Interesting choice of words for an atheist.
Posted on 05/22/2005 6:53:03 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - To the uninformed, this weekend gathering here may have seemed like a church revival, full of zeal and fervor. But worshipping God was most decidedly not part of the agenda.
The attendees of the "All Atheists Weekend" gathered to discuss what they call the rise of fundamentalism in the U.S. and the blurring of lines between church and state.
Attendees also took time to view documentaries that question the historical accuracy of the Bible - and to hear lectures about the dangers of religious icons on public property and problems with President Bush's so-called "faith-based initiative," which seeks to give religious groups equal footing in seeking federal grants to provide social services.
Organizers said they expected more than 250 people to take part in the event, which featured a lecture by Ellen Johnson, the president of American Atheists. The gathering began Friday and continued through Sunday at various spots throughout the city.
The religious right's increasing involvement in U.S. politics has triggered an angry backlash among the godless, say Bay area atheist groups, five of which organized the weekend event.
"It's time for us to push back," said psychologist Jaime Arcila, 52, of San Francisco, who was accompanied by his two children, Javier, 15, and Amanda, 12, in a tiny theater Saturday night just south of downtown.
Arcila, who is not an official member of any atheist group, said he was prompted to attend Saturday's showing of "The God Who Wasn't There," along with about 100 other people, because of what he sees as a growing intolerance in the U.S. for people with alternative views and lifestyles.
Arcila, who was raised by Catholic parents, said the nation needs more dialogue about "peace, tolerance, justice, and love," not exclusion based on a difference of ideas.
Ali, a 36-year-old native Iranian, agreed. He declined to give his last name because he said he wants to return to his Muslim-dominated homeland someday and fears that he could be persecuted should he be identified as an atheist.
Ali said he knows all too well the effects of religious fundamentalism on a society from his own experiences in his native country.
Nations that accept only one set of values or beliefs are "restrictive and stifling," Ali said.
"I was a Muslim but stopped believing after a lot of pain and after a lot of thought," he said. "Being here at this event is encouraging me not to be afraid. It strengthens me and helps me stand up for what I believe."
But just how tolerant of Christianity and other religions are the atheists?
"We don't hate Christians," said David Fitzgerald, 40, an insurance broker and member of San Francisco Atheists. "People in this country are free to believe in whatever they want."
Nonetheless, during the Saturday night movie, the crowd booed and hissed when a photo of Pat Robertson was displayed on the screen.
Robertson, the founder of the Christian Broadcasting Network and a former U.S. presidential candidate, is a leader in the efforts by some religious groups to return America and its government to Christian values.
Fitzgerald offered no apologies.
"Robertson and other Theocrats scare the hell out of us," Fitzgerald said. "They want to turn a democracy into a theocracy. Even Christians are afraid of that."
While I freely admit that I have become quite disabused of the notion of an omniscient being and a grace through faith I just can't see myself mustering a band of devotees to crusade against the absurd and then expect those to whom I target my rage to respect and accept my new-found wisdom.
Here's a radical thought. Instead of federal judges decreeing from the bench, why don't we let local communities decide the level of religious expression they want in their public venue. So if D.C. wants their schools completely secular, they can make that decision and if Macon, Georgia wants their schools to include Christian prayer at all school events, they can make that decision, and not have to worry about 9 men in black robes in D.C. telling them they can't.
Careful. A large enough cadre of FReepers consistently boo and hiss at "fundies" like Robertson and others like him.
Earth to Ali! Earth to Ali! Christian fundamentalists do not blow themselves up or swear killing those of opposing view. Muslim fundamentalists do. There are no similarities between the two groups!
Thank God I'm an atheist...
I knew one of you would show up sooner than not.
Glad to oblige. Now, was it Pat who claimed to turn the hurricane away? Doesn't that strike you as a bit kooky?
"For some science is a religion, for some sex is."
I think you might need to check out the definition of the word "religion". Really liking something does not make that something a religion, no matter how "religiously" that something is pursued.
It couldn't be that Islam isn't the dominant religion here, and they dislike what they know best? I'm sure they would hate Islam as well if they knew it better.
I respect your beliefs and thank you for your post--
I think this group, just like the activist gay groups that are always talking about American intolerance are the ones that are intolerant...
I live in about as Middle America as you can get--and I don't think any one I know would care if a person was gay, atheist or agnostic....wouldn't even ask, for that matter.
But, we don't want to be "challenged" into an argument over their "rights" when we haven't ever "looked" for the fight to begin with...
The trick here is recognizing atheists don't even begin to have a clue as to what Christianity is all about. The perception they have of religion and supernatural belief is all they identify as being a system of thinking equivalent to their own worldly system of thought.
Even if they wanted to eliminate Christianity, they would never succeed because the mind of Christ through faith in Him is eternal.
Boohoo. "Theocrats" scare them.
Godless secular humanists scare me. Too bad we fundamentalists are gaining ground on them.
BTW, atheism is a religion. It is faith in oneself. Mr/Ms atheist, you are too small and too stupid to be God, so sit down and shut up.
Kind of ironic, really. Atheism is a religious doctrine that by its very nature can never advance from the fundamental tenet that there is no God. The real "fundamentalists" were sitting right there in that, er, "congregation."
Yeah sure, FDR, JFK & LBJ were all well known Atheist
People who beleive in a God would not support killing babies
I hate to be the one to break it to you but most people who are pro-choice as well as most of the people who have had abortions in this country are in fact Christians.
No surprise since the Bible is definately not Pro-life
Hosea
13:16 Samaria shall become desolate; for she hath rebelled against her God: they shall fall by the sword: their infants shall be dashed in pieces, and their women with child shall be ripped up.
and supporting communists.
Tell that to the South American Leftist
Going even deeper, narcissism is the fundamental seed of leftist thinking. A supreme being is serious competition. They can't handle that. George Soros, the money behind moveon.org, once admitted to a friend that he believes that he IS God.
Interesting choice of words for an atheist.
Pulling scripture out of context is lame. Why don't you explain why that was written. I won't do the work for you, so don't ask. I just want to see if there is any substance behind the post.
Waiting.
Liar.
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