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US Atheists Step 'Out of Closet'

Growing movement seeks acceptance, not members

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Apr 27, 2009 10:14 AM CDT

(Newser) – Atheists across the country are turning up the volume, gathering openly and advertising their lack of faith, the New York Times reports. Their goal isn’t to win others over—“The most important thing is coming out of the closet,” said one activist—and win acceptance for their beliefs. And their numbers may be growing: A recent survey saw “no religion” as the only group that grew in every state.

The demographic’s growing presence is in part a backlash against the weight of the religious right under the Bush administration; a secularist surge on college campuses has also boosted the movement, as have new books which treat atheism as a cause as opposed to an argument. Ten national groups have formed the Secular Coalition for America, which plans to lobby Washington for separation of church and state.

In this Tuesday Jan. 6, 2009 file photo, Richard Dawkins, author of 'The God Delusion', poses in front of a London bus with an ad: 'There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life'.
In this Tuesday Jan. 6, 2009 file photo, Richard Dawkins, author of 'The God Delusion', poses in front of a London bus with an ad: 'There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life'.   (AP Photo/Akira Suemori, file)
KMPS country music station radio hosts pose in Seattle with an atheist sign that was turned into the station.
KMPS country music station radio hosts pose in Seattle with an atheist sign that was turned into the station.   (AP Photo)
A San Francisco man, a member of the local chapter of American Atheists, holds up a copy of the original Pledge of Allegiance that does not contain the words under God during a protest in 2007.
A San Francisco man, a member of the local chapter of American Atheists, holds up a copy of the original Pledge of Allegiance that does not contain the words under God during a protest in 2007.   (AP Photo)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 31 comments
drlarrymitchell
Jul 18, 2009 10:01 AM CDT
"Nothing to kill or die for."
newsrmandan
Apr 28, 2009 12:19 PM CDT
What does not exist cannot be percieved. You cannot percieve of God unless he exist. Opposite of belief in God is not atheism. It is complet silence regarding God. If atheist were true to there belief we would never hear anything about God from them. Atheism Hinges on the belief that God does not exist. I believe God exists because He says so. Atheist believe God does not exist because they say so ultimatly that makes them god. Just to follow the logic and be consistant atheist do not exist. Further more there thoughts regarding God are at best mere thoughts.
woodyTX
Apr 28, 2009 8:56 AM CDT
Is Christ the "real" son of God as opposd to Buddha or Mohammed ? Is my God better than yours ? ...or are we all just part of the same life field; this wonderful energy that breathes us and sustains us every minute ? We are not separate from it. There is no separation but in our minds. No need to give "it" (this) a name. It (this) is nameless. Just swim in the river and live the moment. The moment is where truth lies. Right before your very eyes. The finger points but don't grab the finger. Look where it points.

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