It came to my attention this week that a few of the local secular organizations, outfits that make residence in such a religious conservative locale habitable, have made the “anti-Christian bigotry” list of a national pro-theocratic organization. Among the local organizations that made the list of the American Family Association is one I have written about previously, the Atheist Community of Tulsa. Also making the list of purported anti-Christian bigotry groups is the Tulsa chapter of Americans United for Separation of Church and State along with the Edmond and Norman, OK chapters and Oklahoma Atheists in Oklahoma City. The AFA map also includes LGBT and Humanist groups although none in Oklahoma were identified.
Let’s be clear about the definition of “bigot:” noun- One who is strongly partial to one’s own group, religion, race or politics and is intolerant of those who differ.
For all the fuss about the agenda of other groups, the American Family Association appears to oppose anyone that pushes back against their agenda. And just what IS the AFA’s agenda? According to it’s Philosophical Statement:
The American Family Association believes that God has communicated absolute truth to mankind, and that all people are subject to the authority of God’s Word at all times. Therefore AFA believes that a culture based on biblical truth best serves the well-being of our nation and our families, in accordance with the vision of our founding documents; and that personal transformation through the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the greatest agent of biblical change in any culture.
Referring to the “founding documents,” I assume they mean the Bill of Rights:
Organizations such as Americans United for Separation of Church and State and other proponents of said wall separating church and state such as atheist organizations are not anti-Christian any more than they are anti-Islamic, anti-Buddhist or anti-Hindu. They simply insist that the legal boundary for religion, any religion, in government be respected. For the record, I have not heard of any member of any of these purported “anti-Christian bigotry” groups standing in the doorway of any Christian church attempting to prohibit the free exercise of any religious faith. The philosophy of these groups is for all citizens to believe whatever makes them happy, just don’t make it government policy for all others to do the same.
Let it be known that the AFA is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization. Donations to it are tax deductible. As of this post, the Atheist Community of Tulsa does not have any such status therefore dues and other donations are NOT tax deductible. All Christian churches in Oklahoma and the rest of the nation are tax exempt. Despite being the majority faith, Christians and Christian organizations too often readily play the persecution card when publicly called out for attempting to merge religion with government. The USA may still be a Christian majority nation, but is not now nor has it ever been officially a Christian nation. Documents such as Article 11 of the Treaty of Tripoli of 1797 reflect this. Despite all this, a recent poll found that some 57% of Republicans support making Christianity the national religion. Honestly, is the Establishment Clause really that foreign of a concept?