Why do atheists talk about God so much?

I asked a friend to suggest some topics to write about and he suggested this one. I said initially that I didn't think that the topic would take much space, but I'd give it a shot since I need to get writing again.

My friend knows my history, but I tell you why I talk about this stuff so much just for the record. If you happen to have read my blog, you'll remember that I was a Christian for 44 years of my life. I spent years teaching adult Sunday school. I became an elder and lead an adult Bible study in my home. Once I stopped believing, I never quite got over my hobby—thinking about these things.

But why do atheists, in general, talk about God so much? Well there is an assumption that they do talk about God. I have said, somewhat seriously, that I wouldn't mind living in a predominantly atheist country such as Sweden or Norway. But who would I talk to? This is my point. Atheists talk about God and religion because, in this country, religious issues are at the forefront of public life. (For the record, I live in the United States. So that is what I mean by this country.)

Christians, Muslims, and religious Jews inasmuch as they are against LBGT rights are so because “God said so” and to some degree they can point to their particular holy book to indicate this. So the first reason that atheists care about the topic is because it is a major justification that religious people use to assert almost anything.

Consider the following imaginary conversations:

A: Why are you against welfare?

B: Because God said that if you don't work you shouldn't eat. (2 Thess. 3:10)

A: Why do you support welfare?

B: Because God said that true religion is looking after widows and orphans. (James 1:27)

A: Why are you a capitalist?
B: Because it is God's ideal form of economy.

A: Why are you a socialist?

B: Because it is God's ideal form of economy.

A: Why are you a republican?

B: Because Jesus would be a Republican.

A: Why are you a democrat?

B: Because Jesus would be a Democrat.

We could go on. Of course, I don't mean to suggest that all Christians think this way. Some are capitalists because they think that if we more purely capitalist, the problems in our country would largely resolve themselves. That is, they think that it really is a viable form of economy. Some are democrats because they believe that the issues that Democrats concern themselves with are truly the issues that all Americans should concern themselves with.

So an atheist cares about the dialog about God because it has an impact on everyday life. We care because non-atheists (double negative!) think atheists are immoral. In part then, we engage in these conversations because we hope to dispel these perceptions. We care because of the various controversial positions a person could hold or be, it is atheists for whom United State citizens are least likely to vote for—if you can believe it, behind gays and Muslims. It should be noted that as of August 2011, for the first time, more than 50% of Americans would vote for an atheist. But still behind the other positions. Here's US Today article on the Gallop Poll. Here is the link to the Gallup website with those results. For additional amusement, do an internet search for “atheist death threats”. Fox News registered 8000 death threats against atheist shortly after they interviewed the communications director for American Atheists. Here's the link.

I care because I have to be careful to not mention my lack of belief at work. This may or may not be a justified fear, but I had a boss of my boss' boss tell me that “Jesus is the God of second chances.” This seemed to me to almost as out-of-place as suggesting that if I want to get a promotion, I need to attend the boss' Bible study. Almost.

So why do atheists talk about religious stuff? Because we care enough to engage the culture. Both to protect ourselves and also because, like religious folk, we think that our contributions to culture could have a positive impact on our society.