i do not fully agree with your comments and am somewhat dismayed.  i am just expressing my opinion and not intending to offent Mr. Wiliamson.  Just offering my perspective.

A holiday is what it is: Easter, Thanksgiving, Halloween, etc.  The holiday is rooted in the birth of Christ.  If someone does not want to celebrate the holiday of Christmas, then i suggest individuals organize another holiday to celebrate.  George Kastainka’s father did just that in an episode of Seinfeld!  So i say “go for it, but leave Christmas alone.”

If i as a Christian, travel to India or China or any other nation should i be so offended by the name of a holiday--which is culturally rooted in a specific person or religion--that i no longer call the holiday what it is?  And beyond that expect others to remove any images, etc. which represent that holiday.  For instance, remove the name or images of “Buddha” from that specific holiday.

I enjoy the Golden Compass and Narnia both. Actually, my Jewish mother read the Chronicles of Narnia to me when I was little. I come from a family of respect towards all religions and we take criticism for what its worth. For example, I accept the criticism the Golden Compass has for religious authorities but I don’t accept its criticism of a belief in God.

I understand it is natural to feel defensive when your religion is threatened but lets remember that atheists are probably the most persecuted group when it comes to issues of religion. The majority of Americans believe in God and that belief is incredibly strong. Let’s show atheists the same respect we want them to show us.

To clarify, my point was about Atheism in modern America. Although I wouldn’t go so far to say that Jews live without persecution, they live, especially in major urban centers, pretty well connected lives. Even though they are only 2% of the American population they are business leaders, senators, etc. One came a Supreme Court decision away from becoming the Vice President. Concerning CHristians, the majority of Americans believe that the U.S. is a Christian nation. However, let me list the results of a gallup poll.

Here are the percentages of people saying they would refuse to vote for “a generally well-qualified person for president” on the basis of some characteristic; in parenthesis are the figures for earlier years:

Catholic: 4% (1937: 30%)
Black: 5% (1958: 63%, 1987: 21%)
Jewish: 6% (1937: 47%)
Baptist: 6%
Woman: 8%
Mormon: 17%
Muslim: 38%
Gay: 37% (1978: 74%)
Atheist: 48%

Christians are naturally more privileged in America than others religions. They represent every single president of the U.S. They control all levels of government. The Missouri legislature reads a prayer that mentions Jesus, but makes no provision for atheists, Jews, Muslims, or anyone else. Christians, as the privileged have a voice, and like frequently like to use that voice to proclaim their faith. That is fine. But at least be conscious that there are religious minorities, including atheists, that frequently don’t feel that same empowerment to be able to openly proclaim THEIR faith, without fear of prejudice.

We are on the same side in many respects, especially on the issue of respecting other religious adherents.  I would pose two questions for consideration.  First, how are you understanding the term “persecution”?  I am not sure that I would place the fact that most Americans don’t feel comfortable electing an avowed athiest on par with the what the Jews encountered in WWII. (Then again maybe I don’t understand the statistics you have cited.) I also don’t think the definition of a term should be confined to the modern era or to the North American continent.  Persecution to an American and persecution to someone in Kenya is probably drastically different.

Second, have you read Dr. Albert Molher’s commentary entitled “The New Atheism”? (See also the related article in Wired Magazine.) If you haven’t, I would suggest that you read it, for the current leaders in the American Atheistic movement are not cowering in some dark corner stroking their security blankets and sucking their thumbs.  They are going for the jugular.

If I came across as saying that atheists have it worse period, I misspoke and apologize. My point is that American opinion has evolved to be more accepting, at least on a superficial level, of Jews, gays, African Americans, and Catholics, while Atheists seem to have been left behind.

Because I am not an atheist means I can be elected president. That is a privilege that I don’t think I deserve. I respect people who believe god exists and I think that same respect should be extended to those who believe god doesn’t exist. Simple as that.