Basically, what you describe is liberalism. I see no difference in what you say and liberal America today. Right now my money is stolen to support, for example, homosexual misbehavior, and the results, addicts of various narcotics, sloth, apathy, European boondoggles and, now, the failure of Congress and their cronies in the housing and real estate industry. All of these things are the result of irresponsibility. All the results of behavior by people who no longer know the difference between right and wrong. And you’re worried about possible tax dollars going to a prayer day? (and I don’t get the connection between a national prayer day and a state religion funneling tax dollars anywhere) Rejection of divine authority is simply that. It is no principle. It is merely a disbelief. When you “negotiate” your rights with other people you ultimately are saying that your rights are negotiable. Our constitution was written to suggest that our rights are definitely not negotiable. I notice that the more atheistic our society becomes, the more my own rights are negotiable...to other people.
No, my friend, I would say that to maintain your faith requires maintaining a very high set of principles that atheism can not compete with. And I applaud the faithful for that.
Now, if you wish to debate the actual existence of God, I’ll probably jump over to your side, for I haven’t seen a good argument yet, which is why I’m atheist. But I see very clearly the difference between the behavior of those of faith and those without. And I don’t like what I see in the latter.
I don’t see how I’m describing liberalism here. I have problems with liberalism, too. No, I think “secularism” is a better word for what I’m talking about. Secularism, not liberalism, is the political manifestation of atheism.
“And you’re worried about possible tax dollars going to a prayer day? (and I don’t get the connection between a national prayer day and a state religion funneling tax dollars anywhere)”
The issue is whether or not we want a government that promotes religious devotion and offers tax breaks and financial protections to religious organizations. When I mentioned actively funneling tax dollars, I was thinking more about the Faith-Based and Community Initiatives program. The separation of church and state is being eroded. The National Prayer Day is just one part of that bigger picture.
“Rejection of divine authority is simply that. It is no principle. It is merely a disbelief.”
I don’t want to argue semantics here. Rejecting divine authority is meaningless unless it is done on principle. And for atheists like myself, it is a matter of principle.
It is the idea that together we can act rationally to make our lives and the world better. In political terms, we call it secularism. Not liberalism.
“No, my friend, I would say that to maintain your faith requires maintaining a very high set of principles that atheism can not compete with.”
I don’t understand. To maintain what faith?
“I see very clearly the difference between the behavior of those of faith and those without. And I don’t like what I see in the latter.”
You are talking about yourself there, and many great people who have served humanity through the ages.
Now, certainly the world has problems. You may be correct that there is some connection between the world’s greatest problems and the decline in faith and religious devotion. However, let’s not jump to conclusions about what the connection may be, if in fact there even is one.
It could be that there is merely a correlation here. Perhaps a decline in religious faith is correlated to irresponsible behavior, because there aren’t enough secular institutions in place to clean up the mess left in the wake of the failures of religious organizations.
It is quite possible that a lot of the irresponsibility in the world today is not the result of a lack of religion, but the result of a lack of education and clear thinking.
Of course you can’t just take away religion and expect the world to be a better place. We still need to educate our children and encourage a responsible and rational approach to humanity. That’s not gonna happen without some work.