ATHEISTS REJECT COUNTRY'S TURN TOWARD PRAYER

Catholic World News Service ^ | Sep 27, 01 | Catholic World News Service

[Brian Kopp DPM]

ATHEISTS REJECT COUNTRY'S TURN TOWARD PRAYER

CHAMPAIGN, Illinois, Sep 27, 01 (CWNews.com) - The US' largest atheist group has rejected the public expressions of piety in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks, especially those by politicians, according to the student newspaper at the University of Illinois.

Ron Barrier of American Atheists told the Daily Illini that nationally televised prayer services, presidential references to God, and calls to prayer leave atheists feeling forgotten as US citizens. "Nonbelievers were touched by the tragedy just as much as believers were," Barrier said. "All we're doing is asking for a little sensitivity. Just because one does not have religious beliefs does not make one less of a citizen."

"People who want to pray are free to do so, but we don't because we don't understand what they are doing," Barrier said. "It is humans who will clear this debris up, rescue other humans and rebuild the section of New York City. There will be no divine interference involved. People may find comfort in it, but we fail to see what purpose prayer serves."

Shane Taylor, director of the university's Christian Campus Fellowship, proffered an explanation. "It's such a core Christian idea that God wants a relationship with us," Taylor said. "It's like a relationship with anyone else. We're going to communicate with God over matters of the world, and we're hoping the president and other leaders are asking God for wisdom. We've been told we'll receive guidance and answers from God, and that is why we still pray."

As for the claim that President George W. Bush is promoting religion, Taylor said: "Our president is a Christian. His faith is a part of who he is. It's hard to ask the president not to have his faith be a part of how he responds to the attacks."

[Brian Kopp DPM]

ping

[Constantine XIII]

GEEZ, what's up with these people? Some of them think that they are the only one's in the whole friggin' nation who's opinions matter.

[eddie willers]

So are you suggesting that they should be forced to pray?

[Constantine XIII]

one's = ones he he he

[riley1992]

Ron Barrier of American Atheists told the Daily Illini that nationally televised prayer services, presidential references to God, and calls to prayer leave atheists feeling forgotten as US citizens. "Nonbelievers were touched by the tragedy just as much as believers were," Barrier said. "All we're doing is asking for a little sensitivity. Just because one does not have religious beliefs does not make one less of a citizen."

First let me preface this by saying that I think that athesits can be every bit as moral and more so than that of Christians. Having said that, the above quote is just plain stupid.

[twntaipan]

Are you suggesting that Christians, because of atheist disappointment, should be forced not to pray?

[eddie willers]

Are you suggesting that Christians, because of atheist disappointment, should be forced not to pray?

Not for a second.
Knock yourself out.

[Billy_bob_bob]

I'm not a believer in any religion myself, but I find announcements like this one pointless and annoying. People want to pray, let them pray. They are free to do it, they are free to invite others to do it, and I am free to not pray if I so choose.

I'm also in favor of Christmas displays and Christmas pagents in the schools, because I believe that Christianity is part of our history and heritage, and should be honored for its role in our nations history. Athiests like these give me a large sized pain in the posterior.

[arielb]

aww we don't want to hurt their feeeeelings! God Bless America :)

[streetpreacher]

I was almost going to write that it is people like this is why judgment has fallen on America... like Falwell and Robertson proclaimed.

But, in truth, the reason is Christians who have lived a worldy lifestyle.

"The greatest single cause of atheism today is Christians, who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, and walk out the door and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelievable world simply finds unbelievable."

[DesertCobra91]

I say to the atheists...stick another idiotic Darwin symbol on your car and quit bellyachin'. There is no "Seperation of Church and State" in the Constitution. However, there is a guarantee of free speech/expression. And some of us choose to excercise this freedom by prayer.

[x]

Warning: They're also pissed by how many people call them "athiests."

They have teamed up with the Isreali Defense Forces to eliminate such people.

So watch out!

[breakem]

ATHEISTS REJECT COUNTRY'S TURN TOWARD PRAYER

Duuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuh!

[streetpreacher]

"The greatest single cause of atheism today is Christians, who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, and walk out the door and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable."

Correction

[Free the USA]

As a former atheist I think these people are off their rocker. My friends were mostly Christians because I could not stand moral relativism or I don't care attitudes. Because most Americans find comfort in religion that is enough reason to support our presidents sincere prayers no matter whether one has faith or not.

[Conservative til I die]

The kind of statements found in the article support my belief that people are atheists just for the attention it draws to themselves.

[Brian Kopp DPM]

No. I just posted it for discussion.

[isthisnickcool]

I knew someone that was an atheist all his life. Until the last day of his life. On that day a strange thing happened, he changed his mind. I wonder how often that happens?

[VOA]

ATHEISTS REJECT COUNTRY'S TURN TOWARD PRAYER

"COUNTRY REJECTS ATHEISTS TURN TOWARD...NOTHINGNESS?"