The World’s Largest Coalition of Nontheists and Nontheist Communities!

Why does there need to be racist atheism?

i see there is "Black Freethought" as one of the groups listed on the main page. is there something different about black freethought as opposed to white freethought or just freethought without any race attached? would it be tolerated to post a "white freethought" or "caucasian freethought" group? this is sickening that this is allowed here.

0 members like this

Replies are closed for this discussion.

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Kevin Morgan on December 8, 2009 at 7:43pm

Hmm. From my perspective on the outside, it seems to me that there is a very long history of evangelicalism and spirituality in the black community. Much of it due to their history here in the U.S., especially in the deep south. Church was a very large part of their lives and community. This is much too large a topic if you wanted to get into all the bigotry and slavery issues. But any cursory examination of history will show it to be the case.

As such, there must be a heavy stigma associated with being an African American atheist in many of those communities. So I can see there being a place for such a group here.

Permalink Reply by Prog Rock Girl on December 8, 2009 at 10:09pm

Yeah, I'd say people in some sub-groups have had a specific type of experience (in this instance, maybe lack of social acceptance) and would like to be in contact with others who understand that experience.

Permalink Reply by Yosemite Sam on December 8, 2009 at 11:18pm

You must be a carpenter...

Permalink Reply by John D on December 8, 2009 at 7:44pm

There are lots of groups here. I am not a member of Black Freethought, but I do not feel offended. Groups do have special reasons to have gather so that the subjects of interest can be discussed etc. I am sure you can join the group if you wish. This is not a "bash white people" group!

Ask yourself, is there a reason to have a vegan group, or an environmental group or a science group (or a black group). Do you have an interest in all these groups?... maybe or maybe not.

Start whatever group you like. I think you are over-reacting by your claim that this is "sickening".

PS - I am a 48 year old white man... just to be clear.

Permalink Reply by OutlawGirl on December 8, 2009 at 8:29pm

Race doesn't exist, but there are cultures built up around race that are very real.

Permalink Reply by Loren Miller on December 8, 2009 at 9:07pm

Sorry, but race DOES exist and is physiologically very damned real ... ask anyone with sickle-cell anemia, most of whom are BLACK.

Permalink Reply by John D on December 8, 2009 at 9:51pm

Well - that's one way to solve the problem of race... claim there aren't any. That's new!

Permalink Reply by Brandy on December 26, 2009 at 10:59am

Race is a social construct not biological. This doesn't mean that the concept of race does not exist; it is very real.

Permalink Reply by OutlawGirl on December 8, 2009 at 10:33pm

Well, yeah, but I don't think desirefirst is talking about physiology. He's talking about race as a social exclusion factor between groups, ie race as defined by racism. That's how I saw it anyway.

Permalink Reply by John D on December 9, 2009 at 7:55am

Yeah - I see your point.

Permalink Reply by Scarletizm on December 10, 2009 at 11:43am

here's a copy and paste for you

"Sickle-cell disease, usually presenting in childhood, occurs more commonly in people (or their descendants) from parts of tropical and sub-tropical regions where malaria is or was common. One-third of all indigenous inhabitants of Sub-Saharan Africa carry the gene[2], because in areas where malaria is common, there is a survival value in carrying only a single sickle-cell gene (sickle cell trait).[3] Those with only one of the two alleles of the sickle-cell disease are more resistant to malaria, since the infestation of the malaria plasmodium is halted by the sickling of the cells which it infests.
The prevalence of the disease in the United States is approximately 1 in 5,000, mostly affecting Americans of Sub-Saharan African descent, according to the National Institutes of Health.[4] In the United States, about 1 in 500 black births have sickle-cell anemia."

Permalink Reply by Brandy on December 26, 2009 at 10:58am

Race is a social construct not a biological one. Sickle cell anemia is a disease the affects black people, but one must understand genetics to understand diseases. On a genetic level, sickle cell anemia is a trade off for protection against falciparum malaria, which was more dangerous in certain areas of the globe. For instance, tropical regions were dark skin was a benefit to protect them from the heavy sun.