Since the beginning of religion, those who oppose it have had to tolerate its reign for their own safety. Many Theocracies, which are countries have laws that allow for the punishment of non-believers and various other forms of 'false worship' “Pakistan's blasphemy laws which, among other things, prescribe the death penalty for insulting Islam” (The Deep Struggle for Pakistan, 2010). In modern day America, many Americans are not comfortable in the idea of someone being atheists, just look at our elected officials; so far, there has only been one only atheist’s congressman ever elected, Pete Stark. Although a recent study has shown an increase from one to 5% (1-5% increase) increase in Americans who identify themselves as Atheist, they are not being represented in government due to the fear instilled within those who are religious. This fear also causes many individuals to maintain silent with their questions of religion by fear of being ostracized by their loved ones.
Intolerance
many ideologies preach the idea of love and compassion; however, those who identify themselves as religious so seldom practice it.
"I have been asked on hundreds of times in my life why God allows tragedy and suffering. I have to confess that I really do not know the answer totally, even to my own satisfaction. I have to accept, by faith, that God is sovereign, and He is a God of love and mercy and compassion in the midst of suffering." - Billy graham
under religious leaders America has legislated and practiced various things that are contradictory to their doctrine, such as the death penalty. Accordingly, many Christians use sentiment about ‘an eye for an eye’ to justify their belief upon the ultimate punishment being the death penalty, however ironically such a statement is cited within the Old Testament.
"Eye for eye, tooth for tooth" - Leviticus 24:20
"Whoever takes the life of any human being shall be put to death" - Leviticus 24:17
Christian doctrine is based within the new testament, this is predominantly because the old testament is full of Abrahamic laws and injustices which any sensical human being in modern day society would blow off as crazy desert story tales.
Morality
Atheists live their lives with logic and reasoning through every aspect of their life because that is what makes them atheists, logic and reasoning. Their morality is obtained through their logic and reasoning as well. This morality can be brought into correlation with The Golden Rule which has been a philosophical approach held by many religions including Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism and Judaism. The rule states simply ‘do unto others as you yourself would like others to do unto you’. The approach is something, which existed before these religions provoking the idea that morality is not founded within religion, it precedes it.
‘’human decency is not derived from religion, it precedes it.’’ - christopher Hitchens
immorality
Those who identify themselves as religious live their lives by a set doctrine set out by their holy book. For example, The Bible and Christians live their life following The Ten Commandments.
1. Do not worship other gods
2. Do not make idols
3. Do not use the lord’s name in vain
4. Keep the Sabbath holy
5. Honour your father and mother
6. Do not commit murder
7. Do not commit adultery
8. Thou shalt not steal
9. Thou shalt not lie
10. Thou shalt not covet
These 10 rules are to be followed by followers of Christ, and were given to Moses, magically unseen by anyone but himself, atop Mount Sinai.
“The summary of divine law given by God to Moses on Mt. Sinai. They have a paramount place in the ethical system in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.” (
However, Christian morality is not solid within its foundation, it is cherry picked to fit whatever the current agenda requires. Today many Christians find themselves lying, stealing, working on sunday and getting divorced, but we do not see
