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I'm sorry for not being up to date on the entire internet. ;]

This is most likely going to get the same comments we get about everything similar to that. Someone will suggest burning someone, etc. The word 'idiot' or its synonyms will be used frequently.
So perhaps you should try making a point of real discussion besides just offering some fuel for the fire, and prove me wrong. :]

Hmm.

Well I did find that an Atheist (in Alaska?!) replied in the next editorial column, politely defending their stance. Sadly, I couldn't read the whole thing because it required registration and, well, that's just silly.

I guess if we're going to force a theme or discussion...

ITT: what positive faces have you seen put on atheism that actually made it to the press?

Isn't that the most red-neck attitude ever? -Insert red neck voice- "If you aren't like us in this here God country then get on out"

At the risk of being an idiot, I don't understand the analogy.

"Atheists are the reason crime is rampant."

To be fair, if one completely disregards the Third Reich, the Crusades, the Spanish Inquisition, almost every single war between the beginning of civilization and World War II, Jesus-endorsed slavery, that Amish school shooting, September 11th, and priests bumming altar boys, she'd be right.

Fortunately, the majority of people do NOT want to see atheists out of the country. Fundies are the minority. Also, if the Judicial branch of the government this woman so fervently supports interprets "freedom of religion" to include "having no religion", then that's what the Constitution says.

"Atheists have caused the ruin of this great nation by taking prayer out of our schools and being able to practice what can only be called evil."

I don't know about you guys, but I never had a problem saying "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance. I thought of it a little like if I was going into a Buddhist shrine, then I would still have to be reverent, even if I didn't believe what Buddhists did (and I don't). But saying that lack of prayer is the equivalent of evil is like saying prayer brings puppies and flowers and butterflies into someone's life. I can just picture now people being tortured during the Inquisition as a priest stood over them saying the Lord's prayer.

Also, the notion that atheism's sole purpose is to spread evil practices is ludicrous. I only wish we were that organized...I've never been in too many good clubs (or cabals, for that matter). Part of me just wants to further this woman's delusions by acting how she thinks an atheist should act. Then she'll write more comedy gold like this.

If Jesus' intent was to preach peace, and this woman is how a Christian is supposed to be, then the big guy's probably pulling out his hair up on high right about now.