Popular ambassadors of freethought

Humanist, Nov-Dec, 2004 by Jeff Nall

Yet of all the freethinking popular artists currently making waves in the music industry, none compare to the kind of overt iconoclasm of Bad Religion.

After twenty years in the industry, thirteen full-length releases, and more than two million records sold, Bad Religion is likely the best-selling, openly atheistic rock band in American history and is renowned as one of the best punk bands ever. Bad Religion's latest album, The Empire Strikes First, features the band's most transparent ode to atheism, appropriately entitled "Atheist Peace." Though the song runs just three seconds shy of two minutes, the lyrics, sung by Greg Graffin, are as brazenly poignant as the song is blazingly fast:

   Tell me what we're fighting for
   no progress ever came from war
   only a false sense of increase
   and the world won't wait
   for the truth upon a plate
   but we're ready now to feast on an atheist peace.

Bass guitarist lay Bentley told me that the song is Graffin's way of showing how people without religion are often above the frays resulting from religious conflicts. Bentley adds:

   I think that Greg's concept of "Atheist Peace" is
   basically just saying, "Look, a lot of today's problems
   are being sparked by religion;" and that's true
   in America and it's true in the Middle East. There's
   a lot of issues that are coming up because of religious
   ideology. And I think what Greg is saying is,
   "Look at me, I don't have those problems. I don't
   feel oppressed by another religion and I don't feel
   like I have to defend my faith."

Graffin, an avowed atheist, recently received his doctorate from Cornell University. Bentley says Graffin's denunciation of religion stems from the studies he conducted for his thesis, which, according to Bentley, focuses on religion and its effect on the evolution of humankind. "Graffin's pretty much being straightforward about his feelings," said Bentley.

Expressing himself fully, Graffin offers an even bolder diatribe, on traditional notions of God's beneficence in "God's Love":

   Tell me! Tell me; where is the love?
   In a careless creation
   When there's no "above"
   There's no justice
   Just a cause and a cure
   And a bounty of suffering
   It seems we all endure
   And what I'm frightened of
   Is that they call it "God's love."

Other songs like "The Quickening" and "Live Again--The Fall of Man" are replete with rational appeals for science and reason over faith.

When it comes to spreading the word of reason, many of us are probably inclined to give all the credit to academic intellectuals, scientists, and philosophers. But we should also realize the vital role artists play in exposing the public to the liberty of freethought. Artists have the ability to speak to people at a level of intimacy often unattainable by scholars. And bands like Smile Empty Soul and Bad Religion doesn't have a monopoly on poetry and art; freethinkers, liberated from religious dogma, are often the world's best creators.

Jeff Nall lives in Central Florida. He has written for various publications including Z-Magazine, Clamor, Liberty, Freethought Today, Toward Freedom, Impact Press, and Utne (web-watch).