Reply to I am an atheist, ask me anything.

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[quote=FruminousBandersnatch][quote=liamw][quote=FruminousBandersnatch][quote=liamw]YOU don't have to do them, you don't have to say a word, but why should I not be allowed to do it because you don't like hearing it, what makes your right to not hear it more important than my right to do it?[/quote]

(Not the OP)

You are allowed to do it, and the government can't pass laws to stop you.

The government is not permitted to pass laws or take actions in support of or explicitly adverse to any religion. When the government does something like prohibit prayer in public schools, the reason for that is that if teachers (who are employees of the state) were to use public school facilities to proselytize, that would be a government endorsement of religion, which is not permitted under the 1st Amendment.

The same with putting up statues of the 10 Commandments on a court house lawn or a crèche on the state capitol lawn. That creates an implicit endorsement of Christianity from the government, which is not permitted under the 1st Amendment.

Freedom of religion must also cover freedom from religion, because not having a religion has to also be a valid choice or the government is effectively endorsing religion in favor of non-religion. The government must treat all belief systems equally - if one religion is barred from using a public space to proselytize, then the same prohibition must apply to all religions AND atheists. If a public space is going to be used to support one religion, the public space must be available to all religions and atheists for similar purposes.

If religious institutions are permitted to advertise on Metro busses, which are owned by the government, then atheists must also be permitted to advertise.

The government can't deny an FCC license to a religious broadcaster because of the religious message (be it Christian, Hindu, Muslim or Mormon), nor could they deny a license to an atheist because of the message.

You have every right to stand on a street corner and proselytize, if you choose to, and the government can only stop you if you are doing something that would be stopped regardless of what the person was saying (i.e., you can't stand IN the street and claim that you have a 1st Amendment right to proselytize there, because the cops would ticket you and/or arrest you regardless of your message).[/quote]

My issue comes in when the Muslim I went to school with was allowed to pray  as is required by their religion, how ever I was suspended for wearing a shirt that stated "in the event of rapture this shirt will be unmanned"  The double standard is where I have the issue.[/quote]

On its face that does sound like a double standard, and one that was inappropriate. If you were in a public school you should be permitted to wear any religious t-shirt you choose (unless you were a teacher), and I support your right to do so. The comparison to your muslim classmate shouldn't even be relevant.
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