Why do atheist want to take away everything religious?

Question

there is someone here in San Diego who is trying to remove the cross from Mt. Soledad.
Where there is also a veteran memorial.

Answer 1

I don't. I couldn't care less about crosses on a memorial. It doesn't bother me in any way. Too many people had a bad experience with religion and are trying to find ways to "get even" with those who gave them the bad experience. With today's culture of "if I'm offended you must change" it is easy for them to do. Seems like a waste of time to me.

I do get bothered by those who are willing to lump all atheists into one group though. It is really ignorant to assume that because Michael Newdow has decided that we shouldn't say Under God in the pledge that all atheists are out to get you. Would you say that all blacks are criminals because some are? That is something that most people wouldn't even think about saying. I think we deserve the same consideration.

As for the people who are complaining about tax dollars spent on crosses for memorials: if the money isn't spent on a cross it will be spent on another symbol. You aren't going to see any reduction in spending so it is a pointless argument. If you are so concerned about government spending why don't you spend you time taking on welfare abuse and illegal immigration. Those issues are disabling the country. A cross on a grave won't even register a blip on the radar.

Answer 2

I'm familiar with this case. You understate it.

The cross is nineteen feet high and on public land. Imagine for a moment that a group of Hindus wanted to put a twenty-foot statue of Ganesh on a public hilltop over the city. Do you think they would be allowed to? They have every right to, but I think there would be a certain outcry. Now imagine that some Satanists wanted to put up a twenty-foot high pentagram. Would they be allowed to? I think not.

This country is a melting pot and I have no problem with your giant cross as long as there is, at least, the opportunity for other faiths (and non-believers) to also represent themselves. Realistically, though, this is not the case. Christians are allowed to get away with things that no other group can. Despite contrary belief this country was not founded as a Christian nation. The founding fathers were not, strictly speaking, Christians. In fact, Thomas Jefferson, who wrote the Declaration of Independence, was an ATHEIST. Somewhere along the way lines have gotten tangled and we have become something that we were never meant to be.

Answer 3

I don't think all Athiests want to take religious aspects of life from believers.There are many who just want religion to have it's own place and time.An Athiest might wonder why some religious people insist on having everything revolve around religion.So the door can go both ways.

Accepting peoples differences is a hard thing to do for anyone.But as long as we are free to worship in a church we are not being mistreated anymore then a person who doesn't want to worship in a church.It is all about choices.But when you force one view versus another then that is where people have a problem regardless if they are Athiests or religious.

Answer 4

I'm atheist/ agnostic but I support other's religious beliefs. I do however believe in the seperation of church and state, so I think that religious references in public schools, courts, etc. should be removed. I feel that often times those religious references apply to Christianity but exclude many other religions. The United States was founded on freedom of religion and promoting one religion over others is hypocritical. So keep on practicing whatever religion you believe in and I will have no complaints as long as it does not impede on anyone's elses rights.
Thanks for the hot-topic question.

Answer 5

Atheists have the same rights to their religious beliefs as anyone else. They don't necessarily want to take away everything religious, but they do want to have a religion-neutral government, one that protects your right to have and practice a religion and yet does not push religion on others. Keeping schools and other public spaces clear of religion is not "taking everything away." It is fair and equitable to all religions and to non-believers alike for the government to stay out of religion and for religion to stay out of government.

Answer 6

I'm an atheist and don't care what people believe.

But, at the same time, I don't want my tax dollars wasted brainwashing innocent children with the idea that imaginary friends are going to solve their problems, or that they are accountable to an imaginary friend, or that they were born wicked and evil.

Answer 7

Because athiests, quite logically, don't believe in God. Furthermore, many athiests think that religion is a detriment to the further progression of humanity.

Answer 8

the reason is because they fear that there may actually be a God who will judge them one day. So by trying to remove everything religious they are trying to remove or atleast postpone the constant reminder of God one day judging them.

Answer 9

A true athiest doesn't care about taking it away because he/she just simply doesn't believe in God and it is no threat to them. The ones who try to take religious things away are the ones who fear that they themselves are wrong and by taking it away from all of us, it will make them feel justified in their fear.

Answer 10

i dont want to take anything away at all-keep the peace old hippie here