I’ll assume for the time being that this is legit.  The irony of referring to a class of people as lunatics while simultaneously making a ludicrous statement like this is just sweet.  There is something very pure and simple about it….perhaps like the mischeif that a small child gets into when left to their own devices.  It makes you smile sometimes when it’s funny, and you know they are only doing what comes naturally to them.

Technorati Tags: Christmas, Cooking, Fruit and Vegetable, Home, Irony, Joke, Onion, People, Satire

Up until now, it seems the atheist community has done a decent job of getting messages out in public in a way that will do some real good.  I’ve seen several billboards and bus signs that do a good job of letting other non-theists know they are not alone.  Not a great job, but a good job.

Then comes along this from the Freedom From Religion Foundation.

Let me start by saying I’m an atheist, separation of church and state is critical, and I agree this sign is telling the truth to the best of our ability as a human species about the topic.

At the same time, putting this particular sign and message up next to religious displays like a nativity scene was just stupid.

• Are they winning people over?  No.
• Are they putting forth a positive message for non-theists?  No.
• Are they celebrating the secular aspects of the holidays?  No.
• Are they creating and nurturing any views out there among the religious majority that atheists are rude, inconsiderate, and should be thought of as the enemy?  YES!

Now to address some of the specific comments in the video embedded below.

“Christians came along and basically stole this time of year”

Dan, I’m an atheist.  This statement makes me want to ask what is wrong with you.  It’s true that this time of year had celebrations since long before the Judeo-Christian religions of today where invented.  You need not convince me of this.  To say that Christians “stole it” is simply ludicrous and carries the implication that every Christian out there who celebrates it is doing something harmful and destructive to us non-theists.  It’s just wrong, and I don’t know how you justify it.

“We see the nativity scene as a direct attack on good human values and we would like our place at the table as well”

Your “We” does not include me.  It sounds as if you are taking the worst parts of their religion and applying it to one of their most peaceful symbols.  The nativity is a cultural tradition….the Christian bible doesn’t even support the historical authenticity of it very well.  Again, I would like to see your logic in calling this a “direct attack on good human values.”  Perhaps that’s true from the standpoint of ideological zealotry, but not from a pragmatic, critical view of the world.

“If atheists want their own federal holiday sir, go to congress”

This seems to me an expected reaction.  Instead of a message of inclusion and/or separation of church and state, Dan and company have come to the table with the message that Christians stole our holiday.  If I were in the other shoes, I would also feel like Christmas is under attack.  It would be like showing up to a Thanksgiving celebration with a sign that says “The pilgrims were sexist, misogynistic people!”  -It may be true, but what a killjoy to pin point a negative aspect and act as if it represents the whole holiday.

I enjoy Christmas.  My birthday is Christmas Day, but aside from that, I love the traditional meals, giving presents, and being with family and friends.  I love Christmas carols, even the explicitly religious ones.  Why can’t we enjoy the holidays right alongside Christians, Muslims, Jews, etc?

“that little baby who became the dictator”

Again, you seem to take a black-and-white view of the world.  One of the reasons I started doubting religious dogma was because of the all-or-nothing approach.  Either you are saved by Jesus, or you go to hell.  You’re not convincing anyone, and not winning any points.  Instead, you sound like as much of a zealot as the religious right.

Possible Alternatives for atheist holiday signage

We can still be represented and visible without being offensive.  Here are some ideas that could sit alongside religious displays without offending (reasonable people).

• Peace on earth and good will to all!
• Atheists love this time of year too!  Happy holidays!
• Happy Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and whatever reason to celebrate that you have!
• During this holiday season, remember that we are all brothers and sisters regardless of our differences.  Happy holidays!

I’d love to hear your thoughts.  Leave a comment!

Related blog entries elsewhere:

• Freedom of Religion? Most Americans Don’t Buy It
• Freedom OF Religion not FROM it.
• Generalized Grievances & Hein v. Freedom from Religion Foundation, Inc.
• Freedom From Religion Have Their Atheist Sign Stolen Photo
• Church Growth–>Freedom From Religion
• Washington: Freedom From Religion?
• Freedom From Religion’s Atheist Display in Washington State Capitol
• Freedom From Religion Foundation
• Washington Allows Atheist Anti-Religion Sign Next to Nativity
• Only In Washington: Freedom Against Religion?
• Religion is but Myth and Superstition.
• Atheists Trying To Spoil Christmas
• Debating Atheist Nihilism
• You Don’t Need Religion to be a Jerk

Technorati Tags: atheism, christine gregoire, Christmas, Christmas carol, dan barker, daniel barker, Freedom From Religion Foundation, Holiday greetings, religion, Religion and Spirituality, Thanksgiving

I’m sure many of you have already heard of this.  I find it refreshing that the Catholic church has the guts to tell it like it is.  That said, this seems like one the the final nails in their coffin.  I am going to react to specific pieces of the article below.

…such people had been compromised by their education, which he said had a “dark side, due to original sin”.

If every human activity is tainted with original sin, why even call it out in an assertion that education is a primary reason for catholic unfaith?

Patrick O'Donoghue

Bishop O’Donoghue, who has recently published a report on how to renew Catholicism in Britain, argued that mass education has led to “sickness in the Church and wider society”.

In the case of education, we can see its distortion through the widespread dissemination of radical scepticism, positivism, utilitarianism and relativism.

“Taken together, these intellectual trends have resulted in a fragmented society that marginalizes God, with many people mistakenly thinking they can live happy and productive lives without him.

I would really like to see if there is actual research behind this, or if this is just a general observation.  If there is some well-gathered data, excellent!  It lends credence to the assertion that faith and science do not mix.  I would really love to have a conversation with O’Donoghue about how he backs up “mistakenly” in the sentence above.

“These well-educated Catholics have gone on to occupy influential positions in education, the media, politics, and even the Church, where they have been able to spread their so-called loyal dissent, causing confusion and discord in the whole church.”

“For example, the relentless diatribe in the popular media against Christianity has undermined the confidence of the ordinary faithful in the Church.”

Perhaps confidence has been undermined because education has shown religious faith to be very likely untrue.  A truth will stand up to scrutiny.  Strange, that.

Bishop O’Donoghue has produced a report, Fit for Mission? Church, examining the current problems facing the Church and designed “to enable Catholic men, women and children to resist the pressures to compromise, even abandon, the truths of the Catholic faith”.

Does it include a home labodomy kit?  If anyone can find this report, please leave a link to it in the comments section.

“All the theses that have it that there is one great truth, everybody’s got to sign up to it.  Otherwise {they} will be punished if they don’t…..they all tend to be very productive of unhappiness….”

The importance of understanding individuals’ talents and what makes them happy reminded me of Robert M. Price’s book “The Reason Driven Life“.  I think it was around chapter 32 where Price discussed the difference between he and Rick Warren on the issue.  Warren talks about everyone having their own unique ‘calling’, but if you read between the lines it’s all about being a good christian and doing what god wants you to do.  I appreciated Price’s description of his personal conversion away from christianity.  He did not feel “fully himself” because of the constraints imposed by the ideology in which he had been entrenched.

Please enjoy Beyond Belief 2008: Anthony Grayling on Human Flourishing

Flickr attribution: Mickelodeon

The commandments that Jesus is noted as saying above are the only important ones. There is nothing there about worshiping one god, making graven images, honoring the Sabbath, taking the lord’s name in vain, etc. If there indeed was a godly transfer of rules to live by, what Jesus said in Matthew 19:17-19 were probably the only ones communicated. Moses or someone else added the rest. The core commandments deal with true humanism and morality, the others are a human arrogance and a lack of humility imposed upon god.

Read the Bible, the Koran, Book of Mormon, etc. through a non-believer’s eyes. It’s the only way to truly understand them for what they are. The commandments are a perfect example of wonderful teachings twisted by blind and jealous faith of those who have or had power in their spiritual domains.

You owe it to yourself to watch this film.  Very insightful, powerful stuff.

For the same reason, there was an assumption of our planet as the center of the universe. Everything was believed to revolve around us. We are analogous to the spoiled children of the universe because we believe our gift for intelligence to be unique. When we look out at the universe, we still see ourselves as the lead actor out of selfish narcissism.

When we marvel at our assumed superiority in the universe, a fundamental lack of humility develops. I find it extremely doubtful that humans actually know anything about the nature of any deity, if indeed any exist. “Knowledge” about gods, anthropomorphically represented or not, is undoubtedly crafted by human minds in my opinion. Some of those who contributed their imaginations to religious doctrine had altruistic and noble intentions, and created wonderful stories to teach the betterment of mankind. Others injected their own beliefs out of a need for accolades and historical significance. There are many examples of human emotions played out in religious doctrine. This is not because our gods are human-like, it is because these doctrines are written from the human imagination.