While US atheist commentary outlets and organizations often make it seem that they rail against anything that has to do with religion, it has become more common for progressive atheists and religious individuals and organizations to work closely together as long as they have similar values in serving the progressive agenda.
What do I mean by “progressive agenda”? I mean anything that furthers the separation of church and state (some would say “infringing on American history”), influence of LGBTQ community, protection of illegal immigration, promotion of the Green New Deal, etc.
Take note that US atheist commentary outlets and organizations are more likely to challenge and even stifle conservative and Republican atheists while courting progressive Christians, as I have witnessed in the process of developing the organization Republican Atheists. Here are examples of progressive atheists teaming up with religious individuals and groups..
- Friendly Atheist, a blog headed by outspoken atheist Hemant Mehta, praised a progressive pastor and atheist teaming up together to assist children impacted by ICE raids. I take note that Mehta has challenged the organization Republican Atheists in the past without taking time to speak personally with me, the president and founder of the organization. One would think an outspoken atheist would find commonality with other atheists rather than promote the partnership of religious and atheist individuals, but it appears progressive values trump atheism.
- Religious organization Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, a religious organization, is referenced to in a blog Friendly Atheist titled, “Here’s how atheists are reacting to the Supreme Court’s Bladensburg Cross Ruling.” Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty is not an atheist organization and therefore should not qualify as an “atheist reaction.”
- On August 11, 2019, Secular Student Alliance posted on Twitter that they are thankful for their “religious allies” for fighting Christian Nationalism.
We need even more of this. We’re thankful for our religious allies as we fight against Christian Nationalism and the erosion of the wall between church and state. #ChristianNationalism #ChurchStateSeparation https://t.co/D3kUKufxnz
— Secular Students (@SecularStudents) August 11, 2019
I am going to vaguely note this since I cannot find the source, but the Atheist Community of Rochester participated in a social justice event some time in 2018 that was also in conjunction with religious groups.
I am not sharing this to say atheist and religious groups should not team up together, but this clearly shows that atheists will overlook religion as long as the religious person or group shares similar values. It makes sense that over time conservative atheists will team up with conservative Christians and progressive atheists will likely call out this collaboration as hypocrisy. So I will keep this active list here to show when atheists and religious individuals and groups worked together.
Lauren Ell is an American blogger born and raised in Southern California and is currently based in Sweden. She discusses Epilepsy, Politics and Fun. Professionally Ell is an Online Marketing Consultant and Virtual Assistant. She is also founder and president of Republican Atheists and Nordic Republicans. Connect with Lauren on Facebook and Twitter.