Which is worse - atheism or religion? This question has the ring about it of “How long have you been beating your wife?” Still it does not preclude ordinary and intelligent people from being lured into an entirely unfruitful (yet entertaining) discussion of who is uglier and less likely to be asked to the prom.

    The always fitful Richard Dawkins recently (October 11) addressed  the Atheist Alliance International in Northern Virginia regarding the "preposterous nonsense of religious customs" and compared religion to racism. In a sense Pope Benedict responded tit for tat on November 30 with his latest encyclical “Saved by Hope,” criticizing atheism for leading to some of the “greatest forms of cruelty and violations of justice” in history. Instead of laying the blame squarely at the feet of an eternally conflicted humanity both Dawkins and Pope Benedict take the somewhat liberal ideal to heart that things can be made better if we just get rid of the other guy’s pesky religion, including the “religion” of atheism. One wonders why such a strategy has not been espoused before.

On the issue of atheism vs. religion a series of articles came out recently in the media regarding what Americans prefer insofar as the religiosity of their president is concerned. A Newsweek poll earlier this year found that 91 percent of Americans believe in God with atheists account for 6 of the remaining 9 percent (no explanation is given for the missing 3 percent).

    That percentage of course has remained steady for over half a decade.  In 1950, according to Gallup polling, about nine tenths of Americans said they believed in God. Thus it is not at all remarkable that a more recent Pew Research Center Poll found the 53 percent of Americans distrust atheists - which one would assume includes presidential candidates.

    The truly weird part of these surveys is that people who say they themselves are not religiously observant see religious commitment as an asset for a presidential candidate. Even atheists feel more comfortable under the leadership of a religiously devout president. Why?

    In some respects Mike Huckabee, the former Baptist preacher now turned presidential candidate, explains why in his recent remarks regarding his fellow presidential contender Mitt Romney. "I think it's a matter of what his views are - whether they are consistent, whether they are authentic, just like mine are," Huckabee told NBC's "Today." "If I had actions that were completely opposite of my Christian faith, then I would think people would have reason to doubt if this part of my life, which is supposed to be so important, doesn't influence me. Then they would have to question whether or not there are other areas of my life that lack that authenticity as well.”

    Following Huckabee’s reasoning, perhaps religious commitment is viewed favorably by even those who lack that commitment because it is seen as lending itself towards consistency and authenticity. One can see why such baseless assumptions drive Dawkins to such fits in his recent book The God Delusion. But while Dawkins is always quick to get prickly when such charges are laid at the feet of atheists (or “brights” as he likes to call them) he is just as quick to level the same kind of sweeping accusations against religion.

     Are atheists really more likely to perpetuate the greatest forms cruelty and violations of justice than those who are religious? Are the religious really more likely to perpetuate nonsense and racism? We really don’t seem to be going anywhere with either argument. The bottom line is that Dawkins and Pope Benedict are usually on firmer ground defending their own ideology rather than attacking others.

David Hale

Links

http://www.crosswalk.com/news/religiontoday/11555847/

        (Oct 11) Science must ultimately destroy organized religion, according to some of the leading atheist writers and intellectuals who spoke at a recent atheist conference in Northern Virginia. God is a myth, and children must not be schooled in any faith, they said, at the "Crystal Clear Atheism" event, sponsored by the Atheist Alliance International. Some of the luminaries who spoke at the conference, held at the Crown Royal Hotel in Crystal City, Va., over the weekend, included Oxford professor Richard Dawkins, author Sam Harris and journalist Christopher Hitchens. The Atheist Alliance International describes itself as "the only democratic national atheist organization in the United States."

           Atheists are still a small minority in America. A Newsweek poll earlier this year found that 91 percent of Americans believe in God. Atheists account for 6 of the remaining 9 percent and no explanation is given for the missing 3 percent. A more recent Pew Research Center poll found that that atheistic 6 percent to be among the most distrusted people, with 53 percent of Americans holding an unfavorable opinion of them.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5haiQZR_YU8VrQObSZP1AJEJCR1awD8T86D280     

        (Nov 30) Pope Benedict released his latest encyclical, “Saved by Hope,” in which he criticized atheism for leading to some of the “greatest forms of cruelty and violations of justice” in history. However, he also criticized modern Christianity for focusing on individual salvation rather than salvation for all.

http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=138197&ac=PHedi

         (Oct 4) Atheists – organizations and groups – are becoming more vocal lately.  Newsweek puts the count of American atheists at about 6% of the population.  This article examines why some people are atheists, some stereotypes about them, and why the church-state separation in America is a win-win situation for atheists and non-atheists alike.

 http://www.crosswalk.com/news/religiontoday/11555847/

         (Oct 11) Atheists are still a small minority in America. A Newsweek poll earlier this year found that 91 percent of Americans believe in God. A more recent Pew Research Center poll found that atheists were among the most distrusted people in the nation, with 53 percent of Americans holding an unfavorable opinion of them

http://www.universalpressagency.com/Faith-On-The-Rise-in-U-S-Elections_a13829.html

          (Sept 20) There are some (perhaps) surprising results in the latest Pew poll on religion and politics. The poll found that seventy percent of Americans want a president with strong religious beliefs and that they are comfortable with discussions about religious subjects during election campaigns. The survey also reports that people who say they themselves are not religiously observant see religious commitment is an asset for a presidential candidate.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22129738/

          (Dec 6) Mike Huckabee, who was a Southern Baptist preacher before entering politics, said Thursday that Mitt Romney's religion has no bearing on whether he would make a good president. "I think it's a matter of what his views are - whether they are consistent, whether they are authentic, just like mine are," Huckabee told NBC's "Today." "If I had actions that were completely opposite of my Christian faith, then I would think people would have reason to doubt if this part of my life, which is supposed to be so important, doesn't influence me. Then they would have to question whether or not there are other areas of my life that lack that authenticity as well.”

More Links

http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2007&m=November&x=20071129181439xlrennef0.121731

            (Nov 29) Showing that diverse religious beliefs can all exist peacefully in the workplace, Texas Instruments has embraced two religion-based employee networking groups: the Muslim Employees Initiative (MEI) and the Christian Values Initiative (CVI). Both work to facilitate understanding and tolerance in order to reduce conflicts both in the workplace and outside. According to the chair of CVI, the two groups have developed “mutual trust, appreciation and affection that bridges spiritual divides.”

http://www.abpnews.com/2897.article

            (Nov 29) An American Baptist theologian has become the first African-American woman to be elected president of the American Academy of Religion, the nation’s largest professional society for religion professors. Emilie Townes, the Andrew Mellon Professor of African-American Religion and Theology at Yale Divinity School is described as a woman of strong faith and a strong voice encouraging black women to enter the ministry and theological education.

http://www.oecumene.radiovaticana.org/en1/Articolo.asp?c=170568

            (Nov 29) Pope Benedict has replied to the open letter, sent to the Vatican and other Christian leaders by a group of 138 Muslim scholars in October, inviting a group of them to meet with him in the Vatican. In the invitation, Pope Benedict expressed appreciation for the positive spirit of the Muslim scholars and their commitment to promoting peace in the world.

http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5jlagweKH16wAg5TQQ3GMD5vL4fWg

            (Nov 29) Canada’s highest court is considering whether Alberta is violating the religious rights of Hutterites by requiring them to be photographed to obtain driver’s licenses. The Hutterite Brethren is a Christian sect who fled Russia in the early 20^th century, and has traditionally been exempted from the photo requirement because of their belief that willingly being photographed is prohibited by the second of the Ten Commandments.

http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Friday/National/2097329/Article/index_html

            (Nov 29) Umno Youth chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein has urged calm in response to the Hindu Rights Action Force’s (Hindraf) recent accusations concerning the Malaysian government.  Hindraf claims that the government is being backed by Islamic terrorists and is also guilty of carrying out ethnic-cleansing and a mini-genocide of the Indian population. Hussein stressed that the sentiments were illogical and do not represent the entire Indian community. 

http://www.punjabnewsline.com/content/view/6806/92/

            (Nov 29) The Sikh community of Houston, Texas came together to organize a parade dedicated to World piece on ths birthday of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikh religion. The event marks the first time that all the local Sikh organizations and Gurdwaras in Houston came together to propagate the teachings of their founder.

http://www.thepoint.gm/headlines2544.htm

            (Nov 29) The Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at in The Gambia announced yesterday that efforts to translate the Holy Qu’ran into three of the country’s main languages have been successful. Muslims can now read the Qu’ran in Mandinka, Wollof and Fula. The Jama’at added that the translation is part of a larger effort to spread the knowledge and understanding of the Holy Qu’ran and Islam among Muslims worldwide.

http://www.openpr.com/news/33102/Cesidian-Church-urges-support-for-canonization-of-Descartes-or-Cartesius.html

            (Nov 29) The bishop of the Cesidian Church has declared that the church has beatified Rene Descartes for the discovery of analytic geometry, his first miracle of human thought which has been the basis for many other miracles. In the declaration, the bishop also made public the church’s intention to canonize Descartes as a saint. The Cesidian Church was established in 2001 and became a legally chartered church in 2007.

http://www.indcatholicnews.com/trees435.html

            (Nov 30) Cardinal John Njue of Kenya has urged all Catholics to plant trees as part of the Catholic Church’s concern and respect for the environment. The Green African Foundation, in response, has donated 10,000 trees to the Catholic Church.

http://www.ippmedia.com/ipp/guardian/2007/11/30/103352.html

            (Nov 30) At a symposium in Dar es Salaam this past week, an emphasis was made on the role religious leaders have in fighting against HIV-Aids and the abolition of stigma and discrimination in society. In addition, the symposium noted that issues of human rights, gender inequality and social injustice must be addressed if the stigma and discrimination is going to be dispelled. Unfortunately, many religious leaders have been equating HIV/Aids to the sin that afflicts non-believers and those who have fallen short in their moral duties.

http://www.cbn.com/CBNnews/278413.aspx

            (Nov 30) In what could be near despair, Osama Bin Laden has appeared in a new video in which he calls on Europeans to stop helping the United States in the war in Afghanistan. In the tape, he describes two injustices visited upon Afghanistan: that the war was waged against the Afghans without right, and that coalition troops have not followed the “protocol of warfare.” In addition, Bin Laden claims that the U.S. should not have attacked the country because he alone was responsible for the attacks on the U.S., and derides European nations for following the U.S.

http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/6401

            (Dec 1) The National Secular Society in Europe has claimed that the non-religious population is increasingly disadvantaged in the political process. According to the organization, the secular politicians are being affected by the increasing religious influence on moral matters in EU institutions, especially in issues concerning the beginning and end of life as well as sexual matters. In recent months, Christian, Muslim and secular spokespersons in Europe have all claimed disadvantage and discrimination by each other.

http://media.www.dailyvanguard.com/media/storage/paper941/news/2007/11/30/2007HolidayIssue/Forget.Jesus.How.About.ObiWan-3123833.shtml

            (Nov 30) According to the 2001 census, 0.7% of England’s population claimed their religion was Jedi, an alternative religion from the Star Wars movies for those who want something different. Other alternative religions discussed are the Church of MySpace, the Ministry of the Tube, Portlandologists, and the Church of the Sub-Genius.

http://www.statesman.com/life/content/life/stories/faith/12/01/1201greensermons.html

            (Dec 1) The Interfaith Power and Light movement has 130 member churches in the southeast United States who will begin a two-month series of sermons on the duty of Christians concerning the environment. The Interfaith Power and Light movement works to engage the faithful in environmental activism and overcome distrust many of them have of science. According to one participating pastor, they are attempting to create a proactive atmosphere and hope that other churches will follow their example.

http://www.app.com.pk/en/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=22240&Itemid=2

            (Nov 30) Muslim scholars from all over Britain have met in London to debate a voluntary code of conduct for mosques, imams, and Islamic cultural centers. The code of conduct would institute regulations designed to deter extremist scholars and give the Mosques and Imams National Advisory Board say over which foreign students and teachers would be allowed to visit Britain for study or preaching.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5haiQZR_YU8VrQObSZP1AJEJCR1awD8T86D280

            (Nov 30) Pope Benedict released his latest encyclical, “Saved by Hope,” in which he criticized atheism for leading to some of the “greatest forms of cruelty and violations of justice” in history. However, he also criticized modern Christianity for focusing on individual salvation rather than salvation for all.

http://www.baptiststandard.com/postnuke/index.php?module=htmlpages&func=display&pid=7143

            (Nov 30) Christians in Ghana have asked for help from Baptist congregations in Texas to train them in starting new churches. According to one Christian from Ghana, 15 of the 75 people groups in Ghana have not received the gospel. The Ghana Baptist Convention has also asked for people to offer financial aid as well as help with short- and long-term ministry opportunities in Ghana.

http://mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=local&newsid=59614

            (Dec 1) West Begnal’s former royal family has discontinued its century-old tradition of animal sacrifice during religious occasions after a sustained campaign by an animal welfare group. The decision has apparently reached remote corners of the country and many others have stopped the traditional sacrifices.

http://mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=local&newsid=59612

            (Dec 1) The British teacher in Sudan who was arrested after her students named a teddy bear Muhammad has been found guilty of insulting religion, inciting hatred, and showing contempt for religious beliefs. She has been sentenced to spend fifteen days in jail. The British Foreign Minister, David Miliband, has expressed his disappointment that the charges were not thrown out due to the innocent nature of the misunderstanding.

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=df349c8c-a5cd-469d-afd2-1dc2ab3bb525&k=16470

            (Nov 30) At least 1,000 Sudanese Muslims took to the streets, shaking their fists, waving banners and ceremonial swords, demanding death for the British teacher who allowed her students to name a teddy bear Muhammad. A number of protesters chanted “No one lives who insults the Prophet.” There were no reports of violence.

http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article24973

            (Nov 30) The Sudan Human Rights Organization Cairo Office has released a statement urging the release of the British teacher who allowed her students to name a teddy bear Muhammad.  The organization believes the incidient was an academic affair onducted in good faith and has condemned the Sudanese government for deliberate politicization, enlarged media publicity, and intrusion into academic affairs to incite religious hostilities.

http://allafrica.com/stories/200712010045.html

            (Dec 1) Egypt’s ruling party is increasing becoming the target of criticism after controversial fatwas have been issued by the grand imam of the Al-Azhar Islamic establishment. Critics argue that the state is using the fatwas to achieve political ends. One critic goes so far as asserting that the grand imam’s role is now limited to justifying the regime’s behavior.

http://www.news-record.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071201/NRSTAFF/71201005

            (Dec 1) Questions continue to be raised about the separation of church and state – in this case, about the endorsement of religious beliefs of police officers in their patrol car. A man sitting in the rear of a patrol car recently saw a sign between the front and rear sections reading “Jesus is your savior.” The police officer apologized for any offense and deputies have been told to confine personal items to the front of patrol cars. That may not be enough, though, since the officers are working as government employees and the cars are government property.

http://www.religiousintelligence.co.uk/news/?NewsID=1255

            (Dec 1) The Archbishop of Canterbury has invited Christian and Muslim scholars to meet in Singapore to examine issues of current interest from a religious perspective. This will be the sixth annual meeting, and will include discussion of religion-based care and responsibility for the environment. The conference is being hosted by different departments and groups from the National University of Singapore.

http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Isolate-communal-forces-in-West-Bengal--Buddha/243615/

            (Nov 26) West Bengal’s Chief Minister has reiterated his plan to get rid of all religious divisive elements within the country, claiming that allowing trouble in the name of religion and casteism will spell doom for the country. In addition, he noted that creating job reservations for religious minorities will not solve low representation within government positions. Instead, he called for facilitating increasing higher and professional education for minority groups.

http://www.thesequitur.com/content/view/1847/43/

            (Nov 27) A teacher at a British school in Sudan has been arrested and jailed on charge of blasphemy after she allowed her students to name a stuffed teddy bear Muhammad. Sudanese officials claim the crime carries a punishment from jail time to public lashing. The teacher says the choice of the name had nothing to do with religion, and all she wanted to do was help her students learn more about bears.

http://www.ohio.com/news/break_news/11860056.html

            (Nov 27) A national insurance company is being sued by fair housing groups in Washington D.C. for religious discrimination after offering special deals for “churchgoers and people of faith.” The company says the suit is baseless because the deal is available to everybody, there are no religion-related eligibility guidelines, and nobody has been denied the product based on church membership or attendance.

http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/article.php?enewsid=89706

            (Nov 27) A new global campaign called “Stop killing and stoning women” has been started by the international organization Women Living Under Muslim Laws. The campaign is aimed at stopping the intensifying trend of cultural and religious legitimization of lethal violence and oppression against women, not just in Muslim societies, but throughout the world.

http://www.thenewanatolian.com/tna-29738.html

            (Nov 26) The Turkish government is on the threshold of creating historic reforms for the country’s Alawite population, including hiring Alawite clergy as religious staff affiliated to the state and including Cem houses as temples. The country’s Alawite population is estimated to be between five and twelve million and incorporates aspects of both Shi’a and Sunni Islam as well as traditions of other religions. The Turkish Government currently considers Alawism a heterodox Muslim sect.

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/theuae/2007/November/theuae_November725.xml&section=theuae

            (Nov 27) A number of Christian leaders have responded to the open letter sent in October by 138 leading Muslim scholars and clerics by embracing the chance of peace and asking for forgiveness for the harmful actions in the name of Christianity in the past. The authors spoke of how love of God and love of neighbor is central to both Islam and Christianity.

http://www.radionetherlands.nl/news/international/5534571/Indonesia-bars-professor-from-Islam-conference

            (Nov 28) Indonesian authorities have stopped an Islamic scholar from speaking at an international conference in East Java, despite having been invited to do so.  The action comes after the Ministry of Religion received numerous threats from radial Muslims, who view the scholar as a traitor to Islam.

http://www.jta.org/cgi-bin/iowa/breaking/105519.html

            (Nov 26) As many as 15,000 right-wing demonstrators converged on the Western Wall this past week to pray for the failure of the coming talks in Annapolis. Demonstrators included nationalists who oppose ceding any biblical land to the Palestinians as well as conservatives concerned that dealing with a weak Abbas could bolster Hamas. In the Gaza Strip, Hamas also held an alternative conference reiterating its claim to continue fighting until it has all of Palestine.

http://www.cnsnews.com/news/viewstory.asp?Page=/Culture/archive/200711/CUL20071121b.html

            (Nov 21) Plans to amend the Venezuelan constitution, which would lead the country farther towards socialism, have increased the divide between President Chavez and the country’s church leaders. Among the changes include the elimination of presidential term limits. The proposed changes have split the country and lead to protests among the populous, some of which have become violent.

http://www.anglicanjournal.com/100/article/south-american-province-opens-arms-to-dissenting-canadian-parishes/

            (Nov 22) A new ecclesiastical structure may be formed by conservative Anglican and Episcopal churches, in Canada and the U.S., who disagree with the liberal direction other parts of the churches are going. The split may occur if the churches fail next year to sign an international covenant of agreed points of faith that conservatives find acceptable. In addition, an Anglican province in South America has said that it will accept conservative Canadian Anglican churches that are in serious theological dispute with their dioceses or with the national church.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jgS9FSyV3gSjErN5vP5V0ca_wYkgD8T63GTG0

            (Nov 27) The Dalai Lama has announced that the a referendum will be held before he dies so that the Tibetan people can decide whether a new system of leadership will better serve their struggle for self-determination. The proposal would be a major change to the traditional system of finding and identifying the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama as political and spiritual leader.

http://www.570news.com/news/national/article.jsp?content=n1127133A

            (Nov 27) A 14-year-old girl was forced to leave a soccer game in Calgary for wearing a hijab. The referee was claimed that he was only following the rules and regulations for safety reasons. However, opponents believe there was more to it, asserting that women around the world play all kinds of sports wearing hijabs. According to the related rule, “a player must not use equipment or wear anything that is dangerous to himself or another player (including any kind of jewelry).”

http://africa.reuters.com/top/news/usnBAN853162.html

            (Nov 28) The U.N. has reported that Muslims in Angola lack key religious rights and are stigmatized by the media and government officials. The report asserts that their current situation is the result of a perceived link to international terrorism and crime. However, the report includes mention that Muslims are not the only religious minority that suffers, as many  religious minorities also suffer from Angola’s restrictive laws on freedom of belief and worship.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/11/28/2103784.htm

            (Nov 28) Several pigs’ heads, including one displayed above an Australian flag, were found at the site of a proposed Islamic school in southwest Sydney. The chairman of the Community Relations Commission has called the act a disgraceful presentation of religious hatred.

http://www.theindiancatholic.com/report.asp?nid=9333

            (Nov 28) A large number of Christians in India have announced that they will participate in a dharna at Jantar Mantar as part of a demand for equal rights for Dalit Christians. The country’s Dalit Christians are considered untouchables, plus, they do not get benefits of affirmative action because they are Christians. This particular dharna will only last three hours.

http://www.christianpost.com/article/20071128/30256_Christian_Divorce_Trends_Fuel_Debates.htm

            (Nov 28) Debate over whether Scripture allows the separation of marriage partners continues to grow as more evangelicals show acceptance of divorce and remarriage. A Barna Group survey from 2004 reported that the percent of born again Christians who have experience divorce is the same as the number of married adults who are not.

http://www.agi.it/italy/news/200711281325-cro-ren0030-art.html

            (Nov 28) Pope Benedict has issued a statement acknowledging that Christianity should not be presented as a European religion. He noted that Christianity spread from Jerusalem to both the west and the east, and that in countries like Persia and India, it developed in its own way. The Pope expressed his belief that the Eastern Church has a lot to offer Christians in the West.

http://www.mnnonline.org/article/10623

            (Nov 28) A trial has begun in Turkey for men accused of murdering three Christian workers. The case will prove a significant sign as to whether Turkey is serious in its desire to tackle persecution. According to the article, the Turkish constitution includes freedom of religion, but worship services are only permitted in buildings created for that purpose, construction of buildings is restricted for minority religious groups and Christians face harassment for evangelism.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hqKWr1rj1uJtKu4mpxZmyR5hTF4AD8T6U7K00

            (Nov 28) Saudi Arabia has announced that it has arrested 208 suspected terrorists and thwarted several planned attacks. Saudi Arabia has been cracking down heavily on al-Qaida militants since 2003. Among the plans were attacks on an oil installation and attempts to smuggle eight missiles into the country for other terrorist operations.

http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/6375

            (Nov 28) A UK-based Christian charity has began selling a nativity set that includes the Israeli Separation wall, because the wise men would not be able to make it into Bethlehem right now. However, the wall is removable in case there is future progress in the Middle East talks.

http://www.christianpost.com/article/20071128/30246_Australian_Archbishop_Calls_Anglican_Court's_Approval_of_Female_Bishops_'Shaky'.htm

            (Nov 28) Sydney’s Anglican archbishop has expressed disappointment in the Australian Anglican Church’s recent decision to allow the ordination of women as bishops. In contrast, he is declining to recognize women’s Episcopal bishop orders and their priestly duties. A new organization, the Association for the Apostolic Ministry, has been set up to help address those who feel aggrieved about the issue.

http://www.christiannewswire.com/news/396434875.html

            (Nov 28) 1,000 Orthodox Rabbis have appealed to the leaders of the 40 countries participating in the Annapolis peace conference as well as world leaders of Christian and Muslim groups around the world, expressing their desire that the number one priority of the talks should be the sanctity of Jerusalem. In the statement, they assert that “if it is called Jerusalem by any party, it should be totally devoid of anything, which would offend any of the religious sensibilities of the major faiths.”