Papal Encyclical Smears Atheists, Secularism and Distorts History

“Organized religion has rarely abolished tyranny – enlightenment and secular values have!” – AA President

An Atheist advocacy group criticized the new encyclical made public this weekend by Pope Benedict XVI. In a 75-page document, the pontiff urged the world to adopt Christianity, and said that Atheism “led to the greatest forms of cruelty and violations of justice,” specifically in the form of Marxist ideology. With books on Atheism now hot sellers and Atheist/Freethought groups thriving, the pope claimed, “Let us put it very simply: man needs God. otherwise he remains without hope.”

“Benedict needs to go back to school and study history,” said Ellen Johnson, President of American Atheists. “The most noxious and oppressive tyranny inevitably cloaks its mis-deeds in the rationale of religious faith. It is the values that originated with the Enlightenment and secularism which offers humanity the real hope in the form of freedom, progress and diversity.”

Johnson also disagreed with the claim that Communism and Marxism was a necessary component of Atheism. “Those regimes didn’t justify their violation of human rights on Atheism. For them, just like fanatical theocracies, it was and is all about power – not reason.”

Dave Silverman, Communications Director for American Atheists, added that Benedict’s call for the world to embrace Catholicism will only contribute to the deep religion-based culture wars now taking place. “Look at militant Islam, look at militant Christianity, and it’s pretty clear that our world is suffering from too much religion and too little secularism.” Silverman added that the papal encyclical was “a convenient distraction from scandals involving religious leaders, the church cover-up of the priestly pedophiles, efforts to restrict rights for women, gays and other groups – you name it!”

“The pathway to peace is accountability and truth, not deflection and defamation,” Silverman added.

“Whether it’s the pope or some ayatollah or other preacher, none of these religious leaders seem to think that freedom and the separation of church-mosque-temple and government are good things. We do.”