EVANGELICAL HEATHENS - THE DEVIANT STATUS OF FREETHINKERS IN SOUTHLAND

This article is an examination of the philosophies and activities of a group of atheists and other unbelievers who are members of (or aligned with) the Freedom from Religion Foundation. It is argued that atheists are, and have been, deviants throughout Christendom; these unbelievers are especially deviant because they are organized and outspoken. They recognize and resent their deviant status and provide moral support and encouragement to one another through the organization, which allows them to neutralize their deviancy. Their form of neutralization generates hostility toward Christianity and yet it is only through Christianity that they can find their identity. It is further argued that Christians and atheists need each other for boundary maintenance. Though the group examined in this article represents only the radical fringe of unbelievers, the article concludes with questions about the deviant status of all unbelievers.