http://www.atheistalliance.org/conventions/2007/aaicon2007_video.phpToday I arrived at the star-studded Atheist Alliance Convention. This place is packed! check out the link and sign up for the Internet feed if you can. It’s going to be a great convention.
Generations of ServiceMurderer Dies in PrisonSomething OldSomething NewSo Help Me Nobody -- Court affirmationsSix Myths about MMOHSeparation of Church and State, A RebuttalSchool Prayer FAQsSchool Prayer Decision (Madalyn Murray O'Hair)Spirits, Souls, and ClonesSponsor the ShowSusan B. AnthonyTestimony to US Civil Rights CommissionTexas State PageThe 10C's V. NeutralityThe Atheist: Madalyn's BiographyThe Battle is JoinedThe Battle of PhiladelphiaRushdie Missing from Book FairRock of Ages and the Age of RocksRobert OwenMythicist PrizeNativity - The origins of the Birth of JesusNazareth, Faith, and the Dark OptionNo More Ham -- A look at several Black Atheist LeadersNoahs Flood -- DebateOdd InquiriesOn WeddingsOther Gods that Look a LOT Like JesusPledge of AllegiancePledge of Allegiance - Dave's LetterPre-Christian Christmas Stories with Other GodsRaising Children Without GodRed Herring Rushdie IRed Herring Rushdie IIReligion Tax Office OpenedRoadside CrossesRobert G. Ingersoll The Black Atheists of The Harlem RenaissanceThe Cons of Charitable ChoiceTo Bash or Not to BashTom Cruise Pushes for FBI Funding for ScientologyTop Ten Atheist MythsVolunteers NeededWas Jesus a Jew?Was Jesus InventedWatch the Words!Wedding VowsWhat is the object of life? by Grant AllenWhat is Wrong with a Few Harmless Prayers?What to ask Preachers and MissionariesWhere Jesus Never WalkedWhite House Expands Faith-Based InitiativesWho are the freethinkers?Why I am an Infidel: Luther BurbankWhy is Religiosity so Hard to CureWhy the Truth About Nazareth is ImportantTill Death Do Us Part?Thomas Alva Edison: An Introduction by Frank Zindler Thomas Alva Edison: 1911 Columbian InterviewThe Creator BillThe DisappearanceThe Enlightenment, Freemasonry, and The IlluminatiThe Final Taboo: Electing AtheistsThe Good Old DaysThe Hon. Atheist Governor: Culbert L. Olson.The Inconsistency of TheismThe Kiwi QuestionThe Logic of Death by George J. Holyoake The Myth of Nazareth, Does it Really Matter?The Question of Atheists HospitalsThe Roots of AtheismThe School Prayer DecisionThe Science of CreationismThe Wild World of CreationismTheopolitics of the Rushdie CaseThomas Alva Edison 1910 NYT InterviewWinning an Unwinnable DebateChristianity, Its Nature and Influence on Civilisation by Charles Watts Christians in UniformCircuit Court Rules for "Aphorisms"Congress Rushes to preserve Clergy Tax BreaksContradictions in the BibleConvencion en espanolConvention 2010 ScheduleCourt Probing Parsonage TaxCowardice of the WestCreation Science and the FACT of EvolutionCreationism: Reversing ScienceCreator Bill TextDave's Favorite Biblical InconsistenciesDebate: Is Creationism Science (Zindler / Gish)Did Jesus Exist?Edwin C. Walker: American AtheistErnestine Rose: A Troublesome FemaleCharles WattsCase is Solved12 Further Fictions from the NTA Declaration of Mental Independence, by Robert Owen Abner KneelandAgainst the 10 Commandments in PublicAgnosticism: The Basis for AtheismAims and PrinciplesAlabamaAmerican Atheists Legal PhilosophyAn Atheist's Guide to MohammedanismAtheism by O'HairAtheism: Madalyn Murray O'Hair 1962 speechAtheist Director Wins Creche CaseAtheist MusiciansAtheist StationAtheist WeddingsBiblical ContradictionsBigotry Worst Against AtheistsEthics Without GodsFCC Religion HoaxMoslem Violence in BrittainInterview: Douglas AdamsJames Lick Jesus MythKeep Politics Out Of The Pulpit or Lose Tax-Exempt Status: Opinion Kentucky Homeland Security LawsuitKersey GravesLessons from The Satanic VersesmaMA Church Dismayed over DisplayMaculate Deception: The "Science" of CreationsimMangasar Magurditch Mangasarian Mary Faker Eddy -- Christian ScienceMOMormonismInaccurate Founding Father QuotesHurricane Katrina Boosts FBIGod on OUR MoneyFree WillFrom the Mouths of CreationistsFundamentalismFunerals - Dying an AtheistGeorge J. Holyoake - The last man in England tried for Atheism George J. Holyoake by Madalyn Murray O'HairGod in OUR PledgeGrant Allen How Jesus Got a LifeHang the Commandments -- All 30 of ThemHubert Henry Harrison: The Black Socrates aboutlawatheismFaith of the Founding Fathersreligionpoliticsyouth & familymilitarymediaLibraryeventsStoreJoin & Supportorphans
This may be off top, but at the convention I ran into a couple of the Rational Responders.
They are now promoting the idea that theism is itself a mental disorder, that all theists have this delusion, and that it should be included in the DSM.
Frankly, this bothers me; it reminds me of the approach the old totalitarians of the Soviet Union used to lock up dissenters.
After all, if you can get someone labeled mentally ill, you serious hurt their chances for jobs and advanced education, and even set them up for commitment.
Do we want to take this approach and even if we do is it scientifically valid?
singh,
You ain’t McBluffing!
Allied Atheist Alliance…Aren’t they the sea otters?
Sorry this is not on topic (I seem to be bad for this)but I had to post it.
FOXNEWS.COM HOME > U.S.
Colorado Students Walk Out During Pledge, Recite Own Version
Thursday, September 27, 2007
E-MAIL STORY PRINTER FRIENDLY VERSION
BOULDER, Colo. ? About 50 Boulder High School students walked out of class Thursday to protest the daily reading of the Pledge of Allegiance and recited their own version, omitting “one nation, under God.”
The students say the phrase violates the constitutional separation of church and state.
They also say the daily reading of the pledge over the school public address system at the start of the second class takes away from education time and is ignored or mocked by some students.
A state law passed in 2004 requires schools to offer the opportunity to recite the pledge each day but does not require students to participate.
The protesting students, members of the Student Worker Club, want administrators to hold the pledge reading in the auditorium during each of the school’s two lunch periods for any students who want to participate.
Otherwise, they said, they plan to walk out each Thursday when the pledge is read and recite their version, which omits the reference to God and adds allegiance to constitutional rights, diversity and freedom, among other things.
“Boulder High has a highly diverse population, not all of whom believe in God, or one God,” said Emma Martens, a senior and president of the club, which has about a dozen members.
“We didn’t think it was fair for the whole school to have to listen to it. It’s almost religious oppression,” she said.
Principal Bud Jenkins told the Camera newspaper on its Web site Thursday the pledge will not be moved, but added he was proud of the students for standing up for their beliefs.
It was not immediately clear what discipline, if any, the protesting students would face.
Also OT, and deserves its own separate post IMO: Jena 6 DA credits Jesus with saving town from disaster
http://tinyurl.com/334vdb
Racist theist.
Singh,
If you read and understand the DSM,check out “delusional psychosis”.
It’s hard (dare I say impossible) to tell the difference between that description and the beliefs of followers of religion.
However, the religionistas invoke “Special Pleading”.
I’m with the Rational Responders on this one.
Wow, I guess it’s OT day.
Have you all seen this FSM car plaque?
http://www.northernsun.com/n/s/2181.html
I am totally ordering a couple of these.
(BTW, I don’t work for the site or co. that sells these.)
I’ve been asking myself for years why religion wasn’t considered a mental illness becasue it fits every single diagnostic marker for delusion. Is there sanity in mere numbers?
I wanted to make it to the meeting but had too much going on here. The meeting is literally in my brother’s backyard up there in Arlington too.
I’ve been asking myself for years why religion wasn’t considered a mental illness becasue it fits every single diagnostic marker for delusion. Is there sanity in mere numbers?
I wanted to make it to the meeting but had too much going on here. The meeting is literally in my brother’s backyard up there in Arlington too.
Be kind and generous to the hotel staff, folks. They hate the rude, tightwad behavior of the religious groups and they’re watching to see if you’re different.
The conviction of their delusions is feigned by most theists thereby making them ineligible for the diagnosis of phychoses. However I do think that most theists can be said to have the schizoid personality type which is term that indicates “magical thinking”.
Are ther going to be piles of Gideon Buybulls in the hotel hallways or will the hazmat crew come and remove them?
***OFF TOPIC***
The main reason why I like Jews better than Christians:
A young guy in a yarmulke stopped me on the street in front of the Hillel house at Boston University. He had a stack of fliers in his hand. He motioned for me to take my headphones off and I did. He asked me if I was Jewish. I said no. He said, “Oh, sorry to bother you”, and let me go on my way. He didn’t try to convert me, he didn’t push his literature on me, he didn’t try to tell me that I or my family are going to hell.
AC,
He didn’t want to waste his time or resources on someone who wasn’t among god’s chosen more likely.
Alex
Exactly! Exclusion is the stock-in-trade of religious cults.
What said:
Ha-ha-ha! Too funny. I would love to see that!
Poo! The block quotes didn’t work.
Take 2:
What said:
“Are ther going to be piles of Gideon Buybulls in the hotel hallways or will the hazmat crew come and remove them?”
Ha-ha-ha! Too funny. I would love to see that!
have a great time david.
Ivory Girl,
Thanks for that OT post. It raises my hope for the future, please Darwin, let it spread!
Hey, I just came from your Snappy Answers session, and I want you to know you gave me lots of great arguments to use the next time I see my dad. Thanks!
Apple_Christmas
alexatheist
Yes, Alex, you’re probably right, however the net result is that the Jews bother people a lot less than the Christians do.
BrockLi
I’d love to hear some of the “Snappy Answers” given in the session. Maybe we could start a thread of our favorite snappy comebacks??
Singh–
Do you happen to be a (former)Sikh? I worked for a doctor named Singh who was a Sikh from Punjab.
Pixel,
Unless, of course, you are Palestinian.
“Yes, Alex, you’re probably right, however the net result is that the Jews bother people a lot less than the Christians do.”
I agree with that.
I just got back from NC (Gay) Pride at Duke University and had a great time. There were several gay religious groups and churches set up on the campus lawn so of course I just had to chat with them about atheism, in a very nonconfrontational and friendly manner. All of them were receptive and downright nice except for the people at St Mark’s church who were very hostile to me. Shockingly enough there was even a baptist church with a table set up and the friendliest 1esbian working it. The catholics were very nice too but I gave them a hard time over the pope.
Also, it was nice to be among “my people” and be in the majority for a few hours. I even saw two other amputees in attendance. All in all it was a fun day out.
Alex,
Glad you had a great time. Wish I could have been there with you. Sounds like it was fun AND educational.
Wish we all lived closer so we could get together in person. I am really going to have to think seriously about next year’s AA convention.
alex
yep your american alright looking for love at church . glad you had a good time btw you didn’t see phreedm there.
Ren
glad you guys did well on funding.did you hear the report that saddam offered to leave for a billion dollars but bush rejected the offer.there is another story out that white house is coaching top democratic candidates for president so that iraq policy won’t change no matter who wins.sounds legit to me since bush and clinton close relationship goes back to the 1980s.
The main reason I like six better than a half dozen:
xian conservatives are rightly criticized for their intolerance. However, one, Huckabee is a rather odd one. Of course he is rightly vilified for his anti-abortion stand and some other policies, but,
“I’ve been to Israel nine times. I’ve spoken in synagogues. You’ll find no one who’s more respectful, and I think mindful, of the fact that though I have deep spiritual convictions, I’ve also gone on national television and said that it doesn’t bother me so much if a person says he’s an atheist, it bothers me when a person says he’s a Christian but refuses to live like one. That bothers me a great deal more because I was asked about – I think it was, which congressman in California that -
DIONNE: Pete Stark?
HUCKABEE: Yes, Pete Stark said, “Yes, I’m an atheist,” and I was asked, “How does it make you feel? Do you think he ought to be out of Congress?” I think they thought I was going to jump all over it, but I said, “He’s honest; I can handle his honesty. It’s the dishonesty of a person who says he’s a Christian but hates people and is filled with bigotry and prejudice that bothers me a whole lot more than a person who says, he’s an atheist.”
ADELLE BANKS, RELIGION NEWS SERVICE: You questioned some candidates who distanced themselves from talking about faith, so I’m wondering where you think the line should be drawn between what’s acceptable to talk about and what’s a personal and private matter.
HUCKABEE: Well, I think when asked a question, we should give an honest answer. It’s not so much that we ought to go around making that the focal point of a speech, but when someone asks me, I shouldn’t run from it and say, oh no, I don’t talk about those things. That’s where I think it becomes – The important issue, Adelle, is simply a matter of candor, and if nobody brings it up I don’t necessarily think a candidate has to bring it up. But if a candidate is specifically asked about faith and then he acts like that’s sort of an item on the shelf that we don’t bring out in the public, then I’m concerned. I don’t mind candidates being asked, What’s your favorite football team, or What’s your favorite dessert? I don’t know whether it matters whether one is a president who likes one over another, but it may just be a part of understanding that person’s personality, what makes that person tick and what drives them.
When a person says he has a faith but then says it doesn’t affect him – I mean, on its face – that should be problematic to all of us because by nature, faith is something that goes to the inner soul of who we are. So it’d be better to say, I really don’t have a faith, so therefore, I’m not judged by it and faith doesn’t influence me. That, to me, makes perfect sense. I’m a logical person, basically. I spent years debating in high school and college, and one of the things I always think to do is always follow something to its logical conclusion. So if a person says, “My faith doesn’t impact me,” I have to logically conclude that the person’s faith isn’t very real. And that’s why I say about the Pete Stark question – Pete Stark says faith doesn’t influence him because he doesn’t have one. I can understand that; that makes logical sense. But a person who says, “Faith is very important to me, it is so valuable, oh, it’s just – you know, the public – I love God so much,” but then you ask, “Well, how does it affect you?” and the response is,
“Oh, it doesn’t.” There’s a disconnect there for me. “
http://pewforum.org/events/?EventID=150
This part “I’m a logical person, basically. I spent years debating in high school and college, and one of the things I always think to do is always follow something to its logical conclusion.” seems to be a dangerous road to follow for a xian.
He might be a closet doubter.
Hahaha! Hazmat! Too funny!
Did I just plagerize CAB4?
Off Topic
Fox and Friends just had a Catholic Priest on. He commented on CNN’s special called “Gods Warriors”…The gist of the commentary was…Christians and Jews good…Muslim Extremist and Atheist Bad….The gay priest, he had a lisp, also brought up that Stalin, Hitler and Mao were atheist trying to get rid of religion….
These righteous FoxHoles….no matter how hard Rupert Murdoch tries…The Catholics are losing influence in America…I applaud every time I here a Catholic School/Church closing…and there has been many here in Western New York lately….
As for trying to link atheism with brutal dictators…..It freaks me out wondering what world these religious fanatics live in…it seems Disney like….this atheist only wants religion out of my public life (government)…..I could give a rats ass what anyone practices in their private life…that way I figure we wont be quick to burn the witches…
boo
reason,
Thank you. Yes, I heard a few days ago about the Saddam leaving w/ a $Billion. I heard Bush said it would save $50 Billion if he could be persuaded to leave and avoid a war.
I don’t believe for a minute that Bush would have let him leave under any circumstance. He WANTED to be a WAR PRESIDENT. He knew what it would do for his reelection campaign. It is, IMO, the only reason he was reelected. War presidents tend to be popular (as long as they win, quickly) and Bush was counting on our armed forces to deliver him from an otherwise obscure presidency. Don’t look now, but I think he goofed.
I’m am so sorry to be completely off-topic, but I just had to share this. On a Christian blog, during a discussion about the proven fact of evolution with creationists (one of them claimed the entire universe is 6,000 years old), I asked them “Why do you think you are so much smarter than all the scientists at MIT and Harvard?”
Later the blog retard on that Christian blog jumped in with this reply, which is more evidence for the insanity and stupidity of holy rollers. Here it is:
“Why do you think scientists are so much smarter than the Creator God who created them and gave them their very breath and sustains their lives despite their mockery of Him?”
Here’s the rest of it:
“Eventually, EVERY knee will bow, EVERY tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.”
Ren
you make a good point about bush wanting to be a war president.
BobC
the world is flat crowd will one day go the way of the dodo.even many conservative christians are getting sick of these people.
Any one for a comment?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7021358.stm
“This is our way of seeing how God created the universe and they want to make as strong a statement as possible that truth doesn’t contradict truth; that if you have faith, then you’re never going to be afraid of what science is going to come up with.
“Because it’s true.”
nissimlevy
That statement is so funny. Dem jesuits be dern smart.