Comments by Proud Okie Atheist

Comment #43682 by Proud Okie Atheist on May 22, 2007 at 9:30 am

The article states: "For instance, in a study of heart patients, those who were being prayed for by others made significantly better health improvements than those who were not prayed for."

This has been debunked more than once, using accepted scientific standards. In fact, I read these studies on this very website, so a quick search of 'heart patients' and 'prayer' should turn them up quickly.

I recently had some pretty nasty surgery myself. when I checked into the hospital, they asked me my religious preference. My emphatic 'NONE' answer brought a double-take. Subsequently, my doctors were amazed at how quickly I was healing. "Way ahead of schedule" was how it was put to me. All because I actively participated in my recovery. Also, throughout my life I have been incredibly healthy, although I admit I do nothing via diet and exercise to maintain my health. The only on-going issue I have is with my thyroid, and daily medication takes care of that.

Praying is what one does when one doesn't want to take an active role in something. NFLP = Nothing Fails Like Prayer.

2. A debate on people who profess no religion

Comment #33469 by Proud Okie Atheist on April 20, 2007 at 9:04 am

foxfire wrote: Us "average Americans" really do need to get out more and experience the rest of the world. That way, we would be much more likely to not fall victim to our own bullshit.
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Logicel wrote: My prayers have been answered (:-)))))! And the world wide web has delivered the means by which they have been answered. There are many excellent audios, videos, and blogs which cover international viewpoints of which are now accessible to Americans. Please bookmark a representative list of links which you can email to your family, acquaintances, and friends as alternatives to Fox and CNN.
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You could not be more correct! After High School I was sent to Jamaica as an exchange student and lived in Kingston for several months. I was one of the very few whites in that city and it completely changed my worldview regarding what we call the Third World and how I related to black people. Subsequent to that, I joined the Air Force and went to pre-unification Germany (around the time of the La Belle Disco bombing in Berlin), Belgium, Holland, UK, Spain, Luxembourgh and France. While I was already atheist and a freethinker at age 18, living in all those nations and interacting with their people has been the most valuable and unique single experience I have ever had. It shapes my worldview to this day at age 42.

3. Kansas State School Board Bans Pokemon Due to Evolution Content

Comment #29755 by Proud Okie Atheist on April 4, 2007 at 2:59 pm

I live too close to Kansas to have not heard anything about something THIS ridiculous. File this under "April Fools" folks. I can find no corroborating information.

Pretty funny though!

4. The Fifth Flea!

Comment #28233 by Proud Okie Atheist on March 28, 2007 at 12:58 pm

All these 'flea' books look suspiciously like hastily-authored damage control. Does it seem conceivable that the religionists are starting to be on the defensive?

5. A 'Sad First' in the History of the Congress

Comment #26052 by Proud Okie Atheist on March 16, 2007 at 9:13 am

Fax them a note: (202) 546-6403
Here's what I sent:

03/16/2007

Dear Mr. Lafferty,

It was disheartening to read your article entitled "A 'Sad First' in the History of the Congress", written in response California Congressman Pete Stark revealing publicly that he holds no belief in any deity. Please stop for a moment and take a good look at Congressman Stark's career. He has served ethically and morally for over 30 years without the "aid" of any supreme being. I think that should be very revealing to you and your readers as a positive thing. Seriously, stop and think: We atheists and freethinkers are constantly told morality and ethics can only come from your God. Yet here is an obvious example how untrue this assertion actually is.
You also wrote, "The liberals in Congress want to throttle any school child who bows his or her head in prayer, but they want to establish a right for liberals to bash Christians and berate God around the clock." Both statements in this sentence are belligerent and patently untrue. Since I have been one all my life, I know for a fact Liberals desire equality for everyone without qualification. No one has ever attempted to stop anyone from praying, even in public school. Please look to documented legal history to clarify this fact. Referring to "bashing", are you certain you're not confusing that with free speech? Over the last 20 years, the Christian right in this nation has come out swinging and you have the nerve to be surprised that people who disagree are fighting back? Honestly, sir, that's exactly what this nation was based upon: rational discourse.
Lastly, your statement, "We have long recognized that all of this hot air about 'separation of church and state' has been a veiled effort to intimidate and silence religious voices in public policy matters," is hot air itself. There is nothing even remotely veiled about The Establishment Clause! It was included in the first amendment to protect both you and me and our respective views. Isn't it convenient that the Establishment Clause is included with the First Amendment guaranteeing free speech? Decisions regarding public policy that are based on religious views are prohibited for the sake and safety of the entire population of this nation you and I both love, but religious voices and opinions regarding those policies are not, and never have been, prohibited.
In closing, calling Liberals "bullies" and calling for starting a fight is terribly irresponsible and incredibly childish. This is not a schoolyard. Stop fuelling this manufactured controversy now!
I appreciate the opportunity to freely respond to your article, while I still have the chance.

Sincerely,

J. Running

6. A 'Sad First' in the History of the Congress

Comment #26033 by Proud Okie Atheist on March 16, 2007 at 7:14 am

I've written Congressman Stark already and thanked him too. He did a courageous thing.

On this letter: why are they so blind? When I look at what Congessman Stark has done, I see that he has proven that for over 30 years he has successfully, morally and ethically worked for his community in the national government without the "aid" of an imaginary friend. The thinking mind ought to give pause, and really stop to think about what that says. Religionists keep saying morals and ethics can only come from god and one can't possibly be "good" with out that. It's all about spin, isn't it?

I've attempted to contact the website that published this letter and all they show is phone numbers and a fax machine, no email address. So I think I'll fax them a little note...

7. Non-believers can be bigoted too

Comment #25610 by Proud Okie Atheist on March 14, 2007 at 10:10 am

Sam Harris' comments do not green-light torture in any way. He addressed that very criticism in an article published on this site. If I can find it again, I'll link it here. See below...

The way I see it, the religionists are on the defensive, and critical of atheism/non-theism, because we are pushing back successfully and forcefully. We are a consequence they didn't account for. They thought they could manufacture enough fear, hatred and controversy (like the above article) that they would sweep the US into a theocracy and stage the world's conversion to Christianity from Washington DC. And now they stand there wide-eyed like they have the nerve to be surprised they got called on it. If god is so all powerful, how come he's so impotent he can't even manage to defend himself?

I've had it with being called a bigot, un-American, un-patriotic, and immoral for the simple facts that I disagree and/or see no evidence for acknowledging anything supernatural.

http://richarddawkins.net/article,507,Readers-Write-Atheist-Sam-Harris-on-Torture-and-Faith,Tara-Lohan-AlterNet

http://richarddawkins.net/article,496,Sam-Harriss-Faith-in-Eastern-Spirituality-and-Muslim-Torture,John-Gorenfeld-Alternet

8. 'Friends of God' Documentary

Comment #20107 by Proud Okie Atheist on January 31, 2007 at 12:29 pm

But they do try to wedge this kind of "learning" into the mainstream. Especially around here...

http://wms.scripps.com/KJRH-TV/29/06pm.wmv

At about 2:00 minutes into this newscast, the story starts about actually putting bible teaching into public schools near here. There are more fundie churches here than you can shake a stick at, not to mention bible colleges! It is very frightening.

Scot is correct in that we have The Establishment Clause (separation of church and state) as part of the first amendment's protections. But even that is under attack and even totally ignored by the Bush administration.

9. Blasphemy Challenge on FOX

Comment #19703 by Proud Okie Atheist on January 29, 2007 at 10:56 am

Oh, I get it! Okie=hayseed=banjo=cousin-courtin'=out-of-league comment.
Shucks, I guess you put me in MY place.

I've never seen the DVD in question, and that isn't what I was commenting on anyway, Robert. I was simply pointing out that maybe, just maybe, someone would decide to see what the discussion is all about and possibly give up their superstition in favor of reason.

I agree now that my wording could have been better, but I seriously doubt I deserved such an epithet- and stereotype-laden rebuke.

10. Blasphemy Challenge on FOX

Comment #19695 by Proud Okie Atheist on January 29, 2007 at 10:19 am

I absolutely LOVED Brian's here-we-go-again eye-roll! He conducted himself so well.

Faux Noise Channel's only job is conservative propaganda. I hope this time they gave more publicity than they recieved. My hope is that at least one person somewhere saw this interview and decides to check out the facts and realize they can give up superstition too!

11. Durham Council Votes To Continue Saying Lord's Prayer

Comment #19690 by Proud Okie Atheist on January 29, 2007 at 9:53 am

Perhaps we should take our own opportunity and recite Michael Palin's prayer from "The Meaning of Life"...

"Oh, lord, thou are huge..." :o)

Seriously though, I cannot understand why it isn't clear to them that god didn't put them there. The voters did. If they are so convinced god wants them there, why do they care what the voters think? If they are so qualified for the job that they managed to even BE elected, why do they need supernatural help? Argh!

12. CBC Segment on Evangelist Christians

Comment #13985 by Proud Okie Atheist on December 20, 2006 at 1:28 pm

Wonder what it was. They pulled the video already.

*shrug*