by Rachel Johnson

Created on: August 06, 2011   Last Updated: January 25, 2012

"The journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step." Lao-tzu the Chinese Philosopher once said. How far have we come, and do we have left to go? Well that depends upon your perspective. For years now the political media has been pushing people towards religious tolerance.The question to ask your self is, tolerance for whom?  Everywhere you look in America we are learning how to live side by side with religions. While people may not like key factors of other religions, they are largely willing to live and let live.  The exception to the rule is Atheism, since it is not a religion, or a belief. It is the lack of belief or beliefs, and is not protected from religions. After all, you can be free to practice your religion but, how do you practice disbelief? The constitution states, "Congress shall make no law respecting an established religion," but that does not mean there is no bias towards religion.

America is by far a majority of  Christians. In fact almost one-hundred percent of government holds one religious belief or another. These are the people who guard and protect our civil rights. How can we say that religion is far removed from government when the people who run it, openly practice religious faith. After all, the ten commandments in a court room makes a bold claim. So does having "In god we trust," on our money. Public squares are often used for Christmas displays.Laws are made upon religious views, such as a woman's right to terminate a pregnancy. Where is the secular rights in this kind of governing?

A majority of religious people see atheists as evil. Think they are out to take religion away, yet that is by far not true. Atheists are people who mostly don't see evidence for god, so they choose not to believe in any given deity. It does not mean they leave no room for belief. It just means that unless there is evidence, they choose to live life without religion, and a god. Some atheists believe that there is not only no evidence for god, but  are almost certain he never existed as well as any other gods. In fact they want to see a world not dominated by religion, but run by secular means. One where people practice their religion in private.Others are fine with religious practice as long as it does not influence their lives.

So how does this effect both sides? Well, the religious often feel persecuted. Though they have the majority of the power. In fact you can be denied employment based upon your beliefs, and especially

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