re: #24 freetoken

On the “loss-of-God” problem (cut to last sentence):

And those who do want to discuss this can all to often fall into asshole-dom (see Maher.)

Atheists have always been the target of religions. The happy, moral atheist is an existential threat to religious belief simply by being happy and moral.

The questions are continuous and constant: Were you damaged as a child? You must hate God? You just want to do evil?

There are a lot of things I don’t like about Bill Maher, but he is not an asshole for standing up for atheists and agnostics. Just saying you are an atheist in this country can get you shunned, discriminated against, even killed.

You ever see a group of atheists picket the funeral of a Christian? Even one who richly deserved it in my opinion (like Jerry Falwell)? Knock on someone’s door on a Saturday morning to preach the Gospel of Nothing? Maintain laws on the books in several states (that are currently unenforceable but stand by for theocrats like Mike Pence) that prohibit atheists from holding public office?

Why should I have had to get a special dispensation from my state attorney general to take my affirmation of office because the only formula under state law is “So help me God?” (I was prepared to sue if the state attempted to prohibit me from assuming my office.)

How is telling an atheist how circumspect he must be criticising religions equal treatment, when no one requires the reverse of churches? Atheists are constantly told they are evil, sinful, Satan-worshippers, will burn in Hell, have their children ostracised by their neighbours (my son was), pilloried on television, &c.

And Bill Maher is the problem? He’s the asshole? Children who say they do not believe are thrown into the streets by their parents, there are no legal protections for discrimination in housing or business (aside from that pesky I Amendment that churches don’t think apply to us), we have exactly zero representatives or senators in Congress.

Back in the Eighties when I ran a BBS in Virginia Beach (one of the largest in Tidewater), it was profiled in the Virginian-Pilot and Ledger-Star. It was about sceptical thinking and atheism. Pickets descended on my home. My wife and baby son were sent death threats. The Navy moved me on an emergency order to recruiting duty in another state.

And Bill Maher is the asshole? I can think of exactly zero people who have been killed in the name of atheism. Denied service because they went to a church. Had to seek a special dispensation from state government to swear an oath of office in the name of God.