Sometimes called the Millennials, they have grown up with diversity and more open-minded; they believe in a larger role for the government in the age of globalization. They are more diverse, more supportive of gay marriages, are not-so-religious; they are more progressive. They are against tax cut for the rich. They support clean energy.

.

The country is in the right direction. Soon these millennials will be in charge, join the rest of the civilized world

Thank God for people who don't attend church!

As Joe would say: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SmBusOwnerinNY

Thank God for people who don't attend church!

That's just cuz you don't use the drive-thru. Whole different class of folks.

Drive-thru church BCWC? That's awesome! ( ...but I'm still not going.)

a drive-thru church...a good concept..church as fast service as in fast food...soul food, that is...excellent idea...in a fast-paced era.

...I order a quick Jesus burger to go...I am in a hurry....fantastic!!!!!!!!

...I have a quick confession ... in 3 seconds... I have to catch the next bus to DC...even better.

Drive-thru church sounds good, but I still prefer to worship @ Church of Saint Mattress...

Church of Saint Mattress...

Best way to spend a Sunday morning.

@ Church of Saint Mattress...

... and a lot more fun in Saint-Louis-Ha Ha. Then there is also Saint-Tit ... a rodeo town!

Shouting out "Oh God" in bed does not qualify Miss Feisty! ;-)

They need to get co-ordinated to form a voting block. Problem being that there's no unifying force (God ) for them to feel superior, judgmental, and self righteous about.

Layton-3733410

Shouting out "Oh God" in bed does not qualify Miss Feisty! ;-)

No, shouting out "Oh MMMYYYYYYYYY God" will get you closer to the shoe store and spa massage parlor.

LOL Really, Dude?

Thank you for the total LOL experience of the day! For the record, in regards to the penis, I myself do not have a penis on my person, but I can assure you that I have enjoyed(Not really a worshiper of anything except chocolate!) the many others that I have had the privilege to come into contact with.

Oh, and dude, this country is not as liberal as you seem to be scared that it is, but one can hope.

I'm proud to be a None as long as I don't have to wear a dress, funny hat and go around and whack young students with a ruler!

workingpoor, I disagree.

I think that kind of thinking has had a negative influence in America. Think about the opposite side. The Christian voting block has been squarely on the Republican side since Reagan. That is a large group of people who won't change their votes. No matter what ideas the Republicans have, as long as they pander to the Christians, they'll get most of their votes.

If this country had not associated religion with Republican, I think many of the elections over the last 30 years would have been different. Think about how many close elections there were, and think about how many Christians voted for Republicans because of their religion despite their views on the Republican fiscal policy.

We don't need more divisiveness. We need people to stop focusing on which candidate will be best for whatever cause they identify with. We need people to objectively look at all the candidates available and pick the best one.

THIS is what Kennedy was talking about when he said, "Ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do your country." We need people to stop focusing on which candidate will benefit them personally and start focusing on which candidate will make a better America.

Also, Dawg Pound, from one "Dawg" to another, you might want to check your facts. America is one of the most conservative developed nations in the world. The Democratic party in America would be considered a conservative party in most of Europe.

"Working poor" didn't have it quite right when they said "Problem being that there's no unifying force (God ) for them to feel superior, judgmental, and self righteous about."

The 'problem' is that they don't have a God that tells them they are superior to everyone else.

Shouting out "Oh God" in bed does not qualify Miss Feisty! ;-)

OMG Layton!

Now that is funny, I don't care who you are... lmao

No. We don't have a God that tells us we are superior. We are actually very humble people, who just happen to possess superior intellects, and really good looking, great working genitalia.

Bottom line, just about everybody likes President Obama.

In this season of Mithras I wish all the none and everyone Happy Holidays.

Mac ...

and really good looking, great working genitalia.

Wow ... so many thoughts come to mind . . . not many with a PG rating! ;-)

Where's is Eric and his good Irish pounding?

A man's ethical behavior should be based effectually on sympathy, education, and social ties and needs; no religious basis is necessary. Man would indeed be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death.

ALBERT EINSTEIN, New York Times Magazine, November 9, 1930

ldo

There are 49% of the voters who do NOT !!!! And that is a lot of folks

and its going down more and more every year. Perhaps it's time the GOP 're think their strategy' before they lose yet again..

Americans still love their religion, but perhaps we are tired of the GOP forcing it down our throats. 99 BILLS alone in the 112th Congress on religion?? Here they kept saying it was about the economy... epic fail

I have a serious issue with this piece of ..what ever.

Is is pure BS that they are trying so scoop everyone none religious into a group that favors Obama or the democrats. This needs to stop. I am an individual and none of what this is saying has anything to do with me being none religious. Period. Stop trying to pin everyone against everyone via some demographic stereo type. I dont like Obama, I did not vote for Obama and neither did many of us. Your so called "data" is another attempt to polarize this nation. Good freaking job

How to appeal to the "Nones," in America ?

It's safe to say they place a much higher validity on science rather than on religion, yes?

American Girl " just about everybody likes Presedent Obama"

Minus the 48% + that didn't vote for him

Just another voting block group the Republicans will ignore

One doesn't have to be religious to be spiritual; one with the cosmos. Additionally, one doesn't have to be religious and church-going to be a good person, to be a moral person, to display kindness and good will.

We have seen time and time again how much organized religion is a human disappointment. It must be said just one more time:

Going to church doesn't make one a Christian (or whatever) anymore than standing in a garage makes one a car.

Pigskin and my church is Football. Can we have it year round please?

I don't think you could appeal (always) to me politically. Especially being non-religious..which has everything to do with thinking critically for myself, not force feed scare tactics like evil, devil, and hell. You have everything you need right here on this planet right now...not later, its this...not some mystical force...just us, in this very moment. It will be hard for someone to try to put these people in one group and close them out...because these people don't conform to just simple fancy words and scripture err political smoke and mirrors.

Itsabouttime-and its going down more and more every year. Perhaps it's time the GOP 're think their strategy' before they lose yet again.."

You know that you are completely wrong right? Obama's approval rating is falling not growing. Regardless of who/what anyone here stands for...

American Girl-724855....."Bottom line, just about everybody likes President Obama."

You are another "popular post" follower. Spouting random illegitimate facts. Do some reading before hand next time...thanks.

I think it funny that in a country that was largely created by deists who believed that there is a god but plays no role in our day to day life that we have somehow become and been labeled as a Christian society. I would say the churches have done a pretty good job of social engineering, casting aside logic for logistics.

Republicans have been very successful at drawing a strict line in the sand... either you are with them and their religion, or you are against them. There is no middle ground, there is no accepting other ideas, there is no respect for anyone who does not fall into line.

The entire Republican party is based on religion. Everything they do has a religious spin. Most of the non-religious people don't like the idea of being part of a party that forces religion down everyone's throat. Hell, they even justify rape as God's Will. They replace science text books with creationism books that talk about a man living in the belly of a whale. Is it any surprise that the non-religious don't want to be associated with this group?

The church has also done a good job of convincing people that atheists are people who deny the existence of God. Atheists are simply people who have no religious convictions. If I say that "I don't believe in your God," that does not translate to your "God doesn't exist". I can't say for sure that your God doesn't exist and I don't know any atheist with half a brain who would claim that to be true. Atheist=agnostic=non religious. All the same thing.

mguy-478

Just for the sake of argument, Republicans did not always believe such things. They used to be more like the Libertarians, socially liberal, but fiscally conservative. This is what happens when you give a mouse a cookie.

kimH

Einstein's opinion changed a lot after 1930's. And like many scientists, spent a lifetime of periods of questioning and affirming their personal beliefs. For some reasons, Christians and Jews emphacize the pro God moments, and agnostics, athiests & scientists like to emphacize the anti-God moments. Ignoring one side of someone is to be intellectually dishonest.

This is an excerpt of a letter to a colleag in 1948, published in 1956.

What I am really interested in is knowing whether God could have created the world in a different way; in other words, whether the requirement of logical simplicity admits a margin of freedom.

(Europa Verlag, Zurich, 1956), p. 72.

Z-933870

Atheists are simply people who have no religious convictions.

I suggest you go back to a dictionary.

Disbelief in or denial of the existence of God or gods.

True Atheists have a tendency to make their convictions known. Others just simply haven't really considered the matter.

Euphemisms for "the nones":

Enlightened

Open-Minded

Modern

Tolerant

Cosmopolitan

Thinking

Observant

Progressive

Loving

Communal

Other than that, they are bullox.

myguy: you just demonstrated how little you know about the membership of the Republican party.

jaunita ...

the membership of the Republican party

That explains EVERYTHING! You all have a membership requirement whereas the Democrats just let you check a box and make your mind up on your own. WOW!

Atheism could be defined a number of ways in practice. Most atheists just assume that supernatural beings don't exist and leave it at that.

John

Just for the sake of argument, Republicans did not always believe such things. They used to be more like the Libertarians, socially liberal, but fiscally conservative. This is what happens when you give a mouse a cookie.

I know... I used to be part of the Republican party during that time. Then they veered to the extreme right, became ultra-religious, and rejected anyone who does not fall in line. They left me, and those like me, wondering where the socially liberal/fiscal conservatives went.

Of course, they also re-branded "fiscal conservatism" to mean trickle-down economics. So you either agree with their trickle-down mentality, or you are against them.

All I want is a socially liberal party that embraces libertarian fiscal views, but also understand how important of a strong middle-class is to an economy based on 80% consumer spending. If we keep pushing trickle-down policies that shift the wealth to the 2%, there won't be any money left for people to spend in all the businesses that the 2% own.

mguy-478,

EXCELLENT post. Seriously. Best I've read in days.

DB Akron,

In his later years Einstein, who did believe in a supreme intellect (God), not Jesus Christ, came to believe evolution, by way of interdependent relativity was the Creators most useful tool for managing and maintaining a healthy balance in whatever habitat, a way of balancing predator and prey, supply and demand.........It is all so logical and rational is is hard to dismiss.

And the answer to Einstein's question, "could God have created the world in a different way", YES..........Like everything else, man, the earth and the vast universe was created upon a simple and well planned foundation, a process of building and improving upon the known.

Look for my web page "Evolution of Divine Science (The Connecting links)" coming in January

Atheists are simply people who have no religious convictions.

I suggest you go back to a dictionary.

Find me a significant number of atheists that actually claim absolutely god does not exist. I don't think you can. Denying the existence of something that can't be proven to exist or not exist doesn't make any sense. The dictionary is inaccurate....or at least the definition is subject to interpretation.

JohnWaynePolitics

You know that you are completely wrong right? Obama's approval rating is falling not growing. Regardless of who/what anyone here stands for...

Am I? Prove it. Let's see a source that show's Obama's approval rating is falling? Seems to me, America is viewing the REPUBLICANs as the obstructionist party. Course, we have known this for the last two years. President Obama was re-elected by a majority of the American people who REJECTED the GOP approach. The approach on our economy and their inept attack on our civil rights.

America is changing.. I suggest you embrace the change or learn acceptance.

DB Akron

disbelief in or denial not disbelief in and denial.

There is no such thing as a " true " atheist or a " true " american or a " true christian ". The " true " is more about what we think they should be than it is about what they are. A true atheist is one who conforms to our preconcieved notions of an atheist.

DB - Here are two other quotes from Einstein after 1930. I guess he is still questioning despite your all knowing statement from above. I don't want to get into dueling Einstein quotes with you but why do you always speak in such absolutes? I find people who think and speak like you to be insufferable and intellectual snobs.

I do not believe in a personal God and I have never denied this but have expressed it clearly. If something is in me which can be called religious then it is the unbounded admiration for the structure of the world so far as our science can reveal it. (Albert Einstein, 1954)

The idea of a personal God is an anthropological concept which I am unable to take seriously. (Albert Einstein, Letter to Hoffman and Dukas, 1946)

Ellis,

Einstein was Jewish. He was raised in their teachings. I work with Jewish people. They too have doubts about God themselves, yet hold somewhat to the teachings.

Nice to see the media actually acknowledging this issue.

The Republicans have a problem. Their base, the religious right, demands that they pursue their agenda of imposing harsh religious dictates on the nation, and that alienates the ever growing population of "nones", as well as groups like women and hispanics who may be religious, but who react negatively to the patriarchal, xenophobic hostility of conservative American Christianity.

They could fix this problem by throwing the religious right under the bus, abandoning them visibly on issues like abortion and discrimination against gay Americans. They'd instantly win over a lot of "nones" who are predisposed to Ayn Rand style libertarianism, and that would mesh well with the agenda of the plutocrats who run the party. But it would also mean losing their base and, at least in the short term, losing their strongholds of support either to a third party movement of religious conservatives or a resurgence of socially conservative Democrats.

They are in a situation not dissimilar from that the Democratic party faced in the middle of the 20th century. For the sake of a future of national relevance, they had to discard the conservative social conservatives of the south and their racist agenda. Can Republicans stomach the pain of doing the same? And if they do, can the Democratic party show enough integrity to avoid adopting a new southern strategy and diving to pick up the suddenly free agent evangelicals at the cost of abandoning their supposed values?

Kim H

Again, he is struggling with with religions, specifically Christianity. I know some serious students of the Bible and they would tell you that Judaism is about being Communal and Christianity emphacizes individual belief and responsibility. Being of raised in Judaism, of course he would doubt the personalized version of Christianity.

Second, my excerpt is from 1948. Einstein many conflicting statements actually revealing that he did believe in a superior intellectual being, and yet doubted it. What you see is actually a man who believes in a god, but can't understand what 'gods' roll in life and science is.

It's amazing that a man with such a renown reputation of thinking and intelligence, can't figure something out now isn't it?

One of Einstein's conclusions was that yes, god could have done things differently. He beyond many people of the time could understand how things were, but could not say why.

Wouldn't figuring out why be important, but to ask that question, you must first have decided there is something of superior intelligence.

I don't believe god exists. I also don't believe pink and purple flying elephants exist. I can't prove either one, but the reasoning is the same for both.

My mother often tells me that I would make a good person of the Jewish faith, as I believe that Christ lived, but wasn't the son of god (note the non capitalization). I hold his teachings in the highest regard but, I classify myself as a (borderline) atheist. Does that make me an immoral person? I say Hell No.

Now, how to "they" address the "none's" during campaigns? Talk to us like regular people. That's what we are. We're normal people that vote, but don't need a figure dictated to us from an archaic (that has been translated MULTIPLE times in MULTIPLE languages) text to tell us how to live.

DB - Don't assume that because you "work with Jewish people" that you know any more about what it is to be a Jew than what you have read or what someone who is Jewish has chosen to share with you. You will never understand and you will never know how it feels to have that history running through your blood. I think I said something earlier about intellectual snobbery...

Einstein made it very clear that he did not believe in a personal God.

Kim,

I have had many associates over the years both Christian Jews, totally non-believing Jews, and Reformed Jews, but not the Orthodox Jews. The only reason I know is I talked with them about different things about their faith, and respect what they do for their faith. All this in 3 colleges, 12 places of employment.

My wife is actually a decendent of King David, through her grandmother. I have to have some understanding of Judaism, because I want may kids to not violate certain practices that Jews teach never to do and to have an appreciation for Judaism and Israel.

Jock, personal god meaning Christianity. He did believe in a superior intellect or God, but struggled to understand what God was trying to accomplish.

Christianity emphacizes individual belief and responsibility

Maybe I'm taking this out of context, but if you refer to the larger message of Christianity (and not just its position on how you should handle your faith), isn't this a little too big a stretch? Because Christ himself said that, other than loving God, the most important (and only) commandment is to love one's neighbor. Sounds pretty damn communal to me. It didn't seem to me like he emphasized personal responsibility when he fed the hungry and healed the wounded and the sick. Jesus was very much a socialist by today's U.S. standards, no matter what the revisionist right-wing Christians are saying nowadays.

Unbelievable, so many sacreligius remarks from so many people. Is there any wonder why our Nation is having so many problems? Prayers for all who have turned their backs on God.

and of course, if you add in all the people who say they believe in a supreme being but it's meaningless in their lives or just don't have the courage to admit they don't, the numbers are much larger.

and of course, by definition that added percentage has difficulty being honest with themselves, which diminishes their value in the political block.

GodBlessUSAForever

here's a scarey thought...of the 48% that didn't vote for obama, a percentage could like obama, but liked romney more. not everything is black and white.

I know how a political party could "reach out" to this emergent voting block. Remove the inserted phrase "under God" from the Pledge of Allegiance. We won't see either Party announcing that intention any time soon, the voting block isn't big enough even if the issue inspired unanimous cohesion and turnout. Too many people who hold an exclusionary view would vote against any such candidate and political party.

As for It, yes, my own philosophy informs me that It is Everything, ...Infinite and Happy. I'm 100% sure of It, but realize only my individual perception allows my certitude.

yeah right, from the same generation with highest rate of obesity, and watches reality TV.

I've personally known atheists, humanists and agnostics that are much more rational and more moral in their behavior than any of the religious followers of right-wing Christian beliefs.

Hmm ...right-wing Christians ...based on my experience with the right-wing, ...I'm convinced that's an oxymoron. 'Right-wing Christians' are definitely NOT Christians.

Sometimes called the Millennials, they have grown up with diversity and more open-minded; they believe in a larger role for the government in the age of globalization. They are more diverse, more supportive of gay marriages, are not-so-religious; they are more progressive. They are against tax cut for the rich. They support clean energy.

I am part of the so called generation Y. My friends are all part of this generation as well. No one I know supports larger government. In the circles I hang out in, we all want smaller government. Radically smaller. We are supportive of gay marriage and we are very much against organized religion. We do not particularly care for the rich people since they just screw up everything. A lot of us supported OWS because we are sick of seeing the 1% pillage the economy and not face any consequences for their actions. I voted libertarian this last election. This generation is going to swing more libertarian I think. I do not agree with every libertarian stance but I find their solutions to be much more intelligent and rational when compared with the Republicans or Democrats. I hope this is the generation which brings liberty back into politics and back into America.

I believe this article misrepresents "None". I'm a "none" myself, stamped on my dog tag in 1971. When one gets out and about, other than attending 'mandatory' weddings and funerals, many are not attending religious services. They are in dance classes, hardware stores, gardening, golfing, fishing,jogging,working, sleeping and bar and coffee shop chatting. On nice spring days church parking lots are fairly vacant while the gardening supply stores are a good walk from the car to the petunias. Even now when weddings are held in parks and non church public access points, by non affiliated vow givers, one might not qualify as a hard core None, but they certainly can't qualify as hard core Religious either.

Nor is None restricted to the youths who came after the Boomers. I myself was asked as a preschooler if I wanted to go to church, or go fishing... and believe me there were plenty of old men who were fishing on Sunday morning 60 years ago. As veterans of the First and Second World Wars, they'd pretty much had it with the love of God. Once the savagery of war was televised, and the religious crackpots around the world better identified for their individual and collective shortcomings, maybe it was TV which furthered the decline in church attendance. I doubt it though. I'm inclined to think it was the misbehavior of the religious leaders, be they pedophile priests, the Jim and Tammy Faye types... or just the idiots they produced in their pews and set out on the streets.

So the better question to ask is, " How often do you NOT attend church regularly, or participate in activities other than seeking the Divine?" Being a None is not a social handicap with a broader perspective of the world. Being an Independent voter is not a handicap in having a political voice.

To AlaskaGirl

You said "statistic that tells us that this country is and is continuing to change and evolve, and there is nothing wrong with change. We are a better country for it."

I agree with you 100%. Sadly the right wing conservatives along with their religious counterparts feel that change is bad or that change should occur only if it is in accordance with the bible or God

DB - OK. The truth is finally out. No more speculation on my part. You are friggin crazy!

Adrian, #1.62

He didn't direct the people to a government agency, he stepped forward to heal and feed the people. That is taking personal responsibility, now, isn't it?

Ah, the bell tolls for we the people, we the outsiders.

they are more wired...more connected...more curious about the rest of the world than those self-absorbed ethnocentric earlier generations.

I know my daughter definitely is. Wake up conservatives. Republicans, wander off into the good night and don't forget to scream on your way out.

Feisty said: "Politics has NO place on the pulpit!"

Actually, make that "The pulpit has no place in politics" and I'll agree with you 110%

Actually, make that "The pulpit has no place in politics" and I'll agree with you 110%

Ken,

You're right, I like yours much better! ☺

• People are beginning to realize that the Bible says NOTHING about tax cuts for the richest of the rich, corporate profits, unregulated capitalism and guns.

I think, Ken, that might just be semantics. Either way; six of one, half a dozen of another. But, yes I agree politics and religion should not co-mingle.

Charlie, the bible can be twisted and distorted any which way a religious affiliate deems appropriate to their cause, or any single person for that matter.

Charlie,

You're correct but it sures says an awful lot about letting things go both materially and emotionally . . so liberal! And that we are the protectors of the earth. I've always wondered why my Bible makes sense about these things and why the Conservatives' version doesn't.

hmmm, a church that would have me as a member is not a church I would join!

:-)

Quite the opposite Charlie, ain't it ironic who thumps the Bible?

Charlie-1915998

But we still get to stone people ... no?

But we still get to stone people ... no?

Only in Washington and Colorado. Oh, hmmm, wait! Oh you said stone people, not get people stoned! My bad!

Hmmm, Doggie style......some Buddhist you are.

Politics has NO place on the pulpit!... start taxing the sh!t out of the churches!

Tell that to African-American churches and the Nation of Islam; they've been preaching politics from the pulpit for decades, completely without notice from atheists and liberals (Rev. Al Sharpton even has his own political talk show on this network. Where's your fake outrage about that?)

The 'old, white' (how racist is that?) bible-bangers are the least of your worries. It's the 'angry, black' bible-bangers that are going to give people like you much larger problems in the future! The only people atheist groups fear more than radical Muslims are Black Evangelicals (athiests are typically thin-skinned wimps who only go after preceived 'soft targets'); try collecting clerical taxes from them and see what happens to you. Enjoy, HAHAHA!

Religions have always had impact on politics...as long as it's still human society...but today, the influece is better to be subtle, not too obvious.

BC & AG, you may only pelt those deserving souls with chocolate cookies or brownies, pelting only allowed to be done liberally and gently!

Mixing politics and religion is moronic.

"If you don't want tax dollars helping the sick and poor, then its time to stop saying you want a government based on Christian values" --- John Fogelsang.

Neither does the Bible say tax the crap out of them.

Actually the Bible teaches that he is the maker of both the poor and the rich and the judge. It is he that sets one up and sets another aside.

He gives to each according to what he expects of them.

He will take from those who take act foolishly with what he has entrusted to them and give what they had been entrusted with to the most responsible.

You can take all the money from the rich, and before long they will gain it all back and more in an amazingly short time. Likewise, you can give a fortune to a poor person and in an amazingly short time, they will lose every penny of it.

By taking from the rich and giving it to the poor forcibly, you are deciding that your smarter than God. With such a finite fragile life, such a limited intelligence, how arrogant can one get?

DB - From Gods lips to your ears.

Kim, to your ears to can happen. All that is required is an open heart and an open mind.

Americans are becoming more nonconformist because of religious political influence, what happen to separation of church and state ??????????

Religion is not neccessary for a belief in a power greater than oneself. But to think the government as an answer is not too bright. I see first hand and have many neighbors who work for the Fed, they think the Gov. needs too shrink. I think everyone who wants too prosper in this country or anywhere needs to step up and stop blaming the world around them. If God makes them better so be it, if they are athiests does not bother me just get your ass in the grass with the rest of us who are funding the government.

The Democratic party is on its way to be a majority ... for a long time. It happened before...1932 to 1968 (except for 8 years of General Eisenhower the Moderate - or RINO)

-1 high five...pure accident, dont agree...maybe the top part but then you show your colors...they run, murky brownish green

Hey Pigotry, the best church is under your roof, that's my belief - God works in mystery ways !!!

That's my thought as well. I fit into this bloc well if a bit old (40's) and I voted Republican the last time around because they are the only ones talking about fiscal responsibility. In this election I prioritized fiscal over social. What I need is a fiscal conservative that is not religious (but still stands a chance of election).

Of course, since we only have 2 real choices my strategy nets me nothing but a clear conscience.

I couldn't agree more. Our two party system is old and worn out. We need a viable third party comprised of people who can act like adults and not like children fighting in the sandbox. I won't hold my breath, but I will hold out hope.

so we need another group for democrats to call crazy, tea baggers, nutjobs, idiots, stupid, belittle, embarrass, talk down, hurt, injure, close-out, ignore, be repulsed at every attempt. yeah right, we know what you all put the tea party through...even if I don't agree or do, you all trashed those fellow citizens so bad they probably hate this country now.

We need a viable third party comprised of people who can act like adults and not like children fighting in the sandbox.

Sorry lesstraveled, the Tea party didnt qualify. Nutty old ladies screaming about the constitution just turns off lots of people. Holding the government hostage just turns lots of people off. No compromise policy just turns lots of folks off. Playing games with our country's credit rating by refusing to pay its bills unless you get your way just turns lots of folks off. I could go on, but I think you see the point.

Democrats are in it for everyone together. We must live and work together and that seems to be the Democratic Parties message.

Republicans are for the rich, and religious. Let the churches take care of the poor. Let the rich have less taxes. Let the churches decide laws and policies.

But IMHO -

Let the churches take care of the poor.

Sorry, but no Republican thinks the churches are the full solution, just a better one. Many Republicans aren't even religious.

Let the rich have less taxes.

This is the rich are not the poor's slaves either. And show me a rich man who says he could pay more in taxes, and I will show you a rich man who only wants the people attacking to attack the other rich guys.

Most people don't know that George Soros is Jewish. With the rise of Hitler, his father changed his Jewish sounding name to Soros. It worked, Hitler handed His dad control of money and businesses stripped from fellow Jews.

Let the churches decide laws and policies.

This is a gross misrepresentation of respecting religions enough to not make laws that violate their beliefs more than necessary.

And how can you say

Democrats are in it for everyone together

When many of their polices clearly assault the existence of other groups with racial, religious, and sexual slurs that they disagree with?

If only the republican party was the party of Eisenhowr and Johnson. It's been a steep nose-dive sense then. And yes, I am aware that the parties swtiched after Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act. My point still stands. We need more common ground as American's not as partisan party asshats. I say that to both sides.

ozzieyo1-7277359To bad the bloc wants to shred your social spending!

You are wrong. I would say we want to fix the problems that are causing the needs for all the social spending. We might not even need top raise taxes. All it requires is that people have good paying jobs. More money coming in from payroll taxes and less money going out as they are no longer on the Dole.

Let the churches take care of the poor.

Why, so they can hold a homeless person's sandwich hostage for Jesus?

No thanks.

Churches perform no public service that could not be performed by secular means. On the other hand, churches who perform these services incur a lot of other social problems because of the required programming.

Don't get your hopes up, it's only 12%.

but remember the leaders anywhere are always a minority. The smaller the size, the stronger the leadership...a bad example is the 1% that have led the country in the wrong direction. I hope these 12% will soon make a positive difference.

Yes, maybe so regarding leadership, but I was really talking about the idea that there will now be more attention paid to church/state separation issues. Democrats aren't going to start shouting about rights of the non-churchgoers.

The religious leaders, for all religions agree on one thing, the non-religious are all going to hell. And those religious leaders actively work for the disenfranchisement of the non-religious.

The non-religious only have a chance, when the religious start bickering among themselves, which they do so well and so often.

IMHO... Claiming you have a religion hardly makes you what society might deem religious. There are 4 Sundays a month. If you go to church just one Sunday a month, you are behaving 75% like a non religious. If you go to church one time a year, you are behaving roughly 95% like the non religious. If you subtract out church attendance for marriages and funerals, ( the non religious go to those functions too ), pretty much both those claiming a religious affiliation, and those which don't, behave the same. By same I mean have a home, family, family functions and gatherings, jobs, education, transportation, taxes and TV program choices.

The religious are those who wear specialized clothing to identify themselves as of a particular belief, shave, or don't shave their beards, pray in communal gatherings at specific sites, etc. Non Christians don't work Christmas, because of other business closures for the holiday, and the holiday is given to all the employees to take off, Christian or not. Same goes for Memorial Day, you get it off work whether you have service dead in your family or not. Special collars and robes, or habits, or scarves identify religious people. But religious people are incarcerated in the penitentiary, just like monks are living in monasteries without liberties too. So other than the churches don't pay taxes, ( just the working parishioners ), there's quite a bit in common with the non believers and the occasionally religious... the person who goes to church once a month, or three or four times a year, for other than weddings and funerals. When you look at this group as a block of voters, you're into millions of people, and if they don't vote party line, but instead vote independent, both parties must seek their vote. It's the religious who are then on the ropes.

We've ALL known that for quite some time now, Grimey! :)

And don't forget that Karl Rove, the arch-conservative who masterminded GWB's campaigns, especially formulating a master-plan to get out the fundamentalist support and vote, is also a "none." For all his work amongst the fundies, promising them the sun and moon (both "created" only 6,000 years ago), he's an admitted agnostic. He got the fundies to believe that a vote for Bush is a vote for Jesus, and he doesn't even believe in Jesus.

Darn, Karl Rove is just like the rest of us agnostics, an opportunist and sell out.

Your missing a bit of context here, ozzie

It's a voting bloc as big as Hispanics, 18- to 24-year-olds and the staunchest pro-lifers, and it broke for the Democratic presidential nominee by a margin of 44 points.

Its comparing "the nones" to those three groups, its not saying those three groups make up that voting bloc.

To me it is comparing the size to the Hispanic bloc and then describing them (nones) as 18 to 24 year olds and the staunchest pro-lifers. But I see where they're coming from now.

I think you misread that. It was referring to relative size. The "None" voting block is about as big as the Hispanic voting block, which is also about as big as the 18 to 24 year old voting block, which is also about as big as the staunch pro-life voting block.

agreed, thanks

ozzieyo1 -

Reminds me of this t-shirt I saw in a catalog last night:

"Let's eat Grandma!"

"Let's eat, Grandma!"

(PUNCTUATION SAVES LIVES!)

"if God didn't exist, we'd have to invent him."

Who's to say that "He" does, and that we didn't?(invent him)

Oh please. There are entire books written on how morality does not need God or religion for its existence.

Read one of them.

Who's to say that "He" does,

Who's to say "he" isn't a "she"?

Sue -

I beg to differ. People with supposedly strong religious affiliations willfully break many of those commandments every day. At the same time, there are millions and millions of people in this world who, like me, don't need a Top Ten List to tell them how to act toward their fellow men or to differentiate between right and wrong. It's really not all that hard.

Peace.

here here, Maya! and JoaAnne!

"if God didn't exist, we'd have to invent him."

• I think it should say -- man invented organized Religion. But organizes religion and God have little to do with each other.

Stephen Roberts
I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours

644 11252

Seneca the Younger 4 b.c.- 65 a.d.
Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by the rulers as useful.

451 7161

Richard Jeni
You're basically killing each other to see who's got the better imaginary friend

425 6285

Epicurus
Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?

507 5386

unknown
Don't pray in my school, and I won't think in your church

643 5324

Blaise Pascal
Men never commit evil so fully and joyfully as when they do it for religious convictions

449 4802

Emo Philips
When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bicycle. Then I realised that the Lord doesn't work that way so I stole one and asked Him to forgive me.

800 5531

Unknown
Two hands working can do more than a thousand clasped in prayer

270 3997

Unknown
George Bush says he speaks to god every day, and christians love him for it. If George Bush said he spoke to god through his hair dryer, they would think he was mad. I fail to see how the addition of a hair dryer makes it any more absurd.

204 3624

Bertrand Russell
And if there were a God, I think it very unlikely that He would have such an uneasy vanity as to be offended by those who doubt His existence

343 3872

George Bernard Shaw
The fact that a believer is happier than a skeptic is no more to the point than the fact that a drunken man is happier than a sober one

347 3851

Gene Roddenberry
We must question the story logic of having an all-knowing all-powerful God, who creates faulty Humans, and then blames them for his own mistakes

268 3514

Richard Lederer (Anguished English)
There once was a time when all people believed in God and the church ruled. This time was called the Dark Ages.

375 3744

Unknown
Philosophy is questions that may never be answered. Religion is answers that may never be questioned.

392 3660

Doug McLeod
I still say a church steeple with a lightning rod on top shows a lack of confidence

497 3805

Steven Weinberg
With or without religion, you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion.

251 3217

George Carlin
Religion has actually convinced people that there's an invisible man -- living in the sky -- who watches everything you do, every minute of every day. And the invisible man has a special list of ten things he does not want you to do.. And if you do any of these ten things, he has a special place, full of fire and smoke and burning and torture and anguish, where he will send you to live and suffer and burn and choke and scream and cry forever and ever 'til the end of time! ..But He loves you.

228 3117

unknown
Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day; teach a man to fish and he will eat for a lifetime; give a man religion and he will die praying for a fish

206 2946

Carl Sagan
You can't convince a believer of anything; for their belief is not based on evidence, it's based on a deep-seated need to believe.

304 3089

Marie
Man created God in his image : intolerant, sexist, homophobic and violent.

216 2797

Aldous Huxley
"Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored."

121 2429

Unknown
"If god doesn't like the way I live, Let him tell me, not you."

76 2223

Delos B. McKown
The invisible and the non-existent look very much alike

265 2660

Bumper sticker
You keep believing, I'll keep evolving

340 2734

Ferdinand Magellan
The church says the earth is flat, but I know that it is round, for I have seen the shadow on the moon, and I have more faith in a shadow than in the church

298 2575

Carlespie Mary Alice McKinney
Religion does three things quite effectively: Divides people, Controls people, Deludes people.

136 2151

Albert Einstein
A man's ethical behavior should be based effectually on sympathy, education, and social ties; no religious basis is necessary. Man would indeed be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death

217 2333

Carl Sagan
Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence

184 2234

Napoleon Bonaparte
Religion is excellent stuff for keeping common people quiet

218 2243

John Adams, 2nd President of the United States
The Government of the United States is in no sense founded on the Christian religion.

286 2394

Voltaire
Those who believe absurdities will commit atrocities

126 1965

Benjamin Franklin
The way to see by faith is to shut the eye of reason

144 1930

unknown
People who don't like their beliefs being laughed at shouldn't have such funny beliefs

352 2376

Giulian Buzila
History teaches us that no other cause has brought more death than the word of god.

121 1805

Justin Brown
An Atheist believes that a hospital should be built instead of a church. An Atheist believes that deed must be done instead of a prayer said. An Atheist strives for involvement in life and not escape into death. He wants disease conquered, poverty vanishe

244 2093

Justin Brown
If the Bible is mistaken in telling us where we came from, how can we trust it to tell us where we're going?

170 1899

Thomas Jefferson
I have examined all the known superstitions of the world, and I do not find in our particular superstition of Christianity one redeeming feature. They are all alike founded on fables and mythology.

152 1843

Robert A. Heinlein
Men rarely (if ever) manage to dream up a God superior to themselves. Most Gods have the manners and morals of a spoiled child.

152 1813

Gustaf Lindborg
The sailor does not pray for wind, he learns to sail

213 1927

Unknown
Blind faith is an ironic gift to return to the Creator of human intelligence.

266 2039

William Drummond
He that will not reason is a bigot; he that cannot reason is a fool; he that dares not reason is a slave

Friedrich Nietzsche
Which is it, is man one of God's blunders or is God one of man's?

189 1831

Coral Yoshi
So you really think that God would plant a bunch of bones in the earth to test your faith? Either you're in denial or God has some serious self-esteem issues.

130 1676

Galileo Galilei
I do not think it is necessary to believe that the same God who has given us our senses, reason, and intelligence wished us to abandon their use, giving us by some other means the information that we could gain through them

185 1809

Robert G. Ingersoll
As people become more intelligent they care less for preachers and more for teachers

169 1748

Russian Proverb
Pray to God, fine; but keep rowing to shore.

157 1635

Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama, 1988
We must conduct research and then accept the results. If they don't stand up to experimentation, Buddha's own words must be rejected.

127 1544

Arthur C. Clarke
I would defend the liberty of consenting adult creationists to practice whatever intellectual perversions they like in the privacy of their own homes; but it is also necessary to protect the young and innocent.

142 1569

H. L. Mencken
We must respect the other fellow's religion, but only in the sense and to the extent that we respect his theory that his wife is beautiful and his children smart

271 1864

Terry Pratchett
The presence of those seeking the truth is infinitely to be preferred to the presence of those who think they've found

And my personal favorite by Mahatma Ghandi:

I like your Christ, I do not like your christians, your christians are so unlike your Christ.

Charlie ... 100% correct!

As for the Top 10, Sue ... do you follow ALL of the laws in the Old Testament? (If so, I hope you live on a farm.)

Feisty:

Who's to say "he" isn't a "she"?

Exactly! Hence the quotation marks around my "he" :)

Big wave to LAYTON!

Sue, we did. Or at least defined his existance to suit our own fancies.

How else could one bible evolve (or devolve) into 3 seperate and different religions?

One can act morally for reasons other than a fear of divine retribution.

@WilliamOfRites, I have heard a few of these, but not all and I have never seen so many grouped together. Brilliant, all of them! Thanks for the post!

I have plenty of friends who are atheists who have morals. Proof that God doesn't have to be in your life to know what is and is not acceptable in living your life. Common sense and understanding consequences of one's actions is a wonderful thing. People can be decent without organized religions nailing their beliefs and accusations into others in an attempt to make them fear something that can neither be proved as fact of existing or not.

All you need is the Golden Rule. I have yet to find a situation where it fails.

WilliamofRites: Great list! It's refreshing to see that even dead, smart, and famous people can be wrong. Supposing they were wrong about God's existence...I wonder if any of them were snarky to God's face when they finally did get to meet Him; the stupid looks on their faces must have been priceless!

How do you know God is real, have you met him, did you shake his hand? No, I think not, he is just as much of an unknown to you as he is to the rest of us.

I am sorry, Bill, but you no more basis to say they are wrong, than you do saying your right.

John-398192

I also try to live by the Golden Rule , to my way of thinking it covers all of the Ten Commandments and then some. As for beleiving inGod, I believe in the posibilty of a supriem being. this universe is to big for not to be someone farther ahead than we are.

WilliamOfRites (#9.7):

Thank you very much! Wonderful quotes.

"I have plenty of friends who are atheists who have morals."

I cannot think of a single atheist I know who doesn't have morals. On the other hand, some of the worst scum-bags I know attend church on a regular basis.

The Catholic Church and their "game" of pedophile hide-n-seek

Morality does not come from religion. Morality comes from society.

If nothing else religion brings a measure of civility.

"sue"...I'm not so sure that Miss Manners would have approved of the Spanish Inquisition and the crusades were just a little more than a church picnic in the desert.

The entire basis of western christianity involves the complete extermination of all non-christians before their nasty god will allow their messiah to return. Do you believe in the civility of bowing to a god of mass genocide???

Man was not made in the image and likeness of a god; gods are made in the image and likeness of men.

Which is more moral, those who practice morality without fear of retribution or hope of reward, or those that practise morality because it is just the right and merciful thing to do?

God save England

God save the King

God this and God that

and God the other thing.

"Good God!" said God, "I have my work cut out."

John Donne.

Anyone that doesn't believe in God and isn't rich is a fool.

I smell troll....

The reason I said that is that without God there are no ten commandments for one and those ten commandments mean nothing.

Why does God need to exist for me to know that I shouldn't kill someone?

If nothing else religion brings a measure of civility. I forgot where I read it but "if God didn't exist, we'd have to invent him."

Yes, all the wars that have been fought due to religion have been fought with a measure of civility! Religion just keeps the masses grovelling at the feet of the powerful. By the way, the person who said that if god didn't exist then we would have to invent him was Voltaire.

Well, mayaculpa, I personally have nothing against atheists(I personally am agnostic at best, probably best described as a questioner), until they do something that members of organized religion do, and that is try and for their religious views on others. I have no problem with you believing they way you do, but no one, absolutely no one has the right to force others to conform to their beliefs.

The reason why I bring that up is because that is part of the stigma of atheists, which I will admit is something the various religions in this country have done as well. However because atheism is in the minority here, they are stigmatized, condemned and viewed as a negative influence over all. Its not right, but there you go.

maya and Eric, I am a Christian who believes that all of us should get along and none of us have the right to shove our beliefs down anyone's throat. Co-exist - for all!

Evangelicals and Souther Baptists could do well to follow that example, Layton. Personally if I would say that I ascribe to a specific type of belief, it would be something closely related to a Buddhism/Taoism hybrid belief system.

Religion has a huge advantage in that religions are memes. Atheism is not a meme. It is not a construct that has evolved an effective means of self propagation and survival -rational thought alone is just not that effective at appealing to human beings.

Eric -

I believe this is a perfect example of something I learned this week from a very wise man - okay, from my fellow poster, Independent Redneck, Virginia. It's called the Five Percent Rule and holds that the 95% of normal people in any group will always have to shoulder the blame for the 5% in the lunatic fringe. And in this case, I agree with you that the lunatic fringe of atheists have no more right to force their beliefs - or lack of them - on anyone else than does the religious right.

Then again, I'm a lunatic fringe of atheists all by myself who celebrates Christmas, loves the old hymns, could care less if my loose change says "In God We Trust" or not, and in a way, often misses the old days when I went to church. There's a lot to be said for taking an hour or so out of the week for community and giving and quiet meditation and doing unto others as you would have them do unto you.

If only that's what all religions were really all about.....

P.S. - Just saw your follow-up to Layton's comment. If I were to ascribe to anything myself, I kind of think I'd be a Unitarian. My brother and his family are, and they're very big on community and especially on the environment. And the first Christmas Eve I went to services there, they had a candle-lighting ceremony that managed to include "our friends the" Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, people who celebrate Kwanzaa, and even "the earth-centered people who light bonfires on the hills". And next Friday they'll be having their annual Winter Solstice celebration where they light a big wheel on fire and roll it around the parking lot or something.Well, assuming that the Mayans were wrong and the world doesn't end next Friday - hopefully they start early! But I figure any church that extends their tolerance even to Druids has to be pretty cool.....

How can you state that the Democrats ignore you?

Eric ...

Evangelicals and Souther Baptists could do well to follow that example, Layton

Agreed. That's why I have a belief and not a religion. I don't want my faith to be tied to a bunch of zealouts who think hurting this country is helping it.

JoAnne, my brother-in-law (who is gay and married) is a Unitarian minister. He is one of the most sincere and loving people I know.

Co-exist!

RDH: "rational thought alone is just not that effective at appealing to human beings."

Actually rational thought appeals to rational human beings. You've proved that we Athiests, Agnostics and non-preferential people tend to be rational.

That certainly leaves us out of the GOP as it is today. The Democratic Party is much more closely rational than the GOP.

Those people should end it...so others can work

...because unfortunately some would have you believe that failure to believe an a higher power makes you less American.

"Our national motto is 'In God we Trust,' reminding us that faith in our Creator is the most important American value of all." - Senator Marco Rubio

With 1 in 5 Americans surveyed considering themselves atheists in Gallup's 2012 survey, would Senator Rubio really want to suggest that 20% of this nation lacks all of the necessary values to be "American"?

Oh poor, poor Senator Rubio is not a student of history.

@Da Noid...good point and I think the answer to your questions is yes, yes he would! :)

As to his assertion that "In God We Trust" is our National motto, I believe it is really e pluribus unum. The US didn't adopt the former until 1864 at the behest of religious zealots during the Civil War.

Not educating you, but rather Mr. Rubio! Because I know he reads these threads. ;)

I mostly just wanted to enter my two cents (without the In God We Trust.)

After all is said and done, we are not a "Christian" nation. We weren't founded as one to be more specific.

In the four primary documents laying the Foundation of this country:

1) The Bill of Rights

2) The Declaration of Independence

3) The Articles of Confederation

4) the US Constitution

You will not find any of these words: Christ, Bible, Jesus, Christianity.

We have been hijacked!

Thanks for reading my drivel!

Peace!

Actually, fubar, "In God We Trust" was designated as our national motto by Eisenhower during the Cold War. "E Pluribus Unum" is the motto inscribed upon the National Seal, and was considered to be the national motto until Eisenhower signed the law that changed it to "In God We Trust". Though the reasoning behind it had to do more with politics than religion, so Senator Rubio's statement is still very inaccurate.

DaNoid - Seriously! You're quoting Marco Rubio? Lame and intellectually shallow.

Along with Fubar and Eric's posts, "In god we trust" wasn't added to the pledge of allegence until the Red Scare in the 50's either.

Sir, you are the exception for the most part. I have many Christian friends who feel as you do. I don't get on them for their beliefs as it is theirs to have. I only object when those beliefs are used to discriminate against groups or as a means to influence law making. Separation of Church and State is a wonderful thing, but I fear the line is being blurred.

I commend your ability to discern your religion from the law.

Have a very Merry Christmas!

WisconsinDad, interesting combination. Mine is also one I don't see often. I am pro environmentalism, pro choice, pro gay rights, pro labor and unions, anti fundamentalist religions, strongly anti the Tea party, but anti all immigration and pro death penalty. I also hate TSA with a passion.

Wisconsin Dad and Zorro - while I don't agree with you on all of your positions, given that they are not the typical dogmatic positions it is clear you have thought about them. For that I commend you. Thank you for being thoughtful. ( I suspect that unlike so many people who post on these "conversations" you two guys also read more than one book a decade...thanks for that too!) Best wishes.

I actually think, when you sit down and have an honest conversation with people, the majority have varied positions. Very few people I have met actually fit the precise definition of "liberal" or "conservative" (what ever those definitions may be on any given day).

The beauty of being American is that we are free to have that variety without fear of punishment. In a perfect world, our Government would reflect that variety and appreciate the compromise brought forth through our diversity.

E Pluribus Unum and Happy Holidays!!

On what planet? This one or the one they are given after death.

That alone should prove Mormons are not Christians. Mormons believe each male in good standing will become a G*D of their own planet. And that Mrs. Mormon in good standing will become Mrs. G*D. Not exactly the Christian belief of an eternity in G*D's presence in heaven.

Also a lot of stuff about no G*D coming before the big one. Don't know how that is going to play out on planet exalted Mormon. Is Mormon G*D going to make sure HE is known as G*D jr.? That G*D sr. is really in charge. I read the book. Didn't really find an answer to that one.

Since Mormons believe in the divinity of Christ, they are Christian. Anything else is irrelevant.

But aren't Christ and God the same thing? You know that whole Trinity thingy! :) Not arguing, just posing a supposition. My friend is an ex-Mormon and she never considered herself a Christian. Not sure that is how all Mormons feel or not. Just an a side.

You know its funny, you compare Christ to Old Testament God, and you start to get the feeling that they are two wholly unrelated entities.

Doesn't protestant just mean "not catholic"?

It's an erroneous statement nonetheless. JFK was Catholic.

JFK stated that he wouldn't tell the Pope how to run his church if the Pope didn't tell him how to run the country.

Doesn't protestant just mean "not catholic"?

Not necessarily. The Eastern Orthodox sects predate the Reformation.

We do, first and foremost we don't fit in any group, even our own.

I refuse to be a member of any club that would accept me. Groucho Marx.

Yeah. ITA. The problems we have ALWAYS had are now out of the closet where we kept polite society's secrets. They are being exposed and talked about. Terrible. Simply terrible.

Anyone who uses the moniker "Blow it out your A**hole" is no position to criticize the moral standards of this great nation.

Just look at the condition of this country since we've started to push God out.

Like the most technologically advanced we've ever been, or the healthiest we've ever been, or the least amount of violent crime since the 60s, or the least amount of drug use since the 60s, or the highest racial and gender equality ever?

The economy sucks, but that has been brewing for 20+ years, and is slowly getting better. I doubt the reduction of religion is a factor in all this, but clearly taking god out isn't hurting anything.

That's a big fat AMEN, RDH! Could not have called out BS any better myself!

That's a big fat AMEN, RDH! Could not have called out BS any better myself!

Seconded!

And waving back to Alaska Girl!!! (Been crazy busy at work today but LOVE it as the day just zooms!)

Yeah, I too have crazy time at work, but this time of year, in my line of work, it is slow, which is fine by me because for 7,8 months of the year I am disgustingly crazy busy every single day of the work week.

Just realized I spelled "Millennials" wrong:( I correct myself:)

Contesse1 -

Hallelujah and Amen to your post from a Baby Boomer atheist!

You (and your husband) are awesome!

Awww lets have a pity party! Cry harder, Wait aren't you almost extinct? Off to the tar pits with you.

Uhh, buffalo? The world I live in abounds with intelligent life - you should come visit it sometime. I avoid dope (and dopes) like the plague, I've had pretty much the same job for over 43 years now, I've never collected a dime in welfare, my daddy was named Rodney, not Barack, and both he and my mother are now dead, not deadbeats. Please take your stereotypes somewhere else.

And P.S. - The best things in life are free. Then again, the best things in life aren't "things".

Wow, Buffalo must have missed that part in the article where it talked about many of "The Nones" believing in smaller governance, which tends to be an ideology that type of conservative that Buffalo seems to be, ascribes to. Hmm, must have been the whole "Voted for Barak due to the lesser intermixing of religion, over the Republican party" that attracted Buffalo's attention.

"Anyone who voted for this commie should be called the same! they live in a world devoid of any intelligent life "

• Buffalo -- how do you conservatives do this so often?? It seems just about every single time one of you right wing types attempts to describe a liberal -- you end up describing yourself. Seriously -- they live in a world devoid of any intelligent life " -- that describes you ditto-head/Fox cultist exactly.

Buffalo, you are an idiot. I voted for Obama, I work three jobs, I own my own home, I own rental property. My parents are dead so I don't live with them. I've never been on welfare, but am gald it's there for those who truly need it. I've never smoked dope or taken illegal drugs. F- you. Oh, and I don't hate republicans, if they ran someone real I'd consider voting for them. Bush, Mitt, Santorum, Bachman, Gingrich. Really, REALLY, that's the best they could do!!!!!

Until the Republican Party stops pandering to and completely renounces any affiliation with people like "buffalo" they will lose my vote. Period.

Thanks Buffalo, you've validated everyone here that is a rational thinker and different from most irrational thinkers.

We used to be called "Free Thinkers" as a deragatory remark. I still can't find the down side of that.

Yes Erin.

"ALL" of them are false.

There is only one.

You might find him one day.

But yes, religion by man is an abomination.

Grasp the beauty of the here and now!

Yeah, I agree. But Erin, sorry to bother you: your avatar doesn't look like an Erin at all. It's maddening.

"Life is a precious thing to waist".

A mind is also a terrible thing to "waist". And a waist is a terrible thing to mind..... :)

Maybe that is the "E" in Alfred E Neuman?

The "evils" of religion? All of the religious (christian) people I know are the kindest, most caring people I have ever known. They live their lives according to how they think God would want them to, which to them is basically "the golden rule". So whether God is false or not, how is that in any way a bad thing? Their church groups help needy families, they help each other when needed, they are good hard working people. How is that a (waist-sic)?

"All of the religious (christian) people I know are the kindest, most caring people I have ever known."

Wow!! You mist live in a totally different world than I've ever been in and I've lived all over the nation. Some of the most dishonest, hateful, cheating, all around scum-bag people I know call themselves Christians. Now - that's NOT true of all of them but it is true of far too many.

Religious people are kind and caring? Let me see, the religious right revels in imagining people roasting in hell. Doesn't sound very loving to me. They hate gays, muslims, Democrats, liberals, etc. They get off on telling you how happy they are about all those "faggots" that will be going to hell. Loving? I think not.

I know there are good, loving Christian people, but they aren't the ones you hear about. You only hear about the whackos, and there are plenty of them.

I prefer to keep my religion and my politics separate. One of the reasons for that is the simple fact of hypocrisy. I don't trust people who parade around espousing family values and "decent Christian beliefs" because they are usually saying it to get votes, not because they believe it. Reagan talked all over the place about family values, but he shipped all his kids off to boarding school just as soon as they were old enough to hustle out the door.

Christ told us to pray in a closet, not in the public arena looking for public approval and praise. I don't trust people who wear their religion as a vote-getting mechanism, the same way I don't trust people who talk a lot about patriotism. In my experience, the true Christians and the true patriots live their beliefs, they don't talk about them to get votes. Look at the actions, not at the words. Words are cheap and often false.

I will also say that those who are not religiously affiliated don't like the idea of having someone else's religion dictating what they should do or how they should vote.

"mikeinoregon"...How do the christians that you know justify worshiping an evil being that required the slaughter of his "only begotten son" in order to forgive them of their sins? What kind of father would do that to his son? How do they justify worshiping a being that requires the complete extermination of all non-christians before he will allow their messiah to return? This is not a good creature - by any stretch of the imagination.

I'm sure there were many nazis that were nice people, helped the needy, helped each other when needed and were hard working....but they were still nazis. Even a mass murderer is capable of love for a puppy.

Most "evangelicals" (followers of the anti-christ) I have met are what it must be like to bite into a chocolate covered horse turd. Sugary sweet and fake on the outside and pretty damn disgusting on the inside.