Posted // April 27,2011 - Sean Gallacher wrote a letter to City Weekly suggesting that satirizing Mormons like Broadway’s The Book of Mormon does is kind of trite [“Laughing at Atheists,” April 21, City Weekly]. Gallacher asked, why not satirize atheists?
Aboo Caprawalie was incredulous that atheists—who rarely formally proselytize—have the raw material for decent comedy.
“I am a seventh-day atheist and welcome any satire targeting my lack of belief in an almighty, angels, saints and miracles,” Aboo Caprawalie said. “I think a satire on atheists will probably offend believers, as it may be more of a spoof on them than the nonbelievers.”
EricBroze linked to a video in which Australian comic John Safran does some door-to-door proselytizing on behalf of atheism—quoting Darwin and XTC’s ’80s pop hit “Dear God” along the way. But it makes fun of missionaries, not atheism.
But atheist JC manages to emphasize.
“Both Mormons and atheists are very misunderstood. Both have big problems with PR and portrayals in the media, and both tend to be very well-read on the subject of theology,” JC wrote. “So I tend to commiserate ... when people make fun of Mormonism, though I admit I have very little intellectual respect for their beliefs.”
Empathy lacking respect: And they say there’s no material for satirizing atheists!
Aboo Caprawalie was incredulous that atheists—who rarely formally proselytize—have the raw material for decent comedy.
“I am a seventh-day atheist and welcome any satire targeting my lack of belief in an almighty, angels, saints and miracles,” Aboo Caprawalie said. “I think a satire on atheists will probably offend believers, as it may be more of a spoof on them than the nonbelievers.”
EricBroze linked to a video in which Australian comic John Safran does some door-to-door proselytizing on behalf of atheism—quoting Darwin and XTC’s ’80s pop hit “Dear God” along the way. But it makes fun of missionaries, not atheism.
But atheist JC manages to emphasize.
“Both Mormons and atheists are very misunderstood. Both have big problems with PR and portrayals in the media, and both tend to be very well-read on the subject of theology,” JC wrote. “So I tend to commiserate ... when people make fun of Mormonism, though I admit I have very little intellectual respect for their beliefs.”
Empathy lacking respect: And they say there’s no material for satirizing atheists!
I am an atheist and an ex-mormon. I tend to feel some sympathy toward mormons, as I see the LDS religion as no more far fetched than the religion of the people who generally ridicule them.
That being said, I would like to see how one could ridicule an atheist and be funny. It's one thing to take a belief that is absurd and turn it around on someone, but to take someone's lack of belief in something and try to make fun of them would indeed take lots of work, especially since it's not like someone not believing that the sun exists or something similarly testable.
Actually, it's been done already. C.S. Lewis has done some excellent (but gentle) ribbing of atheism in several of his works, both nonfiction and fiction. See The Great Divorce, Mere Christianity, Miracles, and his space trilogy (Out of the Silent Planet, Perelandra, and That Hideous Strength).
In general it is much harder to do and requires a lot more set-up. Many (though not all) atheists spend their lives studiously avoiding any exposure to ridicule. Believing in nothing is a good way to insulate yourself from ever having the appearance of being "taken in", which appearance is what most satire is founded on.
That very fact is the only angle by which they can be ridiculed, but it is a very highbrow sort of humor that perhaps doesn't really fit the label "satire". It takes a very mature perspective to see the humor in someone avoiding belief in anything larger than himself in order to avoid exposure to scorn. Most audiences are not very mature, and therefore this sort of satire doesn't have a very large market.
Ha, interesting to see my comment used here. I'm afraid you don't seem to understand the difference between empathy and respect, though, Mr. Fruhwirth. Let me give you another example: my Mormon friend from the above andecdote has talked to me about my homosexuality. She empathized, saying that she has struggles in her life that she sees as trials from God. She was quick to tell me that she didn't have much respect for my lifestyle, however.
So I don't think it's an atheist phenomenon. Good luck satirizing me.