Congressman is Openly Atheist; Religious Right Openly Hostile

Peter Stark made a statement about his religious beliefs, making him just one of many congress critters who've done so. In fact, for too many, their religious beliefs are their only real qualification for office -- they're empty suits who pump out religious dogma for a living. Stark's beliefs make for a nice change of pace.

Associated Press:

The American Humanist Association applauded Rep. Pete Stark for publicly acknowledging he does not believe in a supreme being. The declaration, it said, makes him the highest-ranking elected official -- and first congressman -- to proclaim to be an atheist.

The organization took out an ad in Tuesday's Washington Post, congratulating the California Democrat for his stance.

"With Stark's courageous public announcement of his nontheism, it is our hope that he will become an inspiration for others who have hidden their conclusions for far too long," executive director Roy Speckhardt said in a statement.

Of course, it didn't take long for the religious right to freak out about it.

Cybercast News Service:

"It is unfortunate in a society that is going down the path of godlessness and making right wrong and wrong right, that we continue down this path by celebrating one member of Congress who denies that God exists altogether," Concerned Women for America Director of Legislative Relations Mike Mears told Cybercast News Service.

No, what's unfortunate is that there are some in the US who would criticize someone for a religious belief. There's a word for that and it needs to be used much more often -- bigotry. CWA speaks for a lot of people in this country and every one of them who holds this opinion is a bigot. Pure and simple. These are people for whom 'freedom of religion' means the freedom to embrace their religion and no one has any right to believe anything else.

It's small-minded, sheepish, and a mindset unworthy of a free people.