1. Pat Robertson: God told me of 'mass killing' in 2007

Comment #16056 by jhb90277 on January 4, 2007 at 10:14 am

I notice that the author left out Robertson's claim that he leg-pressed two thousand pounds while in his 70s. He also sells his magic pancake mix. Remember when God was going to strike PA because God had been "voted out" after the Dover trial?

That any reporter could lend this bigotted crackpot looney any credibility is astonishing. Yeah, focus on his *amazing* powers of prediction, but ignore the blood money, the charlatan-like behavior, the lie about the leg press, his comments about apartheid, the ridiculous *magic* pancakes and other foods and oh, so much more.

While I realize that the focus of the piece was his prediction, that reporter should be bitch-slapped for making Robertson seem like a decent guy.

2. Not Yet The Majority But No Longer Silent

Comment #15636 by jhb90277 on January 1, 2007 at 6:30 pm

Jonathan Dore,

The ACLU is a terrific resource for lawsuits of this nature.

http://www.aclu.org/religion/index.html

I, for one, am grateful to the ACLU. I don't always agree with their choice of clients, but I appreciate their efforts.

3. Not Yet The Majority But No Longer Silent

Comment #15506 by jhb90277 on December 31, 2006 at 10:18 pm

In the spirit of the new year, here's a good link passed to me from my sister.

An aussie gets ticked at Mormon salvation peddlers and goes to Utah to give back a little.

http://my.break.com/media/view.aspx?ContentID=185806

Happy New year to all!

4. Not Yet The Majority But No Longer Silent

Comment #15499 by jhb90277 on December 31, 2006 at 9:38 pm

zappi,

oooooh! I have an idea! Playing on your "clear" idea, how about "transparent" for us, "translucent" or "semi-translucent" for agnostics and "opaque" for godders?

I'm mostly joking. :)

5. Left Behind: Eternal Forces on The Daily Show

Comment #15493 by jhb90277 on December 31, 2006 at 8:30 pm

They're obviously grasping. Church attendance has fallen, political scandals have affected the most "pious" in American govt and they need to keep ahold of current Christian youth.

I found this link yesterday when I was looking for photos of a mall Santa display from many years ago. Warning: it's an evangelical site, so grab a barf bag. The question is "what will you do if you get stopped by mall security (for handing out tracts)?


http://www.evtales.com/


I instruct the evangelism team that when Security tells them that they can't hand out tracts in a certain place they are to say, "I understand. Thank-you." Then they are to move to another place and continue (if conscience, convictions, and courage allows). I remind them that if they say, "Okay, I won't hand them out," then they have to stop. They must let their Yes be Yes and their No, No. To say, "I understand," is non-commital.

I have been instructed by our church lawyer to get their name, badge number, take a picture, and ask for the watch commander—and do the same with him too… and the same with the police, if they should show up! It is a violation of our civil rights for them to stop us (of course, we are never to fight or insist on our rights; the guy with the gun always wins). The reason our lawyer wants us to do this is so we can build a case later. In fact, he wants me to get arrested to test the laws. I say, "Wait a minute!, now!"

Also, when we get escorted out, we just come back in another door.
---

and it goes on. The point is that they're desperate to push this nonsense on anybody who will (or won't) give them the time of day.

Putting this stuff in a video games seems like the next logical step for them.

6. Not Yet The Majority But No Longer Silent

Comment #15492 by jhb90277 on December 31, 2006 at 8:18 pm

ROTFL, zappi! I am clearly enjoying your Midas analogy and I concur with your decision to label Scientology as UnClear.

I'd have gone with "Cultish Crock of Crap" but that might have been too wordy and too alliterative. "UnClear" suffices on multiple levels.

(begin sarcasm) Besides, if atheists co=opt "Clear" to describe ourselves, Scietntologists might try to sue whoever popularized its usage outside of Scientology. Or John Travolta could just make Battlefield Earth again. I'm not sure which would be a worse punishment. (end sarcasm)

7. Not Yet The Majority But No Longer Silent

Comment #15487 by jhb90277 on December 31, 2006 at 7:19 pm

Hmmmm, I inserted a "broad smile" in my last post that didn't come through.

Let's try it in parentheses and not brackets.

"......Am I clear?

(smiles broadly)

Honestly..."

OK, now it might be more clear that I am having a little fun and not totally bagging on your idea.

8. Not Yet The Majority But No Longer Silent

Comment #15486 by jhb90277 on December 31, 2006 at 7:16 pm

I do see clearly, zappi, and I am also clear of religion. To me, it is clear that "clear" has been tainted by cultists and I prefer to steer clear of an association with Scientology. Am I clear?



Honestly, I like "clear" more than I like "bright." The Scientology thing is a knock against it, imo.

Here's the deal with Clear and Scientology.

http://www.scientology.org/en_US/religion/catechism/pg039.html

9. Left Behind: Eternal Forces on The Daily Show

Comment #15482 by jhb90277 on December 31, 2006 at 6:20 pm

Pretty funny stuff. I like the comparison between Grand Theft Auto and Left Behind. The buzz on the game, though, is that it is crappy, glitchy and ought to be "left behind" at the store.

10. Not Yet The Majority But No Longer Silent

Comment #15481 by jhb90277 on December 31, 2006 at 5:51 pm

"Clear" is, if I'm not mistaken, a Scientology term. I don't know what you have to do to reach "clear", but it probably involves workshops and tithing. Ah, cults.

11. Not Yet The Majority But No Longer Silent

Comment #15478 by jhb90277 on December 31, 2006 at 5:06 pm

Hang on there a minute, Martha.

America may be far from perfect, but I'd rather live here than in a lot of other countries. There's a lot of room for improvement, but we're fortunate here that we're not killed or jailed (as a rule) for disagreeing or criticizing our leaders.

Yes, the comments are genuine. Yes, America has been hijacked. I'd still rather live here than in a lot of other countries (I'm referring to developing nations, nations ruled by murderous tyrants or warlords and nations where religion truly dictates public policy).

The social climate is currently inhospitable to those who are not of the majority religion. I've said in previous messages that I have hope for a positive change in this country.

I'm not always proud of the actions of America's leadership, but I have hope for its people.

12. Not Yet The Majority But No Longer Silent

Comment #15474 by jhb90277 on December 31, 2006 at 4:23 pm

On humanism,

when asked what atheists stand for, I refer people here => http://www.secularhumanism.org/index.php?section=main&page=affirmations

I tell them that this list of affirmations aligns very closely with my beliefs.

13. Not Yet The Majority But No Longer Silent

Comment #15472 by jhb90277 on December 31, 2006 at 4:10 pm

Bill1980,

At a company "Christmas" party, one of the head honchos asked me what I celebrated. Knowing that she was churchy and that a lot of other people there were churchy (especially the [now disgracefully resigned] company president) and figuring that she wanted to find out if I was Jewish (a lot of people in that industry are), I thought for a moment and answered, "I celebrate retail."

I then politely excused myself. I was rather taken aback that she would ask me that--as if it was any of her business.

It is too bad that your son is not in a comfortable environment. We're quite outnumbered and the "godders" (as one poster put it) know it. Of course, it doesn't stop them from playing the "victim" card when they're challenged.

There's hope here, though. The number of believers is declining and the number of non-believers is increasing. I don't know how old you are, Bill, but we may see believers become the minority in our lifetimes. If not, then our children may see it.

14. Not Yet The Majority But No Longer Silent

Comment #15451 by jhb90277 on December 31, 2006 at 12:09 pm

HappyPrimate,

I totally understand. I live in a smallish, conservative-leaning city where it seems like a lot of people are churchy. I volunteer with the PTA and in other activities and I have to consider the possible effect on my children. "No, you can't go to little Johnnie's house to play. They don't believe in God, so they can't be good people. I don't want you talking to him any more."

I listen to what people say as I chat with them and I pick up the cues that tell me which way they lean religiously and politically. I've been able to find a couple of like-minded people by holding back a bit.

I suppose I should have more confidence in my neighbors, but I don't. People that don't really know me will have a hard time getting past the term "atheist." "Bright" won't be any better, I think. It smacks of condescension and I'm not sure that's the way to foster an understanding.

So for now, I play it cool at school and wait for the climate to change.

15. God's Enemies Are More Honest Than His Friends

Comment #15357 by jhb90277 on December 30, 2006 at 5:27 pm

Aussie,

For years, one of the local shopping malls had a display of the various incarnations of Santa Claus around the world through history. This was many years ago, but I recall there being about a dozen near life-size figures arranged on a large circular platform that was about 20 feet in diameter. The figures (facing out) were quite detailed and each had a little card with a bit of history.

There was one that always amused me. It was dressed all in black and looked sort of sinister. I think it was Black Peter, but my friends and I always called it "Sataniclaus."

16. God's Enemies Are More Honest Than His Friends

Comment #15321 by jhb90277 on December 30, 2006 at 10:53 am

larnott,

atheism doesn't attempt to create anything, in my opinion, nor does it need to. It is the absense of a diety-belief.

How we interact with our neighbors and how we build a community comes from a desire for the common good. Is religion really needed to do this? Is religion really needed to tend to our needier neighbors and volunteer within the community.

I am an atheist. I volunteer at my sons' school and for community activities. I don't need a church or religion to do this. I know plenty of other atheists that do all sorts of activities for the betterment of the community. I have always looked to my atheist parents for that example and my children are always the first to volunteer to help someone or to share.

Religion is not needed to foster community spirit. I think it might seem that way since churches are communities unto themselves and they have the organizational resources to do outreach programs. But that is the only advantage they have. It is essentially a social network, and not the religion itself that is "useful."

17. God's Enemies Are More Honest Than His Friends

Comment #15239 by jhb90277 on December 29, 2006 at 8:42 pm

Vardu,

My father summed it up quite nicely the other day. I'll quote him here.


"How can people believe that shit?"
--G.B.

18. God's Enemies Are More Honest Than His Friends

Comment #15236 by jhb90277 on December 29, 2006 at 7:50 pm

Logicel,

My children think there is a Santa. I am an atheist and hubby was raised a Lutheran, though he hasn't been to church since he met me over 15 years ago. I have to pick and choose my issues and there are areas where I have to make concessions.

Our children do not believe that there is a god. They do not go to church and have had no religious indoctrintation whatsoever. One son wanted to know about those buildings that had that person on the "T". I told him that some people believe that there is a god and that's where they go to worship. That's it.

So I concede to all the childhood fantasies except one. Hubby does not insist on a religious education for them like he had and I play along with the Santa thing. They know that we buy all the presents except for what goes in the stockings and one or two presents on the hearth. On the whole, they realize that we give to each other out of love.

Yes, it is hypocritical. But like I said, I have to choose my battles. Which is more hamrful? Believing for a short time in Santa and the Tooth Fairy or believing that there is a magical sky fairy that knows all and will damn you to hell if you don't love him?

19. God's Enemies Are More Honest Than His Friends

Comment #15172 by jhb90277 on December 29, 2006 at 9:14 am

JohnC,

People where I live generally know that there is a time and place for discussion about religion and they have the good taste not to bring it up any time they feel like it. They seem to talk about it with people they already go to church with or if they discover that someone sends their kids to a church-run school.

It's just as well. I'd rather spend my time focusing on the kids, the school and the rest of our lives than on what religion someone is.

20. Religion does more harm than good - poll

Comment #14885 by jhb90277 on December 26, 2006 at 10:49 am

Mel, secularization is happening here. Here's a link to the ARIS study by the City University of New York (CUNY). 50,000 people (yes 50,000) were asked to self identify their religious affiliations. The results show a dramatic drop in the number of people who describe themselves as Christian. The number of people with "none" or "no religion" increased. The study was done in 1990 and again in 2000, hence the comparators.

http://www.gc.cuny.edu/faculty/research_studies/aris.pdf

I'm not a statistician, but the numbers give me hope that people in the states are coming to their senses. Religious folks may not be in the minority here in my lifetime, but perhaps in my sons'.

21. Atheist Chic

Comment #14832 by jhb90277 on December 25, 2006 at 5:51 pm

Yorker, it was funny, though I am not familiar with the some of the backstory.

I've been a lifelong atheist (born to atheists and raising my own little godless heathens). Today, I gave my dad a copy of TGD and my mother-in-law (fallen Lutheran) gave me a copy of the Blind Watchmaker.

It was a Richard Dawkins "Christmas"!

Anyhow, it was still funny. ;-)

22. Photo shows the dangers of brainwashing children

Comment #14738 by jhb90277 on December 24, 2006 at 8:25 pm

Looking at that beautiful boy and knowing that he'll grow up completely screwed in the head is just depressing. How sad this child will be programmed to hate in the name of religion.

23. The God Delusion in Private Eye

Comment #14736 by jhb90277 on December 24, 2006 at 8:20 pm

I bought the God Delusion and a Sam Harris book before I realized that my atheist dad had never heard of them. He's getting them for "Christmas" tomorrow. ;-)