Toward a Coalition of the Reasonable: Beyond Atheism Versus Religion

Abstract

Religious believers and atheists seeking mutual understanding have an opportunity to form a coalition of the reasonable against both dogmatic believers and unbelievers. Reasons for seeking this include the following: (1) The mutual respect required for a harmonious society is stronger if we can come to understand what we have in common. (2) It is important to challenge the logic of inclusion and exclusion, which creates an unbridgeable gulf between people with different beliefs. (3) Our identities are multiple and complex, and that “atheist” and “religious believer” are not the only or always the most important ones. (4) The search for truth is inherently ethical in that it demands a respect for anyone who strives for sincerity and accuracy, even when they seem very wrong.