Lots of generalizations in that post, but I guess we have to start somewhere.
I've been an atheist my entire life, and have never considered it a religion. It is, however, indicative of a world-view that informs many of my beliefs and strategies regarding the way I approach my daily life. For many people, religion does that. My lack of religion doesn't do that directly, but is evidence of how I prefer to reason and make decisions.

I know many atheists on both "sides" of the political debate, and I believe the reason why liberal atheists speak out more is because it is simply more widely accepted in their circles. Most atheists I know do not worship the state. In fact, most people I know who are skeptical about religion are also skeptical about authority figures and constructs.

Many people take for granted that the US is a Christian Nation, when there is in fact very little evidence for that, overall. Those who point that out are seen as rabble-rousers and bullies, but many are just approaching it from the perspective of reason. As for the people screaming on TV about how there shouldn't be any Christian symbols or expression anywhere- I believe those people are simply lashing back against what they perceive as a mistake in the way many people form a national identity around Christianity. When atheists want to express an idea publicly, it is often met with a lot of controversy and reactionary hostility. Honestly, even if someone of unknown religious affiliation expressed a secular idea publicly, he or she is often met with equal hostility (though "secular" and "atheist" are not in any way beholden to one another). While I don't agree with the approach that some atheists take to be heard, I do understand the frustration.

While I am personally not an atheist activist, I do appreciate the work they do. Perhaps some of them go overboard with their anti-religion ideals, but I do see the reasoning behind it. Without their activism, this nation (U.S.) would potentially become dominated by the religious faction; introducing intelligent design into our science classes, passing laws that violate the separation of church and state, and more. We can see the potential dangers of that happening by simply taking a look at Muslim countries.

Allowing the fantasy to remain pervasive was a driving factor for the so-called dark ages. The reason we should care is so that we can advance as a society rather than spending so much time, energy and money every time Christianity tries to find a way to get their mythology into the classroom. That energy is much better spent on vastly more important advances in medicine, technology, social sciences, etc.

All that said, I'm mostly talking about the leaders of the atheist movement, who are educated and logical, and attempt to fight the battle with reason and intellect, rather than atheistic "dogma."

Have not yet read the other replies, only the OP remarks.

Atheism is a religion
the way bald is a hair color..........

Atheism is a religion
the way abstinence is a sexual position.


Yes, yes, i DO object to govt supported displays of any religion.
I am for complete separation of church and state.

So, are you truly Atheist or just Anti-religion?

I AM BOTH!!!!! :bigsmile:

I can't speak for anyone but myself about what THEIR atheism means to THEM,
as we atheists are NOT a relgion,
and although many of us do share commonalities,
we have no dogma,
no leader,
no organization which encompasses all of our often diverse views.

but, for me,
Yes, i am an atheist,
and yes, i am anti-religion.

I feel religion does harm, oppresses people, (especially women)
induces guilt,
stunts critical thinking skills,
causes wars,
divides families apart,
and is one of the most horrific forces on earth.

yet,
i still can treat a theist with respect. I dislike the religion, not the person who has been hypnotized since birth,
by eveyrone he knows,
to love a cosmic jewish zombie, who make you live forever, if you symbolically eat his flesh and drink his blood,
whle telepathically telling him that you accept him as your master,
so he can remove an evil force from your soul that is present in humanity because a rib-woman was convinced by a talking snake to eat from a magical tree…
under threat of eternal punishment.


I can see how that person DID inherit the gods their parents worship.

I dislike the religion
and it's impact on humans, on govts,
but i can love the person who espouses that nonsense. And i will stand up for that person's freedom to worship whatever gods they inherited,
yes i will.

I will stand up for that theist's right to worship,
in any way he chooses,
so long as no children are harmed....
and so long as my taxes are not going into it,
and so long as it is NOT on tax-payer supported lands.



EDIT x 2.

Sure generally the left doesn't tolerate religion, but they just replace it with a form of religion, which is worship or idolization of the state and its leaders

Of the 435 elected officials in Washington, of those on the left,
only one (1) is an atheist. And he is not a democrat.

Over 99.9% of all democratic leaders in your govt,
are also religious.
Many of them very very much contribute to blurring the lines between church and state.
WHERE do you get your info ??

Can you cite an example of anyone of significance (not a teen on facebook)
on the left "not tolerating religion"?? Even one?
Keep in mind
there is a difference,
between challenging an idea that has zero empirical evidence,
egging them on to use critical thinking skills,
as well as a difference in someone (even a religious person) objecting to the govt favoring one god over another,
or objecting to using tax payer dollars to indulge in worshiping the gods.

I am highly conservative on most political issues because they generally make logical sense as well, though of course I differ on a few issues.

can you name a conservative position on any issue that you feel "makes sense"??

/gets popcorn,
cuz, i am betting you believe that rightwingers are better at budgets, but, the CBO disagrees. sorry, i should wait til you DO actually reply.

or, you can skip it, as there is already so much going on in this thread.

BIT I WILL AGREE, the vast majority of atheist i know ARE liberals,
and few self label as "independents" but most of the "independents" i know, are embarrassed republicans.
but,
there is the rare "conservative" atheist, they do exist.

ON "AtheistUniverse.net"
there are a few others like you there,
and there are multiple discussions as to why most atheists ARE liberals.....it's a fairly complicated discussion,
you should join AU, to join in,
there are a few like you there.
Most of those discussions seem to imply,
that since conservatism IS a largely illogical and oppressive and religiously based group, and tend to espouse so so many "social" values which most americans outgrew in the 19th century,
that few atheists,
who DO tend to be critical thinkers,
can swallow it.

PLUS, it *almost* seems like,
to be a "real" republican,
you HAVE TO watch Faux News........and that might be a bridge too far for anyone who does not buy into fantasy........it is an interesting thing to wonder,
why so many atheists ARE liberals???????

dawg, almost every line you wrote, Maril, i have a disagreement with.

liek this one:

I also find it bizarre when atheist groups start putting up billboards advertising atheism....you are turning it into a religion when taking it to this level...or actually more like a cult.

Why?
why are you against THIS freedom?

And if something is on a billboard, it is now a "religion"???
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
so, Century 21 Realtors is a religion now? Or, would they be a "cult"??

DO LOOK UP THE MEANING OF THE WORD "CULT". ATheists are not even organized, have no leader, we worship nothing, (generally) we oppress no one.

I am all for promoting rationality. :bigsmile: Any tool that helps, i'm all for it.
Messaging on billboards is effective,
and THAT is why you see so many of them.
:laugh:
Billboards like this can increase membership in local atheist groups (i know, cuz our billboard DID just that, wow, what a turn out that month!):noway:
as well as raise cash for campaigns and causes and groups and events, (like the annual atheist cruise sponsored by CFI )

as well as help desensitize others to our presence.:flowerforyou:
as well as help instigate thinking,
as well as help the vast bulk of atheists in the closet feel validated, and respected, and more acceptable and less afraid of the wrath:explode: so many atheists face.


I was atheist back in the 70s and 80s, things were a LOT worse then, oh bayyyyyyyybee, was it ever worse back then. the pre-internet era of atheism, it was just hateful.
felt VERY alone,
would have LOVED to see a billboard about atheism.

even one. even a magazine, or a book, that actually made it to the shelves.
even one well spoken atheist on tv that WASN'T being pelted with eggs.

there was nothing.

so far as i knew,
i was the ONLY one, me and Dr Ohara, being tormented and ridiculed on the tv news.

Glad for you,
that your life as an atheist is such,
that you yourself feel no need to support the others still struggling to find the courage to be out,
and
i'm glad that wherever you live,
there is no need to stand up for rational thinking.

I have noticed however that the determination to prevent religion from seeping into government seems to be a tad selective, and normally targeted against Christianity.

Actually, like many atheists, i am very supportive of efforts to keep any religion from "seeping" into govt any further than it already is. (Religion IS in bed with the US govt, btw)
But it is not just christianity. Some legislators felt the need to try to pass some amendment or law stating Sharia Law could not overtake the Pklahoma state govt. GUESS which "logical" party did that?
take a wild guess.


There is indeed, a very stiff bigotry against anything that can even be mistaken for muslim adherents, amazing you seem unaware of it. It's also part of the GOP platform, as well.

But, the reason you might be noticing more protests against christianity trying to take over the US govt,
is,
cuz christainity is THE one religion trying to do so.
Christanity is the largest religion in the US.
so most efforts to shove their gods,
their creationism stories,
all that crapola,
ARE from christians.



sorry, but anything that smacks of 'CHRISTIAN OPPRESSION' just amuses me..............what a groupwide-persecution complex so ingrained as a reflex almost............

Atheism is a religion

the way not collecting stamps is a hobby...........