Atheists: Jail time for non-belief says a Kentucky law by Tom Riner. And they ask why atheists speak out?

Question

http://www.alternet.org/belief/year-jail-not-believing-god-how-kentucky-persecuting-atheists

What are some common methods that the religions teach for stifling inquiry into their propositions? And what would you say are some good ways of dealing with them? A large portion of these religious teachings seem to be equipping the believer with a Swiss Army knife of thought stopping memes.

They commonly take advantage of the ambiguous multiplicity of the term "god." It helps them avoid the absurdities of the specific Yahweh character. Sometimes they use that multiplicity to ask you to make a statement regarding all potential god characters, when all you really need to do is make a statement about their Yahweh character. Often the potential for inquiry is shrouded in ambiguous terms. It's more difficult to inquire into a huge category of characters, many members of which have never even been proposed to us. But much easier to inquire into the Yahweh character and it's proposed attributes specifically.

Nekoni · Answer

My country is full of nutters. Australia, how's the weather?

"The law requires that plaques celebrating the power of the Almighty God be installed outside the state Homeland Security building--and carries a criminal penalty of up to 12 months in jail if one fails to comply. The plaque’s inscription begins with the assertion, “The safety and security of the Commonwealth cannot be achieved apart from reliance upon Almighty God.” "

So someone has to put a sign with a reference to God outside one government building, or go to jail for up to a year. IF this is the entire problem, then it's not nearly as bad as it seemed...still bad, though, of course.

Brad, that is probably worse than this law...the government must represent everyone.

NDMA · Answer

Nonsense. The law says up to a year in jail for failure to display a plaque outside a state office.  The courts have already ruled that "God' and "In God We Trust' are generic terms that do not violate the first Amendment because they do not assert any particular religion over another. Unless atheists wish to admit that atheism is a religion, they have no standing to assert their religious rights are being violated.

Bria · Answer

Its bad enough that most other religions arent represented properly in America. But, Im an exchristian, not an atheist per se.  However, I can see how one would go from god fearing christian to avowed atheist because of many factors.  kentucky, texas, lousyana, ohio and any other christian slinging state really make me sick.

? · Answer

Guess I'll wait and see if Kentucky can compel any god to appear in a courtroom. I'll even settle for Zeus.

jpopelish · Answer

It looks like it is time for a few 100,000 atheists to show up, in Kentucky, for a demonstration.

-- 
Regards,

John Popelish

Travis Anderson · Answer

Human nature does not change.  It is only forced underground from time to time by external factors.  Religion will always-when given power-use force to back itself.

Michael K · Answer

I'm sure this will be taken to the courts. In the mean time, I'll skip Kentucky.

COVERartistLOL · Answer

It's stupid how dumb people are, arresting a man for expressing his constitutionally right. Just shows how far back America is.

Anonymous · Answer

What a strange and peculiar nation ... from the best and brightest, right down to the scenes like this ... I would ask "Why?" but I fear their response might make my brain implode ...

*bRiTiSh* · Answer

Wow, that is phucked up!  Thank god I'm surrounded by so many fellow atheists and other non-religious types..................(excuse the pun)

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Atheists: Jail time for non-belief says a Kentucky law by Tom Riner. And they ask why atheists speak out?

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