[Chron] Presidential First: Obama Meets with Atheist Group

I disagree with you. It absolutely has an impact. Many politicians use their specific faith to determine their policy priorities. That does have an impact. I'm not saying it's right or wrong, but it certainly has an impact.

Again, I'm not saying a politician should give up their religious convictions, but they certainly do have an impact. And it's not just abortion. Gay marriage is another one in the news right now, and many other social issues are impacted by religious beliefs of government officials and the fact that their ears are open to advice from religious groups.

That's not really relevant though. I'm not trying to convince you that it should be a big deal to you, I'm trying to explain how it might be a big deal to others.

 

I guess that is the Question.
The *only* thing that unifies them . . . or rather makes them a 'group' . . is a lack of belief in God?

Rocket River

 

From a political perspective, I'd imagine the "group" basically wish to reinforce the notion that the government is a secular entity. And that their decision-making should not be influenced by religious motives.

From a way-of-life perspective, atheists live in a manner not dictated by religious reasons. We(as I am an atheist myself) don't use the teachings of the Bible, Koran, etc. to lead us. We make life decisions without the influence of what a higher deity may wish of us. We make decisions based on what we learn and know in this world.

You can say that's just *one* thing. But from an atheist perspective, all Christians are really only tied to *one* thing: their belief of Jesus Christ. There's a lot of segmentation otherwise.

 

Individuals influencing the political process at a national level? Which atheist individual has done this?

And what's the "lobbyist to individual ratio" in terms of White House influence anyway? I can't imagine many people has enough sway to get invited to chat with the US President.

 

I hope atheists aren't offended or feel slighted because a president has spiritual advisor.

secondly religion in politics is mostly about pandering. we've seen this play out this past election year when the religious right pretty much divorced themselves from the republican party because they are finally waking up and realizing that there really aren't that many religious battles that the republicans are willing to fight. evidence, george bush's supreme court pick roberts on abortion

 

I agree that a President's religion can have an effect on their priorities. I would had dealing with poverty, homelessness, and health care to a list of issues that their religion might cause them to prioritize.

 

Remove Jesus Christ from the picture
there is a Doctrine, a general set of Ideals that Christians
follow.
i.e. The 10 Commandments.
[whether they abide by them is a different story and irrelevent for the purpose of this discussion]

Which is a sticking point of those non-religious folx
they can always point to the 10 commandments and say - you not living by the ideals of your group

Whereas . . one cannot do that with Atheist because their ideals are individualized. . .

Rocket River

 

So it bothers you that atheists dont have something you can point to and tell them they aren't living the right way?

Sure not everyone has the 10 commandments, but laws do a pretty good job at 'suggesting' social behavior.

I'm not sure I see what you're trying to say RR...do you think atheists lack of religious codes make them more likely to commit crimes, be socially deviant, or be less moral, ethical, etc?

 

RR has said this same thing (in one form or another) countless times on this board. And been repeatedly made to look the fool for it.

Well... he's certainly consistent.

 

Atheists follow the code of the law of the country they live in.

You're seemingly trying to equate atheists to anarchists. Just because we don't believe in religion doesn't mean we don't follow moral, lawful, and ethical codes of conduct as expect in society.

 

It has been on our money longer than it was without it.

 

How about Bush's pick of Dick Cheney as VP?

 

Women have been denied the right to vote longer than they have had it in this country.

 

So you somehow see religion as an albatross placed upon each person, but atheists are somehow immune to this and their decision to avoid the strict parameters of religious beliefs in turn is an unfair advantage?

I don't really follow.

Aren't Christians taught to judge other based on their character, rather than the color of their skin or the religion they practice (or not practice)?

In theory, atheists should be easier to judge based on their ideals because you can take each individual as a unique case and draw your own assumptions based on their character, not their faith.

 

Hmm, so he's judging a group of people because they don't believe what he thinks they should...I'm sure he has no proof that atheists are worse people because they don't believe in God...it's just something RR was probably raised to believe...kind of like the way people inherit racism. How ironic.

 

I don't see how you can state in the same series of posts that religious people don't have influence with politicians and that religion in politics is mostly about pandering. Guess what, even if the politicians don't believe in what they are saying, the fact that they are pandering at all means that religious people have influence.

 

The point is. . . I am curious as the agenda
Since as a collective Group .. .
You can expect what a what the Teachers Union will ask for
Baptist, Luthern, Muslims, Carpet Layers, Corporations
Because
by and large they have a unifying agenda/ideal

In this case. . . They whole meeting is about
1. God doesn't exist and don't use that in government
and that is about it. . . . maybe religious discrimination [atheist discrimination]


Yea . . Fool . . . someone who evidently does not agree with your point of view. . eh, rhadamanthus . . typical

Rocket River

 

Atheists say in politics will always be small... because atheists will vote for someone of religion but people of religion won't vote for an atheist.

 

The agenda is quite clear and is stated in the article. Here are some issues an atheist group might be interested in:

Official prayer in schools
Teaching of creationism in science class
Gov't money for faith-based charities
"God" on money, in the Pledge

 

Pick up a ****ing book, a newspaper or use your internet if you want to find out their agenda. I can't tell if it's more scary, sad or funny how willfully ignorant you are.