It is hard to escape Religion

You do not realize how much Religion is ingrained in our lives until you become an Atheist.

Have you ever really noticed how often people say they are going to pray for someone? Once you start to consciously take notice the number of prayers you see being passed along is quite enormous. I have no idea how any "God" could ever keep up with such demand. Instead of offering my prayers I have been saying that I hope so and so is better or that they are in my thoughts.

The next thing that has started to jump out at me is often people claim they are blessed. Me, well I say that I am lucky but honestly it isn't even luck but hard work that gets results. A friend the other day on Facebook had posted how great God is because she got over her sinus infection and was feeling better. Hmmmm??? I wonder if she even considered the possibility that it was the antibiotics she took for the infection and not the hand of God that made her feel better? I think the "I am blessed" comment is even more ludicrous than the "I will pray for you" comment. They are close runners but the blessed wins it, not only because it is blessed but because I prayed for it to win!

The last thing I want to mention is the "God bless you" when someone sneezes. As an Atheist what type of response are you supposed to offer when someone else sneezes? I guess the common answer would be Gesundheit, which if you are curious is German for health. I am not a fan of Gesundheit so for now I am open to suggestions.

Imagine

This is by far the most powerful post I have read. Take a moment and Imagine. Thank you Mr. Wise.

Let’s play a game, shall we? The name of the game is called “Imagine.” The way it’s played is simple: we’ll envision recent happenings in the news, but then change them up a bit. Instead of envisioning white people as the main actors in the scenes we’ll conjure - the ones who are driving the action - we’ll envision black folks or other people of color instead. The object of the game is to imagine the public reaction to the events or incidents, if the main actors were of color, rather than white. Whoever gains the most insight into the workings of race in America, at the end of the game, wins.

So let’s begin.

Imagine that hundreds of black protesters were to descend upon Washington DC and Northern Virginia, just a few miles from the Capitol and White House, armed with AK-47s, assorted handguns, and ammunition. And imagine that some of these protesters —the black protesters — spoke of the need for political revolution, and possibly even armed conflict in the event that laws they didn’t like were enforced by the government? Would these protester — these black protesters with guns — be seen as brave defenders of the Second Amendment, or would they be viewed by most whites as a danger to the republic? What if they were Arab-Americans? Because, after all, that’s what happened recently when white gun enthusiasts descended upon the nation’s capital, arms in hand, and verbally announced their readiness to make war on the country’s political leaders if the need arose.

Imagine that white members of Congress, while walking to work, were surrounded by thousands of angry black people, one of whom proceeded to spit on one of those congressmen for not voting the way the black demonstrators desired. Would the protesters be seen as merely patriotic Americans voicing their opinions, or as an angry, potentially violent, and even insurrectionary mob? After all, this is what white Tea Party protesters did recently in Washington.

Imagine that a rap artist were to say, in reference to a white president: “He’s a piece of shit and I told him to suck on my machine gun.” Because that’s what rocker Ted Nugent said recently about President Obama.

Imagine that a prominent mainstream black political commentator had long employed an overt bigot as Executive Director of his organization, and that this bigot regularly participated in black separatist conferences, and once assaulted a white person while calling them by a racial slur. When that prominent black commentator and his sister — who also works for the organization — defended the bigot as a good guy who was misunderstood and “going through a tough time in his life” would anyone accept their excuse-making? Would that commentator still have a place on a mainstream network? Because that’s what happened in the real world, when Pat Buchanan employed as Executive Director of his group, America’s Cause, a blatant racist who did all these things, or at least their white equivalents: attending white separatist conferences and attacking a black woman while calling her the n-word.

Imagine that a black radio host were to suggest that the only way to get promoted in the administration of a white president is by “hating black people,” or that a prominent white person had only endorsed a white presidential candidate as an act of racial bonding, or blamed a white president for a fight on a school bus in which a black kid was jumped by two white kids, or said that he wouldn’t want to kill all conservatives, but rather, would like to leave just enough—“living fossils” as he called them—“so we will never forget what these people stood for.” After all, these are things that Rush Limbaugh has said, about Barack Obama’s administration, Colin Powell’s endorsement of Barack Obama, a fight on a school bus in Belleville, Illinois in which two black kids beat up a white kid, and about liberals, generally.

Imagine that a black pastor, formerly a member of the U.S. military, were to declare, as part of his opposition to a white president’s policies, that he was ready to “suit up, get my gun, go to Washington, and do what they trained me to do.” This is, after all, what Pastor Stan Craig said recently at a Tea Party rally in Greenville, South Carolina.

Imagine a black radio talk show host gleefully predicting a revolution by people of color if the government continues to be dominated by the rich white men who have been “destroying” the country, or if said radio personality were to call Christians or Jews non-humans, or say that when it came to conservatives, the best solution would be to “hang ‘em high.” And what would happen to any congressional representative who praised that commentator for “speaking common sense” and likened his hate talk to “American values?” After all, those are among the things said by radio host and best-selling author Michael Savage, predicting white revolution in the face of multiculturalism, or said by Savage about Muslims and liberals, respectively. And it was Congressman Culbertson, from Texas, who praised Savage in that way, despite his hateful rhetoric.

Imagine a black political commentator suggesting that the only thing the guy who flew his plane into the Austin, Texas IRS building did wrong was not blowing up Fox News instead. This is, after all, what Anne Coulter said about Tim McVeigh, when she noted that his only mistake was not blowing up the New York Times.

Imagine that a popular black liberal website posted comments about the daughter of a white president, calling her “typical redneck trash,” or a “whore” whose mother entertains her by “making monkey sounds.” After all that’s comparable to what conservatives posted about Malia Obama on freerepublic.com last year, when they referred to her as “ghetto trash.”

Imagine that black protesters at a large political rally were walking around with signs calling for the lynching of their congressional enemies. Because that’s what white conservatives did last year, in reference to Democratic party leaders in Congress.

In other words, imagine that even one-third of the anger and vitriol currently being hurled at President Obama, by folks who are almost exclusively white, were being aimed, instead, at a white president, by people of color. How many whites viewing the anger, the hatred, the contempt for that white president would then wax eloquent about free speech, and the glories of democracy? And how many would be calling for further crackdowns on thuggish behavior, and investigations into the radical agendas of those same people of color?

To ask any of these questions is to answer them. Protest is only seen as fundamentally American when those who have long had the luxury of seeing themselves as prototypically American engage in it. When the dangerous and dark “other” does so, however, it isn’t viewed as normal or natural, let alone patriotic. Which is why Rush Limbaugh could say, this past week, that the Tea Parties are the first time since the Civil War that ordinary, common Americans stood up for their rights: a statement that erases the normalcy and “American-ness” of blacks in the civil rights struggle, not to mention women in the fight for suffrage and equality, working people in the fight for better working conditions, and LGBT folks as they struggle to be treated as full and equal human beings.

And this, my friends, is what white privilege is all about. The ability to threaten others, to engage in violent and incendiary rhetoric without consequence, to be viewed as patriotic and normal no matter what you do, and never to be feared and despised as people of color would be, if they tried to get away with half the shit we do, on a daily basis.

Game Over.

Tim Wise is among the most prominent anti-racist writers and activists in the U.S. Wise has spoken in 48 states, on over 400 college campuses, and to community groups around the nation. Wise has provided anti-racism training to teachers nationwide, and has trained physicians and medical industry professionals on how to combat racial inequities in health care. His latest book is called Between Barack and a Hard Place.

Alan Dershowitz to Mike Huckabee: Go Back to School

An Agnostic Christmas

I love the holidays! I enjoy the cold weather, the shopping, listening to Christmas music, watching my favorite Christmas movies, and I most of all my mom's fudge!! This year is no different for me than any other, except that I have embraced being an agnostic/atheist. However, I am not giving up my holidays.

I was recently asked how I can celebrate Christmas if I no longer believe in God. Well, for one thing the holidays to me have never meant celebrating Jesus. To me the holidays represent a time spent with family, upholding traditions, love, and peace. I look at the holidays as a time to be thankful for everything that we have, and to celebrate and make memories. Just because someone is agnostic or atheist does not mean that they are uncaring. My husband and I still got 2 angels from the tree and will donate presents. We may not have a lot but we still make it a point to give to others. Christmas time serves as a reminder to give to those less fortunate, something we should strive to remember throughout the entire year.

For almost as far back as I can remember I have always questioned if there is a God. I vividly remember being around eleven or twelve and my grandmother asking if I was atheist. At the time I said no because part of me did believe, but I was still questioning. It has not been until this past couple of years that I have come out of the closest so to speak. I am disturbed more and more everyday by how hypocritical religious people are and once I began studying philosophy and science I knew that I could no longer deny how I really feel. I have been amazed and astonished at how many other people are like me and have found a very welcoming and close community within the free thinkers out here.

So, if you see me out this holiday season, you may still wish me a Merry Christmas! I will not be offended, for I wish you the same. Just as I wish my Jewish friends a Happy Hanukah, though I am not Jewish myself. I will not apologize for enjoying my candy canes, christmas lights, presents, christmas carols, and egg nog. It is the time to be with loved ones and that has nothing to do at all with any religion.

Tis the season for Reason!!!

And here is a reminder from Mind Posts.

Christmas for Atheists?!?

Christmas is part of our Greco-Roman-Judeo-Christian Western tradition.

It has always been a special time of year across diverse cultures. It need

not be dedicated to mysticism and supernatural nonsense. Atheists can

embrace Christmas as a mid-winter celebration with friends and family.

It is a wonderful time to share family traditions and discuss the rational

roots that keep your family strong.

Happy Holidays to ALL!

Jokes

My favorite Blasphemy Slogans from http://freethoughtpedia.org/
It's under "Atheist Bumper Stickers" in "Humor"

- Abstinence makes the church grow fondlers.
- Honk if your religious beliefs make you an asshole.
- "Worship me or I will torture you forever! Have a nice day!" - God
- If Jesus is inside me, I hope he likes fajitas ’cause that’s what he’s getting!
- If There is No God, Then What Makes the Next Kleenex Pop Up?
- Cheeses Is Lard. Argue With THAT If You Can.
- Cheeses Dried Foyer Shins. Praise the Lard.
- Jesus is Coming? Don't Swallow That.
- GOD - APPLY DIRECTLY TO FOREHEAD!
- God + Whacky Tobacky = Platypus
- When the Rapture Comes, We'll Get Our Country Back!
- Creationism: Holy Shit!
- I Love Christians. They Taste Like Chicken. - Okay... this one's just random... and kinda creepy. Ewww...
- "Intelligent Design" Helping Stupid People Feel Smart Since 1987
- I Found God Between The Sheets
- I Gave Up Superstitious Mumbo Jumbo For Lent
- My Flying Monkey Can Beat Up Your Guardian Angel
- I Forget - Which Day Did God Make All The Fossils?

The word God is the product of human weakness

The word God is the product of human weakness

Why I love Einstein. No more needs to be said.

Rep. Peter King: Bush 'Should Get A Medal' For Authorizing Waterboarding

I love our country and I today on Veteran's Day, I thank every man and woman who has stood up for our freedom. I want to be proud of the USA but why do our leaders so often make this country out to be so hypocritical. We are supposed to support human rights and be better than the heathens out there, yet we had a leader condone torture, simply ridiculous.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost