I was reading the latest Freethought Today (courtesy of the Freedom From Religion Foundation) and saw a transcript of Ellery Schempp‘s speech from FFRF’s recent convention. Ellery is the man who, as a boy, played a major role in getting forced prayer out of public schools. He’s a freethought hero, if ever there was one. [...]
Questions for Atheists: Should I Send a Card?
December 13, 2007 By 73 Comments
Pastor Mike here again: So I was going through my Christmas card mailing list last night and wondering if there was anyone I needed to add to it this year. One of the first thoughts that popped into my mind was that I should send cards to some of my new online friends here at [...]
Irreverent Christmas Gifts
December 13, 2007 By 2 Comments
I know what I’m getting you for Christmas this year. A Pope Clock. Because it’s so hard to keep track of who’s infallible these days… And for my Christian friends, a Rapture Clock! Sounds a loud alarm and flashes a bright blue light half-an-hour before the beginning of Judgement Day, giving you ample time to [...]
Complaints about The Golden Compass
December 12, 2007 By Leave a Comment
The Onion discusses common complaints that Catholic protesters have about The Golden Compass. The list includes: Compasses inherently promote travel and broadened horizons The most sympathetic character is not killed in a prolonged and bloody torture sequence Though God is not referenced directly, subtitles pop up on screen to remind viewers when things symbolize God [...]
Friendly Atheist Contest #11: Atheist Headlines
December 12, 2007 By 34 Comments
Last week, I ran this contest: What other shocking statements will the Pope make in his next encyclical? Here are the Top 5 statements (with submitters)! 5| Galileo is back in hell. We retract previous papal decrees to the contrary. (Brett) 4| “We need to broaden our outreach to fertilized eggs. At least 50% of [...]
Is Christianity Important? The Vote Was Today
December 12, 2007 By 54 Comments
Not to be outdone by any “War on Christmas,” Congressman Steve King (R-IA) introduced a House Resolution (#847) which would recognize “the importance of Christmas and the Christian faith.” No, really. Not kidding. It’s not a parody. Just a guy wasting our time with this worse-than-symbolic piece of legislation. Here’s the text: RESOLUTION Recognizing the [...]
Why Don’t Atheists Have Influence?
December 11, 2007 By 26 Comments
The Economist suggests we are picking the wrong fights. Like this kind: No, we’re not trying to put “In God We Distrust” on currency. The article argues that atheists would be “tactically wise to accept the overwhelming majority’s comfort with such ‘ceremonial deism.’” Keeping the Ten Commandments out of an Alabama courthouse is one thing. [...]
Speaking in Naperville, Illinois
December 11, 2007 By 6 Comments
Tomorrow night (Wednesday), I will be speaking about my book and the subject of positive atheism for the Humanists of West Suburban Chicagoland. If you’re interested in coming (and you know you are!), the event takes place at the DuPage Unitarian Universalist Church and will begin at 7:30 p.m. Bonus points if you make it [...]
10 Things You Might Not Know About Atheists
December 11, 2007 By 6 Comments
Actually you all here probably do know these things, but this past Sunday the Chicago Tribune ran a fun little “top 10″ list about atheism, springboarding off the “Golden Compass” controversy. Here they are from writer Mark Jacobs: 1. Poet Percy Bysshe Shelley was expelled from Oxford University for co-writing a pamphlet called “The Necessity [...]
This is Everyone’s Tragedy
December 11, 2007 By 31 Comments
By now most of you have probably heard about the shootings at a missionary center in Arvada, Colorado and later at the New Life Church in Colorado Springs. The gunman died in a shootout with a security guard inside the New Life Church. He left three wounded and two dead. Because we must always be [...]
What Do I Have To Do To Convince You I’m An Atheist?
December 10, 2007 By 6 Comments
The Generation Orthodox podcast recently had a “Ladies Night” and one of the topics that came up was books that the ladies were reading. I Sold My Soul on eBay popped up on the list (MP3)… (listen at the 38:30 mark) A couple thoughts: I am not an Agnostic. I *am* a real guy. 30 [...]
Godless Citizenship Oath
December 10, 2007 By 10 Comments
First, read this excerpt from a story about a person becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen: Dozens of local residents were sworn in Friday as naturalized U.S. citizens, but one of the new Americans insisted on taking a special oath, one that removed all references to God. Thomas Kaenzig says he left his native Switzerland because [...]
Deities and Deliverance
December 10, 2007 By 7 Comments
Babs at Flumadiddle is getting good at this video thing. Gotta love the banjo-ey soundtrack. And the cow. (That’s my favorite part) Enjoy! (via Too Many Tribbles) [tags]atheist, atheism, Flying Spaghetti Monster, God, religion, Jesus, Christ, Christian[/tags]
You Have to Admit: It’s Honest
December 10, 2007 By 8 Comments
Credit should go to Lore Sjöberg for the image! (Thanks to Rachel for pointing that out.) (via Merit-Bound Alley) [tags]atheist, atheism[/tags]
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