The third episode -- “Race and Religion” -- of the NEPA Freethought Society podcast will be released during the first week of December. Rodney Collins, an African-American atheist who is the founder of the NEPA Freethought Society and a cast member of the podcast, was especially interested in this topic, he says, because he has a personal connection to the topic. Collins commented specifically for this article providing a special sneak-peek into some information discussed in the podcast.
Although a life-long atheist, Collins was raised by Baptist family members and participated in many black Baptist church services when he was younger. Collins says, “I never found any evidence or anything compelling for their religious claims. Religious belief is not only unnecessary, but ridiculous.”
Many African-American theists are happy to approach strangers, Collins says, asking if they are saved, but many become very defensive and confrontational when talking with atheists. African-American theists, like their Caucasian counterparts, Collins mentions, are often quick to claim offense or say that atheists are being disrespectful during a very civil conversation. Collins says that African-American theists, from his experience, are often quick to escape the discussion despite their willingness to ask people if they are saved.
Collins explains that he is a “double minority” and that African-American atheists are very rare. He believes that African-American theists don't seem to be interested in atheists' ideas, but rather are more interested in superstition, what feels good and what their pastors tell them to believe. He notes that many African-American theists he has met have a “serious lack of education and knowledge about the claims they make” and do not even understand what an atheist is.
“One pastor, Michael Brewster, in the Wilkes-Barre area,” Collins mentions, “tells his congregation not to have contact with non-believers because we are their 'adversaries' trying to take away their 'power of prayer.' They have names to call us and ignorance to spread behind our backs, but they don't know how to have a civil discussion and debate.”
Also included in the upcoming podcast is commentary about the mix of Christianity and apartheid in South Africa, information about the NEPA Freethought Society including news and upcoming events and commentary on local news stories. The NEPA Freethought Society podcast is available on the iTunes store free of charge, the NEPA Freethought Society's website and through an RSS feed.
The NEPA Freethought Society is a secular discussion and activist group in Northeastern Pennsylvania that is intended to be a coalition of non-believers including atheists, agnostics, skeptics, humanists, etc. predicated on support and community. The group meets monthly. More information about the group and previous podcast episodes can be found on the NEPA Freethought Society's official website.
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