As a humanist, I did watch it. It was very instructive - about American Christianity and Christian exceptionalism. Only their beliefs are holy, all else deserving rebuke and obstruction as we saw from the choir of evangelicals trying to shout the invocationist down. We see that pernicious opinion every day on these threads, whenever theists get angry at atheists rather than merely disagreeing with them. It implies a sense that the atheist is out of line for doing exactly what the theist is doing - explaining or promoting his world view.
The United States was founded in the Enlightenment political philosophy of the likes of Locke and Montesquieu, which promote democracy, egalitarianism, limited, separated and transparent government, guaranteed personal freedoms including freedom of and from religion, and church-state separation (secularism). None of that is Christian in origin. What is Christian in origin is the recent Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe, a violation of church-state separation, which though an actual pillar of Americanism, is anathema to theocratically oriented Christians.
This is the never-ending struggle of humanists with revisionist evangelicals, who attempt to usurp all of the good humanism and Enlightenment values have brought the world for itself despite having fought those ideas tooth and nail (Christianity also wants to claim science for itself, and the abolition of American slavery, but that's another thread).
The two aren't incompatible if one's standard is sticking one's head in the sand when Satan is mentioned. Sticking one's head in the sand means to not look, which is what happened. It also happened in the video, where it manifested as trying to shout somebody down who they knew nothing about.
Most people know that Christianity teaches that. But should that impede people calling themselves Satanists? Remember, most of what we see in the news called Satanist is coming from atheists and is political, not religious. They probably not only don't mind agitating the faithful, but they also probably enjoy triggering them.
No, but are you aware that that antagonism originates with the Christian side? I like to look at the Freedom From Religion Foundation's "crankmail" from unhappy Christians writing in about the FFRF's various legal actions to contain Christianity to Christians. Here's the latest batch related to trying to get crosses removed from public land in a place called Elizabethton. These people have taken what is not theirs to take and are angry when legal remedies are deployed to undo that. Secular humanists familiar with constitutional law possibly encounter this level of privilege and hostility frequently. Why should they respect a religion that gives no respect to American principles? :
- Has anyone from your organization ever been to Elizabethton to see these crosses? They have been ther for years and now suddenly they're a problem. Who do they hurt? If someone doesn't want to see them, they're on a hill high enough to where they don't have to look at them! Organizations like this really need to be illegal! Im not saying everyone has to believe in religion, but don't shove it down the throat of people who do! Leave Elizabethton alone! You have no meetings in the area, nor any local business in the area so what's your problem! And the picture you have online is not correct! Lynn mountain doesn't have a sign on it so quit falsely showing people things so they are on your side! Get a life and a grip on reality! — Carol
- Why would you as an organization run around removing signs of faith from our society? I personally hope that horrible horrible things happen to your organization, your employees, and their families. Sad part? I'm one of the least religious people you could meet: I just really dislike zealots of any flavor. An organization that reaches across the country with its narrowminded views to force them on others to "help".. your organization is like a missionary force for the church of moral modern douchbaggery. Again, I just hope that karma plays out an actual plague or meteorites for you and your fellow zealots. — John
- Keep your noses out of Elizabethton how about that you morons! — Pat
- Praise God! We will all be judged accordingly you wicked people! Praise Jesus Christ! Hallelujah these people found the Lord and you want to stop it at all costs? If you don't repent of your sins and trust in Jesus Christ you will go to hell! — Hank
And this timeless classic. What's not to love about these people and their religion?
- Atheism is evil. You people should be ashamed of yourselves. You are monsters. — John