MIA atheism 11-5-2017

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• mavo
• Leerjaar 2

Religion in the USA --> Atheism

• Preconceptions religion USA: Christianity
  
• Major religious influence:  Puritans
  

Boyer

“God had chosen the Puritans to create in America a new Zion. […] This deep-seated belief in America’s unique role in history would long survive.”

• This statement is in contrast to atheist beliefs

Today's masterclass

• Definitions
  
• Founding fathers
• Quiz time
• Outcast

Definitions

• What is atheism?
• “The disbelief or lack of belief in the existence of God or gods”
  

• Point of view or belief regarding the (non-)existence of God(s)
  

Definitions

• What is agnosticism?
  
• “A belief that states nothing is known or can be known of the existence of or nature of God.”
  
• An agnost claims neither faith nor disbelief in God(s)
• On basis of 'estimation'  of own knowledge

Atheism vs. Agnosticism

• Related to ech other, creating 4 sub-categories
  
• Belief-component of atheism ('I do believe' vs. 'I don't believe')
  
• Knowledge-component of agnosticism ('I know' vs. 'I don't know'
  

Confusion of atheism / agnosticism

• Vague distinction --> confusion and stigma
• religious people: atheists are people that say there are no Gods or: don’t believe in anything
• Not true: atheists simply don’t believe there is a God
  
• Stigmatisation --> outcasts and false statistics
  
• Most people in USA: agnostic atheists, meaning:
  
• Not knowing whether there is a God, therefore not believing there is a God

Atheism as a religion?

• Qualification as religion for First Amendment protection 
  
• Atheism takes a position on religion 
  
• Discrimination on the basis of religious belief extends to all beliefs about religion
• Normally considered as the absence, rejection or opposite of religion

Founding fathers and religion

What were the religious beliefs of the founding fathers?

Focus on George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, 

Benjamin Franklin, the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution.

George Washington

• Regularly attended church
  
• Spoke out about the virtue of heaven
  
• Refused to take communion
  
• No minister at his death bed

Thomas Jefferson

• Deist
• Did attend church
• Was labelled an infidel
• Wrote his own bible

John Adams

• Firm christian beliefs
  
• But also firm supporter of separation of church and state
  
• USA not founded on christian religion (Treaty of Tripoli)

Benjamin Franklin

• Very religious
• Raised puritan
• Later Deist
• Jesus isn’t God or Godly
• Rarely attended church

Declaration of Independence

• People created equal by their creator
  
• Protection of divine providence
  
• Deriving powers from men
  

US Constitution

• Article 6; no religion required
  
• 1st Amendment; no religion placed above others
  

• Founding fathers were not atheists  
  

• Separation of church and state
  

Quizzzz time!!!

How many atheists do you think there are in the USA?

1. 0-15%
2. 16-30%
3. 31-45%
4. 46-60%

American atheists are more likely to be

1. Male
2. Young
3. Female
4. Old

American atheists are more likely to be:

1. Black
2. Hispanic
3. White

American atheists are more likely to be

1. Republican
2. Democrat

How many atheists are there in US Congress (535 members)?

1. 0-20
2. 21-40
3. 41-60
4. 61-80

Feeling Thermometer:
0 (= cold, negative) - 100 (warm positive)

1. Jews                                       63
2. Catholics                             62
3. Evangelical Christians   61
4. Muslims                               40

How were atheist rated on the Feeling Thermometer?

45% of all American believes believe in God is necessary to
have good values.

Atheists in the closet?

Gervais & Najle (2017): 26% of the Americans is atheist.

Are you religious?

• How do you feel about atheism?
  
• Do you feel free to talk about your beliefs?
  
• Do you know of someone having been kicked out because of relious differences?
  

Colder feelings

Warmer feelings

Thinking for yourself

• No hard statistics concerning teens kicked out
• No hard statistics concerning atheist discrimination
• LGBT-style 'coming out'

Thank you for your attention!