Atheism isn’t popular in Tennessee. Flyers for the Atheist and Freethought Club are constantly torn down or stolen.

When members of the group have something to say about the attacks on their freedoms of speech, there is always someone ready to say, “That’s what you get.”

There was a letter to the editor recently, entitled “Society’s opinion will always be the strongest,” that responded to Mr. Maurer’s piece about the most recent abduction of his club’s poster.

A man who severely beat another man in defense of his uncle, says the letter, received support from Southerners who told him to do it again.

The lack of sympathy from students, contained in the letter, is due to their strong beliefs in the existence of a deity.

The letter goes on to say Mr. Maurer’s use of the Commandment, “Thou shalt not steal,” is hypocritical and fuels more bad omens to the group and members within it.

I always thought hypocrisy was about the individual, not about the act of pointing out such behavior in others.

As a humanist and anti-theist, I feel compelled to say a few things in support of those who are beaten down.

The argument that society’s opinion will always be the strongest seems to me like a defense someone would use to get your lunch money before placing you in a trash can.

Even in a democracy that loves the sway of its majority, there must never be a mentality that supports belittling those in the minority.

It is the voice of dissent, not the voice of, “Yup, works for me,” that conceived America in the first place – along with the destruction of Native Americans, but I digress.

Why are atheists the least trusted demographic?

Atheists don’t believe in the afterlife, so they aren’t really the type to crash planes into buildings.

Atheists don’t go door-to-door at sunrise and ask if you’ve seen the light of the Big Bang or heard the good word of evolution.

Atheists also don’t categorize people, homosexuals and interracial couples for example, as being fated to burn in hell for not embodying the status quo.

Non-religious people are generally mellow. You can trust them. One can very easily have a moral code without having any kind of religious affiliation.

“Be good for goodness’ sake,” is the central message for non-believers, and a popular ad campaign currently taking place in Washington, D.C.

Based on local behavior, an atheist billboard around here wouldn’t last very long.

Does that mean there shouldn’t be an atheist billboard?

Of course not. I have seen plenty of religious billboards that range from cheesy (“Don’t make me come down there – God”) to invasive (“It’s okay Mommy, I love you anyway”).

The religious agenda always seems to ask for no positive change or for a change in the wrong direction. From anti-abortion ads to homophobic pamphlets, those who believe in a deity are much less likely than the non-religious to respect the rights of the individual.

The security blanket appeal of religion is no excuse for disregarding others’ rights and welfare. There are plenty of us who don’t need to believe in deities to be happy and to express love. If I come off as anti-religious, it is because I am anti-religion. However, I will never steal any medium of religious propaganda or tell someone their faith is moronic. That is rude.

It is far more effective and considerate to take up my own space than to take someone else’s. Speak your mind, but don’t consider yourself on a higher plane of thought because it happens to coincide with society. There are more atheists each year and every religion’s life-span is limited.

I’m not asking that you stop believing whatever you believe, even if you believe I’m going to hell for being gay, atheist or left-handed. I’m asking that you respect diversity and the search for meaning each human being takes of his or her own volition.

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