public discourse
Richard Shweder complains in the New York Times about all the best-selling books written by atheists, and supposes that “the current counterattack on religion cloaks a renewed and intense anxiety within secular society.” He even quotes the old line from the otherwise-brilliant John Locke supporting intolerance toward atheists (ironically enough, from his “Letter Concerning Toleration”):
…those are not at all to be tolerated who deny the being of God. Promises, covenants and oaths, which are the bonds of human societies, can have no hold upon an atheist.
This imputation of immorality and untrustworthiness was used to justify discrimination against atheists until 1961’s Torcaso v. Watkins decision. Amanda Marcotte responds to Shweder at Pandagon:
…my question to Shweder and all others who think that it’s only fair of atheists to shut up and go away is this: Why are you so threatened? If your argument can’t win out in a free public discourse, that doesn’t speak much for it, does it?