Admitting openly that you are an atheist in either the public or private sphere of one's life is a dangerous proposition in most places, and socially damaging in all. As constitutional scholar Marci A. Hamilton recently observed at a debate on religion hosted by the Federalist Society:
"...the very last permissible group to discriminate against in the United States, of course, is the atheist. They are single most hated minority group at this point, but they are still part of the culture..." (quote begins @ 38:04)
That's an understatement as any atheist worth her salt will tell you. Most atheists I know do not broadcast this fact about their life, while the overwhelming majority of her fellow citizens wear their religion on their sleaves.
Enter the latest atheist/godless/anti-christian attacks by Senator Elizabeth Dole. More on the flip...
Senator Dole's attack parades out the unholy trinity if the atheist agenda is pursued:
- Removing "under God" from the Pledge of Allegiance;
- Removing "In God We Trust" off the American currency;
- Invalidating "In God We Trust" as the national motto.
In a country where those who describe themselves as atheists amounts to 1.6% of the population, it is crystal clear none of these things will ever happen.
While I applaud Kay Hagan for filing a defamation lawsuit against Senator Elizabeth Dole, her response failed to address the disgusting pressupposition behind Senator Dole's attack - that those who do not believe in God are immoral people and do not deserve to be citizens. Thank God Thomas Jefferson and the Founders saw things differently.