Attention for atheists

Go to CNN.com and you will find the Belief Blog, a digital publication whose goal is to “(foster) a global conversation about the role of religion and faith in the news — and in the users’ lives.”

It is all in an effort to capitalize on the disappearance of religion columnists in floundering newspapers. Such articles have traditionally had a pro-Christian slant to them and have been devoid of the kind of objectivity usually found in a newsroom. With the Belief Blog, CNN is trying to capitalize on this vacuum by providing coverage on a more universal level. It will not only cover various religions — it will offer atheistic perspectives, as well.

I want to take this opportunity to applaud CNN. Changing the religious discussion that this nation engages in is a step in the right direction. More importantly, it shows a willingness to go against the Christian audience, a move that once made bad business sense.

Not anymore, though. Let’s consider the fact that in 2008 the American Religious Identification Survey found that about 3.6 million Americans identify as atheists. This is up from 2 million in 2001. The study also shows that when polarizing labels like “atheist” and “agnostic” are left out, 18 percent of Americans say they do not believe in God.

It might be that America is one great nation, but maybe not one under God.

It is not the end of the world, as philosopher Sam Harris said in a recent TED talk. In fact, he argues, focusing on real problems such as nuclear proliferation, poverty and education can only benefit humanity. As it stands now, there is an emphasis on issues that are only wrong from a theistic viewpoint and don’t pose a real threat to our well-being. Take gay marriage, for example. Should there really be so much energy and media attention on it when genocide is still occurring?

Harris has a point. While everyone should have the right to practice whatever they believe, no one belief should dictate the conversation the nation is having.

Not surprisingly, there is no sign in sight that the culture wars are stopping. While the next generation might be increasingly less theistic, there is still a strong Christian force in this nation that is convinced it has moral authority.

Consider Rand Paul, the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate from Kentucky. He recently told the Christian Broadcasting Network, “I see that Christianity and values is the basis of our society.” In the interview, he alleged that the only way to have a correct moral compass is to appeal to the Christian concept of a God, a philosophy that is offensive to, well, anyone who is not a Christian.

By bringing the culture of atheism into the mainstream conversation, CNN is recognizing that America is no longer only a Christian nation.


E-mail: danfleis@indiana.edu