Reason Rally organizes atheist vote

[rug]

Thousands of atheists and unbelievers, including Alberto Valdez from Del Rio, Texas, gathered in 2012 on the National Mall for the Reason Rally. RNS photo by Tyrone Turner

By Kimberly Winston | 10 hours ago

(RNS) The steps of the Lincoln Memorial have seen civil rights demonstrations for decades, notably the 1963 March on Washington, in which African-Americans demanded civil and economic rights, but also in the 1990s as LGBT groups demanded an end to discrimination.

On Saturday (June 4), another group will gather at those same steps. Atheists, agnostics, humanists and other so-called religious nones are converging for the Reason Rally, which according to its website aims to be “the biggest gathering of nonreligious people in history.”

The rally’s main goal is to show that nonbelievers have the numbers, the clout and the organizational skills to be a voting bloc worth courting in the November election.

“We have this community that has the power to move mountains and we just need that critical moment where we can focus the conversation on what our community believes in and can do,” said Kelly Damerow, an atheist activist and the event’s president. “That’s what I see the Reason Rally as doing.”

http://religionnews.com/2016/05/31/reason-rally-organizes-atheist-vote-despite-lack-of-religious-bogeyman/

http://reasonrally.org/

[tonyt53]

1. And they are voting for whom?

[rug]

2. Excellent question.

[Jester Messiah]

26. It is a good question. Neither candidate tends to invoke God terribly much.

It's like there was an election between Billy the Kid and Yosemite Sam; who would the NRA endorse?

[AlbertCat]

12. And they are voting for whom?

Whoever they want to vote for.... like anyone.

What a stupid question.

[rug]

13. If their votes are not predictable, then their atheism is not a factor.

Unless you're now asserting that atheism is in fact a political movement and in fact stands for something beyond simple nonbelief. Of course, that would require raising the curtain that's shrouded the entire argument in here.

[AlbertCat]

14. If their votes are not predictable, then their atheism is not a factor.

Only if one think atheists all think the same way.... about politics. Which of course is absurd. It's not some sect that agrees to all believe and do the same things.

[rug]

15. Which makes them politically irrelevant.

You are contending there are far more pertinent politico-demographics.

Which makes the notion of an atheist vote rather silly.

[tonyt53]

27. Couldn't agree more. Their words -

The rally’s main goal is to show that nonbelievers have the numbers, the clout and the organizational skills to be a voting bloc worth courting in the November election.

It seems they are just wanting to be noticed.

[Jackie Wilson Said]

3. What is an "unbeliever"?

Just because someone doesnt believe invisible man in sky who sees all, that makes them unbeliever?

[rug]

8. Do you find that word offensive?

[Jackie Wilson Said]

9. Why do you pretend not to be religious?

[rug]

10. Why do you pretend to know what you're talking about?

And you have not answered the question I put to you.

[Jackie Wilson Said]

25. This is very simple, do you or do you not believe in god?

[rug]

28. This is also very simple: wtf business is it of yours?

You've already demonstrated an inclination to make judgments about people based on whether they belong to a religion. Hmm, what is that called?

Nevertheless, the answer to your question is obvious: of course I believe in God.

Whatever you plan to do with that information, be very smart about it. Stupid will not go very far.

[stone space]

18. Seinfeld atheists commonly deny having any beliefs at all.

What is an "unbeliever"?

Just because someone doesnt believe invisible man in sky who sees all, that makes them unbeliever?

For them, it's all about nothing.

Of course, Seinfeld atheism is not the only form of atheism around, and in practice it is primarily designed as a crude rhetorical device for avoiding the so-called "burden of proof" in internet discussions.

I've never met a Seinfeld atheist in real life. Only on the internet.

That said, it is rather amusing to see the term "unbelievers" used in a caption of a photograph that features an "in science we trust" t-shirt so prominently.

This (non-Seinfeld) atheist suspects that the caption on the photo was a little tounge-in-cheek humor.

[MisterP]

4. half lefty and half Randbot: should be interesting

[rug]

5. One issue electorates never end well.

http://www.britannica.com/topic/Know-Nothing-party

[MisterP]

6. it'll be pro-choice at least--well, pro-abortion

[rug]

7. That would leave Hitchens out.

[muriel_volestrangler]

19. The non-religious are a reliable Democratic bloc

http://www.pewforum.org/2012/11/07/how-the-faithful-voted-2012-preliminary-exit-poll-analysis/

about the same as non-Christian faiths. The Black Protestant vote even more Democratic, and Hispanic Catholic about the same.

[edhopper]

22. As with all demographics

it is most, not all. And given the GOP embrace of fundamental Christianity and anti-science, and other demographics that most atheists fit into in this country, most would vote Dem.

[struggle4progress]

11. "You don't collect stamps? Whoa! Me neither! We should get together!"

[Fumesucker]

16. "Cool, we can talk about why so many of the stamp collectors hate and distrust us so much."

[struggle4progress]

21. Bias Breakdown

https://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/2015/november/latest-hate-crime-statistics-available/latest-hate-crime-statistics-available

Victims
An analysis of data for victims of single-bias hate crime incidents showed that:
48.3 percent of the victims were targeted because of the offenders’ bias against race.
18.7 percent were targeted because of bias against sexual orientation.
17.1 percent were victimized because of bias against religion.
12.3 percent were victimized because of bias against ethnicity.
1.6 percent were victims of gender-identity bias.
1.4 percent were targeted because of bias against disability.
0.6 percent (40 individuals) were victims of gender bias ...

Of the 1,140 victims of anti-religious hate crimes:
56.8 percent were victims of crimes motivated by their offenders’ anti-Jewish bias.
16.1 percent were victims of anti-Islamic (Muslim) bias.
6.2 percent were victims of bias against groups of individuals of varying religions (anti-multiple religions, group).
6.1 percent were victims of anti-Catholic bias.
2.5 percent were victims of anti-Protestant bias.
1.2 percent were victims of anti-Atheist/Agnostic bias.
11.0 percent were victims of bias against other religions (anti-other religion) ...
https://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/hate-crime/2014

[edhopper]

23. Nice stat cherry picking

since there are few places of atheists organizations to attack, and since most atheists are silent and more or less invisable, thies numbers are expected. In other words your list is meaningless.

But how do people feel.

[IMG][/IMG]

[struggle4progress]

29. You can complain to the FBI if you don't like their stats

[edhopper]

30. You missed the point

which my chart showed and others here pointed out.

Crimes don't correlate to bias in this case because atheists are less overt than the other groups.

But continue to ignore that salient fact, I expect nothing less.

[Fumesucker]

24. Eh, I put a Darwin fish on my car once

After three keyings in about six months I took it off, never had my car keyed before or since.

http://www.salon.com/2014/07/21/the_numbers_are_in_america_still_distrusts_atheists_and_muslims_partner/

Religious tension is nothing new in America. Hatred between religions, distrust and downright anger are the everyday norm for anyone with a television set or access to the Internet.

Now according to a new survey by the Pew Research Center, we know who is disliked the most. Atheists and Muslims appear to be in a statistical tie. While atheism itself is not a religion, it is often included in religious polls to help account for those who reject religion, instead of just non-affiliated believers.

Given the high level of xenophobia in the United States toward Muslims since 9/11, it is not surprising, but is still depressing to find them ranked so unfavorably. And atheists are shot down to the bottom and universally disliked by just about every religious group there is.

I rather suspect that the reason there are fewer crimes against atheists is that most of us have learned to keep our mouths shut, I know I have for almost my entire adult life after some extremely unfortunate incidents in my early adulthood.

[stone space]

17. I like science, too, but "trust" implies an unquestioning level of faith that I just can't manage.

I prefer a more reasoned approach to science.



"They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks"--Isaiah 2-4

IN THE KING OF PRUSSIA: THE TRIAL OF THE PLOWSHARES 8 takes us back to 1982 with Emile de Antonio's portrayal of the Plowshares 8 civic disobedience at General Electric's nuclear weapons plant in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. The group included Molly Rush, co-founder of the Merton Center. Posting of this cliip celebrates the April 13 visit of Martin Sheen, who plays the judge in the movie, to Pittsburgh, Pa and the Thomas Merton Center. YOU CAN'T HUG A CHILD WITH NUCLEAR ARMS!!!

The Hammer Has to Fall

Charlie King

A Review of the Plowshares Movement through 2012

A history of the Plowshares movement from 1980 to 2012, compiled from the records of many friends by Ardeth Platte OP and Susan Crane.

[rug]

20. Fair point.