On July 29, 2014, American Atheists, “a non-profit activist organization in the United States dedicated to defending the civil liberties of atheists and advocating for the complete separation of church and state (Source: Wikipedia),” launched AtheistTV.

I went to the AtheistTV site and listened to the introduction by Dave Silverman, President of American Atheists.  His opening statement included the following:

AtheistTV is finally a place we can call our own where we can speak the truth as frankly as we want. If you want religious programming, there are hundreds of programs from which to choose. But if you’re looking for something new, something different, something…well…real, you’re in the right place. If we want to talk about the fact that religion harms people, we can.  And we will. If we want to show Mohammed on the screen, we can. And we will.  Being atheist means being liberated from the artificial rules religion pushes on everyone else.

Although I am an agnostic who likes to think of myself as an “orthodox Jedi,” I get nervous when anyone claims to know the TRUTH and what is REAL when it comes to spiritual matters.  I have no doubt the leadership of American Atheists is outraged any time representatives of the religious right, who defend a bakery for refusing to cater a gay wedding, claims a violation of their religious freedom. Or when the religious right accuses “godless Americans” of pushing THEIR artificial rules on the rest of us.

American Atheists claims it is an outgrowth of the law suit filed by Madelyn Murray O’Hair who challenged forced prayer in public schools (Murray v. Curtlett, 1959).  Although, O’Hair was an atheist, the organization she founded was called the Society of Separationists.  It’s primary purpose was to ensure public institutions operated in accordance with the Establishment Clause in the First Amendment to the Constitution.  While she defended atheists as moral and compassionate people in her opening statement before the Supreme Court, she did not vilify others’ beliefs.

I often wonder how different the discussion would have been if a devout Christian had filed suit against a school system which mandated public prayer. How refreshing it would have been to hear an opening statement before the Court which included the following.

This case is about prayer in our schools.  As a Christian, I believe Jesus Christ is my savior.  I try to follow his teachings.  I and my family attend church regularly where we are reminded Christ preached of our responsibility toward our fellow man.  That is why I am here today, as both a Christian and an American who believes in the Constitution and especially the First Amendment.  Today, many of my fellow Christians support reciting the Lord’s Prayer in schools.  But would they be equally supportive if their children were required to recite the Koran or Satanic verses.  The founding fathers did not want to take that chance.  We should honor their wisdom and vision of a nation where government and religion each have their own time and place.

By claiming the superiority of their own religious preference as the justification for enforcing the Constitution, American Atheists do exactly what they claim to abhor.  They have perverted the mission of their “prophet” Madelyn just as some members of all of the major religions have perverted the teachings of their prophets and teachers to justify political preferences.

For what it’s worth.
Dr. ESP