7.29.2012
Chick-fil-A: The Taste of Bigotry
Back in 2009, I wrote that I thought atheists should avoid Chick-fil-A because they were in bed with Christian extremist groups like Focus on the Family. It made little sense, I reasoned, for an atheist to spend money at a Christian establishment that made it a point to push Christianity and promote Christian extremism.
In 2011, I revisited the subject of Chick-fil-A. I noted their support for the Pennsylvania Family Institute, an anti-gay organization, and again suggested that those interested in equality should probably find an alternative source for their processed chicken habit.
7.15.2012
Why Its Tough to Discuss Sexism in the Atheist Community
7.14.2012
Church Vandalism in South Carolina
A couple of churches in South Carolina were recently vandalized with anti-religion and pro-atheist messages. I join others in the atheist community in condemning this act. I think it reflects extremely poor judgment on the part of the perpetrators, and it accomplishes nothing constructive. I hope they are caught and have to do quite a bit of community service.
Hemant Mehta (Friendly Atheist) has been in contact with one of the pastors and is raising money to support a local secular charity.
It’s a gesture to show that, while we have very serious disagreements about the nature of God, we all want to help our communities and make this world a better place. It’s possible to work together toward that cause. It’s also a slap in the face to the vandals — if they wanted to prove anything, they failed.
I understand that some atheists are strongly opposed to much of what churches do (although this is certainly not the case for all atheists). Vandalizing churches has to be one of the least effective ways I can imagine to oppose what they do. There are plenty of other (legal) options for expressing one's opposition to church. Those who resorted to vandalism accomplished nothing.
7.12.2012
Freethought Bullying
7.11.2012
Existence of Atheists Offends Christians
Of all the messages I've seen on atheist billboards, this has always been one of my favorites. It is brief, simple, and tells atheists that there are others like them. Oh, and it also offends Christians in every location where it has gone up.
Since there is absolutely nothing even remotely offensive about this billboard, the inevitable conclusion is that many Christians are offended by the fact that there are atheists. If that isn't bigotry and hatred, I'm not sure what would be.
7.02.2012
Mitt Romney is a Mormon
Mitt Romney may have been the first presidential nominee from either of the two main parties in the United States I can recall who did not use nearly every opportunity to talk about his faith during his campaign. Had one not known that Mitt Romney is a Mormon, one could be forgiven for wondering if he might be an atheist.
The Romney campaign almost certainly knew that roughly 18% of Americans polled at the time said they would not vote for a Mormon for president. Their solution was to have their candidate avoid speaking directly about his Mormon faith whenever possible. Romney did refer to his faith on occasion, but he did so in an unusually vague manner, often omitting the part about being a Mormon and attempting to steer the discussion away from it.