Some observers are speculating that atheism is growing more acceptable and cite President Obama’s inaugural address in which he said the country is “a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus … and nonbelievers” as one example. Do you think there should be more outreach among religious leaders to nonbelievers, not so much to proselytize but to generate a dialogue?
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Obama’s mention of nonbelievers as part of the populace is at least a great step forward from President George H. W. Bush’s comment that he didn’t think that nonbelievers should even be considered to be citizens of the United States.
In spite of the trend to evangelical religions over recent decades, most Americans are now becoming more accepting of other religions and the non-religious, since, among other things, it is now harder to ignore them. Until recently, most religions were so self-centered and localized that they essentially ignored the existence of other beliefs. The Southern Baptists pretty much controlled the South as the only well-functioning church organization. Now, with all kinds of immigrants, they have to face the fact that there are other kinds of churches with other beliefs. Active and rapidly growing organizations like the American Humanist Assn., the Center for Inquiry, and the Freedom from Religion Foundation represent atheist views and the rights of nonbelievers. These organizations have many goals that are similar to the goals of many churches, so dialogues are clearly in order.
