North Carolina shootings do not represent Atheism

Anyone who, like myself, does not buy the assertion that the universe must have a creator has probably faced this argument at some point. It goes something like this: Religious people do wars and terrorism, but so do atheists! Stalin and Mao were atheists! They killed more people than Hitler!

Yes, we are all forced to say. However, is that why Stalin and Mao killed so many people? There is a big difference between anti-clericalism for political and ideological dominance over a population, and the ideals of atheism or humanism. Show me a violent mob wielding copies of Richard Dawkins The God Delusion or Christopher Hitchens God is not Great, and Ill go to church this Sunday.

However, on Feb. 12, my views on this matter changed drastically.

While I had been of the belief that nobody would or could kill another person in the name of atheism, the news brought me to bear a sad truth. Three young, bright, innocent Muslim students in North Carolina were inexplicably murdered by a man named Craig Steven Hicks, who does in fact call himself an atheist.

Hicks Facebook page shows a quote from Richard Dawkins, specifically referencing how Dawkins lost all sympathy for the Islamic faith on 9/11. While Hicks shared the quote back in 2012, it would be silly to assume the work of Dawkins and others did not contribute to a festering hatred for Muslims, one which ended in tragedy last week.

My first reaction to this news was the exact same reaction of religious people whenever their texts are used to justify violence or hatred. X has nothing to do with Y. This is a misunderstanding. Nothing in this book justifies the horrific actions Hicks took.

These statements are all true. My initial reaction, like that of everyone else, was that this persons religious beliefs had nothing to do with the fact that this cruel action was taken. It has more to do with personal issues, feelings of isolation or oppression, mental instability, etc.

Again, all this is true. However, let us not fall into the same trap as religion does in the wake of every tragedy. Let us not deny any involvement or try to absolve ourselves of any culpability. Let us own up to the fact that Hicks atheism was one of many factors that contributed to his deep-seated hatred, just like religious terrorists. Let us not deny Hicks was an atheist, despite the fact he calls himself one. Most importantly, let us apologize.

To my Muslim friends, and to everyone: I am sorry for Craig Steven Hicks.

I am sorry he perverted atheism into violent hatred. I do not stand for what he did, and atheism does not explain what he did. There is nothing in this world that explains or justifies hatred or violence. At this point, we can safely say that terrorists come in all shapes, sizes, races, religions and ideologies, including atheism. Let us not condemn all Christians for the actions of Anders Breivik; let us not condemn all Buddhists for militants in Myanmar; let us not condemn all Muslims for the Charlie Hebdo attack.

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North Carolina shootings do not represent Atheism