The Middle East's fear of atheism

[rug]

In Egypt and other Arab states, societies are heavily influenced by religion. Even so, many people evidently regard themselves as atheists, and both governments and religious institutions see this as a threat.

23.12.2014
Andreas Gorzewski

There are exactly 866 atheists living along the Nile - at least according to a recent survey by the government-run Egyptian institution "Dar al-Ifta," which keeps tabs on religious issues in the country. How exactly that number was determined is unclear, but the institution's verdict on the threat is surprising: according to Dar al-Ifta, the fact that 0.001 percent of the Egyptian population does not believe in God is a reason to sound the alarm bells. After all, no country in the Arab world apparently has a higher number of "godless" people - Morocco being the runner-up with a purported 325 atheists.

The Dar al-Ifta figures contrast sharply with a poll conducted in 2014 by the Al-Azhar University in Cairo. Having canvassed 6,000 young people, the university - which has a formidable reputation in Sunni Islam - came up with an atheist proportion of some 12.3 percent of the Egyptian population. That would amount to 10.7 million of 87 million Egyptians.

Appearing on state TV in October, the Sheikh of Al-Azhar, Ahmad al-Tayyib, warned that atheism was no longer a side issue - the conscious dissociation from any religion was, he said, a social problem. According to the Gulf News daily, the Egyptian Ministries of Youth and Religious Endowment both pledged to launch campaigns designed to combat this attitude. Moderate religious scholars, psychologists, and social scientists were to be sent out to thwart the loss of faith among the young. "Young people are alienated by militant preachers who tell them 24 hours a day that they will go to hell," Al-Azhar professor Amnah Nusair told Gulf News.

Whether they are Muslim, Christian, or Jewish, hardly anyone in the Middle East publicly renounces religion. But the number seems to have increased in the wake of the Arab Spring in 2011, and most Arab countries have seen the emergence of atheist groups with their own Facebook pages. Their numbers appear to be very small: the "Tunisian Atheists" group has about 6,900 "likes," while the "Sudanese Atheists" have almost 3,300. The "Atheist Society in Egypt" recorded 585 at the time of writing, while the "Feminist Atheists in Saudi Arabia" have all of 61.

http://www.dw.de/the-middle-easts-fear-of-atheism/a-18145109

[tradewinds]

1. Not too unlike the fear of atheists round these parts.

It is so hard to control those silly non-theists.


I would postulate that there are many many many more than that. Their fear of theists is far more real. As it is here.

[rug]

2. Oh really? When is the last time you were imprisoned?

[tradewinds]

3. Right around the corner if theists get thier way.

But then, you know that.

[rug]

4. Don't let me pop your fantasy.

[tradewinds]

7. Tis your "fantasy" that should go "pop".

[rug]

11. This fantasy is all yours.

Enjoy.

[tradewinds]

12. That's it?

that and a quarter will buy you a gumball.

[rug]

13. That's about all it takes.

Enjoy your gumball.

[Arugula Latte]

5. Atheists are treated as lesser minority by law in several US states.

It's not a fantasy that atheists are discriminated against in this so-called "free" country.

Arkansas, Article 19, Section 1:
No person who denies the being of a God shall hold any office in the civil departments of this State, nor be competent to testify as a witness in any Court.

Maryland, Article 37:
That no religious test ought ever to be required as a qualification for any office of profit or trust in this State, other than a declaration of belief in the existence of God; nor shall the Legislature prescribe any other oath of office than the oath prescribed by this Constitution.

Mississippi, Article 14, Section 265:
No person who denies the existence of a Supreme Being shall hold any office in this state.

North Carolina, Article 6, Section 8
The following persons shall be disqualified for office: Any person who shall deny the being of Almighty God.

South Carolina, Article 17, Section 4:
No person who denies the existence of a Supreme Being shall hold any office under this Constitution.

Tennessee, Article 9, Section 2:
No person who denies the being of God, or a future state of rewards and punishments, shall hold any office in the civil department of this state.

Texas, Article 1, Section 4:
No religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office, or public trust, in this State; nor shall any one be excluded from holding office on account of his religious sentiments, provided he acknowledge the existence of a Supreme Being.

[cbayer]

6. Yep, and those are seven states where those specific laws are being

actively challenged at this time. I would be very surprised if a single one of them is left standing.

That doesn't mean that all the prejudice goes away, but it's a good step and should have been done long ago.

Even so, I don't think there really is a valid comparison between the Middle East and this "so-called free country".

[tradewinds]

9. And you, claiming to be an atheist, while defending religious oppression as no big deal.

You do not have to go back too far in history to find how capitulating, " at least it ain't me" types cause havoc on a world-wide scale.
Nothing is a "big deal"......until it is.

[cbayer]

10. Lol, hey you! What's shaking?

[Major Nikon]

14. To be clear, they aren't actually being challenged

Those laws are already unenforceable. There are people who are petitioning for their removal, but in some cases this will require a state constitutional amendment. It's not unusual for laws to remain on the books long after they are deemed irrelevant. It took decades for some states decades to repeal their anti-miscegenation laws after the SCOTUS ruled them invalid. Alabama repealed it's anti-miscegenation law in 2000 by voter referendum and 40% of the voters wanted to keep it (so much for Faux claiming there is no more racism in this country).

http://www.salon.com/2012/06/13/will_alabama_finally_kick_jim_crow_out_of_its_constitution/

[cbayer]

16. Thanks. I thought they were, but clearly didn't really understand the current

drive to have them removed from the books.

Until they are, people will keep putting them up as evidence of legally binding discrimination.

Did know about the anti-miscegenation laws, but not as much as I probably should.

Thanks for the info!

[rug]

8. All of which were struck down 53 years ago. Torcaso v. Watkins, 367 U.S. 488.

Yes, fantasy.

[Major Nikon]

15. As late as 1992, some states were still trying to enforce them

Hell, some states can't even manage to remove their Jim Crow laws from the books because bigots show up to the polls and demand they stay. So sure, the Constitution protects people legally from the tyranny of the majority, at least to some extent, but that doesn't mean the majority isn't still tyrannical and no longer wishes to exercise such control.