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The Home of Evolutioneers

Atheist group lives beyond belief

"There is this secular trend in society," said August Berkshire, president of Minnesota Atheists.

"There’s a term that’s been invented called ‘apatheists,’ a combination of apathy and theist," Berkshire said. "And I think more and more people don’t see religion as pertaining to their lives."

The Rev. John Malone, of Assumption Catholic Church in St. Paul, said it might o­nly appear that there are more non-believers these days because people feel more confident and vocal about expressing their doubts.

Malone said he doesn’t try to defend the church or its positions because people either have faith or they don’t. He also said he doesn’t try to convert atheists, because neither side can prove the other wrong.

"This is another group of people struggling," he said. "They ultimately can’t disprove God so they end up being just like me and saying ‘This is what I believe.’ I say I believe it and take it o­n the word of God, and they have to say take it o­n my own word."

Despite the growing number of atheists and non-believers, o­nly a few thousand are organized in a loose confederation of about a dozen groups throughout the state.

"It’s hard to organize atheists," Castle said. "It’s like herding cats."

Castle opened what she says is the "first openly atheistic facility in the country" by converting the bottom half of the geodesic dome she lives in into a community center for non-believers.

In August, Camp Quest Minnesota, o­ne of the few summer camps in the country strictly for secular-humanist children, will open. And this year atheist volunteers, after taking a 15-hour training course, will start working with Fairview Home Care and Hospice to provide services to the non-religious.

Marie Castle and others, including some theologians, believe the "divisiveness" of the religious right is driving away many from organized religion.

"I think that for many people atheism is a form of rebellion against dogmas taught to them about God in their youth," said Neale Donald Walsch, a theologian and author. "I think atheism is growing ... as more and more people become turned off to God by the way they see people who claim to be religious acting."

He points to June’s pastoral letter from Bishop Michael Sheridan of Colorado Springs, Colo., which declared that Catholics who vote for politicians who favor abortion rights, gay marriages and stem cell research are prohibited from receiving Communion until they recant and repent.

"I am seeing more and more bumper stickers saying, ‘God, save us from your people,’" said Walsch, author of "Tomorrow’s God," which proposes a broader concept of God than traditional religions. "Most of the killing in our world has not been done by those who do not believe in God but by those who do."

In recent years, atheists have been trying to distance themselves from the image of Madalyn O’Hair, at o­ne time America’s most famous atheist and the self-proclaimed most hated woman in the country because of her 1963 Supreme Court victory outlawing prayer in public schools.

"Atheists are pretty much demonized," Castle said. "People see atheists as anti-religious, anti-something good and with no moral compass. We want to show that we do have a moral compass and it is based o­n making this world the best that there is because, in our view, it is the o­nly o­ne there is."

Non-believers say their goal is to become a part of the everyday fabric of society and be as accepted as anybody else. Although atheism has a long tradition in the United States dating back to inventor Benjamin Franklin and President James Madison, Castle and others say atheists have become more politically active of late.

"The atheists I know are trying to be more active in their communities by being part of their neighborhood groups and part of their political groups and be more open as atheists," Castle said.

"We’re going to reach out to the public more," Castle said. "We want to improve society by creating a more free society. We have a little slogan: ‘Liberty and justice for all.’ We want a free society where people are free to believe or not believe as they choose without being penalized and without having somebody else’s beliefs forced o­n them."

By Heron Marquez Estrada
Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune

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