So go already ...

These self-described atheists say the election returns have them ready to flee to Canada.

These self-described atheists, "many of them scientists and engineers". say the European Union will become the world leader in science because of the "religious" triumph of Nov. 2.

These self-described intellectual atheists (so smart that America will become second-rate in their absence) don't even know the proper definition of atheist. Yet they claim the future of civilization is at stake in their planned flight.

Our advice: if you must go to Canada or Europe, do it now. We're calling your bluff. Do it before you get cold feet. Do it before reality smacks you in the face and you realize what idiots you are. You are clueless waifs wandering willy-nilly on the spiritual battlefield that is planet Earth, and you think God is your enemy?

The report from SignOn San Diego:

"Local atheists interviewed, many of them scientists and engineers, expressed the fear that a born-again president believing he has a mandate will strongly assert religious beliefs, like pushing for the teaching of creationism along with evolution in schools. 'The administration we have now has no respect whatsoever for science, and because of that, they have no respect for the truth, and that can be fatal,' said Hall, who was raised a Methodist. 'I think unless the country gets a belly-full of this over the next four years and this turns around, the future of civilization will shift to Europe or elsewhere and not be led by the U.S. administration.'

Categorizing nonbelievers as atheists, agnostics, humanists, etc., gets tricky. 'It's important to emphasize there are many different kinds of atheists; we are not a lock-step group,' said Heather Campbell, of the San Diego Atheist Coalition. And it's difficult to know just how many nonbelievers there are. "

It certainly is tricky to categorize agnostics as atheists. An agnostic is one who simply says he does not know the ultimate truth, or holds that since he has not (or cannot) experience spiritual realities, he will make no value judgment. That is not the same thing as an atheist, one who is openly dismissive of the existence of God. As for a humanist, this person can actually believe in a God but strongly believes in the pursuit of human studies and human potential.

But we suppose we are nitpicking. The big issue here is that the people quoted in this article seriously believe that they are the crown of creation, and all America will suffer now that their point of view is not shared by a majority of the electorate. Consider this quote:

It is undeniable, as Bush and John Kerry, a Roman Catholic, demonstrated in repeated professions of their faith, that a nonbelieving candidate in 2004 would have about as much of a chance of becoming president as Ralph Nader. Pollster John Zogby found during the 2000 election year that when voters are given a hypothetical list of Jewish, black, female, Arab-American, gay or atheist vice-presidential candidates, they were least likely to support the atheist.

Golly, they have identified the problem with democracy. The masses simply don't know what's good for them. Maybe the system needs to be tweaked to rid itself of Christian influence?

If atheists have a political mission, it is to reinforce the wall between government and religion, which they believe is crumbling under Bush and his constituents in the Religious Right. For that reason, Susi Reed, of the Humanist Fellowship of San Diego, said she considers Bush's re-election "a tragedy." "I'm scared to death about what may happen," Reed said. "I abhor any power that religion has in government. They shouldn't be there, and Bush is inviting them in."

Andy Pavelchek, of the San Diego Atheist Coalition, said: "I am worried that as things go wrong, as the wheels come off in Iraq and the economy, liberals, gays, atheists, feminists and people who believe in the rule of law will be scapegoated."

What a brilliant idea. We'll convene a big trial and declare them all witches.

But seriously folks, there is a simple reason why most people do not trust atheists. It is because there is no such thing as the person who has no god. You may not worship Yahweh or Allah. You might say you don't believe in any of the greater pantheon of gods of human history. But you will worship someone or something.

You won't call it a god, of course. It will be Money, or Power, or Science. It might be Pleasure, or Drugs, or even Pro Football. And where your worship is centered, there also will be your money, your attention and your heart.

We do not trust atheists because they lie to themselves about their religion. If you lie to yourself, you'll lie to anyone.