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"They lose their jobs"
"They get divorced"
"Friends leave them"
This is how the show starts out, describing the experience of atheists in the USA.
Wednesday, 6th of May the Norwegian radio series Ekko had a show concering intolerance towards atheism in various countries. The show guests Didrik Søderlind and Hallgeir Elstad. Didrik Søderlind is an advisor of Human-Etisk Forbund (a major Norwegian Humanist organization), and in the show represents an atheist point of view. Hallgeir Elstad is a professor of theology at the University of Oslo, and provides information about historical and current context and trends.
Link (Norwegian)
I will give a summary of some of the points brought up in the show. Note that I try to give an accurate reflection of what is said, even though I may not agree with it:
"They get divorced"
"Friends leave them"
This is how the show starts out, describing the experience of atheists in the USA.
Wednesday, 6th of May the Norwegian radio series Ekko had a show concering intolerance towards atheism in various countries. The show guests Didrik Søderlind and Hallgeir Elstad. Didrik Søderlind is an advisor of Human-Etisk Forbund (a major Norwegian Humanist organization), and in the show represents an atheist point of view. Hallgeir Elstad is a professor of theology at the University of Oslo, and provides information about historical and current context and trends.
Link (Norwegian)
I will give a summary of some of the points brought up in the show. Note that I try to give an accurate reflection of what is said, even though I may not agree with it:
- Avijit Roy, a Bangladeshi-American blogger and atheist, advocating a secularization of Bangladesh, was hacked to death by a machete-wielding mob in its capital, 26th of February 2015. One month later another atheist Bangladeshi blogger was killed.
- Didrik Søderlind says that 13 states have death penalties for atheism. This is mostly if not entirely in muslim-majority countries, and is attributed to the traditional intepretation of Islam where apostasy is punished with death. Many muslim nations have a more moderate approach, and a survey is cited finding that only 6 percent of Turks support a death penality for atheism.
- Didrik Søderlind cites Maldives as a muslim nation where it has become illegal to be atheist in recent times. This is attributed to rising Islamism across the muslim world.
- Didrik Søderlind briefly mentions that people in Eastern Europe are sceptical of atheists due to association with former communist regimes.
- Hallgeir Elstad explains hostility towards atheism as in general due to religion's role as an important element for cohesion in societies. People who reject religion are therefore seen as a threat to the integrity of society. Didrik Søderlind agrees with this.
- Didrik Søderlind cites Odd Grythe (Norwegian journalist 1918-1995) saying that the Humanist worldview is about proving that you can be an alright human being despite not believing in God. This is however not so critical in today's Norway, and people are perhaps more intolerant towards a conservative religious worldview. Now you need to prove that you are a good human being despite a conservative religious worldview. There is also a greater expectation that you are able to give good reasons for your faith.
- Hallgeir Elstad agrees with this. We have removed ourselves from the idea that morality comes from religious faith, and he thinks this is good.
- Didrik Søderlind says that in seven US states, atheists are not allowed to hold public offices.
- Didrik Søderlind says that he really attempted to be believe in a God, was unsuccessful, and have become comfortable with his atheism. He also describes himself as an agnostic, because he does not believe he can assert that there is no God; he likes the uncertainty that provides, and believes it stops him from becoming an "arrogant atheist" stereotype which has become prominent in recent years.
- Hallgeir Elstad mentions that atheism has in many instances been used as a negative descriptor.
- In outlining atheisms historical background, Hallgeir Elstad starts with Buddhism, and argues that it is important due to not elevating deities to any central position. More important to Norway's philosophical development has been the Greek philosophers, Epicurus and Socrates, due to questioning the dogmas of their times. Modern atheism first became prominent in the Age of Enlightenment, emerging from the elevation of reason above religion.
- Didrik Søderlind says that it is difficult to outline the history of atheism due to atheists having held a low profile.
- Hallgeir Elstad notes that it is relatively easy in today's Norway to distinguish between faith and daily life. However, religion has previously been very tightly intertwined and permeated all parts of society, so that people have found it difficult to distinguish rejection of faith with rejection of social institutions. He gives as example how the public school system in Norway implemented part of the Church's religious education up into the 1960's.
- In discussion about intolerance towards atheism in the USA, Didrik Søderlind points to surveys which have shown that many Americans have less respect for atheists than rapists, and that many Americans believe that faith in God is necessary for morality.
- Didrik Søderlind explains American religiosity as in part due to the lack of public social security nets, which creates an essential role for religious communities and charities. He notes that due to this some American atheists have been motivated to create atheist "congregations."
- The host brings up New Atheism as a response to a wave of religiosity during the 1970's. Hallgeir Elstad describes the movement as centered around a few personalities, the most well-known being Richard Dawkings. It is more ideological and aggressive, resembling religious proselytism.
- Didrik Søderlind says he has never liked New Atheism, regarding it as aggressive and stigmatizing. He finds it resembling of older, "sulphur-smelling" criticism of religion and mentions Arnulf Øverland. He believes New Atheism has not had a big impact in Norway because Norwegian Christians are relatively moderate, sensible and scientific.
- Hallgeir Elstad agrees with this. Norwegian Christians do not see a conflict with science and religion. New Atheism addresses a more fundamentalist Christianity.
