We’ve reported that about 23 percent of the population claims no religious affiliation. Many of these individuals are millennials, who are more likely to identify as atheist or agnostic than their older counterparts. Most colleges and universities have religious studies departments, but it can be difficult just to take a class to study atheism and secularism. Louis J. Appignani, a businessman who once was the president of Barbizon International, wants to change that.
A Chair Endowment
Colleges often have benefactors give money for an endowed chair. The money is invested into a fund that provides a stream of revenue to pay the salary of a professor who sits in the position. It is an honor to work in a university as an endowed professor, but it is a lasting tribute to the donor.
Appignani donated the money for an endowed chair to the University of Miami for what is considered the “nation’s first academic chair for the study of atheism, humanism and secular ethics.” It was important that the name of the chair have the word atheist in its title, but U of M has not officially made the announcement of the chair.
One concern in naming the chair was that it might seem like an endorsement for atheism. However, the university spokesperson noted that the religious department didn’t take a position of advocacy when teaching Islam or Catholicism. The chair is expected to recruit new talent to the university, and the university has set a goal of adding 100 chairs by 2025, the 100th anniversary of the school.
Studying Secularism and Atheism
Pitzer College in Southern California offers a major in secular studies. It is the first school to do so. Only two students have actually majored in the program, but the classes themselves are very popular and often have to turn away students because too many have signed up to take the class. Scholars are finding that there is a real need to study secularism and atheism because rates of irreligion are rising everywhere. Studying the topic is important to understanding the movement and how it relates to culture, politics, and ideology.
Appignani hopes that the endowed chair legitimizes atheism. He is not a stranger to supporting secularism, giving large donations in the past to the American Humanist Association and the Secular Coalition for America. Interestingly, he was raised as a Catholic, but turned away from his roots while a college student. Appignani has also sponsored lectures by Richard Dawkins, a prominent atheist and biologist, at the U of M.
As secularists and atheists become a bigger factor in politics, it’s going to be even more important to look at ethics and morality without relating it to religion. The separation of church and state is becoming a hotly divisive topic in local and state governments, not just federal. Atheists are still stigmatized and disparaged. In one survey from 2014, more Americans said they would vote for an adulterer over an atheist for a government position. Many people are concerned that atheists don’t have the same ethics as someone with religious beliefs, but that is not true at all.
Atheism is misunderstood. American Atheists can identify what atheism is not, but it can’t really answer the question “what is atheism?” It’s not a belief system or a religion. According to AA, the common thread is that atheists lack a belief in gods or supernatural beings. Secularism is a principle that includes the separation of government and religion. It will be very interesting to see how the U of M brings all these things to its department. Students should be allowed to study these topics, much like they would become proficient in religion or psychology. This is a good step in the right direction and the University of Miami should be commended for taking a step forward.