Could atheist westerners, please explain?

[robvalue]

You're right, we are his friends. We want to protect him from being mobbed by whatever other religion comes along and forces him to live by their rules. Opponents of secularism want him to be entirely vulnerable to this.

I don't know how much more clear I can make it. Would Atlas think it's OK to be forced to be a Hindu, if the numbers went their way? If not, that is the problem with his position. If he thinks that would be fair, then I can only think he hasn't put enough thought into what this really means; or else his religion doesn't matter to him and is just a means to an end for controlling purposes. But OK. If he wants to live in a world ruled by force and mob justice, then he can never be part of the civilised world.

He can't think "secular" without adding loads of other agendas to it. That is testament to the propaganda. Again, think of it the other way. "Muslim means ISIS." Is he OK with that statement? Unless he is, he's a massive hypocrite. Blaming every secular person... even... children?! for perceived shortcomings in the past is maniacal. Should we hold Atlas responsible for everything bad a Muslim has ever done?

Empathy. Try it out.