Another Hollow "Victory" For Atheists

The American (In)Humanist Association threatens to sue schools for participating in the "operation Christmas Child" program:

 http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2013/11/15/school-cancels-operation-christmas-child-over-lawsuit-threats/?&co=f000000013912s-1248979084

Operation Christmas Child is a program that collects shoe boxes filled with treats, small toys, school supplies, and even articles of clothing to needy children in 3rd World countries.

Some charter Schools had been participating in this program for years, until one disgruntled Atheist parent got wind of it and complained to the AHA. His letter to the AHA contained this gem:

“The boxes of toys are essentially a bribe, expressly used to pressure desperately poor children living in developing countries to convert to Christianity, and are delivered with prayers, sermons, evangelical tracts and pressure to convert,” read a letter the AHA sent to Mathews.

"Pressure to convert?" Really? What does this guy think? Does he think the workers wave the shoebox in front of the kid and say:

"Sorry, kid, you have to recite the Sinner's Prayer before you get the surprise!"

Well pardon me, but I don't see any atheists collecting boxes of gifts to some of the worst places on earth, so that a desperately poor kid can have a few things. I do see a number of Atheists sitting on their ample bottoms, making sure that Christians have a more difficult time taking boxes of gifts to some of the worst places on earth, so that a desperately poor kid can have a few things.

The AHA sent a spokesperson to Fox News to explain their excuse for threatening the schools with lawsuits, which of course, was the usual distortion of the First Amendment of the Constitution.

The Fox anchorwoman asked the AHA spokesman if the AHA had an answer for all those kids who may not get gifts, now that some of the Operation Christmas Child participants were shut down. The AHA spokesperson replied that the AHA supports secular programs like Toys For Tots.

Last time I checked, Toys For Tots didn't deliver gifts in Brazilian ghettos or war-torn southern Africa.

But that's not AHA's problem, is it?

Evidently, Atheism IS Lacking....

..as evidenced by the advent of Sunday morning Atheist fellowships in the US, Great Britain, and Australia:

Atheist 'mega-churches' take root across US, world

http://news.yahoo.com/atheist-mega-churches-root-across-us-world-214619648.html

From the article:

LOS ANGELES (AP) — It looked like a typical Sunday morning at any mega-church. Several hundred people, including families with small children, packed in for more than an hour of rousing music, an inspirational talk and some quiet reflection. The only thing missing was God.

Sorry, folks but God wasn't missing, He just wasn't invited. He was ignored.

They don't bash believers but want to find a new way to meet like-minded people, engage in the community and make their presence more visible in a landscape dominated by faith.

Basically, Atheists are admitting that they are missing out on some of the most wonderful aspects of religious faith: fellowship and a sense of purpose.

As far as "not bashing believers" goes, check out these handouts:

"Born Again Humanist? "God-Less is more?" "I believe in life before death?" Nope, no jabs there.

Sunday Assembly — whose motto is Live Better, Help Often, Wonder More — taps into that universe of people who left their faith but now miss the community church provided, said Phil Zuckerman, a professor of secular studies at Pitzer College in Claremont.

Sunday Assembly... sure has that "churchy" feel, doesn't it?

Wonder more... as long as you don't wander in the direction of the existence of God.

Not all atheists are excited about this movement. here's what one godless person had to say about it:

"The idea that you're building an entire organization based on what you don't believe, to me, sounds like an offense against sensibility," said Michael Luciano, a self-described atheist who was raised Roman Catholic but left when he became disillusioned.

"There's something not OK with appropriating all of this religious language, imagery and ritual for atheism," said Luciano, who blogged about the movement at the site policymic.com.

Really, Mr. Luciano? Then, how do you feel about political activist organizations like American Atheists? I guess it's OK for non-believers to join in frivolous lawsuits propagated by groups like the Freedom From Religion Foundation, but fellowshipping on a Sunday? Bad, bad!

Personally, I'm all for Atheists gathering on  Sunday mornings. If they take the idea of "wonder more" seriously, perhaps they'll begin to wonder why people desire this kind of activity. They may even take a greater leap of faith and discover that they are part of a weak imitation of something that is plainly spelled out in the Word of God:

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of God."
 --Matthew 5:3 (The Sermon on the Mount)

God reaches out to those who understand their inborn need for Him.

Michael Luciano, Atheist blogger, wouldn't like to see an Atheist "church" open somebody's eyes to why they seek out "church" in the first place.

Keep wondering more, atheists!