Push the Boundaries

Sometimes the loud and obnoxious among us have a positive duty to be loud and obnoxious. Of course, not every atheist is comfortable making others uncomfortable, but at least a few of us must be. The only way to move the middle is to push the boundaries. It expands the range of acceptable ideas so those who consider themselves reasonable and moderate have room to examine their own beliefs. So whenever the discussion turns to religion, I try to figure out where the line is and deliberately cross it. Not too far, mind you. The trick is to find the point where it is easier for the group to resolve the social tension by moving the boundary than in some other way. The other day I moved the boundary so far over the course of the conversation that I was able to refer to the bible as the collected scribblings of a bunch of bronze-age sheep fuckers. By that point the closet skeptics in the group felt safe to say what they really think. Mission accomplished.

Note: I never initiate a conversation about religion. Ever. But I also never shy away from it when it comes up, which is more often than you would think. This may be because the fact that I'm open about being an atheist invites conversations about religion. Sometimes it starts with religious people wanting to take me on. More often it starts with closet skeptics looking for someone to draw fire, making it safe for them to express their doubts.