cleanhippie
cleanhippie's JournalParties wait on judge for next step in fight over Jesus statue
The Freedom From Religion Foundation is fighting the U.S. Forest Service's decision to renew the permit for the small statue that was placed on the summit of Big Mountain in the early 1950s. The Knights of Columbus maintain the statue was erected to honor veterans who served in World War 2. But FFRF argues it's actually a religious shrine and shouldn't be allowed on federal property.
The lawsuits were filed last year, and at one point it appeared the matter would be headed to a trial last month. However, the U.S. Forest Service, supported by the other defendants, has asked the court to grant a motion for summary judgment.
The U.S. Forest Service argues in its brief that, "the statue does not reflect a government endorsement of any religious sect or a governmental preference for religion over non-religion" or "any particular religious faith over any other faith" or "the absence of faith". The U.S. Forest Service argues it had a "legitimate secular purpose" in renewing the permit because the Jesus statue has had a "long and significant historical association with the Whitefish Mountain Resort and the surrounding community."
http://www.kaj18.com/news/parties-wait-on-judge-for-next-step-in-fight-over-jesus-statue/
Hmmm, a Jesus statue that is not indicative of any particular religion. Who woulda thunk?
"you should be lecturing your fellow believers..." Fat fucking chance.
It's so much easier to disparage those that do not share the belief than it is to deal with the contradictions an irrationality of those that do.
What atheists can learn from the gay rights movement
--snip--
The most obvious and effective lesson atheists are learning from gays (including all LGBTs) is to come out of the closet. Attitudes toward gays changed rapidly when people learned that their friends, neighbors, and even family members were gay. Attitudes about atheists are slowly changing as atheists are slowly coming out.
--snip--
Like most Americans, I gave little thought to fundamentalist, soul-saving Christians until they began to focus on politics. I’ve never been a closeted atheist, but I was an apathetic atheist for most of my life. While a graduate student in New York and later a math professor in Massachusetts in the 1970s, my friends and I had more important things to discuss than religion. For instance, our sex lives. Most of my friends were probably apathetic atheists, and some of them, unfortunately, felt the need to be closeted gays.
The LGBT movement deserves enormous credit for framing and publicizing their issues, forming a big tent that allows for cooperation between activist and laid back gays, and developing a well-organized community with a constituency recognized by politicians. And so it should be with atheists, which is a goal of the Secular Coalition for America and its member organizations.
http://www.secularnewsdaily.com/2013/04/what-atheists-can-learn-from-the-gay-rights-movement-2/
Recent polls on the rise of the "nones" are constantly being downplayed by more liberal believers through attempts to label the "nones" not as non-believers, but as something else. Something that is not "atheist" (how awful) but more "spiritual" (and therefore more like us so we can like them better than atheists) that do not follow any major religion.
While this tactic may work to keep atheists as a despised minority in the short-term, it disregards the fact that fewer and fewer people are buying the bullshit they were INDOCTRINATED with as children or hear later as adults with rational minds. They are scared, because deep down, they see the handwriting on the wall; just like the LGBT community finally starting to get the respect and equal treatment they deserve, non-believers are being accepted too. And it frightens them.
Militant Atheism?
When you hear the term 'militant atheist' what do you think of? An outspoken atheist. Atheists critical, maybe vehemently critical, of religion. It could be the type of atheist who can't stand to see religion in the public sphere, working to have the wall of separation between church and state bolstered. It might be an atheist who seeks to erode the influence of, and the assumed respect for, religion. They may be passionate about these issues. They might even be an asshole about it.
When you hear the term 'militant Christian' what do you think of? Pro-lifers bombing abortion clinics or shooting doctors who perform abortions. Those who believe that the US Armed Forces are an apparatus to fight other religions and as a mechanism to convert our 'enemies.' Nationalistic Christianity which seeks to impose Christianity on others via force, threat of force, or via the force of the state.
--snip--
The term 'militant atheist' is a stunt word, loaded with false connotations to evoke a visceral, negative reaction. It is meant to invoke fear and disdain for atheists by comparing them with the worst of the religious. It is a lie. Do not accept the falsity that someone who criticizes religion and faith and the consequences of these via debate, writing, multimedia, etc. as 'militant.' Don't accept the falsity that someone who advocates for a reasoned ethical behavior over outdated and false scriptural adherence—no matter how passionate—is 'militant.' This is propaganda. It is a diversion from having to actually defend the position in question, it is disingenuous and intellectual cowardice.
--snip--
When that happens it is a sure sign that the group accused is getting under the skin of the dominant group. It means whatever the mischaracterized group is doing, the majority feel threatened. It means those that are peaceably making their voices heard for the first time are winning, however incrementally. For those who ignore this tactic allowing the equivocation to occur unchallenged; it is akin to endorsement. It is not an actual defense of your position or critique of the opposition. It is cowardice.
http://lefthemispheres.blogspot.nl/2013/04/militant-atheism.html
Sometimes, I wonder why I even bother.
Just when you think things might be different....
Deconverted: A Journey from Religion to Reason
http://www.amazon.com/Deconverted-A-Journey-Religion-Reason/dp/1478716568
Has anyone read this? From the many reviews I've seen (outside of Amazon) this is a great tale of a person who had an awakening when reason prevailed.
Progressive Christians, what do you tell your children Easter is about?
Do you tell them that Jesus literally rose from the dead?
How apropos. Celebrate Easter and April Fools Day on the same day!
Give your kids a two'fer... Have them look for eggs you didn't hide and tell them that a man literally coming back to life after being killed is a myth.
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