IN THEORY:

Some observers are speculating that atheism is growing more acceptable and cite President Obama’s inaugural address in which he said the country is “a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus … and nonbelievers” as one example. Do you think there should be more outreach among religious leaders to nonbelievers, not so much to proselytize but to generate a dialogue?

?

Obama’s mention of nonbelievers as part of the populace is at least a great step forward from President George H. W. Bush’s comment that he didn’t think that nonbelievers should even be considered to be citizens of the United States.

In spite of the trend to evangelical religions over recent decades, most Americans are now becoming more accepting of other religions and the non-religious, since, among other things, it is now harder to ignore them. Until recently, most religions were so self-centered and localized that they essentially ignored the existence of other beliefs. The Southern Baptists pretty much controlled the South as the only well-functioning church organization. Now, with all kinds of immigrants, they have to face the fact that there are other kinds of churches with other beliefs. Active and rapidly growing organizations like the American Humanist Assn., the Center for Inquiry, and the Freedom from Religion Foundation represent atheist views and the rights of nonbelievers. These organizations have many goals that are similar to the goals of many churches, so dialogues are clearly in order.

Jerry Parks

member, Humanist Assn. of Orange County

?

There should always be open dialogue between faiths, secular or theistic. That is why I have loved this column. Nonbelievers are defined by Obama as atheists. They have faith that there are no gods. It is their faith system that makes sense of their world. Unfortunately, most atheists seem to be disgruntled former Christians, Muslims, or Jews and dialogue has to begin with getting beyond the barbs that stem from their wounds. Case in point is the movement in Europe to be unbaptized. Only someone wounded by the Church would seek something like that. Another case in point is being fought just as you are reading this column. Someone doesn’t like the fact that a church is renting a public facility, so they are fighting to have us removed from the facilities we have been in for more than a year. They didn’t call us to dialogue; they just went to the authorities. We have to ask ourselves the purpose for dialogue. Is it to become better neighbors, colleagues in fighting injustice, or proselytization? All of which are legitimate dialogues in the proper contexts.

Ric Olsen

Lead pastor, The Beacon

?

When President Obama included “nonbelievers” in his inaugural address, I don’t see it as an “endorsement” of atheism. The term “nonbelievers” is much broader than just referring to those who call themselves atheists.

Of course there should be “outreach” to nonbelievers.

Unfortunately, some religionists and atheists have had a confrontational relationship that has precluded calm and reasoned intellectual interaction. This is not as evident among the other categories of non-believers, and there is generally a “live and let live” attitude between those who profess a strong religious faith and those who don’t find religion very compelling in their daily life.

In some cases, “dialogue” has become debate, such as I attended recently at Temple Bat Yahm in Newport Beach between Dinesh d’Souza and Christopher Hitchens. These two eloquent advocates had a spirited presentation that probably changed very few from their already-held views but led to a better understanding of how these views conflicted.

There are many people who do not profess religious beliefs but who are caring and giving human beings who, working with believers, can have a positive impact on the world in which we live.

Interacting with those to whom religion is not important has never detracted from my enjoyment of their company. I only hope (pray?) that those without a faith in God are as filled with joy as I am.

Tom Thorkelson

Director of Interfaith Relations for Orange County