What do you think of the new Christian political reeducation tactic, demonizing atheists as Satan's equivalent

Answer 1

It's just a typical response to the narrow mindedness of some peoples beliefs. Peace...

Answer 2

When a political party engages in propaganda demonizing a segment of society there are only two motivating factors: fear and scapegoating.

Scapegoating works well as a unifying tactic because the X people are usually suspicious of the Y people simply because they wear different hats or eat a different part of the pig. Getting all of the X people together can be a real pain in the ***. However, getting them together under the banner of disliking the Y people is usually pretty easy. Once they realize that they have a common enemy, it's usually "game on."

Another step in the process is to eliminate the progressives. These are usually the artists and intellectuals, people who can appeal to other people. Atheists, with our habit of asking questions fall into this category. Demonizing thinking and making being smart a bad thing go hand in hand with uniting people even further.

I think that we have plenty of historic precedents for this sort of thing and I'm not surprised at all.

The big difference is that now all of us artists and intellectuals and atheists and Jews (well, you know they're going to go after the Jews too) have access to instantaneous communication. This is something that no demonized group has ever had before. It may or may not be enough to turn the tide.

Answer 3

I agree with the first respondent - this isn't all that new. It's still despicable, though. Unfortunately, it seems to be very effective - large percentages of religious people see atheism as disqualifying a person for public office, for example (see reference), and the false notion that morality requires spirituality or even religious belief is prevalent here as well. It seems that many and perhaps most Americans think that it's utterly obvious that atheism directly implies immorality or amorality, despite the obvious evidence to the contrary.

This shouldn't surprise us too much - it's what religions do. Since religions are based on false beliefs (gods, life after death, etc.), they need to form systems of demonizing nonbelievers and of distracting from their own shortcomings. Religions that do those things effectively will persist, and those that are more tolerant, willing to admit to fault, and considerate of reality will inevitably disappear. If you want a great read on the topic, try Daniel Dennett's new book "Breaking the Spell".

Answer 4

What do you know I found Jim Darwin again
When did a real Christian become political, Jesus said my kingdom is no part of this world. Meaning that these world governments were not part of the new world where Jesus will rule.
I believe in seperation of religion and government
At least atheists are not as likely to go to war. Thinking this life is all there is. Actually Satan uses false religion to enable the governments to do terrible things.

Answer 5

I have noticed no such thing. Most of us who believe in God, gods, or a god...simply pity atheists. The only reeducation tactic I ever noticed was the lie of moral equivalence promoted in our vaunted halls of higher learning. An atheist is simply out of touch with the spirit and all the life that fills the world. A atheist is like a person who has gouged-out their own eyes. Pitiful.

Answer 6

The Bible tells us in the book of Romans that for someone to understand the spiritual things, we must be guided by the Holy Spirit. And when it comes to the spiritual "ground", you are either with God or against God. There is no middle ground. See, society is like a river going down-river. You don't have to do anything to backslide and go to your doom, but if you want to save yourself you have to work and go against the flow. The Bible also tells us that who ever is a friend of the world make himself an enemy of God. It also tells us in Romans 1:17 till the end of the chapter that nature shows us that there must be a God. If we see a building, we know that it didn't just appear, someone built it. The same concept goes with nature, someone built it and that was and is Jesus Christ. People that can't see that have been blinded by Satan, but as long as they are alive, God is giving them a chance of repentance and forgiveness.

Answer 7

Can you offer us any evidence that this is the "new Christian political reeducation tactic"?

Answer 8

I think that it is the Christian new hope of attempting to prevent a greater number of people from resorting to atheism as a means of religion. The religions are somewhat afraid that the greater number of people believing against God might prove the non-existance of God, and therefore they are trying to have a new "religious awakening" to prevent this from happening.

Answer 9

It's not new...and I think only someone who does not value others would try to make such a claim.


edit...my post didn't come out right...I was talking about it being wrong for theists to claim atheists are somehow immoral Satan minions.

Answer 10

It always boils down to me being satanic when I as an atheist try to discuss logically that which is christianity. Might as well make it their official stance.