Atheist activism balances an overbearing right wing (by B. J. Paschal)

[Leo 9]

Posted on Wed, May. 09, 2007

A guest column by B. J. Paschal

Atheist activism balances an overbearing right wing


Why are atheists writing so many books and filing so many lawsuits? It’s a reaction to the explosive mixture of politics and religion that governs American conservatism, especially since the 2000 election. Also, it’s in part because of the right-wing cottage industry that has published so many books pushing the radical argument that the Founders intended virtually no separation between church and state; that America is a Christian nation; and that the Constitution does not ban political activity by churches.

A recent Pew Forum poll found that 67 percent of Americans believe the false idea that America was founded as a Christian nation. Of course, the “Planting Fathers” are not the Founding Fathers who gave us the Declaration of Independence and the secular Constitution, whose main leaders were deists. In today’s terms, founders such as Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and George Washington would be atheists. It also means that secularism will always have to be defended, especially against evangelical religion that disillusioned Jefferson and Washington so.

In its most practical form, the debate between atheists and the faithful is about public life and private belief. When the Christian right presses atheists too much, as has happened since 2000, they become ferocious and passionate about the First and Fourth Amendments. They think religion is playing too great a role in politics, schools and courts. And it is!

The key to maintaining peace is how a culture manages the different factions contending for influence. The key to the American plan is to let all factions air all concerns – and then our system of checks and balances limits the possibilities of radicalism of any kind.

snip

http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/newssentinel/17200522.htm

[muntrv]

1. The talibornagain inspires atheists to fight back.

[Warpy]

2. It's not like mainstream religious people have bothered.

All some bully has to do is invoke the name of gawd and the most moderate religious out there will generally say "A-MEN, BROTHER!" even as they hope the bully doesn't look at them too closely.

Not only are we atheists not impressed by their claim to be gawd's warriors on earth, we have nothing much left to lose.

[PassingFair]

3. Here is one of my favorite freedom from religion fighters, Mikey Weinstein:

http://www.mrff.blogspot.com/

On Edit: Mikey is NO Atheist, he is Jewish, and he is PISSED!

Scroll down to the article, about 3 stories down:

Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Because I love America: Reagan's Assistant General Counsel, Mikey Weinstein Speaks Out.
with God on our side
By Mikey Weinstein

When I began asking questions about what I saw going on at Colorado Springs in 2004 I never expected that the inquiry would lead me to the horrifying conclusion that our country had been taken over by people who have used our own freedoms to enslave us. But that is what happened. When I began I, like most people, was focused on the personal. I believed that what was happening at the United States Air Force Academy, the harassment of cadets and staff with unwanted evangelism, was limited in scope. As the months passed, however, I found myself forced to constantly reassess my basic assumptions. The logic of events was stark and undeniable. Promises of an open inquiry were ignored; decent and courageous people like former Air Force Chaplin MeLinda Morton were intentionally muzzled to ensure the truth would not be heard and the wrongs righted.

[Zenlitened]

4. Great column. There definitely is a feeling of backlash in the air.

Even in Indiana! Kurt Vonnegut would be proud!




http://www.vonnegut.com/confetti.asp