tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16594468.post5385143944608081239..comments2023-10-24T04:29:23.693-06:00Comments on Atheist Ethicist: On Secular and Sectarian SocietiesAlonzo Fyfehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05687777216426347054noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16594468.post-2044470910956826762007-10-18T13:45:00.000-06:002007-10-18T13:45:00.000-06:00KellySee On Calling Oneself 'Atheist' from two wee...<B>Kelly</B><BR/><BR/>See <A HREF="http://atheistethicist.blogspot.com/2007/10/on-calling-oneself-atheist.html" REL="nofollow">On Calling Oneself 'Atheist'</A> from two weeks ago.Alonzo Fyfehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05687777216426347054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16594468.post-24837144018060001832007-10-18T13:26:00.000-06:002007-10-18T13:26:00.000-06:00Do you think it's the actual word, "atheist," whic...Do you think it's the actual word, "atheist," which poses the problem?Kellygorskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07757767910101757133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16594468.post-40646801852729103352007-10-18T09:59:00.000-06:002007-10-18T09:59:00.000-06:00You are quite right.In terms of word association a...You are quite right.<BR/><BR/>In terms of word association and US politics, I think 'atheism' can come across as theoretical and ideological (not helped by the '-ism'), and doubtless there are still some negative connotations of 'godless communism' left over from the Cold War.<BR/><BR/>While I believe firmly in both, I think the promotion of secularism is vastly more important (and also more feasible) than the promotion of atheism.<BR/><BR/>I'd guess that ways of safeguarding secular government (dropping the 'ism' wherever possible) would involve pairing it with that guiding American ideal, freedom. It's about freedom of faith - a notion that sounds like it'll be good for the religious believers as well. Which it is.<BR/><BR/>It's about living in a country where 'big government' doesn't take sides and tell you what to believe.<BR/><BR/>(There's the obvious first amendment backing to quote, as well as the scriptural "render unto Caesar".)<BR/><BR/><I>My</I> main reason for being a secularist is that I don't want ancient, inflexible superstitious dogma getting its hands on the levers of state control. But maybe the flip side would be a better benefit to sell: that political power tends to corrupt, and faith is better off staying out of that fray.<BR/><BR/>Does Christian America really want to turn its priests into politicians - spin-doctors, poll-watchers, vote-grabbers?<BR/><BR/>But, as you say, there are some very strong countervailing voices to shout against.Tom Freemanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02997295899017354602noreply@blogger.com