Atheisim in America

HERE is an interesting article on being an Atheist in America and the hardships non believers face every day. I read it and I read the comments. It hit me hard because of what I'm going through now. This sentence.."To dismiss this as no big deal would be to underestimate the role of churches in small-town America."..struck a real chord.

The small town where I live is in the bible belt. If you don't believe, they certainly won't lynch you. They aren't that uncivilized, but, you will suffer. I'm not going to mention all the nasty things the people of certain churches have done to me here, it doesn't matter. But, now, I have a child involved. I have a DHS department that is Christian and I am not. It's that simple. They know they can't take my grandchild out of my home based on my non religious beliefs, that wouldn't be lawful. But, I find it highly insulting to my intelligence and the constitution of the United States that god is brought up at every social services meeting. In fact, right on the front door of our Human Services office it clearly says, 'Christian Counseling Service.'

During the meetings, which are state worker meetings, I get to hear how the child's mother has joined a church. And the encouragement that comes from state workers about how positive that is. I sit there silently thinking about how bad people hide behind religion. I get asked if Lissa has any church activities at my house and I look them in the eye and say, no. Then I have to listen to social workers talk about how they teach Sunday school and how good that is for kids.

They know they can't bring up my beliefs, it's unlawful. But, they know how to sneak in theirs and expect that the whole table agrees with them. They are the one's who put the children back in an unsafe home and yes, I do believe it was religion related. And it didn't work. Jesus couldn't make the mother stop using meth and neglecting her children. Four times. Not to mention the previous DHS charges of neglect and abuse that occurred on her watch before the current mess even started. And I can't help but wonder, what will a judge say? Who's home will he think is better? An Atheist who walks a Pagan path and keeps the child safe, fed, clean, loved and happy and has complied with the state in every way? Or a mother who's had at least 5 strikes and keeps screwing up, but, goes to church now and talks a good game about her Jesus?

It's a small town. You think in this day and age people can't discriminate based on religion, but, I know better. I live it. This is the shit that makes non christians crazy. You can not tell someone what to believe, but, you can ruin their life because they don't think like you do. And they call it being a good christian. I call it control and brainwashing. It's evil and vile. It's easy to preach about rights when you aren't fighting for yours. When you aren't fighting a town full of these jesus freaks who have power. Power is a dangerous thing in the wrong hands, and so is religion.

And, no, spell check, I will not capitalize the words christian or god. They deserves no caps.