What is wrong with Atheists?

        I am an Atheist. In today’s society saying those words will, more often than not, make people think awful things. Atheists are the least trusted minority in America. In a recent Gallup poll Americans voted that they are least likely to elect an Atheist as president. I personally would like to see a president that has no religious affiliation and is open about it. Although, I am happy to see that seven of ten people would open minded enough to enough to elect a Gay or Lesbian president. Our leaders religious affiliation shouldn’t matter, neither should their gender or sexual preference. It is because of this closed-minded, ethnocentric thinking that our country is struggling, we worry more about the little things than we do about the actual intelligence level of our politicians.

            Another recent study by The University of British Colombia and The University of Oregon, detailed in an article on USA Today states that a majority of people believe Atheists to be less trust worthy than rapists. I don’t think I should have to point out the absurdity of this frame of mind. But, obviously, I am part of the minority and if people think I am less trustworthy than a rapist, then that will eventually cause some major problems in my life.

            Many people think this way because their pastors or other church leaders convince them of it. According to many different people like Heather Basher on Landover Baptist forums “All atheists believe in evolution, which means they don't believe in morality and think we should all act like animals.” She also states in the same post that “a lot of mass murderers were atheists, and all atheists, having no morality to guide them, are only a bad day away from going on a genocide spree. There have no exactly zero cases on Christian mass murderers throughout all of history.” First off I would like to point out that Ted Bundy was a mormon and a man named Burce Lee (no not THE Bruce Lee) killed twentysix people was a self proclaimed christian. And secondly, I would like to state that I do have morals. I argue that atheists, on the whole, are more moral than religious people. Atheists do not need promise of devine punishment to keep from killing, raping, or tortureing anybody. I refrain from doing these things because I feel personally that it is wrong. If the only thing keeping christians from going on a “genocide spree” is the fact that the will go to hell then there is something wrong with them, not me. I suggest you take the time and read the rest of her post, her views on the problems with Atheism are numerious and a perfect example of the ingorance that we deal with daily.

            Although, citizens can hardly be balmed for their hatred and bigotry. In August 1987 George Bush Sr said, “I don't know that atheists should be considered as citizens, nor should they be considered patriots. This is one nation under God.” He was trying to say that since he feels that our nation was founded on christian principles, non-christians have no place here. There are many problems with his statement. The first problem is that we are not “one nation under god” the phrase wasn’t even added to our Pledge of Allegence until 1954. The United States didn’t adopt the motto “in god we trust” intil 1956. Secondly, Most of our founding fathers were either Agnostic meaning they belive a higher power exsists but do not know which one or Deist which means they think there is a god, but he doesn’t interfere with man, they also didn’t believe the supernatural miricles in the bible and didn’t support the “trinity”. Some were even Atheists like Benjamen Franklin, George Washington, and James Madison. Our nation was founded by men who were trying to escape the religious oppression of the Church of England. They came here to find a freedom to worship or not worship how they wanted without fear of punishment. Once we decide that “Atheists aren’t citizens” we are destroying everything this country was founded for. The problem with people distrusting Atheists and saying the ignorant things they say is that it makes us out the be second class citizens. Most Atheists don’t want to fight with Christians, what you belive is entirely your choice and it has absolutely nothing to do with my life.

            Oh, and as far as “Atheists aren’t patriots” I would like to refer you to a picture that I found. It pretty much sums up how I feel.

In conclusion, what is wrong with Atheists? Nothing is wrong with us, we are human and therefore we have our own opinions. That doesn’t make us bad.