Thursday, September 15, 2011
Listing the List
I like this list. I like it quite a bit. Perhaps the people who keep coming to my door with their tracts and pamplets and books might read it?
Labels: atheism
Wednesday, April 06, 2011
15 Day Atheism Challenge: Day 15
Recommend a book. Any book. Bored of the Rings by the Harvard Lampoon. (Henry Beard and Douglas C. Kenney) And that is that! Seems to me this could be interesting for theists to do as well. Just insert your religion where it says "atheist" and have at it. I hope you enjoyed reading as much as I enjoyed typing!
Labels: atheism
Tuesday, April 05, 2011
15 Day Atheist Challenge: Day 14
On a scale of one to ten, how happy are you with life at this moment? I'd give it an 8, one can always be happier, right? I have a wonderful wife, a lovely daughter, and a job that I love. I'm living in a friendly neighborhood in one of the nicest cities I know. Life is pretty good! Not sure how that relates to atheism, I know plenty of happy religious people too. Maybe it has something to do with a perception I've seen online from many theists that atheists are unhappy people because we don't believe in gods.
Monday, April 04, 2011
15 Day Atheist Challenge: Day 13
Would you ever date/marry someone who follows a religion? Yes. My wife is Presbyterian and goes to church most every Sunday. I did get "dumped" if you will, by a girl I briefly dated after college because of religion. She was a Pentecostal, and after a couple of dates, she asked me to go to chuch with her. I'm a curious fellow, so I agreed. After the service, which I found to be quite bizarre, she asked me what I thought of it. I was diplomatic, and said, "It was nice, but its not for me." She refused to talk to me after that. Perhaps she did like me, but I suspect all she really wanted to do was convert me, and when she saw that wasn't happening, decided to move on. Oh well.
Sunday, April 03, 2011
15 Day Atheist Challenge: Day 12
What happens when we die? Do you fear death? We decompose. Fear is, I think a bit strong. The thought of going from "being" to "not being" is hard to wrap my mind around. I'm sure nearly everyone would like there to be "something more" or to have an eternal life, but I just don't see any evidence for it. I suspect that when its time for me, I'll find being dead to be a lot like it was before I was born.
Labels: atheism
Saturday, April 02, 2011
15 Day Atheist Challenge: Day 11
Do you plan on having a career in the sciences. Which branch of science intrigues you the most? Ahh, here's something interesting! I would have loved to go into a science career. Unfortunatly, my math skills are horrendous. That said, I'm probably one of the better read science laypersons around. I like astronomy, geology, vulcanology, archeology, geography, physics, climatology, and anthropology. I'm not too keen on biology or chemistry, except on how they pertain to the things I'm interested in, like evolution or fungi. I probably left out a bunch of stuff, I really, really like science, but those are the things I enjoy most.
Friday, April 01, 2011
15 Day Atheist Challenge: Day 10
Are you spiritual, or are your feet always on the ground? What a silly question. I'm not "spiritual" and while I try to stay grounded in reality, that doesn't mean I'm immune to flights of fancy. I'm getting a bit dissappointed in some of these latter queries, maybe I should have read the list thouroughly first, and culled some of the more inane questions.
Labels: atheism
Thursday, March 31, 2011
15 Day Atheist Challenge: Day 9
Even though you are an atheist, have you ever experienced a moment that could be called "religious," like an epiphany about the world or complete peace? I really don't like the way this question is worded, as the adjective "religious" has connotations that do not require belief in the supernatural. Definition of RELIGIOUS 1 : relating to or manifesting faithful devotion to an acknowledged ultimate reality or deity 2 : of, relating to, or devoted to religious beliefs or observances 3 a : scrupulously and conscientiously faithful Couple that with "epiphany." Definition of EPIPHANY 1 capitalized : January 6 observed as a church festival in commemoration of the coming of the Magi as the first manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles or in the Eastern Church in commemoration of the baptism of Christ 2 : an appearance or manifestation especially of a divine being 3 a (1) : a usually sudden manifestation or perception of the essential nature or meaning of something (2) : an intuitive grasp of reality through something (as an event) usually simple and striking (3) : an illuminating discovery, realization, or disclosure b : a revealing scene or moment. If you couple the first definition of "religious," specifically the "ultimate reality," which I define as "truth," and "epiphany," then I can say I HAVE had such an experience. This experience came while I was reading The Ring Of Truth some 20 years ago. If you are unfamiliar with the book, it is the companion piece to the PBS series of the same name, written and hosted by Philip and Phylis Morrison. One of the sections covered quantum mechanics, a topic that I've always had problems with. As I was reading, I had a "eureka" moment. I got it! I finally understood it! It was a "sudden manifestation or perception of the essential nature or meaning" of an "ultimate reality." That certainly didn't make me a physicist, but for a non-scientest in his mid 20's it was rather mindblowing.
Labels: atheism
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Day 8: 15 Day Atheist Challenge
What's your political alignment? Does your atheism influence influence how you vote and how you feel on issues? I'm a Democrat. Big surprise, eh? I've always considered myself to fall in the moderate-to-liberal range, and my general political philosophy hasn't changed much since my first election in 1980, when I cast my first presidential ballot for John Anderson. Since then, the Overton Window shifted so far to the right that I look like a raving Trotskyite. Back when the Republican party contained actual moderates, I voted for a few, such as Pennsylvania senator John Heinz. The Republican party as it is now is far too lunatic to even consider supporting one of their candidates. Maybe they'll surprise me in the future. Atheism is nothing more than the belief that there are no gods. I generally do not decide how I feel about a candidate based on my atheism, and I generally don't care what a particular candidate's faith is. However, when I see a politician who wears his faith on his sleeve, or makes statements about the United States being a "Christian Nation," the alarm bells start ringing. UPDATE: Via gyma at Spork's place, this is what I'm talking about: (alarm bells and such) Huckabee has just been caught on video, at a Christian supremacist conference, stating that Americans should be forcibly indoctrinated at gunpoint. The organization which hosted the “Rediscover God In America” conference, United in Purpose, has edited Huckabee’s comment from footage of his speech, but not before People For The American Way’s Kyle Mantyla captured the unedited footage, in which Mike Huckabee states, “I almost wish that there would be, like, a simultaneous telecast, and all Americans would be forced–forced at gunpoint no less–to listen to every David Barton message, and I think our country would be better for it.”
Labels: atheism
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Day 7: 15 Day Atheist Challenge
Except for God, do you believe in anything supernatural or pseudoscientific? (Ghosts, alien abductions, spirits, souls, demons, psychics, magic, Harry Potter, etc.)
When I was younger, I did believe in things like ghosts, the Bermuda Triangle, and other "unexplained" phenomena. In college, there was a spooky, old run down mansion that my department kept various items in. I had heard various ghost stories surrounding this building, and I always got creeped out whenever I had to go in there, especially up to the old ballroom, where our storage area was. One day, I forced myself to stay there for several hours. As my familiarity with the area increased, I found my apprehension lessening. Soon, I was able to dismiss my initial discomfort to an overactive imagination, fueled by the legends. As an aside, the college has since restored and renovated the building, it now houses a variety of functions and offices, and is quite beautiful. (pictured)
I once took a picture at Gettysburg that seemed to show "ghost orbs." After thinking for a bit, I realized it was drizzling when I took the picture and the "orbs" were nothing but the reflection of the flash off raindrops.
Do I still believe in the Bermuda Triangle? Only as a physical location. Again, as I grew older and more widely read, I learned that correlation doesn't necessarily equal causation. Any heavily traveled body of water is going to have its share of ships go down "without a trace" due to accident, storms, or bad luck. No supernatural explaination is necessary.
I see no evidence for the existince of demons, or disembodied souls, or spirits. Do aliens exist? In a vast universe, I expect that it is likely, but there is no evidence for their existence. Have we been visited? There is no evidence that we have.
I believe there are people who describe themselves as psychics. I call them by another name though: Frauds.
Magic? Sure I believe in magic! I even know a few tricks! Its great entertainment. Magic as a supernatural phenomena? No.
Harry Potter? I have all the books. Its a great story. I do know that those books and movies exist.
Labels: atheism
Monday, March 28, 2011
Day 6: 15 Day Atheist Challenge
How do you feel about so-called "militant atheists" such as Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, and Sam Harris? While I know of Sam Harris, I am unfamiliar with his work. I know that Hitchens is an atheist, but I know him more for his political writing than for his views on religion. I've read two of Dawkins books (The Blind Watchmaker and The Greatest Show On Earth), and liked both of them, I plan on reading others. That said, I don't much like the term "militant atheist." The term seems to be applied to "atheists who speak their minds." Which is then followed by "Why can't you people just be quiet?"
Labels: atheism
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Day 5: 15 Day Atheist Challenge
Did you lose any friends because you decided to be an atheist? Did your family flip out?
Not that I know of, and no. Would you really want to be friends with someone who refuses to befriend you because of your religion, or lack of religion?
Not that I know of, and no. Would you really want to be friends with someone who refuses to befriend you because of your religion, or lack of religion?
Labels: atheism
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Day 4: 15 Day Atheist Challenge
Do you think religion is obsolete and should be wiped completely off the face of the earth, or does some good come out of it?
Say what? I think religion is unnecessary, but my general take on it is that if it gives you peace, some direction in life, or you are unable to control yourself in public without the threat of hell or promise of heaven, then go ahead and be religious.
Much evil has been done in the name of religion, but I don't think that has anything to do with religious teachings. Evil people have distorted and used many religious beliefs to get people to do their bidding, but that is the fault of those people, and not of religion per se.
Many other people have cited the teachings of their faith to do enormous good, such as building hospitals and schools, and providing relief to those in need. Like any tool, its all in how you choose to use it.
Say what? I think religion is unnecessary, but my general take on it is that if it gives you peace, some direction in life, or you are unable to control yourself in public without the threat of hell or promise of heaven, then go ahead and be religious.
Much evil has been done in the name of religion, but I don't think that has anything to do with religious teachings. Evil people have distorted and used many religious beliefs to get people to do their bidding, but that is the fault of those people, and not of religion per se.
Many other people have cited the teachings of their faith to do enormous good, such as building hospitals and schools, and providing relief to those in need. Like any tool, its all in how you choose to use it.
Labels: atheism
Friday, March 25, 2011
Day 3: 15 Day Atheist Challenge
Are you a more outspoken or more apathetic atheist? Why?
Depends on the issue. In general, I try to live and let live. I don't care what other people believe, or don't believe, so long as they aren't bothering others. I get far more vocal when it comes to things like the separation between church and state, or when people are being discriminated against for their beliefs. Some Christians, I've found, have some strange ideas about what constitutes discrimination. For an example, demanding that public schools refrain from endorsing religion through prayer times is not discrimination or persecution of Christians. Preventing students from engaging in prayer on their own time is, however.
Depends on the issue. In general, I try to live and let live. I don't care what other people believe, or don't believe, so long as they aren't bothering others. I get far more vocal when it comes to things like the separation between church and state, or when people are being discriminated against for their beliefs. Some Christians, I've found, have some strange ideas about what constitutes discrimination. For an example, demanding that public schools refrain from endorsing religion through prayer times is not discrimination or persecution of Christians. Preventing students from engaging in prayer on their own time is, however.
Labels: atheism
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Day 2: 15 Day Atheist Challenge
Question 2: (Note that the list had this question listed first, but I thought the post I typed yesterday had a better lead off question)
At what point did you know you were an atheist? Why did you become one, what were the factors leading up to the decision if you weren't always one?
Hmmm, there's a lot there. It was a gradual process, but it started when I was a teenager, and going through the confirmation process of the Catholic church. As part of the preparation for confirmation, I was required to go on a weekend retreat held at a small house on the church grounds. There were about 8 boys and 8 girls total, and we spent Friday evening, all day Saturday, and Sunday morning engaged in instruction, prayer, and ritual. At night, the boys were locked in one room and the girls another, with the hallway patrolled by nuns so there would be no hanky-panky.
As part of the instruction, one of the nuns told us a story about how the Russians launched all their nuclear missiles at the US in the 1950's, but thanks to a group of nuns known as "The Blue Army" who prayed really hard, God made all the missiles blow up and crash in the ocean. Nope, not making it up, that's what she told us. That's when I thought to myself, "I know that didn't happen, what else are they lying about? And why is this person in a position of authority lying to me? Isn't lying supposed to be a sin?"
From that point on there was a gradual falling away. I stopped going to church except for weddings and funerals. "Nominal Catholic" is the term I believe. I still followed the rituals on the one or two times a year I might be in a house of worship, but I was just going through the motions, muscle memory, if you will.
I continued to read a great deal, and came to the conclusion through my reading that recent religions like Mormonism and Scientology were made up religions, one by a guy who wanted to boink multiple wives, and the other by a guy who wanted to make money off the gullible. From there, it isn't a far stretch to come to the conclusion that its ALL made up make believe. I don't want to come across like I'm picking on Mormons, because just about every Mormon I've ever met has been a delightful person. The less I type about Scientologists though, the better.
With all that, it wasn't until I was in my late 30's that I felt comfortable saying that I see no evidence for the existence of supernatural beings, and no need for such beings to exist.
Labels: atheism
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Day 1: 15 Day Atheist Challenge
Question 1:
What religion did you grow up with? Did you have positive or negative experiences with religion?
OK, that's technically TWO questions, but why quibble?
I was raised as a Roman Catholic. I was never really "in" to it, I went through the various ceremonies and "life markers" such as confession, first communion and confirmation not because I really wanted to, but because I was expected to, and as a child, you do what you're told. I certainly didn't have any say in baptism!
Other than boredom, I can't say I had any overt negative experiences with Catholicisim. No priest molested me, and no nun rapped my hand with a ruler. So much for the stereotypes. At the time I regularly went to church (the 60's and 70's), the priests were actively pushing the social justice angle, at least at the various parishes we attended. I cannot recall the heavy anti-abortion focus that the church these days seems to emphasize, and even as a young teen, I had issues with the anti-female, patrician style of the Church.
Most of my negative experiences related to religion came from non-Catholic Christians, who would tell me, without a hint of awareness of how rude their comment was, that Catholics weren't "real" Christians, what ever the hell that was supposed to mean! I also had quite few Jewish friends growing up, and I recall some of the snide comments directed at them over the years, the "Christ-killer" insinuation being the most common. It seemed to me at the time, that the more overtly religious the person was, the more likely was the chance of some religiously inspired, bigoted comment being issued, with a total lack of self-awareness on the part of the speaker. That said, I also knew (and know) many deeply religious Christians who embodied everything their religion teaches them.
The parish I attended for most of the time was fairly progressive, and I recall one Sunday school class where the nuns brough in a Protestant minister (can't recall the denomination) and a conservative Rabbi to speak, sort of an interfaith comparitive religion class. I was around 11 or 12 years old at the time, and one of the kids asked the Rabbi why "Jews were all so rich?" My jaw hit the floor. The nun was agast, and the minister's eyes bulged a bit. The Rabbi, however, took it in stride, and spoke for a good 10 minutes about how most Jews value education, and a good education is the key for financial success. Well played!
Kids can be very cruel.
What religion did you grow up with? Did you have positive or negative experiences with religion?
OK, that's technically TWO questions, but why quibble?
I was raised as a Roman Catholic. I was never really "in" to it, I went through the various ceremonies and "life markers" such as confession, first communion and confirmation not because I really wanted to, but because I was expected to, and as a child, you do what you're told. I certainly didn't have any say in baptism!
Other than boredom, I can't say I had any overt negative experiences with Catholicisim. No priest molested me, and no nun rapped my hand with a ruler. So much for the stereotypes. At the time I regularly went to church (the 60's and 70's), the priests were actively pushing the social justice angle, at least at the various parishes we attended. I cannot recall the heavy anti-abortion focus that the church these days seems to emphasize, and even as a young teen, I had issues with the anti-female, patrician style of the Church.
Most of my negative experiences related to religion came from non-Catholic Christians, who would tell me, without a hint of awareness of how rude their comment was, that Catholics weren't "real" Christians, what ever the hell that was supposed to mean! I also had quite few Jewish friends growing up, and I recall some of the snide comments directed at them over the years, the "Christ-killer" insinuation being the most common. It seemed to me at the time, that the more overtly religious the person was, the more likely was the chance of some religiously inspired, bigoted comment being issued, with a total lack of self-awareness on the part of the speaker. That said, I also knew (and know) many deeply religious Christians who embodied everything their religion teaches them.
The parish I attended for most of the time was fairly progressive, and I recall one Sunday school class where the nuns brough in a Protestant minister (can't recall the denomination) and a conservative Rabbi to speak, sort of an interfaith comparitive religion class. I was around 11 or 12 years old at the time, and one of the kids asked the Rabbi why "Jews were all so rich?" My jaw hit the floor. The nun was agast, and the minister's eyes bulged a bit. The Rabbi, however, took it in stride, and spoke for a good 10 minutes about how most Jews value education, and a good education is the key for financial success. Well played!
Kids can be very cruel.
Labels: atheism
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
15 Day Atheist Challenge
I found this series of questions online, and I think it will make for some interesting blog fodder. I am going to rearrange the questions slightly, as I think #2 is a better start point than #1. I'll probably start with the series tomorrow, and hopefully it will make for some interesting reading!
Monday, November 01, 2010
Braaaiiinsss....Soooouuulllssss
