Your Thoughts Exactly

Because at YTE we're all about fulfilling our reader's desires, I'm fielding yet another request from the audience to write about atheists' rights. Perhaps I should capitalize that- that'll make it more important- Atheists' Rights!

First, what is meant by atheist rights? Simply put, atheist rights are the freedom to choose any religion and not have it be used against you. It's a simple definition of equality, similar to those of the civil rights movement in the 20th century (I just like writing that, it sounds historical) and of the gay rights movement now. In that sense they are the same- just as minorities should not be denied rights on the basis of their skin color and gays on the basis of the sexuality, atheists should not be treated differently on the basis of their nonbelief in God. There are a few out-and-out anti-atheist laws on the books- I think Texas doesn't allow atheists to run for office. Those obviously have to be struck down. Other subtle things, too- like kids shouldn't be subjected to prayer in schools, creationism. And the Ten Commandments doesn't really belong in government offices, despite the universality of it. There are other things too... if you can think of any, go ahead and comment on them.

But it's not just simply religious freedom that we're after here. In mainstream America, the attitude has mainly been that- "We don't care what religion you choose as long as you pick one." It's the kind of attitude that had a FEMA spokeswoman saying "A prayer is not necessarily religious. Everybody prays". (which the article points out, offends both atheists and religious people. Nice job.) And it's the kind of attitude that put the words 'under God' into the pledge of allegiance; and that lets Bush Sr. say things like- "No, I don't know that atheists should be considered as citizens, nor should they be considered patriots. This is one nation under God."

But we can't, as atheists, pretend that this fight is the same as the ones that will come before it. And I say 'will come', because it isn't our time yet. In a time when intelligent design is still on the debate table, and gay rights are still being questioned, we can't possibly think the US, or most of the world, (though I hear the Czech Republic is nonreligious), is ready to let godless heathens in as equals. It's why we as atheists, and as human beings, should be concerned about things like gay rights even though we may not be directly affected by them. And it's why people who were involved in the Civil Rights Movement should be able to see that this is all just more bigotry. But it isn't that simple. While there are parallels, there are differences too.

The gay rights opposition points to the Bible as its fallback position. Nowhere in the Bible does it say we should disrespect blacks or hispanics. But it does point out that homosexuality is a sin, and that's good enough for them. The Bible is the end of the argument. And, they add, it's not like we are locking them up and punishing them- all we are doing is 'preserving the sanctity of marriage'. So it's easy to rationalize denying gay marriage. But just becaues you're violating a small portion of someone's rights doesn't make it OK. And that's the same fight that atheists will have to fight later on, because we aren't being actively oppressed like the blacks were in the 1950s.

But even gay marriage is a rallying point for both gays and right-wingers- it allows them to fight over something. That isn't something atheists will necessarily get. It's hard to fight against invisible ceilings. And in that regard, I believe that the atheist fight will mirror the feminist fight still going on right now. In large part, there are few barriers to women's rights in the US- women are in the Senate, House, CEOs of major corporations, etc. But there still exists an undercurrent of resistance to the ideal of full equality for women. It's why women still only get paid something like 76 cents on the dollar compared to a man. It's why there isn't a closer to 50-50 split in Congress, and it's why female executives can't get promoted at points. I think atheists will run up against the same type of resistance. There's no law that says an atheist can't be President- but nobody sane would bet on that anytime soon.

Lastly, there's an issue of fairness. It could never be argued by a modern person that minorities or women deserved to be discriminated against. But that very argument will be posed against atheists. In fact, they will put forth the argument that discriminating on the basis of belief is the only fair test- that they are judging what's on the inside, not what is superficial. It's an argument put up only lightly in the gay rights movement, because most agree that people cannot choose their sexuality. Only the really right wing condemns the gay rights movement simply because they are gay. There will most likely be a much larger condemnation of atheists for being atheist.

So we're facing a few fronts to fight against, and a lot of history lessons as well. The marginalization of our cause, because we aren't really denied much in the way of rights, mirrors the gay rights movement. And so does their fight against the Bible, because nonbelief is the greatest sin of all. The invisibility of this cause mirrors the current feminist movement, where there isn't necessarily a good issue to rally around. We demand that an atheist has the right to the presidency! The opposition will say; 'Sure- put an atheist candidate out there. Good luck.'

So in many ways we'll be fighting the same old fight- that of equality against an oppressive majority. But in a lot of other ways there will be new challenges, some that are still going on today. Perhaps we can learn from what is going on with civil rights now to help us later. But one thing is certain- it will be a fight. Because the one thing we do know from history is that they aren't going to give us these rights because they recognize their own bigotry. No, they'll say- atheists are different. And maybe we are, but we'll at least be ready.