The Jewmanist

For those of you who have yet to read Sam Harris’ Letter to a Christian Nation, I can tell you it’s an excellent read. Also, a very short and quick read. Since it’s written directly to the American Christian (using “you”), I had to get passed being referred to as a Christian (raised Jewish, its far off from anything I am personally used to).

I like this book because it says a lot in so few pages (about 95). Here is a short synopsis (from Wikipedia):

Harris addresses his arguments to members of the conservative Christian Right in America. In answer to their appeal to the Bible on all questions of morality, he points to the harsh moral code of the Old Testament (death for adultery, homosexuality, disobedience to parents etc.), and contrasts this with, for example, the complete non-violence of Jainism. Harris argues that the reliance on dogma can create a false morality, which is divorced from the reality of human suffering and the efforts to alleviate it; thus religious objections stand in the way of condom use, stem cell research, abortion, and the use of a promising new vaccine for the human papilloma virus.

Festivus for the rest of us!

I made a few e-cards (seen here, here, and here) for the approaching holiday season. I plan on making more Festivus and general holiday e-cards. Feel free to use any of them. I will update you when I have more.

Human beings are social. And we like holidays, days off, gifts, and decorations. No need to throw out holiday cheer all together. Does this make atheism seem like a religion? I don’t think so. Most holidays are secular anyway like birthdays, (the bullshit of) Valentine’s Day, and Independence Day. There’s no reason why atheists and secularists can’t have fun, too! While the feats of strength may not go over well in some households, there’s always room for changing how you celebrate. No two families celebrate Xmas or Hanukkah exactly the same way.

I do not have a link, just a short essay by L. L. Sovrana.

Why the Atheist Movement Needs a Kick in the A$$ (And a Few Ideas on How to Deliver Said Kick)

The A-Word
What happens when you say the word “atheist”? We’ve all gotten various reactions? Everything from the benign “oh yeah?” to looks that imply death by stoning. Atheist is as loaded a word as you will find; it ranks up there with nigger, Nazi, and well-known swear words that begin with F or C.

“Atheist” is the dirty word of the new millennia.

Hello?! Atheism Is BORING
Religion has everything to do with emotion (and, clearly, nothing to do with logic). Think of the emotion at a Baptist revival meeting or a Pentecostal service. People are swept into emotional frenzies, laughing, singing, jumping, crying, swooning, speaking babble or allowing themselves to be chomped by snakes.

I mean, if I can do it (which is fill out three boxes of information)…

At the First Church of Atheism, one can become an ordained minister for free. Although I have a slight problem with the term “church”, I understand why and what they’re doing. You can perform marriage services (et al) in the secular way that they should be performed.