Now, many (especially the atheists), may ask "Why do this, what's the purpose?"
I can only speak for myself and my experiences, but the purpose seems obvious to me, it's intent is to take a group of people you don't like or disagree with and turn them into a suspect class who can then be easily targeted for scapegoating, persecution, and reprisal for imagined wrongs.
Duhhh, Mr. Atheist for the same purpose many States put the names and photos of convicted sex offenders and other ex-felons on the I-Net - to INFORM the public!
And why does the government and the public in general have a need to be informed of my religious beliefs or lack thereof? Databases of sex offenders exist because those people have a documented history of criminal behavior. Being an atheist IS NOT a crime and atheists pose neither an inherent or implied threat to the public.
I mean, in the City of Miramar, Florida, where I live, the population is approx. 109,000. My family and I would sure like to know how many of those 109,000 are ADMITTED atheists!
Again, why is it any of your business? The constitution gurantees every citizen the freedom of religion, which by it's very definition includes the freedom to choose no religion, and to do so without interference by the government, which is the only body that could mandate such a registry. My religious beliefs, or lack thereof is no more your business than your beliefs are mine.
Perhaps we may actually know some. In which case we could begin to witness to them and warn them of the dangers of atheism.
You don't get to use the power and machinery of the government as a conversion tool for your religion.
Or perhaps they are radical atheists, whose hearts are as hard as Pharaoh's
IIRC it's was your "god" that "hardened pharoh's heart" long after pharoh was willing to release the israelites
in that case, if they are business owners, we would encourage all our Christian friends, as well as the various churches and their congregations NOT to patronize them as we would only be "feeding" Satan.
Unfortunetly for you, you don't have the right to not have to interact with/buy from/sell to etc. whose religious leaning you don't happen to like.
Frankly, I don't see why anyone would oppose this idea - including the atheists themselves (unless of course, they're actually ashamed of their atheist religion, and would prefer to stay in the 'closet.').
First, there is no "atheist religion". Tey only thing that all atheists have in common is that they lack a belief in a "god". That's it.
Second, this has nothing to do with being ashamed of hiding in the closet, it has to do with the fact that it is none of your damn business! It has to do with the fact that not sharing your religion does not make somebody part of a suspect class who's whereabouts, names, and images need to be recorded and/or tracked. It as to do with the fact that every citizen deserves and is guaranteed a modicum of privacy.
