Personal ideals

The other day I was sneeringly accused of being “an atheist campaigner”. How would that work? So, when you are lying in bed at night with your own private thoughts, I really, really need to know that you are not thinking about God and that you immediately declare your conversion to atheism.

It’s ridiculous isn’t it? I couldn’t care less what anyone’s private view of the universe is, far less want to “campaign” to change it.

But the freedom to hold religious beliefs does not extend to the freedom to impose them on others in schools and government, nor does it grant exemption from employment and equality legislation.

Opposing religious privilege doesn’t make me an “atheist campaigner”. It makes me a ­secularist.

Neil Barber

Edinburgh Secular Society

Saughtonhall Drive

Edinburgh

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