To Cross Or Not Cross. It's Not A Question.

Back to jolly ol' England today on the six pack blog. First of all I would totally put England on my top ten or top five places to visit (really), but this Nor Call hippie needs Horus-the Sun God daily. It's currently overcast and misty outside here in Sac Town and I can't help but wonder..."Is this the end of the world (Californians do not heart the NOT sun). Still, like I said the other day, us Yankees look up to England (UK) for their secularism, whether or not it is as glorious as it seems from the very Christian, evangelical, United States (the grass is always greener, I guess).

"Ugh, I wasn't looking at your breasts. Really...but now that you mention them..

So this particular row is about two lovely ladies that insist on wearing that cross that all those Christian hotties wear around their necks, I guess, to show how devout they are (and simultaneously taking attention away from those tempting apples that horny atheist guys like me like so much. I'm single, what can I say). So here we go, again, with that new tactic that they are employing...religious liberty.

The battle for secular society, in recent months, has gotten juicier and better. Secular atheist like myself have always vowed to fight for EVERYONE'S right for freedom of speech-even them. I dunno when it happened, but recently the War on Religion and religious liberty is their calling card. They claim innocence, "What did I do. I was just professing my faith (err, in public) and I have not harmed anyone. This is a war on religion I tell you." The simple reply to that is...NO; or as the French say "non."

Hot Cross Buns of Pagan origin. Mmmmm.

This particular super hot, sexy, smart and totally charming (and humble) atheist cannot help but think that these peeps do not know what secularism is. Fo sho they know what Christian privilege is, because they employ it all the time, but secularism...non. Secularism is for everybody. It is a public square where everyone can chill and no one group or philosophy dominates. You can go home and practice anything you want. Hell, you can frackin' pray in public if you want, but just do it in the silence of your head and don't bother anyone.

What the Christian powers that be want us to believe is that WE (secularist) are on the war path to destroy their religion and religious liberty. That is not true. You see in this particular case, they are fuming about oppression, when the issue is really about team spirit. The company in question is not squashing and oppressing their specific Jesus cult symbols , they are maintaining the uniform policies of the company, which states "no jewelry over the uniform." They are pulling the old switcheroo, a diversion tactic...the good ol' bait and switch (aka Red Herring).

It doesn't matter what the jewelry is, it can be super phat bling in a gold chain or a crucifix, whatevah it is it is just not allowed. What the Christian powers that be want us to believe is that there is some kinda conspiracy to make them, and society, quit their philosophy. Not true at all. No one said quit, just don't flaunt. There are no rappers at the company that insist that they wear super phat gold chains over their uniforms because they practice the religion of rap. If this is not an example of Christian privilege, then I dunno what is (why do they get to break the rules, but everyone else must follow the rules).

Across the pond is a hot spot of sorts right now. Recent happenings are bringing attention to the very important topic, one of my favorites, of a fair, just and equal public square for everyone. AKA the Battle For Secular Society.

On another note...when I do visit one day, and fo sho I do want to visit...I hope the sun comes out.

* Everyone, thanks for all the kind words yesterday. I can't reply to all the emails singularly and personally, I just want YOU to know it means a lot to me and thank you. Let's keep this positive thing going y'all.

No reason, I just thought this pic was soooo precious. BFF's, right.

* Article CNN Belief

* Oops, I wuz a gonna write about how the cross is not even of Christian origins (thanks Pagans), but I got side tracked.

The Law Of Man v The Law Of The Invisible Sk Dad

This is everything and by everything I mean, religious liberty, church/state separation, over population, healthcare. Did I miss anything...OK, election ear, us v. them, manmade laws v. celestial ones, feminism, secularism, and my favorite cherry picking from the bible. So what on Gawd's green erffs is so dang important...contraception. 

The big dealeo is that the awesome Black Prez wants employers to provide contraception in their insurance packages. Black Prez did not say or demand that "you halfta use the glove everytime you get down with that kind, slow and generous love." No, he just said if you provide insurance, and if the individual so chooses to even use the stuff, then the cost of the "rubber-lover" should be included in the individuals plan. From my superior, super smart, prog-lib, atheist, feminist, skeptic point of view it is exact like the abortion debate: one side wants to control and the other, better looking and charming side, just wants the freedom to be able to choose (no one said you halfta get an abortion, we only say let the ladies choose for themselves).

The Black Prez from Idiocracy. Awesome.

Then there are dudes like The Common Gigolo and Butt Juice (blog spreadingsantorum.com, really) that are pulling out the "this is religious discrimination" card, "this is big government being shoved down our throats," and of course the GOP's calling card, "it's Obama's fault." Pray tell...why?

The imaginary sky father said, thru that bible that he didn't write, to be "fruitful" and have more children than you can support; while at the same time enslaving your pretty lady with constantly prego mode (that way you won't be able to get an education and have the independence that one's own money brings). In Newt's and Butt Juice's Catholic religion, abortion is killing a human and using the love glove is going against the word of Gawd, which is also a sin. Their claim is that big bad government is controlling them thru Obama's mandate. This is the "war on the Catholic church" that The Gigolo keeps telling us about. Not.

I wonder if American Giggalo stands the test of time. Mmmm.

I would agree with them if the government was controlling and inhibiting their religious freedom, but that is just not the case. Just like with abortion, this is about choice. Just because the president wants employers that offer insurance to pay for contraception doesn't mean they have to use it. Once again the only side that is controlling is that of religion.

Oakland bishop, Salvatore Cordileone, "I'am outraged that our religious liberties are violated by this mandate." 

Me, "I'am outraged that religion is attempting to control choice."

I'm sure Team Many Wives cried fowl when the government said things like "you can't have hella wives and/or rape, err, marry super young girls (that may or may not be related to you)," or when slavery was abolished (1). Over population is bringing the environment to a tipping point so why would God's mandate of "be fruitful" supersede man's common sense law of use contraception you freak.

"...a study by the Guttmacher Institute, which addresses sexual and reproductive health issues, shows that most sexually active Catholic women have used a form of contraception-even though it contradicts church teaching (link)."

Oh yea...did anyone on the side of religion remember to ask the ladies what it is that they want (probably not). Women have be controlled by the church, well, forever and now they have expanded to Team Dude (the mandate effects guys also). Say it isn't so. 

"It isn't so."

* Article SF Gate

(1) Don't forget that slavery, you know owning a human being like one would own a farm animal, was sanctioned by the bible. The endorsement of God was used as justification back in the day. Is that inhibiting religious freedom or an example that the laws of people are superior to the laws of an invisible God.

* Dam, I don't think I made sense just now. not confident about this one. 

The Frontline Of TBFSS

Yea baby, The Battle For Secular Society...this is what I signed up for when I started this blog. It wasn't until the last year or so that I started to share more personal stories and write about funner stuffs. But just because I haven't written about the Crea-tards -n-such doesn't mean that I have forgot about them or that they are not there. In fact, the frontline in the battle for that secular society that WE keep talking about is alive and well.

Chuck must be turning in his grave (his b-day celebration is Feb 12th) because of all the not science activity in the science classroom. There are four states with anti-evolution/science bills up for vote, but the supreme crazy hasta come from New Hampshire bill 1148.

Let's see if I can get this right...Author of the bill believes that evolution is a worldview that includes atheism. Dude believes that the Columbine HS massacre is connected with Hitler and, guess, atheism. Rep. Jeyy Bergevin (R), "I want the full portrait of evolution and the people and the people who came up with the ideas to be presented. It's a worldview and it's Godless. Atheism has been tried in various societies, and they've been pretty criminal domestically and internationally....they don't respect human rights."

And that's just N.H.. Don't forget Indiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Virginia. The Battle For Secular Society is a-raging right now. Chuck certainly must be turning in his grave.

* Article RNS

Secular Boots Up Yer Arse

If you look up the definition of Christian double speak...this case in Wilmington, Delaware should be right there, bro-skies. I don't know what else to call it. Perhaps, cake and eating it to, or my classic "WTF", or the good ol' "now I've seen everything." Here's the short of it.

Some really cool peeps want the Sussex County Council to stop sayin' the Lord's Prayer before meetings. Very stupidly they protested (of course, after all this is God's America) and all they could come up with is the super lame (say this in an exasperated, frustrated and childish voice)..." BUT IT'S TRADITION (1)." Of course to adults like you and I, that is not the passing of that mustard the cool kids mention from time to time. So they came up with something better...and by better I mean "Come on Christian, you're making all the good cool Christians that are smart and normal look stupid. Sheez."

It's so dumb-head I'm probably gonna get it wrong, but it goes like this...The Lords Prayer, you know "Our father who art in heaven...", is not a Christian prayer, because Jesus was a Jew and at that time Christianity as we know it today simply did not exist...therefore it is OK that we continue sayin' the Lord's Prayer before meetings. Now go away you mean secularists....why are you guys still here.

Ya know, kind gentle and very good looking readers, I was raised Catholic and I said the Lord's Prayer all the time and it is my humble opinion that the prayer called The Our Father is totally...Christian. 

WTF. Really? 

Let's run down this quickly....It comes from the Christian New Testament, you halfta say hella them after confession (plus Hail Marry's and not the football variety)...oh fuck it, let's check out the actual prayer.

It starts...Our (Christian) Father, who art in heaven (that the Christian god allegedly created), Hallowed be thy name (because you are the Christian God and Jesus and a ghost at the same time), Thy kingdom (America?) come, thy will will be done on earth (that the Christian God also created), As it is in heaven (that is only for white Christians, no Joo's, or Moo-slums, and deff. no super hot and smart atheists). OK now that I read it like this I guess it's not a Christian prayer...NOT.

I Googled "dumb head" and this came up.

Still, they claim that the prayer is *generic* (even tho it comes from the Gospel of Matty-Ice, that's Matthew). Really, I feel sorry for all the good, normal and not stupid Christians out there. In fact, c'mon y'all...regulate yourselves...otherwise Team Secular is a gonna halfta put some boots on...and ya know where that goes (2).

(1). The ...but it's tradition excuse/reasoning is so dumb-head. Just because something is *tradition* doesn't mean it's correct. It used to be tradition to hit kids in school, or you wife. Slavery was a *tradition* all around the world...so there. Fuck you're tradition.

(2) Up your cheating and unfair butt.

* In case it's not burned into your memory...The Lord's Prayer.

Hey Atheists, Let's Party

 Wow...the National Atheist Party...that has a cool ring to it. When I first started this crazy no pay, lot's of hours, did I say no pay...atheist blogging (2y/rs ago) I used to talk a lot about "a place at the political table," and secular society stuffs. And honestly, as of late I've made this place less about information and more about me me me (so there). Any who, we still don't have that place at that table I used to talk about all of the time. Or do we...

Troy "I must be a really cool dude" Boyle is the co founder of The National Atheist Party ( NAP). He got the idea when he was watching Richard "Papa Bear" Dawkins. Papa Bear questioned why, why on gods green earth (he didn't say that, I did), why is there NOT an organized political atheist party. Boyle stepped up to the plate.

What does NAP stand for. Ya know just that no government sponsored religion, or non religion, that secularists keep talking about. You see, kind gentle and very good looking readers, there is a war going on. Dominionism is real (even tho they claim it is not) and dagnabit federal money IS going to religious institutions and one must have religion to run for office (even tho the rules say otherwise). There are believers out there that want to rewrite history to say that the Founding Fathers absolutely do want the bible taught in public schools and that there is no law above Gods law (that's you constitution).

So awesome sauce to this Boyle dude for getting the ball rolling. Just like anything new, the numbers are small right now, but that is OK. Our numbers were small before The Four Horsemen and the New Atheist popped onto the scene and look at us now (is it true that this year has been dubbed The Year of the Atheist). It takes one to stand for the rest to follow and that is what we should do peeps.

You can start by liking them on Facebook.

* Article RNS.

* Next we need to develop Andy's idea of a gang sign.

Team Atheist Is Awesome

The headline reads Atheist Derail Traditional Nativity display in Santa Monica, but it could have read..."Atheist Are Awesome (so shut the fuck up)." The overbearing traditionalist in santa Monica are crying foul over the city using a lottery system to dish out certain amount of spots, on public property. You see, kind gentle and very good looking readers, the traditionalist got a couple of spots (thru the lottery), but they wanted all of them.

The traditionalist came up with some reasoning goodies like, "...but we have been doing this for decades," "(those outta town atheists) stole Christmas." Here's my money quote, you might want to write this down...ready, "Boo fuckin' who."

A really awesome guy named, Raymond McNealy, won nine of the spots (yippie!). So what reasoning did the atheist dude use, oh ya know, the usual stuffs: separation of Church and State, freedom of speech, the "demanding of exclusive rights on public property." Or what normal and just people call...fair.

Put that in your stockings Santa Monica.

* It's not our best work, but I really love it when Team Atheist shows up in the comment sections of article. Represent...blood.

Doing God's Work In India

“The Christian community in Kerala is dwindling. We realized that if the numbers decreased further, it would have a negative impact on the community,” said Babu Joseph, spokesman for the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India in New Delhi (Wa Po)."


I think what dude really means is that as the numbers of the Christian community diminishes, then so will his pay check. After all, what is this "negative impact" that he is talking about; really, in what form? Is it that more "evil" (whatever that is) will manifest in daily life, cause there is no proof of that happening. Joseph's statement is in reference to waning numbers of Christians in India and a proposed law to limit the number of children (2) each family can have. Christians were 19.5% of the population in 1991 and currently (their fear is) the percentage is 17 (if atheists had that number we would be totally stoked). Hinduism is the most widely practiced religion and they are rollin' at, like, in the middle 50's.

So the government is all practical-n-stuffs and they proposed, that is PROPOSED, a law that would limit families to two children or face a fine. India is second to China in numbers of peeps and that is not a good thing. Overpopulation is the Ganesh in the room that no one wants to talk about or address. While India has experienced a growing middle class in the 00's, there are still millions upon millions upon millions living in poverty, uneducated and starving, lacking access to clean water and sanitation. While population control may seem severe, it certainly is better than increasing the population.

Again, the bill is proposed and the article says that it is unlikely to pass and become a law. Still, that will not stop the clergy from promoting fear among the peeps. If passed the penalty includes  three months in jail and a fine of 10,000 rupees ($200 usda). So I guess this is where clergy goes on the offensive and shows the people the truth of scripture-fo sho that will change the hearts and minds of non-Christian believing Indian peeps, right(?). Wrong, they will go the bribe route. Some churches are offering free education, medical care and even, I can't make this shit up, cash bonuses. Really....really? There is an all powerful and all knowing and all loving Sky Daddy but the best he can do to inspire and increase the number of practitioners is a...bribe. 3rd world, poor, starving and in need of medical help homie cannot turn that down. No one can. 

This is why we become atheists. Religion just doesn't make sense. Here we have a country where many are living below the poverty line, are uneducated, do not have any or enuff access to health care, lacking opportunities-n-stuff, children are malnourished or starving etc etc etc...but religion wants to go against a proposed government law and go against common frackin' sense. It seems to this atheist that doing Gawds work (having hella children) does more harm than good. And why do they want to go against common sense...because their congregations are getting smaller and there will be "a negative impact on the community." This is where I say WTF. What fuckin' negative impact on the community. 

I dunno maybe there are more important things than having "X" amount of people in the pews, like feeding and housing everyone. Maybe the waning numbers are because, traditionally Indian peeps are more likely to be Hindu or, gasp, Muslim. Are culturally Jewish people freaking out because they do not have "X" amount of Christians in their communities (no).

Maybe the made up idea of a 1/3 man, 1/3 god, 1/3 ghost that was alive over 2,000 y/ago, then dude died, then came back to life, literally rose into the sky to go chill with his dad-who is God, even tho he is God, so he went to go chill with his self-but he's gonna come back when there is an established Jewish state (Israel), and other "prophecies" come true, and this reanimated Jewish zombie/man/Gawd/ghost is gonna take the very few select believers that chose the correct and one true Christianity (outta a million gazillion that all claim to be the one true religion) to a place not of this erffs and never proven, called Heaven...then his dad (who is also his self) will destroy the world as we know it....

...maybe, just maybe that idea is not jiving with all the cool Indian kids and that is why the number of Christians in India are diminishing. Just maybe.

-----------------------------

* Wa Po article

* I also think that the strategy to have more children is because it is easier to indoctrinate, err, brainwash children than an adult. Where ever we see religion growing, we also see it is because children are introduced at a young age, not converting as adults (Hispanic populations, Africa and yes, my Asian peeps).

* Oh yea, and the argument that as society become more secular and godless, then ethics and morals go out the window is dookie. Texas is a very pious state, but they have a super huge prison population and hella murders-n-stuff, versus the Team Atheist example of secular Europe-lower crime and prison population whomps all over that fallacy.

* Previous thoughts on over population.

Snubgate

Read in your best imitation of the President voice, "Gee, everyone, where are the evangelicals."

I think that to put the word "gate" at the end of a word for journalists, is like the words "tour de force" for someone that reviews movies for a living, in that you probably don't want to use it all the time, but...if the shoe fits.

This is so awesome...Sikhs, Hindus and Muslims all got the invite to the 9/11 thingy but evangelicals/southern baptists got the shaft; and they are butt hurt about it (and I am that German word that I don't know how to spell or say). It must be Gawds way of punishing them for hating on the GLBT community, feminists and science in general (or not). Or it could be a very human and reasonable response, based here on erffs mind you, to all the hatey hate that they spew (can I sway 'spew' here) as well as all their other nonsense (controlling women, anti science, rewrite history etc...)

So I'll go out on a limb and I'll say that all the cool liberal religions that do not take their holy books literally (ie age of the erffs is 6-10 thousand for Christians called young Erffs Creationists), the ones that do not subscribe to world domination and the ones that are so comfortable in and with their beliefs that they could actually be able to go to an event like this and not make it all about them. Sheez, why didn't anyone invite evangelicals to this. Is it...

...they are adamant about their Jesus coming back and being the only road to salvation . The only way.
...they are not tolerant of other monotheistic Gods. One true God. One...and it's theirs, not yours.
...even in 2011, with the Michele Bachmann's and Palin's...women must still submit to the men folk. "That's just the wayyyyyy."
...their holy book is called bronze age by the New Atheist in a derogatory way because, it was plagiarized, interpolated, copied and miscopied over and over again, by anonymous  authors in the 100's of 1,000's, at a time when (perhaps) 90% of the population was illiterate, most people believed in miracles, there was no scientific method, or germ theory, the people didn't know what caused weather, they thought 'sacrifices' could make rain, or a girl prego...and that is just off the top of my head.

American has a world wide identity problem...the world identifies us as ass hole-e-'o's'. The world see's Team USA as fat, loud and super Christian religious to the extreme, and if you don't believe us, we will shoot you because, of course, we have guns-we're American after all.

To me it looks like Mikey Bloomberg made the correct decision on such an important day.

* Good Faith and Reason today. It's not my favorite.

* How American Evangelicals Are Killing Gays In Africa

The title of the article that goes w/this photo is  "How American Evangelicals Are Killing Gay People In Africa.

This Is What We Are Up Against

OK awesome atheists, Team Atheist and the Mighty New Atheist Summer/Fall Edition 2011...this is what we are up against. Outreach Magazine, ya know that magazine that y'all subscribe to, has come out with a list of the top 100 mega churches. Yippie.

O.M. lists the largest 100 mega churches (and the top 100 fastest growing churches) and Lakewood church came in first place with a whopping weekend attendance of 43,5000. Folks that is a lot of saved souls.

This is a reminder of what a major minority The New Atheists are (did that make sense). Howz about, we are totally in the minority. That's better. Sure we have Skeptics in the Pub (with whopping attendance of some or a little bit), a convention here and there with attendance in the one or two thousand (if that), the Secular Student Alliance in colleges, organizations like American Atheists and FFRF and our local skeptics meeting in scattered towns. But really, we do not have a weekend attendance in the tens of thousands every weekend, much less a top 100 list of mega atheist events (and that is just the top 100. What if it was a list of the top 200 mega something somethings).

I have never been to a church like Lakewood, but I can only imagine what they teach (or do not teach) there.  Off the top of my head, do they teach that women must be submissive to the men folk, that the founding fathers absolutely intended for this to be a Christian nation, that climate change is just a theory (thanks Rick Perry) and that more and more scientists are speaking up against it, that creationism/Intelligent Design is equal to evolution thru natural selection and finally, that Christian peeps have the mission to dominate the world and that their particular Gawd said so.

What do we have? We have those pesky facts that skeptics keep talking about, some would call it the truth. We have passion and the desire to make the world a better and more peaceful place, for everyone regardless of belief or lack of. We have the scientific method and rational thought.

Ya know what I have, kind gentle and very good looking readers, I have the ability to predict and see the future. I see that we are on the correct side of history and that if we keep the nose to the grindstone...we will emerge victorious in our mission for a secular society. Extremist religion(s) will be put in their proper place (which is away) and one day, one day I tell ya...

There will be world peace.

* Faith and Reason USA Today

Much Ado About Bloomberg

Wow. WTF! The secularist get an inch, we get thrown one bone and then there is outcry from them. Say it isn't so. The mayor of New York, Michael Bloomberg, has correctly decided that there will be no clergy  in official capacity at the 10th anniversary of 9/11 at ground zero and they are pissed. Again, WTF.

All the cool kids know that religion is the reason why 9/11 happened in the first place. The cool kids know that the government cannot promote one religion over another. That is why when the peeps like American Atheist and FFRF sue cities and counties that have prayers before official functions...they win. Often times, and it is the case with 9/11 anniversary, religious folk seem to think that more religion is the answer to the problem. They believe "why not invite a diverse array of religions (and that only means Christianity and maybe, maybe another one) because that will make it equal." Ugh...fuckin' stupid much.

Mayor Bloomberg is right on the money in his decision to not have clergy of any participating in any official capacity for the ceremonies (he never said they couldn't go). He is correct in that this tremendous and solemn event should and must focused on the families of 9/11.

As one Christian pastor said of the complainers, this is the reason why you were not invited in the first place. And as Nu Kriss 2011 Summer/Fall edition says, "Religion caused 9/11 so...Shut the fuck up, losers. "

Have a nice day everyone (and my twitter is working again, c'ya in the twitterverse).

* CNN Belief Blog

Fallacies Of Conservative Thinking

The conservative faction of this country calls it the lamestream media or the super funny, Jewish owned liberal propaganda machine. I call it awesome sauce, because that is what it is. Is it that NPR has always been this awesome, or am I just now paying attention to it-regardless...awesome sauce.

When lying in bed this morning, I do believe that I heard three news stories that were science-y. Bravo for NPR. That is what the cool kids call killin' it. One article in particular was extra extra good. GOP and Science Skeptics (I paraphrased the title) emphasizes how important knowledge of science will be in the upcoming election, esp on the GOP side.

Recap action...Presidential candidates Rick Perry and Michele Bachmann have said the stupid several times in recent weeks. Perry said global warming has gaps in it, evolution is just a theory, creationism is and should be taught in public schools. Bachmann, or as I heart to call her, Crazy Eyes, well pretty much everything she says is crazy, but the comment about the recent East Coast earthquake and hurricane being caused by God, well, that is just plain crazy. The NPR article correctly states "Bachmann believes something other than physical and biological processes drives events on planet earth. Perry does too."

So we have a choice as voters and as good American peeps. Do we want a GOP candidate that subscribes to that dominionism thingy that everyone keeps talking about. Do we want a president that believes in Armageddon, believes that a 1/3 man, 1/3 god and 1/3 ghost will return to the erffs and literally float into the air with a select few homies. That is just some of their beliefs, what about their thinking, err, their fallacious thinking.

Crazy Eyes made the statement about God causing the natural disasters last week and that it should be a wake up call to worship him and vote for her. But has she said any such statements about Perry's Texas that is currently totally on...fire. Is God punnishing Texas, because Texas is very devout. They brag about having the most churches per capita, and yet they have the highest crime rates, prison population and the state is on fire, litterally on fire. Is God punishing them. I haven't said it in a while but...cherry pickin'.

What about Perry's brilliant thinking. He said that evolution and global warming are theories, not yet proven and that they have holes or gaps in them. OK(?). Well what about genesis. Genesis is not even a theory, it's folklore. The entire thing is a hole. Evolution whomps all over it. Perry said that more and more scientists are questioning global warming. Really, who are these scientist, name them-really. While I can admit that there are fringe scientists that when splitting hairs about the causes of climate change, to say that there is a growing number or even a majority...well, that is a straight up lie.

Science education is going the way of sports and the arts in public schools and that is not a good thing. If American is to remain a force in the global ecomony and the world stage we need to teach real science in public schools, not incorrect biblical science. Japan, India and China are kicking or arses when it comes to science education. If religion is the most important topic for the world in the next decade, then science is a very close second.

Lastly, do we want a president with powers to go to war, invade other countries and the bomb that is not literate in real science and that has a biblical mission, dictated by an all powerful God that does not exist,  to rule the infidels and rule the world. I know I do not.

* NPR

* Sorry about the typo's and bad spelling and stuffs. I'm computer-less and I don't know how to use an Apple. I don't even know how to save a photo. Awesome anyways.

Back to The "Wack"

Everytime ya go to a "How to blog better site," they always suggest the top ten list. Guess what...chicken butt. Guess what else...I'm gonna talk about my depression again. Guess what else, what else...I'm gonna try and be funny.

TOP TEN REASONS WHY I"M NOT DEPRESSED ANYMORE

10) When I go to sleep, I also want to wake up.
9) Once again I care about anything and everything and I don't feel like destroying shit for no reason.
8) I'm masturbating again. There was a two month period where my forearm strength and my grip strength went down considerably.
7) 6) Is masturbating again.
5) I'm not making any deals with God. I confess, I did pray one day...no more.
4) I have the ability to smile and shoot the shit and even joke around (really, it was that bad).
3) I look both ways when I cross the street because now I want to live.
2) I have vigor in my atheist blogging for the sake of secular society (for a while there I was just going thru the motions.
1) This is the best one. My number one reason, that I can see, that I am not depressed anymore....da da daaaa, I love my job again. Yippie!!!!

This has been the crappiest summer ever, ever. Interbutz homies, thanks so much for all the support and personal stories (sometimes too personal). I never want to suffer like that again soz Imagonna always take that beautiful little flueoxotine pill every morning...after I wack.

Thanks homies.

What Is The Backlash About Anyways

My chubby east Coast  sister that blogs for USA Today (and I'm so proud of her).

Many say that because of 9/11 The New Atheists had emerged and since has become a verbal force to be reckoned with. Personally I think it was the Bush era that. That doesn't matter. What matters is that because of the New Atheists religion is no longer exempt from criticism. The free ride is over and if religion is a gonna (try) influence the history and science classrooms, politics in general, as well as women's bodies and the rights of GLBT, then in all fairness you will be scrutinized and criticized. After all that is fair, is it not. Well, not if you are a religious blogger or commentor.  Recently the New York Times Op-Ed article correctly ask's that political candidates be "grilled" on their beliefs. The backlash among the religious is tremendous...and stupid.

Religion is the most important umbrella topic that concerns the world today. There are religious wars where innocent civilian lives are being lost, people are being displaced and every important topic you can think of (stem cell research, environment, Israel etc...) has a religious element somewhere inside of it. Just look at one paper, USA Today, and see how many times the topic of religion comes up on any single day, everyday.

Muslim Americans in American after 9/11. Islamophobia is on the verge of going all Japanese xenophobia alla' WWII. All Muslims are not terrorists (as some on the right want you to believe), in fact, most are moderate.

Convicted young girl fucker Warren Jeffs is in a coma (and no one cares).

Then, aides for Michele "Crazy Eyes" Bachmann said that Crazy Eyes was making a joke when she recently said that the East Coast hurricane was a result of, guess...Gawd. Yes, it is pretty funny that Gawd killed many people and destroyed hella stuff. I'll vote for ya, not.

Guns, Gawd and babes. Two outta three is not bad, err, or good.

The backlash against the NYT Op-Ed article is dookie pants. You betcha politicians need to be "grilled" on there beliefs. The new buzz word is 'dominionism' (evangelical Christians and their duty to rule the world), if that is not important, then I do not know what is. Isn't it important for voters to know if a candidate holds the bible in higher regard than, let's say, that constitution thingy that people keep talking about. I think it is.

The "backlashers" against the mere idea of questioning presidential candidates on their beliefs tells me that some are still stuck in pre 9/11 thinking. The New Atheist (that's us folks) demand a place at the political table and dagnabit, you betcha we can question religion.

Keep your awesome atheist noses to the secular grindstone peeps. There is lot's o' work to be done.

* New Yorker Op-Ed article

* The always great Religion Dispatches. The Pundits and Dominionists.

Dominionism And The GOP

Wow, just read an epic article at Religion Dispatches about Lisa Miller's op-ed article criticizing "left" leaning journalists and how they are unfair to criticize GOP candidates that are openly and overly evangelical Christians. Miller's claim is that the "left" is unfairly demonizing GOP candidates because they are all Christian-y. Gasp! A complain like that is equivalent to a rapist complaining that the person dude raped is speaking up. One of the beauties of The New Atheists is that the era of Christian privilege and the "no no" of questioning and scrutinizing religion is over. Apparently Miller did not get that memo.

By all means the GOP candidates, and any candidate for that matter, should be questioned about their beliefs; esp. the likes of Perry and Bachmann and Palin. They all subscribe to American Exceptionalism and, my newly learned term, dominionism

American exceptionalism is the (incorrect) belief that America is naturally better than the rest of the world because, get ready for this...Gawd said so. Dominionism is...

 "...in the context of politics and religion, is the tendency among some politically active conservative Christians to seek influence or control over secular civil government through political action, especially in the United States. It is also known as subjectionism.^[1] The goal is either a nation governed by Christians, or a nation governed by a conservative Christian understanding of biblical law. The use and application of this terminology is a matter of controversy (wiki)."

It is like Christian sharia law. It is elitist in nature and exclusive. It is our way and beliefs, or the highway to heck. This kinda philosophy is unforgiving and you cannot be patriotic unless you subscribe to that thinking. The Seven Mountains theology, dominionism, is what we are up against. "They" have entire universities, radio and TV stations and they are specifically training their Christian warriors to be capable of dominating and taking over. Business, media, the arts and entertainment are all within the plan to take over. Their intent is to defeat the "enemies of faith" which is everything from secularism to the Obama administration (or anything that is not them).

While it is true that the average peep does not know what dominionism or American exceptionalism is that does not mean that the leaders do not. Increasingly the GOP (Gawds party) is using vocabulary that is directly or indirectly conditioning the American public to their beliefs. Often times we hear the reference to "the shining city on the hill." That is Mathew 5:14 that says, " You are the light of the world. A city that is set on the hill cannot be hidden." It is an early example of American exceptionalism and just like so many other bible passages...it is used to separate and divide. It is used for "us v. them" and the propagation of "we are better than you".

You can't rob a bank and complain that you only got so much money. You can't punch someone in the face and complain that dudes tooth cut your hand. You can't claim discrimination because one job out of ten went to a woman or a minority. And you cannot claim that "left" leaning journalist are incorrectly doing their jobs because they are reporting on the beliefs and philosophies of presidential candidate...just because you don't agree with them. Unless you are Miller.

Sheez.

* Super good article from Religion Dispatches.

* The Lisa Miller article on Washington Post On Faith where she complains about the "left" leaning journalism and how they are unfair to Christian GOP candidates.

* Dominionism wiki.

* A Christian Plot For Domination? The Daily Beast.

* American Exceptionalism wiki.

* The Dominion Process. Very good explanation of what it is and just might be a post unto itself. Maybe.

* City upon a hill wiki.

Christian Warriors In The News Again

Thank you Spanish police. 

Shame on the mainstream media for not reporting this and thank (nonexistent) Gawd for the super awesome Twitter (otherwise I would never have heard of this.).

Last week Spanish police arrested Jose Perez Bautista because he was a gonna go all Christian Warrior and, ya know, go all sarin gas on peeps protesting Pope Benedict XVI. The peaceful protesters are pissed because the Spanish government is spending 50 million euros, that is tax payer "skrilla" in dire economic times, on the super powerful and rich Pope.  But not on the 24 year old Mexican chemistry students watch, well, at least until he posted his intentions online and the police got involved.

Team Atheist doesn't do stupid things like this. What is that great saying, something like...People can do bad things, but it takes religion to make people do really super bad fucked up things (ya know the one, right). Time after time the elitist nature of bad extremist religion comes to the surface in the form of killin' peeps that think something different than what they believe and think. And yet we are called militant and extreme. Please!

From the comments in USA Today's On Faith Blog. The article is about the creepy Christian republican candidates for president and "if" religion matters in a candidate (and obviously it does).

North Ireland
Israel/Palestine
Iraq internal unrest (Shiite vs Sunni)
Bosnia Herzegovina
Kyrgyzstan
Iran
Côte d'Ivoire
Cyprus
East Timor
Sri Lanka

This is from the super powerful brain of Austin Cline. If you don't go to his About Atheism you should start going there, like, yesterday.

"So it's secularists and atheists who are "militant" and "fundamentalist," but they are the ones targeted for terrorist attacks and police brutality. You don't see any atheists trying to launch poison gas attacks on Catholic events. You don't see atheist police bashing Catholic heads at World Youth Day."

We are not militant, we write and read books and don't believe in your particular and specific God(s).

* On Faith USA Today. I really love going to all the faith blogs and religion news roundups and reading all the epic comments from Team Atheist. We totally dominate the comments sections.

* The 'iffy' Mail Online which is the 'biggest' paper to have an article on this. could be others, but I didn't see it.

* The brainiac Austin Cline

Get Your Feminist On...I Do.

I've been fortunate lately to have discovered some good feminist reading. Team Atheist should team up with the women's movement and the GLBT movement. Both have a great history and the New Atheist can learn a thing or two both from their histories and their organizations. Let's get right down to it, folks.

I could be wrong but blackfemlens is the blog of Sikivu Hutchinson. It is that or they just reprint her articles. Hutchinson is the answer to the question often asked, "Where are the female, black atheist.?" She also appears in the Black Agenda Report. Check both out.

I just discovered skeptifem just the other day. I was really impressed with the article Feminist Opposition to Porn v. Religious Opposition To Porn. The difference is that one has concerns about women being abused and the other has concerns about men and sinful thoughts. Guess which is which.

A little while back there was discussion in the mighty atheist blogosphere about the lack of female biblical scholars. Honestly I do not know if this person is a biblical scholar but she is going through the bible and posting about it from the female perspective. This One Shall Be Called Woman tallies the number of times the ladies are mentioned in the bible and under what circumstances (usually mentioned in the way that people talk about cattle and property. sheez). Quite an admirable task and I am admiring.

I was a gonna try and not mention sites that I have talked about before (so don't your feminist panties in a bunch if I have mentioned you before.sorry) but this one is too good. Feministing is a good hub page for everything feminist. If you go to one feminist site, this should be it (but of course you should go to more than that).

Feminist are in the minority as well as atheist, but if we team up, then our numbers will be greater. We have a common opponent in biblical literalism and institutionalized sexism. They claim moral superiority and have hijacked everything that is good and just. And that kind gentle and very good looking readers is what we, together, are going to take back; for the sake of secular society and for the sake of world peace.

Join us.

This is what my feminist six pack looks like. Just so ya know.

Get Your Vote On

Mmm, I missed this one the other day from the Chicago Tribune. Author James Kirk Wall asks the very important question who should Team Atheist, Team Secular and Team Skeptic vote for in the next election. There are obvious factors that all of American society must consider in this next election cycle like the economy and the environment, but it very well could be that the votes of the nonbelievers could tip the scale either way. We have concerns though.

The first one Wall introduces is...we are here and we are many. One of the great achievements of the New Atheists is that we are now recognized and dagnabit, we want a place at the political table. Our vote counts and it is many. 12% of the population is millions and millions. It doesn't matter if you are blue or red, if you are a nonbeliever that is your team and like I said earlier, we can tip the scales either way.

GLBT rights. The younger generation is so over hating the gay. That is something our parents and grandparents did. It just doesn't make sense to the younger generation to hate on same sex couples. As the numbers of religious peeps diminish, the numbers of GLBT supporters rises. That younger generation that I keep talking about just isn't going to church and they are not adopting the hate of their mothers and fathers.

Creationism in the science classroom, as I have said many times, is the first thingy that look at in a candidate. If you believe that creationism is equal to evolution and should be taught side by side in the same classroom, then you have to be very spectacular in other areas to get my vote. Richard "Papa Bear" Dawkins wrote a very eloquent letter to Gov. Rick Perry on this very topic.

The separation of church and state is violated left and right all of the time and I really wish the media would call politicians out on that (well see if that happens in this next election cycle). Let's see gov. Rick Perry just had his huge faith hoe down and the armed forces continually proselytize evangelical Christianity to the troops in the form of the super stupid spiritual fitness test, rock concerts and bible inscriptions (in place that they don't belong). This is why I keep pumping the idea of a secular society. Secular is for everyone. To promote one religion over another is just so unfair.

It doesn't matter if you want tax cuts or increases, or big government or small government, these secular issues go across the board. The education of the next generation will greatly effect this great nation on the global stage. Do we really want to teach creationism to children that are going to compete with India and China for jobs in science and technology. More than ever our vote, Team Atheist and Team Skeptic, is important and yes...it does count.

* Article Chicago Tribune.

Why indeed.

Sitting On The Fence

Well my project called Nu Kriss Summer/Fall2011 is going crap-ola. The same goes for my project Nu Kriss: The Phoenix Arises From The Ashes...But I'm Still In The Ashes Part. This reinventing myself (to kill time as I wait for the meds to kick in) is a lot harder than I thought it would be. Let's what I have done so far.

I no longer follow sports. It has been months since I've watched any sports  or even read the sports section. The real test will be the upcoming football season. Forty Niner's, we had some good times baby...but the shit is over.

I'm not going to any more three day hippie camp out festivals. I can't explain how bad the last experience was and as of now (while waiting for the meds to kick in) I'm just not up to it. I could have worked at one this last weekend (lineup looked lame anyways) and one two weekends before (with a really great lineup), but I opted to be a homebody. There are two coming up that I can go to, but it doesn't look good. Super weirdo thing, I'm not even listening to music for pleasure right now and I'm certainly not playing any (thinking about giving my guitars and amps away). Music we have had a great history, but the shit is over baby.

With that is also the drugs. Oh my precious drugs. I'm really gonna miss that. Beautiful pills that let you feel relaxed and pain free (it sure is hard being a 42 y/o athlete) and perhaps I'm making this up but...I sure can drink more when I'm high on pills. Any who, that is Old Kriss. In fact it looks like me and Mary Jane are also a thing of the past. Peeps keep giving me weed, but it's too strong and it doesn't make me feel good. In fact it makes me feel bad. So c'ya later Mary, "E", mushrooms, mali, coke and anything else. Nu Kriss is sticking to the Prozac and delicious beer...and that is it.

1,000's of naked hotties and drugs...c'ya later.

OK, I'm babbling. There really is some atheism that I want to get down to concerning Nu Kriss. Change, letting go, redefining yourself whatever you want to call it, it doesn't come easy. Stuff like cutting my hair is still on the chopping block (and other stuffs) but the one I've been thinking about a lot is whether I should be a full fledged angry atheist or should I just stick to my Obama-esque, middle of the way, acomodationalist atheist stance.

Religion is a force of good and bad. I really do believe that if we had a truly secular society, then there would be world peace. And if religion is put on the shelf right next to folklore and mythology (which I do not think will happen in my lifetime), then the world will be better off. What is stopping me from becoming the Filipino Christopher Hitchens is the little old lady that goes to church on Sunday and is a good person. What has she ever done to me. There are many good religious people. So what the fuck. I'll tell y'all what the fuck.

When the super awesome Greta Christina came to our humble Sac Town a couple of months ago I asked her about this. Basically she said there has been too much harm done. And it's true. Just look at how women and the GLBT communities have been treated and it is easy to see the harm done. I guess it could be seen like, err, if you had a homie that was abusive to his g-friend or a danger to himself, then wouldn't you say something (I would). The same goes for religion. If I belonged to a group that was totally hating on some of my friends (like Christianity v GLBT), then I would try and do something. If I was Israeli I would speak up for Palestine.  If I was Catholic I would speak up for gay rights. I couldn't be a part of something that does so much harm.

Nu Kriss is a gonna draw the line in the sand very soon. I'm going Humpty Dumpty but I don't know if I'm falling on the side of angry atheist or acomodationalist. The difference as I see it is an angry atheist wants to end religion. It is all bad, and yes there are good people that are believers, but the whole overall thingy of it is bad bad bad. The acomodationalist can differentiate between a terrorist that is Muslim and a Muslim-no terror. There are Christians that are socially just like me except on Sunday they go to church and I watch football (shit I don't know what I'm a gonna do now). Then again there are pedio-priests and pastors and groups that propagate hate like Westboro Baptist Church.

What to do...what to do.

* The best of Hitchslap This vid really pumps me up and edges me to angry atheist. So frackin' good.