The Religious Atheists

Reminds us of Chesterton's observation: If God did not exist, there would be no atheists:

As they watch religion increasingly dominate American political discourse, nonbelievers will gather in San Francisco today for their first "All Atheist Weekend" -- in an effort to put a friendlier face on godlessness.

"We're trying to do what church people call outreach," said Jim Heldberg, a Pacifica software salesman and onetime Methodist who coordinates the group San Francisco Atheists.

"We feel very threatened by what's going on in this country, but we realize that we can't just sit here in a corner by ourselves," Heldberg said. "If we do, the religious right is just going to run us over."

We really like this quote:

"You hear people complain, 'Look what they (religious people) are trying to do now,' " Johnson said. "Well, yeah, sure. They're better funded. Better organized. That's why atheists get pushed around. I say if you don't like it, get involved and do something about it."

Atheists get pushed around? For the past forty years, they and their allies have had incredible success squelching any reference to God or religion from the public sphere, and now they're getting pushed around? Why? Because the Senate might bust a filibuster? A few faith-based groups receive federal funding? This smacks of the bully crying to the principal after a couple of the weak kids gang up and retaliate.

Link to article. Thanks Holy Weblog for the lead.