To the christians reading this board

I went the Christian board and saw all of the pity for us Athiests/Agnostics. I also saw that some you saw hatred and anger in us. Being an Atheist is not about that. It is not about disliking christians or hating your God. We are people who do not believe in god or an afterlife. We believe in what is seen and proven, not in something we are told is true and forced to accept. I understand what faith is and why people are strong in their beliefs. I know the bible probably better than most confessed christians. I am educated and informed. Many of us do not just wake up one day and say we do not believe. Mine took many years of education and looking at all of the sides before choosing one. I chose the belief that was right for me. I find religion stifling, hypocritical, and inconsistant. Now do not get me wrong, christians are not the same as religion. I have very close friends that are christians. Some are even JW's. If they pray for me, they do not mention it. We do not discuss religion or God. Quite frankly, most of them would lose to me if we debated about it. I make very informed decisions and can back up everything I do not believe. Anyway, we do not hate you. We are not atheists because we are angry with god. To think that is to be extremely uninformed and judgemental. Most of care very deeply about humanity and the rights of all humans to be free. We care about the planet and the future of our species. I love my pets as though were real children. I love my family and would wither away without them. I am good to those I love and they are good to me. We are not the antichrist. We may poke fun at times. If you are offended, the do not come here. We get indignant when we are judged so harshly by those who are supposed to have the moral high ground and understanding. We are highly educated people who live normal lives and have normal relationships. Pray if you must, but if I were you I would put my energy someplace more constructive. We REALLY do not need prayer. Now, just so we are clear. The founding fathers were NOT christians, and this country was NOT founded on religious principles. If you do not believe me, do some research. Google anything you want on the subject if you want the real truth. Thomas Jefferson-Atheist. Benjamin Franklin-Athiest. James Madison-Athiest. Do not feel sorry for us as we do not feel sorry for ourselves. Thanks!

Very eloquent, Terri. Thank you for your thoughtful expression. You and Dona are now, officially, my two most favorite non-fiction writers.

There is no "Great Commission" for atheists. Our discussions on this board will never be about how we can pull someone over to "our side" (we don't have "a side") or strategies for winning debates with religious people. We don't want to debate. We're here to talk amongst ourselves. Personally, I don't want to change anyone's mind. You're happy with your life? I'm glad for you, please do what works for you. I draw the line at forcing an agenda on other people, atheist and believer alike. #1 People should never be made to feel like they are not capable of knowing how to conduct their own lives and to know what's best. #2 Laws of this country are not supposed to enforce a religious viewpoint. One's religious beliefs should have no influence in the voting booth. Our political leaders, ideally, should not bow to the pressures of religious groups to promote any particular laws.

Well said.

Well said!!!! Stacy 260/210 ~130ish~

I had to add this as I had and angry reader accusing me of not knowing my facts. Here is my response. James Madison, American president and political theorist (1751-1836). "During almost fifteen centuries has the legal establishment of Christianity been on trial. What has been its fruits? More or less, in all places, pride and indolence in the clergy; ignorance and servility in the laity; in both, superstition, bigotry, and persecution." "In no instance have . . . the churches been guardians of the liberties of the people." "Religious bondage shackles and debilitates the mind and unfits it for every noble enterprise." [April 1, 1774] The hocus-pocus phantasy of a God, like another Cerberus, with one body and three heads, had its birth and growth in the blood of thousands and thousands of martyrs. -- Thomas Jefferson, Jefferson's Works, Vol. IV, 360 Fix reason firmly in her seat, and call to her tribunal every fact, every opinion. Question with boldness even the existence of a god; because, if there be one, he must approve the homage of reason rather than of blind-folded fear. Do not be frightened from this inquiry by any fear of its consequences.... If it end in a belief that there is no god, you will find incitements to virtue in the comfort and pleasantness you feel in its exercise and in the love of others it will procure for you. -- Thomas Jefferson, to Peter Carr, 10 Aug. 1787. (original capitalization of the word god is retained per original) George Washington, the first president of the United States, never declared himself a Christian according to contemporary reports or in any of his voluminous correspondence. Washington Championed the cause of freedom from religious intolerance and compulsion. When John Murray (a universalist who denied the existence of hell) was invited to become an army chaplain, the other chaplains petitioned Washington for his dismissal. Instead, Washington gave him the appointment. On his deathbed, Washinton uttered no words of a religious nature and did not call for a clergyman to be in attendance. From: George Washington and Religion by Paul F. Boller Jr., pp. 16, 87, 88, 108, 113, 121, 127 (1963, Southern Methodist University Press, Dallas, TX) The following is put in in pieces. I can give you the entire link if you need it for the article. His original Pledge read as follows: 'I pledge allegiance to my Flag and (to*) the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.' He considered placing the word, 'equality,' in his Pledge, but knew that the state superintendents of education on his committee were against equality for women and African Americans. [ * 'to' added in October, 1892. ] In 1954, Congress after a campaign by the Knights of Columbus, added the words, 'under God,' to the Pledge. The Pledge was now both a patriotic oath and a public prayer This would make The addiditon well after our founding fathers. The under god had nothing to do with the foudation in which this country was built. Please do your own research before accusing others of not. I never speak of things I do not resarch first. Regards, Terri

Greetings Terri--- Thank you for providing accurate and inciteful information. It's my understanding that this country got caught up in a religious fervor inspired by the "Red Scare" of the 1950s. It was at that time that "under God" was added to the Pledge and "In God We Trust" was added to our money. Communism was seen as our nation's primary enemy and Communists were demonized as atheists. The religious revival was a reactionary response to Communism and a way that we sought, at that time, to distance and distinguish ourselves from Communists. There should be no debate that our Founding Fathers sought to construct a wall between church and state from the very beginning. The foundation of our nation is in secularism for the protection of religious freedoms in religious neutrality and benign religious indifference.

I can't believe my typo! "insightful" What was I thinking.

You are exactly right on all points. Nothing burns my ass more than those that speak out without being educated or at least knowledgable on the subject. All this emailer did to support her point that the founding fathers were NOT atheist was put "one nation under God" in quotations. The thing about us Athiests is that we are thinkers and researchers. I have yet to meet an atheist that makes their decisions without consulting or researching. We do not just say we do not believe for no reason. Those outside of us have no idea who they are debating when they take us on. You better have your facts straight before you do that.

I have had Christians try to argue with me that this country was founded as a "Christian nation." One even told me that all non-Chrisitians, atheists included, should conduct themselves as respectful guests. The person who told me this was a naturalized American citizen who apparently thinks he has more rights to be here than I do. Many times I have heard Christians use the argument "It's freedom of religion, not freedom from religion." Well sorry but freedom FROM religion is one of the choices in a secular nation! What bugs me is how many Christians do not see how proper application of the First Amendment protects EVERYBODY, including them. They don't know what it would be like to be in the minority. I don't think they'd be very comfortable in a courtroom if they had to pass a giant shrine to Vishnu to get in.