I would like to point you all to a really great piece on today's CBS This Sunday Morning about Atheism.
Atheists: In godlessness we trust
It was reported by Mo Rocca, who I must admit I have a fondness for, and this piece did not disappoint.
Among the subjects: a man who lost his family and job.
"Because around here, people are taught that morality comes from religion. So if you don't have religious beliefs, then you must not be a moral person."
And a black Atheist who talks of the pervasive religious presence within the African American community.
One man attending said, "Once you say 'I'm an atheist,' all the doors start closing. You can hear 'em."
Thomas told Rocca, "They often feel isolated, and so we help with that. You know, we don't want anybody feeling that they're alone in this."
One man said, "Among our community, the black community, what's the first thing women say they're looking for? A God-fearing man."
No surprise: Almost half of all Americans say they'd be unhappy if a family member married an atheist.
These are the types of stories those of us in the Secular community hear a lot about, but few outside ever come across.
The piece also includes Todd Stiefel, an active member in numerous Secular organizations including Foundation Beyond Belief, a secular charity organization, and how the group Openly Secular focuses more on changing public opinion on Atheists.
"It's about changing hearts and changing minds," said Stiefel. "It's about people realizing that we are somebody you don't need to fear. We're somebody you don't need to distrust."
Though brief, I felt this piece really gave a good impression of what it is like to live without belief, and especially some of the social costs that go along with it, something that even more in-depth pieces have a hard time conveying.
We often associate the idea of people being shunned by their community for leaving the religion to fringe religions like the Amish, or Jehovah's Witnesses, but it happens a lot in Atheism too. Hence, the language of being "in the closet" now comes up a lot when talking of Atheism, as well.
One of the hardest things about the conflict between Religion and Secularism in America is getting beyond the shouting matches over who is wrong and who is right, who has suffered more and who has been wronged more. What there needs to be is a way for both groups to find a comfort zone where each can feel engaged without feeling threatened by the other. The reality, though, is that for this ideal to be reached, one of the important message that must be conveyed is simply what it is like to live without religion with this country, and how it can be difficult at times, and why. This piece on an early Sunday morning TV show, though but one small piece in the continuing culture clash, does a good job of moving it along.