You’d think from recent world events fundamentalism is on the rise.
From the Islamic extremism that brought us the September 11 attacks and the Bali bombings, to the Christian fanaticism that has driven the Bush White House to the Zionism that has created so much fun in Israel for so long.
After all, in America a whooping 71% of adults are certain there is a God or some sort of universal spirit, 17% are fairly certain, and only a tiny 5% don’t believe in anything*.
It would be impossible, for example, to become US President if you didn’t at least say you believed in God – more specifically the Christian God.
Yet in Europe, God is dead and secularism has a firm hold. And in Australia census figures show us secularism is rock solid – about 6 million Australians, or 30%, have no religion.
Even former PM Bob Hawke was an agnostic – it just wasn’t an issue.
But Obama’s election in America may be a sign a decidedly unreligious era is about to be ushered in. In a recent speech on faith he actually mentioned the unmentionable – unbelievers.
He called for “Christian and Jew, Hindu and Muslim, believer and non-believer alike” to work together. (Incidentally, Obama’s mother was a card-carrying atheist and many say he is too.)
But some Americans won’t be waiting for Obama’s lead.
All over the country groups are springing up whose objective isn’t to sell people beliefs, unproved notions, or ‘life solutions’ – but quite the opposite – to make them un-believe. To make them think for themselves.
American atheists (I know it almost sounds like an oxymoron) have gone on the offensive.
Next time you’re in L.A. don’t be surprised if you see a giant billboard with “Don’t believe in God? You are not alone”. Next time you’re in Washington D.C. don’t be astonished to see a bus with “Why believe in god? Just be good for goodness’ sake.”
If you’re in Wisconsin don’t be amazed to see signs reading “Beware of Dogma” or “Imagine No Religion” or “Reason’s Greetings”.
Don’t gape in disbelief if you’re listening to the radio and hear an ad read by Ron Reagan, son of the former President, which signs off “Ron Regean, lifelong atheist. Not afraid of burning in hell.”
These faithless heretics have even raised enough money to hire their own Congressional lobbyist and membership in local and national associations of non-believers has been growing.
From the community-based groups like the Pennsylvania Nonbelievers, The Kansas City FreeThinkers and the Secularists of Sacramento, to the national bodies like the American Humanist Association and the Secular Coalition of America.
These groups don’t just rabble-rouse. One group recently rebuilt a women’s shelter, others hold monthly walks and weekly coffee house meet ups.
One even offers a family friendly Freethought Day each year which features roving magicians.
And next month atheists, humanists, freethinkers and secularists will gather in dozens of cities to mark the holiday they call HumanLight, where they’ll sing Humanist Hymns, decorate winter wreaths and light candles dedicated to personal heroes.
It may not be much. But it’s a start.
Maybe not enough to steal the headlines away from the more dramatic show that fundamentalisms unfortunately give us every day. But enough to give you hope.
* Poll conducted by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life 2008
