Atheists and Christians lay claim to Nelson Mandela — but which was he?

[rug]

By David Ferguson
Wednesday, December 11, 2013 10:55 EST

In the wake of Nelson Mandela’s death, both atheists and Christians have tried to claim him as one of their own. The South African dissident who went on to become President Nelson Mandela appeals to both Christian and nonbelievers, but are their clues about his faith that atheists like Stephen Pinker have overlooked?

Pinker tweeted on Tuesday, “Nelson Mandela, great atheist — Hamba kakuhle, comrade!” and provided a link to a piece in the Freethinker — a British atheist magazine — entitled, “Widely understood to be an atheist, Nelson Mandela dies at the age of 95. Hamba kakuhle, comrade!”

However, the article offered no evidence that Mandela was an atheist or that he ever espoused atheist or anti-theist views. Mainly, Freethinker quoted extensively from an open letter written by South African atheist Philip Copeman on the occasion of Mandela’s 93rd birthday

Copeman urged Mandela at length to renounce Christianity, but Mandela either never replied or the reply has never been made public.

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/12/11/atheists-and-christians-lay-claim-to-nelson-mandela-but-which-was-he/

http://freethinker.co.uk/2013/12/06/widely-understood-to-be-an-atheist-nelson-mandela-dies-at-the-age-of-95-hamba-kakuhle-comrade/

[Gore1FL]

1. He doesn't believe anything anymore. I'd argue the point as moot. n/t

[cbayer]

2. He would object to being "claimed" by anyone, imo.

He was about building not splitting, and he will be missed.

[rug]

3. Yes, it is unseemly.