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IRRELIGION

Atheists Won Big in Election 2012

They want you to know

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by Mary Noble

Senior Editor t +

Image: AP

Atheists are claiming a "landslide" victory in 2012. However, it seems that only one atheist was actually elected anywhere - Kyrsten Sinema, a nontheist who won by a narrow margin to become a state legislator in Arizona.

Further dimming atheist claims of an election-night sweep, it turns out that Pete Stark, the only godless Congress member, lost his seat in the House.

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Are you happy to see more atheists in government?

345 Comments (view in Forum)

  • alaboy55
    !
    Absolutely I'm glad that there are more atheists...it means that the tide is turning, however slowly, and more people would rather believe in reality than in outlandish fairy tales, people living for 900 years, burning bushes, a resurrection, an arc filled with animals, and and all those other stories that people have taken without question--
  • Sonny
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    I agree with you alaboy. And I would also like to point out that "Todd Akin and Richard Mourdock"...are NOT "godly candidates". They are a couple of 18th century old men, who are using "god & religion" in a effort to promote their own outdated and backward agenda towards women and reproductive rights... That's all they are and nothing more that that!
  • Starsplash
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    @TheLoneRanger And god is the conclusion from a book that was written a long time ago. I guess I need to start writing a book and create a new God.

    HOLY SHIT!!!! I CAN DO THIS TOO!!!!
  • TheLoneRanger
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    @Starsplash - You miss the whole point of the God concept. Since the past, present and future are constantly before God's eyes He has a view of things that are applicable for all time.

    And what of modern day prophets? I'm sure you will dismiss them offhand too because what they have to say today as mouth pieces of the Lord do not fit your life style choices. Too bad they would enlighten you.

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  • Dan_Tien
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    Not necessarily happy that there are more atheists in government, but would rather see more on the National Science Committee. Just don't make the non-existence of God as much of a rallying cry as the existence of God has been for the religious right.
  • Dan_Tien
    !
    "A tyrant must put on the appearance of uncommon devotion to religion. Subjects are less apprehensive of illegal treatment from a ruler whom they consider god-fearing and pious. On the other hand, they do less easily move against him, believing that he has the gods on his side." - Aristotle
  • commonsense51
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    Do you have any clue that our Christian faith is being replaced by something much worse? This nation became great because of our Christian faith. The values put forth from the Bible teach hard work, moral values, responsible living. These values are being replaced by secular humanism where man in all his corruption is now running the show when it comes to our nation's values. Guess what? Man can not make moral laws for other men so what is the result? ANYTHING GOES! We are seeing the degradation of our nation's conscience decade after decade and look at the condition of our people. We have now degraded to the point of electing a complete failure as president with almost 8% unemployment, 16 trillion in debt. Elected by people who the majority pay no taxes and elected by secular Liberals. They vote on the basis of how much the Government will give them.
    The vacuum created when the left "separated" (no where in the constitution) God from our nation will be filled. We are seeing what will fill that void. Self love! No thought of accountability or responsibility because man can not dictate values to other men. I've watched my fears prove out decade after decade. America is going to end up in collapse as a direct result of Liberals and their disdain for God. Oh, many of them will say they are Christians, but the faith they follow comes not from the words of the Bible(unless the verses agree with their point of view) but rather from their own humanist philosophy of how our nation should proceed. America has been a Judeo Christian nation that allows freedom to all to believe anything you want. That does not mean we throw out the values our nation was founded on for the sake of a few Atheists or secular humanists.
  • MRMacrum
    !
    @commonsense51 - "Do you have any clue that our Christian faith is being replaced by something much worse?"

    Yes I do. And that is why I have nothing but contempt now for the religion I used to embrace. Religious extremists within the Christian population have begun to take over the message and insert their brand of black and white Old Testament logic. You want to be respected by the secular world, then kick those clowns out.
  • Dan_Tien
    !
    @commonsense51 Do you not get it? Atheists believe that "man in all his corruption is now running the show" and always has been. Your statements about this nation being formed as a Christian nation totally ignores the truth, as well.
  • jpena16
    !
    @commonsense51 first of all our nation was NEVER a Judeo -Christian nation. Most of the founding fathers were deists, even free masons and freethinkers. Some of those were George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, James Madison, Thomas Paine, Alexander Hamilton, Ethan Allen, Gouverneur Morris, Hugh Williamson and Cornelius Harnett. Even the 1796 Treaty of Tripoly states in no uncertain terms that ," the Government of the United States is not in any sense founded on the Christian religion ". The treaty was written under the Presidency of George Washington and signed under the Presidency of John Adams. You can read about it here. http://freethought.mbdojo.com/foundingfathers... If you are going to talk about secular humanism you should at least know what you are talking about. Here is something to help you out with that. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humanism Obama a complete failure ? First of all the unemployment rate has dropped below 8% already and consumer confidence has gone way up. Huge debt ? The reason we have a huge debt is two fold. Ifrat because a faith based Christian President , George Bush decided to have not one but TWO wars while lowering taxes and maxing out the US credit card. Those that pay little or no taxes are the very poor because they have no money to pay taxes with, hence why they are poor, and the very rich and corporations, why because they have the money to hire lawyers andd accountants and financial planners that either hide money in off shore accounts or find huge loopholes in the tax system. The first Amendment has an EXCLUSIONARY CLAUSE of separation of Church and State. You must live in a different country if you don't believe that or you can't read. Again, America was NEVER founded on Christian princlples.

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  • fact-check
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    @PuroChorizo361: Yeah, like slavery, white male domination of the voting system, genocide of indigenous peoples, and violent oppression of all resistance to federal taxation.
  • TheLoneRanger
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    @DrMoonshine -

    What is the definition of the "Separation of church and state?"

    Where in our Sacred Constitution does it mention, "Separation of church and state?"
  • PuroChorizo361
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    @TheLoneRanger I believe it falls under amendment 1. Not everyone believes in a god. That's their choice. The U.S. Government has to be impartial and fair to "ALL".

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  • S-N-A-F-U
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    Having President Obama in place in the ensuing years was no accident, but not for the reasons that one may think. God has given evil a chance to vindicate itself before the culmination of this "system of things." Obama is the right person at the right time for the perilous times ahead, obviously, decency, honesty and honor being ruled out.

    "For God has put it into their hearts to accomplish his purpose by agreeing to give the beast their power to rule, until God's words are fulfilled." Rev. 17:17 (NIV)

    The Bible describes events and conditions that mark this significant time period. "The sign" is a composite one made up of many evidences; thus its fulfillment requires that all aspects of the sign be clearly in evidence during one generation. The various aspects of the sign are recorded at Mat. chapter 24, 25, Mark 13, and Luke 21; there are further details at 2 Tim 3:1-5, 2 Peter 3:3, 4, and Revelation 6:1-8. By way of illustration, we will consider a few outstanding portions of the sign.

    "Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom" Mat. 24:7

    "There will be food shortages....in one place after another" Mat 24:7

    "There will be great earthquakes" Luke 21:11

    "In one place after another Pestilences" Luke 21:11

    "Increased lawlessness accompanied by a coolling off of love on the part of the greater number" Mat. 24:11,12

    "Men become faint out of fear and expectation of the things coming upon the inhabited earth" Luke 21:25, 26

    'Christ's true followers to be objects of hatred by all nations on account of his name' Mat. 24:9

    'This good news of the kingdom preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness' before the end. Mat 24:14

    Naysayers, will say that we have always had Natural phenomena, that's true -- but in the last 10 years natural disasters have increased exponentially. In the coming months and years it will become more frequent and horrendous -- to the point there will be no doubt in the minds of most that Gods intervention is prophecy being fulfilled as outlined in Revelations, et al....

    http://www.worldwatch.org/node/5825

    http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/...

    'Nuff said....
  • woodtick57
    !
    yeah, sure...

    Like the bible is so good at making those predictions, huh? perhaps it is just another of the known lies in the bible...
  • S-N-A-F-U
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    Of course, the largest group of critics and naysayers of God and his written word, are the most ignorant of both -- C'est la vie.
  • woodtick57
    !
    @S-N-A-F-U Actually, it has been proven time and time again that nonbelievers know far more about religgions than those that profess to be a believing member of that religion.

    You do realize that your cults are against the education of the masses for just that reason, don't you? Look at te very first lesson from your cult in the arden of
    Eden: "Do not seek knowledge. Do just as you are told and all will be perfect."

    It couldn't be more of a cult unless they asked you to give them your money...er...well...
  • Dan_Tien
    !
    Several time periods have been touted as "the end of times" over the centuries. The 13th Century, when the Black Plague killed 1/2 of the known world's population in 2 years and 2/3 over a period of twenty years was one of them, and much more closely resembled Revelations than modern times. Nations have always been at war and famines and epidemics have occurred on a regular basis in human history. Earthquakes and natural disasters are nothing new. Your statement that "in the last 10 years natural disasters have increased exponentially" is just plain false. Look up the term "exponentially" before you use it so freely. While "true Christians" were indeed the objects of hatred and persecution in Rome long ago, they have carried out more than their share of hatred, persecution and murder since those days. What most concerns me about the future is not fulfillment of prophesies by God, but self fulfillment by believers. If mankind destroys itself, I suspect that it will be done in the name of God and prophesy.
  • Penn1699
    !
    I agree. We were talking of this last evening and are preparing for the 5 seige months to come. Coincidence the Myans predict end time 2012? Always thought so, but who knows. Not that I think that it's that time yet. The north and east will rise come through the Euphrates to decimate Isreal first.
    You others laugh, point and make fun. Say I'm a wack job. Be unprepared as most Sandy victims were after ten days lead time. I understand you will say because my party lost. Blah blah blah. Nothing to do with it. It is what it is.
    It's your right to say whatever. My belief has never let me down.

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  • zarina
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    I look at all the sad things people do go so extreme to be reconized denouncing god or using him for a vote.I pray for you all and wish you well like a good christian should.The government wants you were you are so caught up in there web.
  • Russell797
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    @simplytoi Non believers only know what they can know, or think they can know. Faith is not knowledge, it's more like an unsubstantiated opinion.
  • woodtick57
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    @simplytoi If there were even the teensiest shred of evidence that might even suggest there MAY be a divine power, i would look at that evidence objectively.

    i know that things will change, they always do.
  • Russell797
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    @simplytoi No, I do not believe in a divine power in any supernatural sense. I know for a fact that things will change, some of that change is totally out of our hands as the consequence of a thermodynamically driven universe. Some others of that change will be the consequence of human interaction with the environment and the decisions we make at every crossroad in the passage of time. We best make the most informed decisions possible based on science and rational thinking. Then there is this...."Do unto others as you would wish them to do unto you"..

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  • kirbstomp1
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    @woodtick57 - absolutely nothing to do with core values, except the fact they have to be threatened with hell to do right. I just use logic and reason to do right. They wouldn't understand.
  • ZappaCrappa
    !
    You mean values as demonstrated by the mother of ALL christianity, the Catholic Church? Christianity holds no moral trump card by any stretch of the imagination. Just the opposite. The Catholic Church, Westboro Baptist Church, any number of christian sects were bigotry and intolerance is the order of the day, sects that place women in a subservient role, etc., no thanks to those core values. You can have them.

    Always amused when christians somehow equate their silly, sometimes morbid beliefs with morality and values when the evidence is obvious they, for the most part, are just paying lip service and conveniently pick and choose what applies to them and what doesn't.
  • Dan_Tien
    !
    "I have gained this by philosophy: that I do without being commanded what others do only from fear of the law." - Aristotle. You don't need religion to have core values. Religions that do not extend the values of ethics and morality to include people who do not share their stated beliefs about God are part of the problem, not the solution.

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  • mimi57
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    Oh, It just keeps getting better...Atheists , same sex marriage, legalized pot. We are "progressing" for sure! How
    How sad for future generations who have to grow up in a morally bankrupt America, we will face the repercussions of this, and most assuredly our children and grandchildren will. Atheism,a vacuous, soulless,empty
    and totally void of anything hopeful or good, Atheists "win", that's am oxymoron! Truly sad people, with a very
    high suicide rate and an even more depressing existence...
  • WittyUsername
    !
    You are showing your ignorance with this comment.
    Just because your life would be "morally bankrupt, soulless, empty, and totally void of anything hopeful or good," without the idea of god, doesn't mean that applies to anyone else. The fact that your life would be pointless and depressing without your god almost makes me feel sorry for you. The promise of an afterlife is the only reason you have to live, it's the only thing that keeps you going. That's what I think is sad.
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  • Russell797
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    I would like my representatives to base their thinking process on reason and logic. The degree to which they are influenced by the irrationality of theism has an impact on their ability to find rational solutions to the issues of the day in my opinion. Theistic societies are some of the most repressed and uneducated in the world today.
  • MRMacrum
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    I have no problem with people of faith allowing their faith to form their basic path through life. I draw the line however when they want to define my path.
  • Synthesis
    !
    I think a lot of atheists are proponents of gay marriage which is why they like Baldwin. We need to get the anti-science quacks out of the science committee and have some people who actually understand science and would actually do something to help, things like research or NASA. People who don't reject science and look like morons standing on front of a deer head filled room. This committe should find new ways of making our power grid stronger so that it can withstand storms, find more efficient ways of storing energy, ect.
  • stepped_in_it
    !
    I guess, as an atheists also, I need to run to my mail box.....I won something? I love hearing the "morality" comments from Christians! Hey Christians, I don't need the fear of "burning in hell: to be good, do good and help my fellow man/woman! I do it because it's the RIGHT thing to do!
  • TheLoneRanger
    !
    @stepped_in_it -

    There atheists out there who are just as convinced as you are that doing what others would consider "The wrong thing to do" is the right thing to do.

    What you both base your conclusions on are just simply personal opinions.
  • stepped_in_it
    !
    @TheLoneRanger Yep, it is ""the wrong thing to do to help people in need, contribute to charities that feed/cloth/house the need, help a stranger on the side of the road and in general be kind and HUMAN to strangers when you sense they need a kind word or three. I guess that's "the wrong thing to do". BAD me!
  • TheLoneRanger
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    @stepped_in_it -

    Since you want to get in other specifics the atheists and others stole those ideas from the Christians who have been since Adam and Eve. Man did not evolve to those ideas, they were revealed to him from God otherwise what you have just stated is also only opinion even should that opinion have numerous people agree with it.

    Consensus is not a scientific way of determining what is right and good.

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  • commonsense51
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    As the Secular Liberal movement has been showing for the last 50 years, censoring God from our Schools, our Government, our public lands does one thing. It destroys our culture. Every statistic on broken families, divorce, unwed pregnancy, drug use, abuse of alcohol, Government corruption, greed, tax evasion, class warfare, etc. are all worse. Yes we have improved on Bigotry against African Americans but the condition of the Black family is much worse. The Bigotry is still there but it's victim is now any person who dares mention his faith when running for election. The Liberal left will tear you apart(such as Sarah Palin or Rick Santorum) if you mention your beliefs and value system. The America we knew in under attack from the Secular left and this election just showed how far down that slippery slope we have fallen.
  • NormalFlora
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    Yes I am, but I will be happier when the "religion test" is no longer administered to candidates for public office. Really, keep it private and out of the legislature!!!
  • CommonCents
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    They have rights too, just like any other religion, just because they are not Christian doesn't make them a second class citizen, religion is a personal decision and has nothing to do with government, just like the Constitution states.
  • PNWest
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    I don't think that there are really many more atheists than there were before, just that they are more vocal now. The evangelical right is no where near as big as it says it is and people are becoming fed up with their bullying tactics of trying to push their religion into schools and governments. We are beginning to see a backlash against this. I have no problem with seeing the bible thumpers get thumped. Their brand of Christianity is counter to what Jesus preached.
  • alaboy55
    !
    In my experience, religion is not about love--unconditional or otherwise. I got tired of being told how bad a person I was. I finally chose reality over fantasy and my life is much improved. I don't think that I'm too far out in left field when I say bible-thumping christians are terrified of death. Hey, I don't know where I'm going when I die, but I'm no longer afraid of death--religion is all about control of mankind by others--once I realized that, it was easier for me to let religion go and, in the process, release myself from its strangle-hold.
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