As some of you know, my first experience in front of a camera was for the movie TREKKIES, which was a documentary about fans of Star Trek (I’m really much more of a B5 fan, but that’s a different story).

Now, the creator of that film is asking the secular community to come out to see his new movie The NATURE OF EXISTENCE. I will be at the theater on Friday at 7pm with my lovely wife. Please come if you can.

The Nature of Existence – Original Trailer from Roger Nygard on Vimeo.

For more information, please contact:
Ed Buckner, President 908-499-9200 (cell) or 770-803-5353 (office/fax)
Dave Silverman, Communications Director 732-648-9333

ATHEISTS CALL FOR SUPPORT OF NEW COMEDY CENTRAL SHOW ON “J.C.”
Religious Right Coalition Trying to Deny Americans The Freedom to Choose.

Comedy Central has announced plans to develop a new show, “J.C.” that takes a lighthearted look at Jesus, God and other mysteries of the universe — and that’s just fine with a national organization of Atheists.

Christian and Jewish groups are objecting, though, and have launched a campaign to pressure VIACOM, the parent company of the network, to end production. This comes just weeks after an Islamic group made threats over the “Draw Muhammad Day,” once again raising the specter of blasphemy legislation, and intimidation of those who poke fun — or possibly even just question — organized religion.

“They just don’t get it,” said Dr. Ed Buckner, President of American Atheists. “The religious conservatives like the Catholic League are behaving like Islamist fundamentalists in trying to censor what Americans want to read, see, or say about religion. They may be using slightly different tactics, but it amounts to the same thing — censorship.”

“The freedom to satirize any idea or belief is crucial to true liberty,” added Buckner. “As Thomas Jefferson is reputed to have said, ‘The remedy for bad speech is more speech, not less,’ and that goes for all other forms of religious and political expression. No group should be able to protect its ideas through intimidation. Only weak ideas or beliefs need or want the protection of so-called ‘blasphemy’ laws.”

“There should be no special rights or privileges for religion. Comedy Central should not have caved in to pressure from Islamic extremists in the past and should not now cave in to Christian bullies.” (Buckner pointed out that an episode of “South Park” was recently “bleeped” for its depiction of Muhammad.)

Dave Silverman, Communications Director and Vice President of American Atheists, said that if they wanted to distinguish their religions from that of authoritarian Islamists, Christian and Jewish groups should be defending the program, not trying to censor it. “They might actually benefit from standing up on behalf of freedom of choice in the marketplace, and taking a stand against censorship by either corporate interests or the government,” said Mr. Silverman. “And remember — the next step is trying to pass restrictive laws that forbid ‘blasphemy’ or anything else that mocks or questions religion. That’s dangerous social policy, it violates the Bill of Rights and our Constitution, and it’s un-American.”

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.
American Atheists, Inc. PO BOX 158, Cranford, NJ 07016
Tel.: (908) 276-7300 Fax: (908) 276-7402

When people asked why we were so involved with Draw Muhammad Day, I said specifically that the censorship of Muhammad was only the beginning, and that this would lead to more squelching and further reduction in freedom of the press and speech, let alone religion.

Here we go. Now, the Christians and Jews are climbing on board. They don’t want to be joked about either! It doesn’t matter that they’ve never seen the show, they just want the same protections from Comedy Central that were afforded the Muslims.

They should, in fact, be granted that, but that doesn’t mean all religions should be protected against criticism – it means NONE of them should be protected. It means everyone (atheists certainly included) should be aware that anyone can say anything about them, and that comedy and satire are market driven, not law (or terrorism) driven.

If they fear criticism or satire, it just shows you how weak their position (“there’s an invisible magic man in the sky”) is.

This does not end here. THERE WILL BE MORE. Coming next will be more small but significant steps toward the complete protection of mythology from ridicule, to the complete detriment of our Constitutional rights.

MONROE, Ohio – A six-story-tall statue of Jesus Christ with his arms raised along a highway was struck by lightning in a thunderstorm Monday night and burned to the ground, police said.
The “King of Kings” statue, one of southwest Ohio’s most familiar landmarks, had stood since 2004 at the evangelical Solid Rock Church along Interstate 75 in Monroe, just north of Cincinnati.
The lightning strike set the statue ablaze around 11:15 p.m., Monroe police dispatchers said.

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The funniest thing is that this church is BAPTIST, which uses the Bible that INCLUDES the No Graven Images Commandment. Catholics, of course, use the version that does not include that phrase, so they have LOTS of graven images.

S.E. Cupp is the right wing’s current media darling who doesn’t believe in God but just penned a book attacking the liberal media and defending Christianity. Benyamin Cohen unravels the Cupp enigma.

“Newsweek is one of the most anti-Christian magazines out there.” That’s S.E. Cupp talking. We’ve barely just begun a phone interview and already the fiery gems are flying. “They have a genuine antipathy for Christianity,” she continues. “I don’t know what’s motivating them, but it’s hard to deny the evidence.”

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The Liberal media attacks the religious? Has anyone watch Fox News recently? Yes, the press needs to be truthful and honest, but jeez, it goes both ways!

I’ve always viewed myself as patriotic. Perhaps it’s because my father (the atheist) fought in WWII, or because I understand the Constitution and the concept of a Constitutional Republic (for which the flag stands). I know some people disagree with the whole concept of the pledge, but I stand and say it proudly — the original version, of course.

Flag Day is Monday, so please stand, take off your hat, place your hand over your heart, and repeat after Porky…