Jesse Helms, a former Republican senator from North Carolina and an iconic figure of American politics passed away almost a week ago. I did not post well wishes to him and I deliberately ignored the subject. After the outpour of support for him, I can’t help but shake my head in dismay. I do not enjoy speaking ill of the dead, but this has to be said:

As a self-proclaimed secular conservative, I often confuse people when I take aim at policies that attempt to institutionalize an Atheist approach to governance. But why? If Atheists don’t believe in God, wouldn’t that be the perfect way to separate church and state? While a Godless republic on its face seems like a great secular idea, I take issue with the evangelical Atheists who would spread Atheism just as much as I take issue with the evangelical Christians who want to spread religion.