“ … there is a big closet population of atheists who need to come out. ”
—Richard Dawkins.

Nathaniel Hawthorne’s iconic American novel “The Scarlet Letter” (1850), tells the story of Hester Prynne, a woman in 17th century Puritan Boston who gives birth after committing adultery and is forced to wear a scarlet badge with the letter ‘A’ (for adultery) as punishment for her ‘sin.’ In 1850, adultery was an extremely risqué subject, but because Hawthorne had the support of the New England literary establishment, it passed easily into the realm of appropriate reading. It has been said that this work represents the height of Hawthorne’s literary genius; dense with terse descriptions. It remains relevant for its philosophical and psychological depth, and continues to be read as a classic tale on the universal themes of sin, guilt and redemption.

The symbol of the ‘scarlet letter’ has come to represent prevailing social stigmas. Prominent atheist Richard Dawkins’s recently launched “Out Campaign” utilizes an “ironic scarlet letter,” to re-appropriate, in a humorous way, the social stigma that still persists against atheism. The campaign, however, encourages one to ‘OUT’ only oneself; it urges atheists to:

• Reach out and talk to others about atheism and help spread a positive view of atheism
• Speak out about their own beliefs and values without feeling intimidated, thus helping people realize that atheists don’t fit stereotypes and are a very diverse group
• Keep out, meaning to promote the idea that religion should be kept out of public schools and government, and that nobody’s religious agenda should be allowed to intimidate
• Stand out and become visible in their communities by becoming involved and by wearing the Scarlet A.

Throughout “The Scarlet Letter,” Hawthorne explores the themes of legalism, sin, and guilt. It is interesting to ponder whether he would approve of Dawkins’s appropriation of his scarlet ‘A’…..

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