Penn is also very fair-minded, as few other atheists are, toward Christians. It's not the usual "not all Christians are inbred morons" typical of some. Penn actually can give the Christian point of view on a matter, and sometimes agrees with it. I've heard him defend Christians from unfair Leftists criticism in more than a perfunctory manner. Not many others in the media will point out that Christians and their charities help a damn site more than the typical university snobs.

“Penn is also very fair-minded, as few other atheists are, toward Christians.”

I dunn’o Scott, maybe it’s the other way around, that most atheist are like Penn, myself included. Though I don’t have anything to back it up, just as you don’t have anything to back up your statement. So for arguments sake let’s say it’s somewhere in the middle, half of the atheists are like Penn and the other half are not. Sort’a like Christians, some good, some bad.

"There is great joy in helping people, but no joy in doing it at gunpoint."

Not true: Progressives take great joy in thuggery. Power over others is the whole point of leftism, protestations of benevolence notwithstanding.

Christian ethics are seldom found save in the philosophy of some unbeliever--
Heywood Brown

Tim, I'm referring to Penn's interview on NPR's Fresh Air and what atheists I've heard on various interview, book discussion shows, mostly on NPR.

It's been my impression, for years, that the atheists that speak in public media don't just have a different opinion about God but must always argue against belief, never not argue against belief. Dawkins and Hitchens being among the most commonly present personalities. Of course, I have no way of measuring the undercover atheists.

I'll add Michael Shermer to the fair atheists/agnostics list. But he's far less visible in the radio media I hear.

Great points by Penn, of course, but my question is why did it take so long? Nine years ago I posted,"Beware the Compassion Police: Why compassion cannot be a basis for public policy."

I didn't mind Christians or religion in the days when when I was an atheist. A real atheist doesn't give a damn about other peoples' beliefs.

The people who compose the new atheist movement are actually Marxists. Theirs is a competing religion.

I agree with ahem. I'm more an agnostic than an atheist, but I've never been anti-Christian. I believe in the principle of religious tolerance.

I always say that the "loud and proud" atheists are like smokers who flick their butts out the car window. They give us all a bad name.

There IS great joy in helping others with YOUR own hands, just not the hands of the GOVERNMENT.

As a born poor person and now and older poor person, it burns my arse that the new generation of poor are such gimmie gimmie gimmie type of people, and they are mostly democrats, as I once was. I never felt poor, until I listened to democrats tell me how poor I was.

"When the people find that they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic."
Benjamin Franklin

According to Micheal Newdow, hearing the words "under God" recited within the pledge of allegiance, even without verbal participation, violates the separation of church and state. Sometimes I think atheism is used as a bully pulpit to get ones '15 seconds of fame', and in this case, Newdow's name associated with what I consider asshattery stuntism that borders the ridiculous.
Just My Opinion
tom