Atheist evangelism: ‘Nothing new under the sun’

[rug]

Claude Fischer, professor of sociology | 11/19/13

Atheists are getting evangelical and congregational, bemused press reports would have it. There are the international bus ad campaigns – “Why believe in a God? Just be good for goodness’ sake,” in the U.S., and “There’s probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life” in Richard Dawkins’ Britain.

More recently, a global effort, perhaps tongue in cheek, landed in the U.S. to provide “Sunday Assemblies” with the music and the community of churches, leaving out the God of churches .

Then, there is the Chicago ceremony that “christened” babies Carl, Heinrich, and Martha in a totally irreligious (and socialist) ceremony. Oh, but that happened in 1884.

Historian Bruce Nelson’s article on ir- and anti-religious working-class movements in late 19th-century Chicago, as well as other research, serves to remind us that widespread irreligiosity, aggressive anti-religious social movements, and even fiercely secular institutions are not new.

http://blogs.berkeley.edu/2013/11/19/atheist-evangelism-nothing-new-under-the-sun/

[cbayer]

1. Interesting history. Seems new atheism actually has deep roots.

[rug]

2. The biggest difference I see is that it used to have solid working class roots.

[cbayer]

3. and more of a social movement than it seems now.

[dimbear]

4. For century after century, men dreamed that someday they would fly through the air, travel under

the sea, even go to the moon, perhaps conquer the plague. Just fantasy, of course.
Obstacles can't actually be overcome.