A Truly Rational Atheist

S.E. Cupp is one of the most influential Millennials in American culture today. She has appeared on Fox News Channel and CNN and is a regular guest on “Hannity.” Here she is interviewed by CitizenLink.com’s Kim Trobee.

1.  S.E., you make no bones about being an atheist.  Why defend Christianity against the liberal media?

I think being an atheist or a nonbeliever makes me the perfect candidate to address this issue, because I approach it entirely objectively. My agenda here isn’t to prop up my own belief system, but to defend others’ rights to believe in something I don’t, and more importantly, to demand a more responsible, representative press.

2.  You say Christians are the only acceptable people for the media to make fun of.  Expound on that.

Hollywood started treating Christianity like it was some kind of social disease decades ago. These days, it’s practically company policy in Hollywood to mock Christianity as hopelessly uncool and unsophisticated. The liberal media has, in the past 10 years or so, joined in the action. I think they’ve both been so successful in promoting that message in the popular culture, because Christians represent a vast majority — and majorities get complacent. But, if Christian America doesn’t stand up to the liberal media and demand more respect, they might not be a majority in the future.

3.  Why do you think the mainstream media feel the need to target Christian America?

Two reasons: One, it’s a way of getting at conservatism. If they can effectively paint Christians as dangerous fanatics, it’s just a skip away from painting conservatives as dangerous fanatics. They conflate politics and religion here because, well, it works. Two, the moral relativism of liberalism is threatened by the fixed value system of Christianity, which holds people accountable for their actions. Liberalism can dismiss a lot of bad behavior, and that’s just the way they like it. Liberals in the media are deeply mistrusting of, and uncomfortable with, judgmental morality.

4.  The media used to challenge the government—that was really its job.  How is that lack of accountability affecting our nation?

That’s right, the Fourth Estate used to be the watchdogs of the state, and now the media is targeting YOU, the private citizen. It’s targeting your values, your beliefs, your freedoms, your politics, your way of life, all to advance a secular, liberal agenda of its own. Well that’s not what the press is there for; that’s not its responsibility. The mainstream media has lost its way — it can either rediscover responsible journalism, or it should repackage itself as an alternative press, which in many ways, it is.

5.  What should concerned Christians do to change the situation?

Peaceful protest. I’m shocked that there aren’t protesters outside of The New York Times, MSNBC, CNN, etc. on a daily basis protesting the way Christians are talked about. The liberal media calls Christians terrorists, extremists, simpletons and much, much worse. They treat them like they are pariahs. Well, I’d like Keith Olbermann and Rachel Maddow and Lisa Miller and Glenn Greenwald and the rest of them to feel like pariahs. Instead, they’re protected within a tiny, liberal, secular bubble, and they have no idea that the majority of the country shudders in disgust when they attack the values upon which America was founded. I think it’s time Christian America woke from their slumber and saw just how bad it’s gotten.

Now read an article I wrote about Penn and Teller, two not-so-rational atheists.

Comments (9)

  1. Azou

    Reply

    “Rational” doesn’t mean “has an opinion I like.”

    I don’t see this supposed bias against Christianity. Even if there is one, you guys are the 800 pound gorilla in the country, people are going to take shots at you. Our government is composed of you. Our citizenry is composed of you. Sorry, but you really don’t get to whine about anything when you wield so much influence and power.

    Notice that she doesn’t list any examples at all of Christians being called names. This why Christianity (and religion in general) can be so dangerous: no demands for evidence, just appeals to emotion and the supernatural. She knows it and wields it well.

    I certainly do not wish to slander or take the rights away from ANY of my fellow citizens, but this is all just an overreaction to the fact that, for the first time in this country’s history, Christianity is starting to suffer serious criticism particularly in relation to the First Amendment.

  2. Nohm

    Reply

    I think she gets paid on how often she uses the word “liberal”.

    But here’s a great example of something that I mentioned often: that the only thing I have in common with any other atheist (such as S. E. Cupp) is our lack of belief in deities. Beyond that, we can disagree about nearly everything.

    Such as what she wrote above.

    And no, I’m not a liberal.

  3. Nohm

    Reply

    So, I knew absolutely nothing about S.E. Cupp until you posted this today, Steve. I appreciate you giving me something new to research.

    Having said that, my goodness this woman’s arguments are horrid. It seems she hasn’t met a logical fallacy that she doesn’t like.

    It’s not an issue of her being a conservative; that doesn’t bother me. It’s her arguments.

    Still… she’s pretty fascinating.

  4. Nohm

    Reply

    I do notice that she seems to be pretty ignorant about the common arguments for and against theism.

    Not that she has to know and understand them, but as a pundit who bills herself as the “right-wing atheist”, I would expect her to at least have an interest in it.

    This is a strange and interesting person.

  5. BathTub

    Reply

    And?

    So she’s rational because she’s saying what you want to hear?

    She’s absolutely wrong about ‘Christians being the only acceptable people to make fun of’, that’s just so wrong that it’s clear she’s making up false answers to pander to her conservative demographic.

    Who like you, are just lapping it up.

  6. Reply

    Azou: Check out the category “Lost Liberties” for more info.

    “Rational” doesn’t mean “has an opinion I like.”
    It does to me! 🙂

    So she’s rational because she’s saying what you want to hear?
    But of course! 🙂 🙂

    Do ya like my use of the happy faces?

  7. Weemaryanne

    Reply

    Lemme get this straight: I don’t altogether like the fact that I had yet another birthday yesterday, so if someone tells me that I don’t look a day over puberty that’s how I know he’s rational?

  8. Azou

    Reply

    Your link did nothing but convince me that a lot of this complaining is over losing liberties that were exclusive to you. No other religion except perhaps Judaism gets that kind of special treatment, and what I felt were valid violations of your liberties were overturned in the courts.

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