According to a recent study, atheists are considered the lowest form of life in our so-called democratic country. We are less trusted than terrorists, used-car salesmen and convicts; the single thing that is guaranteed to keep any politician out of office . . .

According to a recent study, atheists are considered the lowest form of life in our so-called democratic country. We are less trusted than terrorists, used-car salesmen and convicts; the single thing that is guaranteed to keep any politician out of office is to declare himself a non-believer. In a country based on freedom of religion, apparently those of us who are free from religion are evil beyond all reason and deserve to be denigrated, taunted and disrespected.

Personally, having lived most of a century and having given the matters of life and death a great deal of thought, I understand the nature of Nature and know that all deities are the creation of man, not the reverse. I understand that all life forms are made of matter and energy which has always existed and will always exist in one form or another and that the only thing we lose when we die is our sense of self. Our matter and energy is simply recycled, but this concept seems too difficult for the religiously-inclined to grasp. Somehow, the human animal needs an outside force, some Big Daddy in the Sky to both worshiip and blame for his existence.

This need has evolved into thousands of religions, all of which are inherently flawed, as they divide humans into mutual hate-groups, causing a million percent more death and destruction than any other manmade or naturally occuring disaster ever could.

These days, in this country, the phrase "I am a Christian" is tantamount to declaring oneself a saintly patriot who is unassailably right. Simply questioning a Christian's belief has become an act of treason. In this climate of self-congratulatory intolerance, any inhumane or insane action becomes allowable, as long as it hides under the flag of Christianity. Can you say Abu Ghraib?

So I want to fight back. I want to let people know that atheists are intelligent, thinking, compassionate people who choose not to be sucked under the Christian (or any other religious group's) propaganda juggernaut. That because we don't happen to believe the supernatural mythology they call The Truth, does not make us immoral, untrustworthy, evil or otherwise undesirable, and that we have as much right not to believe as the pious and self-righteous have to waste their money and energy on churches and the other accoutrements of organized religions.

If you believe in your right not to believe, join us. Pray for atheism!