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TheThinkingAtheist

The Rise of Black Secularism

TheThinkingAtheist

The Thinking Atheist

Science, Society & Culture, Education

4.82.8K Ratings

🗓️ 8 April 2014

⏱️ 81 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In his presentation “Breaking the Taboo of Atheism in Black Communities,” Leo Igwe said that “If there are people who should be religious and theistic today, it is not black people.”

Yet black people are reputed to be the most religious people on earth, and the social stigma for the black atheist can be significant and often severe.

As skeptics, how do we approach the issue of color in relation to non-belief? Should we strive to be “colorblind,” ignoring labels like black, white, etc? Or should color be acknowledged, embraced and even celebrated by those who accept the evolutionary explanation of our origins (aka: we are all Africans)?

Tonight features a panel of very special guests: Jamila Bey: Director of Commnications for the Secular Student Alliance, Alix Jules, President of Black Nonbelievers of Dallas, and Bridgette Gaudette, Executive Director of the Florida Humanist Association. The show will respectfully approach a subject that is controversial, even considered taboo, and will hopefully provide education and resources for atheists of all colors and cultures.

LINKS:

DFW Coalition of Reason: http://www.dfwcor.org

Black Nonbelievers Inc: http://blacknonbelievers.wordpress.com

The Gospel of Doubt: http://gospelofdoubt.net

Secular Student Alliance: http://www.secularstudents.org

Florida Humanist Association: http://www.floridahumanist.org

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Okay, here we go, the step-by-three, two, one, action!

0:06.6

Assume nothing.

0:08.4

Brash, bald, fake, black, blue.

0:10.6

Question, everything.

0:12.4

I find it extremely hard to imagine.

0:14.2

Open your eyes.

0:16.6

It is quite alright to be an atheist.

0:18.6

The fastest growing group of people in the country

0:21.1

has been measured as being those who have no belief

0:23.6

or who are atheists.

0:25.0

You don't have to be apologetic or quiet about it.

0:27.5

Challenge the opposition.

0:29.0

You see religion on a hundred fronts losing the argument.

0:33.0

And start thinking.

0:38.0

This is the thinking atheist worldwide.

0:44.6

So I posted the topic for tonight.

0:49.0

The rise of black secularism.

0:52.1

And immediately I begin to see the response.

0:54.9

What do you think it's that?

0:57.3

What are you doing? What's the matter with you?

0:59.7

You have all people.

1:00.9

Why would you step into this minefield of controversy?

...

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