I don’t care about any one else belief system. Those that are Christian, Muslim, Hindu, or Buddhist (the 4 major religions) are welcome to their beliefs and individual practices. What I have a problem with is when any one of those religions attempt to have their religious beliefs stamped into law, in any country.

Of course, being in the USA where 71% of Americans identify as Christian some might think I’m only referring to that specific religion. Look around. Even in America there are Muslims that want a preference in their religion toward Sharia.

It’s becoming a problem for European countries who’ve allowed millions of Muslim believers to immigrate to their countries (Germany alone has 1.6 million since 2015). These immigrants, if they eventually become voters, may change the landscape of those countries.

Atheists are often asked, even chided about their focus on Christianity as opposed to other religious beliefs. Not to be condescending to anyone, but isn’t it obvious why we write and speak out against Christianity? There’s no difference from those atheist bloggers in predominately Muslim countries who write about Islam, with the exception that no one is threatening to imprison or kill us because of our non-belief.

Atheists in America have several rights enshrined in our founding document, which are not predominant throughout the world: free speech, assembly, what I think is just as important, the right to vote. We can speak or write about any subject we like, without fear of prosecution. We can assemble, peacefully, to protest any government actions we deem unacceptable. Overall though, it’s the right to vote that effects change; and not just with Federal elections.

Voting locally is just as important if not more. Want to keep religious preferences from influencing the Mayor or City Council? How about keeping “Intelligent Design” being taught in local schools? There may even be a State School Board that chooses the books that school districts have to adopt. State legislators that want to introduce some sort of religious preference into state law.

People often forget while tearing their hair out over Presidential elections, but these others probably have as much and sometimes even more influence in daily life than those decisions made at the Federal level.

Want to keep religion out of daily life? Vote locally.