Why We Need Strong Atheist Organizations?

Because we need access to allies.

Because the religious zealots who want to turn this nation into a Christian theocracy are very well organized.
... Check the religious right (Protestant fundamentalist and Catholic) political agendas,
... their success in taking control of the Republican party,
... their success in infiltrating local school boards and city councils,
... their success in censoring textbooks for public school literature and science classes,
... their success in preventing meaningful sex education and access to reproductive health services for teenagers,
... their success in restricting global family planning programs.

Because few if any religious organizations are going to fight for our rights as atheists. Even the most liberal support special rights for religion at the expense of unbelievers. That the religious right's success has been somewhat limited is due only to strenuous resistance by underfunded secular civil libertarian organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union, alerted and aided by the all-too-few atheist organizations who are on the scene of local religious depredations.

Because the majority rules, despite constitutional protections. Constitutions are only as protective as their interpreters want them to be... and the interpreters are political appointees whose appointers are elected by the majority. Historically, minorities without political clout have never been protected; and political clout comes only with organization. Whenever a minority group organizes so it becomes visible and a threat to the status quo, discrimination against that group ends.

Because unorganized atheists have no clout, and certainly no respect. Consider the 1988 news conference at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport in which George Bush responded to question about non-religious people as follows:

"...Faith in God is important to me... I don't know that atheists should be considered as citizens, nor should they be considered patriots. This is one nation under God."

Could a presidential candidate get away with such insults to any other law-abiding group in America? Of course not. This anti-atheist bigotry was shared by Ronald Reagan who, when President, stated that atheist nations are inherently immoral and cannot be trusted. President Bill Clinton has said our Constitution guarantees freedom of religion but not freedom from religion. How we can have one without the other he never made clear.

Because without a strong, effective organization, atheists will continue to be treated as second class citizens.
... Try running for public office as a known atheist and see what happens.
... Try getting custody of your children in a divorce case when your spouse is religious and you're not.
... Try getting out of prison on parole if you refuse to recant your atheism.
... Try joining the Boy Scouts if your intellectual integrity doesn't allow you to stomach those god oaths.
... Try getting significant opinion pieces that support atheism published in your newspaper to counterbalance the steady flow of religious propaganda.
... Try refusing to participate in religious invocations or observances at secular events.
... If you're a kid, expect harassment from classmates and teachers.
... If you're a political person, expect a successful challenge in the next election based on your lack of god beliefs.
... If you're an employee whose boss is religiously bigoted, expect him or her to find an excuse to fire you or at least not promote you.

Those who have experienced any of these or similar barriers to equitable treatment should consider joining an atheist organization for the practical assistance, advice, friendship and psychological support it offers. Those who are fortunate to have escaped discriminatory treatment should consider joining to help those who are not so fortunate.

If atheists (less than 11% of the population) were as well organized and funded as the Jewish people ( approximately 6%), the African-Americans (approximately 10%) and the gays and lesbians (approximately 5%), none of the above would be happening, or it would be happening amid much public discussion, because our political clout would make us a force to be listened to and respected.

Of all ideas, atheism is the most feared and censored. Those who seek to control society to advance a self-serving agenda and those who feel secure only when being controlled need religion. It is absolutely essential that they silence those who seek a free and open society. Without strong atheist organizations, they will continue to do so.