Karl Rove is an atheist?

By hrynyshyn on May 4, 2007.

While reading a hilarious New York magazine interview with Christopher Hitchens, I came across the news that Karl Rove is a apparently an atheist. Really?

Well, Christopher Hitchens may have his problems -- his defection to the pro-war camp a few years back was and remains disappointing -- he's not known for inventing this kind of thing. Atheist Revolution explores the issue further, but it really all comes down to this exchange:

Has anyone in the Bush administration confided in you about being an atheist?

Well, I don't talk that much to them--maybe people think I do. I know something which is known to few but is not a secret. Karl Rove is not a believer, and he doesn't shout it from the rooftops, but when asked, he answers quite honestly. I think the way he puts it is, "I'm not fortunate enough to be a person of faith."

Now, isn't that special? Just when I was getting all riled up because a lot right-wing tabloid, the Hendersonville Tribune, put Rove on the cover this week, after the "Architect" himself appeared at a western North Carolina Republican convention. Now I can't despise the man quite as much.

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The classic Southpark monent when Eric Cartman decides to form a Christian rock band seems appropriate here -

Stan: But Eric, you don't know anything about Christianity!

Cartman: I know enough to exploit it.

I despise him more. I'll take ye olde tyme religion over these guys anyday.

The "atheists for Jesus" crowd really is sickening. They are basically sociopaths who believe that "religion is for stupid people" and that while they themselves don't need religion the "masses" do.

Here's a relevant quote:

"There are different kinds of truths for different kinds of people. There are truths appropriate for children; truths that are appropriate for students; truths that are appropriate for educated adults; and truths that are appropriate for highly educated adults, and the notion that there should be one set of truths available to everyone is a modern democratic fallacy. It doesn't work." - Irving Kristol

Quite possibly the most sociopathic statement I've ever read.

Thanks for the link. I keep wondering if the mainstream media will decide this is newsworthy, but no luck so far.

Hi Penix. You confuse strong atheism with atheism in general. A better word really would be non-theist: simply someone who has no belief in deities. It is not necessary to proclaim there is no god in order to not believe in god.

By Promeetheeus (not verified) on 04 May 2007 #permalink

Penix: There is nothing illogical about lacking belief in something for which there isn't a shred of credible supporting evidence.

Promeetheeus: we should skip the strong and weak divisions. The term atheist perfectly describes all people who lack belief in gods. The prefix "a" means lacking or without, not against, not denying, etc.

If Rove is an atheist it further exemplifies the hypocrisy of the religious Republicans, in particular Bush and his puppeteers. If they were truly faithful they would see Rove as grossly misguided.

Perhaps we can call him an Obscurantist: "Obscurantists are by definition atheists or agnostics themselves, but believe that some form of religion or superstition among the masses is necessary for a stable society, and thus seek to limit to a select few the awareness of evidence that counters common belief."

If Rove is a non-believer then he truly is Machiavellian. However, I would disagree with your statement that Hitchens is not known for inventing this kind of thing. His articles on the Iraq war over the last 5 years have be full of distortions , half-truths, and red-herrings. He's not a particularly honest fellow.

"Atheists are just as illogical as those who are religious."

Only an ignorant person would make such a statement.