'Like lesser Americans': Atheists Face Discrimination, Persecution

As an American and a person of a Christian faith, it troubles me deeply that people who call themselves Christians are so willing to judge others,and do it so openly, both within and without the faith community. Our New Testament Scriptures admonish us so clearly to do neither. We are called to reflect as much as humanly possible the heart, mind and example of Christ: to love, forgive, show compassion and charity, and do it with kindness, patience and humily--and leave the judgments to God. May God bless to our better understanding the spiritual presumption that these Christ-like qualities are aspired to and embraced in every aspect of our attempts to breathe life and action into a Christian life, its teachings and faith understandings.

This article offers the perspective of those who do not feel called to any particular religion or spiritual tradition, and are unconvinced of the existence of God: atheists. For decades, there has been an increasing hostility between more conservative Christians and "secular humanists" (atheists, agnostics and, often, more progressive Christians) over social and cultural issues, often referred to as the "Culture Wars." There is nothing Christian about the way it has been carried out. And there is nothing biblical about legislating one groups faith dictates on another; its power and influence reside in the example and apparent rightness reflected in the lives and community of the faithful. If not, then it has no power and influence at all--and shouldn't.

More to the point, being overtly judgmental toward those unconvinced of God's existence is not only acting directly against the teaching of the Christian faith, it is also failing to affirmatively and sympathetically present the faith and those who claim to be changed by it. We are to let our lives and interactions speak for themselves, to act toward others in a way that engenders respect and trust, and an openness to better understanding. But too often the public and political lives of too many Christians have failed completely to present a sympathetic image to people of other faiths or those of no religious belief.  It's not the calling and way of our faith, and it is not the American way, the way of respect, or at the very least, tolerance, for all religious views or for those who embrace none at all.

In addition to the situation in the US, the article covers the topic from an international perspective focusing on areas of particularly strong discrimination, including the Middle-Eastern and Muslim countries. It is worth reading. Just click on the link below.

Link to article:
’Like lesser Americans’: Atheists face discrimination, persecution, report says