What role do ATHEISTS play in a highly Theistic society? How does the role differ in a Non-Theistic society?

Question

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Looking at the society as a whole, what role do atheists fulfill when they are a small minority (such as the US)?

How does this role change in a strongly Non-Theistic society (such as much of northern Europe)?

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Answer 1

We are like the warrior ants in a colony, we whip back people in line when necessary.

You wouldn't want a President who believes God ordered him to start the Apocalypse. Better to whisper to him, once in a while, that there is no after-life, just to keep him afraid of death.

We give the reality checks when it becomes necessary. Right now, atheits, agnostics and all non-believers are figthing hard to keep science laic. Creationism is a plague that would undermine science and biaise all the knowledge, compromising the advancement of society in time when humanity desperatly needs pure science for survival (global warming, risk of meteore impact and the various probable disaster scenarios).

We also prevent the rise of zealous thinking, leading to religious open conlficts (witch hunts, beliefs in satanic groups, jewish plots to take over the world [Oh, the humanity!] religious civil wars, etc.) by forcing people to rationalize situations and accept cultural diversity.

Answer 2

Everybody else beat me to it: in a theistic society, they keep religious fundies in check.

In a non-theistic society, I'm not sure. I'm from the U.S. - how would I know? [bitter smile]

Answer 3

purely they won't be able to. they're manipulative, controlling, unfavorable innovations. they have completed some good, yet lots of undesirable as properly. Secular Humanism can do extra good than faith, using fact we've self assurance in fellow guy and we will help them could they fall.

Answer 4

I certainly can't say what position an atheist fills in another society, but in the US our primary full-time job is one of keeping theists, mostly Christians, from over-running the government and dictating its' domineering ideas of morality on the whole of American society. It's as if there is no end to their selfishly myopic, hypocritical view of civilization.

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Answer 5

Well, from a Christian point of view, they are vital to keeping Christians in line. Nietzsche is still important to us and to disregard the moral sentiments of atheists is to be all the poorer for it.

Answer 6

We are a kind of conscience...a pin-pricker of sorts, reminding the religious of areas they could improve upon and to alert them to the fact that they aren't the only religion on the planet and when they whine and scream for their religion to have special consideration...there are many others out there who would like the same thing and they might not like it if they got what they wished for.

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Answer 7

We're the last vestiges of sanity in an insane, dogmatic world.

Answer 8

our role is to bring sanity to society - we're intellectual watchdogs

Answer 9

For us Christians, largely a source of entertainment.

Answer 10

We hate you for REASONS. That's it, really.