- Nov 11, 2008
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Atheists Reach Out -- Just Don't Call It Proselytizing - WSJ.com
Atheists Reach Out -- Just Don't Call It Proselytizing
Nonbelievers Think the Time Is Right to Better Organize Their Nonreligion and Swell the Membership; 'Reason's Greetings'
By STEPHANIE SIMON
Late next month, atheists, humanists, freethinkers, secularists -- in short, nonbelievers of every description -- will gather in dozens of cities to mark the holiday they call HumanLight.
Whether by singing from a Humanist Hymnal, decorating a winter wreath or lighting candles dedicated to personal heroes, they'll celebrate what has been an exhilarating ride for the faithless -- a surge in recognition that has many convinced they're on the brink of making a mark on mainstream America.
During the past three years, membership has grown in local and national associations of nonbelievers. Books attacking faith as a delusion shot up best-seller lists. For the first time, the faithless even raised enough funds to hire a congressional lobbyist.
Building on that momentum, nonbelievers have begun a very public campaign to win broad acceptance. On billboards and bus ads, radio commercials and the Internet, atheists are coming forward to declare, quite simply: We're here. And we're just like you.
Follow the link for the entire article
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Of course the billboards have been met with the expected ignorant bigots:
Taking God Out of Christmas? - NBC Action News KSHB-TV 41
The writer of this article took the opportunity to label atheists expressing their non-belief as another attack on Christmas. Good grief @@
Atheists Reach Out -- Just Don't Call It Proselytizing
Nonbelievers Think the Time Is Right to Better Organize Their Nonreligion and Swell the Membership; 'Reason's Greetings'
By STEPHANIE SIMON
Late next month, atheists, humanists, freethinkers, secularists -- in short, nonbelievers of every description -- will gather in dozens of cities to mark the holiday they call HumanLight.
Whether by singing from a Humanist Hymnal, decorating a winter wreath or lighting candles dedicated to personal heroes, they'll celebrate what has been an exhilarating ride for the faithless -- a surge in recognition that has many convinced they're on the brink of making a mark on mainstream America.
During the past three years, membership has grown in local and national associations of nonbelievers. Books attacking faith as a delusion shot up best-seller lists. For the first time, the faithless even raised enough funds to hire a congressional lobbyist.
Building on that momentum, nonbelievers have begun a very public campaign to win broad acceptance. On billboards and bus ads, radio commercials and the Internet, atheists are coming forward to declare, quite simply: We're here. And we're just like you.
Follow the link for the entire article
======================
Of course the billboards have been met with the expected ignorant bigots:
Taking God Out of Christmas? - NBC Action News KSHB-TV 41
The writer of this article took the opportunity to label atheists expressing their non-belief as another attack on Christmas. Good grief @@
