Resolved: God is just one of the latest of gods invented by man. Religion and mythology are synonymous.

Discuss

P.S, This thread will hopefully aid in keeping people on-topic on other threads.

In today’s speech at Cairo, President Obama quoted the Treaty of Tripoli as follows:

I know, too, that Islam has always been a part of America’s story. The first nation to recognize my country was Morocco. In signing the Treaty of Tripoli in 1796, our second President John Adams wrote, “The United States has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion or tranquility of Muslims.”

Watch the video and read the transcript

Too bad he didn’t use the whole sentence. Too bad he cut the best part out:

Art. 11. As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquillity, of Mussulmen; and, as the said States never entered into any war, or act of hostility against any Mahometan nation, it is declared by the parties, that no pretext arising from religious opinions, shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries.

It’s been a good week for religious extremists. President Obama is going to the Middle east to kiss some Moslem butt, while here at home (this link has a great rant) a murderer killed a doctor for Jesus. Same stuff, different religion.

I’m beginning to see the world a bit differently. Perhaps it’s not only about theism vs atheism, but rather crazy theism vs less-crazy theism vs atheism. Dawkins points out, and I totally agree, that moderate religion does harm society in that it helps extremism. But could it also be true that the extremism also helps atheism by pushing away the moderates? Will Christians looks at the doctor-killer who defended his position with Jesus, and see that defending ANY position with Jesus is invalid? Will Obama’s somewhat-deserved-and-somewhat-undeserved visit to the countries that birthed 9/11 bombers actually help civilize the barbarian tendencies of the Islamic world?

This is one clear case where there is no clear answer. But it’s a good time to remind everyone that none of today’s problems are being caused by atheists.

A federal judge today ruled that a Wisconsin public school district can hold high school graduation ceremonies in a church.

Americans United for Separation of Church and State, which sponsored the litigation to stop this practice of the Elmbrook School District in Brookfield, Wisc., expressed regret over the decision.

“Public school graduations should always be held at locations where all families feel welcome,” said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United. “This decision fails to respect all students and the Constitution.”

U.S. District Judge Charles N. Clevert Jr. denied a preliminary injunction ordering the school to move this year’s June 6 and 7 graduation ceremonies to a secular location.
…
AU submitted documents to the court showing that there were at least 11 secular venues in the area that could accommodate the graduation ceremonies, some of which are used by other local high schools. As of the May 29 hearing, six of those venues were still available for the June 6 and 7 graduations, including the Wisconsin Exposition Center, which can seat 4,000 people.

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How blatant does it have to be before some judges will step in and stop local schools from finding any way they can to shove their religion down the throats of other people’s children?

When I first became an activist years, perhaps 12 years ago, I decided then and there that I would wear my atheism on my sleeve, literally. To that end I made an atheist shirt by printing an iron-on logo our on my HP PaintJet printer and ironing it on a nice yellow collared shirt. The Logo read “NJ Atheists: the few, the proud, the free”.

I donned the new shirt and my wife and I went shopping at a large outdoor mall. I got feedback — LOTS of fedback, most of it negative. I could hear people talking behind my back (supposedly to each other, but loud enough for me to hear). I got looks, and sneers, and and occasional gesture.

BUT twice that day, I was approached by someone who was happy to see me. They were vocal, and grateful, and appreciative — they’d never met another atheist! One was a young college-age girl, and the other was an elderly lady. They inspired me to deal with the sneers and comments and they helped me gain perspective on how far I had to go — how far WE had to go.

Since then I’ve worn atheist t-shirts many many times. Over time I’ve gotten fewer and fewer sneers, and more and more complements.

This past Sunday, my wife and I had the day to ourselves, and we went back to PA to that mall, and I had on my nice, spiffy, professionally-made “Atheist and Proud” t-shirt. These days, it goes without saying that the shock factor is totally gone. I am NEVER approached anymore by someone who has never seen another atheist. I ALWAYS get a nearly 100% positive response, and I hand out a lot of cards to those who approach me.

At one point on Sunday, I stood in line at a store in front of a young lady (who was facing me because of the odd line configuration). She was young, beautiful, and dressed for summer. She read my shirt, smiled, and then began to flirt with me openly. I mean REALLY flirt with me (good thing my wife was still browsing)! As she left the store, having shared with me nothing more than a wink and a smile, I realized that we as a movement had taken another step: what once was scary has become sexy. Rock and roll!

There are two morals of this story:
1) We are making wonderful progress!
2) I need to buy more atheist shirts!