I guess this week is education week. One of our gawd loving trolls in the previous posting did a very good job of showing us just how much religion hates education.

What this really shows is the dismal failure of the public schools…If Dave is really supportive of this then he would also be supportive of school vouchers to help poor families get their kids out of failing public schools…

And into those really good sectarian ones, right? Where there are no damn liberals and their gawd awful unions standing up for the right of teachers to better pay, benefits and working conditions. Now comes Utah. The really nice Xian folks are using “push polling” to advocate for a voucher law by asking those who oppose the law whether their vote would be affected if they knew that a group that opposes vouchers, the “liberal national teachers’ union,” supports same-sex unions and higher taxes.Huh? Gay marriage and higher taxes is part of the voucher issue? See how the neo-conservative irreligious change the subject from the issue at hand to denigrating the opposition. This is one of their best known techniques. Pay particular attention to Public Research Associates second tip on dealing with the religious right.

Decode the Right?s agenda on your issue.The Right often attempts to pass laws that take rights away from groups or individuals. Under the guise of addressing some compelling societal need, they often frame the issue by appealing to prejudice, myth, irrational belief, inaccurate information, pseudo-science, or sometimes even by using outright lies. Further, right-wing organizers often appropriate the rhetoric of the civil rights and civil liberties movement to portray themselves as victims of discrimination. Actually, they most often are seeking to undermine the existing protection of individual rights, increase their freedom to accumulate profit, and undermine the wall of separation between church and state.

Just read any posting by our xian trolls. They pull the same gambit time and time again here. They never discuss the issue. They use name-calling against those who oppose their side of any given issue. So vouchers are opposed not for taking the few dollars spent on education away from public schools to fund Catholic and other sectarian schools. Those who favor vouchers complain about the bad, liberal, national teachers unions who also support gay marriage and higher taxes.Peter Nuhn

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070812/ap_on_re_us/hebrew_charter_schoolThis link is about how everyone from the ADL to Barry Lynn are criticizing a charter school that has a Jewish name and teaches Hebrew.Guess what? I disagree. There aren’t many times I disagree with Americans Unites, but here i think they may have jumped the gun. Having a Jewish name and teaching Hebrew (a language, not a religion), does not violate the separation of Church and state. Sure, it might devolve into that, but If the school officials are true to what they say, it’s legal IMO.Don’t all jump on me for this at once. I personally see a clear nontheistic Jewish culture, similar to a nationality, as completely separable from religion. If I’m right, then this is totally doable from a C/S standpoint. IF they obey the law!

And Don’t call them BARBARIC TERRORISTS either. They don’t like being called BARBARIC TERRORISTS. If you insult the BARBARIC TERRORISTS, they will take out their revenge on you in a BARBARIC, TERRORISTIC way.Like MURDERING YOU for speaking your mind.

Rationalist International expresses shock and deep concern about the attack on Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen today (August 9) by the radical political outfit Majlis Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (MIM) at the Hyderabad Press Club. She was releasing the Telegu translation of her book “Shodd”. Taslima Nasreen is an Honorary Associate of Rationalist International.MIM activists, led by three state Legislative Council members (MLAs), raised slogans against Taslima and flung bouquets and chairs at her and others attending the function. However, no injuries have been reported so far. MIM leader Akhtar Khan, an MLA, said: “She is enemy of Islam, she is a black spot on Muslims.. We cannot bear anyone talking against Islam. She has written books against Islam. We will not tolerate her in Hyderabad.” Taslima was rescued by the police and journalists present at the press club and was escorted to the air port. Three radicals have been detained by the police for questioning.Taslima is living in exile for the last twelve years after death threats forced her to flee Bangladesh. She is an outspoken champion of equal rights for women and a fearless fighter against religion. Taslima has faced numerous death threats from Islamic radicals. Recently, in March 2007, an Indian Muslim group offered a bounty of 500,000 rupees for her beheading.

Posters mentioned a funny picture…

ELLEN JOHNSON ON CBS NEWS “SUNDAY MORNING” TO DISCUSS ROLE OF ATHEISM & ATHEISTSTHIS SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2007 — 9:00 AM ET ELLEN JOHNSON, President of American Atheists will be one of the guests on the CBS News program “CBS Sunday Morning” this coming Sunday, August 19, 2007. The show airs at 9:00 AM ET; check your local listings. Ms. Johnson will be discussing the latest wave of popular books on Atheism, and role that religion and Atheism now plays in the country. Other guests include Julia Sweeney, Christopher Hitchens, and Boston University Professor Stephen Prothero. WHO & WHAT: Ellen Johnson, President of American Atheists on “CBS Sunday Morning” program on the role of Atheism and religion in civic life. WHEN: This Sunday, August 19, 2007 — 9:00 AM ET, check local listings. WHERE: CBS “Sunday Morning” program on the CBS Network. MORE INFO: http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/sunday/main3445.shtml (see: “Atheists Make Their Case Against God.”) AMERICAN ATHEISTS is a nationwide movement that defends civil rights for Atheists; works for the total separation of church and state; and addresses issues of First Amendment public policy.

I just could not let this one go by me. It is just too great. I know there are a lot of huntsmen out there who are just killing to get their hands on the New International Version of the Bible in Bonded Leather Camouflage Cover with the ultra realistic REALTREE HARDWOODS GREEN? HD? pattern.All those wonderful christians in the USA who love killing things – you know like secularists and board certified gynecologists really need one of these $50 camouflaged bibles.I especially liked the haiku:When I’m out huntingI need Jesus on my side.Jesus hates wildlife.Peter Nuhn

Friends, are you tired of hearing about all of the religious bills and now laws coming from our Texas state government lately? Don’t you think it’s time we had a rally for state/church separation here in Texas?Come take part in the 2007 Texas State/Church Separation Rally here in Austin, at the Texas State Capitol Building on Saturday, September 8, from noon till 3pm. We’ll have speakers from lots of Freethought groups there, including:American Atheists www.atheists.org The Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers http://maaf.infoThe Freethinkers at the University of Texas at Arlington www.freethinkersofuta.org The Freethinkers Association of Central Texas www.freethinkersact.org The Rational Response Squad www.rationalresponders.comFour of the goals of this rally are the following:1. To speak out for the civil rights of non-religious Americans.2. To vocally promote the separation of government from religion.3. To show support for the Croft family in Carrollton who have sued over the moment of silence in their public school. (No matter how the case ends, or whether it’s over by then or not.) http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,292619,00.html4. To protest the flurry of religious bills and now religious laws coming from our current Texas State Legislature.Please contact me if you’d like to be a speaker at this rally.What: Rally for State/Church SeparationWhen: Saturday, September 8th, Noon to 3:00 PMWhere: State Capitol, Austin, Texas Joe Zamecki,Texas State Director,American Atheists, Inc.http://www.atheists.org/txjzamecki@atheists.org(AMERICAN ATHEISTS is a nationwide movement that defends civil rights for nonbelievers; works for the total separation of church and state; and addresses issues of First Amendment public policy.)

Below find an excerpt from an article in today’s Washington Post on why Texas’ execution rates are so high as they approach their 400th execution this month. In a state where only 12% of the population is black, 41% of the death row population is black, i.e., the very definition of racism that defines the neo-conservative christian evangelism in the USA.

BIBLE BELT INFLUENCELike his predecessor, Governor Perry is a devout Christian, highlighting one key factor in Texas’ enthusiasm for the death penalty that many outsiders find puzzling — the support it gets from conservative evangelical churches.This is in line with their emphasis on individuals taking responsibility for their own salvation, and they also find justification in scripture.”A lot of evangelical Protestants not only believe that capital punishment is permissible but that it is demanded by God. And they see sanction for that in the Old Testament especially,” said Matthew Wilson, a political scientist at Southern Methodist University in Dallas.

The real hypocrisy is when these same neo-conservatives talk about women’s healthcare and attempt to favorably compare their position on compulsory pregnancy laws with that of the abolitionist movement. The American Baptists were a significant part of the abolitionist movement in the early 19th Century which is why the Southern Baptist Convention broke away from the American Baptists. The Southern Baptist Convention is a religion born out of the love of slavery, racism and bigotry. Their attempt now to tie themselves to the abolitionist movement in 19th Century America is one of the most distasteful examples of Christian Hypocrisy I have ever heard.The point though is simple, these people show us time and time again that they are predominately a racist movement. Always have been and continue to demonstrate their racism every day. From President Bush who killed a significant number of people on death row with a trial system that routinely denied adequate legal representation to the poor, most of whom are black, to the anti-public school system of the Jerry Falwells and Pat Robertsons here in Virginia because they opposed the integration of the schools after Brown v. Board of Education. Sectarian schools struck up all over Virginia in the 60s when the Kennedy and Johnson Administrations fought for integration of southern public schools.The 400th Texas death row execution is just one more example of the blatant racism of neo-conservative Christianity in the United States.Peter Nuhn

Hi all, I’m back from Michigan and I can’t move. What a great time!23 kids, 7 counselors, and a slew of activities including climbing walls, zip-lines, a high-ropes course, water jumpy-things, and of course, campfires and s’mores.There were also lots of good topical activities, including viewing the movie “Jesus Camp”, and comparing Camp Quest to what they saw on the movie. It was my first time seeing this scary-ass film, and I think the kids came out of it really grateful that their parents aren’t sadistic brainwashed (mental) child abusers. When I asked if we were like that camp in any way, they laughed. Then we had a wet sponge fight.It’s good to be home. Time for bed.

In July, Texas Gov. Rick Perry appointed a Republican dentist named Don McLeroy to the position of Chair of the State Board of Education. The Texas Freedom Network (TFN) then found a recording of a lecture by McLeroy where he supports Intelligent Design over the evil ideas offered up by Satan called Evolution. Dayton, Tenn. has moved to Austin, Tex. At the time McLeroy gave the lecture mentioned above, McLeroy was only one of four members of the 15 member Skool Bored in Texas. In the 2006 election, their number grew to a majority 8 members, and they’re going to review the science standards for all state skools this year.If you aren’t a flat-earther in Texas now, you soon will be. I sure am glad Governor Perry took the decision about which gods to worship out of the hands of the individuals in Texas. Yee Haw, no more McLeroy damn religious tolerance in Texas! (Is it still blasphemy if I use the McLeroy name in vain? You decide.)Learn more from the TFN in the link to the title of this post. Oh yea, and Don McLeroy Bless the TFN.Peter Nuhn

The Left Behind creators produced a video game that tanked. So they are going to take a tax write-off by donating the worthless games to our troops in the Middle East thanks to the Pentagon Chaplain and Operation Straight Up. Object of the game is simple. You either convert everyone you meet, or you kill them. Sounds pretty much like the entire history of Christianity to me.

Religious war is way cool. On the smoking battlefields of the religious wars that erupted in Europe in the wake of the Catholic/Protestant rift, victorious armies would entertain themselves by making small incision in the sides of wounded enemy soldiers and pulling their intestines out to wind those around sticks and so extract the entire intestinal tracts, very, very slowly. In Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins’ “Left Behind” series, God does that to unbelievers; God pulls their guts out.

Hey, you gotta love these people. No really. You gotta love them. Resistance is futile.Peter Nuhn