Underclass

We are an underclass, us non-religious. We who refuse to bow to the demons and deities of ancient mythology are a second class minority. Sure there are books and articles and shows (occassionally) on the fallacies of modern religion, written, published and produced by a few brave souls. But, when push comes to shove, we are too afraid of the stranglehold that religion has on our world to form any meaningful resistance. We are simply washed away in the tide of unthinking faith.

Why is it so few take a stand, so few complain that the president of the most powerful country in the world HAS TO BE christian to get elected (similarly for most other western countries)? Why do so few comment when we are required to swear on a bible before assuming public office, or giving testimony in a court of law? Why is it that so few even notice the extent to which religious thought has invaded and pervaded our daily lives; not only our culture (TV, movies, books) but our language -- our very thought. God damn, I wish I knew. Jesus, I did it. Christ, I did it again! (see what I mean!).

So, why is it? Its because we are a second-class minority. We know that the freedoms of thought and speach that we enjoy today could all go the way of Zeus if we push too hard. The religious are simply far too strong. They control too much of the world for the rational to overcome. We know that, if we push too hard, we will be squashed they will simply push back with the might of a few billion high-ranking good Christian soldiers (let's be realistic here - Christianity holds most of the power in the world today). We know that to stir the ire of the faithful will fully wake the beast and we would be plunged back into a dark ages we would likely not escape for a long, long time.

So we, the rational, are the underclass, second class, minority. And unless the rest of the world wakes up, we will stay that way for a long, long time.

Void Surfer