The meaning of atheism
(note : due to a severe contractual problem with Suite 101 which is now solved, I hope, for good, I have not been able to write an article for this month. Therefore, I present to you a piece of a wonderful article by E. Haldeman-Julius [1889-1951] called "The Meaning of Atheism". This is taken from the section "ATHEISM IS THE REALISTIC ANSWER TO THE GOD IDEA". I find this text very apt and relevant to modern issues of tolerence/intolerence)
We are not fanatics on the subject of religion. If it were merely a matter of abstract argument, we should not be so interested. Ideas, if they could be quite separated from actual influence in living issues, might be regarded with an air of detachment. They might in such case be discussed mildly and dismissively, One might be indifferent to such ideas or only amused by them. But religion has always asserted and it does yet assert a very direct and commanding interest in the conduct of men. It is true that, fortunately, there are old terrors and powers that religion no longer can exercise so effectively as it did only a few score years ago. But the atmosphere and the attitude of bigotry remain. If religion cannot ordinarily invoke the armed force of law to punish heretics, It still plays upon the psychology of fear and predominantly its influence is to frighten men and distort their views and poison every process of their reasoning.
The remnant of religion that is cherished by a few educated and urbane men -- the philosophical or poetic religion that one observes here and there -- does not concern us so acutely. Such a provisional or partial belief in religion is baseless logically and it is confusing; but we may grant that it is relatively harmless; we can point out its fallacy and continue cheerfully on our way about other things. But this philosophical or poet religion is not, after all, the religion of the masses.
There are many cultured people who do not realize that among the masses -- among millions of honest but deluded people -- the most extravagant, fanatical and obviously dangerous notions about religion are prevalent. One of the malign emotional and prejudicial influences that helped to lend menacing strength to the late Ku Klux Klan, for example, was the spirit of religious prejudice. We all know how that vicious organization was strengthened by a Protestant tone of creedal fanaticism. On the other hand, the Catholics have their own extreme tone of fanaticism; and they still assert, moreover, that the Catholic religion should be and rightfully is supreme in belief and power -- Catholicism, that is to say, is definitely opposed to the modern principles of political liberty and intellectual freedom.
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