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link and pix found on J-Walk

Well what DO you believe in?

Interesting question really... what do I believe in? Do you have to believe in something?

Quite a common post when you read one of those interminable threads full of people debating religion/atheism goes the lines of "well if you have no faith then your life is essentially empty and meaningless"

I could respond in a couple of ways. It's rather arrogant to suggest that my answer to that rather provocative statement would be similar to any other atheist's. Leaving aside the many different answers I might give about my meaningful and fulfilling secular life... does there have to be a point?

For a large portion of post-religious people in the industrialised world they put their belief and faith into something equally diaphanous. These people believe in "The Market".

"The Market will drive prosperity", "Market forces will improve our schools and hospitals". Market forces are lies that parents tell their children because they want them to grow up and become economists. The reality of the sleight of hand we are all engaged in - economics and world banking is so crazy and ultimately doomed that it strikes me as being just as odd a belief system as any other religion.

This film starts off with the very basic concept of money as an IOU, but soon describes a very worrying alternative faith that is surely going to destroy the planet if left unchecked.

It's 45mins long, but worth it.

Newsflash!

Atheist pretends to be decent!

Don't let down your guard!

Atheists cannot be trusted!

Don't let them in your home!

Lord knows what they'll do.

Memo to creationists, nothing for you here.

"Parade" magazine is a weekly newspaper insert. This week's cover story was caled "The Secrets of Dark Matter", written by Yale Physics professor Meg Urry. The text will be available online starting Tuesday 30-May is there right now. While the article could've been titled "Dark Energy for Sysm Dummies", it was a scientific article, yo. No hedging. The Universe is billions of years old, motherfuckers. And I will not waste one sentence of space qualifying this as a "theory".

I can't tell you how much reading the article filled my heart with joy.

What Kind of Atheist Are You?

You scored as Scientific Atheist, These guys rule. I'm not one of them myself, although I play one online. They know the rules of debate, the Laws of Thermodynamics, and can explain evolution in fifty words or less. More concerned with how things ARE than how they should be, these are the people who will bring us into the future. Scientific Atheist 83% Militant Atheist 75% Angry Atheist 75% Spiritual Atheist 50% Theist 25% Apathetic Atheist 25% Agnostic 8% What kind of atheist are you? created with QuizFarm.com

Found this over at the Omnipotent Poobah's. Pretty damn accurate!

My head hurts. Other parts, too.

I need a vacation. I'm thinking Petersburg, Kentucky. Anyone care to join me?

Or maybe I just need some domestic discipline (H/T to Boing Boing, via Sysm).

Parental Advisory

This textbook contains material on evolution. Evolution is a theory, not a fact, regarding the origin of living things. This material should be approached with an open mind, studied carefully and critically considered.

Wording taken verbatim from the sticker designed by the Cobb County ("A community with a passion for learning") School District, Georgia.

As of December 19th, 2006, the courts have upheld the initial ruling that the sticker was unconstitutional. The district is now on double-secret probation: (is it me or does 'double-secret probation' sound like something a seven year old made up?) it can't do anything that similarly undermines the teaching of evolution or that similarly supports the presence and activities of supernatural entities. Details can be had at the National Center for Science Education.

I've always been a huge fan of the people who when presented with an oaf, a bully, or a ridiculous belief don't start foaming at the mouth and raising their voice. Rather they use wit, wisdom and panache. In the battle of wits a calmly made point delivered with a withering smile can be as devastating as a stiletto in the kidneys.

So kudos to this fella for making a supporting range of stickers for textbook usage. Here are a couple of favourites, I urge you to take a look at the others.

Can this week get any better?

Evangelist Kent Hovind arrested on federal charges

If you're not convinced this is good news watch this

The Moon and Venus

Nothing news worthy, just a photo I took tonight of the Moon and Venus (click image for larger view) with my Canon EOS 350D. ISO 100, 2.5 sec exposure at f5.6 using a 300mm lens. On June 18th a waxing cresent Moon will occult Venus between 9 and 10 a.m. EDT

A Little Nietzche for the weekend

A subject for a great poet would be God's boredom after the seventh day of creation.

The Selfish Green

I know, I know, a lot of links but this debate is well worth watching. The speakers are Dr Jane Goodall, Sir David Attenborough, Dr Richard Leakey and Professor Richard Dawkins.

Flush with Pride

Going down. Way down.

Bye, Jerry.

There's another star in heaven tonight

Jerry, taken so soon, we hardly knew yee...

"Textbooks are Soviet propaganda."

"Christians, like slaves and soldiers, ask no questions."

"I am such a strong admirer and supporter of George W. Bush that if he suggested eliminating the income tax or doubling it, I would vote yes on first blush."

"Homosexuality is Satan's diabolical attack upon the family that will not only have a corrupting influence upon our next generation, but it will also bring down the wrath of God upon America."

"The idea that religion and politics don't mix was invented by the Devil to keep Christians from running their own country."

"AIDS is not just God's punishment for homosexuals; it is God's punishment for the society that tolerates homosexuals."

"If you're not a born-again Christian, you're a failure as a human being."

And of course everybody's favourite...

"I really believe that the Pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians, ... the ACLU, People For the American Way - all of them who have tried to secularize America - I point the finger in their face and say 'you helped this [terrorist attack: 9/11] happen." - Jerry Falwell, 700 Club, Sept 13, 2001

EDIT: Christopher Hitchens eulogy

Can we stress it was a substitute teacher?

In my post-masters-lay-about-in-bed-vacation I have been catching up on the blogs as well as trashy entertainment news. This story struck me:

A lawsuit has been launched against a school teacher who showed Brokeback Mountain to a class of young students. Twelve-year-old Jessica Turner and her grandparents, Kenneth and LaVerne Richardson, are seeking $500,000 against the Chicago Board of Education after the movie was shown at Ashburn Community Elementary School. The lawsuit, filed in Cook County Circuit Court on Friday claims Turner "suffered psychological distress" after viewing the R-rated film, which was viewed by the class without permission from the student's parents or legal guardians. Turner's grandfather Kenneth Richardson, who complained to school heads in 2005 over profanities in educational reading literature, says, "The teacher knew she was not supposed to do this. It is very important to me that my children not be exposed to this. This was the last straw. I feel the lawsuit was necessary because of the warning I had already given them on the literature they were giving out to children to read. I told them it was against our faith."

Now I totally agree that what this substitute teacher did was wrong. Not only was the movie rated R, but I can't think of an educational reason for watching it. That being said, why does the issue of faith have to be involved? Is their claim more powerful because it is founded in their desire to be homophobic?

The award for unintentional irony...

From the BBC Website:

Pope Benedict XVI has criticised "authoritarian governments" in Latin America, in a speech at the end of his five-day tour of Brazil.

He condemned the growing gap between rich and poor, blaming both Marxism and capitalism for the region's problems.

In his opening address to the two-week bishops' conference, the Pope attacked unnamed governments in Latin America that he said were "wedded to old-fashioned ideologies which do not correspond to the Christian vision of man and society".

He warned that the worsening gap between rich and poor was causing a loss of dignity through drugs, alcohol "and deceptive illusions of happiness".

I considered trying to write something pithy or satirical about the head of the Roman Catholic church decrying the gap between rich and poor and old-fashioned ideologies, but I just gave up. I mean how do you lampoon that?

top 5 links i've been saving up for my fellow atheists

1) This depresses the hell out of me. I was raised in the Episcopal church. At the age of 12, when I was set to start my confirmation classes, I came to the conclusion that not only did I not agree with all or even most of the tenets of the faith, but I just flat-out didn't believe in god. So that was it for me and church. Nevertheless, I have a fondness, still, for the Anglican church and its rituals and was thrilled when Gene Robinson was named bishop of New Hampshire (live free or die, baby!). I hate to see this divide in the church, and will be interested to see how it all plays itself out.

2) This article cheers me a bit, however. I was horrified (though not surprised) that Huckabee, Tancredo, and Brownback (honestly, I can't even type his name without giggling) said during the GOP debate that they didn't believe in evolution, but was delighted to see the split being exposed in the Republican party between the crazy, religious, anti-science nutjobs and the white guys who just really, really love money.

3) Mitt Romney says Battlefield Earth is his favorite book. Umm...okay. I really don't think there's anything I can say about this that Jon Swift didn't already say more hilariously than I possibly could.

4) But in that same post, he also linked to this site, which has permanently changed the way I think about Mormons. I mean, seriously, your church dictates what kind of underpants you wear? WTF?

5) Finally, this is just unspeakably hilarious, and I insist that you go watch the debate here right now. (Thanks to Slappy for bringing this to my attention.)

Independent Thought Alarm

Now, I’m guessing here, but I think I am the only vegetarian posting on this blog. In my understanding, and all-inclusive nature, I accept your carnivorous ways but I do not agree with them - that is unless I am on my own in another country loaded to the gunwales with beer and my morals having set sail in the nearest lager fueled dinghy (strange beer/nautical metaphor now over).

Anyway, I work with a bunch of chest beating, willy-waving carnivores. I have to put up with “you’re such a poof” type comments at work pretty much every day because I don’t have meat in my baguette for lunch. With the way they carry on I can imagine their dream is to be sitting in the back of a pickup truck, BBQ blazing, having a tailgate party. Yeah, I fucking love meat. Woo yeah! Woo, all right!! USA! USA!

Sorry, I got a bit carried away there.

Anyway, it feels as if there’s no room for understanding or respect, only room for hatred of people that don’t conform. Unless that is, of course, you are religious. If I were a Hindu my colleagues would respect my vegetarian ways and, as I have witnessed, try to eat my lunch (I suspect because the food is full of chillies and they can assuage their fears that they might catch gay or something).

The reason my co-workers have respect for the Hindus in the office, and ask to try their vegetarian food (rather than my “disgusting muck”) is because those same Hindus ARE TOLD not to eat meat by their religion. Not because they reached a personal decision not to eat meat based on their own moral code, derived through independent thought, but because they are told not to. They’re not being faggy and thinking for themselves.

To me this sums up the philosophy of the religious. Do not respect the minds of those of independent thought; ridicule and bully them. If they do that enough maybe they’ll shut up and stop questioning things.

Rant over.

P.S. If you do eat meat I am not judging you, that is your choice; and as a group of thoughtful people I’m sure after due consideration you’ve made your own minds up on the subject.

Legacy

A throwaway item on the Today programme this morning suggested that Tony Blair, casting around for something to do after stepping down as Prime Minister of Great Britain, may create a foundation to foster more understanding between christianity, judaism and islam. Whilst it may just be a rumour it has that ring of plausibility that all good rumour-mongers look for.

There are of course plenty who will point out that Mr Blair has done much in the recent past to unite muslims, christians, atheists and everybody else thank you. But I suspect that isn't quite the type of unity he's after.

Tony is as we all know a 'committed christian' but he is a modern faithful type who wants to invite all the other sects round for a cuppa and "can't we all just y'know, get along?"

I've never quite understood this stance - if your faith is right everybody else is going to hell. End of story.

I think this is why Fred Phelps and the Westboro Baptist Church cause discomfort to other christians. The WBC are by anybody's reckoning a tiny, marginal bunch. But when they insist that their interpretation of their god's word is correct and every other man jack of you is going to hell, people tend to feel a little uneasy.

"So that means it's 23 people sitting on gods right hand side and 6.5 billion don't get in?"

WBC: "Yup"

They cause embarassment not because their ideas are ker-razy, but because they are so dam close to the acceptable face of religiosity, just delivered with a wide-eyed zeal and assurance that scares folk.

To suggest that a particular issue that Fred Phelps preaches about is not valid, or un-christian turns a lens onto less extreme christians and asks all sorts of difficult questions about scriptural interpretation that they'd really rather not answer.

Anyhoo, Tony seems awfully keen that he has a legacy (I think you'll have one T, don't worry) so I'm going to open a foundation to create dialogue between Santa and the Tooth Fairy. Isn't it time that they just got along?

Happy National Day of Reason!

Today is the National Day of Prayer.

Really. The President says so. And he's the Ten Commander guy.

"Hey, Sysm. What's wrong with that? People of all faiths reflecting on how their faith influences their lives."

All faiths? Huh. Sounds good. Well, first of all, read the fucking thing. Monotheist. Male Pronoun.

"Okay, so forget all of those Hindus. At least it covers Christians, Jews and Muslims, right?"

Muslims? Ha ha! You're funny. Let's say I'm Jewish. Can I apply to be a coordinator for the National Day of Prayer Task Force? Nope. Not according to Shirley (Mrs. James) Dobson:

Thank you so much for your interest in becoming a volunteer for the National Day of Prayer Task Force. Knowing that you are busy and have many pressures that impinge upon your time, we deeply appreciate your willingness to consider "pitching your tent" with us. God has assembled an elite force for this endeavor. Our team is made up of extremely dedicated men and women who love and serve Jesus Christ and who have a heartfelt belief that prayer is the only hope for our country. Through their efforts, a covering of intercession blankets our entire culture - a "prayer shield" that is critical at this juncture when America faces turmoil within and grave threats from without. As our Task Force works to achieve the divine purposes to which we are called, we'd be encouraged to have you join us.

So I guess that "persons of all faiths" thing is pretty much bullshit, huh?

Hmm. Bullshit from the President. Lip service about people of other faiths. Gee, that might actually erode my confidence in the President.

I wonder what thoughtful people at our Christian colleges have to say? I'm sure they'd love to have the decent Christian President and Vice President visit their campuses.

Nope.

They seem to think Bush and Cheney are dishonest, manipulative, condescending fucktards. Though they're a bit more diplomatic than I.

Thankfully, the elite atheist underground militia is mobilizing a counter-event. The National Day of Reason, in their letter asking the President for their own proclamation, they say:

We the undersigned ask that you designate ... the first Thursday in the month of May, the National Day of Reason. A proclamation, such as the one that follows would go a long way toward encouraging the application of reason and tolerance in public discourse and affirming the value of maintaining the separation of church and state.

Good luck with that guys.

Note: I was completely oblivious to this event prior to reading Eric Zorn's column in the Chicago Tribune. I am continually amazed that the Tribune gives Mr. Zorn prominent column space. He's been a phenomenal advocate for a sensible division of Church and State. Ad he's been consistently willing to represent his humanist views.

"Besides, it's cheaper and that's what really sells me on it."

Okay, it's shit like this that really gets my panties in a bunch. Why am I so vocal about my atheism? Because all the theists keep waving their damn god in my face all the damn time. If they'd keep it to themselves, I'd shut the hell up, too. But they have to go pasting their god all over my currency, all over my pledge of allegiance, all over my courtroom oath, and all over Indiana's stupid bargain basement Christed-up license plates.

On the plus side, hooray for the ACLU!