Reaching Out To Atheists?
By Paul M. Weyrich

It's getting to be that to say "Lord" in a reverential manner in public is tantamount to mouthing a four-letter word.

The pressure will only increase if a small but motivated political action committee called the Godless Americans Political Action Committee (GAMPAC) has their way.

Fortunately, few reporters showed up at the press conference to announce the formation of the new PAC, which Ellen Johnson, the president of American Atheists, termed a "young movement." But Ellen Johnson and her like-minded followers believe there is a potentially large constituency with the potential to be mobilized.

Johnson is quoted on the Godless Americans PAC webpage: "We intend to 'grow' GAMPAC into a useful and effective vehicle for giving Atheists, Freethinkers, Humanists and other nonbelievers more of a say at the ballot box and in the halls of Congress and state legislatures."

Surveys in recent years have shown anywhere from 10 to 15% of Americans having no religion.

The organization's concerns lie in expressing disapproval of measures and acts such as legislation pending in Illinois's state legislature to allow the Ten Commandments to be displayed in public schools and government buildings, the presentation of the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Pope John Paul II, and the Religious Liberties Restoration Act sponsored by Senator Wayne Allard (R-CO) that, if law, would protect the display of the Ten Commandments and the Pledge of Americans and the national motto on public property.

What this organization is about is denying the importance of Judeo-Christian belief in the founding and the laws of this country, much less to say in our own daily lives. What kind of country would we be if this PAC with its agenda manages to erase recognition of God and the Ten Commandments?

Whether this PAC succeeds or not, the rise of politically organized atheism in our country indeed presents a significant test to our version of Christian patience because a small but tightly organized clique of non-believers stands to do great damage to our country and its character if they have their way. They are likely to find a receptive following for their views reflected by leading figures in the nation's entertainment and news media, the courts, and, perhaps, increasingly, some of the citizens living in the so-called "blue" districts and states that Al Gore carried in the last election.

Nor is the United States the only country experiencing such a vexing problem.

Recently, the Vatican's Pontifical Council for Culture released a study examining the state of unbelief in the world.

The report found that overall there is no rise in disbelief, a phenomenon concentrated largely in the West. However, religious indifference and practical atheism were found to be on the upswing and many Westerners are said to be seeking a spirituality -- not membership in an organized religion -- that reflects a culture that places the desires of man ahead of the wishes of God.

For the Christian, the question is how do we respond to this troubling trend?

Undoubtedly, you've come across people who refuse to acknowledge God's existence, much less to admit the continuing relevance of our great Western religions, Judaism and Christianity.

This is no time to back away from our beliefs but to be more bold in making clear what we believe and why. It will take tact and empathy as we must reach out to non-believers, but there can be no room for doubt on our part. Sureness and steadfastness are qualities that will matter more in the long-run.

We need to lead by example, not, as we did in the 1960s, by being embarrassed about our belief in God and His Commandments. Letting the sexual revolution influence the Church back then has played a major role in its current loss of credibility. It means bringing forth new leaders of conviction based on belief in enduring principles to replace those who came to prominence by being "men of the moment."

It means seeking closer bonds between like-minded believers, making clear the importance of belief in a Higher Power throughout our own nation's history and recognizing it in our works of art and literature and music.

Who would have imagined twenty years ago that there would be a thriving home schooling movement with many families doing so because they want to instill the proper values in their children? Now, a college, Patrick Henry, has been established to serve the needs of homeschoolers seeking higher education. People see homeschoolers outperforming their own children in the schools and that makes them wonder. Eventually, some will catch on that something significant is happening and it is more than just being taught by Mom at home.

So, yes, we need to stick together. But at the same time we must never stop being involved in our communities to the extent that our values will allow us. St. John Chrysostom said in his "Homily to Those Who had not Attended the Assembly": "For what profit is a lamp if it does not give light to him who sits in darkness? And what profit is a Christian when he benefits no one, neither leads any one back to virtue?"

Surprisingly, many of our young people are silently rebelling against the way things are in our country. They've born the brunt of divorce, teen sex, and who knows what else, and they see it's not working in their parent's lives and those of their peers. Unfortunately, not all know just what the true answers are and where to find them. When someone says the young are indeed our future, it is not just a trite saying, but also a fact that is truer now than in recent decades. We need to work harder to make sure they get the answers.

As someone who has been working in politics since I was a teenager, I know how important the political arena is to our lives. Our country has been torn apart by a cultural war for over four decades, a time when the false and easy qualities of secularism gained ground against the more demanding but more virtuous Faith.

The real way to win this battle lies not at the ballot box itself, which can only reflect the thinking of our nation's citizens who participate in our democratic process. It lies in our hearts and what we truly believe, even if it means we must be willing to make great sacrifices to reap great rewards. That in the end will give us the edge over the Godless Americans who deserve our sympathy for all that they are missing in their lives.

Paul M. Weyrich is Chairman and CEO of the Free Congress Foundation.