Dear friends at Atheist Republic,

I strongly feel that we should voice our views and opinions openly, even when they are negative. Criticism of any ideology should be seen as something that can actually improve that ideology. Sometimes atheists tend to be aggressive and use abusive language, show lack of sensitivity towards people's faith and often use misplaced anger from some previous interaction with religious people in every subsequent interaction with them. I come across these tendencies in atheist articles, essays, newsletters, etc. and the comment sections every day. But the same can be said about religious people.

And they often go as far as cursing us with eternal damnation and saying something along the lines of "I will be smiling down at you from heaven while you are burning and rotting in hell." Regardless of an atheist's good deeds in his own community, he is damned to suffer simply because he is criticizing your faith very aggressively. Meanwhile, atheists and religious minorities are actually being punished with fines, lashes, stoning and death in Islamic countries. In the west, they are marginalized, excluded and are considered as the least trusted members of the community for no concrete reason other than the belief that if they don't believe in God, there is nothing stopping them from killing and burning everything around them.

The issues that we raise and criticize, are issues that should be criticized passionately and aggressively, no matter what your beliefs. Topics such as oppression of women, homosexuals, minorities, abuse of children, unfair politics, violence in the name of religion, etc. have to be talked about and as long as we are completely non-violent, I don't see why anyone should have a problem.

At this point, I would like to also suggest that we accept the criticisms against us and promote all the good things that atheist communities do. News of our work in welfare is hardly ever heard, while news of us creating controversy is always doing the rounds. I don't want atheist groups to not talk for fear of controversy because even if others  wouldn't accept it the issues that atheists shout about are actually helping humanity. Regardless, it should not be difficult for anyone to find examples of atheist helping humanity in other ways by conducting activities such as feeding and helping the homeless, contributing funds to improve education, healthcare, etc. Many groups are involved in this work, however we hardly ever hear about them above all the religion bashing noise.

Thank you

Tushar Sharma