An Atheist Manifesto

Dec 10, 2005 09:15

taken from innocent_man's journal. If anyone is interested in reading this and discussing it, I'd be happy to.

article

Leave a comment

michael_va December 13 2005, 08:32:27 UTC
Unfortunately, calmly advocating moderation and tolerance does not get most people highly motivated, inciting emotions like greed, fear and hatred does. The fundamentalists know this very well and use this tactic shamelessly. It is the secret of their success.

In Canada, the Religious Right has not been able to get much of a political foothold, except here in Alberta. There is deep suspicion in the rest of the country that they have some sinister hidden agenda, and that is correct. They want the power to be able to dictate to everyone else, essentially subverting the democratic process. Even though they campaign in democratic elections, they believe that they are directed by a higher power than the electorate. Stockwell Day, who was once the leader of the Alliance Party, now the new Conservative Party, is a Fundamentalist Christian and a Young Earth Creationist. At a caucus meeting, he is reputed to have said that to be a member of his cabinet one had to be willing to help him bury a body in a ditch at midnight without asking any questions. Obviously, he did not mean that literally, but I think that illustrates that the Religious Right is willing to do just about anything to gain power and keep it. Further more, I think they intend to keep it indefinitely once they have it, regardless of public opinion.

Now, that is something for the masses to be fearful of. The most effective counter to the Religious Right's attack on reason could be to warn people of the danger of oppression posed by these fanatics. Make them afraid. Point out the negative impact that interference with science education and scientific research will have on their standard of living. Remind them of all the material benefits that science has provided. Remind them as well of all the despicable things religious zealots have done in the past and will do again, if they are allowed to. Make them hate those people.

Science is an elite activity, Semerkhet. You cannot expect most people to understand it, except at an elementary level. This may make it necessary to stoop to demagoguery. If so, Harris' manifesto comes across as too much like embittered whining to be effective. People trust demagogues because they project strength and authority. Resorting to this tactic may seem like going over to the dark side, but so long as taking on the mantle of absolute truth is avoided, I think this approach is a lesser evil. Besides, it is a telling distinction between two adversaries when one has to stoop to a level that the other cannot rise above.

Reply


Leave a comment

Up