In an interview with Esquire magazine, Radcliffe risked the US box office prospects of the new Harry Potter film by declaring himself to be an atheist.
In a pronouncement that will dismay America’s religious Right, which has long voiced suspicions about Potter’s “anti-Christian” message, the 19-year-old actor said he did not believe in God.
He also expressed his admiration for Professor Richard Dawkins, the prominent atheist and bete noir of Evangelical Christians.
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More people coming out and using the A-word. Young movie stars, politicians, writers, and just every-day people. The world is changing, the pendulum swinging.
Here’s a great way to show your support. Send emails to newspapers now, or wait for the anti-atheist op/eds to come out and respond. The works needs to hear our support for atheists coming out!
Of course Radcliffe is an atheist, hes British.
It’s great to know that young Mister Radcliffee has chosen a reality-based lifestyle. He’s hot too.
Amen to that brother.
I work with a Brit and he’s a believer. I was surprised!
Actually, Britain has a higher percentage of believers than most european countries. I think denmark is the most atheistic, but that rate is still 44%.
Compared to here in the United Staes of Jesus the rate of nonbelief in the UK is off the scale. Thankfully all indications are that young Americans are much more similar to Europeans and that the USA is leaning heavily toward a secular future.
Britain suffered less devastation in WWII than the continental countries. That was the watershed event that soured them on religion.
That, and they didn’t have that pesky Holy Roman Empire (the 16th century German version) dictating their lives. Just Henry the VIII and his desire to divorce whomever he pleases.
Fantastic! Good for him. I’m glad he feels he can speak his mind. This will be huge in terms of his fans. Hey, if Harry Potter can be an atheist and not be ostracized, and millions and be an international star, then maybe he’s onto something.
You know the fundies are going to go apeshit, though. I can see the small town boycotts now. “An atheist promoting witchcraft! They’re out to destroy us!”
And then the kids will leave small town America. Heh.
I agree with you Rat, this is great publicity for atheists, if someone as renowned as Radcliffe can be an atheist, hopefully more people will come out.
However, I don’t think people will really not see the movie because of it. My fiancee and I talked about it, and she made a really good point: the people that’ll be offended by him being an atheist already won’t see the movie because they’re more likely than not Christian fundies. So, I doubt this will change many minds.
True. However I do see the possiblity that the fundies react much in the way when John Lennon said the Beatles were more popular than Jesus.
You know, as soon as our local parasites phreeanderthal and jesus christ creep find out, they’ll be emailing the story to all the wackadoo fundie sites, and we’ll see all kinds of idiocy on July 15, when the latest Potter movie comes out.
Let’s hope they have plenty of security for Radcliffe for the big red carpeting opening, wherever it’s held. After all, that’s how these nutjobs do things; they kill what they consider a threat.
Why wait for our pfundie pfriends to e-mail the do-godders? I think I’ll do it myself, and include a link to the trailer for the new HP flick. Whaddya think?
I’m sure he is one of many in my generation, but it’s excellent news to see him come out- it makes it that much more acceptable to teenagers in the U.S.
I’d love to see him debate the Jonas Brothers and their promise rings on the topic.
The Jonas bros.?! Hah! That would be hilarious! it would be akin to a one legged man going to an ass-kicking festival. Only the bros. would have to share the leg.
Hey! I can hold my own in an arse kicking contest.
Ass kicking wouldn’t be pure enough for the Brothers. Shit, the word ass isn’t pure enough for them.
Tooshie?
This is wonderful
I just wish more people on the list of famous Atheists (Bill Gates, Billy Joel, Lance Armstrong, etc.) would be more vocal about their Atheism, instead of reluctantly mentioning it in one or two obscure interviews, only when the interviewer really presses them for an answer on what they believe. Are they really all that worried about what the public or their fans will think? It would help our image plenty if more people knew the philanthropist Gates, for example, is a non-believer. Radcliffe’s coming out is definitely a good thing.
As a business owner I understand Gates’ position. For my part the business of business is business. Not everyone who holds a belief or non-belief is an activist, nor should they be. Besides, activists tend to be poor.
I am in favor of separation of church and state. Here in Britain we have a marvelous de facto separation. I’d take it over the de jure separation in the US any day.
I don’t think Bill Gates is in danger of losing many customers because of his religious beliefs- and if Christians want to boycott computers that’s their problem. And financially I think big Bill would survive the hit.
I think it’s more of an issue for celebrities like Radcliffe who rely on public standing to make a living, but I also like to think that society has come far enough that admitting atheism isn’t career suicide. We even have an open atheist in Congress, anything is possible.
I know I’m all knew to this blog and stuff, but really, the way I’ve always lived is that because I subscribe to NO relgious doctrine, then I have no religious doctrine to be vocal about. If these people just live to live and NOT to pray and crap, what is there to talk about?
In discussions such as these, absolutely. However, if I’m out and about and the subject comes up, then I talk about it truthfully. But I don’t make a point of bringing up the subject, because there’s nothing to bring up…and I don’t feel like I need to be an activist, as I just ignore the rest of them. It’s easier that way.
So if they’re being interviewed and are asked, then the subject comes up, so they mention it. But in the real world, it’s hard to start a conversation when “nothing” is the topic.
I think that all came out close to correct, as “nothing” is a vague and relative term….
Hi Wendy & welcome,
That’s exactly how I felt prior to Sept. 11, 2001, and I think that most atheists are apathetic on the subject because, as you accurately stated, there is “nothing” to talk about. However, that faith based attack really kicked me in the ass about how important it is, unfortunately, to be an activist, and since then I have surely had my eyes opened about the very well funded activism of the religious right in this country. No, I don’t go around starting conversations about the importance of church/state separation – but I sure do write letters to the editor and contact my government representatives, and if atheists are slurred merely because of their lack of belief, I make my views known when and where appropriate.
Wendy,
I agree with you — at least when talking about one’s day-to-day interactions with people (friends, family, etc.). There seldom is reason to begin a conversation about how one doesn’t have a god belief. It’s a bit like talking about not believing in unicorns — doesn’t make sense.
But unfortunately, in the geo-political arena, the influence of the faithful and religions in general, require that we atheists (through activism in a any form; writing letters, demonstrating, whatever) provide some opposing force to the freight train of superstitious thinking that can have such an enormous impact on our lives, as Tarma pointed out.
One doesn’t even need to use as extreme an example as September 11th to see how the religious can bring harm to society through their zealotry. Unfortunately, in being heard, apathy is our greatest problem. We as atheists really do need to speak out when it’s appropriate.
Wendy
It’s difficult to practice “live and let live” when theists too often practice “live and let die”.
Sorry, I think I was misunderstood. My brain tends to think faster than my fingers type, so I guess I left out the part where I was just starting to get involved. The more I “live and let live,” the less living I’m allowed to do. I actually had to listen to a christian radio station while I was ordering a sandwich in Subway the other day. That damned machine couldn’t toast quickly enough for me to get out of there.
I agree with you that in everyday life, we don’t have much to talk about. We don’t go around trying to convert people (I do believe that’s my favorite part of this group,) people are who they are. I may not agree with their beliefs, but hate the sin, not the sinner, right?
As for my original reply to the original post, you’re stating that celebrities that identify themselves as atheists should be more vocal. But what you’re actually wanting to say is that these celebrities should be more involved in activist activities, which is different. Maybe for Billy Joel (who is MY god, by the way,) the situation isn’t as oppressive as it is for the rest of us. As I said, it wasn’t bad for me til just recently. I didn’t care before, I just ignored people. I think you have to hit that threshold (feel your calling, if you will) before you decide to get involved.
And if one more of my hotel guests asks me if I’ve been “saved,” I’m going to personally crucify them. They just don’t get it when my response is “why yes, I was wearing my seat belt when I rolled my car.”
Wendy
Ah! Love it! No surprise they’re too dense to get it!
That’s just too weird.
Dagny3,
You mentioned Bill Gates, and that got me thinking. I realized that Bill Gates by himself has actually benefitted mankind more in thirty years than Christianity has in two thousand. Or all religion for that matter.
By putting out a crappy operating system and using illegal tactics to supress good ones?
what,
Well lets see the score:
Bill Gates: Creates Microsoft and Windows generating millions of jobs and benefitting over a billion people, and spurring inovation by thousands of other people and companies creating trillions in revenue in thirty years.
Christianity: Has a book and uncountable homicides.
You savvy?
AR
Xianity is worthless. No point keeping that score. The opposing teams on the scoreboard should have Micro$oft and Linux.
OT ALERT
The latest religious jew accused of financial criminal activity that Dave will not be blogging about:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124655465632586957.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/04/business/global/04madoff.html?ref=global
From Wikipedia
What does this have to do with religion what? Jews fucked up but it not in the name of religion.
ShowMe
Dave often makes posts about xians and muslims (sometimes simply arabs) that have nothing more to do with religion than does the case to which I have linked. It’s about bias.
I was being far to generous when I made my last post. The Madoff-related fraud has much to do with religion. Religious and tribal affiliation was used to persuade investors. Religion-based charities were not only hurt by these financial crimes but were also fronts for criminal activity.
ShowMe
Saying that “Jews fucked up” grossly misses the mark. We are talking criminal activity that has affected many many lives.
I’ve agreed with you before about the bias- there are times when he seems to miss obvious Jew bashing opportunities, but this one is no reason to complain. I’ll join you in the bitching though if he does toss up an equally not-related-to-religion story about the other two gods.
Fair enough. Start bitching. Dave’s recent Sarah Palin thread was equally unrelated to religion.
Hah touche. I’ll admit my own bias against Palin though, and it would go against everything to stand up for her. And Palin is a problem relevant to many atheists goals, at least more so than Jews sucking up everyones money.
goddless,
You continue to impress me with your depth of stupidity:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/columnists/concoughlin/4980955/Britain-is-fighting-a-war—and-we-are-too-soft-on-our-enemies.htm
Impressed but not surprised.
NeoWolfe
Neo
Godless didn’t post on this thread of threads. Anyhow, you really should state what the article you linked to is about at how it supports your argument. If you have one.
Erm, I didnt say anything neo. What are you attacking me over now? Im confused???
Hey what,
Sorry, i don’t see the evidence in the madoff scandal. If I remember correctly, his greed destroyed a couple of jewish charities. Now, do I like the fact that the orthodox Kohn has control of a large bank? Well, I’m not thrilled.
this type of scheme could have happened in any religious circle, only the magnitude of this one could be labelled “jewish” because of the massive numbers. i don’t think it’s religious though. I think it has more to do with their nomadic past due to diaspora.
Now, if you want to talk about what’s going on in Israel, well that’s a whole different kettle of Gefelte! Did you know the Israeli army has a prostelyzing problem?
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1097234.html
DaRat
I don’t understand your last post. Many of Madoff’s accomplices were religious jews that headed so called charities that are accused of being complicit in Madoff’s crimes. What could be more germane to this blog?
DRB:
I’m w/What on this 1. There’s distinctly a religious component in the Madoff scandal which DS isn’t addressing.
Yeah, y’know, who gives a fuck? Secular population in Israel is @ 51%
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3514242,00.html
That’s better than the US of A. Secular numbers are rising faster in the ME, which is nice to see.
Yep. If xians or muslims were victims of the Madoff-related frauds then David Silverman would have been writing about how religious affiliation clouds one’s judgment. If xian or muslim charities were benefiting from the Madoff-related fraud Dave would have at least suggested that something suspicious and possibly criminal was occurring. If xians or muslim charities were complicit in the Madoff-related fraud Dave would have written about the rise and fall of religious crime families.
But not a peep.
were victims -> were the disproportionate victims
Wow. I’ve never watched an entire Harry Potter film. After this I just might.
There are probably a lot of people who do not believe, many who still go to church. Coming out and proclaiming it is still a dangerous action as there are still many people who believe so fervently.
I admire Daniel Radcliffe’s courage and hope that this does not finish his career.
I admire Dan Radcliffe as well. I expect his “coming out” won’t affect his career. The Potter series is nearly complete and Dan has done a good job in moving his acting choices beyond the boundaries of the series.
If anything, his role in the play Equus would have stopped wary Christian parents dead in their tracks — it hasn’t.
I suspect the latest Harry Potter film will be a goldmine at the box office. I can’t see Dan’s admission as having much affect on the film’s performance.
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That puts an interesting spin on the film with this information. It’s like thinking about Dumbledore being gay. Probably going to re-watch those past movies.
It kind of reminds me of this movie that came out recently called Audience of One. It’s almost the anti-harry potter: the magic doesn’t work!
“Ten years ago, a Pastor from the Voice of Pentecost Church in San Francisco received a ‘prophetic whisper,’ -a directive from God to make movies for the Lord. Using donations from his congregation, he slowly transformed his church into a fully functioning movie studio and the production company Christian WYSIWYG Filmworks was born. After experimenting on a number of small projects, Pastor Richard Gazowsky announced that he and his WYSIWYG crew were going to make a film entitled, GRAVITY: THE SHADOW OF JOSEPH, a $50 million biblical science fiction movie that would redefine the Hollywood epic.
AUDIENCE OF ONE is a documentary that chronicles the making of GRAVITY. This verite style film goes inside a Pentecostal church, where the charismatic Gazowsky leads his loyal cast and crew on an incredible journey that tests the limits of faith. From pre-production at their church, to shooting principal photography in Italy, to leasing an enormous studio on an island in San Francisco Bay, AUDIENCE OF ONE keeps pace with an embattled church production that looks to God in order to keep their dream alive. Full of humor and pathos, what transpires is a story of obsession, faith and delusion.”
You should check it out.
http://bit.ly/AudienceOfOne
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