Has this happened to you?
Have you read a Tweet by someone that says, “Mayor who wanted to erect ten commandments tablets in front of City Hall loses in court,” and smiled? Or even smirked, or said “awesome!” to yourself? Have you ever cheered when hearing about a teacher getting suspended for trying to force school children into daily prayer? Do you ever laugh at a Christian who tries to debate Richard Dawkins and fails miserably?
Those things are “bad” to Christians and other believers. Of course, the concept of “bad” is relative (for those who reason), but it’s generally accepted by believers (or, more specifically, evangelicals, fundamentalists, and even a lot of moderates who care) that failure to influence others with regard to their chosen religion is a bad thing. It’s losing ground in the “fight” against the heathens, the godless, and sin. It’s also quite often an emotional experience for believers to lose, for they hold close to their faith, and are empowered by it.
Is it right for atheists to revel in victory? Is is honorable, rational, or productive to laugh in the face of a fallen opponent? Have centuries of oppression and fear caused us to suffer from nervous laughter syndrome, whereby our repressed emotions and need to express ourselves manifest derision and ridicule at even the slightest slip by our oppressors? Is it healthy or beneficial for us to perpetuate such reactions? Do we threaten the already tenuous relations between believers and non-believers?
I don’t ask all of these questions rhetorically. I’d really like to know what others think. I, myself, am guilty of feeling pleased, perhaps in an act of self-righteous justification, when I read about court decisions that interpret the First Amendment the way I think it should be interpreted, despite the fact that somewhere, there is a person who lost that case who cared deeply about it. Do I owe that person a modicum of respect? Do I really disrespect that person or show some sort of evil “true colors” if I choose to cheer when I think justice has been done and freedom from religion is further secured? With these thoughts I am struck.
