Sen. Ted Cruz and the Family Research Council’s Tony Perkins have both used the phrase “atheist Taliban” to describe the Freedom From Religion Foundation.
It’s an irresponsible and false comparison… which isn’t too surprising, I guess, coming from the leader of a hate group.
But just to make clear why FFRF is not like the Taliban, attorney Andrew Seidel made this helpful chart:
He adds the obvious:
A”militant” or “strident” atheist goes to conventions, engages in online discussions, wears freethought T-shirts, and works to keep state and church separate. The Taliban beheads people because of what they believe. The Taliban sends suicide bombers into markets. The Taliban dynamites priceless treasures of other religions, such as the Bamiyan Buddhas. The Taliban murders 132 children and forces the survivors to watch their teacher being burned alive.
Militant atheism looks a lot like open, intellectual debate and free inquiry. It looks nothing like terrorism.
You can check out the rest of his response right here.