Today is national ask an atheist day! So if you’ve got any questions, lay ‘em on me! :)
In the US, the number of non-religious people has more than doubled from 14.3 million in 1990 to 29.4 million in 2001; their proportion has grown from just eight percent of the total in 1990 to over fourteen percent in 2001.
This was the greatest increase in absolute as well as in percentage terms among all religious groups.
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Just remember this. (via christiantheatheist) Dare I be a little hopeful? |
Atheism is more than just the knowledge that gods do not exist, and that religion is either a mistake or a fraud. Atheism is an attitude, a frame of mind that looks at the world objectively, fearlessly, always trying to understand all things as a part of nature.
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Carl Sagan (via biscodeja-vu) yes yes yes, a million times yes. (via descartesmeaway) |
Atheists Raise ‘Jesus Myth’ Banner in Illinois Park
The Freedom From Religion Foundation placed its “Nobody died for our sins. Jesus Christ is a myth” banner in a public park in Streator, Ill. yesterday in time for Easter weekend.
City officials granted FFRF permission to erect an eight-foot by three-foot banner in city park near the crosses.
This is not the first time FFRF has had involvement with a religious display in this particular park. In December, FFRF Staff Attorney Patrick Elliott wrote a letter to Mayor Jimmie Lansford protesting a nativity scene at the same location. Local complainants took issue with the crèche itself and the blatantly Christian sign next to the display: “Unto you is born the Savior Jesus Christ the Lord.”
The manger scene, sign and crosses place the imprimatur of the city government behind the Christian religious doctrine, contends FFRF. “This excludes citizens who are not Christian—Jews, Muslims, Wiccans, etc.—as well as the significant and growing portion of the U.S. population that is not religious at all (15 percent of adults), including complainants and taxpayers in Streator,” wrote Elliott.
The city’s attorney has responded that displays would continue to be allowed because the city is treating its city park as a public forum.
“We think the city would be wise to exclude all displays from the park. Our banner is a protest of the city’s continued decision to permit public property to be misappropriated to promote an exclusionary evangelical message,” said Annie Laurie Gaylor, FFRF co-president. “There are tax-free churches on practically every other corner where manger scenes and crosses may be placed. City parks ought to be free of religious divisiveness,” she added.
FFRF’s banner will hang until April 13. The banner will rise again next year if the city continues to allow displays in city park.
Go FFRF!
