Jesus Popcicles

"Each piece is a personal interpretation of some aspect of American life, be it celebratory, critical or simply observational. The exhibition intends to question what the American life is, whether real or perceived," according to a news release from the gallery.

His frozen cocktails stand as a symbol, he said, an invitation to "drink the Kool-Aid" that he feels so many religious zealots are stirring up. He hopes the Popsicles will remind the gallery's visitors to take their religions - whatever they may be - a little less seriously.

Atheist Ten Commandments

I'll admit readily, I do not like Penn Jillete, nor find him funny. I think he is a boor. That said, he came up with a pretty damn good list of equivalent ten commandments as an answer to Glenn Beck. And, I really dislike Beck. I don't see this as having to be strictly atheist, more just how to be a good person.

1. The highest ideals are human intelligence, creativity and love. Respect these above all.

2. Do not put things or even ideas above other human beings. (Let’s scream at each other about Kindle versus iPad, solar versus nuclear, Republican versus Libertarian, Garth Brooks versus Sun Ra — but when your house is on fire, I’ll be there to help.)

3. Say what you mean, even when talking to yourself. (What used to be an oath to (G)od is now quite simply respecting yourself.)

4. Put aside some time to rest and think. (If you’re religious, that might be the Sabbath; if you’re a Vegas magician, that’ll be the day with the lowest grosses.)

5. Be there for your family. Love your parents, your partner, and your children. (Love is deeper than honor, and parents matter, but so do spouse and children.)

6. Respect and protect all human life. (Many believe that “Thou shalt not kill” only refers to people in the same tribe. I say it’s all human life.)

7. Keep your promises. (If you can’t be sexually exclusive to your spouse, don’t make that deal.)

8. Don’t steal. (This includes magic tricks and jokes — you know who you are!)

9. Don’t lie. (You know, unless you’re doing magic tricks and it’s part of your job. Does that make it OK for politicians, too?)

10. Don’t waste too much time wishing, hoping, and being envious; it’ll make you bugnutty.

Why do Americans still dislike atheists?

Long after blacks and Jews have made great strides, and even as homosexuals gain respect, acceptance and new rights, there is still a group that lots of Americans just don’t like much: atheists. Those who don’t believe in God are widely considered to be immoral, wicked and angry. They can’t join the Boy Scouts. Atheist soldiers are rated potentially deficient when they do not score as sufficiently “spiritual” in military psychological evaluations. Surveys find that most Americans refuse or are reluctant to marry or vote for nontheists; in other words, nonbelievers are one minority still commonly denied in practical terms the right to assume office despite the constitutional ban on religious tests.

Traditional Atheists are Ridiculous

Wielding a blow-dryer, a leading atheist conducted a mass "de-baptism" of fellow non-believers and symbolically dried up the offending waters that were sprinkled on their foreheads as young children.

Atheist group uses household tool to "undo" rite of baptism.
At the annual American Atheists Convention, one of atheism's premier provocateurs, Edwin Kagin, faced the crowd and raised high a hairdryer labeled "Reason and Truth."

Said one woman who travelled from Cincinnati to undergo the de-baptism, "I was baptized Catholic. I don't remember any of it at all." The woman, Cambridge Boxterman, 24, added, "According to my mother I screamed like a banshee, and those are her words, so you can see that even as a young child I didn't want to be baptized. It's not fair. I was born atheist and they were forcing me to become Catholic."

Is there really any difference at all between a religious zealot versus a non-religious one? I seem to be missing the difference from snakes to blow dryers.

New Year, New Decade, Medieval Thinking

From today, 1 January 2010, the new Irish blasphemy law becomes operational, and we begin our campaign to have it repealed. Blasphemy is now a crime punishable by a €25,000 fine. The new law defines blasphemy as publishing or uttering matter that is grossly abusive or insulting in relation to matters held sacred by any religion, thereby intentionally causing outrage among a substantial number of adherents of that religion, with some defences permitted.

Despite these quotes being abusive and insulting in relation to matters held sacred by various religions, we unreservedly support the right of these people to have published or uttered them, and we unreservedly support the right of any Irish citizen to make comparable statements about matters held sacred by any religion without fear of being criminalised, and without having to prove to a court that a reasonable person would find any particular value in the statement.

Can we also put into laws that it is illegal to speak against someone's political views, gender choices, disabilities, car choices, foods they eat, etc? We could solve the entire political process by just banning everything!

This is not a step forward. Progress requires freedom of thought, not legal restrictions. Let everyone state their beliefs as they wish, not hold one belief as higher than any other. As the website states after quote #24: "Because atheism is not a religion, the Irish blasphemy law does not protect atheists from abusive and insulting statements about their fundamental beliefs. While atheists are not seeking such protection, we include the statement here to point out that it is discriminatory that this law does not hold all citizens equal.

If Atheists Ruled the World

All text taken directly from online Christian fundamentalist forums. http://www.fstdt.net

No matter what beliefs I hold, I don't know if I could say all that with a straight face. Kudos for the acting.

Religion Flowchart

..via Nag on the Lake

Can Atheists Be Parents?

In an extraordinary decision, Judge Camarata denied the Burkes' right to the child because of their lack of belief in a Supreme Being. Despite the Burkes' "high moral and ethical standards," he said, the New Jersey state constitution declares that "no person shall be deprived of the inestimable privilege of worshiping Almighty God in a manner agreeable to the dictates of his own conscience." Despite Eleanor Katherine's tender years, he continued, "the child should have the freedom to worship as she sees fit, and not be influenced by prospective parents who do not believe in a Supreme Being."

How does the judge not see how illogical this statement is? Religious parents are just as influential over the beliefs of their children, so this statement is completely ludicrous. Don't praise the morals of someone and then deny them rights because their beliefs do not mirror your own.

Lunchtime Readings

The Supreme Court has turned away a challenge from a death row inmate in Texas who claimed his constitutional rights were violated by jurors who consulted a Bible during deliberations.

Makers of plastic bags to use 40% recycled content by 2015

Both of these stories bother me. Quite a lot. Dude in prison shouldn't have his life voted on based on people's religious views. If they came to the same conclusion using the evidence, fine. But citing the Bible seems very biased, more than what the required realm of ethics/morals already consists of in a trial. Of course, I don't agree with swearing on the Bible either.

Second story bothers me due to the feeling that it is too little, too late. Walgreens and Home Depot need to work on pushing reusable bags more, not helping make the industry take a baby step. Instead of 40% recycled material, why not 100%? And why will it take them 6 years to get this in place?

We're All Gonna Die

In Utah, the Parowan Prophet predicts disaster will prevent Obama from taking office.

"I think that you should hear what my opinion about the Obama election is: that he will not be the next president. I said on my home page in August that if he lost to expect to see the 'riots' that 2 Peter 2:13 tells us about. He didn't lose. But the story is not finished yet. I still think they may begin the riots before Christmas 2008, as I said."

These riots, according to his prophecy, will encourage the "old, hard-line Soviet guard" to seize the moment and rain down nukes on the United States, killing at least 100 million of us.

"Prepare now," Freeborn's letter concluded. "We are downwind from Las Vegas. I hope you can survive."

Fairy Tales

Business Owners, Customers Upset Over Controversial Billboard

I do love how up-in-arms religious people get as soon as someone publicly disagrees with them.

Overheard at Work....

"One time my kid was crying and wouldn't stop, so we put holy water on him and prayed over him and he stopped. I'm serious, it really works."



..


Sometimes the kid just has to cry. Not sure the effect prayer really had here. I just don't understand faith.

Drinking wine since 18:30...

When purified is just not enough....

Holy Water for the heathens in us.............this is one point wrong in capitalisk.

Adult to Adult

What you should do if you find an atheist