I am very upset and greatly offended by your quote of the week.
Steve V.
Umm…
Speaking as a non-religious person, I’m not offended. I just think it’s funny that anybody would honestly believe that if you don’t have religion you don’t have morals. People can say anything they want. That doesn’t make it true. Grow some thicker skin my friend.
Tom
Hey Steve;
When you think about it, with Atheism, we are all a bunch of animals running around at various positions on the evolutionary ladder and in the food chain. Nothing more. Nothing less. Thus, animal rights are as important as human rights, if not more, as we are just another animal on this big blue marble.
Don’t take things so personally. I am positive it was not meant as a dig to or for anyone. 
Don
Some need the fear of eternal damnation to treat others with respect. Religion is using fear to get others to comply.
For the benefit of those who have not read it, here it is (so you don’t have to go off looking for it)-
“Atheism has no room for human rights.”
~ Unknown
I’m not particularly offended by the quote of the week, but I am surprised that it was chosen. I know that JC and LF are people with strong moral convictions, and I’m sure their faith plays an integral role in guiding those convictions. However, I feel a broad and controversial generalization about any theological belief is- in the context of this website- in poor taste. The “Sound Off” portion of this bulletin board has a rule of “NO WAR, POLITICS, RELIGION, OR FLAMING!” I didn’t expect the front page of FAOL to have different rules.
This isn’t a rally for the quote or the management of FAOL to be changed. Just sharing my slightly puzzled two cents.
[This message has been edited by OkieBass133 (edited 13 June 2005).]
Okiebass,
That’s a very good point. I was also surprised to see the quote on there. Almost every forum I visit on the internet avoids talking about religion in any way because it’s a non-ending argument. This thread should probably be locked as it is getting into the discussion of religion.
Whatever happens, I realize I am a guest here, so if I don’t agree with something in the content, I just ignore it. It’s not like this site is littered with religious content anyway, so something as minor as the quote of the week really doesn’t bother me. It certainly has been good to start some conversation though.
Cheers!
“Atheism has no room for human rights.”
~ Unknown
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm really? Huh.
I really don’t think that the quote has anything to do with fly fishing so I thought it was a weird quote to appear on a fly fishing site. I wouldn’t expect to see John Gierach or Dave Hughes quoted on an Atheist website.
I am not an atheist, but if I was I really don’t think I would be offended by this. The person who said “Atheism has no room for human rights” was probably a victim or an opponent against some of the old or even current (thankfully few) fascist or communist regimes that were atheist in nature. These regimes were cults of personality and there was no room for religion other than the cultlike worship of the"Dear Leader" and human rights to boot. For many Atheism was synonymous with tyranny. I think that this was the context that the unknown individual was commenting. I really don’t think he/she was commenting on your average garden variety atheist.
Hey Folks,
One of my personal favorites is “There
are no athiests in fox holes.” Don’t know
who to give credit for it but I’ve heard it
all of my life.
LHBrian, my experiences with religion
are somewhat different than yours. My God
uses Love instead of Fear. Warm regards,
Jim
I’ve read and re-read the quote. For some reason, I don’t get it.
It just makes no real sense to me. Can someone explain it to me?
I am educated (some may debate that) and smart (some WILL debate that), so I should be able to understand it.
Ken
kphume, in some religions, man holds a special place in the order of things.
Ask the question to a buddist: “Does a dog have budda nature?” will often get replied with a smack to the head. This strangely may result in enlightenment. 
Ken, Drolfson pretty much nailed in on the head. In the absence of any “higher power”, we are all just links in the food chain, with all things permissible. In nature, there are no apologies. Beyond that, I don’t see much else in the quote, unless you want to tie it into the origins of “certain inalienable rights” that have been endowed by “our Creator”.
Being anonymous, we are not going to know the context of the quote, without which I can’t decide to be offended or not. Does the quote belong here? It’s their sandbox, we just come here to play.
upthecreek
I am upset and greatly offended that you chose to post this on the main BB and not Sound Off.
From Rand’s quotations, by “Google.”
The Godless would deny and destroy human rights … the liberties of a nation cannot be secure when belief in God is abandoned.
U.S. Senate Chaplain Richard (DICK) Halverson
Atheism has no room for human rights.
U.S. Senate Chaplain Richard (DICK) Halverson addressing 600 people at a prayer breakfast, March 1992 in Wisconsin
(Atheists) don’t believe in liberty…look at the Soviet Union
U.S. Senate Chaplain Richard (DICK) Halverson At the same March 1992 breakfast
[url=http://www.native-waters.com:6e91a]http://www.native-waters.com[/url:6e91a]
Gentlemen et al;
Actually I like to see these little “tease” topics posted here every onest in a while. Based on the responses I’m mentally compiling a list of those that I would care to meet and fish with. My life is a whole lot more than flyfishing and I don’t care to waste whatever time I have left on someone I have nothing else in common with. I’m too seasoned to seek superficial commraderie. There’s just too little time left and I’m NOT the least bit open minded.
AS far as being “offended” by the quote. GET OVER IT. I happen to be Catholic and if I was offended every time my ox was gored I’d be in therapy by now.
Mark
I’d rather be in Wyoming!
[This message has been edited by Marco (edited 13 June 2005).]
I heard an interesting statement in a re-enactment this weekend that I really liked.
“Spending all of your time in church doesn’t make you a Christian. Likewise, spending all of your time in a livery stable doesn’t make you a horse.”
Gives you something to think about.
I’ll admit it. I didn’t notice the quote until I started reading this thread. Am I insulted or upset? No. Confused? A little. If it doesn’t mean anything to me, it doesn’t bother me.
CJ
The only limitations we have are the ones we put on ourselves.
Keep lovin’ your brothers. No matter what they say. God will sort it out in the end time. I don’t totally understand the quote either, so I just rely on the TRUTH. Bless us all.
A free gift waits for those who ask.
Lotech Joe
Have any of you heard of the dyslexic atheist? he doesn’t believe in dog…
Hey there Dave;
That was an insomniac dislexic who stayed awake all night wondering if there was a dog.
AND: In the context of my previous post, you Dave,despite your shortcomings, can share my stream anytime.
Mark
I’d rather be in Wyoming!
Marco,
It was an agnostic dyslexic with insomnia who stayed awake at night wondering if there was a dog.
Steve
“If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went”-Will Rogers