Atheists don't believe in the existence of any gods, that much is obvious. Some atheists deny that some or all gods exist, which is also obvious. Or at least, it should be obvious. I find myself wondering if it's all a big secret to religious theists in America because according to Regina Brett, it's "mean" for atheists to actually say "there is no god." Mean?
Yes, the atheists are recruiting. ...
I checked out the ads that the Freedom from Religion Foundation posted on its website. One billboard shows a woman saying, "Keep your theology off my biology." One featuring comedian Julia Sweeney says, "OMG, there is no god!" Cartoonist and ex-Mormon Steve Benson says on his, "I freed my mind when I left God behind." ...One billboard shows Santa saying, "Yes Virginia ... there is no God."
That's just mean.
The origin of this article is the presence of atheist billboards -- and they didn't just start appearing at the end of the year, but it seems like Regina Brett only just noticed them. I'm not sure what she was thinking when she noticed, however, because I haven't seen any billboards that qualify as "recruiting" atheists.
They are, instead, an attempt to get people who are atheists to come out of the closet and meet other atheists. There are already millions of atheists out there, but many of them feel incredibly isolated and alone. Sometimes Christians do things that can only be interpreted as an attempt to keep atheists isolated and alone -- like for example demanding that atheists be quiet instead of speaking out.
It's the latter passage that is most bizarre, though. How is it "mean" to say "there is no God"? It seems to me that Regina Brett is trying to draw out the analogy to telling children that there is no Santa Claus, but if she rally wants to go there then she would be saying that religious theists like herself are little more than children. She would be saying that religious theists need their comforting fantasies to be protected and it's mean for atheists to force theists to confront reality.
Does she really, really want to make that argument?
Maybe the ads are meant to mock Christians. If so, that's unfortunate. It reinforces the stereotype that atheists are arrogant, smug people who think they are smarter than religious folks.
Some atheists are harsh in their portrayal of believers, calling God an imaginary friend. They call religion a virus, a hoax that brainwashes people. Well, the truth is, some brains need a good washing.
So, in addition to being "mean" to say that atheists exist, that atheists can be good people, and that there is no God, it also "mocks Christians" to say such things. Do Christians really feel "mocked" to learn that atheists exist and don't agree with Christian theology? What?
If anyone's brain needs to be washed, it's those who actually have such thoughts as these and imagine that they are thinking reasonable, appropriate things. There's nothing arrogant to smug about announcing that atheists exist or that no gods exist; there is, however, something very arrogant and smug about presuming to lecture to atheists about appropriate behavior while far worse behavior from theists is allowed to pass without remark.
Actually, I could care less what people believe. It’s what they DO with it that matters.
THAT is what gets my ire up. Why should a non-christian be forced to adhere to christian rules? (And I am speaking on levels of human rights, women’s rights, adherence to the reality of evolution and science.) When the christian majority tramples on people, they open themselves up to have their beliefs challenged. As of late, it seems that many theists are becoming rather uncomfortable about these challenges. Not to sound like an 8 year old, but theists started it. 
Saying there is no god is “mean”. Telling people they’ll burn in hell for eternity if they don’t believe isn’t “mean”? Who, exactly is the mean one here? Who is threatening whom?
Murdering a doctor who performs legal services for women isn’t mean? Flying jets into skyscrapers and killing thousands isn’t mean? Killing gays because they’re gay isn’t mean? Stoning someone as a procedure of execution isn’t mean? Misogyny isn’t mean?
What else then, do theists consider is mean?
You know what’s mean? A god who allows innocent and/or good people, many of them children, to suffer in lives consumed by war, disease, abuse, oppression, and other horrors, often at the hands of believers, and then punishes most after death for not believing the right religion. That isn’t just plain mean, it’s the most evil practice that I can imagine. So worshiping this deity is “good”? And criticizing others’ belief in such a character is “wrong”? It’s almost enough to make me say that Christians deserve every nasty word directed at them and their faith, especially if that helps them break of free of their delusion.
I am a polytheistic Pagan and have no problem with atheists. They tend to be respectful moral and moral people. I do, however, have a problem with evangelicals who think it’s their job to convert the masses through their proclamations of post-mortem doom, and tell me I am a Satan worshiper. It’s pretty sad that I prefer the company of atheists to fundamental Christian believers.
Morgana – how is it “pretty sad” that you prefer the company of atheists to that of fundamental Christians? Oh, I see. It’s pretty sad that you find fundamental Christians such poor company.