Post-election Thoughts from The Friendly Atheist

HumanistNetworkNews.org
Nov. 5, 2008


Barack Obama is the new president and I would think most atheists are thrilled about this choice (especially given the alternative).

I was among Obama's earliest supporters (Is Obama Too Pious for the Nonreligious, Humanist Network News, Jan. 17, 2007) and I am proud to say I voted for him. In fact, I was at his rally last night and will be writing about that event on my own site shortly.

But now that his presidency is looming, let's talk about the changes I predict we can hope for from an Obama administration as well as the issues that will not be addressed – not every issue, but the ones that have special meaning for atheists:

Gay Marriage: Will it become legal across the country under an Obama presidency? No. Obama has said he believes in "traditional" marriage (though he does support civil unions). He has also said that he believes gay marriage is an issue that should be resolved by each individual state. Because of that hands-off approach, I think we will see more states allowing gay marriage. Not every state will support equal rights by the end of Obama's term, but more will be heading in that direction.

Faith Based Initiatives: Will they disappear? Nope. In fact, they'll be expanded by Obama. However, the money will be carefully monitored and it will be used only on secular programming. In other words, proselytizing would not be allowed with federal money and discrimination in hiring would be prohibited. According to the Huffington Post, Obama said the following:

Make no mistake, as someone who used to teach constitutional law, I believe deeply in the separation of church and state, but I don't believe this partnership will endanger that idea — so long as we follow a few basic principles. First, if you get a federal grant, you can't use that grant money to proselytize to the people you help and you can't discriminate against them — or against the people you hire — on the basis of their religion. Second, federal dollars that go directly to churches, temples, and mosques can only be used on secular programs. And we'll also ensure that taxpayer dollars only go to those programs that actually work.

Sex education: Age-appropriate sex education will likely be passed; abstinence only funding will be dropped.

Separation of church and state: Obama was a constitutional lawyer. He knows of and respects the wall of separation. Rest assured it won't be purposely breached (although Obama will make reference after reference to his own religious faith in his speeches, annoying atheists regardless).

Other predictions: Embryonic stem cell research will be federally funded in time. Rational Supreme Court justices will be appointed. We will see more funding for science education. A woman's right to choose will be protected. Laws against drug use will be revamped; it won't be illegal to possess small amounts of marijuana, for example.

I also think we'll see the number of non-theists in public office double or triple in two years' time, from one--Pete Stark (D-CA), to perhaps, two or three, due to the Democratic majority in Congress!

In short, an Obama administration means that we will be heading in the right direction when it comes to social issues. Is it everything that an atheist could want? Of course not. That is still political suicide. But for now, we should be satisfied with this tremendous leap toward a more enlightened country.

If you voted for Barack, you deserve a pat on the back.

About Hemant, the Friendly Atheist

Hemant Mehta is the Chair of the Secular Student Alliance (SSA) Board of Directors. He has worked with the Center for Inquiry and is also an SSA representative to the Secular Coalition for America. Hemant received national attention, including being featured on the front page of the Wall Street Journal, for his work as the "eBay Atheist." Hemant's blog can be read at FriendlyAtheist.com and his book "I Sold My Soul on eBay" (WaterBrook Press) is now in bookstores everywhere. He currently works as a high school math teacher in the suburbs of Chicago.