Let It Be

The Atlantic Monthly ^ | May 2003 | Jonathan Rauch

[Publius]

It came to me recently in a blinding vision that I am an apatheist. Well, "blinding vision" may be an overstatement. "Wine-induced haze" might be more strictly accurate. This was after a couple of glasses of Merlot, when someone asked me about my religion. "Atheist," I was about to say, but I stopped myself. "I used to call myself an atheist," I said, "and I still don't believe in God, but the larger truth is that it has been years since I really cared one way or another. I'm"—that was when it hit me—"an ... apatheist!"

[Publius]

A fascinating view of religion's role in our culture.

[Greeblie]

I like that a lot!

[browardchad]

I believe that the rise of apatheism is to be celebrated as nothing less than a major civilizational advance. Religion, as the events of September 11 and after have so brutally underscored, remains the most divisive and volatile of social forces. To be in the grip of religious zeal is the natural state of human beings, or at least of a great many human beings; that is how much of the species seems to be wired. Apatheism, therefore, should not be assumed to represent a lazy recumbency, like my collapse into a soft chair after a long day. Just the opposite: it is the product of a determined cultural effort to discipline the religious mindset, and often of an equally determined personal effort to master the spiritual passions. It is not a lapse. It is an achievement.

Cultural and religious relativism is obviously not sufficient for Mr. Rauch. He rejoices in what he describes as his determined effort to be apathetic. How very chic.

He may want to ponder that what he describes as "apatheism" in others may just be good old-fashioned tolerance born of our founders' respect for freedom.

[Publius]

Well said.

[P.O.E.]

Religion, as the events of September 11 and after have so brutally underscored, remains the most divisive and volatile of social forces

A bit of ex post facto revisionism here, perhaps? I seem to remember churches being unusually crowded here in the 'States after 9/11

[Publius]

The author is looking at it from a different angle. Take a look at the murder of Christians in Iraq yesterday. Take a look at some of the religious threads at this site. The Protestants aren't ganging up on the Catholics right now, but some of those old threads were scary.

[newgeezer]

"Apatheism" reminds me of those drivers who blissfully motor down the road, rarely if ever looking more than, say, 50 yards beyond their front bumpers. They're the ones we find stopped in front of the lane-closure barrier, turn-signal blinking, wishing that someone would let them cut in line.

All because of their own shortsightedness or tunnel vision.

What a pity.

Of course, the motorist variety is less likely to take pride in his apathy. It's obvious even to him what continuing in his apathy could bring.

_________________

I have Christian friends who organize their lives around an intense and personal relationship with God, but who betray no sign of caring that I am an unrepentantly atheistic Jewish homosexual. They are exponents, at least, of the second, more important part of apatheism: the part that doesn't mind what other people think about God.

Uh-huh. Maybe they don't know where to start. Maybe they're waiting for an opening. Maybe they're looking for any sign of life in your unrepentant spirit.

Jesus told his followers, "Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces." Words to live by.

[biblewonk]

Jonathan Rauch?

[newgeezer]

Jonathan Rauch?

Yep. The (in his own words) "unrepentantly atheistic Jewish homosexual" Jonathan Rauch.

Talk about a seared conscience...

[Jay D. Dyson]

Apatheist? More like stagnostic!

-Jay

[gcruse]

"John G. Stackhouse Jr., a professor of theology and culture, wrote recently in American Outlook magazine, "Beginning in the 1990s, a series of sociological studies has shown that many more Americans tell pollsters that they attend church regularly than can be found in church when teams actually count." In fact, he says, actual churchgoing may be at little more than half the professed rate. A great many Americans, like their fortieth President, apparently care about religion enough to say they are religious, but not enough to go to church.

"You can snicker at Reagan and the millions of others like him; you can call them hypocrites if you like. I say, God bless them, every one."

[Publius]

Could you please move this thread to "Religion"?