gdp's Comments

Atheist Revolution : New Age Beliefs Among Atheists: Religion Is Just One Of the Hydra\'s Heads

Fri, 1 Oct 2021 01:33:34 +0000

I'm an enthusiastic atheist who also follows astrology and tarot. Not the least bit embarrassed by either. Both "work," for the most part -- that is, things they show seem to match up with events in my life. I don't follow either method avidly; I can go for weeks without thinking about what the planets are doing and how they line up with my natal chart. And my deck of tarot cards can sit idle for a similar amount of time. I don't rely on them to guide my life; they're just a tool that I use in moderation. The reason I don't consider this either embarrassing or contradictory vis a vis my atheism, is that while I may consider them helpful in my life, I do not feel the slightest urge to push them on anyone else. There are over 7 billion people in today's world, and for the most part, we're all getting on with our lives. A mythical god, planetary positions, and illustrated cards don't play a vital role in everyday events. I don't actually consider either practice "supernatural." I sense no intelligence in the cards, and a natal chart is what it is. It's "you," or it isn't. I learned a long time ago that I might look at someone's chart and see a placement that carries an important message, but if the person isn't interested in hearing it, then I have to leave the subject alone and see the person as an individual with a shit-ton of free will, rather than a collection of squiggles in a circle. This is even more true of tarot. In the same way, of course, whether someone believes in a supernatural deity should be their business. How I or anyone else feels about it is a personal issue, and as long as someone respects the boundaries between what they believe and what others do or do not believe, there's hope for civil relationships.

Atheist Revolution : Religious Belief and Mental Illness

Sun, 9 Mar 2014 03:59:06 +0000

If there were no bible, Sam might have gotten himself in a similar situation by reading Stephen King or Ayn Rand or any other book -- even a product label. The springboard for his behavior is whatever causes paranoid schizophrenia. However, the bible is much more problematic because in Sam's world, everyone reads the stupid thing. There are plenty of religious leaders (and followers thereof) who will solemnly insist that The Bobble is the only book worth reading. So of course he's going to assume, with minimal education, that whatever is contained within those pages must be truth. He does not have the filters that people without his disorder have. Plenty of religious people, even those who claim to believe in biblical literalism, deep down understand the difference between real, true, verifiable fact and concepts that can only have come from someone's imagination or delusion. They suspend disbelief, but they know they're doing it, and they do it because for whatever reason, they feel better for doing so. It's like people who drink heavily but aren't alcoholics -- they can stop anytime they set their mind to it. The people who called the law on Sam and tried to get him put away are probably the healthiest members of that community. They may one day see the connection between poor Sam's delusions and the crap everyone else is spoon-fed from the cradle. It's the other oafs, who shake their heads and say "Let's pray for Sam; he has a demon" who perpetuate the dangerous cycle that breeds more Sams.

Deep Thoughts : Still life of starfish with boats

Fri, 20 Sep 2013 16:41:44 +0000

Neat photo!

Deep Thoughts : Tsunami video that I could not stop watching

Wed, 14 Aug 2013 10:37:32 +0000

I share your horrified fascination with the tsunami footage. What's so remarkable about it is the amount of forewarning the residents had. Just enough to get out their cameras and shoot "before & after" footage. But I always wonder what those folks up on the rooftops were thinking. Was it "Glad we got to a safe spot" or "Hmm. How're we going to get back down now that the streets and cars are all gone, and what if the building collapses?" I really admire the courage of the older people in particular.

Atheist Revolution : In This House, We Go to Church

Fri, 26 Jul 2013 10:17:31 +0000

"...museums, family reunions, sports games, political rallies, plays, friend's house for dinner..." are all mostly one-time occasions that exist for a specific purpose. I agree that the political rallies could get a bit tedious for a kid. So could the museums and sports games -- BUT, even in these settings, the kid can get up, walk around, go outside, probably even play with an electronic device or read a book to pass the time. You can't do that in church. And if you're at a sporting event, everyone around you might be waving banners but they're not going to pass judgment on your character or the fate of your soul if you don't wave them too. You won't be labeled a "Picassoist" if you go to a museum and declare that you don't appreciate Monet. There's a world of difference between the function assumed in religion vs. that assumed for any other activity in life.

Deep Thoughts : Use a rod and go to prison

Sun, 8 Apr 2012 23:28:37 +0000

If you've noticed your ears ringing more than usual lately, it's probably due to your name being bandied about at meetings of our small committee at the UU church I attend. We're in the process of revamping our hiring policies to include background checks for new employees and volunteers. We've come up against resistance from church members who are skeptical about whether the process will "work." These people have no problem with us conducting background checks -- they simply think that once our committee disbands and the years pass and new Boards of Trustees form, the urgency will be forgotten and the ball will be dropped. To these people, I emailed a link to your blog, asking them to read it. I am hoping that they will gain an understanding of the stakes and how high they are. I appreciate the work you do here.

Mississippi Atheists : But Its Sunday

Sun, 11 Sep 2011 23:57:08 +0000

Georgia, too. They periodically try to change it, but so far, the fundies have blocked it. The classic argument: "If you need alcohol that badly, then plan ahead and buy it Monday through Saturday." The basis for opposing objections goes right over their pointy little heads.

Atheist Revolution : An Unpleasant Task Ahead for Atheists

Sun, 27 Mar 2011 22:25:44 +0000

I don't think religion will disappear in our lifetime, either. Or at least, established belief systems based on authority and fear won't. Witness Communism through most of the 20th century. Plenty of atheists (and I count myself among these) are unwilling to completely jettison the notion of "unseen mystery" type phenomena, even if we also believe that at some point, everything we don't understand will get to where it can be explained. This is the way we REALLY are, if we could only feel the freedom to be honest. I tried to express this to a Christian co-worker not too long ago. He's a thinker, so I like to sustain the hope that he's not privately consigning me to hell or something. What I told him was, you take any American Christian church with more than 50 congregants (this excludes weird, inbred, family groups like Westboro Batshit), and if you could get every member to take truth serum and then ask them 1) What is your theology? and 2) Why do you attend church? What you'd discover is that in addition to those who never bothered to think outside the bobble, you'd have an impressively large number of atheists, agnostics, freethinkers, skeptics, pantheists, deists, pagans, small-u unitarians, universalists, Buddhists, and the rest of the spiritual array. You'd find that people attend that church because their families do and/or always did, their friends are there, they like the architecture, they like the music, the place is conveniently located, they like the sermons, they get to use abilities that they can't use at their jobs, they're looking for romance, the church is famous, their boss goes there, and so on ad infinitum. What would make me happy is each of these people being able to state it honestly, regardless of what their beliefs are. Stating it without fear of others' judgment. Feeling the freedom to explore their beliefs and change them as needed. And above all, to have the freedom to believe what they believe without feeling the need to join up with others who supposedly believe exactly the same thing and then base an entire society and government upon this. If we could evolve even that far, I'd be happy. Will it happen? In my lifetime? The chances are Slim and None, and Slim just took the last train out.

Deep Thoughts : Photo–Newspaper Babylon

Sat, 19 Feb 2011 15:40:46 +0000

You'd think they'd get rid of those. But it's like stores and restaurants that go out of business, leaving their signs up. You pull in, all hungry for a sandwich, and only then do you see the realtor's placard. Businesses should be required to remove non-usable signs of their previous existence, with the consequence that the sale of their assets will be frozen until they comply.

Deep Thoughts : Pastor Jones flies first class

Mon, 31 Jan 2011 01:58:43 +0000

Excellent that you've posted this. I'll be happy to share it on Twitter; maybe word will get back to this silly group of pastors and they'll re-think.

Atheist Revolution : Civil Rights: Despite Progress, We Have a Long Way to Go

Sat, 22 Jan 2011 18:12:24 +0000

Regarding the sign in your illustration: I've pondered the whole "thankfulness" issue quite a bit, and here are my conclusions: When something good happens in my life, it falls into one of two categories. The first can be attributed to the help of others -- my boss, a friend, a doctor, etc. Why is it so terrible not to be able to toss out a quick shorthand to express that? Why is it so terrible to have to say "I appreciate the surgeon's steady hands," rather than "Thank God?" To me, it's an ADVANTAGE. It makes us actually think about what we're grateful for. And for those good moments that just happen -- you think you're going to collide with that car but manage to come to a stop with a half-centimeter to spare and no damage or injuries? Or you win the lottery? There may not be any one person or thing you owe your life or luck to, but you can certainly acknowledge that you were, perhaps, expecting the worst and instead came out of the situation safe, or surprisingly enriched. Rather than mucking about for someone or something to "thank," why not simply use the experience for the good? Take your lottery winnings and help someone out who's in need, or change your driving habits enough to avoid future close calls? Instead of "Thank God," how about "I appreciate every opportunity?" Again -- it's an opportunity to really THINK about life and gain an understanding of what's important to you and how life works. Much better than smooching non-existent toes.

Atheist Revolution : Another Reason to Avoid Chick-fil-A

Wed, 12 Jan 2011 11:47:28 +0000

Agreed - the place is overrated. Seriously, you can either get what they offer, for a lower price, at MANY other fast-food joints if that's your thing, or you can get something similar at the grocery store or make your own from scratch. One must pity people who still regard waffle fries as "exotic." I also don't like the Stepford ambience of the place -- no matter where you go, nearly every employee there is white, which tells you a lot about the prices too, sorry to say.

Atheist Revolution : Questions for Those Raising Their Kids Without Religion

Mon, 3 Jan 2011 00:02:03 +0000

I raised my son (mostly alone) during the period I was involved with evangelical Christianity. Despite 15 years of trying to be a "true believer," it never really took and I finally shrugged it off entirely about 8 years ago. I was well aware of my own doubts and held off trying to steer my son toward any theology, even the most basic. As another poster said, I did want him to understand Bible stories in terms of cultural literacy. Noah's ark and Jonah and the whale are so commonly known (regardless of how utterly improbable from a rationalist point of view) that it would have presented a problem, here in the south, for him to be unfamiliar. My own hesitancy communicated itself to my son. He is VERY social and extroverted, and for that reason, he loved church. We attended several. It was only the last one, a rather fundy Baptist church, that gave him some problems. He was starting to have doubts and saw that his age-mates were much more sheltered, naive and unworldly than he was. This lack of commonality led to him questioning his friends' and their parents' beliefs. I only wish I'd been a Unitarian Universalist during those years - we could have had just as much fun without the guilt and indecision. My recent post A Happy New Year Wish

Deep Thoughts : 1001 posts and a New Year’s Resolutions for 2011

Sat, 1 Jan 2011 04:14:40 +0000

Good for you re: health regimen! I HAVE to change my evil ways this year -- Diabetes type 2 AND high cholesterol. Other than veggies, there isn't much I can eat. High insurance premiums hang in the balance. I'm trying to convince myself that exercise is a cure-all. We'll see.

Deep Thoughts : Pastor Ivory McDaniels arrested

Wed, 29 Dec 2010 11:12:32 +0000

Having recently read Stephen King's allegorical novel Under the Dome, I'm struck by the existential similarity between his Chester's Mill (the townspeople's sense of isolation from everything else going on in the world, despite access to some media) and these little church-heavy towns, where so many of the residents have never set foot outside Arkansas (or Texas or my native Long Island or anywhere else you could name). Interesting, though, that for a lucky few, all it takes is one little crack in the "dome" -- one brief exposure to ideas from "outside," and it sets off a chain reaction that leads to education, enlightenment and liberation from the stifling and childlike beliefs they've been steeped in. If I were the prayin' kind, that's what I'd wish for everyone.

reMIND : 30 Reasons TO use Comic Sans.

Mon, 6 Dec 2010 13:33:00 +0000

Since my ex-boss still uses it: 32. If you're a deep-down unpleasant person and you want someone to have a fleeting first impression of you as a cheerful sort with a sense of humor.

Atheist Revolution : Determined to Have a War on Christmas

Sat, 4 Dec 2010 15:40:58 +0000

Lamar, A great many Christians don't see it that way at all (and I rather suspect that you don't, either, judging by the wording of your comment). Christians believe that the Bible specifically directs them to proselytize. They believe that they, personally, are more at risk of condemnation to hell if they DON'T do this. How do I know this? I was an evangelical Christian for 15 years and attended a church that required every new member to attend a 6-part seminar called "Becoming a Contagious Christian." A phrase often used in that course was "hold their feet to the fire." As someone whose father and many friends were Jewish, I found that particularly offensive. I know it's "just an expression," but a few centuries ago it wasn't -- it was a reality for Jews under the Spanish Inquisition. That was where my certainties began to slip. But getting back to the main topic, if you'd like to try being honest and fair about the whole thing, there are very, VERY few cases of atheists taking it upon themselves to approach everyday Christians who are displaying images of the nativity on their clothing or property and castigating them for it. There are really very few atheists who will respond to a casual "Merry Christmas" by snapping "Ha! There's no such thing as Christ! It's all lies! I hate religion and I think you're a blithering idiot for having religious beliefs! Get outa my face, I hope you die!!!!" Here is a more realistic rendering of a typical conversation along these lines: Atheist: Lamar, I noticed you placed another religious tract on my desk. You've given me 38 of these so far, and have been doing so for the last year or so. Please don't waste your time or your paper -- this has had no effect on my theology. If I ever start believing in a deity, you will be among the first to know." Believer's response comes in one of two forms: 1- Boy, these atheists are so hostile! 2- I'll continue praying for you, because I'm trying to save your soul. Believer's response NEVER comes in this form, though it should: I'm sorry if I've been a pest about it. I respect your intelligence and think you'll sort out these issues for yourself. Have a nice day. I wish people a merry Christmas all the time. Christmas is an official federal holiday. Not uttering the "C" word isn't going to make the obnoxious side of religion go away anytime soon. BUT - just because Christmas shows up on the calendar does NOT carry any dictates whatsoever as to what it supposed to mean, or how it is to be observed. That's the part that Christians don't get. It's not enough that one particular day, reflecting the beliefs of one segment of society , is so pervasive that unless one goes into a coma starting in mid-September and comes out of it around January 8th, there is NO WAY to not be exposed to Christian culture. No, Christians have to insist that everybody SAY the "C" word. Never mind that other HOLIDAYS do crop up around the same time of year, even if they're not as officially sanctioned. If I don't know what someone's religious orientation is, I WILL say "Happy Holiday." I have said "Merry Christmas" to Jews, not knowing they're Jewish, and been advised that they are Jewish and DO NOT CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS AND NEVER WILL. After awhile I started saying "Happy Holiday." Get over it, Christians! Christmas IS a holiday. If I said "I don't recognize any holidays because they all come out of religion and religion sucks," then yes, you could then take offense. But for me to simply say "Happy Holiday" when I don't know what (if any) holiday you celebrate, is not said with the intention of "devaluing" Christmas. After you tell me you're Christian, I might then amend my greeting to "Merry Christmas." I will do that with the expectation that you will leave it alone and not start trying to "hold my feet to the fire." I'm not interested in the state of your soul. Grow up. My recent post Milestones- or- Where the Gray Hair Comes From

Atheist Revolution : I Can Do Without Tradition

Sat, 27 Nov 2010 17:03:09 +0000

Any mention of Thanksgiving in the UK brings to mind the movie Shadowlands, in which Joy Gresham and her son were visiting CS Lewis over the holiday. When young Douglas asked about cranberry sauce, Lewis told a member of his staff to "just go out and get some cranberries and...sauce them," not having the slightest idea of what the stuff actually was. They ended up serving strawberry jam! I love cross-cultural confusion (and Anthony Hopkins). My recent post You Have Probably Not Been Unfollowed Just Moved

Atheist Revolution : Halloween is Too Evil to Fall on a Sunday

Sun, 31 Oct 2010 23:19:18 +0000

Oh, it's definitely a Southern thing -- I never experienced any such "conflict" until moving from NY to Ga. But apparently it's spreading to other parts of the country where the religious conservatives hold sway. The "school night" argument doesn't hold much water, though, does it, since when Halloween falls mid-week, you've got the same problem and nobody says, um, "Boo" about it. However, I wouldn't worry too much about the Jewish sabbath, since it ends at sundown on Saturday and most trick-or-treating takes place after that time. We had a huge throng of about 30 little kids last night, but I got a bit more candy today in anticipation of the teenagers whose parents don't have any idea what their kids do ANY night of the week.

: Will Moderate Muslims Please Stand Up

Tue, 26 Oct 2010 00:08:36 +0000

I'm currently encountering some awkwardness with my fellow Unitarian Universalists and other liberal folks on this subject. Some say we MUST be tolerant of Islam because its adherents have the same inherent worth and dignity as any other people. Agreed. But to me, the ideal world is one in which all people have the right to experience life to the fullest as individuals. Islam does not agree with this, and I cannot summon tolerance for a belief system in which women stand to lose their LIVES if they violate "Islamic law" as interpreted by local imams, politicians and tribal leaders. I see Islam as very much a "might makes right" system. I see very little value in it. Does this make me intolerant? I don't know. I would never scream or curse at or threaten a Muslim just for being a Muslim. But I might inwardly draw back from a Muslim male in distrust or suspicion, not of terrorism but of the potential for domestic violence and oppression of his wife and/or daughter. I'd be watching for signs that he regarded me as less human than he, even if we were engaged in a civilized discussion. And I might pity a Muslim woman who appeared in a hijab. wondering if she really thought she had freedom under the system she remained in. By some definitions, this is obvious intolerance on my part. But I'm even less tolerant of the parents, teachers and clergy who have taught this man and this woman that they must wedge themselves into narrow channels of thought in order to please their deity. The one that doesn't exist any more than the others. I conclude with a sad shake of the head.