I knew this was going to happen, in fact, I predicted it months ago. American Atheists call the Bladensburg decision a Blow Against Constitutional History and Religious Equality. Of course they do. This is just the beginning of a mass mailing to current and former members (like me) for donations to stop the march to theocracy in the US. Wait. Isn’t the US already 71% Christian? Aren’t Atheists just 3.1% of the population?
Sometimes I view online atheism as disappointing. Many online appear, in my opinion, to view their mission to simply mock religious believers and never proffer an actual argument against some believer they’re having a dialogue with at the time. The discussion devolves into insult and condescension. I don’t think that’s a way to approach anyone’s dogma, and of course it doesn’t make either party look especially mature. There are some that are decent and ask respectable questions, only to receive the same condescending, attitude from the other person. Does that mean, as atheists, we should descend to the same level in response?
I saw something interesting on social media. American Atheists is in the middle of their annual conference and there was a tweet that mentioned a chant by attendees claiming that “America is NOT a Christian Nation!”. Is that true? I think it’s easy to pretend we’re not, and maybe people attending that conference think that the rise of the religiously unaffiliated indicate that America isn’t a Christian nation. that poll however, has less to do with belief in general than it does as to the state of the Christian religion in America.
Atheists have always been concerned, to a degree, with how low we poll among the general population as to being trusted. We have polled lower than rapists and that should be disturbing to anyone, atheist or not. Why is it we’re so disliked (okay, I’ll say it – hated) by those that probably don’t personally know an atheist? Why is it that just not believing in god(s) somehow brings out a level of vitriol in some people that in any other circumstance, would be considered a threat? Think about it. Some of the things I’ve seen posted on social media by so-called believers are so over the top that it has me wondering about the mental health of the same.
Why are you obsessed with God, a being you claim doesn’t exist? ?Is a question atheists often hear. Personally, I’m not obsessed with any god, although I do write about the subject on occasion. The reason, I write about something I don’t believe exists is that I want to show others that there’s no reason to believe in something that has no effect on anyone’s life. No one has to believe in any god to get through life and there’s no punishment or reward after this life for anything.
Conservative Skeptic 