Since the first amendment protects me from religion, what protects me from atheism?

Question

I get freedom of religion and freedom from religion but not freedom from "non-religion". What stops them from going to far?

Answer 1

well, as long as they don't harm me or others with intent for conversion I don't care what they believe and don't require protection from that which poses no threat

Answer 2

How can the absence of belief do anything?
Atheism isn't a philosophy, a belief system, a club, or an organization...it's the absence of religious belief. It doesn't "do" anything.

By the way, the 1st amendment doesn't protect you "from" religion -- it very simply says the government has no business establishing, supporting, or encouraging religion. Leave government to do government, and religion to deal with religion. That's it -- it prevents establishment of a state religion. Look around the world to see the bad things that come from state religions (no matter what religion they are), and you'll understand the wisdom of the founding fathers when they wrote this :)

Peace.

Answer 3

The first amendment does not "protect" you from religion.
It protects your right to choose what you wish to believe or not believe. Nothing can protect us from religion. The attacks of 9-11 have proven this. The only hope is that we continue to promote dialogue founded on reason and intellectual honesty within the context of religious debate.
Atheism is the disbelief in the existence of a god or gods. Everyone in the world is an atheist to a large degree. There are hundreds if not thousands of gods to be worshiped. If you believe in only one god, or a few gods but not all, you are atheistic in regards to these other supposed deities.
You need no protection from disbelief. Disbelief requires no argument or debate.
Respectfully.....

Answer 4

You see Atheism unlike religion, has and endpoint. We simply don't agree with the existence of god. We can't go too far because we aren't pushing belief, we're pushing non-belief. If everybody was an atheist the topic of "god" would never come up but if everybody was Christian the they would still argue the best way to serve him and you would still have factional disputes. After all Muslims, Jews and Christians all believe in the same god but war constantly over it. Atheism is different from nihilism who believe in NOTHING. Atheists simply don't buy into a patriarchal deity that built the universe. What aspect of atheism really frightens you?

Answer 5

It's not freedom FROM religion. It's freedom OF religion.

It means that the government can not dictate to you which religion you must follow, nor tell that religion how to conduct itself, unless it violates other laws, such as sacrificing virgins or goats or anything else.

(Don't get your panties all in a bunch! I'm not saying that anybody does these things. I'm just saying that the constitution does not protect that kind of religious activity.)

In other words, you may choose any form of religious practice (or lack thereof) that you desire without governmental constraints or interference. Just don't go doing anything that's a danger to society in the process.

Answer 6

Nobody is forcing you to not practice your religion...just to keep it out of government sponsored activity. That seems reasonable if you value your religious freedom.

Let's say, just for argument, that in 25 or 50 years, our population becomes overwhelmingly Catholic from immigration from Mexico and other latin american countries. Then, let's say the majority of congress and president are Catholic. Then, let's say that they believe we all ought to go to confession at school, and that we must teach catachism in school. If you are not Catholic, would you want to have to participate? Would you be comfortable with that?

Freedom from religion is guaranteed in aspects of government, as it should be. You are free to use private schools, shop at christian stores, do whatever you want. If you access government, though, it'll be secular. Isn't that ok?

Answer 7

Constitution written purposely in an agnostic fashion, meant to not support any religion or non religion,

freedom to pursue "happiness" however that is for you

Answer 8

Your premise is inaccurate.
The First Amendment protects you from having the government establishing an "official" religion for its citizens.
It further affords you the protection of expressing your faith openly.

Answer 9

Hate to burst your bubble, but atheism is a religion, too.
If it's protection you want from "non-religion" it's agnostics (like me) you want to keep clear from... people who have no religion either way.
Ick, stop letting religion control your life.

Answer 10

Nothing. Never say the devil's influence was not clever. They call their hateful religious intolerance "a lack of religion". But if they start having meetings and passing out an atheist handbook... maybe we could do something.

Don't feel bad though, most these people are social rejects and would never voice their opinions in real life. Most these people are also 12. Cowardice comes with that age.

Answer 11

Atheism is not the presence of something. It's the absence of something (belief in deities). Your question is akin to asking "If I go swimming in the ocean, what's going to protect me from the absence of sharks?"