Great blog recently: Ask The Friendly Atheist: How Do Atheists Absolve Themselves of Guilt?
"A person (who is) conscientious... will not become dissolute, depraved and degenerate, casually and blithely forgiving yourself for awful things without a proper effort to self-correct." Not all Atheists are conscientious, just as all Christians, all Muslims, all Hindus, all Jews, etc. are not. But most Atheists I know try to be - I know I do. And I'm out-of-control on the whole self-correcting thing...
What drives my desire to be conscientious? The knowledge that, when I am, I'm happier. Simple as that.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Sunday, April 17, 2011
An Easter message from Ricky Gervais
Just in time for Easter: A Holiday Message from Ricky Gervais: Why I’m A Good Christian.
No question: Ricky Gervais is my favorite Atheist.
No question: Ricky Gervais is my favorite Atheist.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Students: start your own atheist group at school!
Would you like to start or help start an secular student group on your campus? The Secular Student Alliance has a free Group Starting Packet. They also offer legal assistance for individuals and groups who face opposition in trying to start a secular student group.
The Friendly Atheist has a nice highlight of a recent New York Times article that profiles a secular group at a Florida high school.
I would have loved such a group in high school! My high school was anything but welcoming for nontheistic students. Teachers were okay, but my fellow students wouldn't hesitate to condemn me for my questions. Participating in common school functions often required me to participate activities contrary to my values, like the Pledge of Allegiance or event invocations. I had no idea how to say no. Such a club would have helped me know I wasn't alone, and how to handle those let-us-pray moments in a simple, non-confrontational, polite but firm way.
The Friendly Atheist has a nice highlight of a recent New York Times article that profiles a secular group at a Florida high school.
I would have loved such a group in high school! My high school was anything but welcoming for nontheistic students. Teachers were okay, but my fellow students wouldn't hesitate to condemn me for my questions. Participating in common school functions often required me to participate activities contrary to my values, like the Pledge of Allegiance or event invocations. I had no idea how to say no. Such a club would have helped me know I wasn't alone, and how to handle those let-us-pray moments in a simple, non-confrontational, polite but firm way.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
The Atheist at the Funeral
Most humans need rituals. I do. Weddings, funerals, baby showers, graduations - these are highly symbolic events that give us a very public outlet for emotions, something most humans very much need. I appreciate that outlet, as do most Atheists.
I recently attended my beloved grandfather's funeral, and while I didn't at all mind that it was officiated by three Christian ministers - he was a religious man, from a religious family, it was entirely appropriate - I did mind his minister opening his remarks with, "We are gathered here today, as people of faith, to..." I sighed and stared at the flowers.
If someone says something to me one-on-one, or in a small group, that implies I'm a Christian, I will correct them. It makes people uncomfortable, no matter how hard I try to be nice about it, but I have to do it - I have to be honest. To not say anything is dishonest.
But in that moment at my grandfather's funeral, there was nothing to do but sit quietly and have my own private, internal tribute to my grandfather for a while, until words were said that made me feel welcomed to be there.
It's not the first time this has happened: I attended a Catholic wedding where the Priest said repeatedly, "We are gathered here as Christians to..." and "Now, let us bow our heads, as Christians, and pray for..." He not only made the Atheists know, in no uncertain terms, that they weren't supposed to be there, he also made sure the two Jewish couples in our row would also feel profoundly unwelcomed.
I have no problem with religiously-lead ceremonies, but I do have a problem when religious leaders assume everyone at a ceremony is a person of faith - and even the same religion. The idea that Atheists have compassion or want to show public support for people they love is beyond their understanding. I don't know how to change that - but it most certainly needs to change.
I recently attended my beloved grandfather's funeral, and while I didn't at all mind that it was officiated by three Christian ministers - he was a religious man, from a religious family, it was entirely appropriate - I did mind his minister opening his remarks with, "We are gathered here today, as people of faith, to..." I sighed and stared at the flowers.
If someone says something to me one-on-one, or in a small group, that implies I'm a Christian, I will correct them. It makes people uncomfortable, no matter how hard I try to be nice about it, but I have to do it - I have to be honest. To not say anything is dishonest.
But in that moment at my grandfather's funeral, there was nothing to do but sit quietly and have my own private, internal tribute to my grandfather for a while, until words were said that made me feel welcomed to be there.
It's not the first time this has happened: I attended a Catholic wedding where the Priest said repeatedly, "We are gathered here as Christians to..." and "Now, let us bow our heads, as Christians, and pray for..." He not only made the Atheists know, in no uncertain terms, that they weren't supposed to be there, he also made sure the two Jewish couples in our row would also feel profoundly unwelcomed.
I have no problem with religiously-lead ceremonies, but I do have a problem when religious leaders assume everyone at a ceremony is a person of faith - and even the same religion. The idea that Atheists have compassion or want to show public support for people they love is beyond their understanding. I don't know how to change that - but it most certainly needs to change.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Christian named Person of the Year by Athesists & Freethinkers Group
The Western Colorado Atheists and Freethinkers has named Rev. Mike Burr, pastor of Koinonia Church in Grand Junction, as their “Person of the Year.” Burr was unanimously chosen by the group for his work with peace and social/environmental justice issues; his leadership in advocating for the poor, disadvantaged and exploited; his advocacy of separation of church and state; his opposition to recent wars waged by the United States; and his opposition to anti-Muslim views and actions. The Koinonia Church congregation is aligned with American Baptist Churches of USA and Church of the Brethren.
“I've been a staunch advocate of separation of church and state all my life,” Burr said in this newspaper article. He's also a believer in science. “I have no difficulty with scientific truth. Truth is truth,” Burr said. He says of the scientific theory of evolution: “It's a description of the way things happened. It in no way denies the holiness of creation.”
I like this guy. I would never try to convince him there wasn't a God, and he would never try to take science out of schools. I'm no threat to his religion, and he's no threat to my lack their of. He wouldn't try to force me to follow his religion, and I wouldn't try to force him to give his up. And we share the values of the separation of church and state. Many Christians and Muslims actually don't believe the church or sharia law should be a part of local or state government - I wish we heard more from them!
Thanks to the Stiefel Freethought Foundation's Facebook page for bringing this to my attention!
“I've been a staunch advocate of separation of church and state all my life,” Burr said in this newspaper article. He's also a believer in science. “I have no difficulty with scientific truth. Truth is truth,” Burr said. He says of the scientific theory of evolution: “It's a description of the way things happened. It in no way denies the holiness of creation.”
I like this guy. I would never try to convince him there wasn't a God, and he would never try to take science out of schools. I'm no threat to his religion, and he's no threat to my lack their of. He wouldn't try to force me to follow his religion, and I wouldn't try to force him to give his up. And we share the values of the separation of church and state. Many Christians and Muslims actually don't believe the church or sharia law should be a part of local or state government - I wish we heard more from them!
Thanks to the Stiefel Freethought Foundation's Facebook page for bringing this to my attention!
Monday, March 14, 2011
Prayers just aren't enough - DO SOMETHING
Anyone with any sense of sympathy and empathy - and that's most humans - is heart-broken over the situation in Japan, just as we are when we see such harrowing images from any natural or man-made disaster that causes such destruction. With or without any belief in a god, most humans don't like to see humans suffer, whether those humans are across the street or across the world.
I have read endless numbers of Facebook status updates and heard endless numbers of people on TV saying, "I'm praying for Japan!" And I have to admit that it gets in my craw, as we say in the South. So many people think, "I don't have to give money -- I'll just pray!"
I would be okay with it if they would say, "Pray for Japan - and donate any money you can, even just $5, to..."
Praying might make YOU feel really good, but it doesn't feed hungry people, it doesn't provide medicine to the injured, it doesn't provide emergency housing, it doesn't get supplies to the people who need them and it doesn't shelter the homeless.
You can donate to help Japan through the American Red Cross. Or Text REDCROSS to 90999 to give $10 (will be added to the donors’ next cellphone bill).
Mercy Corps: Mercy Corp in the USA has set up a donation fund for its partner, Peace Winds Japan, and its emergency assistance on the ground.
Every time you see someone on your social networks saying "Pray for Japan," jump in with a reminder about how to donate, and how important financial donations are. Also remind people NOT to start gathering food, clothes, medicine, etc. It is so much cheaper and more efficient for response agencies to buy and ship these items from surrounding areas that are MUCH closer than anywhere in the USA. Plus, it's better for agencies to buy these new, rather than going through donations, which are often filled with inappropriate items.
And consider channeling this helpless feeling in your gut into volunteering locally: call your local American Red Cross, or look at the chapter's web site, and attend the next volunteer orientation, and start taking their excellent training classes regarding first aid and emergency response.
Also see: Volunteering To Help After Major Disasters (which talks about how you need to get training now, before the disaster, in order to help after such).
I have read endless numbers of Facebook status updates and heard endless numbers of people on TV saying, "I'm praying for Japan!" And I have to admit that it gets in my craw, as we say in the South. So many people think, "I don't have to give money -- I'll just pray!"
I would be okay with it if they would say, "Pray for Japan - and donate any money you can, even just $5, to..."
Praying might make YOU feel really good, but it doesn't feed hungry people, it doesn't provide medicine to the injured, it doesn't provide emergency housing, it doesn't get supplies to the people who need them and it doesn't shelter the homeless.
You can donate to help Japan through the American Red Cross. Or Text REDCROSS to 90999 to give $10 (will be added to the donors’ next cellphone bill).
Mercy Corps: Mercy Corp in the USA has set up a donation fund for its partner, Peace Winds Japan, and its emergency assistance on the ground.
Every time you see someone on your social networks saying "Pray for Japan," jump in with a reminder about how to donate, and how important financial donations are. Also remind people NOT to start gathering food, clothes, medicine, etc. It is so much cheaper and more efficient for response agencies to buy and ship these items from surrounding areas that are MUCH closer than anywhere in the USA. Plus, it's better for agencies to buy these new, rather than going through donations, which are often filled with inappropriate items.
And consider channeling this helpless feeling in your gut into volunteering locally: call your local American Red Cross, or look at the chapter's web site, and attend the next volunteer orientation, and start taking their excellent training classes regarding first aid and emergency response.
Also see: Volunteering To Help After Major Disasters (which talks about how you need to get training now, before the disaster, in order to help after such).
Friday, March 4, 2011
The joy and truth I feel
I'm an Atheist. And without any belief in a God or Gods, I experience:
My life has meaning because I work to make it so. My emotions and values have a genuineness, an honesty, that I never experienced when I tried to believe in the invisible all-knowing Super Friend. Life feels authentic!
- Joy
- Love
- Wonder
- Hope
- Happiness
- Contentment
- Compassion
- Sympathy
- Empathy
- Strong, impossible-to-ignore compulsions to help others
- Strong urges to sing and dance and laugh
My life has meaning because I work to make it so. My emotions and values have a genuineness, an honesty, that I never experienced when I tried to believe in the invisible all-knowing Super Friend. Life feels authentic!
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