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→Western atheists lack of overseas evangelism in religious countries
Doing overseas evangelism/outreaches in religious countries often requires significant criticism/persecution and [[Western World|western]] atheists by in large have been unwilling to endure such criticism/persecution in order to spread atheistic ideology - especially when compared to Christianity (see: [[Atheism and charity#Western atheists have not done a significant amount of outreach to poor countries|Western atheists have not done a significant amount of outreach to poor countries]]).
Doing overseas evangelism/outreaches in religious countries often requires significant criticism/persecution and [[Western World|western]] atheists by in large have been unwilling to endure such criticism/persecution in order to spread atheistic ideology - especially when compared to Christianity (see: [[Atheism and charity#Western atheists have not done a significant amount of outreach to poor countries|Western atheists have not done a significant amount of outreach to poor countries]]).
== Atheism as a stealth religion ==
The [[intelligent design]] advocate John Calvert wrote in his article ''Atheism: A Stealth Religion'':
{{Cquote|Atheist don’t wear crosses, burkas or yarmulkes, although more and more display Darwin fish on their bumpers. So how does one recognize the practice of their religion, one that eschews God and His wisdom? When does one know Atheism is at work?
The tell-tail signs emerge as soon as God or his wisdom enters the room. At that point the evangelical Atheist can’t sit still. As scientist Richard Lewontin said, our commitment to “materialism is absolute, for we can’t allow a Divine Foot in the door.”
Imagine a generic conference on how to improve K-12 education where a wide range of subjects are discussed,including the biggies: Where do we come from and how should we live? One day one of the participants named Glen walks in with a poster of the ten commandments and a roll of tape in his hand. He wants to tape it to the wall as they have something to say about many of the subjects covered in the on-going discussions.
The ears of a closet Atheist named Bob, perk up.
Bob can no longer sit still as the Divine Foot is kicking at the door.
But Bob is in a quandary. His Atheism is most effective when invisible to others. If he objects as an Atheist, his cover will be blown and he knows he’s not going to be effective appealing to his own anti-God religion. He can’t say, we can’t have the ten commandments for I don’t believe in them. Nor can he say that the precepts mentioned in the commandments are bad ideas, for then he invites a discussion of them, the very thing he cannot tolerate.
Bob has many Christian friends in the room for they find reason and science consistent with many of their non-scriptural views. They probably don’t even know Bob’s an Atheist. So, rather than raising his flag, Bob pulls aside a “mainstream” Christian buddy named Tom, at the coffee break.
He says: “Tom, you know the primary rule of our forum is that it remain secular and non-controversial. Although Glen is a nice guy, he’s obviously violating the rule. What do you think ‘we’ should do?”
After the break, Tom takes the floor after a nudge from Bob, and says: “Well, Glen, I appreciate your idea, but we have this rule that the discussion will remain secular, and not religious. When you bring God into the room, you violate that rule. So, we think you need to keep your scriptures at home.”
In this way, the Atheist never reveals his true religious objection to the commandments. Instead of discussing their substance, he focuses on a rule of procedure that everyone can agree with: “Let’s avoid controversy by keeping the discussion secular, not religious.”<ref>[http://www.intelligentdesignnetwork.org/Atheism_a_Stealth_Religion.pdf ''Atheism: A Stealth Religion'] by John Calvert</ref>}}
== Bernie Sanders' reluctance to call himself an atheist ==
== Bernie Sanders' reluctance to call himself an atheist ==