The Planet - June 3, 2015

TRUTH

Atheists we are, and atheists we will more than likely be for the rest of our days on this earth. Every morning begins a new day of sharing this life experience with family, friends, and others that enter our sphere for a moment or two. Life is good.

Still, there's always a pit that awaits. Reality will be challenged at some point in the day, or week, or month; you can count on it. No matter how calmly you speak, smiles will turn to frowns, voices will be raised, friends will become enemies. Unless you smile and turn away, your life may head down a less desirable path. Truth becomes the enemy. It will lead you to a place where you may be shunned and derided. 

Yet there are those who will agree with you - not many - but an ever increasing number. Not enough to help though; it takes bravery to speak truth with a voice louder than a whisper. Most humans would rather not be confrontational. Those who take a stand for truth are few. The majority who enjoy confrontation seem to belong to groups who cling to misguided beliefs, who need the comfort of lies instead of the reality of truth. Those that scream their thoughts from the rooftops the loudest are those who are the most afraid. 

We all know there is a battle being fought. I am a fairly confrontational person, yet watching a well known atheist battle the Fox News pundits gives me the shakes. To confront the lion in his own den would seem to be foolish, yet over and over the attempt is made. There are those who fight for reality in the mainstream. Atheists owe them.

So how will you repay the debt? I think the "herding cats" simile when applied to atheists is an arrogant mantra that we kind of like, and need to let go. Yes, atheists are as different from one another as any other group, yet other groups can and do act together for the benefit of all. We have atheists groups all over the country, splinters of reality that need to work together. Even this network is an example of one of these splinters. These groups, large and small, are the nucleus of a needed movement to make life better for all the nons.

I think the time to unite is past due. If we work together we will create a substantial voting block. We should be supporting those who stand up for us. I have been a member of several different atheist groups, then let that membership drop. Yep, I'm a big ugly tomcat that does what he wants and doesn't care about what people think. Not misanthropic yet, but leaning in that direction. Humanity sucks at times, and at times is wonderful beyond belief. What we need is a road to acceptance, passing belief in truth's fast lane; destination reality.

The fight has been long, and has been strong. Just think of the bravery it took more than half a decade ago to protect our first amendment rights by challenging prayer in school. 

"Your petitioners are atheists, and they define their lifestyle as follows. An atheist loves himself and his fellow man instead of a god. An atheist accepts that heaven is something for which we should work now – here on earth – for all men together to enjoy. An atheist accepts that he can get no help through prayer, but that he must find in himself the inner conviction and strength to meet life, to grapple with it, to subdue it and to enjoy it. An atheist accepts that only in a knowledge of himself and a knowledge of his fellow man can he find the understanding that will help lead to a life of fulfillment." - Madalyn Murray O'Hair

Do you feel the joy I feel when reading this? That in 1959, someone in this country had the courage to challenge the powers that be with such a perfectly reasoned statement?

If you're not supporting your right to participate in society in whatever capacity you choose, you need to start; now. American Atheists, Freedom From Religion Foundation, Secular Coalition for America, etc. The list is long, pick one and give them a couple of bucks.

The World thanks you.

The Planet - June 1, 2015

GOD'S GREATEST

What does it take to be a believer? Humility, love, compassion, and maybe just a little generosity? Hell no.

In the "I pray daily" state of Oklahoma, a family is running from threats received by the good book club. A mother had the audacity to complain about bible giveaways in her child's public school, and as you know, jesus's followers are a bitchy lot. Her son felt pressured to go up front and grab a copy off the teacher's desk; it must be hard to be the only reality based person in the asylum. Easily a separation of church and state violation regardless of what the faithful are whining about.

Regardless, the threats seemingly have forced the family to move. Followers are such a gentle lot.

Just to the south, Texas has decided that pastors need protection. And no, we're not talking about any sexual activities that they more than likely partake in, we're talking about protecting pastors from having to act like loving human beings. Texas pastors will be able to refuse to marry same sex couples, and the bill would seem to allow the medical community to not recognize the unions as well. Yes, the religious community in the United States of Jesus needs legal protection to guard against the atrocity of humans loving humans.

The above stories are not really that amazing though. The south is jesusland and the crazies infest the land like an unkempt restaurant lodges cockroaches. It's a filth that needs to be cleaned. That filth extends it's tendrils across the land dirtying everything it comes into contact with.

In Michigan, an anti-gay pastor lost his job after he was outed for using an app called "Queerly" to find himself someloving companionship. It is always the same story, the most homophobic small-minded humans always partake in what they rail so mightily against. 

The problem doesn't rest on his desire to experiment, it rests on his hypocrisy. 

Back to the south, since nobody does jesus crap better than them. In South Carolina, a private school named Blue Ridge Christian Academy gave its students a "creationist" science quiz. Approved by Answers in Genesis, the proprietors of the Creation Museum, this test is guaranteed to produce a new generation of idiots; which in my mind should be illegal. The photos tell the story, and apparently snopes has validated the crazy.

We know that children have inquiring minds. The only way to raise them christian is to apparently satisfy that yearning with falsehoods and fairy tales. 

Christians are afraid. They're afraid of an ever-evolving enlightened world where the biblical tales of horror are considered to be no more than any other book of fiction. They can see the end game, and that game does not end in a win for the faithful. 

There is no doubt that at an increasing pace Americans are leaving the church. How can one respect an institution that ignores the fact that respect is earned? They are above the law, above morality, and the last bastion of a vile word. No matter how much I may love my fellow man, that love comes with a deep abhorrence of the fantasy that shrouds their religious minds in darkness. 

It is apparent that if the religious will not clean their own house, that if they refuse to admit that they are not above but part of humanity, they can only fail. 

Although there are always more stories to tell, I'll leave you with this horror. Christian parents in North Carolina educated their seven children at home. Always the number once choice of the certifiably insane. Six boys and one girl, apparently not a good mix for the faithful. All six brothers have been charged with raping their sister, telling her that if she told anyone she would go to hell. Apparently the parents knew but did nothing to stop it. When the parents caughtwind of the investigation, they ran to Colorado; didn't help. 

My only thought of the above stories is this; they all know there is no hell, they all know that there is no punishment after death, they all know religion is a scam. They all take advantage of the sickness they spread, and the false respect given.

Religion is a madness, a creeping illness that debilitates the human desire for happiness, comfort, and justice.

I believe in justice in this life, screw anything else.