Dear Friend,
As you know, politicians across the country are trying to force the Ten Commandments and the Bibles they come from into public schools. Nowadays, they’re not even pretending it’s about history or civics anymore.
When NOTUS asked why lawmakers feel “emboldened” to impose their personal beliefs on all students, Louisiana Senator John Kennedy said, “Maybe because they believe in God.” And Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders answered, “In Arkansas, we do in fact believe that murder is wrong and stealing is bad.”
I don’t need to tell you, Reader, that atheists also believe murder and stealing are bad, or that we managed to arrive at that conclusion without any commands from on high. That American Atheists must continually remind elected leaders of this simple fact shows how very necessary our organization’s work still is.
The exclusionary and condescending view that this nation — and morality altogether — belong only to the religious is not only obnoxious, but dangerous.
Ahead of last week’s No Kings rallies, several Republicans issued sweeping condemnations of the events and of the “radical,” “violent,” “terrorists” that would be taking part. Senator Barrasso of Wyoming singled out American Atheists from a list of 200+ partner organizations because he and too many others still think “atheist” is a slur, a scary bogeyman, or both.
But the thread that connects you to me to all the members of this organization — the absence of a belief in god(s) — is nothing to fear or shame. Nonbelief, skepticism, curiosity, whatever you call it, and whether it’s a big part of who you are or a minor one; none of these traits are the affront some insist it is.
The data continue to back this up. PRRI released a new survey this week that shows, yet again, support for political violence is far higher among Christian Nationalists. A whopping 95% of Christian Nationalists say believing in [their] God is important to being truly American, which tells you how they feel about those of us who don’t. And while 80% of Americans believe empathy is the foundation of a healthy society, four in ten Christian Nationalists think it’s “a dangerous emotion.” But we’re on the fringe?
This narrative is old, but in 2025, it’s really, really getting tired. Nones aren’t and cannot be outsiders in our own country when we account for almost one-third of the population. How many more studies must confirm atheism doesn’t mean amoral, that we nonbelievers behave just as ethically (if not sometimes more) than believers do? And on nearly every major political issue, from bodily autonomy to academic freedom, American Atheists and our members are in step with the majority of Americans.
87 years ago today, in my home state of Iowa, the Archbishop of Dubuque warned degenerate swing music would lead the nation down a “primrose path to hell.” Since then, it’s been rock music, Dungeons & Dragons, video games, and more. The religious right’s moral panics and cultural outrages never end; they just, dare I say, evolve. One of the only constants has been that atheists are bad.
But today’s Christian Nationalists have brought to a screeching halt even the pretense of sincerity of their political views or the sanctity of their religious ones. No serious person can seriously believe the president is a pious man. There is little evidence he’s a person who respects either divine or democratic laws.
Steve Bannon said this week, “He’s not churchy, not particularly religious, but he’s an instrument of divine will.” MAGA Pastor and self-described “cult follower” Shane Vaughn is claiming the Founding Fathers secretly wanted a monarch, just like Trump, to “bring salvation.” Trump himself, in a rare moment of introspection, recently admitted he’s probably not getting into heaven.
In the past week, Trump signed off on more extrajudicial executions of South Americans; demanded $230 million from taxpayers; pardoned a convicted and admitted crypto crook that helped actual terrorists and criminals; and leveled the East Wing of the People’s House to build a ballroom during an ongoing government shutdown. Even FOX News called it a “troublesome” week.
The greed, corruption, and clownish destructiveness would be bad enough. But this administration’s biggest grift is that it’s faithful to any conviction other than cold, hard cash. To smear nonreligious folks as “radical” while attempting to rationalize the literal demolition of institutions and societal norms is so audacious and absurd it would almost be funny if their bigotry didn’t also endanger our secular community and threaten to reverse the progress we’ve made.
American Atheists isn’t deterred. We’ll continue telling the truth and calling out the hypocrisy until it sticks. And take it from an Iowa country girl: the chickens will come home to roost. Like that Archbishop from Dubuque, who prophesied the Lindy Hop would doom us all? Well, he was later investigated by the FBI for his role in a fraudulent gold mine scheme.
Primrose paths, indeed.
In solidarity,
Melina Cohen
Director of Strategic Communications & Policy Engagement
American Atheists is a 501(c)(3) non-partisan, nonprofit educational organization that relies on the support of members like you. Contributions are tax-deductible. Our Federal Tax ID Number is 74-2466507 and our Combined Federal Campaign number is 52217.
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