Rumor has it that Daniel Radcliffe is an atheist. And not just any old garden variety atheist. The Harry Potter star is a militant atheist, and it's not the rumor mill that spilled the beans about his religious or rather anti-religious attitudes. Radcliffe described himself as a "militant atheist" in a recent interview.
Twenty-two year-old old Daniel Radcliffe was raised in a Christian/Jewish household, but he believes the separation of religion and education is an absolute necessity because sex education is so important.
"I'm not religious," Radcliffe revealed in a recent interview with Attitude Magazine. "I'm an atheist, and a militant atheist when religion starts impacting on legislation. We need sex education in schools. Schools have to talk to kids from a young age about relationships, gay and straight. In Britain it's better - more of a conversation is being had."
Daniel Radcliffe is absolutely correct about that. Religion should not impact the governing of nations or intrude unwanted into the daily lives of citizens. As for sex education, he's right about that as well. It is certainly in pitiful shape in the US. In fact, original sex positive feminist Susie Bright once despaired that America is a nation of sexual illiterates. And sadly, she was, and still is, correct.
It is interesting that Daniel Radcliffe would suddenly "come out" and announce his atheism to the world. Is he simply once again sharing or over sharing with the media? He's certainly done that before. Or is he laying the ground work for a future post-acting career in English politics? Radcliffe considers himself a true political animal with decidedly left-wing leanings. Only time will tell.
The question that may come to mind is: Isn't DR afraid his admission of atheism might alienate his fans? Apparently not. And what if he does lose a few or a few million? The guy's got a long way to go before he has to worry about being "on the dole" as they say in the UK. The Harry Potter franchise took care of that.
© Hope Carson 2012
Hope Carson is the author of 2 books: A Roaring Girl: An Interview with the Thinking Man's Hooker and A Thousand and One Night Stands: The Life of Jon Vincent. You can follow her on Twitter.
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Comments: 12
The Pilgrims came over here to get away from the libertine views of Europe as did many others. I don't think religion should rule by law, but don't deny it makes up part of the rules we live by in society. I know at times, we may be a little too uptight about sex and so on, but I think there is problems going the other way too, Europe is generally too libertine. I think we need to teach it as being natural, perhaps a middle of the road approach along with being responsible and accountable for our actions, parents need to teach that.
Frankly, I don't care if Radcliffe is an atheist, religion to me is between each of us and God, I cannot force him to believe nor should I or any others. I think he needs to understand that he should not impose his morals and religion (atheism is a religion) on others either, it is a two way street. I know some atheists, they are perfectly good people, good friends and nice to share a beer with, they are comfortable as things are now. There are others who are complete jackasses about it who see it as a crusade to wipe out other religions and impose their own, all that does is you're "cruisin for a bruisin" as well as being uptight all the time I hope Radcliffe is not one of those.
School and religion, I have no problem with that, there are plenty of religious schools. I think we need a separation of school and state where you can have religious schools, secular schools, schools run by corporations, parent groups, homeschooling, cyber schools, etc.
no matter if one is an athiest, agnostic or whatever - they should not ignore the influence on our culture, that has influenced it from the beginning of the country, and will continue to do so.
no different than ignoring that we are all from other countries, and cultures - the 'melting pot', is all about the blending of thoughts and beliefs - not the abolishment of one or another.
If you don't think religion should rule by law then you must agree that a secular government is the only way. A wall of separation between church and state.
This doesn't just benefit atheists. The religious should support secularism to ensure a level playing field for religion outside of government. No religion is given any more authority by the government then the next.
What Daniel Radcliffe isn't doing is "imposing his morals and religion (atheism is a religion) on others" he is saying that it should be impossible for anyone, of any religion to do so.
The idea that "We are all monsters in our subconscious so we have laws and religion." is not one I can agree with you on. Societies existed long before the Abrahamic religions. The Jews somehow managed to avoid wiping each other out before Mosaic law, didn't they? There's nothing to suggest that the rule of law was born of religion. As a matter of fact, if one approaches the idea from the perspective of religion being man-made, it's easy to make the case that the opposite is true. If there is an all-knowing, constant observer, it would be impossible NOT to be caught. Which would seem to be the answer to those who would only obey rules for fear of being caught/punishment.
-"I know at times, we may be a little too uptight about sex and so on"
A little too uptight? The Catholic church endorses teaching that condoms cause STDs! In doing so they've helped spread AIDs to millions. In my mind that alone qualifies as more than "a little too uptight" on its own, without going into the idiocy of "abstinence only" sex education and priest pedophilia etc.
-"I think he needs to understand that he should not impose his morals and religion (atheism is a religion) on others either, it is a two way street."
Atheism is simply a lack of belief in a god or gods. There are no other pre-requisites necessary to consider someone an atheist. It is the antithesis of theism and could not exist without it. It's like saying bald is a hair style, you cannot have a hair style if you have no hair. To say that atheism is a religion is disingenuous on a level broaching malevolence.
-"all that does is you're "cruisin for a bruisin" as well as being uptight all the time I hope Radcliffe is not one of those."
A thinly veiled threat for anyone who isn't quiet about their atheism? Why the double standard? Would you say the same to a Jehovah's Witness? I've never knocked on anyone's door to debate or sway them, but I've personally experienced descrimination in the workplace as well as threats of violence due to my non-belief and don't particularly appreciate bullying tactics. Is your moral compass so broken that this is your go-to card? Is your position so indefensible that an opposing opinion moves you to violence? If you were referring to what the response of others might be, would you condone the "bruising" they would deal out?
This is the main reason myself and those like me are "militant atheists". We do not carry guns, we do not rape, murder, pillage and conquer those who disagree. We wage "war" with only our words, ideas and a genuine desire to see the palpable hate that religious people too often show anyone who opposes or doesn't conform to their detrimental in-group/out-group mentality, abated. We do not see racism as permissible, we do not see homosexuals as second class citizens. We see people. People who have the right to pursue their own happiness just as we do.
-"School and religion, I have no problem with that, there are plenty of religious schools. I think we need a separation of school and state where you can have religious schools, secular schools, schools run by corporations, parent groups, homeschooling, cyber schools, etc."
In America, you have the right to believe whatever it is you want to believe, but you do not have the right to impose those beliefs on others who do not want them. Be it through violence(though I know most religions demand it) or through legislation. If it's your desire to build a school that teaches Sharia Law and that salt water and fresh water do not mix as per the teaching of Islam, you're more than welcome to do so as long as you don't ask me, the Christian next to me, or the Buddhist next to him to help you with our tax dollars. If we're going to have a public education system that accommodates a diverse population of people and beliefs, it must remain neutral. Science is neutral. Unfortunately for theists, scientific understanding often leads to atheism.
Haven't you ever heard of the sepration of church and state? Since when did you live in a theocracy?
The government of the United States is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion. –John Adams
"religion to me is between each of us and God"
God is imaginary.
Religions are all alike founded upon fables and mythologies -Thomas Jefferson
"atheism is a religion"
Atheism simply means you don't believe in god. For atheism to be a religion not believing in santa claus must also be a religion as well as not believing in faries, unicorns, lepracauns, the Easter bunny, etc. Atheism is a religion in the same sense that not collecting stamps is a hobby or that bald is hair colour. Quite simply it's not a religion.
And the fact is religion has done more harm than good. What with all the wars in the name of religion the crusades, the 30 years war, the French Wars of religion, the Taiping rebillion and whatever else. Then other times when people killed in the name of religious beliefs like the Witch Trials.
"Millions of innocent men, women, and children, since the introduction of Christianity, have been burned, tortured, fined, and imprisoned, yet we have not advanced one inch toward uniformity. What has been the effect of coercion? To make one half of the world fools and the other half hypocrites." -Thomas Jefferson