Comment by Gaytor on July 19, 2011 at 1:12am

Yes, don't be who you are because society might find facts distasteful. I would say that I side step the word belief intentionally. I'll say, "I don't see any evidence of a God." My intention is to avoid my being assailed in beliefs, but rather it leaves they other person needing to present evidence which I then can pick apart point by point. If it's someone that cares about me, it ends respectfully with acceptance. If it can't, then we know that we are wasting each other's time and I've planted seeds.

Comment by Jean Meslier on July 19, 2011 at 1:38am

I think most Christians, when they think of atheists, think of Madeleine Murray O'Hare trying to get prayer banned in schools.

Comment by Jean Meslier on July 19, 2011 at 1:41am

"...in 1964 Life magazine referred to her as "the most hated woman in America."" Wikipedia

Comment by Apple on July 19, 2011 at 10:45am

The reason that I'm not a "member" of America Atheists isn't because I am embarrassed of the label, "Atheist" but rather that I think much of their energy is misguided.  I believe that we need to be the change that we want to see in the world.  While it's surely important to fight off creationism in schools, I'm not going to bicker about every mention of "God" found here and there on Government publications.  While it's good to have speakers voice concerns about these things, I just can't see spending the majority of my energy trying to fight court battles against the religious when there are so many more important things that deserve attention. 

 

People say "We don't see atheists doing anything good..."  I'd like to see atheists and secular humanists doing more for their local communities.  We have no need for "Atheist charities."  Just being part of the local effort to help improve what you can improve would be very helpful.  It will be harder for people to remain bigoted when they find that secularists are engaged and active in making a positive change, rather than simply engaging in intellectual debates and legal challenges with theists.

Comment by Gaytor on July 19, 2011 at 6:00pm

When you get into the Murray bashing discussions (I won't want to be within 100 yards of that troll), it might be important to note that a Unitarian (Schemp) is the title case and Murray could have never filed and prayer would have been out of schools that same year.

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