Atheism, Assumptions, and Prejudice

It has been said that an atheist can never be President of the United States—because anti-atheism is so pervasive and strong. One prejudicial assertion is that atheists must be immoral because one cannot have morality without god. Do anti-atheist assumptions, prejudices, and discrimination exist in the Rogue Valley (and in the U.S.), and are people harmed?

The Jefferson Center invites members and guests to discuss ideas on the subject from 4 to 6 pm on Sunday, September 10, in The Jefferson Center in the Old Ashland Armory, in a roundtable discussion format. Very brief opening remarks and facilitation will be provided by the Center’s Program Committee.

This event is a continuation of our discussion in May about what it means to have “no religion.” The event drew a large turnout. Participants had a chance to share personal experiences, but time ran out before we could explore issues in depth. So please join us to continue the discussion, or to add your own perspective if you missed the May salon.

More than ever, Americans describe themselves as atheists, agnostics, or “nothing in particular” when surveyed about their religious identity (about three in ten, according to the Pew Research Center). But identifying as atheist or agnostic suggests that one has pondered concepts and practices, and made a decision not to be religious. Some non-religious people promote the idea that good critical thinking implies one should be atheist, or at least agnostic. One such person, arguably, was Thomas Jefferson. Nevertheless, prejudice against those choosing atheism remains widespread.
Because atheists have no belief in god, does it follow that they have no morals? Are atheists incapable of deep feelings such as awe and reverence? What do non-religious (or anti-religious) people think about faith, belief, and the source of goodness? Should non-religious people keep quiet about their ideas in order to avoid offending the religious—or to avoid being stigmatized?

The program will be held in The Jefferson Center space, suite 101, in the Old Armory Building, 208 Oak Street, in Ashland. Light refreshments will be served. This event is free and open to the public.

For more information, contact Sandra Coyner (coyner@sou.edu)