If a Christian group bought some ad space on some busses advocating accepting Christ, the Jews of DC would not blink an eye.  If the Jews did something similar, there’d be no outcry from Christians.  But when atheists do it, there’s no end of venom.

Why is that?

At the core of virtually any theistic religion is the belief that ALL other religions are simply wrong.  However, in the U.S., that doesn’t get bandied about much in public.  There’s sort of a wink and a nod agreement that one group doesn’t put up a sign saying another group is wrong.  Further, there’s a bit of rationalization that goes on.  Oh, sure, those guys are wrong, but it is just because they misunderstand, or are naive.

In other words, when someone says “My God is great” the subtext, that everyone else is wrong, stays subtext and everyone is OK with that.

The thing is, with atheism, that subtext is, in fact, the text.  There is no real way to say that there’s no god or, at least, no reason to believe god exists without saying that everyone else is wrong.  There is no way around it, and no way for people to ignore the statement with any kind of respect.  Theists can work around each other, but the nature of the atheist/theist relationship is conflict.

Does that mean that the two can’t communicate reasonably?  No, it does not.  But it does require honesty along with civility.  I am an atheist.  I do not in any way respect the beliefs of theists.  However, I do respect the fact that many people hold those beliefs strongly.  My brother is Christian and when I want to talk religion with him, I go about it with the understanding that, if I insult him for his beliefs, the discussion goes no where.  Its just a fight.

The bus signs in DC were respectful of the fact that many people believe, and still sent a clear message that those beliefs were not shared.  The Olympia sign was not.  The sign could not be seen as anything but a smack across the face (though I believe the sign to be accurate).  Maybe that was the goal.  I’m OK with that.  I think these myths are a disease rotting the U.S. from within.  But it isn’t very productive for me to open a conversation that way.

Via Pendagon.net..

Regarding the placing of the menorah, star of david (I assume) and islamic crescent next to an xmas tree

Bill Donahue, president of the Catholic League for Civil and Religious Rights, disagrees, saying the town has chosen to display Jewish and Islamic religious symbols while leaving out the Christian religious symbol of the season, a Nativity scene. He does not believe the Christmas tree is a religious symbol.

Further, he says, the inclusive display “shows tremendous sympathy for Jews and Muslims at the expense of the majority Christians.”

Alas, Donahue is right.  The Xmas tree is roughly as religious as matzo.  Now, it is still distinctly Christian, if that makes sense, but not that religious.

If they are going to make monuments to irrationality, they should include as many flavors of crazy as they can.

FSM, anyone?

There are ways to win arguments and ways to turn arguments into fights.
One way to switch from debate to fisticuffs is to just start insulting
your opponent. Which is why THIS is a bad idea.

The sign, a new addition [to the holiday display]this
year, is sponsored by the Freedom from Religion Foundation. The sign
reads, “Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and
enslaves minds.”

There’s no real way to read this other than “You are an idiot for
beliving in god”.
Now, as an atheist, it is hard enough for me not to say this sort of thing
all the time. However, I also know it doesn’t help my cause any, and just
pisses people off (I do think there’s a time and a place for such
forcefullness).

However bad an idea it is for atheists to put up an insulting sign in a public
display that holds no legal meaning, it is much more understandable when you
realize that THIS IS ACTUALLY LAW!

An atheists-rights group is suing the Kentucky Office of
Homeland Security because state law requires the agency to stress
“dependence on Almighty God as being vital to the security of the
Commonwealth.”

Now, if that doesn’t say “you are stupid for not believing in god and
w2e don’t
give a rats ass about you or your rights or the whole church and state thing”,
then I don’t know what does.

First, this joke is pretty damn old and hardly bernies.
Second, of course he shouldn’t have told the joke
Third, what, exactly, do you call a woman who has sex for money?

CNN Political Ticker: All politics, all the time – Blogs from CNN.com

“My little nephew came to me and he said, ‘Uncle, what’s the difference between a hypothetical question and a realistic question?”‘ Mac said toward the end of his routine. “I said, I don’t know, but I said, ‘Go upstairs and ask your mother if she’d make love to the mailman for $50,000.”‘

“Hypothetically speaking, we should have $100,000. But realistically speaking we live with two hos,” Mac said, delivering the joke’s punchline.

No, you twit. Liberals hate what you’ve done to the word. Patriotism used to mean beliving in your country and standing up for it. You and your cronies have changed the definition to mean “blind obedience, regardless to consequence or even fact, to the standing powers that be and hatred for those who don’t fall in line”.
Michelle Malkin » NPR journo suggests politicians quit using the P-word.

So, politicians, please make no mention of patriotism on Independence Day. Liberals hate it when you say the P-word.

So Florida is considering a vanity plate with a christian message (’I believe’ and a cross).

Of course, many might not see this as crossing the church/state divide.  But those arguments collapse thanks to this telling line:

[Rep. Edward] Bullard, the plate’s sponsor, isn’t sure all groups should be able to express their preference. If atheists came up with an “I Don’t Believe” plate, for example, he would probably oppose it

Is there any part of this government we’ve brought upon ourselves that ISN’T lying to the public?

The VA claimed there were 790 attempted suicides in 2007, when, in actuality there are 1000 suicide attempts a month???  Oh, yes, we must hide this.

From: Katz, Ira R.
Sent: Wednesday, February 13, 2008 11:27 AM
To: Chasen, Ev
Subject: FW: Not for the CBS News Interview Request

Shh!

Our suicide prevention coordinators are identifying about 1000 suicide attempts per month among the veterans we see at our medical facilities. Is this something we should (carefully) address ourselves in some sort of release before someone stumbles on it?

From: Chasen, Ev
Sent: Wednesday, February 13, 2008 11:40 AM
To: Katz, Ira R.

I think this is something we should discuss among ourselves, before issuing a release. Is the fact that we’re stooping them good news, or is the sheer number bad news? […]

Dear Dinesh,

What public highschools are assigning all these books on evolution???  I can easily see these showing up in college courses, but I can’t imagine that you’d be quite so concerned there.  I ask because those schools obviously have a very high academic bar and I’d like to send my kids there. 

When I was in high school, we spent perhaps a couple days on evolution at best, and I was in an advanced class.

I wonder, though…you never actually say that these quotes come from books in public high schools.  Just that these quotes exist in books that are assigned.  Are they assigned in biology classes?  Theology classes?  Private schools?  Public schools?  Colleges?  Adult Education classes?  Reading circles?

Of course these books rarely see it into the hands of ‘the children’.

But you must create fear or else you become irrelevant.

All my love,

j

it should be noted that my feelings towards Scientology aren’t significantly different than my feelings towards any other religion.  The only differences are:

1. Scientology is blatant and shameless in requiring money if you want salvation (most churches try to hide this best they can)
2. Scientology promises super-power (most churches say they have super-powers, but only a few can get them, no matter how hard others may try)
3. Scientology is more than happy to abuse the legal system to keep 1 & 2 secret.

Anyhow, Wikileaks has given the big Fuck You to L. Ron and his abusive crew and published over 500 pages of secret documents comprising the hidden bibles of Scientology (more or less). 

And yes, there are super-powers.  If you can stomach it all, the full documents can be found here

CNN decides that, by asking the questions CNN should be asking, a high school girl is heckling McCain

This is simply sad.  The question (basically, ‘why are you here if not for political reasons’) is exactly the kind of question the MSM and professional reporters should be asking.

But, apparently, only THEY can ask the questions.  Anyone else is a heckler.