Such a great clip. Freedom of religion is for everyone, not just Christians. You’d think this would be a “Duh!” statement, but alas…

Photo by mind on fire (flickr.com)

I was recently asked a question on my formspring account that I thought deserved a longer reply:

Do you know any atheist who has not been persecuted for his/her (lack of) beliefs?

Ah, persecution. I think this word is used far too often by privileged people. For example, overly sensitive Christians claim persecution by those who don’t agree with them and who promote secularism and equal treatment. Of course this isn’t persecution at all, but who doesn’t like playing the victim when they’re so used to getting their way? I know a childish tantrum when I see one.

Anyway, there is real persecution in the world, and no matter who is being targeted, I think we should all fight for their rights and freedoms. People are imprisoned for their political and religious beliefs in many countries across the world. Many are tortured or killed simply because they will not follow the majority. To these people of all religions and non-religions, I say I’m so, so sorry. That is what persecution truly looks like. We belittle their lives when we claim to go through the same struggles.

So how about atheists being persecuted?

As you can see, I do not think many atheists are actually persecuted in the most serious sense in the developed nations, but I know some are personally harassed or discriminated against because of weighty false assumptions about the character and morality of non-theists. This is wrong, and it should definitely stop. We do have the right to speak up about inequality and gaining respect.

Have I been a victim of this treatment? Not really, no. I’ve had many people assume false things about my character since learning of my godlessness. I’ve had to keep my atheism a secret from my work environment for fear of layoffs and general stress. I know that I could not be voted into office if I ran as an atheist. These sorts of things are not terrible hardships, however. As I see it, I’m very fortunate.

So there you have it: I don’t think many atheists are persecuted in this culture, and I certainly have not been myself. Are things unequal? Yes, they are! We’re treated as an unimportant minority even though our numbers say differently. I hope things will change in my lifetime. We may not always be a so-called “Christian nation”.

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.

One positive aspect of the December holiday season is an increased awareness and practice of altruism and general good will. I admit I get the warm fuzzies when Christmas nears and feel tender towards those in need when the temperatures drop. It’s a shame that my selfishness overwhelms me most of the year. I’m guilty of not giving nearly enough of my time, money, and possessions as I could.

One of the most popular and visible American charities during the winter season is the Salvation Army. I remember each year as a child getting one of my favorite toys out of my closet or off of my bed, washing it, and taking it with my siblings and their toys to the local Salvation Army donation center. My father would lead us inside, and we left those cherished bears, dolls, and action figures in a box for children who didn’t have what we were fortunate enough to own. It taught me that I should give from my valuables–not my trash–and that I should never forget those in need.

Should we support the Salvation Army?

The wonderful ZJ of emptv.com, youtube, and twitter just posted a through-provoking video on why supporters of GLBT equal rights should not donate to the Salvation Army. Check out the video!

Here’s some of that video in writing:

…In [The Salvation Army's] statement on marriage, they describe it as being “ordained by God”, and defined as “one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others”. And according to their statement on homosexuality, “Scripture forbids sexual intimacy between members of the same sex”, and therefore, gay Christians are “called upon to embrace celibacy as a way of life”. Just to be clear on this, they further state that “There is no scriptural support for same-sex unions as equal to, or as an alternative to, heterosexual marriage”.

The Salvation Army also gained the special favor of the Bush administration,

…which had made a “firm commitment” to issue a regulation overriding state and local laws prohibiting employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. This would grant an exemption to these laws for religious groups, including those receiving government funding, explicitly allowing them to discriminate against gay people in hiring decisions and benefits for their domestic partners. After this deal came to light, the White House reversed course and refused to grant them an exemption.

In case you’re wondering what to do with your donations, ZJ also provides a helpful list of worthy charities for your consideration. You can find the full list here. I’ve also added a few of my own favorites below.

• Doctors Without Borders
• The American Red Cross
• Amnesty International
• Heifer International
• Scripps Research Institute
• Kiva.org (which has a very active Atheist team--having both the most members and most money donated on the entire site!)
• Marine Toys for Tots Foundation
• Oxfam International

You can also find a prolific list of causes and non-religious groups to support on FreethoughtPedia!

Don’t let the views of one organization keep you from serving, giving, and showing love to those less fortunate. There is no excuse for that! Happy holidays, and may your hearts be full of joy, affection, and contentment.

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 © Jim Kuhn

I suppose I’m a bit of an atheist cliché. I have expressed on numerous occasions my distaste for the Judeo-Christian god as depicted in the Bible. (check out why God’s justice is anti-American and God is immoral). But if we don’t speak up about the inconsistencies we observe, they might go un-recognized by those who seek the truth. So in the name of critical thinking, I’ll continue to challenge the Get Out of Jail Free card often handed to God even when our own reasoning indicates he’s in violation of the most basic standards of morality.

So, what about torture? This topic has been the focus of a steady buzz in past months, but only recently have I had much personal interaction with the topic.

A devout acquaintance of mine lauded the “just” and “righteous” judgments of Yahweh. She spoke to me of how comforting it is to her that even if we can’t have perfect justice in this world, there is a perfect judgment that awaits sinners. I realize that she was speaking of the worst of people: rapists, murderers, and the dregs of society. But I know in the back of her mind, she realizes and accepts that even the most kind, generous, and loving of people will be treated the same as these if they are not “saved”.

Is she not bothered by this? Why do many Christians (including my past self) not quake and protest against the discontinuity we see in God’s justice?

• Jesus taught “turn the other cheek” (Matthew 5:39) and “love your enemy” (Matthew 5:43-44).

But Yahweh does not turn the other cheek. Instead he sends people he supposedly loves unconditionally to a place of eternal pain and despair if they violate any of his rules.

• Despite being more likely than non-believers to support using methods of torture, Many Christians hate torture and believe it is “un-American” to treat others in such an abominable fashion.

But Yahweh has been and will be torturing billions of people: eternally, without end, forever, mercilessly, with no hope of freedom or release, again and again, in terrible and horrific ways we cannot possibly fathom in a lovely little vacation spot called Hell. And the only way to get out of this torture is to admit what he wants you to admit under duress.

How is this admirable? How is temporary torture by humans a nauseating, unloving crime, and eternal torture by a deity “good” and “just” and “deserved”?

Today is the day we recognize your childhood rebellion against the overbearing parental units of foreign power. May it be a lovely time to recognize that you don’t actually know everything and can be a bit of an obnoxious twat once in a while, but you’re still totally awesome and I love you to bits.

--GG

In honor of the beloved values of liberty and freedom, I’ve chosen to feature three of my favorite songs by The Gregory Brothers. They adapted, mixed, and autotuned three pivotal speeches from the 20th century--making them more memorable than ever. I hope you love them too!

• “Martin Luther King Sings” samples the civil rights leader’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech given in 1963.
• “John F. Kennedy backed by band from the future” brings new life to possibly the most stirring inaugural address of our history--given by former President John F. Kennedy.
• “Winston Churchill backed by band from the future” (yes, a non-American!) is my favorite of the three adapted from the former British Prime Minister’s 1941 Great Declaration against the Nazi threat.

The mp3s are available for free download.
View a playlist of all three songs is below the cut:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=161B0CA7773B199C

Before the August recess, a resolution will be voted on by the House of Representatives that will require the Architect of the Capitol to engrave the words “In God We Trust” and the post-1954 Pledge of Allegiance onto the walls of the Capitol Visitor Center (CVC). References to religion and faith are already included in several of the permanent exhibits, and the words “In God We Trust” are even present in one such exhibit. But that’s not enough for Rep. Dan Lungren (R-CA) who is pushing for a larger, bolder display. Let your Representative know that you oppose his efforts.

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that this additional engraving could cost tens of thousands of dollars. Tell your Representative that it is inappropriate for taxpayer money to be spent promoting a distorted image of America that undermines The First Amendment, and alienates the millions of nontheistic Americans who neither “trust in God” nor pledge “under God.” This legislation will most likely pass the House with a large majority vote; however, members of Congress must be educated about why appeasing the Religious Right is offensive to millions of Americans who value our nation’s secular heritage.

Even if this is a superficial decoration, I think it’s important that we secular citizens not let the little points slide by without our voices being heard. Every little bit helps.

You can contact your representatives here.

Check out what he says to Christianity Today in one of their little “timely” interviews to appear current. Too bad their version of  “current” is months too late.

On gay marriage:

I personally still think it’s wrong. People don’t understand the dictionary—it’s called queer. Queer means strange and unusual. It’s not like a slur, like you would call a white person a honky or something like that. You know, God is pretty explicit in what we’re supposed to do—what man and woman are for. Now, at the same time, we’re supposed to love everybody and accept people, and preach against the sins. I’ve had some friends that are actually homosexual. And, I mean, they know where I stand, and they know that I wouldn’t have them anywhere near my children. But at the same time, they’re people, and they’re going to do their thing. [emphasis added]

This whitewashed bigot really cracks me up. Read the two bold parts next to each other and explain to me how in the hell the actions in the latter fit the statement in the former. That’s right; they don’t. Typical.

Oh, and note how his interviewer Pulliam just skips from topic to topic without challenging him on any of his poisonous ignorance. Perhaps the interview had to be edited to avoid “controversy” or perhaps she didn’t find his drivel as offensive to the brain as most of the folks in the comments did. Or if we’re lucky, perhaps she secretly wanted him to hang himself with his terrible views dangling out in public like that. That actually worked.

On politics:

…I think that all needs to be taken out of the federal level and give it back to the states. We’ve lost our American history. Every state has “In God we trust” or “With God’s help” in their constitution. God is recognized as, if you will, America’s religion.

JTP seems to love the new US motto “In God We Trust” which was adopted in 1956. I suppose he wouldn’t support the historical motto, “E pluribus unum” (“from many, one”) since he’s all about the individual states and no central government to keep the unity for which we fought so hard in the Civil War. And I didn’t even mention the Deist Founding Fathers (not Christian).

I like Sarah Palin a lot, actually. I just don’t know if that’s where God’s leading her. I just know the Republican Party’s done its best to blackball her. I don’t know what her agenda is. If she ran, would I vote for her? Absolutely.

Meet the poster boy for voter ignorance. Follow JTP and you don’t even have to know what the candidate plans or stands for! No critical thinking–as easy as American Pie!

When politicians start talking about being a Christian, I just worry, because a lot of them don’t really follow through. I like to see real action in that area. … I would love to hear our leaders actually check with God before he does stuff.

Wait, wait. He wants them to check with God before God does stuff? Don’t move a finger, God! They need to check with you first!
But seriously, I’d rather they check with reliable resources and use their reasoning skills, experience, and education before making decisions, thanks. Talking to their imaginary friends aren’t what I call admirable qualities. I know, I know, it’s a freethought daydream.

Many of the comments are silly, hilarious, or simply bear repeating, so after the cut I’m going to quote some of my favorites.

Sad: “I know plenty of conservative gays I would trust with my children before I would with liberal straights.”

Clay: “Hi, does anyone know where I can find the publication ‘Unlicensed, Tax-cheating, Wife-beating, Attention-seeking, Idiotic Plumbing Today’? Oh, never mind, I found it.”

Alex Hancock: “This isn’t the bottom of the barrel, it’s the crud underneath the bottom. “People don’t understand the dictionary.” Do you actually believe you are contributing to any worthwhile discourse by having this empty-headed, heartless goon correct the rest of us on our understanding of the English language? You are as unworthy of respect as you seem to be incapable of shame.”

Indiana Dave: “Joe the unlicensed plumber must not have any time for those clogged DRAINS, since he has become so important to every and any issue he is asked about. He is in the right party though, with the GOP spinning down their DRAIN.”

mark h: “joe, don’t worry about your kids. most of us homos would much rather be with a real man like you — were it not for your potty mouth, of course (no pun intended).”

Darrell: “I am behind you Joe, most people are misinterpreting your comments. I don’t want them near my kids either, not because of the pedophile angle, but because of the example they set, our kids are under an onslaught of indoctrination on TV nowadays, watch MTV for one day to see it, the message pushed is that it is fashionable or cool to be gay, I am sorry but I believe it is a natural choice. I am all for equal rights but not outright indoctrination of impressionable kids. Which is what is happening today.”
[GG replies: I'm all for equal rights, but not outright indoctrination of impressionable kids. Which is what's happening today in churches all over the world.]

Anonymous: “Keep talking Joe!! We love you. You make every secular loving American happy to be alive.”

Juke: “Most people don’t want gays around their children….its reality folks, not Hollywood.”

Ubu: “Well, I wouldn’t let this fraud near my plumbing, so I suppose we’re even…”