Responses to Our Critics

WAY before i was athiest i hated america. why?....because,the government ITS ALL CHRISTIAN. no pagan. no budda. no athiest. no other religions. thats why. the goverment needs to have all different religions in them so they can understand other religions of america.
Your ignorance of America, our elected representatives and basic grammar and spelling astound us. Americans of many different faiths -- even atheists -- have and will continue to be elected to office in the United States. The only assertion you make that is even remotely true is that YOU, an ATHEIST, HATE AMERICA. Thank you for proving our point about how ignorant, America-hating extremists now populate the atheist movement.

Do you have any idea what you do to people that listen to you? They come to me, and I DEMOLISH them in a debate, because they are stupid, since you feed them b******t information. They look at me, and they look stupid, because they had no idea they've been LIED to by groups like YOURS. So when it comes time for TEST TIME, they fail horribly. I guess I should thank you for making people like me look better in that regard, if I can thank you at all.
We take it you are a teacher of religion, social studies or philosophy, and not a very tolerant or competent one at that. If you went into teaching in order to feel superior to your students, you need medical help. If you deliberately fail students because they believe in God then you should be fired.

A world without religion would be MUCH, much more peaceful and loving, let me tell you.
So America, where a vast majority of citizens believe in God, must be an awful violent and hate-filled place. Well then, you are in luck. In this place called Communist China they are attempting to build a utopian society to you liking. There, religion is illegal, you won't have to be bothered by the offensive site of a church steeple, and if some unenlightened soul dares to "disturb the peace" by praying, the very efficient Chinese police will gladly drag him off to prison, or, better yet, simply put a bullet through his head. To move to this wonderful, peaceful and loving atheist society, please feel free to visit this website.

"'Imagine No Martin Luther King, Jr.?'"
Eh, he was negative towards atheists anyhow. F**k him.
How free-thinking of you. So segregated schools and lynchings are fine by you. But the courageous black minister who preached nonviolence in order to secure the blessings of liberty for all Americans, well, he was evil because he believed in God Almighty. Seeing news footage of an African American church being burned to the ground must warm your heart.

Mother Theresa was a horrible person that thrived in watching people suffer.
She felt it made her "closer to god". She rarely actually helped the people. It was really lame, and she was a disgrace.

We really don't understand why the militant atheist movement hates Mother Theresa so much. Is it because she dedicated her life to the poor and built her Missionaries of Charity into an internationally renowned organization that is improving the lives of countless souls of varying faiths? Is it because she personally ministered to and cared for people suffering and dying from hideous diseases like leprosy and AIDS? We shudder to think about how horrible life would be if you had your way and there were no Mother Theresa's out there providing hope and solace to those who are suffering.

I'm sure the Columbus Day issue is a sensitive one with Mr. Barker, since he is largely Native American and Columbus was clearly a horrendously unethical, avaricious, genocidal, evil creep- despite his ambitious accomplishments. As for his mocking those with "proud to be American" buttons, I would guess that you would choose to ignore this simple fact (that millions of people acknowledge) that people often appropriate nationalistic slogans to further their personal agendas.

According to you, and apparently the nation's largest atheist group, America was discovered by a genocidal maniac while a guy who wears a "Proud to Be American" pin on Veterans Day is appropriating a "nationalistic slogan" to further some nefarious political agenda. Is there any patriotic American tradition that you folks don't despise?

I do agree with one thing on your site. We need to stop the hate. Hate will eat you up from the inside and destroy your very being. Both sides should stop it while we still can. We are all human. We are all in this together. Let us all learn to get along.

We couldn't agree more. America is the greatest nation on earth because its citizens are free to believe what they want. Unfortunately, as the comments on this page demonstrate, the modern day atheist movement has been hijacked by radicals who hate this country and who do despise people of faith.

Dear In God We Trust USA .Org
Thank you for your list of quotes by the Freedom From Religion Foundation. I agree with every one of them. I love America, and I'm proud to be atheist and a member of the Freedom From Religion Foundation.
We have to at least give you credit for being brave enough to defend the crazed positions of the Freedom from Religion Foundation. We're not sure how you can agree with the FFrF leadership's statements on patriotism, so-called American colonialism and the like and still say you love this country. However we're sure you'll find a way to "rationalize" it.

You people need to study history and the constitution and then come to the realization that there is to be NO state religion. What all you wacko right wing religionists are going to do is turn everyone OFF. Your (sic) losing your power. No more BUSH!!!!! A democrat will win in in '09. Your faith based govt. is OVER..
We have never and will never advocate the establishment of a state religion. The founders of this nation specifically wanted America to be free of the problems of state religions and the ludicrous notion of the "divine right of kings." Instead they desired to establish a nation "under God" in which the rights of man were understood to come from divine inspiration instead of an all powerful and intrusive government that could revoke those rights at any time it wished.

We now know that Mother Theresa didn't believe (that would make her an atheist), so I don't know exactly what you're trying to prove with that statement, and the FFRF has never said that religious people can't do good anyway.
Mother Theresa was an atheist? So much for rational thought, logic or even reality. And the nation's largest atheist organization has derided the benefits of faith or the contributions of religious people. Perhaps you should read some of the FfRF leaders comments about belief in God being a mental disease or how they believe faith has caused all the evil in the world.

"Lord Jesus, please kill everybody at InGodWeTrustUSA.org. Amen."
And some people still claim that all atheists are friendly, respectful, open minded and non-violent.

Maybe you should realize that most of today's major troubles centre around religion, 9/11 was certainly caused by religion and of course the ongoing problems in the middle east.
The murder of 3,000 innocent people was perpetuated by a barbarous band of terrorists bent on destroying our nation and way of life. And to say poverty in Africa, the enslavement of a billion people by the atheist government in China and every other problem humanity has ever encountered is the result of religion is just plain ignorant.

There is no god.
Aren't you too old to have imaginary friends?
You idiots
And another sensitive, tolerant and rational atheist is heard from.

We atheists and you Christians, and all religious people have something very important in common that we could find a common cause for. We both benefit from the separation of Church and State because it gives you the freedom to believe and practice your religion, and us the freedom not to. There are intolerant hateful atheists out there, just as there are intolerant hateful Christians...
We agree, although our understanding of the Establishment Clause probably differs somewhat from yours. The U.S. Government must never be allowed to establish a state religion. However, we see no establishment of religion in allowing a public official to pray before a meeting. Additionally, In God We Trust is not a Christian organization. Our supporters represent many different beliefs, be they spiritual or not. Our mission is simply to preserve our nation's religious heritage and it is not to impose any one religion on any one else.

It is a clear violation of Constitutional Law for this Government to acknowledge ANY religion. This country, no matter how you spin it, was NOT and is NOT a Christian nation, this is not Saudi Arabia or Iran. If you can find 'god' mentioned anywhere in the Constitution, the LAW of the land, I will concede to you. The Constitution is a SECULAR document and not a christian or religious one. America does not run on biblical law and was not formed from any bible. You pathetic group of third rate Episcopalians should get a job and be taxed. What we need in this country is the cross shoved up George Bush's a******.
Exactly which part of the Constitution of the United States prohibits the acknowledgement of religion? The government acknowledges the existence of various religions everyday. You may not like it, but it is perfectly legal to accept that Catholics, Buddhists and Jews exist. And although the word "God" is not used in the Constitution, our Creator certainly is prominent in the Declaration of Independence which formally established our great nation. Additionally, where do those "blessings" of liberty come from that are so poignantly referred to in the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution?

I would just like to register my sadness and dismay at your decision to post a billboard with the words "Why do Atheist's Hate America" in public view. Some Atheists probably do hate America, I'm sure some Christians do too. I certainly know a lot of Muslims do. It is not something that needs to be glorified. Your response to the FFRF's billboard is childish, un-Christian, and meets the definition of hate-speech in my opinion. It makes you no better than the FFRA, who's billboard I opposed as well.
We obviously disagree with your moral equivalency argument. However, we do appreciate you acknowledging our point about atheists hating America. Not every single atheist hates this country, but the organization that claims to represent them sure does.

Religion whatever kind has caused has cause death and war throughout the world. Imagine no religion to help fuel the fame (sic) of hatred.
Imagine no religion to help fuel to flame of hatred? Thank you for confirming our worst fears about this hideous slogan.

If you still trust in a mythical Christian god you can't be very smart and must not be living in the modern world!
This seems to be a common belief for the more radical atheists out there. People of faith are stupid and the world would be better off if it was ruled by the enlightened and eminently brilliant atheists.

"Imagine No Religion" simply invites you to imagine something. Nobody is forcing anyone. Nobody's freedom is threatened. On the other hand, "Imagine No Christians/Jews" does threaten someones (sic) freedom if not their very existence. See the difference?
No, we do not see the difference. And based on the response to our efforts, very few people out there do. After all, it was the largest atheist organization in the country that proclaimed that a "paradise" awaits America if atheists could just figure out how to rid our nation of faith.

By the way, see if you can find out how much money Mother Theresa was sent and where it went. Can you find hospitals? Clinics? Can you find Mother Theresa's legacy? Look for yourself.
So now Mother Theresa was an embezzler? Obviously you despise the fact that people of faith have throughout history sacrificed themselves for the betterment of society and for the welfare of their fellow citizens so much so that you concocted a bizarre story about a humble nun who dedicated her life to the poor.

Sir, if you'd take a moment to actually read the FFRF website, you'd see the obvious inaccuracy of your statement. FFRF's purposes, which, as stated in its bylaws, are to promote the constitutional principle of separation of state and church, and to educate the public on matters relating to nontheism.
We have read the FFrF website and were sickened by the views of its leadership. We don't claim to be experts on the bylaws of that organization but if attacking Columbus Day and people who wear "Proud to Be American" buttons is not part of the FfRF's mission, we would respectfully suggest that the members of that group seek out new leadership that will uphold the purpose of that organization.

I am an atheist and I am as moral as you are. Probably more so!
If you believe all "morals" are relative, how exactly can one person be more moral than another?

I have very few words to express how downright saddening and frustrating it is that your billboard asking "Why do atheists Hate America?" exists. Your organization seems to be incredibly offended by the leadership of the Freedom from Religion Foundation. And yet your billboard isn't content to attack them, or the ~12,000 members of FFRF, but instead all atheists.
No, we have made ourselves very clear that are our advertising campaign is directed at the organization that claims to represent atheists in America. We don't believe that the FfRF and its leaders' extremist rhetoric is endorsed by every single atheist in America. However, it is incumbent upon people, be they people of faith or atheists, who don't support these radical and their hate-filled views to take a proud and determined stand against them.

Hi there!
How are you fine folks today? I was reading some of my favorite atheist blog sites tonight and I came across an article on your "Dueling Billboards" in Pennsylvania. I think you missed the point of the FFRF's ad. The ad did not read "Imagine No Religious People," it read "Imagine No Religion." We, as atheists, can respect the humanity of people of faith without necessarily LIKING their beliefs. There is nobody, I assure you, in the atheist community arguing for the outlawing of religion, the extermination of believers, or anything like that.
We are doing well, thank you for asking. Unfortunately your belief that all atheists "respect humanity and people of faith" is not supported by the facts. As you can see from some of the comments on this page and the comments from the leadership of the Freedom from Religion Foundation, there are non-believers who do wish us ill. Their signs urging Americans to imagine a world without Catholics, Jews, Protestants and every other person who believes in God are scary.

Atheists have something in common, which distinguishes them from religious people. They actually think.
If a vast majority of Americans believe in God, then according to your logic a majority of your fellow countrymen are ignoramuses. What a terrible, dangerous and evil place you must think America is!

So how does your sign differ from "Why do Jews Hate America?"
First, the sign to which you are referring was developed with the help of one of our board members who is Jewish. Second, we are not aware of any Jewish organization that claims to represent a majority of Jewish people and that has attacked America as viciously as the leaders of the Freedom from Religion Foundation have.

I'm an atheist. I'm also a retired United States Marine. What makes you think that I hate America?
Our criticism is directed at the leadership of the Freedom from Religion Foundation which claims to be the largest atheist organization in America and claims to represent you. If their hate-filled statements about patriotism, your fellow countrymen and your national heritage are not representative of your beliefs, them please stand up and be counted. And just to be clear, people who don't believe in God can and have exhibited great bravery and sacrificed for our freedom and we salute them.

The message on the billboard is accusing a group of people of hateing (sic) America-a nation that was founded on freedom of religion, and that also means a person's right to not practice religion. I don't have a problem with religious billboards that are non accusatory (sic), nor do I want the word God removed from America, nor do I want to infringe on your beliefs, nor do I have a problem with prayer in school. I practice tolerance for all people and I would expect the same courtesy from others.
We appreciate your sentiments. However, our advertising campaign is aimed a publicizing the radical anti-American views of the leaders of the nation's largest atheist organization. We agree that everyone in our nation is free to practice or not practice religion as they so choose. We would also like to know why the Freedom from Religion Foundation's leadership dislikes our country so much.

Why don't you have public comments on your website? Many atheist sites allow and encourage public comment, and it would benefit the cause if you showed some courage and allowed many voices to be heard (read) on your site.
We would like to be able to allow comments on our website. However, based on the fact that many of the responses from our critics contain threats, scatological comments, racial epithets and curses, we felt that such a forum would not advance anyone's interests and would violate community standards.