This is an effing brilliant idea :

‘Porn for Bibles’ Exchange Riles Texas Campus.

A group called “Atheist Agenda” is running a program it calls “Smut for Smut” at the University of Texas at San Antonio. The exchange hasn’t been warmly welcomed by all on campus.

It is brilliant because it so easily shows us our double-standards. To some, porn in exchange for a Bible might seem to be in bad taste. Look at it the other way : would they be willing to put up a desk and offer copies of the Bible or any other religious book in exchange if people gave up their porn DVDs ?

They would.

The premise is the same : Each believes the thing they are accepting (porn or Bible) is bad. And it is their way of asserting it.

I also come across theists who are fine with atheists as long as they do not assert their lack of belief in public. But would they themselves agree to not mention god or show any religious symbols in public ? No.

Speaking for myself, I would very much like religion (or lack of it) to be an extremely private affair. I would love it if I couldn’t tell your religion unless you choose to reveal. That isn’t exactly possible, because names are a give-away, especially in the sub-continent. But if I had to do some wishful thinking, it would be great to have laws that criminalize any public revelation of religion — just like public nudity is banned.