Religion

NeoGreen

(4,033 posts) Mon Jun 17, 2019, 08:09 AM Jun 2019

Here's the Problem with Christian Privilege in the U.S. Government

https://friendlyatheist.patheos.com/2019/06/16/heres-the-problem-with-christian-privilege-in-the-u-s-government/

Here’s the Problem with Christian Privilege in the U.S. Government
By Hemant Mehta, June 16, 2019

In this video for The Thinking Atheist, Sarah Levin, Director of Governmental Affairs for the Secular Coalition for America, does an excellent job summarizing the problem of Christian privilege.

As she says, it wasn’t that long ago that Catholics were the ones being discriminated against. But now that the Religious Right is in power, they’re perfectly fine pushing their beliefs on everyone else in a way they would never accept if it occurred in the other direction.

… If you really care about this nation living up to its values, even if you’re in the majority, even if the status quo is reflecting your beliefs, you should care about this country enough and be enough of a patriot to be willing to put that aside for the benefits of protecting religious freedom for people of all faiths and none.

The irony is that Levin and other activists aren’t working to impose atheism upon the country. They want a government that’s neutral when it comes to religion. And yet they’re the ones who are always unfairly deemed “militant” or “aggressive.” The Religious Right always seems to avoid those labels for no good reason.

7 replies

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Highlight:

Here's the Problem with Christian Privilege in the U.S. Government (Original Post) NeoGreen Jun 2019 OP

the way I see it - if you believe in gods Blues Heron Jun 2019 #1

Intense indoctrination in early childhood Mariana Jun 2019 #2

Damn, this quote: trotsky Jun 2019 #3

11th commandment! Major Nikon Jun 2019 #5

Well, I know that I always carry atheist pamphlets around with me, MineralMan Jun 2019 #4

You haven't knocked on their door uninvited? Merlot Jun 2019 #6

Well, I'm too old for that door-knocking business. MineralMan Jun 2019 #7

Blues Heron

(6,231 posts)

1. the way I see it - if you believe in gods

Reply to NeoGreen (Original post)

Mon Jun 17, 2019, 08:25 AM

Jun 2019

you'll pretty much believe *anything*

Gullible doesn't begin to describe you

Mariana

(15,200 posts)

2. Intense indoctrination in early childhood

Reply to Blues Heron (Reply #1)

Mon Jun 17, 2019, 08:41 AM

Jun 2019

by adults that the children love and trust is extremely effective and difficult to overcome. That's why religion is usually drilled into children before they're even old enough to understand what it is they're being taught. Combine that with negative consequences, often including the threat of eternal torture, for expressing incredulity, or asking the "wrong" kind of questions. Now you have an adult who's been thoroughly conditioned to accept these ideas, and to experience real fear if they ever begin to doubt that they're true.

trotsky

(49,533 posts)

3. Damn, this quote:

Reply to NeoGreen (Original post)

Mon Jun 17, 2019, 09:03 AM

Jun 2019

They want a government that’s neutral when it comes to religion. And yet they’re the ones who are always unfairly deemed “militant” or “aggressive.”

Happens in a lot of places, even otherwise progressive websites.

Major Nikon

(36,911 posts)

5. 11th commandment!

Reply to trotsky (Reply #3)

Mon Jun 17, 2019, 09:40 AM

Jun 2019

Choir!

MineralMan

(148,008 posts)

4. Well, I know that I always carry atheist pamphlets around with me,

Reply to NeoGreen (Original post)

Mon Jun 17, 2019, 09:16 AM

Jun 2019

so I can interrupt people during the day and insist that they take one. Why, I can't even count the number of times I've confronted someone with one of my pamphlets and a lecture about atheism.

Wait...I don't do that. Who does that sort of thing? It's impolite and aggressive.

Merlot

(9,696 posts)

6. You haven't knocked on their door uninvited?

Reply to MineralMan (Reply #4)

Mon Jun 17, 2019, 10:02 AM

Jun 2019

Being a door-to-door salesman for religion is also a great career move.

MineralMan

(148,008 posts)

7. Well, I'm too old for that door-knocking business.

Reply to Merlot (Reply #6)

Mon Jun 17, 2019, 10:06 AM

Jun 2019

However, I understand that there are teams of young atheists out there, knocking on doors to convince people to turn away from religion. They go around on bicyles, wearing dark suits, and are very effective, I'm sure.

Oh, wait...those aren't atheists at all...my mistake.

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