Monday, June 4, 2012
My apologies for those inappropriate Google ads.
I have deleted my Google Adsense account from The Atheist Camel. They were posting ads on this page that I found personally offensive from anti-Obama, to pro-life, to Jesus praising, etc. in spite of my trying to get those types of ads blocked.
It isn't worth the few dollars they'd pay me to whore my blog to mindless right-wing and religious crap.
My apologies if you were as offended as I.
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Watching a Theist Explode: Witnessing the end of faith?
When reality dawns on a devout Xtian stand back- you don’t want to get any of their fear and confusion splattered on your Birkenstocks.
I have a couple of Xtian internet friends that I’ve known for many years now. A moderate / liberal “Christ follower” she’s only a short jog away from being rational. Her husband, also an accepting Xtian, is a tad more afflicted with the God Virus. He’s a Bible banger, but mild mannered, not comfortable with debate and typically avoids confrontation. He’s from the hills of the Bible Belt, she’s from the North East. I’ve shared some of my experiences with them in The Atheist Camel Chronicles.
So, imagine my surprise when out of the clear blue sky I get this posting to my Facebook page from “Jethro” (paraphrasing from memory):
“I’ve had enough!! You spend page after page trying to disprove Jesus; more time than I do praising Him. Deep down you must really believe or you wouldn’t spend so much time denying Him. I hope you find Him some Day. You just got called out BITCH!!”
This was so out of character for him I contacted his wife who was also taken aback at the bizarre outburst. Having suffered a serious injury he’s been on and off mega narcotics, is suffering a great deal of discomfort, and has been out of work for a long time because of it. He has been under enormous physical and financial stress for almost two years now. I hold no anger at his rant - no harm done. I hope he gets better and things turn around for the both of them soon.
But what’s interesting is that no where on my Facebook page have I ever attempted to disprove Jesus, nor any mythical figure. Nor have I attempted such in my blog, or in my books. Trying to disprove the existence of Jesus, God, Isis, Ganesh, Mithra, Moloch, Big foot, or aliens among us would be the ultimate waste of time. I dismiss them simply because they lack objective evidence for their existence; not in a “spiritual”, live, dead, or zombie state.
And why does an atheist’s rejection of a scientifically unsupportable concept imply some sort of repressed deep seated belief to theists? Does the theist’s own denial of the thousands of gods man has dreamt up over millennia similarly imply they are harboring a suppressed belief in the pagan gods, many of whom are worshipped by millions to this day? If the answer is “no” then why is it so easy for them to ignore that fact and project belief on those who simply reject as fable just one more god than they?
The predominant opinion is that these religionists simply lack the will or intellectual capability for self-reflection and analysis. They cannot equate their own rejection of other peoples’ gods to an atheist’s legitimate rejection of their Xtian God. The “truth” of their belief is so evident to them, so obvious in spite of the absence of objective proof that for anyone to not accept it they must be “angry at God,” or “deceived by Satan,” or just in denial.
But what could possibly have been the catalyst to prompt such a hostile outburst and unprovoked and uncharacteristic challenge from “Jethro”? I have a theory.
However, this self deception of attributing supernatural causes to natural and humanitarian acts of charity plays just so long / goes just so far. It’s one thing to chalk up misfortune to a “test of faith” - it’s a whole ‘nother thing when conditions become such that the worry and tribulations never improve, never resolve and show no sign of ever abating. When the landlord issues his final notice; when you don’t know where your next meal is coming from; when you suffer because there is no money for meds, or gasoline, or repairs, or electricity - and this continues for years with no foreseeable relief- in spite of daily appeals to the supernatural, one might begin to question the efficacy of prayer, or God’s benevolence, or perhaps even the existence of a god itself.
So what prompted Jethro’s inexplicable explosion and impassioned protestation of my supposed dedication to the disproval of Jesus and his tortured illogic of my harboring a repressed belief in his man-god? I proffer it is his own reckoning with reality as it begins to seep through the cracks of his failing faith. When one implores the non-existent with desperate pleas day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year and is met with deafening silence and inaction while others around you are prospering and enjoying good health even in their rejection of religious supernaturalism then “Why hath thou forsaken me?” or more likely “Where the fuck are you??” is a reasonable response. After all, even mythical Job’s suffering was limited to weeks, or months at worst. Years of it would be untenable.
So, perhaps Jethro wasn’t entirely mistaken. Maybe Jesus IS being disproved, and an underlying repressed acceptance IS being harbored. But the disproval is not of my making, it’s his; and the acceptance is one of hard reality – also his own. He is grieving the loss of a long held and all but unshakable belief and is understandably scared to death at the dawning of this revelation. Jethro’s psyche is hovering somewhere between “denial” and “anger“ in Kessler’s and Kubler-Ross’s Five Stages of Grief.
Welcome to the brink of rationality, Jethro. Welcome to the cross road of free thought. Let not your heart be troubled. Although you don’t see it just yet, I promise you that there is comfort in the knowledge that you are the only master of your one and only life. I hope it serves you as well as it does me. Embrace it.
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Jesus Tried to Steal My Holiday: A Memorial Day Dilemma
At the same time Memorial Day has a somber overtone for those of us veterans who lost brothers in arms in combat. Their faces and the memories never fade, nor should they. Remembrance of their personal sacrifice, their young lives lost, will always be with me. I will never allow myself to forget because it’s all I can offer them.
On Monday morning at 9:00 a.m. the American Legion hosts the annual Memorial Day event. The high school band plays some patriotic numbers. The ROTC cadets parade the colors. The Cub Scouts place flags on the graves of veterans in the small cemetery, which dates back to the Revolutionary War. An address is given by one of the few remaining vets of The Greatest Generation. Although I tendered my resignation from the American Legion years ago because of the national headquarters equating the Christian cross with patriotism (as I discussed in The Atheist Camel Chronicles), I am always asked by the handful of our remaining Legionnaires to help raise the flag and lower it to half mast in the town square as the anthem is played. I’m happy to do it. That's me in the tan shirt.
When taps is finally played, with the dual muffled trumpet echoing some where off in the distance I snap to salute the deceased with the rest of the vets. I have to fight back a tear. It brings it all home...those young faces, some of whom never had their first shave, whose names are on that wall in
After the ceremonies are completed the entire town is invited to partake in refreshments in our 18th century town hall. It’s a Norman Rockwell Memorial Day observance that is repeated throughout small
I feel as though I did my duty to those memories. I’m both grieved and yet renewed. Perhaps it’s cathartic. Nothing more need be said except for one detail which, even as I type this, causes me angst.
It’s traditional that the designated Legion “chaplain,” one of the guys who volunteers for the role, reads the basic-by-the-handbook-non-denominational-prayer; a simple and inoffensive blend of canned mumbo jumbo and respect for our fallen comrades. This year however a genuine Christian pastor was invited to give the benediction. In the three or four minutes she stood before that microphone she invoked the name Jesus three times. I was stunned. “Jesus our Savior,” “Jesus who sacrificed as our soldiers had sacrificed.” “Jesus whose presence is with us, as the memory of...” Shit!
In shock I glanced around at the assemblage. I could detect no particular discomfort among my fellow town’s folk. And why would I? My educated assessment is there isn’t a Jew, Hindu, Muslim, Wiccan or openly atheist much less anti-theist among them. These are folks who were raised to believe in a god, a Christian one, albeit Christian-Lite is the preferred flavor here. If they still retain their childhood indoctrination and believe in a god, or if they don’t even give it a second thought, they do so quietly and don’t wear it on their sleeve. New Englanders are nothing if not the pragmatic; mind yer own business; keep your beliefs to yourself types. This isn’t the South.
Given this, I could only describe the preacher invoking Jesus at an otherwise secular public gathering as a breach of
If this had been a local governmental sanctioned event I’d write a scathing letter to the selectmen and the newspaper. But it wasn’t. If I was a dues paying member of the American Legion I could voice my objection and dismay to the post commander. But I’m not. I could demonstrate my ire by not attending next year’s event, and explaining why I won’t be there to raise the flag. But then, I’d be denying myself a secular ritual that holds deep meaning, and I won’t let them take it from me.
For the first time I am at a loss as to how to handle this. I have 363 days to contemplate what I’ll do if this religious provocation threatens to sully my next Memorial Day. I welcome suggestions.
Monday, May 21, 2012
An open letter of non-apology to my GOP Voting Friends and Family
Dear friends of many decades and family,
I do not usually devote my blog to politics per se, but your
voiced indignation with my intention to vote, once again, for Obama comes through
loud and clear. Yes, I had traditionally voted Republican for virtually my
entire life. Yes, I still despise the likes of Bill Clinton, Nancy Pelosi, the
late Ted Kennedy, Barbara Boxer, Chuck Schumer, Maxine Waters, and Barney Frank,
et al just like you do.
But, I also despise George Bush, Eric Cantor, John Boehner, Mitch McConnell, Paul Rand, Rick Perry, Rick Santorum, and that imbecilic woman from Alaska that some of you thought would make a wonderful Vice President. You see, I can see them all for the dangerous extremists that they are, and they disgust me equally. That you can see the danger of only one side of the equation is what sets us apart; albeit, I know you won’t fully understand that. Barry Goldwater would have understood it.
No, I’m not a Democrat, nor a Liberal, nor Socialist. I’m an Independent/Uncommitted voter, a fiscal conservative and a social liberal...thus I say moderate.
I used to be a one issue voter. I may have even harbored some prejudice against minorities. I’ve out grown the former, and over come the latter.
Yes, I agree our national debt is out of control; government is too big and getting bigger. Our
current expenditures in entitlements (Medicare, Social Security, Medicaid,
etc.) use up every tax dollar the federal Government takes in, leaving exactly
zero dollars to fund the military, or a single government office or worker - hence
the national debt growth. And never mind the almost 1 Trillion spent on Bush’s
phony war in Iraq .
It’s not a new issue, it’s been going on for decades.
Thus we continue to borrow from the Chinese, selling our future generations down the river and inviting a financial disaster that will makeGreece
look stable. Yes, it must be stopped and controlled. I’m not sure how. I do know cuts should be made, especially to
the big ticket items like entitlements and the military. It will be painful. I
also know that some US
corporations are paying zero tax, and that the 1%-3% of Americans earning
multi-millions are paying substantially less of a tax rate than I am. Both of
those things need to be fixed as well. Neither the GOP nor Democrats have the proper
solution. So it continues.
Yes, gasoline prices are higher than ever. But the executive branch has next to zero to do with it. Blame part of it on the loss and non-replacement of petroleum refineries in theUS .
But mostly blame China ’s
and India ’s
economic growth, growth in their middle class. Automobile sales in China are going
through the roof; it is no longer a bicycle dependent society. Oil prices, like lumber, metals (buy factory
ammo lately??), and other commodities are influenced by the growing demand of
industrialized nations. That’s what
influences the market price. You can
“Drill baby drill” till your tits fall off and wait till every idiot “abstinence
only” teenage daughter has another kid out of wedlock, and that oil will still be
sold on the world market to the highest bidder just like any other oil...all incremental
3-5% of it. Alternate energy sources-natural
gas- and investment in technological changes in the private sector is our best
long term solution. Fuck oil.
That you find gays “disgusting” and thus endorse their being denied the institution of marriage and full rights of citizenship is inexplicable to me. Maybe we harbored that feeling together, and even the same feeling about inter-racial marriage many years ago. Perhaps it’s because we are a product of a less enlightened age. I’ve gotten over it. I can’t go back to those days.
That you think a woman’s right to choose to give birth or terminate an unwanted pregnancy isn’t her right at all but strictly the business of a male dominated government puzzles me. Or perhaps you don’t think that way, but it’s not your uterus so it isn’t on your radar screen of issues.
Perhaps you agree that women shouldn’t have total access to contraception, and want to see organizations which support women’s health and contraceptive rights shut down. Or maybe you don’t support that mindset, but it just doesn’t matter since it doesn’t directly affect you.
You told me that those who can’t afford health care should be allowed to die in the streets as a way of getting medical costs lowered for everyone. I want to believe you were joking and that you haven’t entirely surrendered your humanity. That we happily have our health care coverage and are able and willing to absorb the annual rate increases that put it beyond the means of 50% of the nation, isn’t a sound reason to oppose finding ways to cover people. “Let them eat cake.” wasn’t an effective policy for Marie Antoinette or the French aristocracy... history has a way of repeating itself. We need to learn from it.
I understand you’re mostly believers and thus don’t understand or fear the implications of the religious right’s drive toward infusing religious doctrine into our school science classes; or don’t care that they would have their ancient religious scripture be the basis for laws and government policy, or the driver behind military action; or are fine with having it forced on soldiers who prefer not to have a religion or are of another religion. You likely don’t know there is a constitutional amendment prohibiting those things. Or you don’t care about quasi-theocracy in government ... since it's your flavor of theism.
You lived through the reality, but some how you still believe the recession started when Obama took office, selectively forgetting it started eight months prior. Yes, it’s the worst financial crisis forAmerica
since the Great Depression; it’s no picnic for Europe
either. The good news is your Stock
Market investments have recovered almost to pre-recession levels, unemployment slowly
but persistently continues to decline, and the GDP is inching upward. Not fast enough for you, you say. To which “greatest recession since 1929” do
you compare that "not fast enough" growth rate?
Sorry you see regulation of the financial industry an impediment to growth; and don’t recognize its absence / weakness as one major reason for the recession and enforcing it a way to prevent another.
You’re angry over Obama bailing out the auto industry and saving those million jobs and keeping the nation’s largest manufacturing concern from collapse. It was just plain wrong you say... in spite of their now seeing double digit/record profits which will end up costing theUS tax payers exactly
nothing. But let’s condemn the bail out
based on.... oh, I dunno -
socialism?
But, I also despise George Bush, Eric Cantor, John Boehner, Mitch McConnell, Paul Rand, Rick Perry, Rick Santorum, and that imbecilic woman from Alaska that some of you thought would make a wonderful Vice President. You see, I can see them all for the dangerous extremists that they are, and they disgust me equally. That you can see the danger of only one side of the equation is what sets us apart; albeit, I know you won’t fully understand that. Barry Goldwater would have understood it.
No, I’m not a Democrat, nor a Liberal, nor Socialist. I’m an Independent/Uncommitted voter, a fiscal conservative and a social liberal...thus I say moderate.
I used to be a one issue voter. I may have even harbored some prejudice against minorities. I’ve out grown the former, and over come the latter.
Yes, I agree our national debt is out of control; government is too big and getting bigger. O
Thus we continue to borrow from the Chinese, selling our future generations down the river and inviting a financial disaster that will make
Yes, gasoline prices are higher than ever. But the executive branch has next to zero to do with it. Blame part of it on the loss and non-replacement of petroleum refineries in the
That you find gays “disgusting” and thus endorse their being denied the institution of marriage and full rights of citizenship is inexplicable to me. Maybe we harbored that feeling together, and even the same feeling about inter-racial marriage many years ago. Perhaps it’s because we are a product of a less enlightened age. I’ve gotten over it. I can’t go back to those days.
That you think a woman’s right to choose to give birth or terminate an unwanted pregnancy isn’t her right at all but strictly the business of a male dominated government puzzles me. Or perhaps you don’t think that way, but it’s not your uterus so it isn’t on your radar screen of issues.
Perhaps you agree that women shouldn’t have total access to contraception, and want to see organizations which support women’s health and contraceptive rights shut down. Or maybe you don’t support that mindset, but it just doesn’t matter since it doesn’t directly affect you.
You told me that those who can’t afford health care should be allowed to die in the streets as a way of getting medical costs lowered for everyone. I want to believe you were joking and that you haven’t entirely surrendered your humanity. That we happily have our health care coverage and are able and willing to absorb the annual rate increases that put it beyond the means of 50% of the nation, isn’t a sound reason to oppose finding ways to cover people. “Let them eat cake.” wasn’t an effective policy for Marie Antoinette or the French aristocracy... history has a way of repeating itself. We need to learn from it.
I understand you’re mostly believers and thus don’t understand or fear the implications of the religious right’s drive toward infusing religious doctrine into our school science classes; or don’t care that they would have their ancient religious scripture be the basis for laws and government policy, or the driver behind military action; or are fine with having it forced on soldiers who prefer not to have a religion or are of another religion. You likely don’t know there is a constitutional amendment prohibiting those things. Or you don’t care about quasi-theocracy in government ... since it's your flavor of theism.
You lived through the reality, but some how you still believe the recession started when Obama took office, selectively forgetting it started eight months prior. Yes, it’s the worst financial crisis for
Sorry you see regulation of the financial industry an impediment to growth; and don’t recognize its absence / weakness as one major reason for the recession and enforcing it a way to prevent another.
You’re angry over Obama bailing out the auto industry and saving those million jobs and keeping the nation’s largest manufacturing concern from collapse. It was just plain wrong you say... in spite of their now seeing double digit/record profits which will end up costing the
To those of you who - as non-Jewish as you are- are
concerned over Obama’s not encouraging Israel to initiate a war with Iran with
a preemptive attack, instead trying to find a way to influence Iran without
igniting another middle east war: Do you even know why your unswerving support
for Israel is so intense, and why your acceptance of war as a first response is
so prevalent, especially since you never had any love for Jews your whole life
or served in the military yourself? Think
about it.
I imagine, that some of you still think Obama is foreign born, and/or a Muslim, and/or the anti-Christ, who is waging a war on religion and is part of a socialist plot to enslave the nation in Marxist doctrine. There’s noting anyone can say or do to convince you otherwise, so I’ll simply ignore it.
No, I’m not a one issue voter. I care about more than just my taxes and my guns. Perhaps I have a broader perspective because I tend to read broadly, and not just the financial pages or NRA newsletters. I also get my news from many varied sources, not just FOX or knee-jerk neanderthal conservative radio personalities. This tends to impact on ones thinking. Thus, I can’t vote for legitimizing the inequality of people; or the subjugation of women; or for a war mentality; or for a let them eat cake perspective; or for deception about oil prices; or for religious dogma in government or imposed on people; or for big business over civility and humanity and how we treat the least among us; or for your 401k investments at the expense of everything else; or for the right of domestic violence perpetrators to carry concealed; or for Mitt Romney’s off shore holdings and 15% tax rate.
Yes, I will vote for the “Kenyan negro,” again.
Yes, I’ve changed. My hairstyle changed my tastes in food and beverages have changed, the way I perceive humanity, government, the world as a whole has evolved. I’ve matured, my perspective has expanded. But my love and respect for you has not changed, that never will.
No, I don’t want your rebuttal. I’m sure you can stridently defend your position to your satisfaction. I’m just clearing the air, just trying to give you an understanding of who I am, albeit, I’m still me.
In four years I’ll again reject kneejerk narrow dogma and rely on my reason, my humanity and my intellect to evaluate the positions of the presidential candidates and make my choice. I invite you to do likewise.
I imagine, that some of you still think Obama is foreign born, and/or a Muslim, and/or the anti-Christ, who is waging a war on religion and is part of a socialist plot to enslave the nation in Marxist doctrine. There’s noting anyone can say or do to convince you otherwise, so I’ll simply ignore it.
No, I’m not a one issue voter. I care about more than just my taxes and my guns. Perhaps I have a broader perspective because I tend to read broadly, and not just the financial pages or NRA newsletters. I also get my news from many varied sources, not just FOX or knee-jerk neanderthal conservative radio personalities. This tends to impact on ones thinking. Thus, I can’t vote for legitimizing the inequality of people; or the subjugation of women; or for a war mentality; or for a let them eat cake perspective; or for deception about oil prices; or for religious dogma in government or imposed on people; or for big business over civility and humanity and how we treat the least among us; or for your 401k investments at the expense of everything else; or for the right of domestic violence perpetrators to carry concealed; or for Mitt Romney’s off shore holdings and 15% tax rate.
Yes, I will vote for the “Kenyan negro,” again.
Yes, I’ve changed. My hairstyle changed my tastes in food and beverages have changed, the way I perceive humanity, government, the world as a whole has evolved. I’ve matured, my perspective has expanded. But my love and respect for you has not changed, that never will.
No, I don’t want your rebuttal. I’m sure you can stridently defend your position to your satisfaction. I’m just clearing the air, just trying to give you an understanding of who I am, albeit, I’m still me.
In four years I’ll again reject kneejerk narrow dogma and rely on my reason, my humanity and my intellect to evaluate the positions of the presidential candidates and make my choice. I invite you to do likewise.
Monday, May 14, 2012
“Thank God for Genocide, Slavery, Torture, War and Discrimination” - Christians tell us
African-American
pastor Earl Carter in his book No Apology Necessary
argues that white people need not apologize to people of African descent
because:
(1) God instituted slavery due to Africans' pagan idolatry and
(2) importation to theNew World eventually
resulted in the Christianization of African slaves. http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2000/may22/29.80.html
(1) God instituted slavery due to Africans' pagan idolatry and
(2) importation to the
I’m not sure
exactly what title to bestow upon Reverend Carter. Uncle Tom doesn’t seem
adequate. Religious fanatic falls
flat. Treacherous deluded apologist for
slavery, white supremacy, forced religious conversion and genocide probably
comes close.
This peculiar mentality isn’t unique to Rev. Carter. On the same link you’ll find reference to a Native American Christian who stood before 40,000 Christian “Promise Keepers” in 1996 and dismissed the abuse of the white man, the stealing of Indian land, the broken treaties and the government sponsored genocide of tribe after tribe because without the White Man’s invasion the Indian would never have found Jesus. The crowd responded with an enthusiastic “Amen!” Is there such a thing as being an "Uncle Tonto"?
If you’re like me you find this mind boggling. To rational people genocide and slavery are arguably the most heinous of all crimes against humanity for which there can be no justification. But to the most religiously afflicted it’s all good, all justifiable, a price worth paying to be indoctrinated into one of the greatest frauds and delusions ever to be perpetrated on Mankind.
Admittedly, these examples are aberrations and not representative of African-American and Native American Christian wider perspective. But, if the very ancestors of those peoples who were enslaved and almost exterminated can be so invested in religious devotion that they can devalue freedom and life itself in favor of superstitious nonsense ... worse... can be thankful for it, what other acts of incivility, injustice, intolerance can be perpetrated against humanity that likewise can be justified in the name of Jesus?
Christian justification of segregation and vehement opposition to inter-racial marriage was (and still is) based on God’s intentional separation of the races.
Some Christians invoked the Bible, and Paul’s admonishment in 1Timothy against giving women a voice in the Church, to justify opposition to women’s suffrage. One of
This peculiar mentality isn’t unique to Rev. Carter. On the same link you’ll find reference to a Native American Christian who stood before 40,000 Christian “Promise Keepers” in 1996 and dismissed the abuse of the white man, the stealing of Indian land, the broken treaties and the government sponsored genocide of tribe after tribe because without the White Man’s invasion the Indian would never have found Jesus. The crowd responded with an enthusiastic “Amen!” Is there such a thing as being an "Uncle Tonto"?
If you’re like me you find this mind boggling. To rational people genocide and slavery are arguably the most heinous of all crimes against humanity for which there can be no justification. But to the most religiously afflicted it’s all good, all justifiable, a price worth paying to be indoctrinated into one of the greatest frauds and delusions ever to be perpetrated on Mankind.
Admittedly, these examples are aberrations and not representative of African-American and Native American Christian wider perspective. But, if the very ancestors of those peoples who were enslaved and almost exterminated can be so invested in religious devotion that they can devalue freedom and life itself in favor of superstitious nonsense ... worse... can be thankful for it, what other acts of incivility, injustice, intolerance can be perpetrated against humanity that likewise can be justified in the name of Jesus?
Christian justification of segregation and vehement opposition to inter-racial marriage was (and still is) based on God’s intentional separation of the races.
Some Christians invoked the Bible, and Paul’s admonishment in 1Timothy against giving women a voice in the Church, to justify opposition to women’s suffrage. One of
Rick Santorum’s
aides said last year that it would be against God’s will for a woman to be
president.
George Bush invoked the Biblical demons Gog and Magog, and told the French Prime Minister that they would be confronted and defeated in his war onIraq .
A 2009 Pew Forum survey showed there is a high correlation between frequent church attendance and support for torture. http://www.abpnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4052&Itemid=9
George Bush invoked the Biblical demons Gog and Magog, and told the French Prime Minister that they would be confronted and defeated in his war on
A 2009 Pew Forum survey showed there is a high correlation between frequent church attendance and support for torture. http://www.abpnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4052&Itemid=9
While support for the death penalty in the
Today of course it’s the good church going bible banging Christian’s who most stridently oppose equal rights for gays, and rally en masse against gay marriage in defense of “Christian Values,” as though marriage was somehow invented by the Bible and the property of Christians.
I know there are Christians out there to whom these facts and the attitudes of their brethren are an embarrassment. But the fact is undeniable, the more intense ones attachment to religion, be it Xtianity or Islam or Hinduism, the greater the potential for acceptance of incivility, injustice, and horror. For when men’s most base instincts are enflamed to hatred, anger, injustice and vengeance what greater justification can there be than it is the will of the highest power in the universe, as documented in their god’s own scripture.
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
If Atheists are un-American what do they call Christian Traitors?
During World War II the axis powers,
The most famous of these radio personalities were Iva Ikuko Toguri D'Aquino (pictured above right), who broadcast for Japan and came to be known as “Tokyo Rose”; Mildred Elizabeth Gillars, her German counterpart, referred to by Allied troops as “Axis Sally”(above left); and Rita Luisa Zucca, the Italian propagandist, also called “Axis Sally” (you’d have thought they could have found another name, like “Fascist Fatima”)
These women shared four fundamental similarities. All three were US citizens, raised in the
Tokyo Rose was a Methodist. Rita Zucca and Mildred Gillars were both Catholics. Rita was even educated in a convent. But then, the vast majority of the Third Reich and Italian Fascists were good Christians as well.
There are many other famous US Xtian traitors, also Muslims, Jews, and probably atheists - although in my research I couldn’t find any specific designation of atheist among the top ten American traitors.
Given the infamous record of Jesus worshiping home grown turn coats, you’d think that flag waving self righteous Christians would be more circumspect before they branded fellow Americans as un-American just because we don’t buy into supernatural foolishness.
No doubt right wing flag pin wearing “Love it or Leave it” shouting fundie Xtians will protest and say their traitor brethren in Christ weren’t “true Christians.” But since Jesus wasn’t an American, and cared only if they accepted him as their Lard and Slaver, he wouldn’t have given a fiddler’s damn about their politics. It’s just common sense. But then again, common sense doesn’t compute with fundies.
Bottom line: professing belief in resurrected man-gods, going to religious schools, wearing a cross around ones neck or planting crosses on public land doesn’t make one a patriot or “true American.” It just makes one a religionist as prone to selling out one’s homeland as anyone. History is proof of that.
Friday, May 4, 2012
The Camel’s Top 10 List of Stupid Christian Statements
Fanatical commitment to a
specific mindset or agenda has a tendency to breed some really irrational
thinking. This is true for just about any extremist position. I don’t care how much you hated Bush Lite, he
didn’t conspire to blow up the World Trade towers on 9/11. And
no, Jethro, aliens didn’t travel a few hundred light years in order to exercise
their artistic skills in cousin Daryl’s wheat fields.
People have the right, of
course, to believe and say what they like. But when invention, falsehood, myth,
and ignorance are repeated often enough it can become accepted as popular fact
and firmly ensconced in the fabric of society and this can be dangerous. When
overwhelming evidence and unassailable documentation is dismissed out of hand,
with no superior or even marginal objective evidence or documentation to refute
it, relying instead on “this is what we believe” - it can have [quality of]
life threatening implications for some or all of us.
When it comes to all out stupid statements the hard core Christians are at the apex of the scale. The more Xtian they are the more stupid are the things they believe and say. This doesn’t mean all Xtians say stupid things, only those who allow their religion to intrude so far into the realm of reality that it permits religio-think to supplant the objectively reasoned and factual ... intentionally or unknowingly.
With this in mind, here is my list of the top 10 most stupid things Christians say:
10. Atheists are un-American and Communists
9. Hitler was an atheist
8. Einstein was a believer
7. Atheism is responsible for more deaths than is Christianity.
6. Catholicism has always promoted scientific discovery and learning.
5. Thomas Jefferson and the Founding Fathers were Christians;
4. TheUSA is a Xtian Nation founded on
the Ten Commandments.
3. Evolutionary theory is a lie (and / or “evolution is just a theory”).
2. “Separation of Church and State” is an invention of atheists because
When it comes to all out stupid statements the hard core Christians are at the apex of the scale. The more Xtian they are the more stupid are the things they believe and say. This doesn’t mean all Xtians say stupid things, only those who allow their religion to intrude so far into the realm of reality that it permits religio-think to supplant the objectively reasoned and factual ... intentionally or unknowingly.
With this in mind, here is my list of the top 10 most stupid things Christians say:
10. Atheists are un-American and Communists
9. Hitler was an atheist
8. Einstein was a believer
7. Atheism is responsible for more deaths than is Christianity.
6. Catholicism has always promoted scientific discovery and learning.
5. Thomas Jefferson and the Founding Fathers were Christians;
4. The
3. Evolutionary theory is a lie (and / or “evolution is just a theory”).
2. “Separation of Church and State” is an invention of atheists because
those words aren’t in the Constitution.
...and the number 1 most moronic statement by Xtians:
...and the number 1 most moronic statement by Xtians:
Homosexuality is a choice.
I won’t bother to provide the refutation to this laundry list of stupid. We all know, or can readily access, the objective evidence that puts them to shame. And the list is certainly not all inclusive as I’m sure you could add your own examples.
While I have long given up trying to debate fundies on their devotion to the supernatural as an exercise in the absurd, I hate to allow this kind of blatant garbage to go unchallenged. I’ll refrain from time consuming discussions, as I have tennis elbow in my pearl casting arm and it is inflamed easily with these swine. I will at least try to give them a few documented quotes and a link to source material which refutes their foolishness with objective evidence.
I won’t bother to provide the refutation to this laundry list of stupid. We all know, or can readily access, the objective evidence that puts them to shame. And the list is certainly not all inclusive as I’m sure you could add your own examples.
While I have long given up trying to debate fundies on their devotion to the supernatural as an exercise in the absurd, I hate to allow this kind of blatant garbage to go unchallenged. I’ll refrain from time consuming discussions, as I have tennis elbow in my pearl casting arm and it is inflamed easily with these swine. I will at least try to give them a few documented quotes and a link to source material which refutes their foolishness with objective evidence.
It may not do any good at the moment, but it occasionally segways into a blasphemy laced dressing down; the next best thing to a visit from a Mormon for this old camel.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)