As a religious studies minor and a Christian, I have come across many atheists in my life, a few of them close friends of mine. To me, atheism was just another religion that had different views than mine, but one that I should respect anyway.

This respect has apparently been traveling down a one-way street. We have all seen the chalk sayings on Central Campus, talking about how atheists do not bring reason into church, so churches should not bring religion into their schools. Church. Not temple, not synangoge, not mosque, but church. Ok, fine. They are probably going after the bigger religions on campus.

Makes sense on paper, sure, but I thought atheism was about a total absence of religion, not just Christianity? Well, who knows.

Then I see that there is an Atheist Convention here in Des Moines. Everyone needs conventions, from atheists to Lutherans to stamp collectors. Here is the rub though: this convention? Yeah, it is on Easter weekend. Sort of a big weekend if you are a Christian. One of those main staples of faith.

They are deliberately doing it on Easter too. Well, that is just good advertising, isn’t it? Piss some people off and your convention spreads like wildfire!

But once again it is Christians being pissed off. Why not have your convention on Yom Kippur or Ramadan?

The reason I have lost respect for atheists is because no matter what, everything they do seems to be anti-Christian. Why? I’m sure I will recieve some malarkey on how they are not anti-Christian or why they go after Christians, but to me, it does not matter. I am just telling the world what I see.

As for any atheists that read this, you are more than welcome for the free advertising. I just have one simple favor to ask of you: Go to Tehran. That is in Iran for your information. Go there, and write ‘Keep Allah out of our schools, since we keep knowledge out of your mosques.’

If atheists really do care about sharing the lack of any supreme deity, it shouldn’t be hard at all. I want to respect you guys. Do that, and maybe I will again.