Posted on 03/05/2014 8:17:14 AM PST by Kaslin
Are atheism and promoting atheism consistent with American -- let alone conservative -- values and principles?
The operational policy of the American Conservative Union now appears to contradict Ronald Reagan's view on this.
Reagan believed atheism was not merely wrong, but the enemy of freedom. The ACU has functionally adopted the position that groups promoting atheism can be featured at its annual Conservative Political Action Conference -- so long as they promote godlessness with civility.
In the same 1983 speech in which he declared the Soviet Union an "evil empire," Reagan unapologetically spelt out the "ideals and principles" that brought him into politics.
"The basis of those ideals and principles," said Reagan, "is a commitment to freedom and personal liberty, a commitment that itself is grounded in the much deeper realization: That freedom prospers only where the blessings of God are avidly sought and humbly acknowledged.
"The American experiment in democracy rests on this insight," Reagan said, "its discovery was the great triumph of our Founding Fathers voiced by William Penn: 'If we will not be governed by God, we must be governed by tyrants.'"
CNN reported last week that American Atheists would be sponsoring a booth at this year's CPAC.
American Atheists' point of view is plainly discernable from its website, which features a recent press release applauding President Barack Obama.
"Obama's administration has recognized atheism as having a place at the table more than any previous administration," the group said. "There is still a lot of work to do, and we have a long way to go, but this is progress."
Explaining American Atheists involvement in CPAC, ACU Communications Director Meghan Snyder told CNN: "The folks we have been working with stand for many of the same liberty-oriented policies and principles we stand for."
In the same article, Family Research Council President Tony Perkins rebutted this contention.
"Does the American Conservative Union really think the liberties and values they seek to preserve can be maintained when they partner with individuals and organizations that are undermining the understanding that our liberties come from God?" said Perkins.
"If this is where the ACU is headed, they will have to pack up and put away the 'C' in CPAC," Perkins said.
Also in the same CNN article, American Atheists President David Silverman said: "The Christian right should be angry that we are going in to enlighten conservatives. The Christian right should be threatened by us."
By the end of the day, ACU had disinvited American Atheists -- not because it was promoting atheism but because of the way it attacked Christians.
"We spoke with Mr. Silverman about his divisive and inappropriate language," ACU Communications Director Snyder told Breitbart.com. "He pledged that he will attack the very idea that Christianity is an important element of conservatism. People of any faith tradition should not be attacked for their beliefs, especially at our conference. He has left us with no choice but to return his money."
William F. Buckley Jr., the founder of National Review, described atheism as the main enemy in his classic first book, "God and Man at Yale." "I myself believe the duel between Christianity and atheism is the most important in the world," said Buckley. "I further believe that the struggle between individualism and collectivism is the same struggle reproduced on another level."
Whittaker Chambers, an early senior editor for National Review, expressed the same view in his own classic book, Witness.
Ronald Reagan, the greatest American political leader of the 20th century, often cited Chambers -- including at CPAC.
"The crisis of the Western world, Whittaker Chambers reminded us, exists to the degree in which it is indifferent to God," the newly elected president told the 1981CPAC. "'The Western world does not know it,' he said about our struggle, 'but it already possesses the answer to this problem -- but only provided that its faith in God and the freedom He enjoins is as great as communism's faith in man.'"
"This is the real task before us," Reagan told CPAC, "to reassert our commitment as a nation to a law higher than our own, to renew our spiritual strength."
Two years later, in his Evil Empire speech, Reagan declared: "We will never abandon our belief in God."
"A number of years ago, I heard a young father addressing a tremendous gathering in California," said Reagan. "It was during the time of the Cold War when communism and our own way of life were very much on people's minds. He was speaking to that subject.
"Suddenly," said Reagan, "I heard him saying, 'I love my little girls more than anything in the world, but I would rather see them,' and I thought--oh, no, not that. But I had underestimated him.
"He went on: 'I would rather see them die now, still believing in God, than have them grow up under communism and one day die no longer believing in God,'" Reagan continued.
"There were thousands of young people in that audience. They came to their feet with shouts of joy," Reagan said. "They recognized the profound truth in what he had said."
Now the ACU seems ready to welcome the right types of atheist groups to promote their godless vision to the young Americans attending CPAC.
“Muslims are so sure they’re right that they will cut your head off for being an infidel. If you’re Jewish it’s even worse. Oh, and let’s not get started about the Mormons.
See my point?”
No.
The above doesn’t make sense. Judaism and Mormonism are worse than Islam?
Amen. God lives in our hearts. Just as He did and does in the Evil Empire, in which people are now again free to worship. God lived on in the hearts of man even though the godless Marxist dictators tried their utmost to extinguish Him.
Amen and thank you, Godly patriot!! Excellent post.
I doubt most atheists are truly atheists.
An atheist is “one who believes there is no deity.” That’s an unprovable statement of faith, whether they choose to admit it or not. The only way they could prove their belief is if they were God Himself, able to be everywhere and everywhen simultaneously, to confirm He’s nonexistent.
I think in reality most of them are agnostics, if they were pinned down.
But Reagan understood, like our Founders before him, that obedience to God is a national security issue. We were obedient for most of our history, conforming our laws to God’s commands, and we were richly blessed for that obedience, going from a tiny republic of 13 states to a continental superpower. Neither that obedience nor those blessings were accidents. But for the past few decades we’re rejecting God’s commands in favor of depravity, and those blessings have been withdrawn. Our formerly rich and prosperous nation is now teetering on the brink of bankruptcy. Neither that disobedience nor that wrath are accidents either. But the spiritually insane will never understand these things. They’re foolishness to them:
1Co 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
People who look at voting data know how silly that thought is, if you want big government voters look to atheists, if you want limited government voters, look to Evangelicals.
Atheists are devoted to liberalism, a conservative voting atheist, is a true rarity, and is an exception.
“Muslims are so sure they’re right that they will cut your head off for being an infidel. If you’re Jewish it’s even worse.”
Could you explain that claim regarding how the Jewish are even worse? Thanks
If they believe that there is no god that means they do believe
Spot on! This is exactly why the Left wants to remove God from the public square. Without Our Creator they get to decide what rights we do or do not have.
What I meant was to Muslims Jews are “worse” than Christians. Sorry if I offended. But I think the point that Muslims hate Jews is indisputable.
My point is that different religious sects will argue relentlessly that their way and their beliefs are the only righteous ones. It will never end.
Because it will never end and one side won’t sway the other...I believe it’s better to argue for limited government, lower taxes, pro gun issues, etc while leaving religion out of it.
There’s proof enough of the futility on this site. How many thousands of posts on Free Republic are devoted to Catholics arguing with Protestants?
How does any of that promote and/or advance the cause of conservatism?
“.I believe it’s better to argue for limited government, lower taxes, pro gun issues, etc while leaving religion out of it.”
What do you base your arguments on?
Exactly right, RedMDer!
I agree Jim. Again, I’m not a militant Atheist.
My point is this...religious bickering is pointless. It occurs daily on this site. Thousands of posts by Catholics and Protestants each claiming the other side is wrong and/or deluded.
How does that advance the Conservative cause? Even if all of a sudden all Christian branches suddenly put aside all their differences and agreed on everything...we still have over a billion Muslims that hate us and our taxes are too high.
I think we have a better shot at lowering taxes than we do of convincing Muslims, Mormons, Buddhists , etc that they’re wrong about god.
Again, I mean no offense.
Based on self determination. I know I won’t convince you that you don’t need god in your life to be moral. Just like a Muslim won’t convince you to convert to Islam right?
We can put all that aside. We can work together to promote what we believe in as it applies to practical government matters. In my opinion it doesn’t matter much how we arrived at our conclusions.
I am pro life, pro gun, pro limited government. I’m a 20 year military vet. I don’t believe in god. Don’t go to church. So what? I don’t care if you believe in god or go to church.
I care if you vote for Dems that will raise my taxes, limit my gun rights, flood my country with illegals, etc. That’s what we should concentrate on.
“Based on self determination.”
Why?
I try to avoid arguments between Catholics and Protestants.
Out of the races, Blacks are the most Religious, followed by Hispanics.
How are they voting Big Government vs Small wise?
Many of the founding fathers were atheists or agnostics. The difference was Franklin, Jefferson, etc. were respectful of the role religious institutions played in a culture. They respected and shared the same values as those who were religious.
Today’s militant atheists lack respect. They disrespect religion and they disrespect freedom. They are vile radicals. Even if they believed in god they would still be radicals opposed to freedom and American traditions.
Why do you avoid those arguments between Catholics and Protestants? I would surmise that you realize they’re a waste of time and you have better things to do. Just as you probably wouldn’t want to argue with a devout Muslim. Not out of any sort of fear or timidity, just that you know its pointless to try and change his mind.
Now, I bet you would argue with a Dem politician trying to ban guns or promote abortion right? Based on your track record I would recommend you to lead that argument 7 days a week. I would also surmise that 95 percent of Freepers feel the same.
My point is work with that common ground and we can get stuff done. If I support your cause - the cause of freedom, pro gun, pro life, limited government, strong military, lower taxes, etc...- does it matter where I go or don’t go to church on Sunday?
Keep up the good fight.
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