You guys! I found an atheist book on the Free Shelf at work today! *Dances a jig with jazz hands*
John W. Loftus, author of one of my favorite blogs, Debunking Christianity, and the book Why I Became an Atheist, has edited a collection of articles critiquing the claims of Christianity. The Christian Delusion: Why Faith Fails is shooting to the top of my to-read list!
Non-fiction—especially concerning subjects about which I am passionate—makes me yearn for an Amazon Kindle or similar device with which I could make highlights and notes about certain passages to remember for later. I revere printed books too much to write all over them; I even hate writing in pretty journals because I don’t want to sully them with my chicken scratch handwriting. A book about atheism, science, and faith is certainly going to stir up many ideas, and I would love to store those light bulbs of inspiration somewhere. Ah well; it’s on my wishlist 
for shitsn’giggles, here’s a not-so-intellectual book I also grabbed off the Free Shelf that’s sure to make you chuckle.
What books are you reading right now that I should add to my list?
photo by TrevinC
“Life sucks and then you die.” Or so said my coworker when she heard about my break-up with my boyfriend yesterday. I laughed, and she promised she would pray for God to take away my troubles. Another acquaintance tried to comfort me by saying I shouldn’t be afraid about finding another man in the future. God would provide, and we have nothing to fear.
Well, sometimes life does suck, being lonely is no fun, and once in a while I wonder if I will find a mate for the long haul who will be an amazing match for me. But am I afraid? Does being an atheist have anything to do with my heartache? I don’t think so, no.
Fear and Humanity
Do atheists fear the world? Is fear a bad thing? Would believing in God protect us from trouble and remove fear from our lives?
(Read more after the cut…)
Read the Rest! Post a comment (17)I have a facebook friend whom I like very much, and who is a very sweet and loving person. One of her quirks, however, is that she greatly enjoys researching “end times” conspiracy theories, prophecies, and speculations. Some of her favorite topics involve the “mark of the beast,” Israel, and anything scary or chaotic in the world that could be interpreted as a sign of the apocalypse and Jesus’ return to earth. Was there political unrest, a suicide bombing, tornado, or flood? JESUS!
Here is an example of the way anything—no matter how innocent or commonplace—can be manipulated to fit a conspiracy theory:
Oh shit! Sesame Street is hinting at the end of the world! They’re preparing for disaster! JESUS!
In case you’re curious, here’s what was actually broadcast:
The public service announcement was sponsored by FEMA‘s site ready.gov.
Ready Kids is part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Ready campaign, a national public service advertising campaign designed to educate and empower Americans to prepare for and respond to natural disasters, potential terrorist attacks and other emergencies. The Ready Kids web site features age-appropriate, step-by-step instructions on what families can do to be better prepared and the role kids can play in this effort. Ready Kids was developed in consultation with:
- American Psychological Association
- American Red Cross
- National Association of Elementary School Principals
- National Association of School Psychologists
- National Center for Child Traumatic Stress
- National PTA
- U.S. Department of Education
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Obviously, the effort to educate families means a natural disaster is coming that all of these government agencies know about in advance. Clearly Satan is at work in the world and Jesus will return soon to rule and judge us all.
Where I work, we have a “Rule of Three”: Cheap, Fast, or Good. Pick two.
You can do something Cheap and Good, but it won’t be Fast;
Fast and Good, but it won’t be cheap;
or Fast and Cheap, and it definitely won’t be good.
You can’t have all three!
My manager shared the “Rule of Three” during a meeting today, and another Christian coworker (a former pastor, might I add) who had never heard it before exclaimed his love for it. He added:
So it’s kind of like how God is supposed to be all-powerful and all-good, and yet there’s still suffering in the world. You can’t have all three.
BINGO! You win!
If only the words had actually sunk in.
If you’re not familiar with the origins of that claim, here’s the original oft-quoted passage from Epicurus.
“Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able?
Then he is not omnipotent.
Is he able, but not willing?
Then he is malevolent.
Is he both able and willing?
Then whence cometh evil?
Is he neither able nor willing?
Then why call him God?”
–Epicurus (Greek philosopher, 341-270 BCE)
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