Friday, August 22, 2003

Reverend Barry Lynn

David Appell over at Quark soup feels he's being spun by the fact that the head of Americans United for the Separation of Church and State is an ordained Reverend. I'm not sure why. I mean, sure, if Lynn is really an atheist and he's dishonestly pushing his Rev credentials then Appell would have a valid point.

I think it is true that anyone who truly owns up to being an atheist is shut out of the national discourse on just about all issues. The media treatment of such people is openly hostile. But, if Lynn is a Reverend then he's a Reverend.

Historically, the people on the front lines of this issue have been religious people. Once upon a time Catholics in particular, being as they werea somewhat persecuted segment of the US population historically, were adamantly opposed to government getting into religion. Plenty of religious people feel strongly about it, and for good reason.