the "evil" atheist email

i work for a small business, and the owner of this business is very openly "all about jesus." of course i have no problem with this, save a few uncomfortable instances where the subject comes up in corporate meetings (uncomfortable more because the rantings make no sense - not solely due to the god factor). but throughout the last few weeks, i've had a feeling that this boss is trying to feel me out. she's saying such things as "so... i have no idea where you stand on issues like this... (long pause) but as you can tell, god is very important in my life. of course, it's none of my business where you're coming from... (another long pause) but..." etcetera. the conversations seem very proselytizing and baited, and i've never taken the worm more than replying back with a simple "i don't discuss religion or politics much in the workplace." there have been a few days where this type of situation has unfolded, and it's sometimes not so easy to let slide.

now let's fast forward to yesterday...

yesterday, i received a forwarded email from this owner/boss. it was one of those ridiculous chain letters that is really a joke for rush limbaugh's in-crowd, but you get a sense some people read it as if it's a true story. it was an infamous email that actually began being circulated some time ago, possibly even a couple years ago. let me know if you've heard this before:

- - - - -

THE ATHEIST AND THE MARINE
( [Renee Puryear] This doesn't get any better)

A United States Marine was attending some college courses between
assignments. He had completed missions in Iraq and Afghanistan . One of
the courses had a professor who was a vowed atheist and a member of the
ACLU.

One day the professor shocked the class when he came in. He looked to
the ceiling and flatly stated, "God, if you are real, then I want you
to knock me off this platform. I'll give you exactly 15 minutes."

The lecture room fell silent. You could hear a pin drop. Ten minutes
went by and the professor proclaimed, "Here I am God. I'm still
waiting." It got down to the last couple of minutes when the Marine got
out of his Chair, went up to the professor, an d cold-cocked him;
knocking him off the plat form. The professor was out cold.

The Marine went back to his seat and sat there, silently. The ot her
students were shocked and stunned and sat there looking on in silence.
The professor eventually came to, noticeably shaken, looked at the
Marine and asked, "What the hell is the matter with you? Why did you do
that?" The Marine calmly replied, "God was too busy today
protecting America 's soldiers who are protecting your right to say
stupid shit and act like an asshole. So, He sent me."

THIS IS GOOD, KEEP IT GOING

- - - - -

there you go. that's what the owner of this company - my jesus-loving boss - sent me, her atheist employee. an email where the punchline of the joke is that someone with my (lack of) beliefs is a stupid and an asshole. huzzah!

i get a little bothered when the p.c. mentality goes a too far, but you have to agree with me - this is unprofessional and rude. can you imagine if i had sent a joke to coworkers where the tag line were a punching out and lambasting of a christian? ...and what is it with this stereotype that our service men and women are jesus warriors (what about Pat Tillman?)? ...and what is it with this mentality that has painted our college and university professors as ranting, ACLA badge-wearing, atheistic, liberals – the pejorative "cultural elite"??? So much for asking questions about the world, and thinking philosophically once in a while.

but i digress... my feelings aren't the subject of this post - i know this will sound funny, but i did get over the email just about right away. what's really important to me here is what most people think about someone like me - an atheist. what say you - those of faith, or those without? does the word "atheist" strike a reaction at all? what do you think about the work situation i just spoke of?