Atheists often misunderstood by masses

Atheists have been unjustly saddled with a reputation of being immoral, angry and violently opposed to the religious beliefs of others; however, this is frankly not true.

According to the "American Religious Identification Survey" by Barry Kosmin and Ariela Keysar, published by Trinity College in March of 2009, available at www.americanreligionsurvey-aris.org, atheists represent 20 percent of the U.S. population. Many people take this to mean that no one cares what they think. My question is: Why doesn't this assumption extend to groups that make up even lower percentages of the population like Jews, 1.2 percent of the population, Mormons, 1.4 percent, or Muslims, .06 percent? If this were the case, none of these people would have a voice either.

Welcome to America, land of the mega-church, where you can run for office if you believe that Noah loaded millions of animals onto a boat less than a square acre in size, but if you get elected in one of seven states and don't believe in a God, you can be sued in court.

Atheists are often attacked for taking offense to things like Christmas greetings and religious symbols on government buildings. They are painted as some sort of bully if they express their disagreement, and in the same breath, get bullied themselves in return. It seems to me that the religious majority wants to have their cake and eat it too. According to the same survey, Christians make up 76 percent of the population, and they whine when someone points out they aren't the only game in town.

Many Atheists are opposed to displaying religious signs on public buildings because it violates the First Amendment If we decided to give people of all beliefs a symbol on government buildings, we wouldn't be able to see the buildings behind all of the stones, crosses and stars.

And no, Atheists don't always wish someone Merry Christmas. Neither did the Puritans who first came to America, because they felt Christmas was too pagan in nature. Contrary to popular belief, America wasn't "founded on Christian values." Just read any contemporary philosophers, or better yet, the Treaty of Tripoli, which states "...America is not in any sense founded as a Christian nation," ratified by John Adams and unanimously approved by Congress in 1794.

America was founded as a secular nation, as opposed to the supposedly god-ordained kings of Europe. Those who fight for secularism are often told to leave the country if they don't like it by the red-faced, bible-thumping, flag-waving crowd, who can't even appreciate the hilarious irony made apparent by the quote above. Revisionists wave banners promoting phrases like "in god we trust" and "one nation under god." If you point out those words were added 50 years ago, invariably the point dies or gets sidetracked by its opponents.

At this point, if you haven't tossed this article away in rage, you might ask yourself, "How dare you attack my beliefs, which are so sacred and intimate to me?" My response is this: In newspapers Atheists are vilified for expressing their own beliefs. On TV we're portrayed as drug addicted curmudgeons, or socially-inept geniuses who are out of touch with reality. Tell someone you've been to jail or cheated on your wife and people get over it, but God forbid if you're an atheist.

"Millions of people are good without God" reads one billboard I've seen, and that's the message this freethinker has to offer. Social stereotypes tend to make atheists over aware of their moral position, and they are often overly courteous to make up for their demonized social position. Atheists try to be understanding of the many different cultures and beliefs that make up this country. Yes, many of them get mad when a government supports a position prohibited in the Constitution, and not held by the 34 percent of Americans who are not Christians. We are only standing up for our beliefs, something religious people seem to know all about.

Being an atheist does not automatically equate to being evil, immoral or cruel. According to, "Composite U.S. Demographics" published by adherents.com in March of 2007 and available at www.adherents.com/adh_dem.html, atheists make up less than one percent of the U.S. prison system. Atheists account for the overwhelming majority of scientists, and many professors. They are teammates, organ donors, doctors, social workers and parents. New churches sprout up all over town without a hitch, but try starting a social group for atheists and see what happens.

Atheists are not the bully on the playground; they are the strange kid from out of town who gets laughed off the table at lunch. We live in the state that's known internationally for "that strange religion" and polygamy. As the saying goes, people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.