BWAHAHA: 3/15 – 3/21

BWAHAHA (Blair’s Week Attempts at Haha’s) 3/15 – 3/21: This week has been a fun and hectic week for me. My girlfriend is trying to kill me with exercise. I keep telling her that she’s not on my life insurance policy, but she doesn’t seem to care. On the bright side, I’ve lost another 1/2” off my waist (or my ass, I can’t tell). Oh, and fuck you anti-vax morons for causing the Measles to come back to NYC.

3/16

Training today’s cheerleaders for tomorrow’s Zombiepocalypse.

#Cosmos gonna piss off the Religious Wrong again. That happens when you live on faith instead of science.

Oh for fuck’s sake, will someone please kill Lizzy! #TWD (Oh, thanks, much appreciated!)

3/17

I miss California quakes. I don’t miss 24/7 news coverage of people who “lost a tile in their ceiling.”

I wonder if Fred Phelps will have a deathbed conversion… (like gay sex with a male nurse)

Wearing a condom during a fertility festival seems kinda blasphemous.

#earthquake and #luckoftheirish are both trending. Are those two things related?

I don’t know if Flight 370 was hijacked or not, but conspiracy theorists have certainly hijacked the story.

Why are you craning to go to war? What’s the rush, huh?

Politautoeroticasphyxiation: conservatives who don’t realize the GOP they love is actually strangulating them.

#TWD birthday gifts!

Today me buddy O’Laden ‘n I formed Clan O’Kayda and we drank Irish Car Bombs all day!

3/19

Smurficide almost complete!

Smurfette Gusher

“Pardon me, sir. Would you happen to have some Grey Poupon?”

Critical Eye Podcast E042: If You’re Gonna Go Big… Go BigIkeComedy!

Someone needs an anger management class and an addiction rehabilitation center.

Well, at least he’s wearing shirt and shoes… so he gets service.

Republican Fire Department responds to a fire at a house owned by a “mooching non-tax-paying” citizen.

3/20

I was surprised to find out that “The Best of the Cutting Crew” was more than just a CD Single.

If you want to celebrate Fred Phelps’ death, do it by signing petitions and getting involved in gay rights activism. [Not funny, just real.]

“It was cheaper than on the base,” stated LT Rogers.

We do what we want… (photo by me)

When you’re tired of enforcing the rules… (photo by me)

Sweater vests should be de-regulated! #RepublicanHipster

“My beer already tastes like piss, so what’s a little de-regulation gonna do? ” – #RepublicanHipster

3/21

I’m amazed at how many people don’t know that the One Eyed One Horned Flying Purple People Eater is a penis.

Life can be tough for a lesbian left-handed albino midget Eskimo. (Props to those that get it.)

The more I think about it, the more GayOz Theory makes sense.

Okay, now the military is starting to creep me out…

Creationists wanting to participate in Cosmos is like Kindergartners wanting to participate in College.

Creationists wanting to participate in Cosmos is like Mario Kart wanting to participate in the Indy 500.

Creationists wanting to participate in Cosmos is like garden slug wanting to participate in a Triathlon.

Creationists wanting to participate in Cosmos is like T-Ball wanting to participate in the NBA, MLB or whatever acronym represents baseball.

Gotta remember that I’m not 20 anymore. Let’s just say I’m not as flexible as I used to be.

I don’t think that sign means what the think it means. (photo by me)

Open Letter From Blair Scott

I have spent the last week mulling over what I want to do at this point in the movement. I’m tired of the in-fighting: at every level. I am especially tired of allowing myself to get sucked into it and engaging in the very behavior that is irritating the hell out of me. It’s hypocritical of me at best and only serves to exacerbate the very thing that’s pissing me off in the first place.

First, let me thank all of you who offered words of advice and encouragement. Yes, I am even thankful for my detractors who threw in their two cents. Your comments, messages, and emails meant a lot to me. Some of you even brought a tear to my eye while reading what you had to say. I can never thank you enough for the encouragement you gave me.

So what to do? That question has plagued me all week. I have reached what I hope is an acceptable compromise for my personal sanity and the atheist movement that I love so much.

1. I am resigning immediately as the Director of Outreach for American Atheists.
   • I feel that given my level of frustration and, to be honest, outright anger, I do not think I can effectively execute the demands of this position or do so without tarnishing the name of American Atheists. I do not want to do any damage to American Atheists because someone thinks my personal issues are related to American Atheists. I’m not yelling at you because I work for American Atheists: I’m yelling at you because I’m angry Blair Scott (v2.0).
   • I will still complete the “how to” video series on starting new groups and organizing local conventions. The demand and need for these are too high for them to become victim to my transition.
   • I will remain on the Board of Directors as long as I continue to be reelected. It is an honor to serve in this capacity and continue to be involved in the forward movement of the best national atheist organization in the United States.
   • I will still MC the National Convention as requested by David Silverman (March 29-31 in Austin, TX: get your tickets NOW!).
2. I am removing myself from all pages and groups on Facebook that are atheist-related.
   • The exception is the local group that I attend where all my awesome friends are at: the North Alabama Freethought Association. It was this group of amazing people who gave me the most honest and frank advice and were true to themselves and to me. They fucking rock!
3. I will remain on Facebook as an activist and for atheist networking with a few caveats.
   • I will be unfriending anyone who is a 9/11 truther, believes in homeopathy, is an anti-vaxxer, etc. In fact, save me the time and unfriend me if you’re one these people. You are no longer worth my time and effort.
   • I will no longer respond to any infighting, pedantry, etc. If you feel it is absolutely necessary to nit-pick and attack your fellow atheists over trivial issues, so be it, but I am no longer going to feed the trolls. Your chances of being unfriended are now much higher.
4. I will remain a boots-on-the-ground activist and continue doing what I’ve done for 23 years now: take the fight directly to the theocrats. I love the fight too much to walk away from it completely. Roy Moore was reelected as the Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court. The next four years in Alabama should be very interesting and I don’t want to miss a thing! I am looking forward to working with the new Alabama State Director for American Atheists (can’t wait to find out who it is).
5. I will continue to co-host the Critical Eye Podcast with my amazing co-host and friend, Tom Hand. The CEP is the one place I can vent and rage and say “fuck all” to the world as I need to and Tom is the one person who knows me well enough to talk me down. You’re the best Tom, I love ‘ya bro!
6. I will be concentrating more on my standup comedy and improv. This is the one thing in my life (besides my friends and daughters) that brings a smile to my face on a daily basis. It’s something I greatly enjoy: especially when I can make a Christian audience laugh at atheist jokes.

As I enact this transitional phase in my life I ask that all of you take a close look at your contributions to the in-fighting and ask yourself, “Is this thing I am about to attack another atheist for really worth it? Is this thing really that big of a deal that I can’t let it go even though I agree with this fellow atheist on almost everything else? Does attacking this fellow atheist help or harm the overall movement or contribute anything positive to the movement?”

I hope this is a good compromise and allows me to take the time I need to figure things out for myself and how to move forward with my fellow activists in a way that’s helpful to my sanity and well-being. Keep fighting the fight: regardless of the method you use!

In reason,

Blair Scott

Seeking Advice from Fellow Atheists & Activists

I have been an atheist activist for twenty-three years. Wow… has it really been that long? Whew!

I started my activism in the twelfth grade in high school in 1989 attempting to start an atheist club in Moreno Valley, CA. My attempt failed and I did not know about any groups or resources to go to for help. After I joined the Navy I continued activism: going after evening prayers over the 1MC (ship’s PA system), stopping the Chaplain from presiding over my reenlistment and award ceremonies, making sure non-Christians religious sailors were taken care of by the ship’s Chaplain (you know, actually doing his damn job), etc.

When I got out of the Navy I started a local group (Mobile Area Freethought Association) and the Freethinkers Letter-Writing Cooperative (FLWC), Alabama Citizens for Education in Science (ACES), wrote for the Secular South E-Zine and coordinated the first atheist protest in the state of Alabama (against Judge Roy Moore). I would later go on to form the North Alabama Freethought Association and help form thirteen other groups across the Southeast and start The Critical Eye Podcast with my friend and fellow comedian Tom Hand.

In 2000, I found American Atheists. Holy national support, Batman! I became the Alabama State Director and then the National Affiliate Director and then the Communications Director and finally the Director of Outreach. During that time I was a staff writer for American Atheist Magazine and ran the NoGodBlog for a while as well. I ran their Facebook page and Twitter account and YouTube account, etc. I was named Atheist of the Year twice and received the Meritorious Service Award for my activism while working for American Atheists. I have greatly enjoyed my time with American Atheists and being a part of the advance forces in the trenches in the battle for our Constitutional rights and the Separation of Church and State.

I got to be part of the movement as it grew exponentially and started its peak in 2007 and continues to peak. I got to experience the amazing feeling of knowing that the groundwork we and those before us lay down was now finally being used to push the movement forward and that things were on the upswing and we were beginning to finally take some ground in that same battle. To be a part of the movement as we struggle to find space on the calendar for events that do not coincide with other events being held nationally (what a beautiful problem to have!)

But lately I have lost that feeling. I have found myself dreading each day on Facebook, the blogs, etc. Each day having to defend myself and American Atheists not against the hordes of Christians: but against our fellow atheists. Our fellow atheists who find a single word, or the font used on a billboard, or the color of a web page, or a single sentence in a two-thousand word essay worth creating an eruption of vitriol against fellow atheists on blogs and in comments.

I found myself dreading having to deal with the nit-picking of appearances on a news channel from atheists who had never been in front of a camera, criticism of a billboard from atheists who had never erected a billboard and were basically demanding that we put an entire thesis on a billboard, thus eradicating the entire point of a billboard. I dreaded dealing with atheists who reveled in taking on their fellow atheists instead of our common enemy: theists and theocrats. I dreaded the emails, the comments, and the constant in-fighting that is holding our movement back.

I would give an hour-long speech and the audience would agree with 99% of what I said, but because I said one word or one sentence that someone disagreed with, the blogosphere would erupt in idiotic drama. Over what? Where was the eruption of support for the 99% of what we agreed upon? I take exception to things people say on a daily basis, but I don’t make an issue of it. I can think of dozens of my fellow activists who have said stuff that drives me bonkers, but I’m willing to bet that my Facebook friends couldn’t name two or three of them. Why? Because I don’t talk about it or make an issue of it because while they say something that drives me bonkers, we agree on enough that it’s a non-issue to me.

No matter the trivial stuff we disagree on, there are always at a minimum three core things we all agree on: separation of church and state, civil rights for non-theists, and true freedom of religion (meaning freedom from religion as well).

Ultimately I became an asshole and just lashed out at my fellow atheists who engaged in that type of behavior. I realized that a few months ago that I no longer could rationally discuss these issues with those detractors because all I wanted to do was smash their smug fuc… (deep breath.) I realized that I had lost my patience. I had more patience with theists at this point than I did with my fellow atheists who felt the need to attack and belittle everything that was being said or done in such a pedantic and nit-picky fashion that it was almost laughable. Throw into that mix my fellow atheists who are not skeptics and believe all sorts of hokey nonsense, and it was a matter of time before I imploded.

The tone debate is a complete waste of time. Every methodology and approach is needed for the movement to reach every possible demographic. The anti-firebrands are failing to recognize the history of the success and necessity of firebrands in every past movement before us: gay rights, civil rights, women’s suffrage, abolition, etc. Stop beating each other up and arguing over method. What really matters is our destination. We’re all on the same highway; we’re just driving different cars, so why are we trying to drive each other off the damn road? Everyone should keep doing the method of activism that they are good at: firebrand, accommodation (I know, you hate that word), anti-theists, militant atheists (yeah, I hate that one, too), etc. All of you play a key role in the forward ability of this movement. How many blog entries are actually activism related versus blog entries attacking fellow atheists over pedantics, semantics, and tactics?

I have no more patience for it. I have become what I detest the most because now I find myself attacking my fellow atheists. It repulses me that I have become this.

I am seriously considering resigning from everything that I do and leaving the movement. No more blogging, no more Facebook, no more videos, no more writing, no more activism, no more conventions, and no more working for American Atheists. I talked to David Silverman (President of American Atheists) today (11/26) about this (we’ve had talks in the past about this) and told him he would have my final answer by Friday (11/30). David told me that I was getting sucked into the things that I hated instead of staying involved in the things I loved. Fair and valid point: but how does one stay above the fray when everything we do causes the fray to come to us?

And so now I’m reaching out to my Facebook friends, fellow bloggers, fellow podcasters, fellow video bloggers, and fellow activists for advice. What would you have me do?

Defenders of Islamic Mantra (DIMs)

The recent brouhaha with the Innocence of Muslims video has reignited not only Islamic violence across the globe (as predicted), but equally the asininity of my fellow liberals here at home. So I wanted to touch on the issues that really drive me bonkers when it comes to the ridicule of Islam and the glorious thing that is Freedom of Speech as established by the Constitution of the United States.

Muslims in Bangladesh burn a U.S. Flag in protest over the “Innocence of Muslims.”
(AP Photo/A.M. Ahad, CC)

The first response I usually see from my fellow liberals is how they support the Freedom of Speech and then they add the word “but” to the end of that. I immediately know that something really stupid and asinine is about to come out of their mouths and they are going to look like twits on my Facebook wall. Freedom of Speech is Freedom of Speech. There are only a few “buts” as established by the courts and this video met none of those “buts” – not even remotely close. So unless you want to change the Constitution or simply deny Freedom of Speech then, to quote my friend Matthew, “SHUT THE FUCK UP!” Just remember that when you say it you sound like this, “I’m not a pedophile, but…” (also see Concern Troll)

The second response I usually see is some statement about the ethics or morality of the video, comment, expression, etc. Being an unethical and immoral asshole is not against the law. You may not like it and I may not like what a person says, but that does not mean they do not have the right to say it. Just like you have the right to be a stupid twit by saying nonsense like this: you’re being wrong does not prevent you from using your Freedom of Speech.

But the worst is yet to come! There are two things that generally happen when Islam goes rabid around the world enough that the news covers it for more than 48 hours. I should note that Islam is rabid around the world every day, but the news only covers massive outbreaks and ignores the violence perpetuated by followers of Islam across the planet on a day-to-day basis.

The first is the irrational defense of Islam by my fellow liberals and atheists. I don’t see this nonsense when I “attack” Christianity, so why are they so compelled to suddenly defend Islam? Is it because they are afraid of Islam’s response to my criticism? Is it because they have swallowed the ridiculousness of multiculturalism, but only as it applies to any culture they’re not raised in, therefore it’s okay to criticize Christianity or American culture, but not anyone else’s who might be offended? I mean, if you honestly think that the subjugation of women is a great cultural thing, then you probably should not be my friend and you definitely should not consider yourself a freethinker or rational human being. Not every aspect of every culture is worth defending. No one has the right to not be offended.

I especially love it when they confuse the criticism of Islam as some blanket statement against all Muslims. Is the criticism of Christianity a blanket statement against all Christians? If I say that Christianity is an unethical religion because it is based on the immorality of the Forgiveness Doctrine and Original Sin, does that mean I am saying that all Christians are immoral and unethical? Nope. So how come when I say that Islam is a violent and immoral religion because of the doctrine of violence against apostates and Kafirs, do my liberal and Islamic-defending atheist friends immediately think I’m saying that all Muslims are violent and immoral? We know moderate Muslims exist and some have even spoken out against the violence.

This is a culture worth respecting? The subjugation of women and denying women equal rights? Stoning women to death? Beheading women? Public executions of women? No thanks! (Photo CC)

But worst of all is when anyone who speaks out against Islam is called a bigot or a racist. I wonder if anyone who criticizes Christianity is equally racist and bigoted. If you think the criticism of Islam is racist, then you are the actual racist because you are the idiot that thinks all Muslims are Arabs. First, Islam is not a race, it’s a religion. And Arabs are not the largest demographic of Muslims. The largest demographic of Muslims are South Asia and Southeast Asia with over 1 billion followers of Islam. The Middle East only contributes 321 million followers of Islam to the global believers. If you go by country, the top ten countries are Indonesia, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Egypt, Nigeria, Iran, Turkey, Algeria, and Morocco. There are white Muslims and Asian Muslims and Muslims in every demographic and ethnicity on the planet. Not all Arabs are Muslim. There are a lot of Christian Arabs, Jewish Arabs, Zoroastrian Arabs, and atheist Arabs. So stop being a racist by thinking that all Muslims are Arab and accusing the criticism of Islam as being racist. You sound like a horse’s ass and dolt when you say stupid shit like that.

It blows my mind that so many of my fellow atheists are so quick to defend Islam when they would never do such a thing with Christianity or Hinduism or other religions. I can post inflammatory and derogatory comments about Christianity on my Facebook page and get a bunch of “Hell yeah!” responses from my fellow atheists. But post one thing inflammatory or derogatory about Islam and the Defenders of Islamic Mantra (DIMs) come out of the woodwork to tell me how horrible I am and how racist and bigoted I am. Well, I’m glad they don’t think I’m a racist bigot when I criticize and mock Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, Zoroastrianism, Paganism and other stupid beliefs like Creationism, Homeopathy, Astrology, etc.

There is one other thing that always happens when Islam goes berserk around the world. The Islam-defenders among my fellow atheists quickly point out, “Islam is no different than Christianity, which had the Crusades, Inquisition, etc.”

Yes, Christianity certainly had its moments in history, didn’t it? Every religion has. Our criticism of the current violent state of Islam is irrelevant to the brutal histories of other religions. That doesn’t mean we’re not aware of those brutalities and horrors. We are not living during the Crusades, Conquistadors, or Inquisition. We are living in the here and now. Right now the most dangerous religion on the planet is Islam.

Poverty, culture, and politics play their part, but it is belief in martyrdom after death and glory in Paradise with Allah that allows this to happen.

Religion is like dogs: different breeds behave different ways. Some are yippy and annoying. Some are aggressive and dangerous. Some are docile and weak. Some are feral and rabid. Christianity has been mostly domesticated. Sure, it nips at you or scratches every now and then, but it’s mostly timid these days. It helps that Christianity is mostly the pet dog in secular households (countries) these days. Every now and then the Christian dog will try to shit and piss on the carpet, but that’s why there are groups to help fight that shit in the first place (and discipline the dog when it does via court cases). How many Christian terrorist attacks can you think of in the last ten years?

Islam in its current state is feral and wants to bite your head off every time you look at it funny. Some of the pups in Islam are rabid. How many Islamic terrorist attacks can you think of in the last ten years? (HINT: the answer is almost 20,000)

It also doesn’t mean we don’t recognize the role that culture and politics and poverty play, either. We understand that Islam is culture and politics: they are intertwined in the theocracies and dictatorships that exist around the globe. They are inseparable and feed off each other. Politics and poverty and lack of education may lead one to Islam, but Islam is what leads one to strap on dynamite and blow up innocent civilians at a market for the reward of virgins and martyrdom in Paradise.

Yes, all religions are bad, but some are worse than others. The trick is to keep a close eye on the most dangerous while not losing sight of the others to ensure you’re not getting flanked. Our criticism of Islam’s violent tendencies and barbaric texts does not mean we don’t think the Bible is not full of horrible things (it most certainly is) or that we don’t think the Vedas has some nasty shit in it (it definitely does). What it means is that we are currently criticizing Islam.

The sooner you realize how silly you look and sound when defending Islam and getting all bent out of shape when someone goes after Islam, the better.

The next time the Islamic heads get together to pass blasphemy laws at the United Nations… the DIMs out there can vote in favor of it. In the meantime, I plan on standing up for the Freedom of Speech, which includes the right to criticize EVERY religion and EVERY faith and EVERY prophet and to be as blasphemous as I want to no matter how much it bothers your hyper-sensitive multiculturalism nonsense.

Don’t be a DIM!

Praise Bacon!

Debate 029: Tracy rants and raves

Tracy Rebuttal #001:

Why do atheist say that their beliefs are not religious… and yet defend atheism religiously and fervently… It is not irrational to assume the possibility of a Divine Creator or intelligent design… You say the bible does not have the answers yet there is many unanswered questions in science..ex..the missing link… evolution has not been proven true nor conclusive… your God bashing is not going to solve any thing… What about the columbine school shootings… a student was shot for having faith in God… one was shot for being black… is that what atheism teaches. You have a system of belief that you abide by that you govern yourself up under.. yet criticize people for governing themselves under God. Atheist seem to blame God and religion for all the pain they feel… Pain is going to happen regardless that’s life… but taking God out of the picture is not going to solve nor prove anything… We all are here but for a short while… religion for some is how they deal… I dont see God as religion… I see a self aware entity… The ultimate scientist… controlling… laws, motion, matter, energy, life…etc. like an energy force that sets the universe turning… You see yourself.

Why do evolutionist say that the first humans evolved from monkeys… I especially take offense of the racist undertones of having an ape like creature emerge out of africa naked and dumb with dark skin and big lips… oh I guess if it was found in europe it would appear to walk even more upright and have cream colored skin and be smarter….. missing link…. neanderthal man,,,, humonoid.

 

Response to Tracy #001:

TRACY: “Why do atheist say that their beliefs are not religious…and yet defend atheism religiously and fervently”

Because they are not religious. Atheism has no beliefs. Atheism is nothing more than the lack of belief in gods. Each Atheist adopts his or her own philosophy and ideology, and those are what they will defend “religiously.” Everyone defends his or her philosophies and ideologies, which is human nature. Why do you defend yours so fervently, as you have done in this email?

TRACY: “…It is not irrational to assume the possibility of a Divine Creator or intelligent design…”

If that is your view, you are certainly entitled to it. Why is it rational to believe in such? What evidence do you have to make your belief rational? If all you have is faith, then how is that rational? Faith is what allows people to believe in Big Foot, the Loch Ness Monster, alien abductions, unicorns, leprechauns, and other such things.

TRACY: “You say the bible does not have the answers yet there is many unanswered questions in science..ex..the missing link…”

The difference, of course, is that you cannot continue to look for the answer in the Bible. The Bible is static: no one is writing a new New Testament. You have what you have and you must make do with it.

Science, on the other hand, can continue to look, question, and continue to find more answers. Religionists used to criticize science because science did not know how lightning struck (it was angry gods) or how volcanoes erupted (it was Hades, demons, or Satan). When scientists figured it out, the religionists just changed their position to something else the scientists did not know about. This is what we call “God of the gaps.” Religionists insert their god into the gaps of knowledge, and then retreat from those gaps when science fills them in. Religionists are running out of gaps to hide their gods in.

What missing link are you talking about, anyway?

TRACY: “evolution has not been proven true nor conclusive…”

Scientists have proven evolution factual. Even Creationists now admit that microevolution occurs because they could no longer deny the overwhelming evidence. We know evolution happened and is happening. What remain is how and why evolution occurs and how much the environment actually plays in driving evolution, or is evolution purely reactionary.

TRACY: “your God bashing is not going to solve any thing…”

No one means for God-bashing to solve anything. It is a source of entertainment.

TRACY: “What about the columbine school shootings…a student was shot for having faith in God …one was shot for being black…is that what atheism teaches.”

Do you actually believe that they shot one of the students for believing in God? Did you did not hear all the news and reports that it was a fraud perpetuated by a couple of students and the parents of the child supposedly shot for saying it? The mother had to sell her book and make a profit and she had to perpetuate the story of them shooting poor Cassie for answering “yes” to the question of believing in God. Finally, some students that were in the same area came out and told the truth: that it never happened and someone made it up.

Salon Magazine, the Rocky Mountain News, Denver Post, and many others printed articles that retracted the Cassie Bernall story that made her mom thousands of dollars from her book. Cassie was hiding under a desk in the library praying aloud. This is how the shooter found her – because she was being noisy. A witness in the library said he was walking in the library and the noise attracted him to her. He looked under the desk, said “peek-a-boo” and then shot Cassie. He never asked her if she believed in god or not.

It is an urban legend that Christians believe on faith and faith alone because the facts show that it is false.

Both the shooters at Columbine were Christians. Both went to church with their parents and both believed in God. They were not Atheists.

TRACY: “You have a system of belief that you abide by that you govern yourself up under”

I was not aware of this. Can you please tell me what my system of belief is that I abide by? I do not know what it is.

TRACY: “…yet criticize people for governing themselves under God.”

Here is the difference. You have the right to believe whatever you want. We respect that right. We respect your right to be a Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Wiccan, Satanist, Judaic, or any other religion.

However, you do not have the right for those beliefs to be respected. I think your beliefs are silly and irrational. I respect your right to believe in them, but that does not mean I respect the beliefs.

My criticism is an equal opportunity criticizer, though. I equally criticize those that believe in alien abductions, psychics, ESP, NDE, ghosts, Big Foot, unicorns, and other such nonsense. You are not special – just another silly belief among a bunch of others.

TRACY: “Atheist seem to blame God and religion for all the pain they feel…Pain is going to happen regardless that’s life…”

Atheists do not believe in God, so therefore they do not blame him for their pain in life. What Atheists assert is that pain in life is a testament to the non-existence of God.

Atheists know that pain is going to happen in a natural world governed by chance and chaos. It is a world governed by a loving and intervening god that should not have pain.

TRACY: “but taking God out of the picture is not going to solve nor prove anything…”

Considering that the most civil and moral societies on the planet are also the most Atheistic, I think that is an incorrect assertion. Taking God out of the picture would solve most of man’s problems. We fight over our religious beliefs, we kill in the name of God, we commit atrocities in the name of God, and we bicker over our religious differences (even among denominations of the same religion). Religion is a virus that plagues humankind. The sooner we get rid of it the better humanity will be.

TRACY: “We all are here but for a short while…religion for some is how they deal…”

Exactly. For those that need religion in order to feel better about their death, then more power to them. I do not need religion to feel better about my death or to get rid of fear of death. I do not need religion to make me feel better. You do. So be it and more power to you.

TRACY: “I dont see God as religion…I see a self aware entity…The ultimate scientist…controlling…laws,motion,matter, energy,life…etc.like an energy force that sets the universe turning…You see yourself.”

Evidence? Proof?

TRACY: “Why do evolutionist say that the first humans evolved from monkeys…I especially take offense of the racist undertones of having an ape like creature emerge out of africa naked and dumb with dark skin and big lips…”

Yeah, many white people have a hard time accepting that they descended from black-skinned primates. Especially Christian groups like the KKK, Christian Identity, and others. Even if there ever were an Adam & Eve, they would have been black, not white.

TRACY: “oh I guess if it was found in europe it would appear to walk even more upright and have cream colored skin and be smarter…..missing link….neanderthal man,,,,humonoid.”

Now you are just being stupid. Ignorance is one thing, but do not be stupid on purpose

 

Tracy Rebuttal #002

It is obvious that you govern yourself under the belief system { to not believe}! You live by Atheism and you worship it, Atheism is your Personal Saviour. The Columbine killers were not Christians. One of them was even wearing a shirt that said Natural Selection. So they heard the girl praying and out of hatred for God….they killed her…and you Atheist blame the girl not the killers. You truely have a double standard…I mean no standards. You can not prove to the world that there is no God by your countless lies. Science is not with out flaw that’s why some medications have been pulled from shelves. I prefer to believe in God’s Holy Bible that is the ” In your face” truth than listen to a human being with no direction nor personal convictions. That’s why Atheist kill unborn babies and call it pro-choice. You say you respect my right to believe in God and yes…There will be more power to me! But if I prayed too loud I guess you’d shoot me.

The bible says that unbelievers are willfully ignorant THAT’S being stupid on purpose. I would rather be ignorant to the things of this world than be ignorant to the things of God. I am not saying that learning on this side is not important…I myself am a college student… but I prefer to be well rounded thus I study my Bible as well as my school books..I get the best of both world’s instead of walking around closed minded and confused..I find freedom in it!

Oh and another thing…God was the furthest thing from the columbine killers minds…they were acting out of self motivation much like Atheist do. If they did go to church they probably was forced to by their parents…they were not Holy-Ghost filled born again believers…they carried guns to school not bibles…they wore long black trenchcoats and called themsevles a mafia..they did not fit in at school people were afraid of them…they set around playing secular video games of death and they loved hitler…they were not christians nor were they saved..so stop lying.

 

Response to Tracy #002:

TRACY: “You live by Atheism and you worship it, Atheism is your Personal Saviour.”

If you think that, then you have misunderstood everything I have said. I will admit that I tend to worship the intellectual capacity that humans have; unfortunately, most humans choose to ignore their intellect.

TRACY: “The Columbine killers were not Christians. One of them was even wearing a shirt that said Natural Selection. So they heard the girl praying and out of hatred for God….they killed her…and you Atheist blame the girl not the killers.”

Your assertion that the Columbine killers were not Christians is incorrect. Your assertion that they killed the girl over her religion is incorrect. You have fallen prey to an urban legend that was further perpetuated by Cassie’s mother in her moneymaking book (you know, the book she wrote to take advantage of her daughter’s death).

I do not blame the girl. The shooters are to blame for their actions. At no point did I blame the girl; I simply said that they found her because she was making noise. Witnesses in the library said they did not ask her if she believed in God. Her noise drew them to her, they looked under the table at her, they said “peek-a-boo,” and then they shot her.

For additional information, since you do not believe me, check out some of these:

• Cassie Bernall @ “Truth or Fiction”
• Reprint of Rocky Mountain News article about the hoax
• Salon Magazine article about the hoax
• Religious Tolerance article
• Martyrdom Hoax hits “Hellhouse”

The irony of this tale is that Klebold did ask one girl in the library if she believed in God. Her name was Valeen Schnurr. After Klebold asked her if she believed in God, she said, “Yes.” Then Klebold spared her life and moved on.

TRACY: “You truely have a double standard…I mean no standards.”

I do not have double standards at all. The standards I apply to myself are the same standards I apply to humanity. The key difference between you and I is that you do things in order to get into Heaven and avoid Hell. I do things because they are the right thing to do. Perhaps you can explain to me what makes your method, doing it to avoid punishment and to gain reward, more moral.

TRACY: “You can not prove to the world that there is no God by your countless lies.”

You are right that I cannot prove that a god does not exist. I am not sure why you are going on and on about my lying. I have not told a single lie since we began talking. I have been honest with you from the beginning.

I cannot prove that Zeus does not exist. I cannot prove that Allah does not exist. I cannot prove that Krishna does not exist. I cannot prove that Zoroaster does not exist. I cannot prove that Yahweh does not exist.

I can show that their existence is so unlikely that it is not worth wasting our lives worshiping something we cannot prove to be true.

TRACY: “Science is not with out flaw that’s why some medications have been pulled from shelves.”

No one has averred that science is without flaw. Anything governed by man (including religion) can be mistaken. However, the scientific method is still the best method we have to arrive at the facts and understanding of our surroundings.

The key difference between science and religion is this: science asks the question, looks for an answer, and finds the answer in the evidence, whereas religion has the answer and looks for evidence to support the answer (ignoring all contradictory evidence).

Religion has been wrong before, too (including your Bible). Remember that religion used to think the Sun revolved around the Earth. Religion used to think that the Earth was flat with “four corners” (directly from the Bible). Religion used to think that lightning was angry gods. Religion used to think that earthquakes were angered gods. Luckily, for religion, they have listened to science (even if it took many decades in some cases) and changed their views to the correct one.

If it were not for science, we would still be teaching in schools that our solar system is geocentric instead of heliocentric. We would still be teaching that the Earth is flat instead of an elliptical sphere. We would still be teaching that people get sick because of demons instead of germs.

TRACY: “I prefer to believe in God’s Holy Bible that is the ” In your face” truth than listen to a human being with no direction nor personal convictions.”

Are you saying the Bible does not have any contradictions in it? Are you saying the Bible does not have any errors in it? The Bible says that bats are birds. Do you believe that bats are birds, or do you accept the scientific fact that bats are mammals?

TRACY: “That’s why Atheist kill unborn babies and call it pro-choice.”

LOL. You are funny; I will give you that. I guess you did not realize that Christians receive the majority of abortions in the United States. That is not because Christians. The percentages are higher than one would expect based on population alone. The key factor to abortions is education and economics, but I would not expect you to know that since you only see it as a black and white issue because of your religious book.

TRACY: “You say you respect my right to believe in God and yes…There will be more power to me! But if I prayed too loud I guess you’d shoot me.”

Now you are just being asinine. If you prayed too loud, I would ask you to respect those around you and pray quietly. Remember that Jesus wants you to pray in private, too. Just read Matthew 5:5-6 and see what Jesus has to say about public prayer and praying too loud. I bet you did not even know it was there. I bet you do not know your Bible very well at all.

TRACY: “The bible says that unbelievers are willfully ignorant THAT’S being stupid on purpose.”

The Bible also says that the Bible-God hardens the hearts and minds of people in order to make them non-believers. He does it on purpose according to the Bible. That means that anyone trying to convert Atheists is going against the will of God. Did you know your Bible said that? No, I suppose you did not since I can guarantee that I know more about your Bible than you ever will.

TRACY: “I would rather be ignorant to the things of this world than be ignorant to the things of God. I am not saying that learning on this side is not important…I myself am a college student…”

You are a college student? I must admit that I find that hard to believe based on the level of ignorance you have displayed in this dialogue. I especially find it hard to believe based on the many asinine and absurd comments you have made. If you are in college, I am willing to wager that you are in a Christian college where you will not receive a real education.

TRACY: “If they did go to church they probably was forced to by their parents…they were not Holy-Ghost filled born again believers…they carried guns to school not bibles…they wore long black trenchcoats and called themsevles a mafia..they did not fit in at school people were afraid of them…they set around playing secular video games of death and they loved hitler…they were not christians nor were they saved..so stop lying.”

So what you are saying is that Christians never behave in such a manner? How does that explain the Crusades, Inquisition, witch hunts, decimation of indigenous peoples for Christ, Hitler, anti-Jewish hatred (for killing Jesus), abortion clinic bombings and shootings, the bomb at the Atlanta Olympics, and much, much more?

Once you get over the urban legend of them killing the girl because she says “yes,” you will understand that they spared the girl that actually said “yes.” You are looking at it from the wrong perspective because you believe in what is not true. The other perspective is that they were killing people that teased and taunted them. They were doing the work of God and sending to Hell early. They were continuing the work of the Crusaders, Inquisitors, Conquistadors, and everyone else that killed in the name of God.

After reading that last bit were you offended and upset? Good. Perhaps you know how Atheists feel when you level equally unwarranted and erroneous charges against them.

Stay in school a lot longer… you have much to learn.

 

Tracy Rebuttal #003

Everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion. Religion may not be the answer but even you have to admit that there are people who do good things in the name of religion and that there are people who do not abuse the bible…because people have tried to interpret the bible their own way…it has caused much confusion..so I apologize for any mud slinging…again it is up to the individual to decide…I am not trying to convert any one…I am not trying to push my religion on any one…People have their own opinions and we are all hoping we’re the right ones…Only God can say….I believe one day he will…I hear this word tolerance and I realize now that no one will tolerate a Christian person but will expect full submission of the Christian…A Christian is not expected to have any rights…but is expected to have tolerance.

 

Response to Tracy #003:

TRACY: “Everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion.”

You are correct. The Constitution allows everyone his or her own opinion. The Constitution allows everyone his or her own beliefs. We enjoy religious freedom in this country, which means you have the right to believe in the Bible-God, your neighbor has the right to believe in the Qur’an-God, and I have the right not to believe in any of the gods.

TRACY: “Religion may not be the answer but even you have to admit that there are people who do good things in the name of religion and that there are people who do not abuse the bible…”

Yes, there have been people that have done good things in the name of religion. That is why I do not like to play the “guilty by association card.” Every group would be guilty of such if we followed the biblical rule of “the sins of the fathers…”

The only reason I even brought up the Crusades, Inquisition, and others is that you were trying to tie Atheists together under the misconception that the Columbine shooters were Atheists. You tried to play the “guilty by association card,” and I simply reminded you that Christianity is not free from such guilt.

My point of contention of “good in the name of religion” is this: is it really a good thing (a moral thing) if it is done in order to receive a reward (Heaven) or to prevent punishment (Hell)? Is it not more moral for someone to do something simply because it is the right thing to do and not because we are afraid of going to Hell or to make sure we get to Heaven? It would seem that if an Atheist and a Christian fed the homeless at Thanksgiving, that the Atheist would be doing the more moral act because he or she is doing it because it is the right thing to do, whereas the Christian is doing it in order to look good in the eyes of his or her god.

TRACY: “…so I apologize for any mud slinging…”

Apology accepted. I return the apology for any return mud slinging that I did.

TRACY: “again it is up to the individual to decide…”

That is the beauty of religious freedom. Each of us can decide on our own whether or not we want to be religious and what religion we want to believe in. I may not agree with you theologically, and I may even think your beliefs are “silly,” but that does not mean I do not support your right to believe in what you do.

TRACY: “I hear this word tolerance and I realize now that no one will tolerate a Christian person but will expect full submission of the Christian…A Christian is not expected to have any rights…but is expected to have tolerance.”

Tolerance is the wrong word to use, anyway. I think it is more apropos to use the word acceptance. No one should be “tolerated.” It is a negative word for the person that people tolerate and the persons having to tolerate something. I would not want to know that someone hated me but was just tolerating me in order to be nice. That is not a moral thing to do. However, I think if someone accepted me for who I was, even if they disagreed with me, then that would be a much kinder thing to do – a more humanitarian way of looking at things. Do not tolerate anybody, but accept him or her for whom or what he or she is.

Christians have the same rights as everyone else. Everyone is equal under the Constitution. The history of Christianity, and its present-day course under the reign of Evangelicals like Falwell, Robertson, and Dobson, place Christianity (in the US, anyway) at odds with the Constitution. Christianity, by its theological nature, is a proselytizing and public religion. This means that most Christians, especially since they are the majority, want special rights beyond what the Constitution grants.

How many times have you heard Christians say, “But we are the majority!” Christians seem to be in the mindset that because they are the majority that they can get whatever they want, that they can have a “Christian nation.” The Constitution prevents this because everyone is equal: no matter how small or big his or her group is.

The Constitution gives us individual personal rights – not group rights. We cannot amass our individual rights in order to give ourselves more rights than those that are smaller. The Constitution provides for freedoms as long as those freedoms do not infringe upon the rights of others.

You have the right to be a Christian, but you do not have the right to violate the rights of others in order to practice your religion.

Do you understand the difference? You can believe that homosexuals are an abomination unto the Lord all you want, but you cannot use the Bible to prevent homosexuals from having the same rights as you. You can believe that Atheists are Satanists, but you cannot use the Bible to prevent Atheists from having the same rights as you.

To understand better, imagine that the United States was majority Muslim and you were among the minority religion of Christian. How would you feel if Allah were all over the money, in the Pledge of Allegiance, spoken by public officials at every public rally, and in every part of your life? You could not escape it. The Muslim majority frowned upon you and made your life miserable by ostracizing your children at school and discriminating against you at work.

If you can understand how you would feel in that situation, then you will understand how Atheists and minority religions feel on a daily basis in the United States. Luckily, we have a Constitution to protect us against an unruly majority that has no regards for the rights of the minority.

And that was the last I heard from Tacy…