples beliefs....
No other category in our discourse deserves the privilege of being off-limits to skeptical inquiry: not politics, not art, nothing. There is nothing moral, nor mature, about playing "nice" when the other side is content to sabotage the constitution and the classroom, where the future minds of our nation are being formed."
and as far as the agreeing 99% with most Christians, he gave you figures: "50% of adults don't know that the earth orbits the sun, and takes a year to do it.
-53% of adults were unaware that the last dinosaur died before the first human arose.
-only 53% of adults knew that: "Human beings, as we know them today, developed from earlier species of animals." "
You twisted what he said: he said Religion doesn't get any special privileges, such as being off limits from criticism, when ever other area of discourse is up for debate. HE DIDN'T SAY DISRESPECT CHRISTIANS, he said chrisitan beliefs don't hold special status over others.
Would you think it proper to hold someone accountable for the belief that the holocaust never happened?
I mean, I'm Christian (moderate) who accepts evolution, but while I disagree, I don't think he said anything wrong. The only way we can modernize our faith is to grow up and play on the same level.
Thanks for your comment. I was unaware that the broader culture considered criticism or ridicule of people or communities of faith to be off limits. Mr. Ross wrote what he wrote. As for his stating that if young people are encouraged by their faith, then secularists should do "everything in our power" to undermine it, I would be happy to introduce him to any number of teenagers -- conservative, liberal, and in between -- who are living safer lives because of their Christian (and no doubt Jewish and Muslim) youth groups and youth leaders.
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