05/12/2012
Miami antichrist upstages Maya with a June 30 apocalypse
According to a recent survey by Reuters News, one in seven people believe the world will come to an end in his lifetime. One in ten believe it will happen this year.

Most of those in the latter group are apparently certain that the ancient Mayan calendar predicts the end of the world will occur on December 21, 2012. And we all know how accurate the Maya were at predicting the future.

In Miami, however, Jose Luis de Jesus Miranda, aka the antichrist, aka The New Jesus...not the Jew Jesus, aka "Daddy" to his followers, is getting a jumpstart on the Maya and ending the world this June 30.

According to the Daily Mail, the Growing in Grace International Church has erected billboards in the U.S. and nine other countries warning us all that 666 is the beginning of wisdom and we're all going to be obliterated on June 30.

In a CNN article in 2007, Miranda, former petty thief and heroine addict, claimed he'd been visited by angels in a dream. He told them he was the New Jesus, not the Jewish one. He says he's the apostle Paul.

Apparently, when the world ends, only he and his followers will survive. But they'll also be immortal and have superpowers. Who could resist that?

His followers are sporting 666 tattoos and have reportedly gone into hiding, awaiting the obliteration of heretics. Though, who's the heretic is anyone's guess.

Mainstream Christians discount Miranda's claims. Nick Woodbury, director of the evangelical group Christ for Miami told Associated Press that Miranda's interpretation of the Bible is "warped." And as we all know, all the right kinds of Christians interpret the Bible in the same way.

The Christians at Got Questions tell us, "To put it bluntly, Jose Luis de Jesus Miranda is a heretic." Because, naturally, anyone who doesn't believe what you believe is.

Continue reading at Examiner.com

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Thinking kills religion
We often lament scientific studies that tell us things we already know. For instance, that drinking alcohol can lead to unsafe sex. But a recent scientific study, that does, indeed, tell us what we already know, may be helpful.

In a study published Friday, in Science, it has been shown that engaging in analytical thinking decreases a person's religious beliefs. But, of course it does.

Ara Norenzayan, co-author of the study conducted at the University of British Columbia, told Becky Perlow of CNN that the experiments didn't turn believers into atheists, but "if people habitually think analytically...it would lead to less religious belief in the long run."

Analytical thinking, when practiced, does lead to atheism because, simply put, religious beliefs can not withstand the application of reason.

Continue reading at Examiner.com

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Profile of gay student in yearbook stirs controversy
Remember Lenoir City High School in Tennessee? That's the school that wouldn't allow Krystal Myers to publish her article, "No Rights: The Life of an Atheist" in the school paper. The article went on to find wide publication in newspapers and online. (When will they ever learn?)

Well, the Christians of Lenoir City are at it again.

The 2012 yearbook committee decided to include in the book a series of articles on the diversity of the student body. One article focused on an openly gay student, Zac Mitchell; It's called "It's OK to be gay."

Well, not in Lenoir City, Tennessee it isn't.

A candidate for the Loudon County School Board, Van Shaver, posted a blog on his website called "It's not OK" in which he says:

"In this twisted world we live in, some may believe It's OK to be gay but it's darn sure not OK for teachers to be promoting homosexuality in our high schools... Some might think I'm intolerant toward homosexuals but that would be wrong. If an individual wants to be a homosexual, that's their own decision and they will have to live with the consequences of that decision."

It's always amusing to watch intolerant people explain how they're not intolerant.

Shaver the Intolerant is asking for an investigation into the teacher who approved the article, James D. Yoakley, or any teacher who was involved. Shaver insists they be dismissed.

"I and I know many other parents and members of our community expect a full and open investigation by school administrators and law enforcement into this issue and to hold accountable any and all those who had a hand in this despicable act."

Despicable act? Law enforcement?

You can contact Shaver here. And he's been kind enough to reproduce, no doubt without permission, the "despicable" article on his blog.

This may be upsetting news for Shaver and the other parents and members of the community of Lenoir City, but...brace yourselves...there are gays among you. And there are atheists. And pagans, Wiccans, Muslims. There are bi-sexuals, and swingers, and cross dressers.

And when these people are young, and in school, they have all the rights to express themselves and their struggles that the Christian children have.

It's a tough cookie for a bigot to swallow, we know.

Continue reading at Examiner.com

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04/13/2012
Happy Friday the 13th!

I received another prayer rug in the mail. This could be my third. And I have to say, it's not a rug. Did I say that the last two times? Probably. It's a piece of paper with a picture on it. A freaky picture of Jesus with his eyes closed. You're supposed to stare at Jesus' eyes until they open and look back at you and then you go somewhere to be alone and kneel on his face and pray. How odd is that?

I can only get my Jesus to wink at me.

Here's what's really odd about my prayer rug. It isn't really mine. The address on the letter is for the house across the street that we're pretty sure is owned by a church. The number and street are crossed out with a pen. Whoever did it crossed it out so hard they scratched all the way through the envelope, all it's pages (four of them...folded!) and into the prayer rug itself. How's that for respect? And then, somehow it ended up in my mailbox, with all my other mail.

Did the mailman do it? If so, isn't that illegal? Did someone at the church house do it and walk it over to my house in the middle of the day and put it on top of my other mail? In the middle of the day? I just can't see that happening.

But my address is not on it, so how did it get into my mailbox?

If you haven't received one of these prayer rugs, I feel sorry for you. They're amazing. The envelope itself screams ignorance and insanity...or prize patrol. Lots of red underlining, words in bold. YOUR HOME FIRST! There's a prayer on the back of it in all caps with lots of red.

DEAR JESUS, WE PRAY THAT YOU WILL BLESS SOMEONE IN THIS HOME SPIRITUALLY, PHYSICALLY, & FINANCIALLY.

Yes, of course financially. One of the pages inside is something like a news article. There's a picture of a woman on it and it says, "Blessed with $46,000 after using prayer rug..."

What you have to do, see, is pray on the rug and then return it to these people. Supposedly, they'll send it to someone else. (But it came to my house first!! Except that it didn't, whoever really got it first didn't want it, or the mailman thought I needed it more.)

Honestly, though, what would people think about getting a used prayer "rug" with someone else's knee imprints on it? Anyway, you send it back with a form. And the form is, of course, a request for donations. You put a check by what you need help with and include a check and you're done.

You can be prayed for about any number of things: your soul, your health, your children, a new car, a house, money. God's like Santa Claus, but you HAVE TO KNEEL ON JESUS' FACE TO MAKE HIM DELIVER!

Shameless.

I'm not nearly interested enough to quote much more of this scam, but Stupid Evil Bastard really cared. He even has a picture of the donation request. It's a must see.

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04/12/2012
Nahkoura Mahnassi is a 16-year old senior at Southwest DeKalb High School in Georgia, with a 3.8 grade-point average. She's smart enough to know that putting public school students in a church for an important rite of passage like high school graduation is just wrong. And she's not going to take part in it.

Mahnassi's graduation ceremony is scheduled to take place May 25, at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church. The church's senior pastor, Eddie Long

...was the focus of Senate investigations concerning whether he has personally profited from his church's tax exempt status and lawsuits alleging sexual relations with underage male members of his parish. Long has denied wrongdoing through his attorneys and has settled the lawsuits out of court.

Mahnassi told WSBTV News, "I don't like churches or New Birth so I'm not going." Her mother, Alisha Brown, said, "A church is a place you go to worship your God. I'm not a Christian. Church and state should be separated."

When Brown called the school, she was told that the church is just a building. She told Craig Lucie of Channel 2 News,

"...and of course I posed the question if it was a Satanist church I'm sure the Christians would be up in arms and say, 'No, no, no. We're not going to go there.' So it's not a matter of 'It's just a building.' That's totally not true."

She has a point. For Christians, the church is God's House, until they want to get public school students inside to expose them to their religion, and collect a fee. Then it's just a building.

Continue reading at Orlando Atheism Examiner.

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04/08/2012
Happy Sandwich Day. Easter was yesterday. Zombie Jesus has returned already. The candy was delivered by the bunny. Move along folks. Nothing more to see here.

So, today I read LA Atheism Examiner Hugh Kramer's article, Atheist "Jesus is a myth" banner placed in Illinois town's public park. I thought it would make a wonderful example of why I do what I do.

When you begin reading the article, Kramer is explaining that the Freedom From Religion Foundation has erected a banner in a public park in Illinois on Easter weekend that says, "Nobody died for our sins. Jesus Christ is a myth."

My first thoughts on reading that were probably much like the thoughts of many Christians. Why?

Why would the FFRF feel the need to antagonize Christians, especially on Easter weekend? What's the point? It's just mean. And I started to feel a little disappointed in my atheist kin. This is not an unusual feeling for me. Sometimes it lasts. Sometimes it's fleeting. Today it was fleeting.

As Kramer continues, we find out exactly why they did it. For five years now, the city in question has allowed three crosses, symbolizing the crucifixion, and a big sign that says, "Jesus died for your sins."

This is in a public park. A park we all pay for. A park we are all supposed to enjoy. But leave it to the Christians to usurp it for their proselytizing. They have churches. Lots of churches where they can put their crosses and signs. Why the public park?

This is a prime example of Christian arrogance, bullying, and blindness to freedom and the rights of others. They call it proclaiming the good news. For the rest of us it's just more annoying talk. If we want to hear it, we'll go to their churches.

So bottom line: if you expect to use public places for your religious propaganda, you must allow all other messages right next to it. If you don't like it, stop using public property.

We had a really nice turkey lunch yesterday with our family. I hate too much food. French toast for breakfast. The enormous lunch. Two slices of coconut cream pie. A few Reese's peanut butter eggs. That's what Easter is all about, my friends. And I Eastered the heck out of it.

And this morning, in honor of sandwich day, I'm having pancakes---whoah! Just got back from eating pancakes and perusing the Florida Today. Holy Cows.

Hobby Lobby took out a full-page ad on Easter (silly people think it's today). There's Jesus floating down to earth on a cloud, his arms outstretched, his right foot kicked back like he's flying. (Hubs says the picture is really of him balancing precariously on a rock; but they've photo shopped the rock out making Jesus look like George Castanza leaping gracefully over a pot hole. Hope he has his keys securely locked up in those robes somewhere. And hubs was raised Catholic, so he knows all about Jesus and rocks and all.)

And the ad says:

YOU ARE DEAD TO SIN AND
ALIVE
IN CHRIST.

The period is there, which I find strange. Anyway, then there's a 1 Peter 1:3 quote about living hope or whatever. And at the bottom this: "If you would like to know Jesus as Lord and Savior, call Need Him Ministry at 1-888-NEED HIM; to download a free bible for your phone go to" blah blah, too much to type. And their website hobbylobby.com/ministryproject which is easily mistaken for misery project.

1-888-need him? Is that funny or what? That's right folks, 1-888-need him! Call right now for this free offer. That's 1-888-need him! Lines are open now!

And on the right side of the paper, in another full-page ad it's....WALMART! advertising their low, low prices, much lower than Publix! Amazing, isn't it?

I'm very familiar with Hobby Lobby and their proselytizing. A long, long time ago, when we were in Denver for a year, I shopped there and visited their website where I was surprised to find an offer for a free Bible. I thought it was terrible, just terrible, to use their business in that way and wrote an email to tell them so. I ended up having a rather enjoyable debate with some guy there, though he did insult my ability to raise happy children. He claimed his wife was healed of arthritis in her wrists. Sure she was. Anyway, those were the days of youth. (youth-er?)

I don't care now what any private business does. And I wouldn't ask them to stop what they're doing, nor would I ask anyone to not shop there. But I don't. Partly because they're so religious, but mostly because I didn't care much for the store. I'm a Jo-Ann's or Michael's kind of girl.

So, back to more eating! We eat today because zombie Jesus can't! Happy Sandwich Day to all!

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04/03/2012
I've been very disheartened by the public response to the Trayvon Martin shooting. People are proving themselves to be irrational, reactionary, and vigilante. George Zimmerman has been found guilty in the court of public opinion and if he is not made to face punishment, who knows what the zealots will do? It's disgraceful. And it's shameful the way otherwise rational people who call themselves atheists are marching along with the vigilantes.

We don't know what happened. None of us. Only the investigators can do the best job to determine it. To call for Zimmerman's immediate arrest is stupidity--it's ignorance of the way our justice system works.

Why is it that people are all about how good they are, what good Christians especially. But when it comes time to try to empathize, to put yourself in another's place, that all goes out the window and you're marching in the streets threatening violence if you don't get your way?

I don't get it. I don't get people. And I don't like them much.

Anyway, I wrote about it for my Rationalism Examiner page:
Justice for Trayvon?

This year, our Easter is on Saturday. It has to be because the family members hosting the fraudulent Easter celebration are having sandwiches. Egad.

For me, the holidays have so little meaning anymore. (That meaning was never religious.) Their main redeeming value is the food! Turkey, cornbread stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes swimming in brown sugar sauce or covered with gooey toasted marshmallows, green beans, gravy, heavenly gravy. And pies! Several different pies!

Sure, the family is good. But I see them plenty. The three main holidays each year (1. Thanksgiving, on which the Christians insist their God made this all possible and if we don't get together and thank him once in a while he's going to send this nation to hell in a hand basket--and they spend the rest of the year telling us that's already happening. 2. Christmas, during which the Christians tell us it's supposed to be all about them when they know damn well it's about the shopping and the food. And 3. Easter, the day upon which their lord and savior rose from the glorious dead and nothing changed. And the day on which the pagans celebrate spring and the heathens such as myself enjoy the food.) are chances to get together with the family and share a fabulous meal.

Said meal is difficult enough when we all pitch in and share the load! How much harder it is when one family has to do it alone.

And so, my wonderful in-laws have decided to let me do it all on my own this year. On Saturday, which has now been designated Easter! In all ways. Even the boys (granted they're grown) will get their baskets full of the stuff mom likes to eat that day.

And on Sunday, we'll all go to my in-law's house and eat sandwiches. For what purpose, I do not know.

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03/27/2012
Well, the Reason Rally in Washington D.C. was FABULOUS! In hindsight of course. While I was there it was miserable, for the most part. Rain and cold. We brought a towel to sit on, umbrellas and ponchos, and we needed them. I think we're too old for this sort of thing anymore.

But luckily, hindsight is very forgiving so I had a great time!

Here are the two articles I wrote about the rally:
Reason Rally a great success for the National Rationalism Examiner
Reason Rally & Dawkins: Contempt or compassion? for Orlando Atheism Examiner

The second discusses my thoughts about the general mocking of religion that took place.

We stayed all morning, parked under a beautiful elm, enjoying the speakers and performers. We could stand when we wanted to actually see them. I was so proud of Jessica Ahlquist! She called us all, evil little things! So sweet!

After Tim Minchin performed (the main draw for me) we headed off to the Museum of Natural History for lunch. Our towel was wet! But we were dry. Still, sitting again would be impossible. The ground was soaked.

The cafe in the museum has changed. I remembered it being much better. The last time I was there was in 2002 for the Godless Americans March on Washington!

Speaking of Tim Minchin. One news article I read, obviously by a religious person, said atheists cheered whenever someone said the word "fuck." It's funny, because my hubs is always teasing me about how giddy I get when I hear it. I think it's a freedom thing. I can remember as a young person listening to the unedited version of Money by Pink Floyd. They said the word "shit!" Right there on the record. OMG!

Yes, it's a freedom thing. We were all thrilled when Minchin sang "The Pope Song," which is really little more than a string of "fuck" this and "mother fucker" that. Right there on the National Mall! So refreshing.

After lunch we toured the sponsor pavilion, and then walked over to the other side of the rally throng. I got a picture with James Randi which I'll post below. The fact that I will actually post it here is a testament to my self-esteem-raising exercises!

By the time we got near to where the Westboro Baptist nuts were protesting, they were packing up and heading away with police protection. Poor dears. They were so outnumbered they didn't know what to do. So, they did what comes naturally to them. They ran away.

I spoke with a gentleman back at the rally later who said he was over there when they were protesting. He said "the daughter" looked terrified. He called out to her and told her there would always be a place for her on the secular side. I wonder if she knows that her brother, Nate, spoke at the rally on behalf of atheism. I mean, do they talk about him at all? Or has him name been banished, like Moses' was in that movie with Charleton Heston? (I can never think of that movie without hearing Anne Baxter drawling "Moses, Moses.")

There were other protestors closer to the rally. We mingled among them while they hoisted their enormous derogatory and/or stupid signs on heavy poles trying to convince the atheists that there is a god. It was sad, really. I mean, there we were, rallying and having fun. Dino Jesus was there. Dancing Jesus on a stick was there. Even Waldo was there. We sang, we laughed, we cheered. And there they were, struggling under their stupid signs trying to tell us we were going to hell.

The most stupid sign was this one:

The idea that naturalism and atheism are irrational and fraudulent is just too stupid for words. How could withholding belief in fairies be irrational? Christians make their insecurity and rigidity very clear to the rest of us.

When the second storm of the day loomed and the temperature dropped, at about 4 p.m., we headed back to the warm and dry hotel. So, I missed Bad Religion. One of these days I'll have to check them out.

One of the grand things about the rally was that there were so many young people there. I think young people handle standing in the rain all day so much better than we old folks!

As promised, here is the picture of me with James Randi:

Sometimes you just have to get the picture any way you can.
*More pictures can be seen in a slideshow at the Rationalism Examiner article.

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02/20/2012

First Church of the Nazarene, Melbourne, FL (02/17/2012)

True love? Really? This is the Christian idea of true love?

Let's see. John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

God loves people so much, that he sent his son down to earth to be born through ghostly rape, to be tortured and killed, so people could be saved from death.

This is love...?

How is it love to torture and kill an innocent person for the crimes of another? How could it be love for a father to let his innocent son do so for others? Even leaving the deity out of it...how would it be love for me to let my son be tortured and killed for the crimes of someone else? Even for my other children?

It doesn't make sense. On so many levels. And even more so because there is deity involved.

God set it all up. God created the people in such a way that they would need saving (according to him). God knew they would need saving. God decided that the only way they could be saved was by the shedding of blood (can you say archaic?) He could have managed to save mankind in any way he wanted. (He could have created them right the first time.) But he chose to send an innocent person to be tortured and killed. That's not love; it's some kind of freaky, controlling, sadomasochistic, stalker-ish, violence.

This is violence intended to shame and frighten people into believing what their preachers tell them. This isn't about love at all--it's about fear. And all the Christians bow down and whisper, "It's a real good thing you did. A real good thing. And tomorrow....tomorrow's gonna be a... real good day!"

But Christians don't want you to think their religion is based on fear. They try to stay focused on the supposed sacrifice. God loves us so much he sacrificed his "son" for us. It was just awful, but he had to do it, because he loves us just so darned much. But there really wasn't a sacrifice at all. Jesus is God too. So, how much sacrifice could several hours of pain be to an eternal entity? Eternity is a very long time. Jesus time here on earth is just a blip to him. And his time on the cross an infinitesimal fraction of a blip. Now, he's nice and cozy up in heaven with pop.

There really was no sacrifice. So, when you think about it, how much love could this act really demonstrate?

It's a farce. Even if it were true, it would just be a game God is playing on people. And they're buying it. They're buying into the idea that it's all their fault they weren't created right the first time. And God is so loving and kind to torture and murder an innocent person so they can live forever...like the person supposedly sacrificed for them.

Why anyone would want to worship a god who would set this scenario into action is beyond me. You can keep your Christian "true love." I'll settle for the real thing--the kind of love that doesn't involve impregnating unsuspecting virgins, torturing and killing gods, and expecting everyone to worship me like I did a good thing. No thanks.

02/19/2012
In Florida, "inspirational message" is code for Christian prayer

In Florida, Senator Gary Siplin's "inspirational message" bill is sparking controversy. Senate Bill 98 will allow public school students to bully one another with religion. And which religion is it whose adherents feel the incessant need to stand before religiously diverse crowds and beseech their deity on behalf of all present? Christians, of course.

You don't see Wiccans insisting on praying in large groups before every meeting or meal. Or Muslims, whose prayers are on a stricter schedule than the willy-nilly pleas of Christians. Jews have too much respect for religious freedom to expect everyone to join in. Agnostics, atheists, and Humanists have no need to stand up in front of everyone and have them bow their heads in deference and listen to them explain reality.

No, it's only Christians who require every other person within earshot to hear, and respect, their prayers.

SB98 will allow "students who are responsible for organizing any student-led portion of a student assembly" to "have sole discretion in determining whether an inspirational message is to be delivered." This small group of students will "choose the student volunteers who will deliver an inspirational message," but they will have no responsibility for the "preparation and content" of said message.

This is about freedom of speech, according to Siplin and the bill's supporters. What it's really about, and we all know it, is school prayer. Siplin and conservatives want students to be able to pray their Christian prayers over the loud speaker at school events.

Continue reading at Examiner...
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02/18/2012
Oklahoma is poised to pass the first "Personhood" bill in the nation, making zygotes and embryos full-fledged people.

According to Senate Bill 1433, zygotes in Oklahoma will have

protectable interests in life, health, and well-being; and the natural parents of unborn children have protectable interests in the life, health, and well-being of their unborn child. The laws of this state shall be interpreted and construed to acknowledge on behalf of the unborn child at every stage of development all the rights, privileges, and immunities available to other persons, citizens, and residents of this state.

That's all fine and well. Zygotes and fetuses will be persons, with all the rights, privileges, and immunities available to other persons.

Some women might be curious as to what rights people have to invade another person's body and remain there against their host's will. No one as yet has the right to use another's body and put their health at risk. But certainly that is the aim of this and other "personhood" bills.

Continue reading...
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02/09/2012
Both my parents' families hail from Buncombe County, North Carolina. The behavior of the Christians there does not surprise me.

Buncombe bullies for Jesus
When Ginger Strivelli’s son came home from North Windy Ridge Intermediate School in Buncombe County, North Carolina with a Bible, she was upset. The Gideons, who clearly have too many Bibles on their hands, apparently have a sweet deal with the Buncombe County School Board, that allows them to unload their extra books onto the public schools, making them "available" to any kids who want them–even twelve-year olds...without their parents’ knowledge or permission.

When Strivelli called the school for an explanation, she was told that any religious text would be made available to the students under their policy. So, she brought them a gift of a few Pagan spell books (did we forget to mention that Strivelli is a witch?). Suddenly, and unsurprisingly, the school’s policy was under review. Strivelli’s religious text would not be made available to the students.

Continue reading...
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02/06/2012
A temple for atheists?

Atheism is not a religion. There is no creed, no dogma, no tenets, no rules. The only thing that atheists can be said to have in common is that they do not believe in gods. Atheists can, however, believe in many other silly things: Sasquatch, astrology, or homeopathy, for example.

Atheism is not a religion, just like not collecting stamps is not a hobby. Atheism is not a religion, just like bald is not a hair color.

Try though as Christians do to insist atheism is a religion--based on faith--and therefore no better than theirs, atheism is not, and never will be, a religion.

So, what are we, as atheist individuals, to do when Alain de Bottom suggests a temple for us? Several temples, actually. The building envisioned is described as a 150-foot tall black tower. So, not only will this temple for atheists be unnecessary and meaningless, it will be ugly.

Continue reading...
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02/05/2012
The Catholic Church has become "of" this world

On January 20, the Obama administration added preventative health care services for women to its Affordable Healthcare Act. These services would include sterilization and contraception, including Plan B, which the Catholic Church considers equal to abortion.

Already, "most insurance plans already cover birth control and 28 states require it." And church organizations whose primary purpose is religious and that hire and serve those of their own faiths are exempt. So, one would think this would be a non-issue in 2012 America.

Yet, America's Catholic bishops are beside themselves playing victims, claiming religious freedom is under attack when hospitals run by the Catholic Church can be forced to offer insurance to their employees that would cover birth control. Because God knows the last thing Catholic Bishops want to do is let women enjoy sex.

Continue reading...
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02/04/2012
Mr. Raffaelli, a board member for Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation says, “What we were doing before was angering the right-to-life crowd. Then, with our decision in December, we upset the pro-choice crowd. And now we’re going to make the right-to-life crowd mad all over again. How do we stop doing that?”

You can't stop pissing off the anti-abortion crowd. They're always outraged about something. Why anyone would try to appease them is beyond me. Most anti-abortion zealots are extremely religious (read "Christian"); they spend their energy trying to force their beliefs about life and conception on the entire population. They can't get it through their dense, indoctrinated heads that not everyone believes in their god and their bible. And they can't understand why they have no right to use the government of a religiously diverse population to force their brand of morality on the rest of us.

What happened this week with Komen and Planned Parenthood was marvelous. Finally (finally!) the moral, tolerant, freedom-loving majority said, "enough!"

Legislators should wake up and take note: If you have any brains at all, the outcry over Komen's shunning of Planned Parenthood should shake you up. You will not get away with messing with women's reproductive rights.

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01/24/2011
January is almost over. How did that happen? I guess I have to get back to work. I had to force myself to write a new Rationalism Examiner article. But I felt better once I managed it.

Chesterfield County Christians continue "crusades"

Sometimes...okay, a lot of times these days, Christians just make it so easy.

I have a picture of a complete lunatic to share:

I had to make it a lot smaller for the website, but I think you get the gist of the trailer from the enormous "Jesus is GOD" in purple on it. It also says stuff like this:

"We need warriers [sic] for the kingdom of heaven"
"Narrow is the road to heaven, wide is the road to hell"
"Do not be decieved [sic] by Satan! He is the Father of lies. He wants to take you to hell with him. Only Jesus is God. Any other claim is of Satan and his kingdom of darkness."

And of course, the requisite: "Pray to end abortion"

So this trailer is being pulled by a sad, sad late model car. They make a left illegally onto Palm Bay Road out of the Walmart parking lot. Naturally. They don't have to obey man's law, right?

It also says he takes donations at PayPal. But he says to go to: HolyMaN7777777@yahoo.com. I can't figure it out. Not that I would be making a donation... LOL.

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12/21/2011

Recycling garbage...

So, I opened my Girlfriends in God email today and was treated to a recycled story about a little boy and socks. What. They don't have enough sappy stories? They're having to reuse them?

Mary Southerland completely resubmitted an entire blog called "A box of socks." And she pawned it off as new.

Last year, for some odd reason, she posted this blog on August 5th. I know; I blogged a response to it. It's a stupid story about socks and what Southerland mistakenly calls Operation Shoebox. She actually meant Operation Christmas Child which does involve shoeboxes filled with gifts (and a proselytizing tract, of course). Operation Shoebox sends gifts to our troops.

Anyway, it's a story about some kind of charity gathering where needy children open their shoeboxes and how a volunteer was horrified to find one box had a bunch of socks in it, only to find out the little boy who'd received it desperately needed, and had prayed for, cotton socks.

It's so ridiculous, it elicited quite a response from me, filled with all sorts of curse words. Holy Cow! Since Southerland recycled her stupid story. I'll just recycle my response. But you won't catch me trying to pass it off as new. Here it is (and plug your ears if you don't like the F word).

08/05/2010

Wow! Two great Girlfriends in God emails in a ROW! I didn't read this last one all that well, but here's the gist of the stupid:

Lady is at charity event, giving kids boxes of stuff. Boy is crying. Man volunteer approaches and asks what's wrong. Boy's box is full of socks! (egad) Man volunteer tries to help by saying he can exchange for box of candy and toys. (egad!) Boy will not give up box. Turns out he has some kind of fungus or something serious on his feet and they won't heal unless he wears cotton socks but his mom can't afford them and he's been praying for a box of socks for the longest time and there it is! A box of cotton socks.

Can you give me a fucking break please? Once again, I think my Girlfriend is LYING. What kind of disease can ONLY be cured by the use of cotton socks? What kind of doctor would NOT purchase at least one god-damned pair of cotton socks for a little boy who needed them?

Give me a break. Why would attention, at a charity event, not have been called to a little boy in desperate need of cotton socks? What kind of charity allows people to donate boxes without them looking to see what's in them? And what kind of charity would not disperse the socks among several boxes so that one kid wouldn't wind up with a box full of socks?

See? This story is clearly fabricated! I'm not buying into your stupid stories designed for two stupid purposes: 1. To elicit emotion, through which your faith and belief deepen. 2. To show me what an ass your god is while you think he's just peachy.

(You've all heard the grotesque story of the father whose son and another boy were drowning and, apologizing to his son, proceeded to save the other boy, because the other boy wasn't "saved." Can you be more disgusting with your faith?)

And stop telling me about how important your stupid, trivial prayers are to a god who lets children be murdered! It's like, you're not even thinking. Aren't Christians capable of big pictures? Can they only see their broken cell phone and pray about it one minute, and then, completely forget how stupid they just were for imagining their god gives a shit about a cell phone, turn around a pray for a missing child or world peace or the starving, suffering in Haiti??

You people do not make any sense. And neither does your god, who deigns to help you find your missing keys in time for you to make it to the job interview, but not a missing child before she's raped and mutilated.

And don't even dare try to tell me there's a reason.

That felt just as good the second time around. And speaking of stupid prayer requests. On a private forum today, someone created a post asking for prayers so that her application to a rescue organization for a Daschund would be granted, over the other applicants' apps, of course. Does the applicant with the most prayers win?

PS--Trying to quote with blogger sucks.

You can respond to this post at blogger!

12/16/2011

Christopher Hitchens...

"The only position that leaves me with no cognitive dissonance is atheism. It is not a creed. Death is certain, replacing both the siren-song of Paradise and the dread of Hell. Life on this earth, with all its mystery and beauty and pain, is then to be lived far more intensely: we stumble and get up, we are sad, confident, insecure, feel loneliness and joy and love. There is nothing more; but I want nothing more."

--Christopher Hitchens in The Portable Atheist: Essential Readings for the Non-Believer, 2007

I'm very sad today. I read something and laughed and it felt wrong. But I think Hitch would have wanted me to laugh...really loud.

12/12/2011

Let me consult my attorney on that....

When I first heard about the conflict at Atheists of Florida (AoF), I was surprised. I received an email stating that EllenBeth Wachs and John Kieffer had been not only ousted from their positions on the board of directors, but expelled from the organization itself. I guess I'd characterize my first thoughts as, "Are they out of their minds?"

I don't know Wachs or Kieffer, but I've certainly been aware of John Kieffer by reputation for some time. He's a strong activist for atheist rights and separation of religion and government. I knew him as the president of AoF and I was glad to be a member of the organization. (I still am, whichever one is the real one.)

I was...confused about Wachs. She is clearly a strong supporter of religious freedom. Courageous. Outspoken. All those things you want activists to be. But, there were other issues that made me just a tad uncomfortable. Just a TAD, I said. Only a little. I brushed off these feelings because, well, we're not all type "relax," right? (I'M not even type relax!)

So, after receiving the email accusing Wachs and Kieffer of wrongdoings within the org, I got on Facebook and visited their pages, hoping to find some explanation for what had happened. What on earth had happened??

I didn't get much information. I got a lot of outrage from Wachs, nothing that I recall from Kieffer. But a man named Rob Curry posted a Facebook note criticizing what had happened. In it, Curry claimed that Ed Golly and the board acted outside the bylaws of the organization to oust Wachs and Kieffer and hijacked a meeting to do so.

Naturally, we were all outraged along with Wachs, Kieffer, and Curry. The group appeared to be split up, with Kieffer and/or Wachs controlling the Meetup and the website--and the rest of the board having little but the name they claimed as their own.

I didn't think very highly of this Ed Golly person at that point, that's for sure.

Finally, we heard from this Ed Golly person and the remaining board via the December newsletter (The original link to the newsletter no longer works. AoF claims that it has removed the online version of the newsletter due to "illicit interference." A print copy is available on request. But here's a cached copy.) The entire newsletter is devoted to explaining concisely what had happened, when it happened, what bylaws Wachs and Kieffer violated, and all the actions AoF declared inappropriate. They explained why they did what they did. And it all made sense.

They didn't call anyone names or sound outraged. However, the newsletter does state, "It should be noted that during the brief time Wachs had assumed the role of Acting President, she had adopted a totalitarian, bullying attitude toward the board, leading to immediate infighting between herself, the board, and general members."

But for the most part, they simply laid out their case in a reasonable and documented manner.

So, I wrote about it at Examiner. I explained to my readers the gist of the newsletter and AoF's case against Wachs and Kieffer. And let's face it, it doesn't look good from that viewpoint. I did not include statements such as the one above about Wachs as an individual. And I expected that at some point, Wachs and Kieffer, or at least Rob Curry, would respond in kind.

All I've heard so far in response, from Curry mostly, is basically that they're just wrong. Curry claims that the bylaws do not say what Golly and the remaining board say they do.

Curry keeps saying, read the bylaws. But I can't find any bylaws to read. (Actually, I finally found a copy of the bylaws at Scribd. They were apparently posted there by EllenBeth Wachs on December 10. They are not dated. Nonetheless, it appears they were accurately quoted by AoF, in their newsletter.) And reading them now wouldn't matter because who knows if and/or when they might have been compromised?

So I do not know who to believe at this point. I tried to be as delicate as I could in my article--citing the reasonable and rather damning nature of AoF's case as presented, while trying not to sound as if it had completely convinced me--which it had not. I did my best to stay off sides, let's just say.

Then I received this email from EllenBeth Wachs (it's rather long and in its entirety):

From: EllenBeth Wachs
Sent: Sunday, December 11, 2011 6:14 PM
To: catspah@cfl.rr.com
Subject: RE: Google Alert - ellenbeth wachs

Diana-
I am rather shocked and disappointed that you would print this without even contacting me.

EllenBeth Wachs

From: Google Alerts [mailto:googlealerts-noreply@google.com]
Sent: Sunday, December 11, 2011 12:36 PM
To: MyCatsareMyGods@gmail.com
Subject: Google Alert - ellenbeth wachs

News
1 new result for ellenbeth wachs

Atheists of Florida takes its case to its members
Examiner.com
When Atheists of Florida (AoF) ousted its president and vice president, John Keiffer and EllenBeth Wachs, last month, many of its members were left ...

First, I just want to point out that EllenBeth Wachs has a Google Alert for her own name. I recognize this because I have one for my name, too. So, if you write about me, I will find out. Heh heh. Second, she misspelled my name. Third, EllenBeth Wachs was, for some odd reason, shocked and disappointed that I would print my article without even contacting her.

Why? (Which is exactly what I said in response.) Why would I contact her? Why is she shocked and disappointed, like we're old friends or something, and I'd betrayed her?

So, I responded letting her know that I just pretty much reiterated what the newsletter said, laid it out for my readers, etc. I didn't think it was a big deal.

She posted my response in the comments section of my article. And here's the email I got back:

From: EllenBeth Wachs
Sent: Sunday, December 11, 2011 9:23 PM
To: 'Dianna'
Cc: 'Rob Curry'
Subject: RE: Google Alert - ellenbeth wachs

“I saw the article as pretty much a reiteration of what the newsletter said”

Yes, Dianna, that is very apparent and that is precisely the problem when you make statements such as you just did or such as the following:

“Ed Golly's reasoned response “ or “The board of AoF has stated a reasonable and documented case for their actions,”

You have done an opinion piece making a judgment call about the issue without bothering to get the other side of the story.

Do you want to be considered a legitimate journalist or someone that merely does propaganda?

EllenBeth

Okay, so reiterating what the newsletter said is somehow a problem because I claimed that said newsletter was "reasonable and documented." That right there folks, is the definition of propaganda! LOL.

As to getting the other side of the story, so far the other side is this: They're lying. There, I did my journalistic duty.

Unfortunately, as EllenBeth had posted the first part of this email exchange in the comments section of my article, instead of emailing her a response, I posted there, in reply to her original post. And that response has (miraculously, dare I say) gone missing. Basically I said I understood she was upset about this whole issue, but saying that my saying that a reasonable and documented case was reasonable and documented was propaganda was just a tad over the top.

So, here's what she wrote back:

From: EllenBeth Wachs
Sent: Monday, December 12, 2011 9:56 AM
To: 'Dianna'
Subject: RE: Google Alert - ellenbeth wachs

You think I am highly upset? What would you expect especially when a so-called “journalist” is so obviously biased. It was hardly over the top to call your piece propaganda. In fact, I consulted with an attorney and used the words he provided and took his suggestion to post your email right under your Golly promotional.

Okay. So. LOL. She consulted an attorney about my article? And he told her it was propaganda? And he told her to post my email response in the comments section of the article? LOL.

And she called my article, which was pretty much nothing but a statement of what AoF said in their newsletter, a "Golly promotional." Well, sure, I guess if I'm reporting on what Golly said, I guess I'm Golly promoting! If I were to report Wachs' response, wouldn't I then be Wachs promoting? Of course. Well, in Wachs world, anyway.

I have to wonder how much this consultation cost and who is paying for it. LOL.

And I have to wonder if I'd printed an article based on Wachs' outlining of her case against AoF (something I've yet to see), she would still call me a "so-called" journalist, and, naturally, a Wachs promoter.

The funniest part of this whole thing is that I write commentary! But there just isn't much to say about a reasonable and documented case beyond well, look at this reasonable and documented case. We're all still waiting for the other side to present theirs.

I'm still not sure what's going on at AoF, who's right, or who's wrong. But I know one thing: I don't think very highly of EllenBeth Wachs right about now. But we were on that slope anyway, weren't we?

LOL.

(updated 12/19/2011)

You can comment on this post at blogger!

11/06/2011
When I read that the Parents Television Council (PTC) was incensed that the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Janet Jackson's nipple didn't merit a fine for CBS, I was instantly reminded of the television show Work of Art: The Next Great American Artist.

Not only was a nipple shown on the Pop Art episode, there were two. And they were attached to breasts. Several times during the show, the audience got to see quite a bit of nipples and breasts. But when I watched the re-run of that episode the next week, the nipples were all blurred out like they were too gory or upsetting for the general public to see (like they blur out victims' faces on The First 48)

continue reading...

Dianne Carlisle, of Euclid, Ohio, claims there are ghosts having sex in her house. She has pictures to prove it. Taken by her four year old daughter with her mother's cell phone, the pictures appear to be coming out of the television.

You can clearly see a tiny man's backside. Carlisle claims other parts of the ghostly wisps are a woman's legs, her feet clad in stilettos.

This is explosive news for the paranormal world. This changes everything we know about ghosts!

Read the whole article, Ghost sex: It will rock your paranormal world, here...

11/05/2011
I came across a great blog today, at Patheos, called Slacktivist and the entry was called The kingdom of God is like a practical joke. Naturally that intrigued me, right? But it wasn't at all what it suggested. Slacktivist Fred Clark tells us about the church youth group he belonged to when he was young. In the fall, they'd get together and rake people's yards in sort of an in-and-out before-we-get-caught raid. It was a lot of fun, they helped people out, and they remained anonymous.

This, to me, is what charity is all about. It's not about the church, or the people doing it; it's about the act itself. When you add a evangelical pamphlet tucked under the front porch mat (or worse yet, with a yard sign--see comments on the blog), you invalidate the work--you dirty it, somehow. You show that you weren't doing it out of genuine desire to help others, but you were doing it to aggrandize yourself in the eyes of your god.

Take, for example, Operation Christmas Child, run by the religious "charitable" organization Samaritan's Purse, and affiliated with Billy Graham Ministries. They put together boxes of gifts for needy children in 100 countries! Isn't that sweet?

But they include in the box of presents, a pamphlet with an evangelical Christian message. They, thus, negate the good they're doing with their efforts to proselytize. It's not good enough to make a child happy--they must be sure the child knows it was they who did it and they make certain the child knows what they believe about God.

See the article I wrote about this here!

10/31/2011
I got my canned response to the We the People petition regarding "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance. It basically said, "thanks for signing a petition...we really don't care."

Then I found this article today: White House Responds To ‘We The People’ Petitions, People Respond With Petitions To Take Petitions Seriously

I've been trying to log in and sign the petition to have them take the petitions seriously for a while now and it won't work for me. Like it would do any good anyway.

10/29/2011
Well, Halloween is nearly here and it's time to amp up the paranormal nonsense.
Elsa Cook at Paranormal Old Pueblo has published an article entitled, "How do you know if you've encountered a ghost?"
One's first reaction might be, "If you have to ask, you haven't encountered one," but we'll give the ghost hunters the benefit of the doubt on this one.
Here are some of the signs...

Russell Moore, writing for Christianity.com claims that Hell Houses simply don't work. His number one reason? They're not scary enough.
Read more...

Bob Kellogg of One News Now, a "news" organization affiliated with the American Family Association, claims that the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) demanded that a school assembly in Fort Worth, Texas be canceled, "simply because the presenters are Christians."
Isn't there a Commandment about lying?

Why isn't Russell Baptist Church in Green Cove Springs, Florida enough for Pastor Ron Baker? Why is he not content with his full-service ministry there? Why must he insist on visiting the local public elementary school once a week to preach to other people's children?
Find out why...

10/23/2011
Jo McGowan writes a very nice article about the futility of proselytizing in "God-spotting: Can we make a case for the Almighty?"

I have to agree with her that the attempts at making a case for one's god and religion have led to wars, crusades, and much bloodshed.

During the Inquisition, not only was Christianity enforced, but only one kind of Christianity would do. In Nazi Germany the same logic applied. The Sunnis and the Shiites, the Arabs and the Jews, the Hindus and the Muslims—do we need more examples of the divisiveness of faith, the deep and enduring chasms just waiting for us to fall into?

...But we have come to the end of the road for making a case for God, at least in the traditional sense. The age of evangelization and the propagation of the faith is over. Holy wars, crusades, fatwas, and edicts—let them all die a natural death. A God who needs a case to be made on his behalf is no God at all.

Who couldn't agree with all of that? McGowan comes across as a thoughtful writer, which is all the more concerning considering some of the things she says at the beginning of her article.

The values of an atheistic society communicate themselves to us in so many thousands of small and subtle ways we cannot expect to always be on guard against them, even if we want to. The legal ban on state-sponsored religious displays at Christmas is just the tip of a very absurd iceberg. How we think about babies and marriage, how we look after our parents, what decisions we make when a person is critically ill, how we choose a career, how we think about sexual relations—all have been shaped and re-drawn according to new standards, standards that make reference to science, logic, and reason, not religious beliefs.

It's almost as if McGowan is lamenting the use of science, logic, and reason in dealing with these issues. She understands the wrongness that can be done when one faith tries to force itself on others large scale, resulting in wars, crusades, etc. But when it comes to state-sponsored Christmas displays, she now doesn't understand why forcing your faith on others through government is a bad idea. The tip of a "very absurd iceberg?" Seriously?

Babies and marriage? Surely she's talking about abortion and gay rights--civil rights issues where science, logic, and reason must guide our laws--not someone's religious opinions that might differ wildly from another's.

It's as if McGowan is saying, let's all stop fighting over which religion is the right religion and just start putting the generic "god's" policies into government. We can't make people choose our religion, but we can make everyone follow our religious ideals.

Typical. And disappointing.

10/22/2011
I see that my first prediction has come true. The world is still here.

Here is a church sign we saw in Titusville a week or so ago.

Now, at first, you might think, "hmm, maybe they're humanists or something." But no. The Abundant Life Fellowship of Titusville, Florida is a non-denominational Christian church. They're believers. Make no mistake about it.

So, this sign isn't really saying what they wish it was saying. They think that if you just believe enough, hard enough, and claim that you are certain of your beliefs, it's the same thing as knowing. So, just believe so much that Jesus is the way to salvation, and that your god exists, and bing, badda bing, you know it. And as everybody knows, knowing your beliefs are true makes them so much truer than just believing they're true!

In reality, of course, knowing is so much better than believing. When you stick with what can be known, factually, you live a reality-based life free of superstition, and free of the fear that you might have chosen the wrong thing to believe, the wrong church, the wrong interpretation, etc. (These doubts are exactly why Christians must try to convince themselves that they don't just believe, they know.)

If you just stick with what can be known, you are intellectually honest; and naturally, therefore, more honest with others as well.

Typically, when you go to the website of a small church like this one, you assume that the person speaking to you is the pastor of the church or at least a combination of he and his wife and senior officials. So, this website was particularly funny in that pastor Wayne Gray describes himself as "a man of God and a true gift to the body of Christ." Way to be humble.

"When Pastor Wayne ministers, he operates under a prophetic mantle and flows in revelation and understanding."

Sounds like a roaring good time. Why are they always Pastor Wayne and Pastor Buddy--called by their fist names? It makes them come off as creepy and a little perverted.

And here's a picture I took at the Biltmore Mall in West Asheville. The mall has been turned into something like an upscale, indoor, flea market. I was so taken with this particular storefront I had to get my camera out:

And they mean totally. Totally Christian Karate has locations in Asheville and Miami. Their "why we do it" page consists of nothing but Bible scripture. Way to explain yourself, Mr. Mitch. And there it is again. The guy, Mitch Freistat, clearly prefers to be called Mr. Mitch. You work with kids and like to be called Mr. Insert First Name Here? It's creepy, people. Stop doing it.

10/21/2011
Well, it's a big day today, isn't it? Today is the day the world will end. Harold Camping said so--after he said it would end last May and it didn't. Oops. No, er, sorry. Did the math wrong. October. October 21st. That's when it'll end. Yep. That's the date.

I am going to make a wild prediction right here on Atheist View, so listen up!

Prediction: the world will not end today. Not only that, the world will not end in 2012 either. The world is going to keep going and going and going and Jesus is never going to show up because he probably never existed in the first place and if he did, he's dead now.

That all gave me a story idea: OAE prediction: The world will not end today
Eees funny. Go read it.

And Pat Robertson says everybody who takes anti-depressants is an atheist. He also insinuates that all atheists are taking anti-depressants. What an odd little man.

10/16/2011
At the gas station today, we saw RAVEN. They were basically a bunch of nerd kids, all wearing black t-shirts with a variety of sayings all having to do with Jesus. A lot of them were chowing down on pizza just outside the convenience store, not very mannerly, I must say. One of the young men walked toward the van that was pulling a trailer with their logo on it. As he did, he tossed some trash onto the roof that shaded the gas pumps. I think it was something biodegradable, but still.

So, when I got home and looked them up on the Internet tubes, I went to the "live services" page and was treated to an ad for Jack Daniels Tennessee Honey: Fly straight; drink responsibly. Too funny.

10/12/2011
That Jeffries guy: “Do we want a candidate who is a good moral person, or do we want a candidate who is a born-again follower of Jesus Christ?"

I can't believe he actually said that! That is so Freudian it gives me the goose bumps. Hilarious. I might be laughing all day over this one.

10/06/2011
Scott McMan over at GhostTheory.com posted the story of one "Roseann" in hopes that someone might have the expertise to help her explain what's been going on in her life.

McMan says, "We are in no way presenting this as specifically paranormal in nature as Roseann is trying to remain logical as she explores every available possibility."

So, he admits plainly that resorting to paranormal explanations is illogical. Naturally I would agree. But I wonder if McMan is aware of the meaning of his own statement.

10/05/2011
Fabulous article at Christianity.com today called Do-it-yourself religion. Chuck Colson whines about how, according to a new book by George Barna, Futurecast, only 7% of Americans agree with the "seven essential Christian doctrines."

What are these seven essential doctrines one must believe to be a true Christian? They come from the National Association of Evangelicals' Statement of Faith.

Colson is so very upset that so many people are just creating their own religions and believing whatever they want. He's all for freedom of religion, he says, but speaking to Christians, ya'll better get back into the fold!

What's so funny about this to me is that Christianity has always been a do-it-yourself religion. From the very beginning there were arguments and dissension. Who do you suppose the Christian Gnostics were? Or rather, are? Who are Protestants, anyway? You're all Lutherans, Baptists, Methodists, Catholics--both Roman and Greek Orthodox, Presbyterian, and on and on. And within those subgroups you have more subgroups.

Christians can't agree on anything. And here's Chuck Colson to tell you all to get back on the boat. His boat, of course.

AND THEN WE HAVE THE WICCANS doing the same thing. Star Foster complains that Andrew Bowen of Project Conversion is being misled by his Wiccanator mentor and isn't being taught real Wicca. No, no. Star Foster, as she explains with a brief summary of her study and sacrifice to become initiated, is a REAL witch.

And what's more, once you become a real witch like Star is about ready to do...you can't take it back. Or as she says, "no backsies."

That's right. Being a witch is just like being a Catholic. They will never, ever let you leave.

And don't think that Star is just making this Wicca stuff up out of her head. Nope. They have a book too! The Book of Shadows! So, if you don't believe in that book (in the same way Star does, I guess) then forget about it. Never mind about being a good witch or a bad witch; you're not a real witch at all.

10/04/2011

Hello October!

Check out Whiteville, TN Mayor James Bellar. He calls the FFRF "terrorists" for complaining about a cross of the city's water tower. What a smart Christian! Then he says that an individual has offered to take the cross and display it on his private property, from which the cross would be more visible.

"It will be a shallow victory for them if they win," Bellar told Lauren Foreman of the Jackson Sun.

See. Christians think it's just the sight of the cross that upsets atheists and secularists. They're too stupid to understand that we don't care if every Christian in America puts a cross on his front lawn (with respect to zoning laws, of course). We don't care.

We just want their religion and its symbols out of OUR government and off OUR public, shared property.

Why is that so difficult to understand?

October 3, 2011

Brown v. Jeffs: Civil rights and plural marriage

When the US Supreme Court found Texas sodomy laws unconstitutional with Lawrence v. Texas, Justice Antonin Scalia dissented saying, "laws against bigamy, same-sex marriage, adult incest, prostitution, masturbation, adultery, fornication, bestiality, and obscenity are likewise sustainable only in light of Bowers’ validation of laws based on moral choices. Every single one of these laws is called into question by today’s decision."

Masturbation? Really? Adultery and fornication? What century are we in?

09/29/2011
LifeSiteNews ran an article today titled, "Study finds marriage increases self-control, may reduce crime."

Either they're turning around and beginning to support gay marriage...or they're just being mean now.

09/28/2011
Gary E. Yates at Christianity.com has taken it upon himself to explain unanswered prayer. He starts out with a little story about Dale Earnhardt praying with his pastor before the race in which Dale crashed and died.

Yates goes on to ask some very important questions:

We have all had the experience of unanswered prayer. We pray for God's healing for a loved one. We pray for God to bring revival and renewal to our churches. We pray for the suicide bombings to end and for our troops to come home. Why does nothing seem to change when God has promised us, "Ask and you will receive"? Is Jesus being totally truthful when he tells us, "If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it"?

We are expecting Yates to explain this to us: Why? Why does nothing change when God has promised us?

But, as we well know, Yates can not explain this conundrum. Great theologians have pontificated on this very subject and have said just what Yates is about to blather about. And yet, the question remains. Yates forges on like a trouper, telling us that we need to maintain our perspective in the face of "silence of heaven."

Yates' explanation is as follows:

09/27/2011
Today I received an email from LifeSiteNews. They're a pro-life group out of Canada. They send me links to news articles about abortion and such. (The "and such" is gay rights.* Those two issues really wad their panties in knots.) Unfortunately, most, if not all (I don't pay that much attention) of the articles are written by the LifeSiteNews team and are only published at their website. I generally look for a wider range of work.

Anyway, this email introduced me to the LifeSiteNews team! Nice! I'd put the picture right here for you to see, but I'm afraid it would violate a copyright. But I found this web link for you. This email was sent out as part of their regular series of requests for money. You'll have to scroll down through that to see them.

Notice that all but one of the LifeSiteNews team are men.

Why did this surprise me?

*Okay, according to the website these are the things that upset these big men: abortion, bioethics, contraception, culture of life, euthanasia, faith, family, freedom, homosexuality, and stem cells.

I am always amazed (you see a pattern here with my naivetè) at people trying to restrict others' freedoms claiming they're all about freedom.

09/24/2011
Well, all that wondering about Chris Holly is over. The woman is definitely loony. Check out her latest blog on The Mystery of the Invasive Red Orbs. Totally off the wall. She actually believes she had contact with an alien against her will! And she woke up groggy the next morning. Woot!

09/20/2011
I'm starting to wonder about Chris Holly over at UFO Digest. I wrote an Examiner article about her in July because she was talking weird about skeptics. She sounds like she believes that she alone, or at least she and her elite cadre, has possession of some "truth" that the majority just won't believe. Worse, they mock her!

Everywhere, for Holly, there is evidence of aliens. And if you don't believe her, you're close minded to reality! This sounds so familiar.

Anyway, last week she wrote another article in which she rails against skeptics. I didn't think this one warranted an article at Examiner, but I did want to write something about it. It looks like Chris Holly is suffering from a persecution complex.

In her latest article, she says she's offering advice on "how to ask about UFOs without ridicule and laughter." But she's not really talking about "asking." Asking is a pretty humble thing. She's most likely talking about making unsubstantiated claims and getting shot down.

This is evident in her advice about pointing at something in the sky. Don't say, "Hey [sic] look at that UFO," or, "Is that thing over there in the dark glowing [sic] a ghost?" Instead, don't scare the people right away; just point and say, "What is that?"

So, basically, Holly is upset that she can't go out in public and just tell people that the aliens are coming without most of them calling her out on her irrational beliefs. And I get it. Everywhere, Christians and other religionists get to spout off about all sorts of things for which they have no evidence and for the most part, they're left alone.

Granted, in this new age of the Internet tubes, religious nonsense is getting a run for its money. But, at least in the United States, god-belief is still accepted as normal. UFO's and aliens...not so much. Still, there are quite a lot of people out there who believe in them. There's a lot of talk about ghosts and Bigfoot these days, too. (Just watch tv!) The Internet is doing wonders for the Chris Holly types.

But, that's just not enough for Holly. Instead of offering evidence for her assertions, she's decided to go on the offensive. Never, ever bring up the paranormal at a party, she says. You'll be humiliated by skeptics.

Skeptics, in Holly's view: are huge loudmouths; they insult, or point fingers at, anyone who brings up the paranormal; are morons; are out to protect their own ignorance; are bullies; loud-mouthed fools; they attack what they do not know; will fight to the death (yes, she said that!) to not expand their limited thinking or opinions; are "extremely close minded people without much vision past a very black and white concept of all things."

Sounds a bit over the top, don't you think? One has to wonder what Chris Holly does at a party to elicit such reactions. Just ask questions? I doubt it.

She goes on: "With all of that said, I never discuss the unknown with a skeptic nor do I ask for their opinions or try to convince them of a new way of thinking. I do not have time for skeptics."

Well, that's one way to never learn anything new, to, shall we say, remain close-minded, lacking any vision past a very black and white concept of all things, and refuse to expand one's limited thinking or opinions. Hmm.

09/16/2011
Finally, another Girlfriends in God worth talking about. After months of bore-me-to-death pablum religiosity, my girlfriend Gwen Smith sent out a nice little bit of what I'm sure she considers Godly, and comforting, wisdom. It all boils down to, basically, "shut up."

Gwen tells us about her friend (they always have these friends, don't they?) who struggles "to believe God’s promises and feels helpless to the circumstances of her trial. She prays – but wonders if God no longer listens to her. She daily looks for the light at the end of the trial-tunnel, yet sees none."

In other words, the woman is going through a really bad time and she's turning to God for help. Isn't God supposed to help? Isn't that what all the hype is? Just pray. Get together with others and pray. God promises to help!

But of course, as we all know, the answer to our prayers sometimes is a big fat, "NO." No, I won't be curing this little child of cancer. No, I won't be saving this child from the murderer. No. Nope. Not this time.

Of course, Gwen's Christian friend keeps asking and waiting and waiting for an answer. She's not even getting a no. She's getting nothing. Meanwhile she's losing hope, struggling for just a light of hope at the end of what seems a long, dark tunnel.

Now, all rational people know that she's not getting any feedback because she's talking to herself. Any ideas on how to move forward out of her predicament will come from her own mind, or from the help of others, which she will inevitably attribute to God. But right now, and apparently for some time now, she's gotten nothing. Nada. Zip. A big fat silence from her invisible friend.

Gwen knows why. It's right there in the Bible. God very often likes to make suffering people just wait. Just wait. Until God is damn good and ready. That's right. In his own jolly time.

I have to wonder why Christians bother. They never really get any answer. They pray and then things just happen. They have to figure out what the answer was by the events that take place. The dude apparently says no a lot. And sometimes he doesn't say anything at all--the situation just festers. But you're still supposed to give him credit and absolutely no blame. It's like he's not even real. He's just a little crutch you use to separate yourself from having to accept that shit happens and sometimes you struggle for a long time before things start to look up. Or down, as is often the case.

So, quit your bitchin', Gwen's friend. The big guy will get to you when he's good and ready--or not; you'll just have to keep waiting to see. In the meantime, good luck with whatever it is that's troubling you. Maybe Gwen can offer more than a "just shut up and wait," next time.

Here's the best part. The title of Gwen's little devotional is this: When nothing is there.

That's very apropos. Nothing is there. Why not stop looking to some supposedly omnipotent being (who, let's face it, could fix things if he really wanted to in an instant) to help you and start trying to find real help. A counselor, maybe. Friends (not Gwen!), loved ones. Or maybe just taking a deep look into yourself for the strength that can help you find your way out.

07/20/2011

Expelling Demons Through Yawns, Burps, Mucus, Saliva & Barf At N.Y. Church

Okay. That just takes the cake...doesn't it? And barfs it right back up again.

Pastor John Goguen: "People need to get over the hump of...this looks weird. But God uses it, we find, to humble people...for them to finally admit that they may not know everything."

Uh, yeah, you look pretty foolish.

Goguen: "The barn door goes eeeeeeeccchhh...it opens and we don't know how many spirits come in. The devil wants us in bondage."

Demons come in through tattooes! Ouija boards, martial arts! "If you're breathing" you have evil spirits in you!

So, they barf and spit and attack each other in church each Sunday to make it all go away...for a week.

07/16/2011
Ah, the billboard at Eastminster Presbyterian Church in Indialantic, Florida:

So many comments, so little time:
1. At least the Terminator was true to his word.
2. Of course, they're both fictional characters.
3. He said, "I'll be back," not "I will be back."
4. You're comparing Jesus to the Terminator??

07/03/2011

Wow! Hobby Lobby has taken out full page ads in newspapers across the country quoting Thomas Jefferson. The quote they used comes from A Summary View of the Rights of British America, a missive to the King of England in 1774.

The quote as published reads: GOD who gave us LIFE gave us LIBERTY.

The problem with the quote is that it leaves out one tiny, but very important word: the.

"The God who gave us life, gave us liberty at the same time."

That omission may seem minor, but it is not, and it is calculated. "The" God could be any god...it's whatever god that did give us life. "God" is the Christian God of the Bible. They left the word out on purpose.

I remember when I was in Denver for a year in 1999; I shopped at Hobby Lobby a couple of times (not impressed). One time, for some reason, I visited their website only to find that they were very religious and used their business to proselytize. I dashed off a complaint by email--not something I'd bother with these days.

My complaint was answered by someone in public relations, I guess. I can't remember his name now but we exchanged quite a few emails about religion for quite some time. While we were friendly, he did manage to insult me at least once, saying he felt sorry for my children because they were growing up without an awe of the world. I was like, wtf? Are you serious? And I did correct him about the awe atheists feel about the world and the universe every day.

I remember he told me that he knew there was a god because his wife suffered from debilitating arthritis and she prayed for healing and hasn't felt any pain since. Right.

Anyway, Hobby Lobby, Hemispheres, and Mardel Stores want you to know that if you "would like to know Jesus as lord and savior," you can call "Need Him Ministries." LOL.

07/01/2011
I've finally gotten back into writing Examiner articles. Here are my latest:

Miami Beach to get a dose of atheist patriotism
Jewish Voice Editor attempts to solve gay marriage "crisis"
Author: love gays enough to deny them their rights

06/27/2011
I just have one little problem with Bob Etier's article, Being Christian: another perspective on same-sex marriage.

She starts out whining about how misunderstood she is as a Christian. People assume they know what she believes and assume she believes like all other Christians, etc. She calls her detractors "sharks" and their criticisms "attacks."

And then she goes on to readily admit that many Christians are not only hateful toward gays, but offer up invalid arguments against same-sex marriage. She seems to be trying to lessen their impact by saying "maybe some" Christians are like that.

Christians often have this mentality that they are being attacked unfairly, as if people who don't agree with them are creating wildly ridiculous and fake caricatures with no real basis in reality. What do they think we're doing? Making this stuff up? Creating a theology in our heads and putting words into people's mouths? No.

Sorry about the truth, Bob, but the Christians with the loudest voices, the ties to government, and the most power and wealth are giving you and your kind a really, really bad name. Don't blame us. Don't turn around and belittle us by calling us "sharks" and labeling our disagreements with these wackos as "attacks" against you.

If you don't agree with the wackos, wonderful! We're not talking about you.

Otherwise, great article.

06/25/2011
Here it is! The apparently perpetual "Jesus will save you only believe sale!"

(side of store in Titusville, FL)

06/19/2011
Bravo, Frank Ranelli! Over at OpEd News, in his article, Theistic bigotry: The reality of denying fantasy, he says:

"Indeed, when the courage to exclaim openly one's confirmation of mere reality leads to palpable prejudice--rather than to stay hidden in the shadows of ancient dogma for societal acceptance, then one thing becomes abundantly clear: faith needs more criticism and scrutiny, not less."

You wonder why I spend my time doing this (and enjoying it, which really pisses people off). Well this is why.

06/18/2011
I found something odd yesterday. I was searching a forum for an old bit of craziness (02/013/2010) I got myself involved in some time ago. And I found a comment there that I missed. I believe I left the discussion long before that point, while the posters argued about whether or not I was right to post my personal feelings on my website when it involved that particular forum.

The woman who sent me a private email posted all of our email correspondence in the forum and someone else said this about it:

"I understand the nature of the debate, I've seen it done many times in college (and it's most effective when written). First you reduce the intelligence of the person you disagree with by correcting their spelling and pointing out their grammatical errors. Then once you've done this you articulate your point of view to your target audience."

I was confused at that. It has never been, to my knowledge, an appropriate tactic in debate to belittle the intelligence of one's opponent. In fact, it's a logical fallacy: ad hominem. When you attack the person, you've left the argument. Whether or not a person can spell and use correct grammar has nothing at all to do with whether or not she is correct about there being a god.

And while the person who said this agreed that I had the right to post what I did where I did, and so I don't mean to come at her personally, I beg to differ with her.

First of all, what few people seem to ever get is that Christians, all the time, all the time, all the time, begin discussions with atheists by insulting them. If I was a sweet, gentle, pathetic person, I would just let it slide. But I'm not. If you insult me, I don't like you very much. And if I don't like you very much, I'm going to pick on you. Sorry. But you asked for it.

So, let's be clear (and you'll notice the truth of it if you look at my comments page), I do not pick on people who are nice to me. I only pick on belligerent assholes.

Does that make me a reactionary? A person who can't control her emotions? I don't think so. I enjoy doing it. It pleases me. Why? Because I'm a grammarian. Which brings us to point number two:

I pick on people's grammar and spelling mistakes because I'm persnickety about spelling and grammar, not JUST because I'm a bitch. (And yes, I'm not stupid; I KNOW the dangers of being a grammarian. It has to happen sometimes that I make mistakes of my own.)

So, I just wanted to let it be known: I do not pick on your stupidity because of some debate tactic. I'm not belittling your intelligence to gain an upper hand; I do it because I like to do it.

I am not debating people who send me comments. In my opinion, a debate is more formal than answering someone's stupid questions in an email.

06/17/2011
I finally opened up the blog archive. It's a funny story, really. What happened was this: I called my aunt a fundie loon. It wasn't very nice, or funny (that's not the funny part of this story). I can't say why I did it, except that I can be an ass sometimes. But anyway, I guess I freaked out a little bit after that happened, and I thought, wow, I sure am an ass. So I purged the site of all my blogs--granted, this new redesign didn't have all the really old blogs on it anyway--and started fresh as a nice person who didn't get personal on her website anymore.

Well, glancing over the blogs of old it occurred to me that the blog was a lot more fun when I got personal.

So, they're all there in the archive. Way back when I started, I didn't sound like I was having fun at all. But they get better. I can't find the blog where I called my aunt a fundie loon. I was going to leave that one out so as not to insult my aunt any more than I already have, which brings up the perplexing question....is telling you that I called my aunt a fundie loon (three times now) insulting her in the same way? I can't tell.

I haven't written any Examiner articles in a while. I've been extremely busy with Zumba, writing, and shopping for the upcoming Zumba instructors' convention (uh, yeah, that takes a LOT of time!).

And I have to say, I've been a little bit sick of the whole religion thing. But, I'll get back to lambasting losers as soon as I can.

05/08/2011 again:

Wow. I'm really sorry! I had no idea I'd forgotten to post so many comments. And such wonderful ones too! Well, all caught up now and I promise to get them posted pronto from now on.

05/08/2011
First, I apologize to the few people who have sent comments in the last few months. I will get those (the ones I can find, anyway) posted as soon as I can. I'm just lazy.

In the news:
What the heck is up with Ellen Beth Wachs? The Florida atheist is getting arrested right and left. I don't know exactly how I feel about it. I mean, on the one hand, she's making atheists look pretty bad. She doesn't appear to be the nicest person. But, I've often said (mostly in reference to Madalyn Murray O'Hair--or is it O'Hare?) that it takes enormous cajones to be an outspoken atheist. So those of us who are, aren't going to be the nicest people you've ever met.

On the other hand, wtf? She's arrested for using "esq." after her name? And now she's arrested for making supposedly sex noises in her house loud enough for a kid to hear them?

So what? So friggin' what?

The Anatomical clues to human evolution from fish story was crazy cool. The video of the growth of the human face in the womb is a must see!

There is so much evidence for evolution that, after learning more and more, it has just become boring for me to listen to, or try to talk to, creationists.

Re: Why Won't David Barton Submit To Peer Review?, I was very disappointed in Jon Stewart after watching his interview with Barton. I get that the man is a practiced huckster and slippery as an eel. But it's Stewart's job to reel his guests in, to do his homework, and to point out to the guy when he tells a lie!

Go to David Barton’s Pants Are On Fire… For Jesus for information on how you can get a copy of Liars for Jesus free! Or you can pay for it. I'm paying for mine, personally. But apparently David Barton Fink is featured quite a bit in Chris Rodda's book.

04/21/2011
Well, I'm sorry to say that I couldn't read The Watchtower or Awake! and write nasty things about them. Both issues are so incredibly boring, I just don't have the patience.

The Watchtower is, I guess, the Easter edition: "Jesus: Where he came from, how he lived, why he died." And of course, it's all from the Bible, as if the Bible is a history book.

And Awake! is about "Coping with the loss of a loved one." It looks like it might have some good advice for people in grief, but it's naturally so infused with the Bible and God that I have no reason to read it.

So, I have nothing to tease the JW's about today.

I took the empathy quotient quiz at The science of empathy. I honestly thought I'd score as too empathetic. Seriously! But as I was taking the quiz, I realized that I'm pretty empathetic in many ways, but not so much in others. It turns out I scored exactly what average women score. So, I'm average. Ick.

I enjoyed Understanding Republican atheists. It wasn't a hit piece, like I thought it would be. Let me segue here: I'm sure I've said this before, but I have a large number of "friends" on Facebook who are there just because they're atheists. When I started on Facebook, I initiated a lot of connections, but I don't do it anymore. Apparently, there are many, many more atheists than evangelicals want you to believe. I can't befriend them all; but I will accept their acquaintance anytime they ask.

The reality is that most atheists are not only social liberals, like I am, but also fiscal liberals...in that they believe that a just society is one in which we are not entitled to all that we earn, but must not only hand our money over to government for infrastructure and protection, but also for the "betterment" of society, i.e.: social programs.

I don't agree with their viewpoint. I'm a fiscal conservative who feels that true freedom means that the government stays out of not only my life and pocketbook, but also does not dictate who I will and will not help.

This is okay. I can understand their view. But so many of them can not understand mine. The vitriol with which great swaths of people (Republicans, Tea Party members, Libertarians, Objectivists, etc.) are berated is just over the top. People with whom they disagree are labeled idiots, selfish, greedy, hateful, bitches (Ayn Rand, particularly) etc.

And yet, they consider themselves models of virtue. I don't get it. It reminds me of another story that I've probably told before.

A woman who owned a few charter schools here in Florida was angry with the teachers and school board members who objected to charter schools, or something like that. And she quipped (snottily): "And they say they care about the education of children!"

Well, yes, they do care about the education of children; they just differ with you on the best way to ensure that education.

So, anyway, I got tired of being called names and started deleting people from my friends list on Facebook. So far, I've only booted three. Maybe it was all just those three people pissing me off every day. (I had to scroll back up to see what got me off on this tangent!)

Soooo, that's why I was hesitant to click on the link to Understanding Republican atheists.

But it turned out okay. The only quibble I have with it is the assumption that because an atheist is voting Republican, he is voting against his own self-interest. In reality, we all vote in the best of our self-interests as is possible considering how little we really know about the candidates, the way the system "works," and the impossibility of finding a candidate or party with which we agree one-hundred percent.

04/19/2011
Best comment on "Ten Commandments Judge" Roy Moore forming presidential committee: "That's one hell of a clown car the GOP is filling up! Can't wait to see them pop out!"

In Moms challenging viewpoint discrimination, I side with the Christian moms. If the school allows other organizations to send out invitations to events, they can't turn down their religious group's invite.

Lee Strobel put out a response to An (Atheist) Easter Message from Ricky Gervais. I've tried to read it twice now and just can't do it. I read the man's inane books; that's about all I can take of his stupidity.

The Jehovah's Witnesses are back. Well, different ones. I asked them why they keep coming over and sending different people. "Don't you guys share notes?" Yes, she said. They do. But they're on a three-month rotation. And now it's their turn, whoever they were.

I told them I was surprised they came back after the argument I had with the last two people. And I told them that Twyla gave me one of their Bibles and a "science" book a long time ago and it didn't do me any good at all.

"Oh, Twyla," the lady said. "If she couldn't convert you then..." I don't think she finished that sentence.

I know that the lady's son is named Anthony and the young man's wife is Dianna (probably one n). But I don't know their names. I told them I would happily take their literature, but I'd just make fun of it on my website. So, lady asked young man if it was okay to give it to me and he said yes.

I also asked if I could join their church and then write and exposé on it. I'm not sure lady understood fully because she went on to tell me about a Jewish lady whose daughter joined their church. The Jewish lady went to her second daughter and said, "go find out what's going on with your sister and that church." And when the second daughter also joined the church the Jewish lady went to her third daughter and said, "go find out what's going on with your sisters and that church." And when the third daughter became a Witness, the lady said, "That's it! I'm going to have to go find out what's going on myself." And now, wouldn't you know it? That Jewish lady is a Jehovah's Witness.

They call that lying for Jehovah. I'm sure lady didn't know she was lying. Someone else told her that story and she just believed it. And yet, she had the audacity to stand there and tell me that she understood where I'm coming from. She's all about facts herself.

Sure you are lady.

Anyway, they're going to come back and bring me a tape about the Bible and a book about "Creation!" I'm pretty sure I already have the "fact" filled book. And I don't have any means to play a tape. Why are they so crazy?

04/16/2011
The Jehovah's Witnesses came to the door while I was away. They gave my husband an invitation to a "memorial."

The invitation is really a little pamphlet. It says, "Jesus 'takes away the SIN of the WORLD.' How does he do so? Why is this necessary? How can you benefit?"

And we're invited to find out the answers to those questions this Sunday, when the JW's get together to commemorate--they're probably not allowed to celebrate anything--the anniversary of Jesus' death, which just so happens to fall on Sunday, April 17.

Imagine that! They know the anniversary of Jesus' death!

I can already answer the questions without their help:

1. How does he take away the sin of the world? Well, assuming the whole story is even real, by magic. God's magic. God set up the whole scenario. For some odd reason, Jehovah really needed blood sacrifices back then. But not anymore--since they murdered Jesus. That was, apparently, all the blood he needed.

God is like an enormous, spiritual magician who loves the smell of burnt offerings. But he's given them up lately.

2. Why was it necessary? Well, because Jehovah royally screwed up, that's why. He created awful people (what do you expect when you start with dirt?)--he destroyed them once, all except for a drunk guy and his family. And then, he thought, "I think I really overreacted and I won't do that again."

And when the people were still awful (because, I mean, come on, we're all descendants of a drunk) he had to figure out something else. "I know," he thought. "I'll impregnate some virgin and become my own son and have myself sacrificed. That'll do it. I'll make it really gory...yeah..."

Do you think the JW's think Jesus is God, or divine, or just a man? They must think he's at least God's son, because it says right there in the Bible that God had that part of himself that gets all the dirty work come down to earth and diddle Mary.

But anyway, the answer really is that it was necessary because Jehovah said so. And that's good enough for me.

3. How can I benefit?

I can't.

If I believe this nonsense, I'm an idiot, and I have to spend a very long eternity with more idiots and a god who couldn't come up with not only a better creation, but a better plan. No thanks.

And if I don't believe the nonsense, I'll apparently burn in hell. Which, when you think about it, might be better than the eternity with idiots.

Well, the JW's don't believe in hell. They've told me so. So, really, I'm glad I don't believe it in the JW sense. I can just die and be part of the natural order of things.

So, thanks anyway, JW's. I'd rather not get together with you. From all I've learned from your doorknockers, you're nuts.

04/15/2011

On the news:

Nearly Half Of Mississippi Republicans Think Interracial Marriage Should Be…Illegal?

It's so sad that this is unsurprising.

Atheist group head told LO council they pray to a "child murderer"

I wonder how the Palm Bay city council would react to that? I bet Isnardi would blow a gasket of indignation. Could be fun.

Letter from close friend offers rare glimpse into President Lincoln's 'theist' beliefs

Sounds a lot like a Deist to me.

Why are Christian movies so awful?

Duh. Because they're more about the message than the story.

Is the French veil ban ‘unconstitutional’?

Duh.

04/14/2011

Related to my latest Examiner article City of Palm Bay open to atheists, Wiccans, Satanists, etc. for "invocations" below is a copy of the email I sent to Palm Bay City Council.

"Dear Ms. Isnardi, especially, and members of the city council of Palm Bay,

I apologize for my lateness in writing. Had I known that you were waiting for four years for someone to complain about holding sectarian prayers before meetings of the city council, I would have spoken up earlier.

Having dealt with the city council and Mayor Mazziotti years ago regarding the blatant support of, and preference for, Christianity on the city's website, I didn't think you were interested.

After that, I was unaware that the City of Palm Bay cared at all for its non-Christian, non-religious citizens, of which I have no doubt there are quite a few more than one percent (as if we must have a certain number before fair representation is granted).

The thing about prayer at government meetings is this: you all talk about freedom and how open you are. But when the Satanists (possibly one of the better religions, Mr. Mazziotti) and the Wiccans and the atheists come to give an "invocation" (which, by the way, need not involve a "higher being"), how inclusive will you be then?

History shows the minority that you won't be inclusive or "tolerant" (as if we need your "tolerance") at all. Perhaps you recall the 2004 results in Tampa in which three council members walked out rather than listen to an atheist offer an invocation.

http://atheism.about.com/b/2004/07/30/florida-bigots-walk-out-on-atheist-invocation.htm

And you must remember the Titusville Wicca incident.

I hope that one day we will have the opportunity to find out how open the City of Palm Bay is to its very large non-Judeo-Christian population. But it is a fortunate truth that the people most inclined to stand up in public and bloviate on religion under the guise of an invocation are Christians.

Consider this a formal complaint against sectarian prayers (prayers of any kind, really) at city council meetings, Ms. Isnardi. I hope this email wasn't too wacky for you.

signed

Recent articles:

City of Palm Bay open to atheists, Wiccans, Satanists, etc. for "invocations"

Ad company rejects Jesus resurrection video in theaters

Donohue: Sex abuse in Catholic Churches not so bad, blames homosexuals

Warlock puts curse on new film, "Your Highness"

04/10/2011

Brain structure differs in liberals, conservatives: study

This is very interesting. It says quite a bit in relation to my feelings of not fitting in. I'd love to get a look at my brain.

But what does it say about those liberals of my acquaintance who are insulting and vile toward conservatives?

04/08/2011
I'm still here.

My latest articles at Examiner:

Will Good Friday become a national holiday?

14th-century mindset reacts to Qur'an burning

Update: Bigfoot vacations in NC--where's a good photog when you need one?

Liberty Council demands Christian group get access to public school students

Conservatives warn their flocks about Gay Days at Disney

03/10/2011

I am reprinting my most recent Rationalism Examiner article here, just in case it doesn't pass muster at Examiner.

I wrote about the Raelians and their new billboard campaign in Las Vegas. In the article, I said that their "scientists" (the Elohim of the Bible) "sounded very much like gods," despite Raelians claims that they're atheists. And I also said, "If an overabundance of lunacy is a sign of the apocalypse, the end is nigh." (link and all)

I received an email from Examiner a few days later, telling me that the Raelians had complained and that I must edit my article to address those complaints or it would be permanently unpublished.

The email notes the Raelians complaint as follows:

"The article states we the Raelians consider the Elohim to be gods (the complaint states this is false). Secondly the article refers to lunacy when referring to Raelians, which is opinion."

Well, I'm afraid their complaint was false. I never said they consider the Elohim to be gods. I only said the Elohim, as they themselves described them on their website, which I quoted, "sounded very much like gods."

But yes, I did very much refer to lunacy while discussing the Raelians. But, my article was commentary and that statement was obviously opinion.

But need it have been? Must a sane and rational person make it clear when calling the belief that technologically advanced beings created all life on earth and then left and will return one day--when we're ready to greet them with gratefulness and love; but we're not ready yet to understand them; only one man can understand them; that's the man they were somehow able to make understand; his name is Rael, and he wants you to follow him so the Raelians can return in their "extra-terrestrial" spaceships--must I make it clear that it is only my opinion that such nonsense is sheer lunacy?

No. Because that is sheer lunacy. It's a fact. Lunacy. Loco. Crazy.

So, anyway. Here's the article as I was willing to edit it. If I'm asked to edit further, I think I'll keep my spine and let it be unpublished.

Raelians join the battle of billboards

March 6, 2011

This article has been edited after a complaint by the Raelians. Edits are highlighted in bold type.

On a billboard towering over I-15 in Las Vegas, the Raelian Movement has launched a visible campaign against belief in gods to counter the many billboards warning drivers against the fires of hell. The billboard will remain for six months and directs people to the Realian website.

The Raelians have dared to say what most atheist groups across America have only hinted at: God is a myth.

Raelians consider themselves atheists because, they claim, they don't believe in gods. But they are not rationalists, by any means. Raelians believe that ancient scientists, the Elohim mentioned in the Bible, created humans and all life on Earth, and will one day return.

While their "scientists" at one time sounded very much like gods, not anymore. Now their "scientists" are merely technologically advanced human-like creators who will arrive in extra-terrestrial spaceships.

When the original version of this article was written, on their website, the "creators" were compared to an "omnipotent, yet unseen force." This phrase was quoted directly from the FAQ section under the question "Why do they not just show themselves to everyone so we have proof to support Rael's claims?" It originally read as follows:

"Take a minute to imagine this scenario...The omnipotent, yet unseen force that claims responsibility for our existence suddenly appears on Earth or in its skies for all to witness. Imagine this arrival taking place on an extra-terrestrial 'spaceship.'" Here is a link to the cached page.

That description of the "creators" as an "omnipotent, yet unseen force" arriving on our planet has since been removed from the Raelian website. It now reads like this:

"Take a minute to imagine this scenario...The creators that claim responsibility for our existence suddenly appear on Earth or in its skies for all to witness. Imagine this arrival taking place on an extra-terrestrial 'spaceship.'"

So, I guess the Raelians owe your Rationalism Examiner a big thank you for pointing out the inconsistency of their thinking processes. If she had misquoted, or simply fabricated, the views of the Raelians, she'd apologize. But as she did not, she will not.

These Elohim are waiting until we are able to "understand" them before they show up. And yet, somehow, they were able to make one man, Rael, understand through several meetings in France, of all places. His mission: spread the good news, the aliens are coming.

Rael's method of spreading the word is simple: get followers to give him money so he can put up a billboard in Las Vegas advertising the Elohim.

The difference between the Elohim and the gods of other religions is that the Elohim don't want us to worship them. They want us to love them. They want us to be "conscious and grateful human beings" when they arrive. And Rael's billboard is all part of that consciousness raising.

If an overabundance of WHAT IS IN THIS RATIONALIST'S VIEWPOINT lunacy is a sign of the apocalypse, the end is nigh.

03/10/2011

My latest articles for Examiner:

Orlando Atheism Examiner:

Church billboard: Scumbags Welcome!

Miami's Winter Party Festival asks: was Jesus gay?

Atheist arrested for protesting prayer at school board meeting

Orlando couple debuts Christian film this weekend

Polk County School Board adds disclaimer to prayer

Project (apocalypse) Caravan arrives in Central Florida next week

National Rationalism Examiner:

Pope exonerates Jews--now who will Christians thank?

Atheists angry at God? Not likely

"Actual" warlock aims to silence Charlie Sheen in witchy ritual

Billy Ray Cyrus equates atheism with darkness, Satan

That wacky world of the paranormal

World Net Daily speaks out against Christian intimidation through prayer

Giles County School Board to remove Ten Commandments from schools

Conservative group criticizes Texas' social studies curriculum standards

Irony run amok: Herman Cain, Cardinal George, and The Protect Life Act

And you thought I wasn't doing much.

02/13/2011

Celebrate Darwin Day by keeping the focus narrow

Continue reading on Examiner.com: Celebrate Darwin Day by keeping the focus narrow - National Rationalism | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/rationalism-in-national/celebrate-darwin-day-by-keeping-the-focus-narrow#ixzz1DqpccdS3

Celebrate Darwin Day by keeping the focus narrow

Continue reading on Examiner.com: Celebrate Darwin Day by keeping the focus narrow - National Rationalism | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/rationalism-in-national/celebrate-darwin-day-by-keeping-the-focus-narrow#ixzz1DqpccdS3

Celebrate Darwin Day by keeping the focus narrow

Celebrate Darwin Day by keeping the focus narrow
Central Florida celebrates Darwin Day

Secular Coalition challenges House Resolution affirming "In God We Trust"

Tax churches? Suddenly the ADF claims separation of church and state

01/30/2011
I just finished up the latest Space Coast Writers Guild conference and am pumped and energized for a new year of writing. Fiction writing.

Have you ever been reading your Google alerts on atheism and religion and thought, "This is getting old?" No? You don't get Google alerts on atheism and religion?

Well, maybe that's my whole problem. I'm saturated. I don't even feel like reading my Girlfriends in God emails anymore. And my LifeSiteNews emails are always abortion this and abortion that. I'm tired.

The culture wars have lost my interest! They better step up their game or I'm outta here. (heh heh...you know it's just a phase. I always get pulled back in. Stinkin' culture wars.)

01/20/2011
Today, I received an invitation to sign my children up for Focus on the Family's magazines for children so that I could build their faith. Because, after all, "their moral and spiritual values will be largely set by age 13," which means that I "have just a few years to help them discover the truth of the Gospel."

Translated: If you don't teach your kids to believe this fairy tale while their brains are still growing, their chances of believing it later in life are slim.

I put it all in their post-paid envelope and mailed it right back to them.

01/01/2011

Welcome 2011! And welcome to the 2011 Atheist View blog. I can't wait to see what happens this year.

My experiment tracking the war on the holidays was very interesting. While I wasn't able to update the page as often as I would have liked, just paying attention to commercials and ads made me realize that the vast majority of businesses had inclusive "holiday" themed advertising. Very few mentioned Christmas, and most of the ones that did, also said holidays and used other inclusive terms.

So, for me, the experiment was a success! I've taken the page down already and I won't likely do it again next year, as I see no point. Retailers are still tolerant and inclusive.

THE NEWS

General (really important) Stuff

A Season in Hell

PRAISE GOD & PASS THE WEED

Defending George Zimmerman with Facts

War on drugs goes up in smoke

Trayvon case shows ‘racist’ epithet persists

Arizona ‘cyberbullying’ bill threatens free speech online, critics warn

NBC Apologizes For Editing Zimmerman's 911 Call

Atheism, separation, evolution, etc.

Why Atheists Have Become a Kick-Ass Movement You Want on Your Side

When It Comes to Anti-Evolution Arguments, Americans Need to Be More Cynical