Some 15 percent of Americans claim no religious affiliation, up from 8.2 percent in 1990, according to Trinity College's American Religious Identification Survey, released in March. Also, the American Humanist Association claims 20,000 financial supporters. That marks a doubling from five years ago, says spokeswoman Karen Frantz.Yeah, fine, knock yourselves out. But it's this bit of silliness that's the reason for this post:
Sounds just like a bit of silly publicity seeking, I suppose, but the article notes that there is a bit of a split in the non-belief movement as to the value of ritual:In Florida, atheists are pioneering a new ritual: de-baptism. Since last year, American Atheists' Florida state director Greg McDowell has been donning a mock clerical robe and officiating at services where family and friends come to watch the baptized renounce their baptisms.
The events spoof baptisms by using blow-dryers in the place of baptismal waters. They culminate in certificates for the "de-baptized" and letters to churches requesting that the names of those de-baptized be removed from baptismal rolls.
Rituals need tradition behind them to make them compelling, so deliberately created new ones always seem a bit, um what's the word I need? - naff is the best one that comes to mind.In some ways, the lack of structure or ritual has been a defining characteristic of atheist groups. McGowan notes that many atheists bristle at ritual because it feels too religious or superstitious. American Atheists' Mr. Silverman insists, "there are no rituals with us."
But America's 27 Ethical Societies, which attract many nontheist attendees to their humanist "platforms," or services, see growing interest in rituals, ranging from children's education to weddings, according to membership chairman Thomas Hoeppner.
Through ritual, "you build up not just common intellectual values, but the emotional and personal connection with people," says Mr. Hoeppner, a member of the Ethical Humanist Society of Chicago. "That's what it's all about."
2 comments:
Seems a bit odd, and I agree with your conclusion, though I was told a while ago that at the time when atheism really was burgeoning - late Victorian England - atheists really did have non-God churches and rituals as a kind of 'replacement' ritual.
I wonder to what extent the radical iconiclastic acts of successive waves of Christians (the early puritans, for instance) are comparable to the 'non-traditional' rituals of these folk. You could argue they at least hold one motivation in common - that is, a cynicism about the meaning behind certain ritual gestures.
I don't think I have ever heard of Victorian atheists having their own "church" (weren't they at risk of having their buildings burnt to the ground by an outraged mob?), but the Nazi attempts to create whole new post-Christian rituals is fairly well known.
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