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I tried to avoid clichés and other over-cooked wordaphernalia. Use my contact form if you have some favorites you think are worthy of that sort of list. In other words, don’t tell me “Atheism is a non-prophet organization” thinking I’ll find it original and witty. It’s not.

Enjoy!

“Should the pope resign?”
No. As the College of Cardinals must have recognized when they elected him, he is perfectly – ideally – qualified to lead the Roman Catholic Church. A leering old villain in a frock, who spent decades conspiring behind closed doors for the position he now holds; a man who believes he is infallible and acts the part; a man whose preaching of scientific falsehood is responsible for the deaths of countless AIDS victims in Africa; a man whose first instinct when his priests are caught with their pants down is to cover up the scandal and damn the young victims to silence: in short, exactly the right man for the job. He should not resign, moreover, because he is perfectly positioned to accelerate the downfall of the evil, corrupt organization whose character he fits like a glove, and of which he is the absolute and historically appropriate monarch.

No, Pope Ratzinger should not resign. He should remain in charge of the whole rotten edifice – the whole profiteering, woman-fearing, guilt-gorging, truth-hating, child-raping institution – while it tumbles, amid a stench of incense and a rain of tourist-kitsch sacred hearts and preposterously crowned virgins, about his ears.

In the words of some college student somewhere… “Oh snap!”

(source)

Photo by The Cambodia Trust (flickr.com)

There is no god. Even if there were, it clearly doesn’t give a damn about you missing some bodily tissue. If it did, it could fix it! How do we know this? Science!

The fabulous website whywontgodhealamputees.com is based on the challenge that if a god is all-powerful, all-loving, and promises to answer prayer, then why won’t this god heal someone who has a missing limb? It’s never happened, and we know it never will. At least, not through prayer.

An exciting landmark has been reached in regards to a gene that may regulate tissue regeneration in mammals (that means humans too, Creationists!). This ability to replace damaged flesh with healthy, scar-free flesh seems to be triggered by the loss of the p21 gene. When the p21 gene is lacking, cells behave more like embryonic stem cells rather than adult cells.

“Much like a newt that has lost a limb, these mice will replace missing or damaged tissue with healthy tissue that lacks any sign of scarring,” said the project’s lead scientist Ellen Heber-Katz, Ph.D., a professor in Wistar’s Molecular and Cellular Oncogenesis program. “While we are just beginning to understand the repercussions of these findings, perhaps, one day we’ll be able to accelerate healing in humans by temporarily inactivating the p21 gene.”

[Andrew Snyder, Ph.D. stated,] “In normal cells, p21 acts like a brake to block cell cycle progression in the event of DNA damage, preventing the cells from dividing and potentially becoming cancerous,” Heber-Katz said. “In these mice without p21, we do see the expected increase in DNA damage, but surprisingly no increase in cancer has been reported.”

(Read the rest over at PhysOrg)

If it may work on a mouse, could tissue regeneration be available to humans in the future? Do you think this would encourage or stifle the superstitions about divine healing?

With news cameras rolling, Kitty then turned to the crowd and asked for any male who would be willing to get married to her. A gay man named Ed stepped forward and volunteered.

Kitty’s point in approaching the City Clerk for a marriage license is that there is no religious basis for marriage, and it serves only as a legally binding contract in our society. Instead of being offered the ability to receive a license with her long-term partner, she was able to secure a license with a virtual stranger, strictly based on their gender. (source)

Kitty and Ed say they will not actually marry until they are allowed to with the people they truly love (and actually know). Because it should be about commitment and partnership, not gender. Brava, Kitty!

Check out the Buffalo, NY news coverage for more shots of this moment.

Oh the irony.

Whether they knew it or not, American soldiers have been displaying Biblical messages on their weapons. A Michigan company, Trijicon, has been inscribing New Testament verses in code on their high-powered rifle sights.

Seen here is a coded reference to John chapter 8 verse 12: "Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." (photo from ABC News)

U.S. military rules specifically prohibit the proselytizing of any religion in Iraq or Afghanistan and were drawn up in order to prevent criticism that the U.S. was embarked on a religious “Crusade” in its war against al Qaeda and Iraqi insurgents.

Trijicon confirmed to ABCNews.com that it adds the biblical codes to the sights sold to the U.S. military. Tom Munson, director of sales and marketing for Trijicon, which is based in Wixom, Michigan, said the inscriptions “have always been there” and said there was nothing wrong or illegal with adding them. Munson said the issue was being raised by a group that is “not Christian.”

“We believe that America is great when its people are good,” says the [Trijicon] Web site. “This goodness has been based on Biblical standards throughout our history, and we will strive to follow those morals.”

“It’s wrong, it violates the Constitution, it violates a number of federal laws,” said Michael “Mikey” Weinstein of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, an advocacy group that seeks to preserve the separation of church and state in the military.

“This is probably the best example of violation of the separation of church and state in this country,” said Weinstein. “It’s literally pushing fundamentalist Christianity at the point of a gun against the people that we’re fighting. We’re emboldening an enemy.”

(source)

I realize that Trijicon is a private company that can basically do what it wants with its numbering systems. However, their products were sold to the secular government of the United States. By placing proselytizing messages, even in secret, on their products, they are endangering the delicate balance we hold here at home with the separation of church and state as well as the crumbling image we hold abroad. Especially after the reign of George W. Bush and his Jesus-is-coming-let’s-bomb-the-fuckers attitude, we are seen (even more so than usual) as a bullying Christian nation that will kill in the name of Jesus. These secretive methods just hammer home the antagonistic, anti-foreign-anything image we need to shed.

I like how Pat knows the “devil” so well that he knows what was said in this “deal”.

There is no hell, so I can’t tell this crazy man to go there and hide in a lonely corner to fuck himself with hot pokers. Robertson, you’ve lost your marbles and we all know it. Go take your sorry hatred, ignorance, and lies into a long period of retirement. Don’t ever speak again, because you’ve shamed yourself and your “soul” too many times. In the name of the dead and suffering in Haiti, you don’t deserve the voice you have.

(via)

Photo by Sarah McGee

Godlessgirl.com has been live to the world for one whole year! Every single cliché about time passing you by, flying, or otherwise moving swiftly applies here. When I decided to create this blog, I was certain I would become some sort of internet phenom, bursting onto the blogging scene with something new and different that would charm the readers into subscribing, commenting, and loving me into online stardom.

A girl’s gotta dream, right? As I discovered after beginning Godlessgirl.com, I am only one rather unremarkable voice within a chorus of thousands. I gathered no fame, no large following, and (I am rather surprised to say) no hate mail. Am I disappointed? No. I’m thrilled to have a community around me of writers, thinkers, and friends whom I admire and enjoy. I especially want to send a shoutout to my tweathens! Thank you for being there for me and supporting my copious rants, links, updates, and musings. I may never be someone truly remarkable, but I know this blog has helped me make the startling and stuttering transition from “newborn angry closet atheist” to “more relaxed ready to come out atheist”. I’m on my way!

Thank you all for reading, commenting, and being a part of my life! Let’s continue to converse and know each other better. Please drop me a note anytime or ask me anything.

Year One Highlights

First!

The WTF of GodlessGirl.com

5 Most Popular

I’m a Freshman
Sexual Assault Prevention Tips that Really Work!
5 Things I should have known about faith
3 Reasons Atheists Should Be on Twitter
10 Definitions of Christian Lingo

5 Least Popular

A Literal Heaven and Spacetime
Miracles, Prophecies, and Science–Oh My!
Without the Vigil
Stone Me
In case of Rapture, the Kibbles and Bits are under the sink.

Top 5 Search Terms

islam vs christianity
militant atheism
liberal christians
silly superstitions
love questionnaire

Photo by roland

Come to the  Chicagoland atheist meetup! Skeptics, atheists, freethinkers, and friends are all very welcome. We’ll be eating, drinking (optional), and making all kinds of merry whatnot. Bonus: You’ll get to see my ugly mug for the first time and my *le gasp* identity will be revealed (however bland it may be)!

Date: Saturday, January 2
Time: 7:00 PM
Where: Palos Hills Village Club
9750 S Roberts Rd
Palos Hills, IL 60465-1470
http://www.palosvillagepub.com
Featuring: Hemant of Friendly Atheist, GodlessGirl, and Jen of Blag Hag!

Don’t know us yet? No worries! All you have to do is show up and buy something to eat or drink. We’re super friendly and it’s my first time meeting Jen and Hemant anyway, so let me take care of the shyness, mkay? I’d love to get to know all of you.

If you want to let us know you’re coming, leave a comment here or over at Jen’s post. Don’t be a stranger!

The former Miss California contestant says that she is ‘still standing,’ and called a recent video of her ‘the worst mistake of my life.’

I suppose she means she is “now standing, after being flat on her back”? Ohhh GG, you’re so crass.

Let me back it up and explain. I have some compassion for this young woman behind my sarcastic jabs. This 22-year-old was suddenly thrust into the limelight for speaking her unpopular (and ignorant, closed minded) opinion. She wasn’t educated or prepared for such a role, so of course it’s gone to hell in a hand basket (so-to-speak).

Now back to the snark:

I’m sure Miss Prejean is tired of all the interviews and fame. Oh wait–no she isn’t!; She just published a book titled Still Standing: The Untold Story of My Fight Against Gossip, Hate, and Political Attacks. You’ve got to see the back cover endorsements for yourself. Was Ann Coulter fapping while she read it? Priceless!

For her silicone-enhanced hotness and Jesus-praising appeal, Prejean was instantly picked as the Religious Right poster girl on the issue of same-sex marriage and free speech. But since the conservative media doesn’t properly vet their spokespeople (read: Joe the Plumber), their choices usually backfire in spectacular fashion.

Sex tape, anyone? Supposedly this video is of Miss Prejean enjoying her own body for the benefit of her boyfriend who would later watch it. That’s fine with me, but when you parade around like you’re society’s morality police and then are suddenly exposed as the same as everyone else, perhaps you should shutthefuckup about other people’s private lives and they might do the same for you.

I enjoy how the Religious Right continually picks no-name hay-for-brains individuals to be the public faces for their causes. It gives the “evil liberals” something to laugh at.

Back to the interview:

So how would you answer a question like that today: Why do you oppose same-sex marriage?

I don’t oppose anything. I’m just for traditional marriage. I’m not against anything. I just believe that marriage should be between a man and a woman. There’s nothing controversial about it—most of the people in the state that I was representing believe it, and the majority of people in America believe it, from Sarah Palin to Barack Obama. They believe it, so why is it such a big deal?

Sorry to pop your bubble, darling. You want to be open and loving, but your position is one of exclusion, not inclusion. There is something controversial about thinking marriage should be only between one man and one woman. Popular opinion does not dictate what’s right. Just because millions of people supported racial segregation in the United States, including political leaders and celebrities, doesn’t mean it was honorable and correct!

What if the majority didn’t believe that? Would you still say that?

Yeah, it just happens that everyone else agrees with me.

HAHAHA *snort*

Can you comment on the reports that you settled a lawsuit against Miss USA because of sex tapes?

There is a video out there of me. I was really young and immature. It was the worst mistake of my life. It was a really stupid, stupid decision that I made. But I take full responsibility for it. Did I think I would ever be a celebrity or that my boyfriend at the time, who I sent it to, would ever blackmail me? No. I think we all make mistakes and we all do things when we’re young that sometimes backfire later in life.

I respect this answer, I really do. Owning up to one’s behavior is mature. And yeah, it backfired. And yeah, it totally cracks me up.

This interview is easily summed up: “blah blah humility blah cliche blah Jesus cliche cliche blah Jesus”. Keep on fuckin’ that chicken, Miss Prejean.

Photo by cbguille (flickr)

{See my previous post for backstory}

My mother and I decided to eat out last night. After our almost-discussion the day before, the elephant in the room was just too cumbersome. We needed to finish our talk, and I was finally–after over a year of evasion and privacy–ready to tell her.

When our hefty plates of stir fry were placed in front of us, she grinned. “I’m glad your roommate walked in last night.” I grabbed a chunk of meat and stuffed it into my mouth. “I knew that if we had said more, then I would have gone down the path of ‘Well what about this?’ and gone down the path of debate instead of doing what I wanted to do which was understand your journey and see what brought you to where you are today.” She clearly knew what I had to say, but wanted to let me vocalize it all.

I told my story.

. . . . .

My hand shook. I stared as it carried vibrating forkfuls of food towards my mouth–too quickly, I thought. I could barely swallow in time before having another bite to chew. I didn’t feel control over my own movements, so they happened anyway; I simply observed. The clichéd tremble amused me, and I chuckled to myself, which I’m sure came across as puzzling to my mother who sat across from me, leaning back from her empty plate as I continued to work at my food–barely touched.

The need to fill the silence between my mother and I was a desperate itch. I ached to scratch it, but I bit my food with vigor and stared at my stupid, shaking hand instead.

I had just told her I was an atheist. She’d listened to my story, and now she sat silenced, glossy-eyed, and buried beneath her thoughts. As I inhaled my food, I tried to imagine what she felt. Disappointment came to mind first. Probably a caring sort of pity, too. Perhaps she was praying. No, I knew she was praying. My mother always prayed. This is probably the first time she thought twice about praying aloud in front of me.

“I can see how it would be hard for you to deal with all of that alone,” she said.

No more silence.

. . . . .

After the big “moment of truth”, we started discussing various topics and thoughts: We talked about the Catholic church, masculinity and femininity, how she used to be an atheist, evidence for miracles, and that she doesn’t believe Christianity requires people to leave their reasoning skills behind.

Aside: You should know that my mother is one of the most thoughtful and faithful Christians of my acquaintance, and she’s also one of the most respectable, wonderful individuals I’ve ever known. When people talk about blind faith and dumb believers, they are not speaking about this woman.

At the end of our conversation, she mused, “This is astonishing…” I nodded, smiling. “You’re the girl who came home from camp in 7th grade and said, ‘Sorry Mom, I’m going to be a missionary.’”

“I know.”

“Astonishing…”

Who should I tell next?