Elena Scaltriti
"Maybe it's too late for intellectual debate, But A residue of confusion remains." So begins Greg Graffin in "Atheist Peace", one of the most famous songs of Bad Religion, American band playing punk rock with a good three decades (highly recommended). Although the title may mislead, the lyrics make perfect aura of mystery mixed with fear that surrounds the figure of the atheist, especially in Italy.
eat children? Are libertines? They raised the anchors from the safe haven of morality to route to a future even more dissolute and no reference points? These are just some of the questions that circulate around the atheists, who do not do much to clarify the situation in the eyes of the average believer, convinced that it is now easier to win the lottery than to find an atheist in the flesh in the workplace. In fact, what remains unknown to most people is that atheists are not an endangered species on Italian soil. According to data reported by the EU (Union of Rationalist Atheists and Agnostics), we have gone from 5.2% in 1987 to 18% in 2003 over the entire population and the phenomenon shows no signs of stopping. We are therefore fully entitled to ask what are the characteristics and motivations of the young Italian atheist. cross and delight of the beautiful country, the family plays a leading role in the process of religious socialization in childhood. It is a sort of "law of inertia" which leads the religious orientation of the family home to self-reproduce in subsequent generations. It is easy to understand, then, as young atheists are born and grow normally in families in which at least one of the parents stood on the positions of atheism and so is the reasonable connection with situations marked by separation, divorce and civil marriages. In addition, sociological research conducted by university professors Catholic University of Milan found that atheists are mostly found in North-West and Central and tend to have higher qualifications, especially among the respondents as among their parents. To these are added a greater involvement in associations and parties, with un'estremizzata political self-placement on the left and the spread of a more extensive policy, perceived not only as a "safeguard its interests, but also as a" duty of every citizen. "
Yet something does not. 18% of 60 million inhabitants, equivalent to nearly 10 million Italians. Anyone who turn up their nose in front of these figures: where are all the atheists? Would form a more than large army within the nation that hosts the headquarters of the Catholic Church and have the numbers to assert their positions. Instead hiding (which are locked in the dungeons of the Vatican?). Are lost in the "Atheist Peace" mentioned by Graffin and convincing, with resignation, that is not worth to make their voices heard, animated dall'italianissimo "so it would not change anything." The atheist hard to play cards and when he finds the courage to do it, divided into those eyes full of pity and those in which the seed of suspicion quivers. Speaking of "omerta atheism" in Italy, a knowing and not knowing at the same time, an "I know you're an atheist, but do not worry: I will not tell anyone. "
also to fight this torpor, did the Union of Rationalist Atheists and Agnostics (UAAR), the only national association for the purpose of representing the citizens of atheists and agnostics Italians. Several personalities have acceded to by Margherita Hack Danilo Mainardi, Piergiorgio Odifreddi to various initiatives and as organized as the campaign bus "atheist", the project to forward an alternative to religion in schools and the sbattezzo. Speaking from an atheist who attends a Catholic-in space-time paradox which I have driven, great Scott! - I can not do only hope that atheists Italians wake up from sleep in which they are sealed and realize that there is nothing worse than being ashamed of their positions and hide his head under a blanket of indifference and resignation.
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