Posted on 05/22/2005 6:53:03 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - To the uninformed, this weekend gathering here may have seemed like a church revival, full of zeal and fervor. But worshipping God was most decidedly not part of the agenda.
The attendees of the "All Atheists Weekend" gathered to discuss what they call the rise of fundamentalism in the U.S. and the blurring of lines between church and state.
Attendees also took time to view documentaries that question the historical accuracy of the Bible - and to hear lectures about the dangers of religious icons on public property and problems with President Bush's so-called "faith-based initiative," which seeks to give religious groups equal footing in seeking federal grants to provide social services.
Organizers said they expected more than 250 people to take part in the event, which featured a lecture by Ellen Johnson, the president of American Atheists. The gathering began Friday and continued through Sunday at various spots throughout the city.
The religious right's increasing involvement in U.S. politics has triggered an angry backlash among the godless, say Bay area atheist groups, five of which organized the weekend event.
"It's time for us to push back," said psychologist Jaime Arcila, 52, of San Francisco, who was accompanied by his two children, Javier, 15, and Amanda, 12, in a tiny theater Saturday night just south of downtown.
Arcila, who is not an official member of any atheist group, said he was prompted to attend Saturday's showing of "The God Who Wasn't There," along with about 100 other people, because of what he sees as a growing intolerance in the U.S. for people with alternative views and lifestyles.
Arcila, who was raised by Catholic parents, said the nation needs more dialogue about "peace, tolerance, justice, and love," not exclusion based on a difference of ideas.
Ali, a 36-year-old native Iranian, agreed. He declined to give his last name because he said he wants to return to his Muslim-dominated homeland someday and fears that he could be persecuted should he be identified as an atheist.
Ali said he knows all too well the effects of religious fundamentalism on a society from his own experiences in his native country.
Nations that accept only one set of values or beliefs are "restrictive and stifling," Ali said.
"I was a Muslim but stopped believing after a lot of pain and after a lot of thought," he said. "Being here at this event is encouraging me not to be afraid. It strengthens me and helps me stand up for what I believe."
But just how tolerant of Christianity and other religions are the atheists?
"We don't hate Christians," said David Fitzgerald, 40, an insurance broker and member of San Francisco Atheists. "People in this country are free to believe in whatever they want."
Nonetheless, during the Saturday night movie, the crowd booed and hissed when a photo of Pat Robertson was displayed on the screen.
Robertson, the founder of the Christian Broadcasting Network and a former U.S. presidential candidate, is a leader in the efforts by some religious groups to return America and its government to Christian values.
Fitzgerald offered no apologies.
"Robertson and other Theocrats scare the hell out of us," Fitzgerald said. "They want to turn a democracy into a theocracy. Even Christians are afraid of that."
I want their belief in Atheism (faith that there is no god) out of my public schools. Freedom OF religion is not freedom FROM religion.
Agnosticism is the word for those who say "don't know". Atheisms claim to know.
THEY ARE ONLY AFRAID OF CHRISTIANITY. Satans only fear is Christianity. Islam and all other religions are no threat to it. Thus the vehemence towards Christ and anything Christian.
Ali was there, but couldn't give his last name because he wants to return to his Muslim homeland, and is afraid he will be persecuted if they find out he is an atheist....
BUT, while he is here, able to go to the meeting, openly, and talk about it, openly, he BLASTS AMERICA for being intolerant????
WTF?????
There are many, many Christians who would LIKE Christianity (their version of it, of course) to become the law of the land. But it hasn't happened, and it ain't gonna happen. The atheists and agnostics seem to think that this is some growing threat that must be addressed immediately. I just wish they felt this way about militant Islam.
Some self-styled Christians agree with these atheists.
Judges rule unconstitutionally that God must be removed from our schools. Judges rule the Pledge must be stricken if it includes "under God". Judges rule homosexual marriage is a constitutional right. Judges rule Abortion is a constitutional right. Judges rule the Ten Commandments must be removed from court houses. Judges rule nativity scenes must be taken down. Judges rule a Cross must be removed from a building.
Secularists attack Christianity by burning the pages of the Bible, coating objects of Christianity in urine, taking His name in vain.
They call Christians kooks, Christianity a fairytale, they compare us to the Taliban and they call Dobson the anti-Christ ironically considering their lack of belief.
They state a movie about our Savior will trigger a response that will result in Christians unleashing jihad against the Jews.
Just who picked this fight?
Saw a bumper sticker" God Doesn't Believe In Atheists".
Nonetheless, during the Saturday night movie, the crowd booed and hissed when a photo of Pat Robertson was displayed on the screen.
Priceless!
Between the agnostic and atheist positions, the agnostic position is the most rational.
Careful. A large enough cadre of FReepers consistently boo and hiss at "fundies" like Robertson and others like him.
"Freedom OF religion is not freedom FROM religion."
Pretty meaningless statement. For some science is a religion, for some sex is. Buddhism is a religion and yet the existence of any diety is superfluous. Are we going to pass legislation requiring that every American be involved in some sort of religion? Should Satanism or Scientology be allowed satisfy that requirement? Look, I am not anti-Christian, but these sorts of meaningless statements hurt the conservative cause.
I work with a very vocal athiest. This guy is a little obnoxious and seems to me to be a good representation of athiests everywhere. It is not enough that he does not believe in God, he will not suffer anyone else to believe in Him either. He and I have nearly called each other out more than once. BTW, he is also a very vocal and obnoxious democrat and those two things go hand in hand more often than not.
Atheism is the root of all Liberalism. People who beleive in a God would not support killing babies and supporting communists.
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