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.
I told you I’m not going to convince you and you won’t convince me. It’s more important that we share a common ground. The argument itself is a waste of time. Where does it end?
I don’t know what religion you are. Let’s say you belong to a Protestant denomination (again, not trying to offend you. For the sake of the argument your specific religious belief doesn’t matter).
I ask you why? You proceed to write a 10-page explanation of your beliefs about Jesus and everything else. Let’s say you convince me and by the common parlance I become “saved”.
What about the Catholics? What about the Mormons? The Muslims? The Buddhists? IT NEVER ENDS.
I choose to wait and see and live my life minus all that bickering.
The Evangelical vote is almost 80% republican and they are the real social conservatives, not the small portion of the population who are black.
No on can explain black voting, but it doesn’t change the facts of social conservatives voting right, and social liberals voting left.
Social liberals are owned by the left, the anti-God people are owned by the left, because they make up and lead the left, they create and run the organizations of the left and the democrat party.
That's a falsehood taken as "truth" by far too many.
 |
 |
 |
In the chain of human events, the birthday of the nation is indissolubly linked with the birthday of the Savior. The Declaration of Independence laid the cornerstone of human government upon the first precepts of Christianity. -- John Quincy Adams
As to Jesus of Nazareth, my opinion of whom you particularly desire, I think the system of morals and His religion as He left them to us, the best the world ever saw or is likely to see. -- Benjamin Franklin
The Bible is a book worth more than all the other books that were ever printed. -- Patrick Henry
I do not believe that the Constitution was the offspring of inspiration, but I am as satisfied that it is as much the work of a Divine Providence as any of the miracles recorded in the Old and New Testament. -- Benjamin Rush
Whatever makes men good Christians, makes them good citizen. -- Daniel Webster
Advancing atheism is a path to a sure end of freedom, the left owns the atheist vote.
What happens to a person when they become an Evangelical? It usually means they start voting conservative.
You’re mistaking differences among individual beliefs with the foundational basis for conservative philosophy and the founding principles of the US.
You’re really all over the place.
What I’m getting at is that you and I may think one way, but without Nature’s God, to quote the Declaration, it’s just our opinion.
That’s why Jefferson talked about Nature’s God and the Laws of Nature.
Thanks for the clarification. As it was stated, I was wondering where you were going with that!
Read the quote by Franklin. He is showing respect for religion but no biographer would ever suggest he was a christian. Likewise the quote by Jefferson who was less agnostic than Franklin but nevertheless “not” a traditional christian.
There was tolerance and respect for those with different beliefs in those days.
Why do you choose to not capitalize Christian?
<>What do you base your arguments on?<>
Absent Christianity, there wouldn’t be a Constitution. These conservative atheists refuse to acknowledge their debt to that which they don’t believe.
Well said, re_nortex! Thanks for the ping to a wonderful post, onyx.
By accident. I work do alot of work in html and everything is lowercase. No disrespect intended.
Two wrongs don't make a right. You are showing the same disrespect towards another's belief that the radical atheists are showing Christians. Without Franklin, an atheist, and his work towards securing the French alliance there would (probably) not be a victory at Yorktown and by consequence a constitution.
If we allow Radical liberals to divide us they will achieve their socialist victory. Strider44 and myself are standing with you. We are allies in this fight for freedom. We support your right to practice your religion against unconstitutional government persecution. It begins and ends with mutual tolerance and respect.
Hi Joker (good screen name for you),
You might want to read the following address by Franklin to the Constitutional Congress in 1787
Benjamin Franklin
Constitutional Convention Address on Prayer
delivered Thursday, June 28, 1787, Philadelphia, PA
Mr. President:
The small progress we have made after 4 or five weeks close attendance & continual reasonings with each other — our different sentiments on almost every question, several of the last producing as many noes as ays, is methinks a melancholy proof of the imperfection of the Human Understanding. We indeed seem to feel our own wont of political wisdom, since we have been running about in search of it. We have gone back to ancient history for models of government, and examined the different forms of those Republics which having been formed with the seeds of their own dissolution now no longer exist. And we have viewed Modern States all round Europe, but find none of their Constitutions suitable to our circumstances.
In this situation of this Assembly groping as it were in the dark to find political truth, and scarce able to distinguish it when to us, how has it happened, Sir, that we have not hitherto once thought of humbly applying to the Father of lights to illuminate our understandings? In the beginning of the contest with G. Britain, when we were sensible of danger we had daily prayer in this room for the Divine Protection. — Our prayers, Sir, were heard, and they were graciously answered. All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of a Superintending providence in our favor. To that kind providence we owe this happy opportunity of consulting in peace on the means of establishing our future national felicity. And have we now forgotten that powerful friend? or do we imagine that we no longer need His assistance.
I have lived, Sir, a long time and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth — that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings that “except the Lord build they labor in vain that build it.” I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without his concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better than the Builders of Babel: We shall be divided by our little partial local interests; our projects will be confounded, and we ourselves shall be become a reproach and a bye word down to future age. And what is worse, mankind may hereafter this unfortunate instance, despair of establishing Governments by Human Wisdom, and leave it to chance, war, and conquest.
I therefore beg leave to move — that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessings on our deliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to business, and that one or more of the Clergy of this City be requested to officiate in that service.
Looks to me like he was saying the Islamists save their “worse than beheading” hatred for Jews, not that Jews are worse than Islamists.
No they weren't, what is your list of prominent atheists from the founding Americans?
Judaism and Mormonism are worse than Islam?
Read it again. Muslims = "they". You = victim. You = Jew. If YOU are a Jew YOU will get worse treatment from THEM.
While you are attempting to rewrite reality, tell us why almost all atheists are lefties.
Like Ayn Rand?
Enjoy yourself.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.