The New Religion
On Point with Chris Papst
I used to believe that the acknowledgment of God was necessary in the establishment of a religion. However, after spending a few hours at a recent atheist protest, I now believe otherwise. Here’s why:
It seems like everything Harrisburg Mayor Linda Thompson does causes controversy. You would be hard pressed to find a local politician who gets protested more than she does. Part of the problem is that Harrisburg is in the middle of a financial meltdown, making her an easy target.
Recently, she publicly announced a three-day fast and prayer in which she encouraged others to partake. Many believe this biblical process can help the faithful overcome extreme odds via divine providence. The mayor hoped her fast would give her the guidance to lead the city out of its financial troubles.
After seventy-two hours of fasting, Mayor Thompson attended a public church service to mark the end of her sacrifice. Outside the church, a handful of atheists protested the mayor's actions. David Silverman is the president of American Atheists. He said their picket was spurred by the mayor's public promotion of a religious event; which he said is a clear violation of the separation of church and state.
Meanwhile, as the atheists protested the mayor, two Evangelicals arrived to protest the atheists. An older man in overalls parked his truck next to the curb, jumped onto his tailgate, and forced the word of God onto the godless. On the opposite sidewalk, his wife did the same.
As I watched this spectacle, I couldn't help but chuckle at the similarities between these two diametrically opposed groups. They both paced back and forth carrying homemade signs; they both appeared very rehearsed in their messages; they both blindly disregarded the other's opinions. But upon closer examination, I realized these two groups are far more identical than they are different.
Being curious, I could only watch for so long. I soon found myself engrossed in conversation with the nonbelievers. They informed me that during the July 4th weekend, the American Atheists will fly planes in most states with banners that say “God-Less America.” They are clearly well organized, much like their counterparts.
The president also informed me that atheism is the fastest growing group in America. But the question is: What kind of group? To make this statement more defined, there needs to be an adjective between the words growing and group. It's not the fastest growing political group or athletic group. What adjective would best fit?
Clearly, the Evangelicals actively persuade people into their belief system. But with their signs and chants, weren’t the atheists doing the same? I oftentimes see atheists standing on street corners handing out literature. What is their objective?
One protester even mentioned tithing. He said the church lures you in and then asks for money. “It's such a scam,” he said. Yet, I wonder how the American Atheists get funding. Wouldn't followers have to donate, also?
Those of us who believe in God have faith in God. Those of us who do not believe in God have no faith in God. The basic human yearning to believe in something is the same. And they clearly go about expressing, organizing and growing that belief in similar, if not identical, ways.
Is atheism a religion? Watching those two groups yell back and forth only proved how similar they really are. I also find it strange that beyond their many similarities, their one difference is enough to make them enemies. Although, it is a difference over which millions have fought and died.
Chris Papst is a two-time Emmy Award winning reporter for CBS-21 News. Follow him on Facebook and Twitter @chrispapst.
It seems like everything Harrisburg Mayor Linda Thompson does causes controversy. You would be hard pressed to find a local politician who gets protested more than she does. Part of the problem is that Harrisburg is in the middle of a financial meltdown, making her an easy target.
Recently, she publicly announced a three-day fast and prayer in which she encouraged others to partake. Many believe this biblical process can help the faithful overcome extreme odds via divine providence. The mayor hoped her fast would give her the guidance to lead the city out of its financial troubles.
After seventy-two hours of fasting, Mayor Thompson attended a public church service to mark the end of her sacrifice. Outside the church, a handful of atheists protested the mayor's actions. David Silverman is the president of American Atheists. He said their picket was spurred by the mayor's public promotion of a religious event; which he said is a clear violation of the separation of church and state.
Meanwhile, as the atheists protested the mayor, two Evangelicals arrived to protest the atheists. An older man in overalls parked his truck next to the curb, jumped onto his tailgate, and forced the word of God onto the godless. On the opposite sidewalk, his wife did the same.
As I watched this spectacle, I couldn't help but chuckle at the similarities between these two diametrically opposed groups. They both paced back and forth carrying homemade signs; they both appeared very rehearsed in their messages; they both blindly disregarded the other's opinions. But upon closer examination, I realized these two groups are far more identical than they are different.
Being curious, I could only watch for so long. I soon found myself engrossed in conversation with the nonbelievers. They informed me that during the July 4th weekend, the American Atheists will fly planes in most states with banners that say “God-Less America.” They are clearly well organized, much like their counterparts.
The president also informed me that atheism is the fastest growing group in America. But the question is: What kind of group? To make this statement more defined, there needs to be an adjective between the words growing and group. It's not the fastest growing political group or athletic group. What adjective would best fit?
Clearly, the Evangelicals actively persuade people into their belief system. But with their signs and chants, weren’t the atheists doing the same? I oftentimes see atheists standing on street corners handing out literature. What is their objective?
One protester even mentioned tithing. He said the church lures you in and then asks for money. “It's such a scam,” he said. Yet, I wonder how the American Atheists get funding. Wouldn't followers have to donate, also?
Those of us who believe in God have faith in God. Those of us who do not believe in God have no faith in God. The basic human yearning to believe in something is the same. And they clearly go about expressing, organizing and growing that belief in similar, if not identical, ways.
Is atheism a religion? Watching those two groups yell back and forth only proved how similar they really are. I also find it strange that beyond their many similarities, their one difference is enough to make them enemies. Although, it is a difference over which millions have fought and died.
Chris Papst is a two-time Emmy Award winning reporter for CBS-21 News. Follow him on Facebook and Twitter @chrispapst.
