“You don’t need God to be good,” “You’re not alone if you don’t believe in God,” and Voltaire quotes like, “Those who believe in absurdities commit atrocities,” these were just a few of the controversial sayings in chalk scrawled by AAA or Alabama Atheists and Agnostics (“Alabama Atheists and Agnostics chalkings erased”). For obvious reasons, student religious groups and AAA members have been butting heads ever since its creation in 2007. Although, establishing and maintaining an anti-religious group deep in the heart of the Bible belt hasn’t been easy, AAA has a surprisingly large following here at the University of Alabama. But because of their controversial, and some say condescending, messages, the University and its students have thrown AAA into the line of fire. What started as an opposing group of students smearing ice cream onto AAA’s ads escalated when university faculty joined in on the rampage. Being misunderstood and feared of the unknown are what drive students to lash out against AAA when in truth, their ideals aren’t as farfetched as one may think. The Alabama Atheists and Agnostics is a tight-knit group of individuals striving to promote open-mindedness and to provide a safe haven for those who don’t identify with organized religion.
Before we can dive into the fundamentals of AAA, it is important to understand the roots of Atheism and the basic beliefs associated with it. The first self-proclaimed Atheist movement started around the 1700’s and today it is the largest growing religious group in the world. The word “Atheism” comes from the Greek word Atheos, which means the belief in no God, higher being, or deity, atheists believe in logic over belief. Disagreement with Bible doctrine, debate over the creation of Earth, and belief in Darwinism are the dominant pillars of Atheism. Many Atheists also identify with philosophers such as Voltaire, Diderot, and Thomas Pain who were persecuted for their radical ideals throughout history. They don’t focus on single religious figures or doctrines as being faulty, but are against materialism and blind acceptance of the status quo (“History of Atheism”). As with the religion itself, the members of AAA are diverse in their beliefs. According to AAA Vice President Peter Sloan,” Our membership is very diverse…In fact, not everyone in our group identifies themselves as "atheist" or "agnostic." The only requirement for membership is that you be a student at UA and have an open mind!”(Sloan).
Unfortunately not all students are as open minded as the AAA and with the chalk incident on campus last week, it’s apparent that not all students are ready to accept the group. Their somewhat volatile messages offended many students, and not just the devoutly religious ones. It only took a few hours for students who strongly disagreed with the messages to vandalize them with ice cream and water. University faculty and employees also started erasing the messages and not surprisingly, left all pro-Christian messages intact. When asked about his outlook on the group and its future, Sloan replied:
“I think we are still in the early stages, so it's hard to tell. I do think that atheism is becoming much more acceptable in general though, and our group is a small, local part of making that change. We have had extensive coverage in the CW all semester, and we were even on the local TV news the other night… We need to get our name out there as much as possible. People need to know that atheists and agnostics are just like them.” (Sloan)
The AAA also encounters the unique situation of being in the state of Alabama, which lies in the heart of the “Bible Belt”. This has caused tension between the group and the rest of the University since AAA’s creation. Sloan also commented on this subject, “I think we have had some resistance from the University, and certainly from our fellow students, and I'm sure it's because we are in a "red state" like Alabama… If there is one commonality among all our members, it is that they are so surprised and thrilled to have finally found a group like this. It's been really rewarding getting to know the members.” (Sloan) AAA provides a safe place for those who are confused about religion, have no religion at all, or are simply lost and trying to find their way. Not only do they discuss Atheism, but they also incorporate and analyze teachings from religions around the worlds. “Some religious students are confused about the need for non-religious people to gather and discuss faiths that they might not hold and doctrines to which they might not adhere.” (Facebook.com) AAA attempts to respect all people’s stands on religion and is very accepting to new ideas. They try to take those who feel like they're alone in their beliefs and unite them into one.
Overall, Alabama Atheists and Agnostics is a great way to express your feelings on religion and not be scrutinized over it. Despite their seemingly radical beliefs and abrasive advertisements, this group has potential to become incredibly successful in time. They are a newly formed group whose numbers grow daily, but gaining support from the University hasn’t been easy. They encounter persecution from people who disagree with their wide variety of non-religious beliefs. Being in the state of Alabama has only highlighted the misunderstanding surrounding Atheism and spirituality. Though they are still young, and the chalk incident was a major setback, many are starting to feel that it’s ok to come out and move away from their Christian roots and express what they truly believe in. To find out more information about the group, look up their Facebook page titled, Alabama Atheists and Agnostics.
Works Citied
Arnold, Sam. "Alabama Atheists and Agnostics | Facebook." Facebook.com. Web. 27 Oct. 2009.
Bursch, Karissa. "Alabama Atheists and Agnostics chalking erased." Crimson White [Tuscaloosa] 30 Sept. 2009.
O’Hair, Madalyn Murray. “History of Atheism.” AmericanAtheists.com. Web. 27 Oct. 2009. < http://www.atheists.org/atheism/history_of_atheism>.
Sloan, Peter. "Alabama Atheists and Agnostics." E-mail interview. 26 Oct. 2009.
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