Nonbelievers Stage Rally In Washington

Interesting article below about a Washington rally staged by atheists and secularists. As a former atheist; I never had problems with people holding religious views. Such views were only societal belief systems in my thinking--and yes, I considered myself a rationalist at the time. But belief systems need not surround religious or superstitious ideologies at all. Even hate groups hold specific beliefs which lack "empirical validity" . Belief systems also include secular and atheistic lines of thought as well. Belief systems are components of all societies.

I never felt nonbelievers necessarily lack morals more so than Christians. If I was begging for a dime, I would rather a willing atheist give it to me than a judgmental Christian stereotyping the daylights out of me for being poor--not even knowing my name, my history, or my dreams.

What nonbelievers do not have is the regenerative spirit of Christ residing in them. And no, God will not likely "show up" to prove Himself to an atheist (but He could), because He has already done so. Look at the celestial and earthly order around you -- chaos and a spontaneous explosion from nonexistence could not produce all you see. Science ever remains speculative while ever adjusting theories towards many unanswered questions.

But back to my point. I never felt I had to rally for my atheist belief system because other people believed in a "higher power". There will always be conflicts, disagreements, political turmoil, impoverished people, and wars as long as there are governments and more importantly, as long there are people on this planet. There will always be political motivations held by various groups sharing a common political philosophy. Atheists or not. Religious or not. But because someone subscribes to a particular religious ideology, does not mean they share a common political ideology. This will always be so until Christ returns.

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The Reason Rally: A Woodstock for nonbelievers
by Patrick Gavin/Politico

Washingtonians know all too well about rallies on the National Mall. On a regular basis, thousands of citizens converge near the Capitol to speak out about the issues they passionately believe in.
So what would happen if the march was about passionately not believing in something?
On March 24, the Mall will be occupied by the Reason Rally, an event that pulls together those seculars who don’t accept that there’s a higher power. It’s being billed as a “Woodstock for nonbelievers.”

Paul Fidalgo, communications director at the Center for Inquiry, said that, despite appearances, this isn’t a rally about believing in nothing. There’s actually an agenda involved — and that includes current politics, the 2012 race and President Barack Obama.

“There isn’t one specific issue we’re going out there to rally on behalf of. But that’s not to say that there aren’t shared values and a shared agenda amongst the various groups,” he said.

Among the issues: international anti-blasphemy laws, the recent clash over contraception and the Republican presidential race.

“The right has so commingled themselves with religion,” Fidalgo said. “I will say that I do find it interesting that in an election season in which the main issue is ostensibly about the economy, that in recent weeks it’s been issues surrounding religion that have become so central.”

Fidalgo said the majority of atheists are “center left” (with a sprinkling of libertarians), but makes it clear that this is not an event supporting one party or the other.

“We do not endorse candidates,” said Fidalgo, adding, in a lighthearted moment, “we will not be rallying for” Rick Santorum, whose faith represents a big part of his public life.

Jesse Galef of the Secular Student Alliance calls the March 24 event a “political statement.”

“This is a demographic that Washington, D.C., will have to pay attention to,” Galef said. “With 2012 being an election season, it seemed like the perfect time to do it.” Galef said atheists are the only demographic that is growing in all 50 states.

Although much of the concern by Galef and Fidalgo regards what they see as threats to the separation of church and state as most recently heard in comments made by Santorum and Newt Gingrich, they’re not letting Democrats off the hook either, including the president.

Fidalgo said it was “a big deal to us” that Obama included a mention of “nonbelievers” in his inaugural address but expressed concern that “he attends the National Prayer Breakfast and uses religious language in his rhetoric.”

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