Professor Smooth wrote:Neko wrote:Professor Smooth wrote:I'd be interested in hearing examples of Atheists trying to "suppress religion."
It's everywhere. Every political issue in this country has the supporting side and the opposing side (with a few fence sitters sprinkled around).
With the big two of the highlighted issues surrounding the 2008 presdential elections, being Gay rights and Abortion, the oppositon to the issue has someway to do with religion or religious teachings.
Many of the supporters are generally people who want to supress the religious laws so any opposition to the issue would be inarguable and couldn't stand by itself.
I'm not trying to come off as snarky here, but if arguing for people to have the right to choose to marry who they want and decide what to do with their own bodies is suppressing religion in your country, then I'm glad I'm in Japan.
Disagreeing on politics is different from "suppressing religion." Atheists aren't trying to keep people from going to church, celebrating religious holidays, or observing their religion. Most of the more vocal ones simply do not want to have to live their lives (or educate their children) based on religious doctrine, especially when said doctrine contradicts the real world.
Not necessarily Athiests, but there is a growing anti-christian sentiment. There have been cases where Christian students were banned from praying in schools. They weren't forcing anyone else to pray (which I would have opposed), but parents were up in arms because witnessing prayer somehow harmed their childrens delicate sensibilities.
There are cases where students aren't even allowed to wear small crucifix necklaces.
There was also ban on a recent christmas movie from being shown at a public event, I will have to look it up again for more specifics.
Even using the terms Christmas and Easter in public schools has become taboo, but Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and Islamic celebrations are freely expressed, and even done at some public schools. I can understand not doing them, but all of them should be shown the door.
While working at Target, I was expressly told to not tell the customers "Merry Christmas", but it was barely acceptable to say "Happy Holidays". What's funny, is that more often than not, I was "corrected" by many who just returned "Merry Christmas". It felt like some underground code, and the gestapo would come out of the isles if I slipped just once.
I've even read of a case where a family was banned from putting up a Christmas wreath on their door, when the neiborhood organization sent them a letter telling them that they were in violation of the "rules".
And one more thing I have to point out, since you question my validity as a believer in God.
A real athiest would not care if you are a christian, since they beleive there is nothing, so what you beleive or don't believe does not matter to them. You, very much, care about what other people believe, and even go so far as to bash those who do.
