Thus Sayeth the Lord, learn not the way of the Heathen (that’s us)… for the customs of the Heathen are vain, for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with an axe. They deck it with silver and gold; they fasten it with nails and hammers, that it move not…Be not afraid of them, for they can not do evil, neither is it in them to do good” Jeremiah 10:2-5.

Ahh yes, Using the Bible to prove us right.The Winter Solstice is a celestial event that effects every living thing on the planet. It is the shortest day of the year, and the true and primary “reason for the season” (as opposed to atheism, which is the “reason there’s reason”).To those who say this holiday is Christian I challenge you to look it up. There is not a single piece of Christmas that is in the bible, except in the above quote (Old Testament). Everything, from Santa, to trees, to gifts, to virgin births, to December 25, to carols, to yule logs and chestnuts roasting on an open fire, PREDATE Christianity.But none of it predates the Winter Solstice. This is everyone’s season. American Atheists wishes all humans a Happy Winter Solstice.

As I drove today through the snow and ice-ridden streets of highland park, NJ, I came upon a group of protesters from Move On. I remembered as I passed, that these protesters have been there for the entire war. Every Saturday, same spot.They each carried manufactured signs reading “US out of Iraq” and “No More War”, but what caught my eye was an older fellow sitting down. He looked truly weathered and tired. His sign, clearly hand-made, read “I Can’t Believe I Still Have to Protest this Crap”.I feel for this activist. This man has done a lot for what he sees as his patriotic duty, and he know it, and he does it anyway.There’s a parallel here. The Atheist movement, like the Anti-war movement, has now firmly taken hold and will likely see substantial success over the next few years. We are also tired and weathered, in our own way, and we are all about to see payoff. So I would like to say thank you to all the activists who have fought with us in the past, and to those who are considering activism, well, now would be a pretty good time to start!.There’s a lot of crap in our fight too, but together we can make progress.Lastly, I’d like to add a nod to those who protest every Saturday, rain or shine, to promote their ideals. Just to be clear, American Atheists has taken no official position on the war, but weekly protest is real dedication, and I respect that.

A 49-year-old Florida woman says her former church is threatening to reveal her sins to its congregation after learning that she is in a “sexually immoral relationship.”Rebecca Hancock told FOXNews.com that Grace Community Church, a non-denominational church in Jacksonville, Fla., was against her relationship with boyfriend Frank Young because the two were sexually active but not married.When she wasnÂ’t willing to obey the church’s orders to leave him, she decided to leave the church instead, allowing her two children to remain active members.Now, she says, church elders have given her the worst ultimatum yet: In a Dec. 8 letter, they told her she either has to meet with them and end her “immoral” relationship or she will face public humiliation.“Bottom line, on January they 4th they are going to the church publicly with my sins, and my children will be sitting in church at the time,” Hancock told FOXNews.com.Click (the link) to see a copy of the letter (pdf).A church leader wouldn’t commit to an interview when contacted Thursday by FOXNews.com. The Rev. T. Scott Christmas, pastor of the church, told the Florida Times-Union that the “process of loving accountability” is made very clear to members, and the church is doing “nothing more than following the practices of what biblical churches have done through history.”

I wonder if “loving accountability” translates to the immoral behaviors by the preacher. After all, he is supposedly there to protect the parishioners, not persecute them. Also, if I remember correctly, the penalty for adultery (according to “what the Bible teaches”) is death by stoning.A personal note to Ms. Hancock: Church leaders lie for a living. They make stuff up as they go along, in order to extend their own power. They are dishonest, immoral, and unworthy of respect. They will hurt you if they see fit, and justify their actions by pointing to the Bible/Koran/Torah/whatever. My opinion: Ms Hancock should be a lesson to all believers — religion only benefits those who profit from it, at the expense of those who believe it.I wonder what kind of car Rev Christmas drives.

(CNN) — Prominent liberal groups and gay rights proponents criticized President-elect Barack Obama Wednesday for choosing evangelical pastor Rick Warren to deliver the invocation at the presidential inauguration next month.Warren, one of the most powerful religious leaders in the nation, has championed issues such as calling for the reduction of global poverty, human rights abuses, and the AIDS epidemic.But the founder of the Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California, has also adhered to socially conservative stances — including his opposition to gay marriage and abortion rights that puts him at odds with many in the Democratic Party, especially the party’s most liberal wing.”[It's] shrewd politics, but if anyone is under any illusion that Obama is interested in advancing gay equality, they should probably sober up now,” Andrew Sullivan wrote on the Atlantic Web site Wednesday.People for the American Way President Kathryn Kolbert told CNN she is “deeply disappointed” with the choice of Warren, and said the powerful platform at the inauguration should instead have been given to someone who is “consistent mainstream American values.”There is no substantive difference between Rick Warren and James Dobson,” Kolbert said. “The only difference is tone. His tone is moderate, but his ideas are radical.”Dobson, a social conservative leader, is founder and chairman of Focus on the Family.Linda Douglass, a spokeswoman for Obama, defended the choice of Warren, saying, “This is going to be the most inclusive, open, accessible inauguration in American history.”

Sorry, Mr. President, this will NOT be an inclusive event. If you are to dismiss the 16% of the population by INSISTING on preaching about God, you are not being inclusive. The prayer at the nomination was bad enough, and you’re making it worse for your inauguration by employing Rick Warren to preach at the country on your behalf.Reminder: You’re a Democrat.

Work-at-home volunteers are needed to plow through the documents and pictures from the old site and enter them into our Wiki. It’s a big job, and it will be broken up into pieces. But if anyone has a few days to donate, it’d be greatly appreciated. WIKI experience is required. Volunteer below, and include when you will be available.Thanks!

http://www.venganza.org/2008/12/12/fsm-holiday-lights/Now THIS I can get behind. Ramen.

Yup. Sure enough, Phreedm was right. I fixed the Jefferson quote.

Now that the new blog is up and running, I’d like to ask your opinion on the policies. Although I may or may not agree, I’d like to hear your ideas:1) Should all posts be OK’d before published, to make sure there is no preaching or the like? This would mean a delay before your post showed up. Is that good or bad?2) Should Christians or other religious people be allowed to post? Some have complained I am lax on this issue, and let certain regular religious posters do so at their, um, phree will, but I think they inspire returns and encourage debate.n Your thoughts?3) Should members of American Atheists be allowed special privilege or moniker? Would it encourage you to join? 4) Any other policy input?

I just saw Santa. He drove right by my house, in a fire engine, with sirens blaring, giving candy out to children. No religion, just Santa and candy.Two young Hindu kids across the street came out to wave to Santa and get some candy. They squealed and cheered at their new friend and ran back inside to their waiting parents. I saw this as the perfection of Christmas — a completely secular one, where everyone is positively affected and included, regardless of religious belief. Oh yeah… It’s called the Winter Solstice. It even says so in the Bible! Here’s one Bible passage that everyone should learn:Jeremiah 10:2-4: “Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.” (KJV).Ho Ho Ho.

http://www.comedycentral.com/colbertreport/full-episodes/index.jhtml?episodeId=213774I’m really beginning to love Stephen Colbert. If you’re an activist, and you can’t take a few good jokes, you shouldn’t be active!Thanks for the publicity Steve!