Atheists demand apology after university head says that secularism "threatens American democracy"

The decision to send the message to all students and staff at Troy – a public university founded in 1887 – angered atheist groups who challenged the notion that only God-fearing people can lead moral and law-abiding lives.

American Atheists, the leading atheist pressure group in the US, said it was demanding an apology after receiving a complaint from a Troy student who was offended by the message.

“We demand an apology from you for using the public university email system and your publicly funded position to disparage atheists and minority religious groups as well as perpetuating the discrimination and anti-patriotic sentiment against atheists in the United States,” wrote David Silverman, the group’s president.