I don’t think it’s much different than it has always been. Separation of church and state does not mean that every vestige of religion be stamped out among political leaders.

The constitution only requires that government not endorse any one religion and that we be free to practice whatever religion we wish.

Firstly, it always has so nothing new there. Secondly, look after your own back yard and your own community. You can't change the big picture without changing your own corner.

The community is diverse. As a life Atheist, I’ve long learned how to be on the losing side. We don’t pretend reality away..

Having read the American Atheist Magazine back in the day, Madalyn (Murray O’Hair) herself did an excellent job of describing the politics of the situation (Reagan era). With that, I got political. Haven’t turned back, and when Democrats ask about my motivation within the party, and I trust them, I describe Atheism.

It’s claw-back time in America. We’re down, but not out. Seems we’ve an electable presidential candidate who should bring with him many more Democrats. I say Democrats, because our binary system does not allow for viable alternative parties.

When it’s real bad … I hike on the Blue Ridge Mountains of the Old Dominion … assuming, at our worst, we can’t destroy everything

I am not a powerful person, so there's not much that I can do about this reality.

On a smaller scale, in my interactions with others, I try to question the status quo, particularly where it assumes a privileged position for Christians. As a one-time fundamentalist myself, I am forever grateful to those who questioned my assumptions - especially my assumption that "beliefs" should be handled more respectfully than any other truth claims.