Is this the eve of a new age of independent thought? Or is this the end of it?

Question

I see books written by Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens that state an argument against the mass groupthink of Christianity that would have had them thrown off the stage 20 years ago, but today are welcomed and in some quarters even embraced.

Then on the other hand you see the political landscape further flowing towards Evangelical beliefs. The Republican party has for years been married to the church, but now even the Democratic Presidential candidates have to do the dog and pony show of attending faith conferences, squinting their eyes and praying to the Blond haired blue eyes messiah that wants to give us hugs. We may even elect a man who wears magic underwear to the temple and is part of a church that didn't view blacks as capable of handling elder duties until the 1970's. But, hush hush, we wouldn't want to press him about that. That would be offensive.

Are we getting better or worse? Or perhaps just more divided into competing groups?

By the way, I apologize in advance to whomever may be offended by this legitimate question.

Answer 1

One thing comes to mind and that is they have more money behind them, money=power..opens many doors.

People are frightened, the earth is changing (climate change) probably more natural than we are led to believe though. Life seems out of control to many.

Fear, instill fear and they will rule the masses..give them hope and they will follow you...hmmm 'Hitler(ish) isn't it.

Independent thought, what fear can an atheist instill...what hope..

Religion is a mighty myth, and a powerful tool for a fragile population.

Answer 2

I think the world is become much more skeptical in the existence of God. And America is a little ways behind. However, we're catching up. The Christians seem more prevalent because their leaders are intelligent. They are standing right in front of the light to make their shadow bigger. It is an intimidating illusion, but they are delaying the inevitable, as far as I'm concerned. Science will catch up with God and the Bible. Some Christians will never open their eyes to it, but future generations that are exposed to logic instead of religion will carry the torch. Maybe American science can be taken seriously again. (All this creationism bull is leading the way in the "look how ignorant America is" campaign.)

Answer 3

It is very difficult to decide, I admit. As an agnostic living in the Bible Belt, I have been truly pleased to discover so many nonbelievers here on Answers. Conversely, I recognize the political hypocrisy necessitated by the great majority of the American populace's being "Christian". I would hope for a "New Age of Independent Thought" but not with any real optimism! We who are nontheists remain tremendously outnumbered by the religious who either hate us or yearn to convert us! We must remain strong in our skepticism!

Answer 4

I'm more worried about the mass groupthink of the mass media. Christianity has been around for 2000 years and would obviously not be responsible for a newly emergent trend. Tv is I think particularly pernicious.

Answer 5

Thought and imagination are the creation of God and these are good things. The discoveries of our time are the result of God's goodness not the result of man's own design. God wants men to think on the edge, yet all he asks is that man commit his thought through belief and faith in him. This is where your hero's had missed the path. They were so close too. All the incredible imagination and education they possessed was just one final step away from the great discovery. God is real and he is the designer of all things.

Answer 6

It's getting frighteningly worse. Serious questions about religion and how beliefs will play a part in making decisions for you and me may be asked, but not passionately, and they are ignored. It's too easy to not answer and get away with it. Most media are only concerned with getting the story first... not getting the story right, and we will all suffer because of it.

It is a turning point.

Answer 7

"Then on the other hand you see the political landscape further flowing towards Evangelical beliefs"
I don't agree with that statement. The evangelical movement is struggling to keep its numbers up (not necessarily because of the surge of freethinkers). If anything, they're just getting louder.

I do agree that it is absurd that a declaration of atheism or agnosticism is political suicide.

Answer 8

I'd like to think it's the dawn of a new age and the Internet is influencing things a lot. There are still a lot of religiously delusional people out there who still insist that their particular delusion is the only true one and these people can and do influence politics that affect all of us, some would say out of proportion too.

Answer 9

It's neither the beginning nor the end. It's not the alpha and it's not the omega. "Independent thought" (as you call it) will continue to thrive as it has ever since the beginning of time. Independent thought exists only in relationship to Group Think, Conformity and Collectivism. As long as we have mass brainwashing, we will always have indivualist and independent thought. One is the right hand of god, the other is the left hand of god.

Answer 10

Well, people never did and never will think independently, in general. It just is not part of the social nature of humans.

Look at the Iraq War situation. Most people say they are against it. Yet most drive as much as ever. The thinking which exhibits itself despite what people say is group think.