Observations and inanities by a second-shift assistant supervisor in the Puppy-Grinding division of the Evil Atheist Conspiracy® (our motto: "Sure it's cruel, but think of the jobs!"), your host, Brent Rasmussen.
Demography on our side?
Yes, says Sara Robinson over at Orcinus, citing a new study from the Barna Group of generational attitudes about Christianity in this country. From her excellent post:
I don't know how long they thought they were going to go on that way, all self-righteous and judgmental, blaming homosexuals and feminists for everything from 9/11 to the price of gas, ignoring the interests of the poor in favor of those of big business, and dismissing any kind of environmental stewardship as nothing more than a way to waste time until the Rapture comes. Clearly, the didn't see anything at all wrong with elevating the most spiteful and amoral among them as their national spokespeople, and rewarding them in direct proportion to the heat of their rhetoric. No, these folks were on fire (we're still not sure if it was Jesus or heartburn), and they weren't afraid to let their bilious light shine on the TV, in the streets, all the way to the White House. They did their best to set it high above the rest of the culture, where none of the rest of us could miss it if we wanted to.
And now, a new study reveals that young Americans, both inside and outside Christianity, have indeed taken note of this righteous spectacle-- and a large and growing majority of them are absolutely revolted by what they've seen.
A study released last week by the Barna Group, a reputable Evangelical research and polling firm, found that under-30s -- both Christian and non-Christian -- are strikingly more critical of Christianity than their peers were just a decade ago. According to the summary report, Barna pollster David Kinnaman found that the opinions of non-Christians, in particular, had slid like a rock in that time frame. Ten years ago, "the vast majority" of non-Christians had generally favorable views of Christianity. Now, that number stands at just 16%. When asked specifically about Evangelicals, the number are even worse: only 3% of non-Christian Millennials have positive associations with Evangelicals. Among the Boomers, it's eight times higher.
Ms. Robinson is perhaps more optimistic about what this really means than I am, but she makes a very convincing case for her position. I'd love to think that we're on the verge of a trend towards rationalism, and perhaps at least movement from the worst authoritarianism embodied in the religious right. But after watching things go from bad to worse over the thirty-some years of my adulthood, I am very skeptical.
What do you think?
Jim Downey
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Religion induces a persistantly vegetative state
Jim-
I understand what you mean. I have also been concerned by the growing power of the religious right. However, I am sensing a giant backlash and the Barna study only confirms my suspicions. It makes sense. How can a relatively small group of people hold the entire country hostage? They let their political power go to their heads. Unfortunately, it had to get worse before it got better.
Remember the Terry Schiavo nonsense? Even the religious members of my family got together and decided that we should all create living wills. Not a single one of us wants to be kept alive after it is clear we are never going to come out of a "persistently vegetative state." My family members may still go to church but none of them are going to put their hopes in miracles over modern medicine.
There are other reasons for the backlash besides Schiavo. How dare the fundies block stem cell research? What about spending billions on faith based programs? Pushing for schools to teach creationism (ID). Attempting to create a federal amendment banning gay marriage. Filling our Justice Department with cronies from Liberty University. And probably the most egregious in my opinion is global warming denial.
In reality, Bush, Falwell, Robertson, Perkins, Dobson, etc... have done more to promote godlessness than Dawkins, Harris and Hitchens. The popular new atheist authors just happened to take advantage of a rising tide of skepticism. Europe went through this stage decades ago. We are just now beginning to catch up. These Christofascists overstepped their bounds and people see them for the frauds they are. Let Falwell rant against gay Teletubbies. He just makes himself look like a fool.
To be fair, I think that radical Islam has had something to do with it also. September 11th made people wake up and see just how dangerous fundamentalists can be. I think people are more aware of just how twisted religion can make fellow humans. William Gascoyne said "I'm not convinced that faith can move mountains, but I've seen what it can do to skyscrapers."
I don't know if I would say this country is trending towards rationalism, but I think that we are definitely pulling back away from fundamentalism and the authoritarianism you spoke of. I think it's up to reasonable people like us to take that momentum and actually swing the pendulum towards rationalism for a change. I hope we don't make the same mistakes the religious kooks did. I don't want my disbelief on my money, in the pledge or in my schools either. I just want everyone's religion and personal beliefs left at home were they belong.
I see no indication that we're trending towards rationalism
All the Barna study indicates is that people are rightfully fed up with that bigoted attitude of the religious right towards homosexuals and a greater concern for poverty and the environment. Those are good trends, but they don't translate into more rationality.
rationality
What makes you think that your world view is rationality?
Rationality
First, you have to understand what the word means.
ra·tion·al·i·ty /?ræ???næl?ti/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[rash-uh-nal-i-tee] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun, plural -ties. 1. the state or quality of being rational.
2. the possession of reason.
3. agreeableness to reason; reasonableness.
4. the exercise of reason.
5. a reasonable view, practice, etc.
Next, you must have at least an average level of reading comprehension to understand the context in which the word "rationality" was used. Science rejects the supernatural and is a good example of people using rationality to understand the world around them. The bible is all about the supernatural and would be a good example of people using faith to understand the world around them.
Does that help Colonel?