Ted Cruz creates millions of atheists

• April 7, 2015
• politics  
• religion  
• secularism  
• christianity  
• wingnuttia  

If Andy Borowitz were correct in this satirical piece at “The Borowitz Report” I would be a very happy camper. Here is the first paragraph:

WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report)—The Republican Presidential candidate Ted Cruz’s constant references to Jesus Christ in his speeches and campaign ads are sparking a strong interest in atheism among millions of Americans, atheist leaders report.

Yes, the article is satire and full of snark. Still, I can’t help thinking that Mr. Borowitz has identified a core truth captured in the final paragraph:

“Ted Cruz has created more atheists in two weeks than I have in decades,” Dawkins said.

That’s because two of the things we know to be true is that apathetic believers are turned-off by hard-core evangelicals and reading the Bible (not just the verses mentioned in church) tends to convert theists to non-theists. As Isaac Asimov said:

Properly read, the Bible is the most potent force for atheism ever conceived.