Changes

Decline of the secular left

3,889 bytes added, 01:17, March 22, 2020
grammar/spelling
[[Image:Stalin-140508 27880t.jpg|right|200px|thumb|[[Joseph Stalin]], the Premier of the [[Soviet Union]] from 6 May 1941 to 5 March 1953, patronised the [[League of Militant Atheists]], whose chief aim, under the leadership of Yemelyan Yaroslavsky, was to propagate militant [[atheism]] and eradicate [[religion]].<ref name=Hesemann-Strieber>{{cite book|author=Michael Hesemann, Whitley Strieber|title=The Fatima Secret|url=httphttps://books.google.com/books?id=tx-BEpkJBq8C&pg=PT107&dq=Joseph+Stalin+militant+atheism&hl=en&ei=-DeRTpLrJoPi0QHo88wi&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CDkQ6AEwAzgK#v=onepage&q=Joseph%20Stalin%20militant%20atheism&f=false|quote=Lenin's death in 1924 was followed by the rise of Joseph Stalin, "the man of steel," who founded the "Union of Militant Atheists," whose chief aim was to spread atheism and eradicate religion. In the following years it devastated hundreds of churches, destroyed old icons and relics, and persecuted the clergy with unimaginable brutality.|publisher=Random House Digital, Inc.|date=2000|accessdate=09 9 October 2011}}</ref><ref name=Steeves>{{cite book|author=Paul D. Steeves|title=Keeping the faiths: religion and ideology in the Soviet Union|url=httphttps://books.google.com/books?id=l7soAAAAYAAJ&q=%22When+a+priest+is+deprived+of+his+congregation,+that+does+not%22&dq=%22When+a+priest+is+deprived+of+his+congregation,+that+does+not%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=_ijVUemwOoXRyQGqkICwBA&ved=0CDgQ6AEwAQ|quote=The League of Militant Atheists was formed in 1926 and by 1930 had recruited three million members. Five years later there were 50,000 local groups affiliated to the League and the nominal membership had risen to five million. Children from 8-14 years of age were enrolled in Groups of Godless Youth, and the League of Communist Youth (Komsomol) took a vigorous anti- religious line. Several antireligious museums were opened in former churches and a number of Chairs of Atheism were established in Soviet universities. Prizes were offered for the best 'Godless hymns' and for alternative versions of the Bible from which ... the leader of the League of Militant Atheists, Yemelian Yaroslavsky, said: "When a priest is deprived of his congregation, that does not mean that he stops being a priest. He changes into an itinerant priest. He travels around with his primitive tools in the villages, performs religious rites, reads prayers, baptizes children. Such wandering priests are at times more dangerous than those who carry on their work at a designated place of residence." The intensified persecution, which was a part of the general terror inflicted upon Soviet society by Stalin's policy, ...|publisher=Holmes & Meier|date=1989|accessdate=04 July 2013}}</ref>]]According to the [[University of Cambridge]], historically, the "most notable spread of [[atheism]] was achieved through the success of the 1917 Russian Revolution, which brought the [[Marxism-Leninism|Marxist-Leninists]] to power."<ref name="Marxism-Leninsim">{{cite web|url = http://www.investigatingatheism.info/marxism.html|title =Marxism|publisher = [[University of Cambridge]]|quote=The most notable spread of atheism was achieved through the success of the 1917 Russian Revolution, which brought the Marxist-Leninists to power. For the first time in history, atheism thus became the official ideology of a state.|year=2008|accessdate = 2011–03–15}}</ref> Vitalij Lazarʹevič Ginzburg, a Soviet physicist, wrote that the "[[Bolshevik]] communists were not merely atheists but, according to [[Lenin]]'s terminology, [[militant atheist]]s."<ref name="Lenin & militant atheism">{{cite web|url = httphttps://books.google.com/books?id=ufC9Ar8iuDcC&pg=PA161&dq=The+Bolshevik+communists+were+not+merely+atheists+but,+according+to+Lenin%27s+terminology,+militant+atheists.&hl=en&sa=X&ei=1oFUUdj6PIiK0QGvq4CAAw&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=The%20Bolshevik%20communists%20were%20not%20merely%20atheists%20but%2C%20according%20to%20Lenin's%20terminology%2C%20militant%20atheists.&f=false|title =On Superconductivity and Superfluidity: A Scientific Autobiography |author=Vitalij Lazarʹevič Ginzburg|publisher = [[Springer Science+Business Media]]|year=2009|quote=The Bolshevik communists were not merely atheists but, according to Lenin's terminology, militant atheists.|accessdate = 2011–03–15}}</ref> See also: [[Atheism and politics]] In 2019, John Feffer wrote at the [[leftism|left]] leaning''' ''[[The Nation]]'':{{Cquote|In the Americas, the [[Trump]] [[tsunami]] has swept across both continents and the 'pink tide' of [[progressivism]] has all but disappeared from the southern half of the hemisphere... In this planet-wide rising tide of [[right-wing populism]], the [[liberal]] left commands only a few disconnected islands — [[Iceland]], [[Mexico]], [[New Zealand]], [[South Korea]], [[Spain]], [[Uruguay]]... Worse, crafty operators with even more ambitious agendas stand ready to destroy the liberal status quo once and for all."<ref>[https://www.thenation.com/article/tom-dispatch-combatting-the-new-right/ Combating the New Right] by John Feffer, ''The Nation'', May 13, 2019</ref>}}  In September 2018, Pew Research indicated: "Due to the decline of the center-left across much of Western Europe and the comparative steadiness of the center-right, most Western European countries are led by center-right parties, as measured by the party of the prime minister or other head of government."<ref>[https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/09/12/swedish-election-highlights-decline-of-center-left-parties-across-western-europe/ Swedish election highlights decline of center-left parties across Western Europe] by Kyle Taylor</ref> In June 2014,'' Forbes'' reported that it is undeniable that politically right wing parties are ascendant in Europe.<ref>[https://www.forbes.com/sites/stratfor/2014/06/04/europes-deep-right-wing-logic/ Europe's Deep Right-Wing Logic] By Robert D. Kaplan</ref>
As noted above, historically the largest advances of the [[secular left]] has been through utilizing the power of the state (see: [[State atheism]] and [[Atheism and communism]]). For example, secular leftists use the power of the state to promote [[evolution]]ary ideology and to censor [[creationism|creationist]]/[[intelligent design]] models of origins (See: [[Suppression of alternatives to evolution]] and [[Atheist indoctrination]]).
The historian Martin Van Crevel points out that sovereign states are losing power/influence due to technology democratizing access to information, welfare states increasingly failing, [[fourth-generation warfare]] being waged against countries and sovereign states increasingly losing their ability to maintain internal order.<ref>[http://strategicstudiesinstitute.army.mil/pubs/parameters/Articles/96spring/creveld.htm The Fate of the State] by MARTIN VAN CREVELD</ref><ref>[https://www.sonshi.com/martin-van-creveld-interview.html Martin van Creveld interview]</ref>
 
In 2017, the atheist [[PZ Myers]], quoting fellow [[leftism|leftist]] Alex Nichols, wrote:
{{Cquote|...the growing popularity of jibes associating outspoken atheists with fedoras, neckbeards, and virginity, led to an exodus of [[liberal]]s and [[leftism|leftists]] from the “atheist” tent. Those who remained for the most part [[Atheism and social/interpersonal intelligence|lacked in social skills and self-awareness]], and the results were disastrous.<ref>[https://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2017/10/17/poisoning-of-a-movement/ Poisoning of a movement] by PZ Myers</ref>}}
== Decline of state atheism in the world ==
''See also:'' [[State atheism]]
The dissolution of the [[Soviet Union]] on December 26, 1991 was a watershed event in terms of the [[decline of leftism]] and the decline of the secular left (see also: [[Collapse of atheism in the former Soviet Union]] and [[Central and Eastern Europe and desecularization]]).  In the latter part of the 20th century and presently, state atheism is increasing increasingly losing power (see: [[Growth of Christianity in China]] and [[Collapse of atheism in the former Soviet Union]]).
On November 1, 2014, an article in ''The Economist'' entitled ''Cracks in the atheist edifice'' declared:
{{cquote|Officials are untroubled by the clash between the city’s famously freewheeling capitalism and the [[Communism|Communist]] Party’s ideology, yet still see religion and its symbols as affronts to the party’s atheism...
Yang Fenggang of Purdue University, in Indiana, says the Christian church in China has grown by an average of 10% a year since 1980. He reckons that on current trends there will be 250m Christians by around 2030, making China’s Christian population the largest in the world. Mr. Yang says this speed of growth is similar to that seen in fourth-century Rome just before the conversion of [[Constantine]], which paved the way for Christianity to become the religion of his empire.<ref>[httphttps://www.economist.com/news/briefing/21629218-rapid-spread-christianity-forcing-official-rethink-religion-cracks ''Cracks in the atheist edifice''], ''The Economist'', November 1, 2014</ref>}}
== Decline of the secular left's influence due to demography and religious immigration ==
''See also:'' [[Religious conservatism and politics]] and [[Desecularization and politics]] and [[Desecularization]]
[[File:Birkbeck College, University of London.jpg|left|thumbnail|200px|[[Eric Kaufmann]], a professor at [[Birkbeck College, University of London]], using a a wealth of demographic studies, argues that there will be a significant decline of global atheism in the 21st century which will impact the [[Western World]].<ref>
*[http://www.sneps.net/RD/uploads/1-Shall%20the%20Religious%20Inherit%20the%20Earth.pdf Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth?: Demography and Politics in the Twenty-First Century by Eric Kaufmann, Belfer Center, Harvard University/Birkbeck College, University of London]
*[http://kitmantv.blogspot.com/2011/05/eric-kaufmann-shall-religious-inherit.html Eric Kaufmann: Shall The Religious Inherit The Earth?]
*[http://kitmantv.blogspot.com/search/label/atheist%20demographics Eric Kaufmann's Atheist Demographic series]
[httphttps://forawww.tv/2010/09/05youtube.com/Eric_Kaufmann_Shall_the_Religious_Inherit_the_Earth watch?v=VwmgFZsgSo0 Eric Kaufmann: Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth?, Australian Broadcasting Corporation]</ref>]]
On December 23, 2012, Professor [[Eric Kaufmann]] who teaches at Birbeck College, University of London wrote:
{{cquote|I argue that 97% of the world's population growth is taking place in the developing world, where 95% of people are religious.
Due to their higher fertility of religious conservatives and religious immigration to the [[Western World]], the religious are expected to see a net gain in political power in the 21st century (see: [[Desecularization and politics]]).
Kaufmann told a secular audience in Australia: "The trends that are happening worldwide inevitably in an age of globalization are going to affect us."<ref>[httphttps://forawww.tv/2010/09/05youtube.com/Eric_Kaufmann_Shall_the_Religious_Inherit_the_Earth watch?v=6NtvDErEmBY Shall the religious inherit the earth- Festival of Dangerous Ideas - Eric Kaufmann]</ref>
In 2010, in his book ''Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth'', Eric Kaufmann wrote concerning the [[culture war]] in the [[United States]]:
== Right wing politics ascendant in secular Europe and the United States ==
''See also:'' [[Decline of leftism]] and [[Secular Europe]] The website New Statesman America declared in 2019:{{Cquote|[[Social Democracy|Social democratic]] parties, meanwhile, are facing a mixture of electoral decline and challenge from both the greens and the left. Only [[Portugal]], where the [[Socialism|Socialist]] Party holds 37 per cent of seats and leads a coalition government with the far left, has bucked the trend. [[Sweden]]’s social democrats, down to 28 per cent of the vote in last year’s election, cling precariously to power in a caretaker government. Elsewhere, the typical fate of the classic social democrat parties, for example in [[Austria]] and [[Denmark]], is to hover around 25 per cent. In both [[Germany]] and [[Italy]], where strong social democracy was a lynchpin of the postwar anti-[[fascism|fascist]] settlement, support for social democrats has slumped below 20 per cent.<ref>[https://www.newstatesman.com/world/europe/2019/01/will-far-right-triumph-europe-2019 Will the far right triumph in Europe in 2019?], New Statesman America, January 2019</ref>}}
[[Secular left]]ism does not lead to long term economic stability and productivity (see: [[Atheism and sloth|Atheism and loss of economic productivity]]).
In June of 2014,'' Forbes'' reported that it is undeniable that politically right wing parties are ascendant in Europe.<ref>[http://www.forbes.com/sites/stratfor/2014/06/04/europes-deep-right-wing-logic/ Europe's Deep Right-Wing Logic] By Robert D. Kaplan</ref>  In November of 2016, the politically left [[Obama administration|Barack Obama administration]] and [[Democratic Party]] received a huge loss in the midterm elections by losing control of the United States Senate and losing a historic amount of state legislature elections.<ref>[Republicans now have historic majorities in state legislatures. That's a really big deal. Republicans now have historic majorities in state legislatures. That's a really big deal], November 6, 2014</ref>
The Obama administration became the first administration to met with an [[Atheism|atheist]] group. It met with the Secular Coalition for America which is a coalition which represents the [[American Atheists]], the American [[Secular Humanism|Humanist]] Association, and the Military Association of Atheists and [[Freethought|Freethinkers]].
According to the ''USA Today'', the group met with the White House officials to "discuss problems that they believe are fueled by religion."<ref name="content.usatoday.com">[http://content.usatoday.com/communities/Religion/post/2010/02/atheists-meet-with-white-house-officials/1#.VypYTzEn_7Y Atheists meet with White House officials], USA Today</ref> Among the issues the group discussed were the issues of "military proselytizing" by [[evangelicalism|evangelical]] Christian members of the military and faith-based initiatives<ref name="content.usatoday.com"/>
[[File:Donald Trump official presidential photo.jpg|thumbnail|200px|[[Donald Trump]] ]]
The ''Religion News Service'' reported:
{{Cquote|For the last decade, atheists, humanists and others secularists have worked hard to organize a “secular vote” that would counter the political clout of the [[religious right]].
Despite Trump’s not being a particularly religious person, his platform was seen as anti-secular in many atheist and humanist circles. He said he would appoint religiously conservative Supreme Court justices, ban [[Islam|Muslim]] immigrants, favor [[Christianity]] and repeal the [[Johnson Amendment]], which prohibits certain tax-exempt organizations from endorsing political candidates — issues antithetical to organized atheism and [[Secular humanism|humanism]].<ref>[http://religionnews.com/2016/11/09/dealt-a-body-blow-atheists-and-humanists-regroup/ Dealt a body blow, atheists and humanists regroup] by Kimberly Winston, ''Religion News Service'', November 9, 2016</ref>}}
 
The U.S. Supreme Court Justice [[Brett Kavanaugh]], who was appointed by Trump, is a judge who has ruled in favor of [[religious liberty]] in his past decisions.<ref>[https://www.dailysignal.com/2018/07/18/these-6-cases-show-how-brett-kavanaugh-might-rule-on-religious-freedom/ These 6 Cases Show How Brett Kavanaugh Might Rule on Religious Freedom], Daily Signal, 2018</ref> U.S. Supreme Court Justice [[Neil Gorsuch]], who was also nominated to the court by Trump, gave a favorable ruling in the [[Hobby Lobby]] case in respect to religious liberty.<ref>[http://time.com/4705858/neil-gorsuch-religious-minorities/ Neil Gorsuch Has a Record of Protecting Religious Minorities], Time magazine, 2017</ref> See also: [[Morale of the atheist movement]]
== Emergence of the alt-right ==
''See also:'' [[Alt-right]]
The [[Alt-right]], or alternative right, is an emerging faction of the right-wing that opposes unrestrained multiculturalism, un-"skilled" immigration, and [[globalism|globalization]].<ref>httphttps://www.breitbart.com/tech/2016/03/29/an-establishment-conservatives-guide-to-the-alt-right/</ref><ref>http://theweek.com/articles/641595/how-american-nationalism-coexist-globalism</ref> The alt-right has emerged as one of the central opponents of the [[Establishment]]. The alt-right movement's central theme is as follows:<ref>[http://angrywhitedude.com/2016/04/51778/ What is the Alt-Right?, AngryWhiteDude.com, April 12, 2016]</ref>
{{cquote|The alt-right is not defined by any particular school of thought, but by the [[neoliberal]] school of thought it rejects. The alt-right, in the simplest terms, is an unapologetic purging of [[liberal]] idiocy.}}
"The origins of the alternative right can be found in thinkers as diverse as Oswald Spengler, Joseph Sobran, H.L Mencken, Julius Evola, Sam Francis, and the [[paleoconservative]] movement that rallied around the presidential campaigns of [[Pat Buchanan]].<ref>https://www.buzzfeed.com/rosiegray/how-2015-fueled-the-rise-of-the-freewheeling-white-nationali?utm_term=.gro5QeAlb#.am3VkM4ZB</ref> The French New Right also serve as a source of inspiration for many leaders of the alt-right.".<ref>[httphttps://www.breitbart.com/tech/2016/03/29/an-establishment-conservatives-guide-to-the-alt-right/ An Establishment Conservative’s Guide To The Alt-Right, Breitbart, March 29, 2016]</ref> Contemporary alt-right authors include Jared Taylor, Steve Sailor, Richard Spencer, Paul Kersey, Razib Khan, and Milo Yiannopoulos.<ref>httphttps://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/05/05/meet-milo-yiannopoulos-the-appealing-young-face-of-the-racist-alt-right.html</ref>
Leading alt-right websites include Radix Journal, Countercurrents Publishing, The Unz Review, Taki Mag, The Right Stuff, and Red Ice.<ref>http://www.counter-currents.com/</ref><ref>http://www.radixjournal.com/</ref><ref>http://www.unz.com/</ref><ref>http://takimag.com/#axzz4MpkgjNbs</ref><ref>http://therightstuff.biz/</ref><ref>https://redice.tv/</ref>. More mainstream "alt-lite" websites include [[Breitbart]] and The Gateway Pundit.
== Secular left vs. secular right ==
== Decline of the secular left in Latin American politics ==
''The Guardian'' reported in March of 2015, "Leftwing leaders in Brazil, Argentina and Venezuela are being knocked by dissent and stagnating economies. Poor governance and opposition from media and financial elites have sapped their popularity."<ref>[httphttps://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/mar/22/latin-america-left-tough-times-brazil-argentina-venezuela Scandals, protests, weak growth: is Latin America’s left in retreat?]</ref>
In May of 2018, the ''Washington Post'' published an article entitled ''In Brazil’s political crisis, a powerful new force: Evangelical Christians''.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/in-brazils-political-crisis-a-powerful-new-force-evangelical-christians/2016/05/26/5c8b9bdc-1c7d-11e6-82c2-a7dcb313287d_story.html In Brazil’s political crisis, a powerful new force: Evangelical Christians], Washington Post</ref>
== Secular left's inability to stop the rise of anti-homosexuality laws around the world ==
<br />
<br />
In 2005, there were four times as many non-[[Western World]] Christians as there were Western World Christians.<ref>[httphttps://www.wnd.com/?pageId=30077 Is Christianity taking over the planet?]</ref>
<br /><br />
 
 
 
 
In recent years, Christianity has seen a rapid growth in Africa.<ref>[http://gratefultothedead.wordpress.com/2009/12/16/the-african-apostles-how-christianity-exploded-in-20th-century-africa/ The African apostles: How Christianity exploded in 20th-century Africa]</ref> See: [[Global atheism]] and [[Atheist Population|Atheist population]] ]]
''See also:'' [[Atheism and homosexuality]] and [[Views on Homosexuality|Views on homosexuality]] and [[Homosexual agenda]]
The [[conservative]] journalist [[Peter LaBarbera]] of [[Americans for Truth]] wrote: "Anyone who has researched the subject of [[homosexuality]] knows that many of the most staunch advocates of homosexuality are those who hold a decidedly secular outlook." (See also: [[Atheism and homosexuality]]).<ref>[http://americansfortruth.com/2008/05/03/homosexuality-and-atheism/ Atheism and homosexuality]</ref>
In February of 2014, ''Newsweek'' reported a rise of anti-homosexuality laws around the world. <refname="newsweek.com">[http://www.newsweek.com/uganda-russia-homophobia-spreading-worldwide-230358 From Uganda to Russia, Homophobia Spreading Worldwide] By Max Strasser 2/27/14 at 6:13 AM</ref>According to ''Newsweek'', the rise of anti-homosexuality laws in the world is due to weak governments and politicians desiring to appeal to popular anti-homosexuality opinion.<ref>[http://www.name="newsweek.com"/uganda-russia-homophobia-spreading-worldwide-230358 From Uganda to Russia, Homophobia Spreading Worldwide] By Max Strasser 2/27/14 at 6:13 AM</ref> See also: [[Religious conservatism and politics]]
The secular leftist Simon Ssenkaayi argues that [[identity politics]] and other strategies that worked in the [[Western World]] to promote acceptance of homosexuality will not work in [[Africa]] and that developing relationships with communities would be a more effective method.<ref>[https://www.opendemocracy.net/openglobalrights/simon-ssenkaayi/in-africa-human-rights-activists-cannot-work-with-religion In Africa, human rights activists cannot work with religion], Simon Ssenkaayi 8 December 2014</ref> Historically, atheists have not engaged in evangelism in Africa and atheists have a reputation for possessing poor social skills (see: [[Atheism and social/interpersonal intelligence|Atheism and social intelligence]] and [[Atheism and arrogance]] and [[Atheist factions]]).
== Secular left unable to shut down the Quiverfull movement ==
The [[Quiverfull]] movement is a an evangelical Christian movement which eschews all forms of birth control - including natural family planning. The secular left has been unable to shut down the Quiverfull movement.
Presently, several thousand Christians worldwide belong to this movement.<ref>Kathryn Joyce (9 November 2006). "[http://www.thenation.com/article/arrows-war/?page=full Arrows for the War]". The Nation</ref>
''See also:'' [[Views on atheists]] and [[Persecution of atheists]] and [[Atheism vs. Christianity]]
[[File:David Silverman.JPG|thumbnail|left|200px|The ex-president of the [[American Atheists]] organization, [[David Silverman]], was given the label of an atheist whiner by the American woman Natalie Rothschild.<ref>[http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php/site/article/12215/ God save us from atheist whining by Natalie Rothschild]</ref> See also: [[Atheism and public relations]] and [[Atheist whining]] ]]In the [[United States]], a significant amount of atheists are white males and the [[American atheism|American atheist]] population has been criticized for its lack of racial diversity and lower amount of females in its population ([[Western atheism and race]] and [[Atheism and women]]). The Pew Research Forum reported in 2013 concerning American atheists: "About four-in-ten atheists (43%) [[Atheism and education|have a college degree]], compared with 29% of the general public."<ref>[httphttps://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2013/10/23/5-facts-about-atheists/ 5 facts about atheists] By Michael Lipka, Pew Research Forum, October 23, 2013</ref> In 2012, the Pew Research Forum reported regarding American atheists: "And about 38% of atheists and agnostics have an annual family income of at least $75,000, compared with 29% of the general public."<ref>[http://www.pewforum.org/2012/10/09/nones-on-the-rise-demographics/ “Nones” on the Rise - Demographics], Pew Research Forum, October 9, 2012</ref>
Also, atheists within the [[United States]] have developed a reputation of uncharitableness as they gave far less to charities, even if church donations are not counted (see: [[Atheism and charity|Atheism and uncharitableness]]). As a result of these factors, claims of being an oppressed minority by atheists are often dismissed even by fellow atheists (See: [[Atheist whining]]).<ref>
*[httphttps://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/04/06/atheism-the-next-civil-rights-movement.html Atheism: The Next Civil Rights movement], Vlad Chituc, ''The Daily Beast'', 4-6-2015
*[http://freethoughtblogs.com/almostdiamonds/2014/07/17/youre-not-oppressed-white-atheist-dudes/ “You’re Not Oppressed, White Atheist Dudes”], [[Freethought Blogs]] - Almost Diamonds, July 17, 2014 at 6:28 pm
*[httphttps://www.latimes.com/opinion/la-oew-thornton18apr18-story.html Disliked, Not Oppressed] By Paul Thornton, ''LA Times'', April 18, 2007</ref>
In addition, given the favorable treatment atheist activists often [[Atheism and the media|receive in the media]] and the [[Atheist indoctrination|atheistic indoctrination]] that occurs in public schools/universities, the notion of atheists as an oppressed minority is often rejected by Americans.
''See also:'' [[Atheism and public relations]] and [[Atheism and the media]] and [[Atheism and mockery]]
The biggest challenge facing [[atheism|atheist]] public relations efforts in the United Stated States is that most theists do not think about atheism and would prefer not to as they see it is an [[Atheism and irrationality|unreasonable]], [[Atheism and arrogance|arrogant]] and [[Unattractiveness of atheism|unattractive worldview]]. As a result, many atheist campaigns, particularly one's by militant atheists, are designed to be provocative which has the effect of further lowering the public's view of atheism/atheists (see: [[Atheism and public relations]] and [[Views on atheists]]).
== Atheism, leftism, social justice/progressive values and hypocrisy ==
In addition, the historical record shows that atheists have often been uncaring and atheists have engaged in barbarous/uncivilized behavior (see: [[Atheism and Mass Murder|Atheism and mass murder]] and [[Mass rape during the occupation of Germany|Mass rape of German women by the Soviet army]] and [[Atheism and cannibalism]] and [[Atheism and bestiality]]).
Also, atheists rarely focuses on the issue of [[social Darwinism]] in their communities past and often takes offense when biblical [[creationism|creationists]] bring this matter up.<ref>[httphttps://creation.com/herbert-spencer Herbert Spencer and social Darwinism]</ref><ref>[httphttps://creation.com/darwinism-and-world-war-one Darwinism and World War I]</ref>
=== Atheists falling short of the progressive value of freedom ===
*[[Decline of militant atheism in the West]]
*[[Atheism Militant atheism vs. Christianity, Islam and right-wing ideology]]
*[[Atheism and politics]]
== External links ==
*[httphttps://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704129204575506032115561668 The Decline of the Left] by Emma-Kate Symons
*[http://history.fas.harvard.edu/event/ces-decline-left-europe The Decline of the Left in Europe] - [[Harvard University]] History Department
*[http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/nilegardiner/100117490/the-decline-and-fall-of-occupy-wall-street-the-american-left-has-run-out-of-steam-and-liberalism-is-in-crisis/ The decline and fall of Occupy Wall Street: the American Left has run out of steam and liberalism is in crisis] by Niles Gardiner
{{reflist|2}}
[[Category: Desecularization]][[Category:Leftism]]
[[Category:Secularism]]
[[Category:Atheism]]
[[Category: Liberalism]]
2
edits