FFRF Convention 2009

I'm excited to announce that I am registered to attend this year's Freedom From Religion convention, which is taking place in Seattle. I started attending two years ago, and vowed that I would make it a yearly ritual. The first convention was in Madison, Wisconsin, where FFRF has their headquarters. Last year it was held in Chicago. Thankfully, due to economics and my personal transitions of late, I'm glad it's being held in my hometown this year. A few of this year's featured speakers include Ron Reagan, a self-described "unabashed atheist" and resident of Seattle; Jennifer Michael Hecht, author of Doubt: A History; and former Los Angeles Times religion reporter William Lobdell, whose new memoir is entitled Losing My Religion. Lobdell will be receiving this year's “Emperor Has No Clothes” Award. Also appearing will be the science fiction and fantasy legend Ursula Le Guin, who will also receive an “Emperor Has No Clothes” Award. I have hardcover copies of the books by Hecht and Lobdell that I plan on getting signed, and I'm hoping that I can get my copy of Le Guin's translation of the Tao te Ching signed.

Religious folks claim to be inspired by the fantasies they are told while in church, but I can state that I have been greatly inspired by being in a crowd of people, who are able to think for themselves and place reason above superstition. We're not a bunch of haters either, because FFRF has honored people of faith who have worked to keep church and state separate. The biggest haters I have witness are those who claim to be children of God (their capitalization), when they urge the stoning of heretics, gays, adulterers, and many others. It's their way or the highway to hell.

Ignorance is Piss

All of these loud ignorant buffoons that are out there protesting government takeover of health care are not the majority. They are just the proverbial squeaky wheel. I have a revision to that old saying though: The squeaky wheel should be immediately removed and thrown into the nearest ditch. I saw a group of these pseudo-patriots over the weekend, standing on a corner with their flags waving. I'm assuming that the flags indicate that they believe that they are the real and true Americans. If you believe in a corporate controlled America, and want to do all you can to protect those capitalist pigs, who have been destroying our country, then maybe you can call yourself a true American®. I prefer to think of myself as an individual and a freethinker. Let the masses follow their corporate leaders right into the sea like the lemmings they are. (Of course, this is an insult to actual lemmings.)

Where Have I Been?

Anyone who checks in on this blog may notice that I've been absent for a while. This blog was much busier during the presidential election, but once the smoke had cleared from that event I was a little burnt-out on politics. I still have a lot to say about politics and religion, but since my time is somewhat limited these days (no...I'm not one of those pyjama-clad bloggers, who still lives in his mother's basement.) when I do have a free half-hour or so I tend to update my destined for banality blog. That was my original blog that kind of grew out of my old web site with the same name. I always have good intentions, including posting movie and book reviews, but most of the time I just blog about mundane everyday aspects of my life. If I was blessed with a 48-hour day I would certainly post my rant-like thoughts on subjects like Sarah Palin, John Ensign and his connection with "The Family" Christian fellowship in D.C., Governor Sanford's "hiking the Appalachian Trail" story, and so forth. There is always a abundance of material when it comes to the wacky world of politics and religion, but I have found myself quite busy with my own summer of transitions. I'm not ready to give up on this blog yet though. I'll be back with my venomous rantings at some point in the future.

The Inerrant Word?

Oh that YouTube! Look what I found there: Penn & Teller on the "Bible." This video features Michael Shermer of the Skeptic. Would you like some cheese with your sacrilege?

Are You a Hardcore Atheist?

Are You a Hardcore Atheist?

I found this on one of my favorite blogs, Stupid Evil Bastard, and he found it at Friendly Atheist. It has taken me a couple of months to actually complete the list and post it, but here are my results.
How serious do you take your atheism?
Let’s find out.
Copy and paste the list below on your own site, boldfacing the things you’ve done. (Feel free to add your own elaboration and commentary to each item!)

1. Participated in the Blasphemy Challenge.
2. Met at least one of the “Four Horsemen” (Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett, Christopher Hitchens, Sam Harris,) in person. - I have met both Daniel Dennett and Christopher Hitchens at the last two FFRF conventions that I attended.
3. Created an atheist blog. - I am going to count my blog taboo-topics as an “atheist blog,” since I created it specifically to rant against religion & politics.
4. Used the Flying Spaghetti Monster in a religious debate with someone.
5. Gotten offended when someone called you an agnostic. - I actually prefer the term agnostic over atheist, but “freethinker” is my favorite term for our ilk.
6. Been unable to watch Growing Pains reruns because of Kirk Cameron. - I never watched Growing Pains, because it just seemed like another ridiculous family sit-com. Even if Kirk Cameron was a Satanist I wouldn’t watch it.
7. Own more Bibles than most Christians you know. - This is true. And I do not know many Christians that actually read the bible either. I think that they prefer to have it interpreted for them.
8. Have at least one Bible with your personal annotations regarding contradictions, disturbing parts, etc.
9. Have come out as an atheist to your family. - I’ve told my parents after attending two Freedom From Religion conventions. If my family actually took the time to read my blog then it would be obvious to them.
10. Attended a campus or off-campus atheist gathering. - I have periodically attended the popular Seattle Atheists Meetup.
11. Are a member of an organized atheist/Humanist/etc. organization. - I am a proud member of the Freedom From Religion Foundation.
12. Had a Humanist wedding ceremony. - Our ceremony was performed by a local justice of the peace, and there were no religious elements. It was also attended by my atheist in-laws.
13. Donated money to an atheist organization. - Besides being a member of FFRF I have donated money to their legal efforts.
14. Have a bookshelf dedicated solely to Richard Dawkins. - I cannot say that Dawkins has his own shelf in my library, but I do have a couple of shelves dedicated to his and other atheist writings.
15. Lost the friendship of someone you know because of your non-theism.
16. Tried to argue or have a discussion with someone who stopped you on the street to proselytize.
17. Had to hide your atheist beliefs on a first date because you didn’t want to scare him/her away. - Actually, my first date with my wife was at a religious themed restaurant (I mistakenly thought it was vegetarian), where she proudly announced that she was an atheist (besides being a vegetarian.) At the time I hadn’t quite rid myself of Christian beliefs.
18. Own a stockpile of atheist paraphernalia (bumper stickers, buttons, shirts, etc). - I wouldn’t say that I own a “stockpile,” but I have a few items.
19. Attended a protest that involved religion.
20. Attended an atheist conference. - I have attended the annual FFRF conference for the last two years, and I plan to make it an annual event. This year it will be in Seattle, so I can save on travel costs.
21. Subscribe to Pat Condell’s YouTube channel. - I have heard the name, but have yet to check out his work.
22. Started an atheist group in your area or school.
23. Successfully “de-converted” someone to atheism.
24. Have already made plans to donate your body to science after you die. - I have been entertaining the idea. Recently our county decided to charge an extra fee for folks who choose to be cremated. That’s just wrong. I was planning on giving any surviving family member the pleasure of scattering my ashes illegally in some state park, so I’m still thinking about the “donating the body” idea.
25. Told someone you’re an atheist only because you wanted to see the person’s reaction.
26. Had to think twice before screaming “Oh God!” during sex. Or you said something else in its place.
27. Lost a job because of your atheism.
28. Formed a bond with someone specifically because of your mutual atheism (meeting this person at a local gathering or conference doesn’t count).
29. Have crossed “In God We Trust” off of — or put a pro-church-state-separation stamp on — dollar bills.
30. Refused to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
31. Said “Gesundheit!” (or nothing at all) after someone sneezed because you didn’t want to say “Bless you!”
32. Have ever chosen not to clasp your hands together out of fear someone might think you’re praying.
33. Have turned on Christian TV because you needed something entertaining to watch. - I don’t watch Christian TV as much as I used to, but once in a while I still tune it in for the entertainment. I used to love watching Kathryn Kuhlman, while getting “baked” with friends. She seemed to be on heavier drugs than we were. Now that was entertainment!
34. Are a 2nd or 3rd (or more) generation atheist.
35. Have “atheism” listed on your Facebook or dating profile — and not a euphemistic variant.
36. Attended an atheist’s funeral (i.e. a non-religious service).
37. Subscribe to an freethought magazine (e.g. Free Inquiry, Skeptic) - I haven’t subscribed yet, but I buy Free Inquiry, Skeptic, and Skeptical Inquirer Religiously(?!), so I’m going to say yes.
38. Have been interviewed by a reporter because of your atheism.
39. Written a letter-to-the-editor about an issue related to your non-belief in God.
40. Gave a friend or acquaintance a New Atheist book as a gift.
41. Wear pro-atheist clothing in public. - I have an atheist shirt with the logo in the style of the Oakland Athletics, which I wear periodically. But I am conscious of where I will be wearing it on that day.
42. Have invited Mormons/Jehovah’s Witnesses into your house specifically because you wanted to argue with them. - I haven’t wanted to argue, but I’m planning on buying some nontracts from FFRF to give them when they arrive with their brochures.
43. Have been physically threatened (or beaten up) because you didn’t believe in God.
44. Receive Google Alerts on “atheism” (or variants).
45. Received fewer Christmas presents than expected because people assumed you didn’t celebrate it. - My wife and her atheist parents are always very generous at Christmastime.
46. Visited The Creation Museum or saw Ben Stein’s Expelled just so you could keep tabs on the “enemy.” - I would like to visit the Creation Museum just for the laughs, but I don’t think I could stomach watching Expelled.
47. Refuse to tell anyone what your “sign” is… because it doesn’t matter at all.
48. Are on a mailing list for a Christian organization just so you can see what they’re up to…
49. Have kept your eyes open while you watched others around you pray.
50. Avoid even Unitarian churches because they’re too close to religion for you. - I still do not understand attendance of Unitarian churches among freethinkers. I think maybe they miss the rituals and social aspects of churchgoing. To me it is still a church, and I relate churches to religiosity, so I’ll abstain.

I scored 12 out of 50, which I guess means that I am not a "hardcore atheist." I'm okay with that. About the only thing I'm hardcore about these days is parenting. Everything else takes second place.

Sanity From Seth

There were some wonderful moments from our president today, which I just don't have time to write about tonight. But I just had to pass on this video, which I saw on the Political Carnival today. This opinion piece speaks to the recent admission by Michael Phelps that, yes, he had smoked pot last fall at a party.



It is high time (no pun intended) for this country to enact sensible laws when it comes to marijuana usage. The results have long been in that tobacco and alcohol are fast more dangerous to one's personal health, and the public, than marijuana. Prohibition did not work when it came to alcohol, and it has not worked with marijuana usage. Let us end the senseless "drug war" and put those resources towards more important issues.

Define "Soul"

The drug addled persona known as Rush Limbaugh has gotten a lot of publicity lately, and I'm guessing that is just what his colossal ego craves. I hate to add to that publicity, but I was struck by one of many asinine comments he makes. This one was from his radio show a few years back, and it was brought to my attention today by digby's blog. Here it is:

LIMBAUGH: I mean, if there is a party that's soulless, it's the Democratic Party. If there are people by definition who are soulless, it is liberals -- by definition. You know, souls come from God. You know? No. No. You can't go there.

So Rush says that souls come from God. I do not think he has any idea what he is spewing. Rush dropped out of college. He avoided the draft during the Vietnam war due to an anal cyst. I think I could surmise by his above comments that his anal cyst is alive and well, and does most of his pontificating for him. Rush does not have a degree in Philosophy, so he is in no way an authority on "the soul." Some have said that the soul and the mind are the same thing: the collection of life experiences and memories that make us who we are. Our memories and past deeds comprise our personality. If this is a better definition of soul than I would state without hesitation that Limbaugh's soul is what kept him out of the Vietnam war. Call it an anal cyst, or his soul, it still amounts to a festering pustule. For more evidence that this radio personality has a soul that reeks, here are some links I gleaned from Bob Cesca's blog today:

Rush Limbaugh Arrested On Drug Charges

Rush Limbaugh Detained With Viagra

Limbaugh Mocks Parkinson's

Rush Limbaugh Mocks a 12-Year-Old Accident Victim

And he is calling who soulless? But never mind the soul. Its very existence is debatable. What is known to exist in most human beings is a backbone, but that element of the anatomy seems to be in short supply with the Republicans lately when they are taking their marching orders from a drug addled, overweight festering pustule, who still thinks that radio is hip.