Feel the Love - New Anti Equal Marriage Ploy from Catholic Church

I just had to link to this - Catholic Church Threatens To Stop Feeding Homeless Over Gay Marriage.

The bizarre thing about this is that all of the Catholics I know personally are not against equal marriage. In fact, several are staunchly for same sex marriage!

Squidoo Bus Ad Duel Updated

I just updated my Squidoo duel on atheist bus advertisements. I added an explanation of why some bus ad sponsors might choose to be anonymous and an explanation as to why I think the ads say God and not Allah.

Check out the changes and weigh in on the duel module at Should Atheist Ads Be Allowed?

Why I Don't Need to Constantly Re-Examine the God Myth

I was recently looking through my blog comments because I just realized I didn't have my blog set to notify me when I get them. A while back, I got a comment that I'd like to answer now.

Jonathan said...

Interesting post - I wonder though, what has lead you to believe that God is not real? Or, keeps you from examining whether or not God is real?

The same thing that has led you to believe Zeus and pixies are not real has led me to believe God is not real. Do you have to examine the idea of whether or not fairies are real on a daily basis? Or how about whether or not Bacchus is real?

What makes you think I haven't examined all sorts of mythology, including Christian mythology? Why do so many assume that the only way a person wouldn't believe exactly as they do is if he or she is either stupid, defiant, or has never been exposed to their particular mythology?

Think about why you don't believe in Islam or Norse deities - you can tell, just from their construction, that they are myths, legends - the stuff of fantasies. Am I right? This analysis is backed up by evidence in the physical world and in the very laws of nature. Those religions are little more plausible than Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny. Did you need to extensively examine Santa Claus to determine his unreality or did it become embarrassingly obvious once you reached a certain level of maturity? Examine your mythology objectively and without dogma and see how it stands up. Or, if your belief gives you vital comfort and fulfillment, don't examine it because you will probably lose it.

Is your virgin born, resurrected Jesus all that different from virgin-born, resurrected savior gods such as Dionysus (Grecian), Krishna (Hindu), Mithra (Persian), or Tammuz (Sumerian-Babylonian)and several dozen others? Your own Bible references Tammuz in Ezekiel 8:14. Your myths are so similar to other myths which you have examined and found to be fantasy - how is yours so different?

I admit that it is a lot more difficult for religious people to see that their religion is based on myth. Their parents and/or other authority figures shore up their beliefs and support them as generations of parents and authority figures have. Those parents and authority figures are not lying, they've all been misled, too.

I was not born thinking God was real. If a person isn't taught that God is real while he or she impressionable then he or she will need to be convinced that God is a real thing rather than convinced that God is not a real thing. If you think about it, I'd bet you will see you were not born believing in the Christian God either.

If you truly feel a person must re-examine everything they don't think is real then why don't you do it all the time? Or do you? Do you re-examine Egyptian and Greek Gods and Goddesses, Bigfoot and Nessie, UFOs and aliens, Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny? Or was once or twice enough to make their unreality pretty clear?

Update on the Rape/Violence Threats

Well, I'm pleased to say that "Bob" hasn't contacted me again.

Associated Content's response was to delete the messages and block anonymous comments from my editorials.

Religiously motivated abuse helped prepare me for life among the Fundies

Recent comments I got on two editorials have made me think about this topic more than usual. I've gotten hate mail and death threats as well as many unpleasant comments on my atheist writing. I even named my blog after what a particular Internet "critic" called me - That Atheist Bitch.

I knew what I was in for, writing about atheism. I grew up in a small religious town and got the shit beat out of me by schoolmates after I was outed as the child of a non-theist. I was physically and emotionally abused by students and staff ever after, only not quite so severely. So I grew up knowing exactly how some American Christians feel about atheists. I'd seen it written in my own blood and bone and reinforced in words, kicks, and punches.

Even when I moved 90 miles from that small town, I knew enough to keep a low profile. All I had to do is listen to hear bigoted sentiments aimed at non-Christians in the workplace and even in the casual conversations of strangers overheard. So it came as no surprise to me when people reacted like screeching, scat throwing monkeys to my atheist writing. I already knew that people burst out of their civil veneer when they feel their religion threatened and behave in ways they'd otherwise never consider.

If I'd grown up in a slightly more civilized, slightly less religious place I might not have been prepared for the anger, venom, and hatred. Other people I've conversed with have been blind sided by the reactions they have received. So, in a way, I'm glad I grew up in one of the "bad pockets" without the illusion of a rational populace.

Anonymous Commenter on Atheist Articles Threatens Rape, etc.

So today I got notification telling me of the new comments on my Associated Content articles. Two of the comments were stalker level.

Bob wrote:
I have to admit the you make a good case for me to just do "what I feel" with no fear of repercussion. Since now we both agree that God is not here to punish the wicked or tell us what to do I must confess that the things I am going to do now are rape,robbery,murder and bigotry. These are the things that I find exciting... so with no fear of repose let the games begin! Where do you live sweetie?

That was on my editorial entitled Do People Become Atheists so They Can Act Immorally?

Bob also had something to say on my editorial, Does Life Have Meaning Without God?

Bob wrote:
Assuming your world view is correct then you can sit there and indulge in your "love", while I on the other hand indulge my life's ambitions of rape, robbery, and persecution. Since there is no God to tell us what is right and what is wrong, then I suppose we get to decide for ourselves, and I think I'm gonna take a ride on your back little girl. Who's gonna stop me now that God is dead... and your weak pathetic cry for love goes on deaf ears. Get ready for some pain ^*&%$!

I've gotten lots of rather generic threats but these seem rather personal. I've reported the threats to Associated Content legal department and I'm waiting to see what they'll do.

Editing the Word of God

Ladies and gentlemen, the days of needing to cherry pick the Bible to fit your ideology are coming to an end! What I am suggesting is not that you change your beliefs and practices to fit the immutable word of God. Soon you will be able to obtain the new and improved immutable word of God - now in complete harmony with your conservative and capitalistic views!

They’re taking out all of the inclusive namby pamby wussy language – the real Bible will be chock full of he, his, and him! They are removing that silly story of the adulteress which portrays Jesus as a gutless pushover. You won’t find any leftist peace, love, and forgiveness in the new and improved immutable word of God!

They’re also getting rid of any references to that Jehovah jerk and Yahweh yahoo – and changing them to Lord or God – good old American words - just like Jesus really used!

The new and improved immutable word of God will include more vivid, spine tingling Hellfire and brimstone. Soon you can get your new and improved immutable word of God from the Conservative Bible Project, now with more support of ruthless capitalism!

No, really, I’m not kidding. Click the link.