Comments on: Free speech roundup

By: Bill Poser

Bill Poser — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 07:42:51 +0000

In the case in the UK in which a boy who said “woof” to a police dog was charged with criminal insult, I wonder on what basis did the police decide that “woof” is an insult? Do they purport to understand the language of dogs, and claim that the boy speaks it?

By: William Nuesslein

William Nuesslein — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 14:34:24 +0000

Why would perfect strangers be concerned about whether I believe in God? During our evolution as human beings we lived in small groups with shared resources. Expulsion from the group would lead to early death and few children. Anybody being somewhat paranoid would have an advantage in being less likely to be caught taking more than his fair share. A belief in being watched by a God or other ephemeral creatures is common to all peoples. Obviously everybody has a stake in protecting common resources from misuse, so a belief in God by others would cut back on cheating from them.

Once human cognition allowed for an understanding of societal responsibility, the need for a belief in God would subside. My own experience is that atheists are very good folks.

By: Walter Olson

Walter Olson — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 05:16:30 +0000

Yes, a post early in this blog's run noted that such laws linger on in some states, though "widely considered unenforceable" under current Supreme Court precedent.

By: By Natural Laws With No Exception

By Natural Laws With No Exception — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 04:58:53 +0000

It’s not execution, but many American states have Constitutional discrimination against atheists:

Arkansas State Constitution “No person who denies the being of a God shall hold any office in the civil departments, nor testify as a witness in any court.”

Maryland’s Declaration of Rights “all persons are equally entitled to protection in their religious liberty … provided, he believes in the existence of God”

Massachusetts’ State Constitution “Any every denomination of Christians … shall be equally under the protection of the law” amended to “all religious sects and denominations .. shall be equally under the protection of the law”

North Carolina’s State Constitution, Article 6 Section 8
“Disqualifications of office. The following persons shall be disqualified for office: First, any person who shall deny the being of Almighty God.”

Also Mississippi, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas officially bar atheists from office.

Lo! How long will our people languish in the smug superiority of our reality-based worldview? How long before our quiet snickering at magical beliefs can ring throughout the land?