Theocratic theists recognize this "danger". We saw this in the run-up to the 2000 elections here in the US when the god word got thrown around like presents at Xmas. It's only gotten worse as the Dems have also resorted to the same tactics in order to acquire the religious base voters.
Absolute secularism. Separation of church and state. No politician should ever invoke their religion in order to gain public office. This invariably divides people and also distracts the potential voter from thinking about real issues (like the "...economy, stupid").
I think that Christians in this country seem to think that secularism is a "bad thing". Even though most may have to look it up in the dictionary, most won't though and then immediately "fall in line" with whatever argument there is against it. Forget about that it benefits them too. They may be more familiar with the separation clause and indeed there they will misread that too. "Freedom of religion" as if religious freedom gives religious establishments a free blank check in regards to informing the "flock" about who to vote for.
I think just about everyday about this: "What do Christians want of this country?" Do they want a Christian nation? Last time I checked this nation was predominantly Christian, eighty percent I think. Is that not enough? Obviously Christians (the most outspoken anyway) want a one-hundred percent adherence. Is this possible? Apparently it is, when it seems that all I hear about are how this country is going to hell in a hand-basket. What? Oh, never mind that eighty percent of the hell dished out is by Christians. Never mind that eighty percent of crimes and atrocities committed in this country are committed by Christians.
Eighty percent of Americans are Christian so I am making the assumption that eighty percent of all good deeds and eighty percent of all bad deeds fall equally onto somebody who calls themselves a Christian.
When is the last time you heard about an atheist murdering a Christian? In the US? Not some far flung country like China. I mean right here in the US.
Can't think of any?
When was the last time you heard of somebody killing an atheist specifically because they were atheist. I can think of two that I know of: Madalyn Murray O'Hair and Larry Hooper of Michigan in 2004.
Yes, 2004. Not in the good old days of...well, whatever Christians deem as the good old days.
Mrs. O'Hair was obviously murdered for political reasons. She fought and acted for secularism in this country and some people didn't like that. Poor Larry Hooper was killed because his friend (who was a self described Christian) decided (after finding out Larry was an atheist) that Larry must obviously be of the devil and should not be in this world so he shot and killed him.
Why? At the core of these types of murders lies the conflict between belief and disbelief. Committing an act of murder based on religious ideology. What would cause an individual to do such a thing? What would cause people to fly two jumbo jets into some skyscrapers for that matter (the same). It's possible that Larry's friend was/is mentally unbalanced, but Mrs. O'Hair was blatantly killed for political reasons motivated by religious ideology.
Never mind about killings and murders committed by so-called "atheist regimes" in other parts of the world. This happened here in the US. The supposed paradigm of freedom and liberty and the practice thereof.
For some reason these people thought it would be okay to kill another human being simply because the "offender" was going against "gods law" (whatever that is) and were dealt "gods justice". A final resolution if you will. What of the consequence? Whatever happened to "thou shalt not kill"?
I know, I know...
They aren't "real" Christians. What is a "real" Christian? What is a "real" Muslim? What is a "real" Mormon? What is a "real" Buddhist? What is a "real" Hindu?
What is a "real" atheist?
It's impossible to distinguish the differences. Just like it is impossible to argue with somebody about the existence of a god it is just as impossible to argue about the nature of god. Isn't that just insane!!!
INSANE!!! I can not fathom the idea that I could believe one way and honestly (HONESTLY!) have a meaningful discourse with somebody of a different faith regarding the "true" nature of a god. It's boggling...and would never happen without...well, disagreement.
Ah, relief., because I have stated that I have no particular concern with this subject.
Social. Political. Secular.
Topics atheists should be most concerned about. Forget about the theological. Leave that to the shysters.
Yes, 2004. Not in the good old days of...well, whatever Christians deem as the good old days.
Mrs. O'Hair was obviously murdered for political reasons. She fought and acted for secularism in this country and some people didn't like that. Poor Larry Hooper was killed because his friend (who was a self described Christian) decided (after finding out Larry was an atheist) that Larry must obviously be of the devil and should not be in this world so he shot and killed him.
Why? At the core of these types of murders lies the conflict between belief and disbelief. Committing an act of murder based on religious ideology. What would cause an individual to do such a thing? What would cause people to fly two jumbo jets into some skyscrapers for that matter (the same). It's possible that Larry's friend was/is mentally unbalanced, but Mrs. O'Hair was blatantly killed for political reasons motivated by religious ideology.
Never mind about killings and murders committed by so-called "atheist regimes" in other parts of the world. This happened here in the US. The supposed paradigm of freedom and liberty and the practice thereof.
For some reason these people thought it would be okay to kill another human being simply because the "offender" was going against "gods law" (whatever that is) and were dealt "gods justice". A final resolution if you will. What of the consequence? Whatever happened to "thou shalt not kill"?
I know, I know...
They aren't "real" Christians. What is a "real" Christian? What is a "real" Muslim? What is a "real" Mormon? What is a "real" Buddhist? What is a "real" Hindu?
What is a "real" atheist?
It's impossible to distinguish the differences. Just like it is impossible to argue with somebody about the existence of a god it is just as impossible to argue about the nature of god. Isn't that just insane!!!
INSANE!!! I can not fathom the idea that I could believe one way and honestly (HONESTLY!) have a meaningful discourse with somebody of a different faith regarding the "true" nature of a god. It's boggling...and would never happen without...well, disagreement.
Ah, relief., because I have stated that I have no particular concern with this subject.
Social. Political. Secular.
Topics atheists should be most concerned about. Forget about the theological. Leave that to the shysters.
