Indiana Bus Company Rejects Atheist Ad

May 5, 2009 By Guest Contributor 46 Comments

Here’s the ad that atheists in Indiana wanted to put on buses:

goodgod

I think it’s very uplifting. It says that morals are not synonymous with religious faith. It invites those who agree to check out the website.

The bus campaign folks submitted the proposed ad to Crosstown Communications (an advertising group) who forwarded the proposal to Bloomington Transit.

Bloomington Transit rejected it.

They said it was “too controversial.”

Of course, that term is very vague. It’s likely this ad was rejected because it promoted atheism instead of Christianity.

Today, the ACLU of Indiana filed a lawsuit (PDF) on behalf of the Indiana Atheist Bus Campaign requesting that the court “declare that [the] defendant’s advertising policy is unconstitutional” and “requiring defendant to display [the] plaintiff’s advertisement once the regular fee is paid.”

One way you can help the group out is by donating funds so they can get this ad on as many buses as possible. The more people who hear this message, the better.

(Thanks to Sarah for the link!)

Filed Under: Atheist Advertising, General 46 Comments

Pat Robertson Gives Dating Advice to Christian Engaged to Atheist

May 5, 2009 By Guest Contributor 43 Comments

I know that everyone here looks to only two places for relationship advice: Savage Love and Pat Robertson.

Robertson received a question from a newly-Christian woman who has been with her fiance for four years. He’s an atheist.

She asks a heartfelt question, too:

How do you think we can interact with each other peacefully when it comes to spiritual matters?

Instead of taking the route of seeking mutual respect and initiating lifelong discussion, Robertson offers this advice:

Dump him.

This, from a guy who says he values marriage…

I’m sure some atheists would agree with his advice for other reasons.

I don’t think a difference in religion is a cause in itself to separate. It depends on a lot of factors, including whether kids may be involved and how they would be raised, and how seriously both sides take their respective beliefs. But without knowing those things, it’s irresponsible to offer the advice he did.

(via Atheist Media Blog)

Filed Under: General, Love 43 Comments

Mike Pence (R-IN) Gets Hammered on his Creationism by Chris Matthews

May 5, 2009 By Guest Contributor 16 Comments

If you want to denounce science, then you should first understand science. Mike Pence, a Congressperson from Indiana, can’t even come clean about his Creationist beliefs:

A partial transcript:

Matthews: Do you believe in evolution, sir?

Pence: Umm… do I believe in evolution? I embrace the view that God created the heavens and the earth, the seas, and all that’s in them. The means, Chris, he used to do that, I can’t say.

Matthews: Did you take biology in school, did you take science?… The reason I’m asking this… if your party wants to be credible on science, you’ve got to accept science. Do you?

Pence: …On the global warming issue…I know that in the mainstream media…

Matthews: See how you’re hedging. This is why people don’t trust Republicans.

…

Matthews: Here’s the ludicrous part. You’re obviously as educated as I am Congressman. I’m not challenging your bona fides to have this argument, but there are people on your side of the argument who believe that all the prehistoric bones we’ve discovered in the world, all the dinosaur bones and all that stuff was somehow planted there by liberal scientists to make the case against the Bible. There are people that really are against science in your party who really do question not just the science behind climate change but the science behind evolutionary fact that we were taught, you and I in our biology books. They don’t accept the scientific method. They believe in belief itself and and once you hold that truth that I’m not going to be busted here on science, I’m not going to lose the argument on science some people say I don’t think your party really believes in progress, in human progress.

Pence: You know it’s an interesting straw-man you put up. I don’t know too many Americans that actually think that way Chris. I think most Americans are serious and study science.

Matthews: I think you’re afraid to say so because your conservative constituency might find that offensive.

Pence: No I’ve said to you Chris that I believe with all my heart that god created the heavens and the earth, the seas and all that’s in them. How he did that I’ll ask him about some day.

Pence dodges the questions about whether he accepts evolution. He also doesn’t respond when Matthews talks about other Republicans who think evidence for evolution is a lie.

(Thanks to Rebecca for the link! Transcript courtesy of Crooks and Liars.)

Filed Under: General, Politics, Science 16 Comments

The Submissive Jesus Talking Prayer Answering Head

May 5, 2009 By Guest Contributor 5 Comments

This is some great Christian kitsch: The Submissive Jesus Talking Prayer Answering Head.

You pray, you twist his crown of thorns, and Jesus will yelp in anguish while saying one of over a hundred random phrases.

Just check out the promo video:

The creators do have a sense of humor about it:

Our Lord comes with: a 26 page instruction booklet (info on how to pray responsibly, troubleshooting, care and maintenence), a coupon for a dinner for two for you and God at the Holy Lamb and Steak House in Heaven and a “Freedom from Hell” certificate.

This also comes with a warranty for 40 days and 40 nights, but since Jesus is perfect, you’ll never need to use it.

Only $26.95 + shipping.

Jesus is expensive these days…

(Thanks to SpiritOfTheWolf for the link!)

Filed Under: General, Humor 5 Comments

Before You Became an Atheist…

May 5, 2009 By Guest Contributor 32 Comments

There’s an interesting thread on the Friendly Atheist Forums started by wall0645.

Many of us were raised with religion and it took some time before we became atheists. Which raises this question about your pre-atheism days:

… when you looked at your religion and beliefs critically, was there ever a point where you thought to yourself, “Wow, there actually isn’t much evidence for what I believe”?… Were you ever discouraged or disappointed by the lack of evidence (if you found the evidence lacking)?

Or, for some reason, did the lack of evidence encourage you that you were on the right track at the time?

Filed Under: General 32 Comments

Philadelphia Cops Paid To Attend Church?

May 5, 2009 By Guest Contributor 11 Comments

This letter comes from a new police recruit in Philadelphia. He’s also an atheist.

Can you help him out?

Today I was told that the police academy will be sending its recruit class to “Blue Mass” on Friday at Philadelphia’s local Holy Family College.

All recruits have been given the opportunity to opt out, and I have. However, I cannot get past the fact that the city of Philadelphia will literally be paying the other 150+ members of my class to attend a religious service. How can they not see that this is a blatant violation of the separation of church and state?

Again, I reiterate, I have opted out and when other recruits ask me why, I tell them what a violation it is and why they should feel the same way I do.

Is there anything more you, or your community, can suggest I do?


Filed Under: General 11 Comments

Atheists Are Like Anthropologists…

May 5, 2009 By Guest Contributor 18 Comments

Do your parents know about your atheism? Are you still in the closet at home?

Neon Genesis posed a wonderful analogy about such atheists on the Friendly Atheist Forums:

I also don’t think it’s hypocritical for you to hide your atheism from your family. I think it’s your family that’s being hypocritical since Christians claim to love people but put atheists in such situations where they have to hide who they are for fear of being hated. And it’s not like you’re lying but more like you’re not disclosing everything about you to them.

The way I like to think of it is: imagine you’re an anthropologist in the jungle that’s researching the natives and you have to assimilate with their culture because you might upset the natives if they find out who you really are.

I like it!

Would anyone else like to propose an analogy for atheists who are still in the closet with their families?

(Thanks to SarahH for the link!)

Filed Under: General 18 Comments

New Orleans Declares This Thursday “Citywide Day of Reason”

May 5, 2009 By Guest Contributor 22 Comments

This is a great contrast to the National Day of Prayer.

In 2005, the New Orleans Secular Humanist Association was issued the following Proclamation from Mayor Ray Nagin to celebrate the National Day of Reason:

2008-proclamation

This year, they’ll be awarded a proclamation for a Citywide Day of Reason signed by all of the New Orleans City Council Members.

It reads:

WHEREAS, the foundational documents of the United States of America were born of the Enlightenment, incorporating a commitment to the principles of reason, tolerance, morality, democracy, and human rights for the first time in history and enabling ethical interactions among people; and

WHEREAS, the United States has been a world leader in many of the fields of endeavor that rely on reason, including scientific and medical research, social reform, international law, and progressing and promoting the ideals of democratic government; and

WHEREAS, on this date in 1732, the French crown reinstated its Superior Council, a precursor to this lawmaking body, as the executive, legislative, and judicial administrator of the newly founded settlement that became the City of New Orleans, and this group effectively utilized the powers of reason to provide law and governance to what was to become one of the most pre-eminent cities in North America; and

WHEREAS, New Orleans – its people and its institutions – must use reason and its corresponding principles in all phases of the recovery in order for the city to represent the progress that its leaders embodied on this day in 1732; and

WHEREAS, the consistent application of reason offers hope that we may resolve the many challenges facing humanity, whether environmental, military, economic, or social, and the specific challenges facing post-Katrina New Orleans, NOW THEREFORE,

BE IT PROCLAIMED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS that the Council hereby proclaims today, Thursday, the 7th day of May, 2009, a citywide Day of Reason, and encourages all citizens, residents, and visitors to join in observing this day by focusing on the employ of reason, critical thought, and free inquiry, both their history in this country and this city and their ability to resolve problems and care for the welfare of humankind.

How amazing is that?

In addition, group president Harry Greenberger will be opening the Council Meeting on Thursday with a secular invocation.

Doug Stewart, a member of NOSHA, asks this question to other atheists:

Why can’t any atheist organization with a City Council at least ask for something like this? If we can do it in the deep South, surely we can do it anywhere?

Maybe one day the President would be signing a National Day of Reason Proclamation?

We can start small and dream big.

Thanks for NOSHA for setting some fantastic examples for the rest of us.

(Thanks to Doug for the link!)

Filed Under: General, Politics 22 Comments