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Letter to the Editor: October 15, 2009

Published: Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Updated: Wednesday, October 14, 2009 22:10

Atheists, in most ways, are just like everyone else

"Little good is accomplished without controversy, and no civic evil is ever defeated without publicity."

This quote is on the front of every copy of The Daily Athenaeum.

Here is a chance to bring to light a bit of controversy and hopefully accomplish some civic good in the process.

We are the Morgantown Coalition of Reason, a group of nontheists dedicated to the pursuit of logic and reason.

What is more controversial at this time in our history than being atheists and nonbelievers?

Atheists are the most reviled group of people in this country because most Americans have been indoctrinated to believe that they, as well as other freethinkers and nonbelievers, are evil and amoral.

That is not the case.

You can right a civic evil and help to abolish a prejudice against a misunderstood growing minority in this area as well as all of America.

We have the same compassionate values and, in most other ways, are just like everyone else.

We are hardworking, tax-paying, moral citizens who care deeply about family, community, state and nation.

You may have noticed the billboard on the Mileground that states, "Don't believe in God? You are not alone."

We put it there to reach out to like-minded individuals who have a right to know they are not alone and have a community to go to.

It is not intended to attack anyone's traditional religious beliefs.

 

Neece Campione
Morgantown Coalition of Reason
Fairmont, W.Va.

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4 comments

I am not posting spam.
Mon Oct 19 2009 23:40
"you are no more intelligent or logical than those that are religious"

i'm not talking about everyone. i'm just talking about the specific case below.

believing word-for-word things that are written in a 2000 year-old book, constructed by man, hundreds of years after the main character died = illogical

Brandy
Sat Oct 17 2009 10:46
Oh nonsense, George. When was the last time that an American Christian was beaten or murdered by an Atheist just for being a Christian? How often are Christians unable to run for elected office because of the horrific and evil way that Atheists have portrayed them to the media and to other people? When was the last time that an American leader got on national television and declared that Christians weren't worthy of being considered citizens? Atheists spend their political money trying to establish freedom and get out from under the boot of religion. Many "Christians" spend THEIR political money trying to force our government to make THEIR religious rules the law for everyone--in COMPLETE opposition to the principles under which this nation was founded.

How many acts of violence are committed in the name of "upholding Atheism" in America? Now--how many violent acts are committed to uphold Christianity? How many people get fired from their jobs for being Christians? Compare that to how many get fired when their bosses find out that they're Atheists. Do Christians have to hide their faith for fear of having their homes vandalized, their children bullied and beaten up at school, or their physical safety compromised depending on where they live? Of course not. But there are places in America where an admitted Atheist would run the risk of all of those things.

There are few things I feel more disgust for than pouty Christians pretending to be "persecuted" because they are no longer 100% allowed to dominate society anymore. Just because theism is no longer the ONLY viewpoint that is acceptable in America does NOT mean that people who believe in God are persecuted. It just means that you can't force your religion on everyone else quite as fully as you used to. Oh believe me, you still *can*...just not quite as much as before.

I'm sure you must be heartbroken over it. My tears are just pouring for you, truly. I mean, how terrible is it that you can't force other people's children to listen to prayers in a classroom anymore? Good grief! The lion pits are surely coming back next.

George
Thu Oct 15 2009 08:00
Wait a second... you ask what is more controversial at this time in history than being atheist? How about being a Conservative? Or even being a Christian? With displays of the 10 commandments constantly under attack, and surely Christmas displays will be under attack in the coming months, it will become a manufactured "controversy" to celebrate religious holidays, unless of course they are Muslim/Jewish holidays. This era of political correctness BS has led us to the point where being religious openly in public is now a burden, because you have so many people crying foul.

And I agree with the other comment as well- you are no more intelligent or logical than those that are religious, and it is insulting to those who are to insinuate that.

Cookie Puss
Wed Oct 14 2009 23:27
Now, I don't think non-religious folk are bad people or anything, but calling yourselves the "Coalition of Reason" and using pretentious terms like "freethinkers" sounds awfully arrogant, like you're talking down to theists.

And for all the times religious people shove their beliefs in others' faces, we really shouldn't ignore it when atheists do the same.







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