Atheists Visit White House – Religious Right has Fit
Religion & Politics, US Saturday, February 27th, 2010After meeting with various religious groups for decades, the White House Friday had its first official meeting with atheist organizations. The reaction from many religious leaders was neither “accepting” nor “tolerant” — even though their groups loudly demand such treatment for themselves.
The organization which met with Tina Tchen, director of the White House Office of Public Engagement — the President himself did not put in an appearance — is the Secular Coalition for America. This 501(c)(4) non-profit lobbying organization has ten member non-profits, including American Atheists, the Council for Secular Humanism, the Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers, and the Secular Student Alliance.
Christian organizations were naturally horrified by the subjects the Godless brought up for discussion:
- Child Medical Neglect: The atheists pointed out that many “faith-based” child care centers don’t have to meet health and safety standards that everyone else must meet. Expecting them to clean? But, won’t God keep the kids safe from E.coli?
- Proselytizing in the Military: Supported by news headlines about “Jesus Rifles”, SCA discussed their concerns about the increase in Christian evangelicals in the military and their self-described “duty” to spread the word of “god”.
Office of Faith-Based Initiatives: The SCA commented that the Obama administration’s expansion of Bush, Jr’s Office of Faith-Based Initiatives unconstitutionally funnels the taxes of American citizens to religious organizations. What separation of Church and State?
How did religious organizations react? Did they hope that the Obama administration took this opportunity to witness to the damned? Perhaps express joy in the interest of other Americans in the future of our country? (Yes, our country. Not their country.)
Council Nedd, chair of In God We Trust:
It is one thing for Administration to meet with groups of varying viewpoints, but it is quite another for a senior official to sit down with activists representing some of the most hate-filled, anti-religious groups in the nation.
IGWT’s press release was paranoid and vitriolic, accusing the Obama administration of “meeting to plot political strategy with 60 atheist activists”.
The failure of people like Nedd to distinguish between atheists — people who simply don’t believe in a god or gods — and antitheists — people who believe religion is inherently destructive — is apparent in their histrionics. Nedd whined:
President Obama seems to believe that it is a good idea to have a key senior aide plan political strategy with people who believe faith in God is a disease. Some of the people in this coalition believe the world would be better off with no Christians and no Jews and they aren’t shy about it.
The fact that this meeting is happening at all is an affront to the vast majority of people of all faiths who believe in God. The President should tell the American people whether he believes these groups’ hate-filled views to be ‘mainstream’ and worthy of his supposedly inclusive administration.
Here we see Nedd’s true colors. An “inclusive administration” can only include people who share Nedd’s beliefs in invisible magic men.
Nedd was not alone. Bill Donohue, President of the Catholic League, wailed:
People of faith, especially Christians, have good reason to wonder exactly where their interests lie with the Obama administration. Now we have the definitive answer. In an unprecedented move, leaders of a Presidential administration are hosting some of the biggest anti-religious zealots in the nation!
Religious leaders, of course, never involve themselves in politics, and have always been completely shut out. For example:
President Obama and members of his administration avoided the Family’s “National Prayer Breakfast” like the plague . . . Oh, wait.
Obama immediately dismantled the Office of Faith-Based Initiatives founded by former President G.W. Bush . . . Oops, he expanded it.
Previous administrations have never met with religious figures, right?
Sure, James Dobson (Focus on the Family) visited the White House a reported 24 times, 10 to see President Bush in person.
Fine, Andrea Lafferty of the Traditional Values Coalition visited the White House 50 times between February 2001 and March 2008, with six audiences with Bush.
Jerry Falwell? Only eight visits during the Bush administration.
Meanwhile, Obama has offered speeches on faith, thrown taxpayer funds to religious organizations, and sent lawyers to defend the Defens of Marriage Act by comparing homosexuality to incest and child rape.
Obama has dared to throw a bone — a wing, I believe, and broken — to non-theists. All Hell is breaking loose among Christians, who doubtless see this as the first tiny breach in their impenetrable dike of irrationality and intolerance . . . After all, in the good old days, Presidents took their stance on atheists:
No, I don’t know that atheists should be regarded as citizens, nor should they be regarded as patriotic. This is one nation under God. – George H. W. Bush
Related articles:
- Liam Fox: Christendom Crucifies the Constitution
- Obama Panders to Varied Religious Sects
- Atheists select Des Moines, Iowa, as venue for 2011 convention, April 21-24, 2011
- House 'Prayer Day' Resolutions Divide America, Violate Constitution
- American Atheists criticizes Vatican plan to debate only "respectful" atheists
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Of course it is ok for the religious to visit the President. You know that they have no agenda and are only there to do what is best for all Americans. Wow I could make a pretty good right winger couldn't I.
The other day I saw the West Wing episode where Josh makes a wiseacre remark that leads to a bunch of religious "leaders" to visit the White House. As things get heated, President Bartlet steps into the room and describes the situation where his granddaughter received a Raggedy Ann doll with a knife through its throat, and proceeds to berate the religious "leaders". I just wish I had that one on DVR so I could watch it over and over. (My sister has my West Wing DVDs, or I'd go watch it again now.)
I like that episode, and the whole series, too. I think it's the first episode of the first season.
'best for all christians' you mean, don't you?
lol the religious right is so childish and misled it's almost too funny…or rather it WOULD be too funny if they didn't have so much influence on the american public.
I'm sorry, but it's not!
Americans like to claim that church and state is separate, but it's much tighter connected than, for instance, Norway which has a state church.
To pick a few examples: You have the "God bless America" statements uttered by everybody. You have "In God we trust" on the dollar bills. You have the "..so help me God" pledges etc. etc. etc.
The list is endless.
Other religions than Christianity are tolerated, but that's it. You could never have a non-Christian president.
so atheism is a religion. right??
NO, atheism is NOT a religion. If you even have to ask that question you are so poorly misinformed and/or uneducated that my replying to you will unfortunately make no difference will it? Atheism is the LACK OF religion. It is the LACK OF having a diety and rules to follow that are supposedly handed down by such diety. Atheists rather are governed by their own personal morals, and are in most cases more Christ like than any religion, including Christianity, actually is. They are our doctors, engineers and scientists. The very same people that in the past were accused of witchcraft because what they could do defied the logic provided by the church. And now, in rtecent times they are speaking out en masse, in their own defense, to try to, yet again, separate the church and the state, something that the founding father WANTED in this country, and for good reason. Many of these people have different values, are accepting of different things and as a whole there is NO UNIFYING BELIEF STRUCTURE. The only thing that unifies them is that they dont believe in God or the bible, at least not in a literal sense. Now you tell me, IS this the definition of a religion?
Well said!
a little hardcore don't you think? I'm an atheist, and yes, I agree atheism is not a religion… but my view of atheism is that, yes, we don't have a unifying belief structure AND we have no reason to gather together en masse at all. I understand that religion has its say and holds the power, and atheists ie: Richard Dawkins want to combat that… but I think that's wrong. That goes against everything I believe that makes me an atheist. And aleem asking if atheism is a religion, is not stupid, not uneducated BECAUSE atheists should never be banding together in the first place.
Cody you are right that as non-believers we don't need to have weekly or monthly gatherings. I do think you are wrong to think that non-believers shouldn't get together to become a political power. Why do politicians cater to the religious? One of the reasons is they have gatherings every week and the politicians can see their numbers. I would like to see several gatherings once a month in the different states and those gatherings should focus on the politics of those areas. Until politicians actually see people gathered in groups they don't seem to notice them.
"atheists should never be banding together in the first place"
cody, i think you're being confused with anarchy
I understand how "we" lose, or don't have political power if "we," as atheists, do not get into groups and have a common voice… like religions have had for years… but that is something I have sacrificed, that I have given up… because I view atheism as a chance to be above that. Above the need to have influence on things political, on any things at all. I just am what I am and no one else is in the same boat as me.
I think that is where my approach to atheism differs from most. I would be interested to see if any atheists share my view… but obviously, we wouldn't get together in an online forum and chat about it or anything… lol
and no, andrew… I am not confused with anarchy at all
That is a sacrifice that has cost groups their rights many times. The only way we can really stop the religious right from getting to much power is to become more involved in politics and work to a goal that will put the Constitution ahead of all religions when dealing with government. There are enough non-believers to have an impact on elections but to many decide to avoid it because they don't want to deal with it. I will admit I was one of those until about 4 or 5 years ago. When someone or some group commits crimes in my name and I do nothing but ignore it, I am as guilty as those I have allowed to commit them are.
I agree that something has to be done to combat the power the religious right has in the government (now am I going to be a part of this movement, probably not… and that is a fault of my own). But whatever group takes on this issue, should not be labeled as atheists imho. I am an atheist, and no group has the right to speak for me where religion or lack-there-of is concerned. Nothing can or should be committed, acted out, organized under the name atheism, because that is NOT me… and will never be.
Really enjoying this debate by the way.
Good exercise of the mind!
Cody,
Being organized as a group has nothing to do with religion, specifically. There are many political groups that are not involved with religion or lack there of, but still congregate and lobby the government. However, as an atheist, I do not want the religious right influencing policy with their voodoo; cogent, critical thinking sure, but not because of their beliefs. These policies may directly affect me, and I would like it to be made by a rational mind, not a superstitious one.
As such, I don't think these people are gathering as atheists and saying "We have no religion and as a group we want x". They are gathering as an anti-religious group stating "We do not believe that policy should be influenced by something that has no place in these processes. Religion".
IMHO there is not a single piece of government or policy that should be influenced by religiosity of a person or group.
I agree with you on this but because we live in the real world we know that isn't how it works. Most Americans put their religion ahead of everything else in their lives. This country, I believe was formed as it in an attempt to prevent what the religious right is doing right now. Unless those opposed to the actions of the religious right begin to form a power base, they will turn this country into one similar to Iran.
Religion is a way to describe-observe the universe and justify the human race's place with the universe. Science is a religion. People who call themselves atheists are religious. Real atheist are those who don't think about, or care about their place in the world. :sigh: Science is the most hypocritical and harmful religion in the history of the universe. GJ on global warming guys
Way to get fumed over a sarcastic comment.
Atheists: More Christ-like than Christians. I like it!
I just wish Hamilton, Madison & Jefferson to speak to the right wingers… This ain't a Christian nation — it's a secular country (for the people by the people)…
If you don't believe in God you are an unbeliever. If you believe there is NO God you are an athiest. If you prosylatize and try to convince others you are an Athiest (capital A) and it is your religion.
Then I'm just an atheist, lower case. Because I don't give a shit if you're an atheist or not. I hate prejudice equally all across the board.
Trying to convince others of reason is not a religion. That's ridiculous.
Nope, I disagree. I’m an “unbeliever” by your labels but happily say I’m an atheist. I look at those two choices more as possibly soft and hard atheists? It’s a confusing topic and I see many different standards. It’s somewhat of a continuum based on just how likely you think the possibility there “could be” a god. Many atheists consider themselves agnostic, not because they believe in a god, but just because they think it is equally unlikely that there is a god as there isn’t. I’m way down the end thinking it’s about as likely as there are fairies. But I could never say “there is no god” with certainty.
s\
Its true that Ahtesim is not a religion. I am a secular humanist and that too is not a religion (you can be of faith and still be secular humanist). The problem is we face predejuce from religious groups (specifically Christianity) Funny thing is I am not the spawn of a demon and I do not want religion to be eradicated. I want religion to accept that we differ and that we can still get along. i know this to be a long shot, but its still my dream. here is an example of why I feel this way
I asked Mr. Bush, "What are you going to do to win the votes of Americans who are atheists?"
Mr. Bush replied, "I guess I'm pretty weak in the atheist community. Faith in God is important to me."
I followed up: "Do you support the equal citizenship and patriotism of Americans who are atheists?"
Mr. Bush replied, "I don't know that atheists should be regarded as citizens, nor should they be regarded as patriotic. This is one nation under God." (George HW Bush)
or this one ….
"I really believe that the pagans and the abortionists and the feminists and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People for the American Way, all of them who try to secularize America…I point the finger in their face and say you helped this happen."
— Rev. Jerry Falwell, on 9/13/01.
or this one …
"From this day forward, the millions of our school children will daily proclaim in every city and town, every village and rural schoolhouse, the dedication of our Nation and our people to the Almighty."
— President Eisenhower, signing bill for "under God" in Pledge of Alleg
there are so many quotes that make a meeting with a person who shares our beliefs,in non-beleiving, and seperation of Church and state very necessary.
We are not creatures from a mystical fire pit set forth the earth to attempt to overthrow God and his faithful. We are just people who want to be able to say a pledge and not have a religious undertow to it. Or pick up money that says in God we trust. Is that fair to us or to someone of different faith. I do want to say this I find it personally that Christianity is a good moral guide to follow ( I was raised christian) and (Im guestamating) about half of the Christians are very tollerant of others, while the others are extremest and that is were the problem lies. I am not a militant atheist I just want my liberty's.
Folks, if the commenting structure isn't meeting your needs, please be aware that there is a discussion forum available for your use! It's at http://www.palibandaily.com/forum.
Enjoy!
There is less evidence to support the belief in God than to support the belief that most religions are elaborate cults based on mythology.
That's funny. For some reason, all of my US currency has "GOD" crossed out and "CONSTITUTION" written below it.
Also, my pledge of allegiance is "to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under the constitution, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all"
Just one more reason why I hate religion, and religious leaders.
"Council Nedd, chair of In God We Trust: It is one thing for Administration to meet with groups of varying viewpoints, but it is quite another for a senior official to sit down with activists representing some of the most hate-filled, anti-religious groups in the nation."
Perfectly alright for them to have THEIR say, for them to have "hate filled" RELIGIOUS groups, just not ok in their opinion to have hate filled GODLESS groups.
So let's get this straight, it's ok to hate, as long as you have gawd on your side. Right? Yeah, that's just the Jesus would have done it.
These people are a joke joke. A vast, hypocrisy filled, very dangerous joke. The irony of what they are doing to this country is lost on them. We fight a war in another country because of this kind of garbage, but rather than be different and rise above, they want to become JUST like them. Morons! The lot of them.
What I get from the comments and conversations with the more extreme christians is they believe the US Constitution was written just for christians and no one else. They seem to believe that they need a new amendment so they can take away any rights for non-christians. The only chance they have of getting this is to prevent non-christians from having their words heard by people in power.
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