For Immediate Release: Tuesday, July 1, 2008 Atheist Civil Rights Group Blasts Obama Support for Bush Faith-Based Scheme

An Atheist organization which defends civil rights and the separation of church and state today criticized Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama for his support of the Bush faith-based initiatives.

Obama pledged to expand the federal funding scheme, which under Mr. Bush has given over $1.2 billion in taxpayer money to churches, mosques, temples and other religious groups to operate “faith-based” social programs.

Frank Zindler, Acting President of American Atheists, said that Obama was “horse trading the constitutional separation of government and religion for votes.”

“This makes it official – the Democrats are trying to outdo their Republican colleagues in using religion and the lure of more taxpayer money to turn houses of worship into voting blocks,” said Zindler. “Obama wants to continue the discriminatory policy of taxing millions of Atheists, Freethinkers, Humanists and other Americans who profess no religious beliefs, and give that money to organized religion. That’s unfair, that’s discriminatory, and it endangers our First Amendment freedom.”

Dave Silverman, Communications Director for American Atheists, said that the Obama pledge to continue Bush’s programs is a risky economic and social experiment. “The faith-based initiative allows religious groups to use our money in programs that are poorly monitored, have little or no accountability, and drain resources for their more effective secular counterparts,” said Silverman. “This is pandering to religious groups, and offers the lure of free government cash in exchange for political support.”

American Atheists is a nationwide movement which defends the civil rights of nonbelievers, works for the separation of church and state, and addresses issues of First Amendment public policy.

Contact American Atheists

For Immediate Release: Monday, June 23, 2008 George Carlin Dead At 71 – Comedian, Critic, Atheist

GEORGE CARLIN, acerbic and insightful social critic and comedian died Sunday at age 71. Carlin was especially famous for his “Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television” routine, and his edgy style of witty commentary that made him one of the nation’s funniest and most controversial performers.

But for a growing segment of the American population – the 13% of “godless” Americans who profess no religious beliefs – Carlin was especially heroic. George Carlin was an Atheist who often eviscerated religious dogmatism in his special, humorous style. Of religion he said:

“When it comes to bullshit, big time, major league bullshit, you have to stand in awe of the all-time champion of false promises and exaggerated claims, religion. No contest. No contest. Religion. Religion easily has the greatest bullshit story ever told. Think about it. Religion has actually convinced people that there’s an invisible man living in the sky who watches everything you do every minute of the 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 for ever and ever ’til the end of time!”

Frank Zindler, Acting President of American Atheists said that Carlin will be especially missed by Atheists, freethinkers and even open-minded religious believers. “Carlin took on all of the religious shibboleths of our age in a way that made people laugh and think at the same time. We’ve lost a great comedian and a wonderful human being.”

For more commentary on Mr. Carlin’s work and its significance to America’s non-religious community, contact:

FRANK ZINDLER: (614) 299-1036
DAVE SILVERMAN: (732) 648-9333

American Atheists is a nationwide movement which defends the civil rights of nonbelievers, works for the separation of church and state, and addresses issues of First Amendment public policy.

Contact American Atheists