Atheism behind bars

[domna89]

I would like to note an atheist organization (discussing atheism) should be allowed in under freedom of religion in the US. The Supreme Court has ruled that atheism is a religion insofar as it suffers the protections of freedom of religion, and not just speech.

So, in theory, any place a religion can penetrate, so, too, could an atheist "preacher". Or layperson

In theory, yes. I am trying to implement this as a course, because the volunteer channels are "unofficially" under the thumb of the clergy that head programs there. According to the inmates, there is actually a hierarchy of clergy (which I find bizarre) that situates a nice, square evangelical right at the top. I don't want to deal with that.

 

[Cain]

Atheism is and always will be at a disadvantage. It has no hope to offer the downtrodden. In order for atheism to flourish we need prosperity, education and a 15 point rise in median IQ ("but it's a standardized..." shut up).

 

[theprestige]

IMHO, atheists tend to have real jobs.

Given that approximately 90% of Americans are still employed, I'd guess that everybody tends to have "real jobs".

None of us is a preacher with 24/7 time to "convert". We do not have dedicated and paid "converters". This is a distinct disadvantage.

Why? Theists seem to have figured out a perfectly cromulent method of having real jobs and supporting dedicated outreach workers in prisons. Charitable donations of surplus wealth (and even, sometimes, not-so-surplus wealth) figure prominently in this system. Maybe atheists should look into this?

So every voluntary effort is highly welcome and will probably make a difference.

Even volunteers need food and shelter. Theist outreach programs seem to be pretty successful at finding theists who care enough about the problem, and are committed enough to the solution, to donate resources and support those volunteers.

I don't think the problem is that atheists have "real jobs", since everybody has a "real job", including professional outreach workers. Rather, I think the problem is that atheists would rather spend their "real job" paychecks on something other than ministering to convicts--even though such ministrations would no doubt be "highly welcome and will probably make a difference".

As far as I can tell, atheists, by and large, don't want to make a difference in this way. But maybe I'm wrong: Maybe atheists do want to make a difference, but simply can't. Not for lack of resources, obviously--they have the same access to the same resources as theists do, after all. Maybe the question that most needs answering is, does atheism actually have anything to offer criminals? Anything that might give hope, or peace, or respect for their community and its shared values?

 

[TubbaBlubba]

I would like to note an atheist organization (discussing atheism) should be allowed in under freedom of religion in the US. The Supreme Court has ruled that atheism is a religion insofar as it suffers the protections of freedom of religion, and not just speech.

So, in theory, any place a religion can penetrate, so, too, could an atheist "preacher". Or layperson

I thought most of us didn't like the fact that religions demand special protection.