Does anybody religious out there really feel like Atheism is “shoved down their throats”? Serious inquiry. There are only 3 Atheists in the US senate. Barely any in popular culture. How can religious folks in this country possibly feel like Atheism is being shoved down their throats by anybody but…
“In God We Trust”.
Think about the fact that outside of “socialist”, one of the most cringe-worthy “insults” hurled at our president is “Muslim”. It’s intended to, and does, cause people to find him detestable. “Godless” is another description used by the fear mongers.
So, yes, among many who believe that a god oversees their lives, atheism is a threat. There are those who truly believe that simply praying will produce whatever result they selfishly want for themselves, like god’s a genie in a bottle. The people who justify the suffering of an infant, who dies at age 4 after numerous surgeries, as a way for god to show the parents how many people love them. People who still insist that HIV/AIDS is a punishment for America by god over tolerance of sexual diversity, despite the fastest-growing american-infected population to be hetero women, and vast populations of devout Christians in various African countries. Those people believe that god would forsake the entire nation of people, because it allowed any to be atheist. You know, because Jesus loves them so.
Remember: We’re a country who freed slaves, had a brief period where african americans enjoyed most freedoms in most of the country, then took away rights with wide-spread, presidentially-supported segregation. But hey, at least Mississippi FINALLY ratified the 13th amendment THIS FUCKING MONTH.
So, merely thinking about atheism seems to be having it shoved down some’s throats. We’re screwed, my friend.