Why do you think atheists pay so much attention to religion?

[Judas BentHer]

There are several reasons to pay attention to religion.

The first is to watch what the more politicized fundy-whacks are trying to make law or make public policy...

I appreciate the respectful consideration of the question and your well thought out reply. Sadly, the Reservation matter isn't surprising and is rather typical of the Christian double standard and hypocrisy. Basically, they'll lie just to gain an upper hand over all others not Christian.

In the States it's as if there's this unspoken presumption that whenever "god" is mentioned one must be referring to the Christian version. As if standing in majority as the foremost populace faith in America allots an unspoken blanket dominion over all rights and entitlements to pervasiveness in the secular realm as well as inference of supremacy in anything having to do with religion generally.

I once had someone ask me in a conversation where it wasn't off topic to posit the question however it was presumptive, and as if they were trying to be PC, if I believed in a higher power. I answered no. To which they responded with wide eyes as they suddenly turned quite pale, but you do believe in god right?

I loved the moment for what it provided as a lesson in their personal insecurity on such matters. They became shocked and afraid that in my personal life choice I chose not to accept that god or any nonsense myth, fable, superstition related to that fictional character was true or rational and as a consequence did not live my life so as to hold faith in it.

Christianity, as all faiths are at their core, is a elitist tradition. Certainly everyone who holds faith believes it to be absolute and true for them and their life. However, Christianity seems to inspire a tendency in certain of it's faithful to believe it is the only true faith and as a consequence it's tenets have an entitlement to claim right over all the world and all people in it.

So while people are entitled in the States to practice their personal religion freely, certain Christians demonstrate people are not entitled to be free of their religion.

Thus, atheists are deemed sinners. As are agnostics, pagans, any member of any other faith tradition. The secular community is besieged by Christian faithful who make a concerted push to have Christian morality govern in a legislative capacity. As we see when the Bible is put forth as the foundation for moral righteousness when a bill is put forth containing language that would deny gay's their Constitutional rights and protections to be free and equal to straights. And women are prohibited from exercising their personal dominion regarding their reproductive system, etc...

And as you outlined, subterfuge is not beyond certain Christians efforts in promoting their exclusivist agenda that seeks to make everyone compliant to Christian religious values.

So thank you again for your well thought out reply. The point of this poll, and in the hopes of generating thoughtful discourse on the subject, was to solicit serious people's thoughts on matters of presumptive religious entitlement and atheists thoughts, concerns and responses to it.

Well done, BethK. Thank you for taking the time to participate in this poll.

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Imagine how disappointed you're to be thinking I shall be your answer to your excited anticipation, when you realize I'm a guy.
Now, I'd appreciate it very much if you'd stop hijacking my thread with further nonsense.
Thank you.