Dan Barker, co-president of the Freedom From Religion Foundation had an op-ed piece in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel over the weekend. What most of the detractors [of state/church separation] don’t seem to understand is that we are not threatening their freedom to believe, practice or advertise their religion. We sue governments, not individuals or churches. We are not barging into services pulling worshippers from pews. We don’t drag Nativity scenes from front yards or Christmas trees from private businesses. We… Read more
It’s over. The relatives have gone home, happy, well fed and well loved. Just one more set of weird rituals to go, the official end to the Holiday Season: Alcohol Consumption, Get Maudlin About Time Passing and Drunk Driving Night followed by Hangover and Resolution Breaking Day. If I can just get through those without being turned into highway hamburger I can breathe my annual January 1 sigh of relief for a month and a half until Early Christian Martyrs… Read more
It’s not a theological or scientific triumph to point out when Ray Comfort is wrong about something. But sometimes it’s fun to shoot fish in a barrel. Like in this case. First, someone asked Ray a question: Read more
When did you first realize you were an atheist? What was religion’s breaking point for you? [tags]atheist, atheism, coming out[/tags] Read more
One more comic tonight… a classic Calvin and Hobbes: (Thanks to Bjorn for the link) [tags]atheist, atheism, God, cartoon, comic, Bill Watterson, religion, Santa[/tags] Read more
There’s plenty to celebrate this week… I think I’m offended by the implication. Wait a minute… that’s not all! This cartoonist, Dan Piraro, obviously has it out for atheists. Why does it look like there’s something stolen in the guy’s bag…? Why does the woman’s bag have a bunny on it…? She must have bought something from the Playboy store. Now, she’s going to go commit adultery. And why are they seig heiling each other!? Offensive on so many levels…… Read more
John Powers of NPR’s Fresh Air named the Top 10 Cultural Trends of 2007. #9? Atheist chic. (Listen at the 20:30 mark.) The actual commentary doesn’t say much except that people are now talking about (non-)religion in the public sphere moreso than in the past. But now, you can go tell everyone you know that NPR says you’re cool! [tags]atheist, atheism[/tags] Read more
The Bad Idea Blog thanks Christians for today: So Merry Christmas, dear Christian friends. And a happy new holiday to all, ever changing. You’ve given us a wonderful gift, and for that many of us non-believers are truly grateful. We’ll keep it, I think. The Sexy Secularist decides to check out Jesus’ horoscope to see if it’s the least bit accurate. (Hint: He’s a Capricorn!) If you see other Christmas-related links worth reading, feel free to leave them in the… Read more
One of the nice perks of teaching high school is getting the two-week break over the holidays. It gives me a chance to catch up on the 238932 books I’ve been meaning to read but had to put off. One of the books I’ve already devoured is UnChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks About Christianity by David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons. The book is aimed at Christians eager to change the perceptions people have about them. Kinnaman is very… Read more
Not atheism related. A car crashed into the ABC-7 studios in downtown Chicago last night. Everyone’s ok. I just love this live reaction from the anchor, Ravi Baichwal: Gotta include the excellent screencap: Ok. Enough of that. Now back to your regularly scheduled atheist programming. (via Chicagoist) [tags]atheist, atheism[/tags] Read more