Obama Touches the Untouchables: Non-Believers

Obama's inaugural address was brimming with religious references.

"We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things...."

"This is the source of our confidence -- the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny...."

"With eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations...."

But the most consequential faith-based line may have been his invitation to non-believers.

We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus -- and non-believers

IAs far as I can tell, this is the first reference to non-believers in an inaugural address.

Non-believers are one of the largest political constituencies that politiians rarely want to acknowledge. A recent Pew Center paper reports that while 16.1% of Americans say they're religiously unaffiliated, not a single member of Congress identifies that way. Basically, Christians, Mormons and Jews are, statistically, over-represented and unaffiliateds, agnostics and atheists are underrepresented.

Not surprisingly, they greeted Obama's inaugural declaration with some surprise and joy. "In his Inaugural Address today, President Barack Obama finally did what many before him should have done, rightly citing the great diversity of Americans as part of the nation's great strength and including 'non-believers' in that mix," said Ed Buckner of American Atheists. "His mother would have been proud, and so are we. "

Comments

[charmedimsure]

Not that I need Obama's (or any one else's) validation but, how sublime it was! I'm really surprised with exception being taken with the term used. Nonbeliever is, used in relation to the organized religions that were mentioned, appropriate. Of course, everyone believes something, just not everyone believes "in" something.

[saami]

Finally a President who knows and uderstands from personal experience that this country is truly diverse from those of us who are secular to religious people of all beliefs, all colors, all national backgrounds, all genders,gay and straight. What truly makes this country great is this richness and diversity and that out of many we are one. You can call me whatever you want to just don't forget to call me. I love my country too.

[Usedtobequiet]

I got up and ran on the beach as the sun was coming up on inauguration day so I could be home to listen to every word from our new president. A small symbolic gesture of my own. An amazing day. When I heard President Obama mention "non-believers" I was floored. In all my almost 50 years, I don't remember ever hearing such a thing! To be included in the mix! Incredible! I really respect an individual's right to believe whatever they choose, but I've often been saddened by the display of it at public events...as though we all are Christians. I am convinced at this moment in time, he is absolutely the right person to hold the office of president because he connected with us all when he used that phrase. A shout out to Buddhists would have been pretty cool, but I guess "non-believers" did it for me.

[DryIce]

Surely there is a better way to be inclusive than using language like this. Employing the term "non-believers" in this context presumes the speaker and aforementioned believe, to some extent or another, in a proven truth that others have simply yet to see.

Personally I believe that our lives and actions are the testament to our individual creeds and transcend any formal statements generally made to gain acceptance from a group.

It seems to me that he could have made a simpler, broader statement acknowledging the diversity of beliefs in the US and the freedom our constitution guarantees to hold those beliefs. As it is, people are acting as though he could have mentioned "all those heathens destined to burn in hell" and expect the heathens to be glad of the notice.

Please, let's find a different way to acknowledge those practicing individual creeds, stated or otherwise.

[diddleydoo]

Couldn't agree with you more - I found the phrase polarizing as it insinuates that those who don't buy big religion are outcasts going to hell. Really - non-believers! Secularists maybe, thinking people maybe, free-thought people - any term almost - that doesn't define a huge portion of the world's population in the context of a prescribed belief system. I was immediately offended and wrote about in my blog. Find a better word for good people who care about the word and for those who even left mainstream religions because of the hypocrisy and hatred espoused in their churches under the guise of smiles and hugs.

[diddleydoo]

I meant: Find a better word for good people who care about the WORLD. The believers will think it was a Freudian slip.

[Leota2]

Get over the semantics and be open that it is a step ahead of what any other public official has ever acknowledged. I am a nonbeliever and PROUD! This seems to be a problem with many of us in this country. We can't get pass the words we WANT to hear instead of listening to the sentiments that are trying to reach us . . . .
I find this boring and whiny . . . .

[Acelink]

I react somewhat more strongly to the use of the term "nonbeliever". I find it only marginally less offensive than the term "unbeliever". As a person who is not a christian or muslim and who is not defined by their religious beliefs; I find it offensive to be defined by what others believe. Nonbelief, also, implies something nonsensical of the nonbeliever; that is, that they are without befief. I assure all that fling the hateful term of "nonbeliever" at me and my many peers that I and those like me are full of Belief.

[TexasDem0]

Every movement has to start somewhere. While not a perfect statement, it was a major step in the right direction. Just as those words have sparked dialog here, they will launch a greater discussion across a wide segment of society.

[merger]

We can all be proud. I am believer, but one of my sons is not. As a loving family should, we never let his beliefs affect his access to the privileges of our family. It is not even a consideration. He is my son after all and I adore him. So it should be with the American family. I think we have a President now that understands that even though we may fundamentally disagree that disagreement should not be used for political advantage or disadvantage. Our rights and privileges as citizens should never be determined by our belief or non belief in God. Never.

[Dave24]

Too much invocation of God, and not enough We the People. The Constitution should be quoted and quoted and quoted, not some scripture that is (constitutionally) divorced from public policy.

Aside from this, President Obama brought a huge smile to my face for the shout-out. And the fact that he stated "non-believers" last in that moment placed a beautiful emphasis on a taboo sect of American society.

[PlaceboStudman]

Finally, a tiny sign that Obama may really be aware of all forms of diversity, including the spiritual diversity of this nation. My jaw literally dropped and had I been able to stand (wheelchair bound here) I would have given him a standing ovation for that one single word. It made me snap to attention and pay much more attention to the rest of the speech than I otherwise would have, considering history's intolerance of us proud proclaiming non-believers.

[Schaz]

I wish there was a better term than "non-believer" for those who do not subscribe to any of mankind's organized religions. I believe in lots of things -- just not in religions.

[apoyo]

agnostic? atheist?

In a free country you should not have to believe or espouse a belief to be accepted or recognized as a worthy individual.

[wilray]

humanist? secularist? freethinker?

[ZimboChick]

wow gees

[Acelink]

Here is my suggestion for how Mr. Obama can revise his speech in the future.

We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus, and a rising tide, to few, of wonderful people who are not haters, who are not tied to mythical religious icons and who believe in a world of peace, science and harmony with nature.

[Jude2004]

His use of nonbelievers was the phrase that might me cheer out loud. In a society where yes, I've been persecuted for my non-belief (sheesh, Christians can be intolerant for a religion that proclaims love), this made me feel included and hopeful.

[Quaoar]

Correction: Congressman Pete Stark is nontheistic, although I think he's still the only one who's open about it.

But Obama's address is certainly a welcome change from the Bushes who thought that nonbelievers shouldn't be considered citizens or patriots.

[RickyJ]

"When the Secular Coalition asked me to complete a survey on my religious beliefs, I indicated I am a Unitarian who does not believe in a supreme being," Mr. Stark, 75, said in an statement emailed to The New York Sun.

http://www.nysun.com/national/california-lawmaker-becomes-highest-ranking/50312/

A Baptist preacher once told me that Unitarians are "scared atheists". I am not sure that is correct. Both of the Presidents Adams and Jefferson said they were Unitarians and believed in God.