There is no misunderstanding.

First, to answer tabsey's question, "why do atheists meet". The plain fact is that believers are ursurping government and politics in various ways and using their beliefs to alter our laws, history, and knowledge. There is no reason for people who do not believe in their gods to sit back and accept those changes when they are based on belief. Atheists are actually being forced to respond to these invasions of our laws and philosophies by getting together and forming a plan to expose these mythologies for what they are.

When schools are being altered to forgo actual education in favor of ideology (evolution vs creationism for one) then its time for rational pe...

There is no misunderstanding.

First, to answer tabsey's question, "why do atheists meet". The plain fact is that believers are ursurping government and politics in various ways and using their beliefs to alter our laws, history, and knowledge. There is no reason for people who do not believe in their gods to sit back and accept those changes when they are based on belief. Atheists are actually being forced to respond to these invasions of our laws and philosophies by getting together and forming a plan to expose these mythologies for what they are.

When schools are being altered to forgo actual education in favor of ideology (evolution vs creationism for one) then its time for rational people to stand up and challenge those believers to prove their fundamental claims.

If religion were nothing more than a personal choice on how one lives then it would remain a personal choice. But they are trying to make it a national policy, taking away the possibility of choice through educated decision making.

The other thing I wanted to mention is that its not a matter of misunderstanding. In order to defend against the response to their claims believers are trying to label atheists as religious in their own way so that they can THEN argue that its an argument of belief. It simply is not that. One is based on a will to believe while the other is backed with verifiable evidence and observation.

@Oortcloud
I'll have to admit, some days I feel the same way as you've expressed and other times I don't. I guess it depends on my inner feelings of optimism versus pessimism. There are theists that share my views about religious intrusion into the civic sphere. And much of the posturing of prominent politicians has more to do with votes than with theology. Unfortunately, the position of Christian privilege has become so enmeshed in our culture that it's hard for the majority to see it for what it is.

As far as the question of "misunderstanding", perhaps there are a portion of theists that can be persuaded to see beyond their dogma? Personally, I can't claim to have ever seen a spontaneous ...

@Oortcloud
I'll have to admit, some days I feel the same way as you've expressed and other times I don't. I guess it depends on my inner feelings of optimism versus pessimism. There are theists that share my views about religious intrusion into the civic sphere. And much of the posturing of prominent politicians has more to do with votes than with theology. Unfortunately, the position of Christian privilege has become so enmeshed in our culture that it's hard for the majority to see it for what it is.

As far as the question of "misunderstanding", perhaps there are a portion of theists that can be persuaded to see beyond their dogma? Personally, I can't claim to have ever seen a spontaneous casting away of supernaturalism but maybe along the way a seed was planted here and there that will get people to start thinking.

I guess my pendulum is just swinging towards my optimistic side today! Never fear, I'll watch the news and that'll nudge it back the other way.

...believers are ursurping government and politics in various ways and
using their beliefs to alter our laws, history, and knowledge...

They use deceptive tactics to do so. Some years ago, I received a survey from the Christian Coalition. Just for fun, I filled it out, explicitly identifying myself as a non-Christian, answered the questions and did not request membership. A short time later, I received a membership card and other information, which included a guide on how to recognize Christian candidates. It also instructed me on what to do if I wanted to become involved in running for office. I was told to start small - school board or town council - and work up from the...

...believers are ursurping government and politics in various ways and
using their beliefs to alter our laws, history, and knowledge...

They use deceptive tactics to do so. Some years ago, I received a survey from the Christian Coalition. Just for fun, I filled it out, explicitly identifying myself as a non-Christian, answered the questions and did not request membership. A short time later, I received a membership card and other information, which included a guide on how to recognize Christian candidates. It also instructed me on what to do if I wanted to become involved in running for office. I was told to start small - school board or town council - and work up from there. I was also told to conceal any affiliation with the CC until I was in a position to influence policy. In other wrods, I was told to lie and cheat to achieve their objectives.

I think I still have the membership card somewhere, but I've never involved myself beyond filling out the survey.