So, as we know, the DNC discussed using Sanders' religion, or alleged lack thereof against him. This is because atheists have a serious electability problem in this country, and while people in many areas would vote for a Jew, they would not vote for an atheist. As a matter of fact, atheists, in terms of electability are one of the most hated minorities in America, minus socialists (which Bernie identifies as, although technically isn't in terms of policy).
I'm an atheist, and this angers and frustrates me. As a former Christian, I'll say that much of this fear of atheism is based on ignorance of atheists and religious indoctrination that tell people that atheists are immoral and bad. Since religion often tells people that they need God for morality, those who do not believe in God suffer in terms of being trustworthy and moral. To a typical rank and file Christian skeptical of atheism, how can one be moral as an atheist? They cannot because God is the source of all morality.
This is a serious problem in this country, and at its root, its responsible for a lot of other problems. To me, worldview is important. Having an epistemological worldview based on reality and backed up with fact is extremely important if we want to solve our problems. If you have a doctor, said doctor needs to be able to properly diagnose and treat you to cure you. A doctor that is unable to properly identify diseases and proscribe proper cures have sick patients. Society is the same way. How can we address our problems with society if people don't even have a fully functioning and coherent worldview through which to view the world and its events? I don't think people really grasp how serious some of our problems are in this country, and how fixable they are if only we choose to fix them. On the other hand, many people make problems out of things that are not problems at all. like gay marriage.
People see the world in fundamental different ways if they think morality is a set of rigid edicts given by a cosmic dictator than flexible social conventions based on advancing our human interests. If they think a deity is ultimately in control of the world, versus thinking that the world is this anarchistic, Darwinistic mess. If they think the world is broken because we don't obey arbitrary commands or ate some fruit we shouldn't have, versus it being broken because of said Darwinistic structure of the world. If they think their suffering or their toil gives them purpose, versus seeing it as pointless and unnecessarily cruel. These things matter. They influence how people see the world, what the problems are, and how to fix them. Again, how can we address and fix problems if we can't even tell accurately what they are?
I think my atheistic worldview is why I'm so out of sync with the rest of the country these days on politics. The republicans have a worldview heavily based on American protestant Christianity, and this involves opposition to gay marriage and abortion, while mixing some cultural perspectives with religion on economic issues (the "American civil religion"). Even the democrats, as I understand them, are out of sync with me. See my basic income article on Clinton for details, in which i explained these differences. Clinton believes people need to live up to their "God given potential". As an atheist, this concept makes no sense to me and I'm like "there is no purpose, there is no potential, this is just crap made up to turn us into willing slaves." And then you have Clinton and Kaine being relatively pro life, and only begrudgingly pro choice, etc.
Religion matters. Epistemology matters. And I see religion as a force in this world that misleads and deceives people. I see it as something that distorts their worldview. And, if we want to go back to the reference this blog is named after, I see those who cling to religion as the people chained up in Plato's cave. They don't see the world as it exists. They see it through a filter. They see it as shadows of what it actually is. This perspective gives them an inaccurate view of the world. And ironically, just like in Plato's example, those who are chained to the wall see those who left for the light, who see the world as it really is, as the corrupted ones. Which is why atheists can't get elected and why they're not trusted. We're not really immoral. Many of us are actually quite moral and principled. But our morality is based on a different, and arguably more accurate and in touch world view. Because they don't understand, they treat us with mistrust.
I would even go so far, if we were to apply conflict theory, to argue that religion is used by the rich and powerful to keep people in line and control them. It would make sense, if you want to control a mass of people, to keep them ignorant and build up a worldview around them that stops them from discussing important issues like economics and keeps them divided and conquered on the more minor stuff no one should care about. As Marx would say, it's the opium of the masses. It encourages people to address their suffering in unproductive ways like faith and relying on God to fix things, while discouraging the human action necessary to do so, or even being able to put two and two together that it is a serious problem.
All in all, the state of this nation is frustrating to someone like me. I wish more people would just get it. I wish they would see the world as I do. I wish they would use their brains to figure things out rather than relying on things like obedience and faith. Trust me, the world makes way more sense, and things come into focus when you throw that stuff out. Even if people don't come to the same conclusions as me, as long as their views on based on reason and evidence, I would be happy enough. I can at least work with that and we can begin to have some serious discussions on the issues rather than the fake unproductive dialogue we're having now. I can't work on distrust and character assassination that comes with the perception of atheists in this country. People won't even give us a chance because they see us as the devil, or at least influenced by him.
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