Story-time with Uncle Phil: The Damnation of Atheism

Phil Robertson (Credit: AP/A&E/Zach Dilgard)

This is the shit that Antoine Dodson warned us about people!! Evil coming into our homes and snatching up our kids and wives!! Although, written in ancient text, I'm sure it would've sounded way more prophetic than the news clip gone viral. He's got a 'credible' name echoing some similar concerns though - albeit more of focus seems to be about a hypothetical world of Atheism as he envisions it. At the very least, it's just awkward story time with Uncle Phil. I've linked the audio clip below:


Duck Dynasty's Phil Robertson on a Hypothetical World of Atheism

In summary, Phil Robertson talks about people doing evil things without the repercussions of God's wrath. He paints the world as a place full of people that would not possibly do good things without the idea of going to hell as a punishment. There are a few problems with this vote of logic, but I just want to throw out a disclaimer: I am NOT an Atheist. I do not watch Duck Dynasty.

I used to have this aunt that took me to church all the time as a kid. I'd sit with the other kids in this  blueish-green room that wreaked of old clothes and mothballs. Some white guy with a dry ass comb-over would eventually come in with his bible in hand and share stories from the ol' book. We just sat and listened, probably picked our nose. A greater testament (than the new testament) to that particular church were the people in it - they just weren't that good, or that nice. My aunt was fat, lazy, racist, and just overall mean. Yet, she would give up about 60% of her earnings to the church in tithe, just to make up for being such a shitty person. She hid behind the veil of religion to justify her shitty beliefs, but she wasn't alone. A lot of people do that, and find ways to push their beliefs on other through fear tactics. I believe we call that terrorism? Can we call Phil Robertson a terrorist yet?

Here's my thing: If a world without God breeds violence and apathy (as Robertson claims), why do so many people commit violent acts in the name of their Gods? Have you read the bible? There is some crazy stuff in there! There are also some valuable lessons. You know what else has valuable lessons? Past seasons of MTV's The Real World (...or more currently, 16 & Pregnant - bad idea girls.) Should we not follow those lessons because the medium is different? It's all up for interpretation, just like many parts of religious texts. Still, violence happens! And people commit violent acts in the name of their religion regularly, and for as long as there's been written history! I know what some people are thinking: "The violent people of a particular religion are the extremist/militant ones. They don't represent the bigger picture of the religion." I'd have to agreed with you. Then I think about extremists in other major religions, that just meditate forever - a lot less violent, but still EXTREME!!!

And, just to entertain the thought, (dare I say play 'Devil's advocate') all of the evil stuff Robertson mentions IS happening now, in this day and age, with religion. There are people that do evil things! Sometimes even in the church (behind closed doors with children). How do we know those things are evil without morality and compassion? They both come from religion, right? Actually, a study done at University of California, Berkeley found that 'less religious' people are more motivated by compassion than the highly religious.

Here's how Berkeley sums up the study in its press release:

"The results challenge a widespread assumption that acts of generosity and charity are largely driven by feelings of empathy and compassion, researchers said. In the study, the link between compassion and generosity was found to be stronger for those who identified as being non-religious or less religious.

"'Overall, we find that for less religious people, the strength of their emotional connection to another person is critical to whether they will help that person or not,' said UC Berkeley social psychologist Robb Willer, a co-author of the study. 'The more religious, on the other hand, may ground their generosity less in emotion, and more in other factors such as doctrine, a communal identity, or reputational concerns.'"

While Phil Robertson's example is extreme, let's imagine the other end of the spectrum: a world full of Phil Robertsons. Can you imagine all the Phil Robertsons? Gillete would go under! Old Spice would take a heavy blow! We'd all get cool party whistles though - and what party doesn't want ducks?

All jokes aside,

DeJay Patson