YES ! There ARE people in the US who don't believe in God ! Barack Obama the
président of the USA who has always a good one to say, has even mentioned
them in his inauguration speech. Since then, the non believers think they
can fly (feel they have wings growing in their back for an accurate
translation).
In God we don't trust it's a report by Olivier Ponthus)
Atlanta, last April 9th, At their national convention a group of a hundred
atheists militants, goes to war against the omnipresence of religion in
the US.
Radical mottos for a community that has been recognized officially by
Barack Obama during his inauguration speech. The first time in American
history.
Since atheists think they can fly. Incidentally a national survey has just
showed than during the last 20 years the number of non believers has
doubled. They now represent 16% of the population. Roughly 50 million
people.
State of Wisconsin in the Midwest. In this rural and rather conservative
region, Madison, the capital stands like a liberal haven there.
For a few months 11 buses has been driving around with bilboards with not
very catholic (it's a pun in French) slogans like this one : Sleep in on
Sundays
A provocative campaign financed by the biggest atheist foundation in the
country. A foundation which saw its number of members tripled in the last
5 years. They are now almost 14000.
Rich of its new recruits, the association is now striking marketingly
speaking with T-shirts (and the translation), bookmarks (and the
translation) or bumper stickers (and the translation).
All supports are good to compete with churches.
It's not very surprising because one of the president of the foundation is
a former evangelical preacher.For 17 years Dan Barker has sang across the
country religious songs from his own composition before loosing faith and
crossing the enemy line.
Specialist of the Scriptures, Dan barker has become the nightmare of the
Religious Right.
All the more since for 3 years now every week with his wife, co-president,
he's been doing proselitysm on air. Their last target, Obama himself
during his last speech at the catholic university of Notre-Dame, Indiana.
There's only a few of these radio shows but their ideas are becoming more
and more popular. Especially in big cities.
New York. Here non believers have now their own section in this
independant bookstore.
Atheists also solicit in the street (it's kind of a pun in French). Every
Saturday, Ken Bronstein and his friends campaign on the pavement and the
debate with bystanders sound like a talk between deaf people (also a pun
in French).
Since 2005, atheist has structured themselves as a lobby. In Washington,
in the heart of the political power they even hire the services of
influential lobbyists. And despite the hostile environment they have
already won a few battles.
A political activism and a visibility that scares the religious Right.
Bill Donahue is the leader of the Catholic League. Very media-friendly he
has even been caricatured in South Park next to the Pope. For him, non
believers are running a crusade against christianism.
Paradox : atheists organize themselves like their opponents and even
imitate the christian rituals.
Central Park a Saturday afternoon.
This couple is about to get married under a vegetal pavilion in the sound
of the Beatles. Here, there's no priest but a retired librarian member of
the American Humanists Association.
Even without any religious references the ceremony looks like a copy-paste
of a Christian wedding. A mere come back to the sources according to these
non very catholic people.
After the librarian that performs like a priest, secular masses.
For the non believers, Sundays are still like a sacred day.
In Teaneck, NJ, rather going to church, some gather in the premises of the
Ethical Society. Here torture, abortion, violence, or gay mariage is
discussed and after the discussion it's time to pass the hat round.
And while parents listened to the Sunday's secular sermon, kids upstairs,
follow a secular version of a catechism class.
Non believers against believers, is the power struggle balancing among the
American population ? A recent survey shows that more than one teen out of
three doesn't believe in God. Not enough to overthrow religion wich is
still one of the pillars of America.
Today it's still easier to become President when one has a black skin than
if one doesn't believe in God.
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5:21
Dan Barker FFRF CoPresident on Fox News - National Day of Prayerby FFRForg1,272 views
Lol. I love how they use Dr. Dre beats for their background music
IAMtheNewWorldOrder 1 year ago
Being partial to Ethical Culture, especially the Bergen County flavor, my favorite part starts at 6m 56s.
kkarp 2 years ago
I'm glad to see FFRF got on the French news! Pretty good report, although I think they could have made it clearer that not all atheists choose to meet on Sundays and have traditional-style weddings.
It was also great to see a little behind the scenes of FFRF—Freethought Radio and Freethought Hall (and to see that Dan Barker uses a Mac!).
A less choppy version is on Canal+'s website (YouTube doesn't allow links, or I'd post it here).
Vive la libre-pensée !
iamtheblog 2 years ago