Many events within the last couple of years have shown that Atheism is being highly evangelized and glorified. There has been buses with logo’s that claim that “God probably does not exist” and also, “The Out Campaign” each preaching how great Atheism is and that the likelihood of God being so slight in their words that no one should be concerned because God probably does not exist.
And with atheists claiming that Atheism is not a religion, they can do things that Jews and Christians cannot. This claim by atheists that Atheism is not a religion is getting more and more difficult for atheists to honestly state because if they would just take a look at what [Atheism] is doing and an honest reading in a dictionary, they would understand that Atheism is a religion.
In “Atheism - An Atheist's Religious Denial of Faith in Their Beliefs” I showed how atheists practicing their religion of Atheism deny that it is a religion and how atheists go to extremes to deny the dictionary definitions of words like, religion, faith, belief, worldview and others which accurately describe Atheism its atheist beliefs. This article also pointed to the “American Atheists” web site which describes the religion of Atheism’s worldview agenda that atheists want to accomplish. In the article I also gave a few examples of how atheists within their religion of Atheism have started their own religious rituals for their, “coming out” ceremonies which directly mock and scoff at the Jewish and Christian ceremonies performed to worship God and Christ Jesus.
An “atheist coming out ceremony” is a type of Atheism religious ritual in which a person willingly chooses to come before a number of people who have chosen to deny God’s existence, to himself or herself openly deny God’s existence thus their “coming out” is a public statement of their Atheism religious beliefs. As with religious ceremonies in other religions, some atheists approve of and others do not approve of these Atheism religious ceremonies. Also as within other religions, those within the religion of Atheism do not always agree with everything being taught about their religion of choice. Most atheists just flatly deny that they participate in a religion stating that Atheism is not a religion.
One of the most notable parts of the religion of Atheism is the emergence of its religious symbol, a “Scarlet Letter ‘A’” which the people who deny God exists in the religion of Atheism proudly display that they are an atheist following in the religion of Atheism. The Scarlet Letter A is even referred to as a, “Red Badge of Courage” by some atheists. The Atheist’s Scarlet Letter A is a religious symbol which I predict will become more and more prominent as those who deny God’s existence band together to gain power as a religion to accomplish the atheist’s worldview vision of Atheism.
Both the Christian Cross and the Atheist Scarlet Letter A are religious symbols just as the Star of David is a Jewish religious symbol. The Christian Cross reminds the people following Christ Jesus of His suffering and dying on the cross for us all & that we should all do God’s will. The Atheist religious symbol Scarlet Letter A reminds the people who don't believe in God that they deny God exists and that they choose to do their own will. By the way, I did not make up the name “Scarlet Letter” for the “A” that atheists use to identify their religious cause in the religion of Atheism. I found the name at this website which sells the atheism identifying symbol in a variety of objects: http://www.cafepress.com/TheAtheistShops/6878246 It can also be seen on the “Coming Out” web site in proud display. (Christians, think of this for a moment: With the atheists persistence in denial of Atheism being a religion and that it is not at this date stated as a religion, the Atheism Scarlet Letter A can be and will be worn in schools where someone who wants to wear a shirt with the Jewish Star of David on it or the Christian Cross would not be allowed to wear it.)
My thoughts on Atheism’s religious symbol of choice are in, “A Tale of The Atheist’s Scarlet Letter ‘A’ of Atheism” below including how I imagine the Scarlet Letter ‘A’ became the religious symbol of choice for the religion of Atheism. The story I write below, “A Tale of The Atheist’s Scarlet Letter ‘A’ of Atheism” is purely from my imagination and anything that may be accurate to the real world (excluding the parts I leveraged noted at the end of the tale) including names and of how the Scarlet Letter A actually became the religious symbol of Atheism is purely coincidental.
A Tale of The Atheist's Scarlet Letter "A" of Atheism
Late one night in the not so distant past while at a rather large round oak table within an exclusive private club, two highly refined preeminent proud atheists sat sipping fine port from crystal glasses. The weather was warm though no windows were open and all the doors were shut. A faint aroma of Cohiba Lanceros cigars lingers yet no smoke is noticeable and the lighting was bright but not harsh.
Turning his head to face his friend Ray and placing his port on the table, Brandon declares that he is very aware, “It’s essential for us to be realized.”
In reply to Brandon’s revelation Ray states his declaration, “I have been thinking just that!” and then further queries; “Just what should it be to out you and me as atheists we decry Jesus Christ?”
They each reasoned and pondered along and hardly did their psychological state anguish it did deepened but then they both came to the same conclusion.
A symbol is needed one clearly seated which is one to distinguish our atheistic thoughts. It will represent Atheism and will enable us to be visibly seen. The Jews have their star and the Christians their cross and we need something like that too! Morning then came and so they left with no specific symbol in thought.
With Atheism’s need of a symbol in mind they each separately pondered the day for that one superior icon to clearly out Atheism placing it different than the rest. Then when night time came they gathered again and went over their musings in well order.
They culled the peace sign and the fish with its feet and a picture of Charles Darwin. They thought about Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens but a portrait just wasn’t right order. They scrapped crescent moons and alchemical views yet determined they kept mulling designs.
Over all of the hours they sat diligently each giving such great effort. Though to no avail they did make ‘til the third hour struck, when then suddenly came Ray shouting, “Eureka, I have it!”
Then Ray starts quickly explaining as Brandon keenly listens about Atheism’s new outing symbol:
“What better way for Atheism’s coming out day than for us to make a pronounced statement. The symbol we need needs to speak plainly indeed for each time that anyone sees it.
Our symbol is a symbol standing for our atheist beliefs that of true Atheism; that God does not exist, that Christ Jesus is myth and that atheists have all the answers. So to advance Atheism its symbol will state all in such a renounced fashion. For it is simple yet deep and it so surely echoes all that it needs to accomplish.
Our symbol of choice will be bold of course giving chance for someone to question. For in giving response atheists can freely state that Atheism has all of the answers.
Our symbol of choice Brandon, is no random choice as we’ve given this such prodigious thought. It smacks in the face the great Christian faith and the Jewish it taunts just as greatly. One tombstone for both our symbol of choice strikes hard at the core of each faith.
One day I dare say, may our symbol be much greater than either of theirs. For in every way we will forever say that our symbol is not of religion.”
Ray then so proudly declares as he almost yells, “Atheism’s symbol is a bolded red script uppercase English letter, ‘A’.”
“Brilliant!” Brandon proclaims then in some slight dismay inquires, “This red letter ‘A’ makes such a grand declaration? To this I must ask, just how is an “A” such a great statement over just that it is the beginning letter of both atheist and Atheism?”
Ray in all his concentrated discerning forgot Brandon’s lacking Christian understanding. So in explaining Ray continues disclosing what makes the red letter ‘A’ Atheism’s new symbol of choice and not just some passing fancy that could fade as logos on busses.
“Prudently listen Brandon, as this is its vital importance.” As Ray continues Brandon’s enlightening, “The Scarlet Letter "A" in Puritan days represented an act of adultery. It was used a punishment placed on those caught as a symbol of their so called sin—considered back then it was a red badge of shame—for all the community to see. When placed on those who had committed, it was a prudishly marking on those caught in adultery to live out their life as shown in Hawthorne’s great work.
You see this is it, Atheism’s meaning is clear, the ‘A’ as its symbol pokes fun at their religion and moreover is easy to conceal.”
Then Brandon replies, “I still do not cognize just precisely how this can be the Atheism symbol of outing, except in its squarely smacking their Seventh Commandment, I see nothing else in it fitting?”
“Our Scarlet Letter A all goes to this,” Ray so fondly states, “ and far way beyond that silly commandment. It severs the very fact of God’s so claimed loving act by our choosing freely in our partaking it. It accurately informs when Atheism’s Scarlet A is proudly exhibited that we are entirely against all the teachings of both Jewish and Christian faiths.”
As Ray leans inwards towards Brandon with his demeanor considerably more serious, he begins to further explain so that Brandon can know just what cleverness there is in Atheism’s innovative precious new symbol:
“Defined in the Bible that mythical gibberish is as stated by man God’s word on a so called Godly marriage between God and His dupes. Yes, throughout its pointless babbling it turns out in it that marriage is not just between, one man and one woman. Yet ‘tis too nonetheless, described in unmistakable detail of a marriage amid God and His chumps!
No Brandon, I’m not kidding nor joking at all. These religious fools actually believe, that there will be a marriage between them and their God, I say to thee!
Now stop your laughing Brandon and be attentive as you need to completely understand just how it is, that Atheism’s new symbol makes clear, that atheists don’t put up with their religious crap.
The Jewish and the Christian hold marriage to be held in honor and that the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for it is as they say, that fornicators and adulterers God will judge. Yet Brendon, we both know that their tireless drivel is nothing more than folklore mixed myth and that a marriage between their church and God or the Lamb as Jesus is also called, is purely their delusional fantasy.
With Atheism having the scarlet letter ‘A’ as its symbol, atheists are clearly saying, that atheists don’t live for mythology nor do they for fables, that that they say, ‘screw your so claimed, God!’ and that atheists choose to do what they will do when they want to do it without their pretentious God.
Both the Jew and the Christian so deeply believe their delusion and in their future marriage to God that Atheism’s symbol will be sure to slap their faces. In defiance of disgrace is Atheism’s wonderful symbol, Atheism’s Red Badge of Courage so to boldly shout loudly that Atheism is coming out along with flat out denial of their faith.
We will reveal its true identity to no one and will dismiss all claims as such as false. To you Brandon you must swear this to secrecy on the peer review board of our great science journal. For if this gets out that our symbol’s base is religious, it could cause us some great embarrassment and the waning of its powerful potential.”
To this both Ray and Brandon declare that they both do solemnly swear on their great science journal’s peer review board, that the symbol’s true meaning is secret, that neither will disclose its true meaning for as long as they both shall live.
Ray and Brandon at this point contrive the public tale of what the Atheism symbol is, concealing its true story for no else to ever know. Ray listens as Brandon reads the symbol’s fresh press release:
“Atheism’s Coming Out Press Release
Although we [atheists] will publicly display Atheism’s Scarlet Letter A, it is not a religious symbol. The Scarlet Letter A is an icon but not in a religious sense. It merely reminds atheists that there are other people who do not believe in gods, that we [atheists] aren’t alone in the face of intrusive and ubiquitous religion. The entire OUT campaign is to encourage atheists to be more public about a lack of belief in gods. We [atheists] can all benefit from dispelling silly rumors about us that only exist because of ignorance of what atheism is.”
“Now that’s the ticket,” Ray haughtily claims, “that will put Atheism in the forefront. Of every location and in every nation including the United States. We will continue to press Atheism as not a religion while we continue to gather and form. For as long as we can keep Atheism truth’s concealment we will have the means to be unstoppable.”
Ray more embolden continues to say, “It is time to let our atheist voices be heard regarding the intrusion of religion in our schools and politics. Atheists along with millions of others are tired of being bullied by those who would force their own religious agenda down the throats of our children and our respective governments. We need to KEEP OUT the supernatural from our moral principles and public policies. We need to put our Atheism agenda down the throats of those pesky theists especially into their children!”
Brandon then adds, “With our scarlet letter A in broad display (non-religious of course) Atheism has the in so to persuade those shut in to only hear what we have to say. We know Atheism is right and that there is no God in sight so we know He must probably not exist!”
Ray brings a toast, to commemorate Atheism’s new outing symbol; its scarlet letter A with all of its embodiment yet stealthy with hidden concealment. Both lifting a brandy up high, Ray begins the toast, “To our Scarlet Letter ‘A’ I dare say, its simply pure genius with unadulterated wisdom showing that we know all the answers and in keeping it non-religious we can stick it in everyone’s faces!”
At the ending of this atheistic heart wrenching discourse, both atheists filled with tremendous pride, Brandon and Ray sip their brandy completely then send out the press release.
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“The Scarlet Letter” by Nathaniel Hawthorne
Online sources for Nathaniel Hawthorne’s work; “The Scarlet Letter” and its analysis are:
*SparkNotes: http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/scarlet
WikipediA: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_scarlet_letter
I’d like to thank hoverFrog for a nice contribution to the tale in the press release. Thank you, hoverFrog!
I’d like to thank “The Out Campaign” for a nice contribution to the tale in Ray’s embolden continuance. Thank you, “The Out Campaign!”
Remember, Atheism is a religion and it is coming out to be a religion whether or not atheists want it to.
Note to the atheists reading this:
Writing to me about how I cannot write, punctuation errors, spelling mistakes, etc., is not something becoming of you. This type of reply/insult is only a ploy by atheists to demean someone and I give it no regard. An atheist does this because they have nothing more to say about the content yet is upset because the truth hurts when one denies it and then hears it. Also, I know that I cannot write that well.
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Genesis 2:24
For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.
Isaiah 61:10
I will rejoice greatly in the LORD, My soul will exult in my God; For He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
Jeremiah 16:9
For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: "Behold, I am going to eliminate from this place, before your eyes and in your time, the voice of rejoicing and the voice of gladness, the voice of the groom and the voice of the bride.
Matthew 9:15
And Jesus said to them, "The attendants of the bridegroom cannot mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them, can they? But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.
John 3:29
"He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice. So this joy of mine has been made full.
Hebrews 13:4
Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge.
Revelation 18:23
and the light of a lamp will not shine in you any longer; and the voice of the bridegroom and bride will not be heard in you any longer; for your merchants were the great men of the earth, because all the nations were deceived by your sorcery.
Revelation 19:7
"Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready."
Revelation 19:9
Then he said to me, "Write, `Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.' " And he said to me, "These are true words of God."
Revelation 21:9
Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and spoke with me, saying, "Come here, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb."
Revelation 22:6-19
Revelation 22:17
The Spirit and the bride say, "Come." And let the one who hears say, "Come." And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.
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John 3:16-21
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.
Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."
Those of this persuasion, deny God and bow down at the altar of their own intellect. They are a god unto themselves. God gave us an intellect to choose Him not to rebel against Him, but as we see in the record of Lucifer, God's very holiness demands justice. It is not our loving God's will that any man be lost. Every individual is free to make their own choice. God made a Way for justice to be served without the sinner taking the hit...Jesus Christ, His Son. If we, as individuals choose to deny Jesus, then it is we ourselves, who have declared the judgement upon our souls. Not God! We choose to endure hell rather than be reconciled to God through His Son, Jesus. To each his own choice. This is the reality of the atheist's declaration that these is no God. Does God love them? Without question! It's up to them. We, as Christians, who have chosen to believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God must stand in the gap for a world filled with confusion and stand in the gap for the atheist/unbeliever. Such as they are now, once were we. Pray! Use the whole armor of God spoken of in Ephesians 6 and use the most effective offensive/defensive weapons of warfare: The Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God and PRAYER!
Posted by: Katherine Russell | 08 November 2009 at 11:38 AM
Katherine Russell
Katherine, you are correct that those who do not accept God do so at their choice and do so through their choosing to ignore all the evidence there is of God’s existence by their choice to use their own understanding of creation thus they do indeed worship their own selves and ignore God. It is their God given free will to which they do their self-worship and it is their God given free will they use to not honestly seek to know the truth and their God given free will they choose to ignore all the facts. You are also correct in that we need to put on the armor of God as explained in Ephesians 6:10-20 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians%206:10-20&version=NIV
As followers of Christ Jesus, it is up to us to provide a solid picture of a true walk with Christ Jesus for everyone to see and recognize as different than the walk of those who are caught up into the worldly walk of materialism. We are as followers of Christ Jesus called to love everyone including our foes who do not believe in God and His only begotten Son, Christ Jesus. Matthew 5:43-48 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%205:43-48&version=NIV
The major thing we as true followers of Christ Jesus need to remember is that we are to love these people and respect the choice that they make even though we do not agree with their choice. As true followers of Christ Jesus we are commissioned to let everyone know the good news (Gospel) of Christ Jesus. We have to remember that we do not change anyone’s mind and we cannot change anyone’s mind. We can only be examples of how Christ Jesus was when He was first here and inform every person we encounter of the hope that they can gain through Christ Jesus. If these people do not want to hear any more from you about Christ Jesus, we are to respect their request. If however these people are distorting the good news of Christ Jesus, we are to inform them of their misunderstanding in a loving way. Matthew 24:4-14 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2024:4-14&version=NIV
Posted by: @GospelToday | 08 November 2009 at 02:34 PM
Sorry but you seem to have missed the point of both religion and of atheism.
Religion is a belief in and worship of a supernatural power. You choose to call this God or Jesus but other religious people define it as Ganesha or as Allah or in another way. Atheism has no such supernatural power or associated mythology. A religion can also be viewed as a structure to a faith in a supreme being. Any atheist could tell you that atheism lacks any kind of structure. Organising atheists has even been described as being akin to herding cats. As free thinkers we make our own decisions and agree or disagree based on our own views and opinions rather than on a central core or set of tenets.
Your bit of fiction does not make your assertion any more credible as I have tried to explain on my own blog and on friendlyatheist.com site. Atheism, very simply, is an absence of belief in gods. Any gods, not just the one or ones that you follow. It is not a denial of God but a lack of belief that your claim that your god exists is true.
In conversational terms you make the assertion that "I believe that God exists". The atheist position is "I do not believe that". Unless I am mistaken a Christian does not claim knowledge that God exists and does not state categorically that "God exists"? To do so invited the simply response of "where is your evidence?" or "prove it?" Your claim therefore is one of belief just as the atheist claim is one of belief and not one of knowledge. The difference is that your belief is stating something positively while atheism is treating your claim sceptically.
Conversationally I may say "There is no god" but what I mean is that I find no evidence for gods and do not believe in them and so dismiss any claims that there are gods until such time as compelling evidence or logic can be forthcoming. A bit of a mouthful, I think you'll agree which is why more often see the shortened "I don't believe in gods".
Should I labour the point or is the distinction clear? It is really a question of semantics but it colours how we go about discussing the topics of religion and atheism. If we can't agree on the meanings of these two terms then we should go back a step and address what we mean by gods and belief.
Do you agree?
Posted by: hoverfrog | 09 November 2009 at 09:13 AM
Hoverfrog no, I’ve not missed any points. You are just as the article states denying that Atheism is a religion. Using dictionary definitions of worldview, religion, faith, belief, etc. all describe Atheism to a complete religion with a worldview of faith in the belief that God does not exist. A religion doesn’t need any supernatural power to be a religion. Atheism is mainly based on the myth of Darwinian Evolution.
Posted by: @GospelToday | 10 November 2009 at 12:57 PM
Sorry for the delay in responding. I've left a detailed response on my own blog.
In short I'd just like to say that atheism is not a worldview that god (any god) does not exist. It may be easy to misinterpret the concept that "I don't believe in gods" to "Gods do not exist" but it remains a misinterpretation. Is it a faith position? Sure, why not? I have no faith in gods, whether yours or Huitzilopochtli. It is not a faith position in no gods though. If the distinction is unclear then I can elaborate further.
I agree. Buddhism has no inherent supernatural assumption but it is undeniably a religion.I disagree. Atheists have existed since religion has existed. Evolution is unrelated to atheism although it does tend to put certain Christian claims in a negative light.Posted by: hoverFrog | 22 November 2009 at 12:10 PM
hoverFrog, everyone has a worldview from which they view and understand the world. Your worldview has you see evidence in one way and my worldview may have me seeing the exact same evidence in another way.
You stated in my blog that, “A religion doesn’t need any supernatural power to be a religion.” and you also stated that you agree to that fact when you said, “I agree.” You also gave an example of this with Buddhism; “Buddhism has no inherent supernatural assumption but it is undeniably a religion.” This I agree with you that a religion does not need any supernatural power to be a religion however I disagree with you that Buddhism has no inherent supernatural assumption.
The Mahayana sutras which is a very broad genre of Buddhist scriptures hold that they are original teachings of the Buddha and has a supernatural aspect to it. Followers of Mahayana teachings hold that the teachings were given to, and preserved by, beings in other realms (either supernatural beings or Buddhas and Bodhisattvas on other planes of being). In general however, Buddhism is comparatively however has no inherent supernatural assumptions. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahayana_Sutras)
Note that if I wrote that Atheism as you put it in your comment on my blog, “is mainly based on the myth of Darwinian Evolution” I did a poor sentence structure as this is not what the religion of Atheism is mainly based on. The religion of Atheism is mainly based on the presupposition that God does not exist and Darwinian Evolution is the myth held to that many atheists hold without evidence as “proof” to say that God does not exist.
You make a common mistake that many atheists make in that you confuse religion with the existence of God. The two are mutually exclusive. God’s existence or not is not dependent upon any religion.
I agree with you that Evolution is unrelated to the religion of Atheism. It is the myth of Darwinian Evolution that atheists hold to as evidence to say that Christian claims are incorrect. Evolution is something we observe over time and can validate and is fact. Darwinian Evolution however is merely myth which has never been observed nor validated and is a myth that the religion of Atheism uses as fact without evidence of it occurring. Atheists tend to not properly state the difference between evolution which is observable and Darwinian Evolution which has never been observed. This lack of distinction is used to falsely promote evidence of observable evolution as that of Darwinian Evolution when in fact the two are mutually exclusive.
You stated on your blog, “Just for the record: atheism is a lack of belief in gods. That’s it.” That definition shows that you have a firm belief in something for which there is no proof (against God’s existence) and complete trust that you are correct to have a lack of belief in God. Your comment in my blog, “I have no faith in gods” along with the statement you made on your blog quoted above grouped with the way you believe and defend your position with such a strong conviction shows the faith you have in the religion of Atheism.
The Atheism system of beliefs you hold to with such ardor and faith displays as a personal set of attitudes, beliefs, and practices that you have demonstrated in my blog, on your blog and others which proves you are following a religion; specifically, the religion of Atheism. The fact that you are defending Atheism so greatly and have taken such a scrupulously and conscientiously faithful stance in defense of Atheism shows that you are a religious follower of the religion of Atheism. In fact, the continuing way you defend the religion of Atheism is expressing great devotion and piety to it which shows that you are a devout follower of the religion of Atheism.
The use of the words religion, religious, faith, and devout I have used all comes from proper us of and application for each of these words as they are defined on the www.merriam-webster.com website. Whether or not you agree or disagree with my application of these words is up to you. It all goes back to the worldview you have and the worldview I have that allows us to view the evidence at hand. A worldview is a set of beliefs that underline and shape all human thought and action. The question is not whether you have a worldview or not, but whether the worldview you are living by is a good one.
Posted by: @GospelToday | 12 December 2009 at 02:25 PM