Category / Religion
I’m A Math Atheist Too
‘Don’t Believe In God?’ Billboard in Philadelphia
That’s the billboard drivers on Interstate 95 north of Philadelphia will see as they head out of town. Placed to coincide with the National Day of Reason, the billboard faces outbound traffic and helps to “make nontheistic people, such as atheists and agnostics, aware that they aren’t alone.” says Joe Fox, president of the Humanist Association of Greater Philadelphia.
The billboard will be up for three months and is one of a series that will appear around the country, raising the public profile of humanists and freethinkers. The billboard is backed by an active Web site at PhillyCOR.org that sets forth the larger mission of the effort and offers ways that individuals can get involved. An image of the billboard appears on the site, but people can also phone 1-800-NEW-REASON. Either way they will be able to learn more about the national and Philadelphia organizations behind the effort.
I’d like to see more of these all over the country. If nothing else, just to even the playing field against all the religious crap you’re forced to look at every time you hit the interstate. And three months just isn’t long enough.
The billboard is a joint venture by national humanist and freethought organizations, including the American Humanist Association and it’s independent marketing adjunct FreeThoughtAction, Atheist Alliance International, the Freethought Society of Greater Philadelphia, the Humanist Association of Greater Philadelphia, and Temple University Secular Students.
Via: Press Release
If We Wish To Feel Small
Many religions have attempted to make statues of their gods very large, and the idea, I supposed, is to make us feel small. But if that’s their purpose, they can keep their paltry icons. We need only look up if we wish to feel small. - Carl Sagan
Even Creationists Thumb Down Expelled
Reason To Believe, an old-earth creation science ministry has been going out of its way to distance itself from Ben Stein’s Expelled and has issued a statement against the film and its claims.
In Reasons To Believe’s interaction with professional scientists, scientific institutions, universities, and publishers of scientific journals we have encountered no significant evidence of censorship, blackballing, or disrespect. As we have persisted in publicly presenting our testable creation model in the context of the scientific method, we have witnessed an increasing openness on the part of unbelieving scientists to offer their honest and respectful critique.
Our main concern about EXPELLED is that it paints a distorted picture. It certainly doesn’t match our experience. Sadly, it may do more to alienate than to engage the scientific community, and that can only harm our mission.
- Hugh Ross, Fazale Rana, Jeff Zweerink, David Rogstad, and Kenneth Samples
You know you’ve made a high quality, documentary when people on your own side say you’re full of it.
Via: Post-Darwinist
Can’t Argue With That!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXf8COiHMuM
Please, please go watch the rest of his videos. Good stuff.
John Oliver’s Sticker Solution
Skepchick pointed me to this brilliant bit of old stand-up comedy by Daily Show corespondent John Oliver regarding politics, evolution and creationism.
I agree. Let’s teach the controversy about creationism. Let’s put stickers on all Bibles explaining that they only offer one of many creation theories.
Religion Is ‘The New Social Evil’
I wouldn’t exactly call it ‘new’ but pollsters in the UK asked 3,500 people what they thought were the worst aspects of modern society and discovered religion was high on the list. The results were very reassuring… for the UK, that is.
The researchers found that the “dominant opinion” was that religion was a “social evil”.
Though poverty and drug abuse are higher on the list (and rightly so), it seems Britain is fed up with religion. Other issues expressed by the 3,500 polled included family breakdown, young people’s behavior and fears over immigration.
“Britain has had it with religion,” said Terry Sanderson, president of the National Secular Society.
Via: Times Online
Dawkins Responds To Misguided Jew
The coming aftermath of Ben Stein’s disgusting excuse for a documentary Expelled is shown crystal clear in the form of a letter received by Michael Shermer sent by an angry Jewish filmgoer.
Now I truly understand who you atheists and darwinists really are! You people believe that it was okay for my great-grandparents to die in the Holocaust! How disgusting. Your past article about the Holocaust was just window dressing. We Jews will fight to keep people like you out of the United States!
Evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins felt compelled to respond to the Jewish individual in an open letter in hopes of clearing up his misguided anger towards scientists and atheists. Anger created by the misinformation portrayed in Ben Stein’s Expelled film that incorrectly links Darwin to Hitler.
Things began to make sense once I saw the movie and I am just appalled. I have learned a lot from Ben Stein, a Jewish brother, who has opened my eyes up a bit.
I fear there are more ‘Jewish brothers’ out there who have been twisted by Stein’s film into thinking the same way. Make it a point to show these twisted minds the light.
Via: Richard Dawkins
Private Christian Schools
… are no better than the rest.
EXPELLED Thievery Continues
Expelled filmmaker’s illegally use John Lennon’s song “Imagine” for their creationist propaganda film.
These guys are on an absolute roll for the worst planned and executed film release ever. Just when you thought they couldn’t stoop any lower they go and steal good music in an attempt to gain some credibility for their piss-poor excuse for a documentary.
The blogosphere rippled with anger over the film’s use of the song “Imagine,” by the late John Lennon. Many accusing Lennon’s wife, Yoko Ono of selling out to creationists by licensing the song to these filmmakers. Ms. Ono’s lawyers were quick to respond that the filmmaker’s had not licensed the music and had no permission to use the song.
… according to a lawyer for Ms. Ono, the filmmakers did not have permission to use the song, for any amount of money.
Ms. Ono’s lawyer, Jonas Herbsman, of Shukat, Arrow, Hafer, Weber & Herbsman, said in an interview Wednesday: “It was not licensed.” With respect to the filmmakers, he says: “We are exploring all options.” It is not clear what remedies if any may be available to Ms. Ono.
I’m beginning to wonder if they genuinely made any part of this documentary themselves or if they just stole it all and spliced it together.
Via: Richard Dawkins
