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Atheists cite resurgence as they gather on Easter weekend (Triple Barf Alert)
CNN ^ | 3 Apr 10 | John Blake

Posted on 04/03/2010 5:36:23 PM PDT by SkyPilot

(CNN) -- While millions of Christians worldwide will celebrate Easter this weekend, David Silverman has other plans.

Silverman will join about 300 atheists in a Newark, New Jersey, hotel ballroom to proclaim another message: The atheist movement in America is growing.

Silverman will participate in the 36th annual American Atheists National Convention at the Newark Liberty Renaissance Hotel. He'll also try to clear up a misconception: Atheists aren't immoral, and they don't worship Satan.

That's what many people assume when he tells them that he belongs to an atheist group, Silverman says.

"We have a lot of wonderful people," he said. "I haven't sacrificed any Christian babies. I haven't danced naked under the stars. I haven't stolen anything."

What Silverman is doing instead is talking up the "resurgence" among atheists. He says atheists once felt isolated and misunderstood.

Two events changed that, he says: the rise of the Internet and the election of George W. Bush.

Bush's polarizing presidency showed people how bad things could turn "if religion was in charge," he said. The Internet showed atheists that they weren't alone, as they sought out and encouraged one another.

"Closet atheists are coming out all over the country," Silverman said, estimating that his group has 4,000 members. "Anybody can go on the Internet and read blogs, Facebook pages, and know that there are millions like them."

Those who ask why people need God are also raising their public profile in other ways. Richard Dawkins, author of "The God Delusion," and Sam Harris, author of "The End of Faith," have best-selling books questioning the need for religion.

Silverman says a coalition of groups, including American Atheists, met with White House officials in February to discuss more tolerance for nonbelievers.

(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; News/Current Events; Philosophy
KEYWORDS: atheists; christ; easter
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To: Bellflower
...that there was a God... not their was a God.

Sorry I have been using their so many times lately on automatic I used it in place of there.

61 posted on 04/04/2010 1:09:47 AM PDT by Bellflower (If you are left DO NOT take the mark of the beast and be damned forever.)
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To: metmom

I believe we agree. Atheists are basically frightened people because they dont believe in God , they look for security among each other.Homosexuals want the security blanket of approval for their sickness.


62 posted on 04/04/2010 4:27:03 AM PDT by Venturer
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To: Venturer; little jeremiah

I think it goes even further. I think they’re looking for approval from those who DO believe in God.

I think it’s for one of two reasons.

Either they feel more secure about their eternal destiny if someone who believes in God thinks they’re OK, as if having the believer be willing to accept them means that God will be willing to accept them after all if they’re wrong.

Or because they feel it justifies their position because it tells them that the believers faith isn’t real or in a real God. So they can point to the believer and conclude that what the believer believes isn’t real or the believer wouldn’t compromise his faith or be hypocritical like that.

(I hope that makes sense.)

Kind of like drug users often don’t and won’t believe that not *everybody* has tried drugs. Or homosexuals think that *everybody* has homosexual leanings, they just deny them.

That way they can figure that they’re really not worse than everyone else, but in fact, they’re really better because at least they’re being *honest* about themselves and who they are.


63 posted on 04/04/2010 5:37:51 AM PDT by metmom (Welfare was never meant to be a career choice.)
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To: metmom

I should ping this out.

I need to read the whole thing, interesting comments.

Freepmail coming your way!

And Happy Easter!


64 posted on 04/04/2010 11:11:26 AM PDT by little jeremiah (Asato Ma Sad Gamaya Tamaso Ma Jyotir Gamaya)
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To: svcw

In other words...this is another made up news story to support a further some “journalist” leftist ideals.


65 posted on 04/04/2010 1:15:21 PM PDT by Red Dog #1
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To: JimSEA

“I am not particularly religious. That is why I am not an Atheist.”
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

I believe it is possible that I understand your meaning perfectly but I am not absolutely certain of it 8>)


66 posted on 04/04/2010 3:05:22 PM PDT by RipSawyer (Trying to reason with a leftist is like trying to catch sunshine in a fish net at midnight.)
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To: darkside321

I hate to be picky but there are a huge number of errors of varying kinds in your posts. Is there some reason for that?


67 posted on 04/04/2010 3:10:07 PM PDT by RipSawyer (Trying to reason with a leftist is like trying to catch sunshine in a fish net at midnight.)
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To: RipSawyer
I think you likely do. Absolute certainty about the unknowable
is foolish IMO and very much the same as any religious fanaticism.
I don't know but respect the beliefs of others, take my values from
religious beliefs and writings and respect many but not all
religions. The atheists have too many similarities to Islamists in
their fervor for me.
68 posted on 04/04/2010 8:23:00 PM PDT by JimSEA
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