AtheistNexus.org article on FFRF being classified as a "hate group"

A petition to classify Freedom from Religion Foundation as a hate group....
Posted by Jessica Chen on November 9, 2015 at 4:42pm in Atheism
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https://www.change.org/p/jay-sekulow-disband-the-freedom-from-relig...

Part me of wants to sign it just so I can comment on it (but in no way does it mean I would support this petition) and reply to all the comments made at the bottom. I doubt the FfRf would actually end up being classified as a hate group but just wanted to share this (was posted on FB)








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 Permalink Reply by Gerald Payne 22 hours ago

Reminds me of the last religious debate in the house of lords with many a noble crying about atheist intolerance!!!
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 Permalink Reply by Daniel W 19 hours ago

We can petition to designate something as a hate group?  Based on opinions by people with an agenda?

Oh goody.  I want to designate the catholic church as a hate group.  And the mormon church.  And protestant churches in general.  And....
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 Permalink Reply by Jerry Wesner 19 hours ago

They're losing members; they fear losing power; their entire belief system is based on fear.  The idea of people -- even family members! -- walking away from religion terrifies them.  And it's happening.  Many of us have done it.  Our success is their failure.  They see truth about them and their beliefs as an attack upon them.  So they consider the FFRF as a hate group.  They can't see that the hate comes from their side.
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 Permalink Reply by Loren Miller 19 hours ago

Frankly, I'd alert the Southern Poverty Law Center about this, because I'd bet if you traced back the genesis of the petition, you'd find some christian fundamentalist organization behind it ... and it's worth note that the American Family Association, Focus on the Family and too many other outfits with "Family" in their titles ARE the ones listed by the SPLC as hate groups!
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 Permalink Reply by Loren Miller 18 hours ago

Another point: christian churches and their representatives have long been acting out in public and, up until recently, not being challenged for their unconstitutional activities regarding religion in public venues.  With the advent of organizations like FFRF and Americans United (which has actually been around even longer) and our activism, christians are finally being confronted with their inappropriate behavior.  The problem is that it was allowed to slide for too long and was therefore taken as permissible, which it is not.  A great deal of christian privilege stems from that initial mistake.
"Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion."  It's a deceptively powerful phrase, but in it is, indeed, the separation of church and state, despite what the petition would have others believe.  My question is this: would they also move to disband Americans United, the ACLU, and any other organization which has the unmitigated gall to challenge the illegality of their actions?
That's a mighty big bite ... and there's a better than average chance they'd choke on it!
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 Permalink Reply by Bertold Brautigan 15 hours ago

OUR reason = hate. THEIR hate = (christian) love. Makes sense to me.
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 Permalink Reply by Pat 15 hours ago

This explains A LOT!!! The petition is by one Jay Sekulow.  He's a right wing, god bothering, attorney for right wing tea party groups, christian hate groups, and anyone who "loves them some 'Murica, guns and Jesus." He's in charge of the extremist group "American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ)." His educational background is Regent University. Regent was founded by - wait for it - wait - OK> Pat Robertson!!! Yes, the same Pat Robertson who accused gays of being responsible for 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina.  And, the ACLJ is closely affiliated with Regent University and Pat Robertson to this day.
I have no doubt whatsoever that this is in response to Southern Poverty Law Center branding American Family Research Council (and its leader, Tony Perkins) as a hate group specializing in homophobia - which they are and do.
As I mentioned, Sekulow specializes in representing those that loves them some "'Murica, guns and Jebus" and hates them some "queers, fer'ners, and Moose-lems." In case you're wondering, in Sekulow's myopic world view, we here fit into the latter category. Interesting read about him on the website Right Wing Watch.
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 Permalink Reply by Loren Miller 15 hours ago

Gee whiz, why am I not surprised?  Good reading material, Pat, thanks for that.  I knew RWW was thorough; now I have a better idea as to HOW thorough!
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 Permalink Reply by k.h. ky 14 hours ago
Pat, god bothering! I love that phrase. I'll have to use it on my fundie family.
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 Permalink Reply by Pat 13 hours ago

Kathy, please feel free. I stole it from Christopher Hitchens.
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 Permalink Reply by jay H 12 hours ago

The definition of 'hate group' has become so diluted that almost anyone can qualify.
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http://atheistnexus.org/forum/topics/a-petition-to-classify-freedom-from-religion-foundation-as-a-hate?commentId=2182797%3AComment%3A2655139&xg_source=activity










 








A petition to classify Freedom from Religion Foundation as a hate group....
Posted by Jessica Chen on November 9, 2015 at 4:42pm in Atheism
View Discussions
.



https://www.change.org/p/jay-sekulow-disband-the-freedom-from-relig...

Part me of wants to sign it just so I can comment on it (but in no way does it mean I would support this petition) and reply to all the comments made at the bottom. I doubt the FfRf would actually end up being classified as a hate group but just wanted to share this (was posted on FB)








 Like 

.
Share   
  

 

Views: 108
▶ Reply to This
..


Replies to This Discussion
 Permalink Reply by Gerald Payne 22 hours ago

Reminds me of the last religious debate in the house of lords with many a noble crying about atheist intolerance!!!
▶ Reply

 Permalink Reply by Daniel W 19 hours ago

We can petition to designate something as a hate group?  Based on opinions by people with an agenda?

Oh goody.  I want to designate the catholic church as a hate group.  And the mormon church.  And protestant churches in general.  And....
▶ Reply

 Permalink Reply by Jerry Wesner 19 hours ago

They're losing members; they fear losing power; their entire belief system is based on fear.  The idea of people -- even family members! -- walking away from religion terrifies them.  And it's happening.  Many of us have done it.  Our success is their failure.  They see truth about them and their beliefs as an attack upon them.  So they consider the FFRF as a hate group.  They can't see that the hate comes from their side.
▶ Reply

 Permalink Reply by Loren Miller 19 hours ago

Frankly, I'd alert the Southern Poverty Law Center about this, because I'd bet if you traced back the genesis of the petition, you'd find some christian fundamentalist organization behind it ... and it's worth note that the American Family Association, Focus on the Family and too many other outfits with "Family" in their titles ARE the ones listed by the SPLC as hate groups!
▶ Reply

 Permalink Reply by Loren Miller 18 hours ago

Another point: christian churches and their representatives have long been acting out in public and, up until recently, not being challenged for their unconstitutional activities regarding religion in public venues.  With the advent of organizations like FFRF and Americans United (which has actually been around even longer) and our activism, christians are finally being confronted with their inappropriate behavior.  The problem is that it was allowed to slide for too long and was therefore taken as permissible, which it is not.  A great deal of christian privilege stems from that initial mistake.
"Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion."  It's a deceptively powerful phrase, but in it is, indeed, the separation of church and state, despite what the petition would have others believe.  My question is this: would they also move to disband Americans United, the ACLU, and any other organization which has the unmitigated gall to challenge the illegality of their actions?
That's a mighty big bite ... and there's a better than average chance they'd choke on it!
▶ Reply

 Permalink Reply by Bertold Brautigan 15 hours ago

OUR reason = hate. THEIR hate = (christian) love. Makes sense to me.
▶ Reply

 Permalink Reply by Pat 15 hours ago

This explains A LOT!!! The petition is by one Jay Sekulow.  He's a right wing, god bothering, attorney for right wing tea party groups, christian hate groups, and anyone who "loves them some 'Murica, guns and Jesus." He's in charge of the extremist group "American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ)." His educational background is Regent University. Regent was founded by - wait for it - wait - OK> Pat Robertson!!! Yes, the same Pat Robertson who accused gays of being responsible for 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina.  And, the ACLJ is closely affiliated with Regent University and Pat Robertson to this day.
I have no doubt whatsoever that this is in response to Southern Poverty Law Center branding American Family Research Council (and its leader, Tony Perkins) as a hate group specializing in homophobia - which they are and do.
As I mentioned, Sekulow specializes in representing those that loves them some "'Murica, guns and Jebus" and hates them some "queers, fer'ners, and Moose-lems." In case you're wondering, in Sekulow's myopic world view, we here fit into the latter category. Interesting read about him on the website Right Wing Watch.
▶ Reply

 Permalink Reply by Loren Miller 15 hours ago

Gee whiz, why am I not surprised?  Good reading material, Pat, thanks for that.  I knew RWW was thorough; now I have a better idea as to HOW thorough!
▶ Reply

 Permalink Reply by k.h. ky 14 hours ago
Pat, god bothering! I love that phrase. I'll have to use it on my fundie family.
▶ Reply

 Permalink Reply by Pat 13 hours ago

Kathy, please feel free. I stole it from Christopher Hitchens.
▶ Reply

 Permalink Reply by jay H 12 hours ago

The definition of 'hate group' has become so diluted that almost anyone can qualify.
▶ Reply

.
http://atheistnexus.org/forum/topics/a-petition-to-classify-freedom-from-religion-foundation-as-a-hate?commentId=2182797%3AComment%3A2655139&xg_source=activity