As I was walking through a Southern mall on Sunday I saw one of those Christian bookstores that sell Bible's and bookmarks with cute little religious phrases. Of course it was closed on Sunday, which prevented me from entering the establishment and rolling my eyes as I perused the material while making a few "Yeah, right" and "I'd like to see them prove that," comments.
It was then I realized that if this place was closed on Sunday they must be doing a huge business. Then I realized that in order for this business to do well, thousands of people must be paying lots of money to further their faith in something that doesn't exist.
In fact religious propaganda is a billion dollar industry. People pay a large percentage of their annual incomes to show the love they feel for their imaginary friend. You know what; I developed an imaginary friend in third grade. Her name is Prudence and she graduated with honors from Columbia University. If you give me some money I will make sure Prudence gets it.
Should I set up a Pay Pal account to make donating convenient for you? To think what my psychiatrist used to refer to as, "a potentially devastating long term mentally instability" could turn into a money making endeavor! That's what America is all about!
I am of course being sarcastic, but I just hate to see sheep-like-people give their money away to figments of their brainwashed imaginations. I don't have a problem with buying a Bible or a daily affirmation calendar, which I can see being somewhat inspirational and perhaps motivational, but I do have a problem with families sacrificing happiness for the hope that when they die they will go to a "happy place."
Would you really rather have four closets full of religious paraphernalia or that boat you've dreamed about since you were twelve? I doubt it was your life long dream to collect all 15,000 editions of Chicken Soup for the Soul and one can only own so many Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith albums.
Just go ahead and buy the boat. Buy the boat along with the Bible and read the Bible on the boat. You could cast your fishing pole, read Ecclesiastes 4:3, water ski, read Ecclesiastes 4:4, apply sunscreen, read Ecclesiastes 4:5....
There's no reason you can't have both a normal life and a few religious knickknacks to make yourself feel better as well as impress your churchgoing friends.
According to Christians: All Christians are Racists - Racist!
This just in: According to Christians, every other Christian (who doesn't believe exactly as they believe) is a racist.
That's right; every Christian just declared that every other Christian has the belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race.
Of course I pasted the definition of racism from an online dictionary for use in the above sentence.
Over the last few months the word "racist" has been thrown around with great regularity by those who purport that there is a god in heaven.
Reverend Jeremiah Wright: Racist... according to everyone on the right.
Father Michael Pfleger: Racist... according to Geraldine Ferraro.
Former Vice Presidential Candidate Geraldine Ferraro: Racist... according to Barack Obama supporters.
Barack Obama's Grandmother: Racist... according to Barack Obama.
Anyone who criticizes Barack Obama for his association with Reverend Wright: Racist... according to DNC Chairman Howard Dean.
So it doesn't matter which side of the political aisle you belong - you are a racist. And here you thought you didn't judge people based on the color of their skin. You should be ashamed!
Perhaps you've sensed a little sarcasm in my words. Maybe I think none of these people are racists, even if we don't share the same view on the notion of a higher power.
"I think African-American's vote for Barack Obama partially because he is half African-American." That statement, made by more than a few people of all races, makes the statement maker a racist, if the statement maker is white.
That's strange – it doesn't seem to me that a statement such as the one written above means the person who made the statement "has the belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race."
Even if it is horribly incorrect, assuming the motivation for someone else voting for Barack Obama is race related does not make the assumer a racist, unless the assumer added, "Why else would anyone vote for an African-American, they lack the brainpower to hold such a position of authority."
If an unqualified minority with a horrible attitude came in for a job interview, and got the job over a more qualified and professional Caucasian candidate, would you not think maybe the decision to hire the minority was based on race? If you answered yes then you are a racist.
By that standard, if an unqualified Caucasian man with a horrible attitude came in for a job interview, and got the job over a more qualified and professional minority candidate, and you pointed to the person doing the hiring and cried racism; you would be a racist?
But wait, wouldn't you be hailed as a hero if you assumed the white man hired the white candidate over the more qualified minority candidate only because he was white, even if the white man doing the hiring had never told you he "has the belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race."
So if you call out a minority for voting for a particular candidate simply because the candidate is of the same ethnicity of the voter then you are a racist. But if you call out a Caucasian boss for hiring a job candidate simply because he or she is of the same ethnicity of the person doing the hiring then you are a hero... Why doesn't this make sense?
I suppose it started years ago when it was declared that people who have been oppressed could begin changing the definition of words. As shameful as the sins of our country were, and continue to be in some cases, those who have been wronged should not be allowed to decide who is racist because we permit them to define the word as they see fit.
But now that they starting doing it; everyone has decided to join in. And because of that you have multiple instances of non-racist words and deeds being labeled as racist when they don't even approach the definition of racism...
If a man gets brutally beaten up by a group of thugs, does that mean he is now the one who decides the definition of brutal violence?
"You brutally beat me!"
"No I didn't – I was looking at my watch and accidentally brushed against you."
"I have been oppressed by a brutal beating, so now it is I who defines 'brutal beating,' and you are guilty of the crime."
Hey, as an atheist it would sometimes be nice to cry out "Anti-Atheist" anytime anyone questioned, criticized or didn't go along with everything I said, but instead of disseminating unsubstantiated accusations I choose to process what was said against me and rebut the argument with reasonable dialogue.
You Christians should really give that a try.
That's right; every Christian just declared that every other Christian has the belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race.
Of course I pasted the definition of racism from an online dictionary for use in the above sentence.
Over the last few months the word "racist" has been thrown around with great regularity by those who purport that there is a god in heaven.
Reverend Jeremiah Wright: Racist... according to everyone on the right.
Father Michael Pfleger: Racist... according to Geraldine Ferraro.
Former Vice Presidential Candidate Geraldine Ferraro: Racist... according to Barack Obama supporters.
Barack Obama's Grandmother: Racist... according to Barack Obama.
Anyone who criticizes Barack Obama for his association with Reverend Wright: Racist... according to DNC Chairman Howard Dean.
So it doesn't matter which side of the political aisle you belong - you are a racist. And here you thought you didn't judge people based on the color of their skin. You should be ashamed!
Perhaps you've sensed a little sarcasm in my words. Maybe I think none of these people are racists, even if we don't share the same view on the notion of a higher power.
"I think African-American's vote for Barack Obama partially because he is half African-American." That statement, made by more than a few people of all races, makes the statement maker a racist, if the statement maker is white.
That's strange – it doesn't seem to me that a statement such as the one written above means the person who made the statement "has the belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race."
Even if it is horribly incorrect, assuming the motivation for someone else voting for Barack Obama is race related does not make the assumer a racist, unless the assumer added, "Why else would anyone vote for an African-American, they lack the brainpower to hold such a position of authority."
If an unqualified minority with a horrible attitude came in for a job interview, and got the job over a more qualified and professional Caucasian candidate, would you not think maybe the decision to hire the minority was based on race? If you answered yes then you are a racist.
By that standard, if an unqualified Caucasian man with a horrible attitude came in for a job interview, and got the job over a more qualified and professional minority candidate, and you pointed to the person doing the hiring and cried racism; you would be a racist?
But wait, wouldn't you be hailed as a hero if you assumed the white man hired the white candidate over the more qualified minority candidate only because he was white, even if the white man doing the hiring had never told you he "has the belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race."
So if you call out a minority for voting for a particular candidate simply because the candidate is of the same ethnicity of the voter then you are a racist. But if you call out a Caucasian boss for hiring a job candidate simply because he or she is of the same ethnicity of the person doing the hiring then you are a hero... Why doesn't this make sense?
I suppose it started years ago when it was declared that people who have been oppressed could begin changing the definition of words. As shameful as the sins of our country were, and continue to be in some cases, those who have been wronged should not be allowed to decide who is racist because we permit them to define the word as they see fit.
But now that they starting doing it; everyone has decided to join in. And because of that you have multiple instances of non-racist words and deeds being labeled as racist when they don't even approach the definition of racism...
If a man gets brutally beaten up by a group of thugs, does that mean he is now the one who decides the definition of brutal violence?
"You brutally beat me!"
"No I didn't – I was looking at my watch and accidentally brushed against you."
"I have been oppressed by a brutal beating, so now it is I who defines 'brutal beating,' and you are guilty of the crime."
Hey, as an atheist it would sometimes be nice to cry out "Anti-Atheist" anytime anyone questioned, criticized or didn't go along with everything I said, but instead of disseminating unsubstantiated accusations I choose to process what was said against me and rebut the argument with reasonable dialogue.
You Christians should really give that a try.
If Your Faith is so Strong, Why All the Campouts?
I do not believe in a higher power and am going on a campout with other people who do not believe in a higher power so we can reaffirm our faith that there is no ultimate creator.
If the above sentence seems ridiculous to you, how can the sentence, "I believe in God and am going on a campout with other people in my church to reaffirm our faith in God," be reasonable?
If you people have such strong faith, why do you go to such lengths to make sure you don't stray?
I believe mankind is ruining the environment and future generations will pay the price for our selfish actions, and I will continue to believe that, despite the fact that I've never pitched a tent with someone who feels exactly the same way.
In other words; if you have strong faith in something, you shouldn't need to go on outings to ensure your faith stays consistent.
I suppose churchgoers are worried one of their peers will eventually say, "I used to believe in God, but a lack of talking about my faith while roasting marshmallows and swatting away mosquitoes caused me to change my mind."
Might this be an indication that atheism is the truth and we are more confident in our faith?
Or will you believers deny the fact that true belief doesn't need to be reaffirmed every 15-minutes, or "when the weather turns nice."
So if you like camping; just go camping. Or, better yet, go camping with someone who doesn't share your worldview, because you just might learn something.
If the above sentence seems ridiculous to you, how can the sentence, "I believe in God and am going on a campout with other people in my church to reaffirm our faith in God," be reasonable?
If you people have such strong faith, why do you go to such lengths to make sure you don't stray?
I believe mankind is ruining the environment and future generations will pay the price for our selfish actions, and I will continue to believe that, despite the fact that I've never pitched a tent with someone who feels exactly the same way.
In other words; if you have strong faith in something, you shouldn't need to go on outings to ensure your faith stays consistent.
I suppose churchgoers are worried one of their peers will eventually say, "I used to believe in God, but a lack of talking about my faith while roasting marshmallows and swatting away mosquitoes caused me to change my mind."
Might this be an indication that atheism is the truth and we are more confident in our faith?
Or will you believers deny the fact that true belief doesn't need to be reaffirmed every 15-minutes, or "when the weather turns nice."
So if you like camping; just go camping. Or, better yet, go camping with someone who doesn't share your worldview, because you just might learn something.
We've Officially Had One too Many Christian Presidents
In addition to being white men, most Presidents of the United States have been Christians. All believed in a higher power of some sort.
You read that correctly: the people we have always trusted to lead us are delusional AND gullible.
That's why it should be no surprise that our 43rd "Christian in Chief" actually governs based on the things God tells him.
I suppose we should be grateful. I mean, a fictional God is probably much smarter than the very real President George W. Bush.
The problem is, like Moses, we're expected to take President Bush's word for it. Moses said God told him about the Ten Commandments and we're supposed to believe him. George W. Bush tells us God told him to invade Iraq and we're supposed to believe him. Hmmm, I'm noticing a pattern...
Why not give an atheist a shot at the White House? An atheist would only be accountable to the people of the United States; not the people of the United States and the protagonist in an ancient book.
Christians are supposed to love God before all others. That means, up to this point, the vast majority of Presidents have put Americans on the back burner. They were elected to serve the people, instead they served God.
So basically we're the red-headed step children of President Bush and those who preceded him.
And this is obviously not a criticism of a specific political party; both Republican and Democrat Presidents have been church going people.
Seeing as how President Bill Clinton, a Baptist, disgraced the Office of the President by making love to a White House intern, and President Bush, a Methodist, waged an unjust war against... Okay, we don't have enough time to go through all the horrible, rotten, awful things President Bush has done.
But seeing as how both these men let us down, don't you think it's time we elected someone who actually puts our needs above their own needs or the needs of a Supreme Being. A Supreme Being science has never been able to prove existed.
It's shame there aren't a few atheists who are well known in political circles that I could mention as being potential leaders of the United States.
You see, the people in this country are so close minded they vow to stop all atheists before they can even establish a political career.
I know Christians; it'd be a shame to have to listen to someone who didn't tell you exactly what you wanted to hear, but don't worry; you'd still have Sunday mornings.
You read that correctly: the people we have always trusted to lead us are delusional AND gullible.
That's why it should be no surprise that our 43rd "Christian in Chief" actually governs based on the things God tells him.
I suppose we should be grateful. I mean, a fictional God is probably much smarter than the very real President George W. Bush.
The problem is, like Moses, we're expected to take President Bush's word for it. Moses said God told him about the Ten Commandments and we're supposed to believe him. George W. Bush tells us God told him to invade Iraq and we're supposed to believe him. Hmmm, I'm noticing a pattern...
Why not give an atheist a shot at the White House? An atheist would only be accountable to the people of the United States; not the people of the United States and the protagonist in an ancient book.
Christians are supposed to love God before all others. That means, up to this point, the vast majority of Presidents have put Americans on the back burner. They were elected to serve the people, instead they served God.
So basically we're the red-headed step children of President Bush and those who preceded him.
And this is obviously not a criticism of a specific political party; both Republican and Democrat Presidents have been church going people.
Seeing as how President Bill Clinton, a Baptist, disgraced the Office of the President by making love to a White House intern, and President Bush, a Methodist, waged an unjust war against... Okay, we don't have enough time to go through all the horrible, rotten, awful things President Bush has done.
But seeing as how both these men let us down, don't you think it's time we elected someone who actually puts our needs above their own needs or the needs of a Supreme Being. A Supreme Being science has never been able to prove existed.
It's shame there aren't a few atheists who are well known in political circles that I could mention as being potential leaders of the United States.
You see, the people in this country are so close minded they vow to stop all atheists before they can even establish a political career.
I know Christians; it'd be a shame to have to listen to someone who didn't tell you exactly what you wanted to hear, but don't worry; you'd still have Sunday mornings.
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