Says a gullible sheep who believes childish mythology without any evidence. Maybe you should remove the duralog from your eye before calling other people stupid. 
It’s hard to be civil when stupid children are trying to make you live your life based on their imaginary friend’s desires.
I recognize that religion makes some people feel good. I have no desire, however, to see them trying to impose on others in the belief it’ll make them feel good, too. Hence the obnoxious guy wanting creationism in science class is about the same as the obnoxious guy at the party who keeps insisting that everybody take a bong-hit. No, thanks. Get lost.
But I’ve never run into an obnoxious guy at a party supporting legislature that everyone must take a bong hit.
Okay Czarcasm, I’ll bite. Can you show me some instances of when being an obnoxious asshole converts people to your way of thinking?
Limbaugh.
What do I win?
Missed the Obama Inauguration, did we?
It’s ironic that you are nitpicking that in your view it does not amount to true repression, responding to a question about what level of repression is appropriate. So, I guess in your case the answer is “a bit more than now.”
Let me rephrase this so it’s more accurate:
I want to see that movie.
In heaven.
But where’s Dottie?
Guys, I’m not asking every atheist to shut up. And I’m not asking Der Trihs to shut up because he’s an atheist. I’m asking him to shut up because he’s an asshole.
There is a very famous modern atheist philosopher named Daniel Dennett. I have read almost all his work and have enormous respect for him. The thing he said that has stuck with me the most is: “There is nothing I like less than bad arguments for a view that I hold dear.”
And to me, that’s exactly what Der Trihs does. He makes bad arguments for views that thinking men like Dennett hold dear.
I really don’t care if you make fun of my beliefs. True, I used to. But not anymore. Hell, in your shoes, I’d probably make fun of them too. But I haven’t lived your lives. I don’t know what your life experiences are. So I can only respect or disrespect you based on how you treat me, not on what you do or do not believe.
I’m not sure it’s necessary to craft an elaborate or deep atheist argument. “Your religion is based on made-up stuff unless you can prove otherwise,” will do, and while I’m sure this Dennett guy has thrown a lot of effort into the matter, it’s redundant.
This Dennett guy? 
That’s like an evolutionist talking trash about this Eugenie Scott woman. And made up stuff unless I can prove otherwise? Prove to me what you dreamed about last night while you were sleeping. Your brain was very active. You should have no problem providing evidence to support what you claim to have dreamed, should you?
Quite a bit. Compare their treatment to that of the Jews in Europe, the Muslims in Spain or the Christians in Japan.
I’ll also note that atheism only became intellectually respectable --or even conceivable in some ways-- in the late 1800s.
Personally I oppose fundamentalism in all its forms, but theism doesn’t especially bother me. To answer an earlier question, I suspect that mainline Christians don’t attack fundamentalists vociferously because they want their churches to remain as big tents. There is also a commitment to ecumenicalism to consider. Yes, this grants a big part of the stage to those like the late Jerry Falwell. But again, most Christians - that is most Americans- understand that followers of Jesus are a diverse bunch.
The other awkward fact is that Evangelical churches are growing, while mainline ones have membership problems.
Incidentally, my decision theory shtick was partly smoke blowing, insofar as my knowledge of that field is spotty. But sorry, I’m not going to engage here: that debate belongs in GD.
In the past, I’ve had to modify my position somewhat following discussions with Voyager. One of the rare atheist/agnostic smackfests was conducted in April 2008: “I don’t believe in God” versus “I believe God doesn’t exist”.
It doesn’t matter; I’m not using my dreams as justifications for legislation or insisting my dreams be the subject of science classes. If all religious people had the same attitude, it wouldn’t be an issue because who outside the religion would care?
Rats, you caught us in your trap! Since nothing can be proven, belief in sky faries is as rational as any belief. Well done!
Measure for Measure, I’m not even sure what you mean when you say that mainline Christians want the fundamentalist churches for their big tents. Huh? It’s generally against our beliefs to attack other people. (Although we do it, of course.) Generally we are more likely to attack their policies.
I have faced exactly the same problem and I am a Christian. I support the Establishment clause. I think it’s the healthy approach for both church and state. From within the school system itself (as a classroom teacher) I have taken a position in opposition to any required prayers or daily Bible readings. And I have done that in a Southern school. You wouldn’t believe the things that have been said to me. If I had it to do over, I think I would make a big stink about the harrassment.
Strange…but I would consider my Damascus moment one that led me away from organized religion, and allowed me to use my own mind. To see that religion was created by humans, for humans, and that it was desire that caused a person to think it was God . That was 30 years ago and I have never been more at peace. I find my beliefs stronger each day. There are many intrepretations for the word God. Each person has the right to their own beliefs or non beliefs. What ever helps them get through life as a better person.
My moment came while watching Ghost.
So you admit that atheists have almost no voice in government, we are demeaned, and we are looked down upon.
What more would you want to happen so that you could put atheists in the “repressed” category?