WHY WE BELIEVE IN GODS

This video is nearly an hour long, but will be an hour well-spent to understand why people believe in gods.

I AIN'T AFRAID

Several weeks ago, I went to church. It was the first time I'd been in church for decades except for weddings or funerals.

At the Unitarian-Universalist Congregation, Dan Barker, co-president of the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) spoke about the case the FFRF had won in a Wisconsin court declaring that the National Day of Prayer was unconstitutional. The case is being appealed. Dan doesn't have much hope of winning in the Chicago court in which three judges will rule on the case, and in this situation, the three judges seem to lean toward rulings which favor religion. If the FFRF does win in Chicago and it is appealed to the Supreme Court, with the present court in which the majority of the justices are highly religious, the FFRF will probably not pursue the case.

If I were forced to join a church, I probably would join the Unitarians because they don't have a dogma and openly accept members who are religious (of any belief system) or non-religious. They don't teach or preach a particular creed, but encourage members and their children to learn about different religions and make up their own minds.

However, even the Unitarian service was too much like "church" ---the church I attended in my youth ---for me. I especially disliked the parts of the service that included responsive readings. The leader read something, then everyone responded in unison from a written text.

It reminded me of my favorite part of the Monty Python movie "Life of Brian" when Brian is telling the hoards who are following him and think he is the Messiah, to leave him alone. He says that they don't need him. "You're all individuals" he declares.

In unison, they respond, "Yes, we are all individuals."

Dah!

I did enjoy several things about being there that day. It was the first time I had attended a get-together of the local Meetup group, Secular Freethinkers. So I met and enjoyed speaking to some of the members. I will be attending a party they are sponsoring on May 22, 2011 ---to celebrate that we missed the rapture predicted to happen on May 21st ---TODAY.

After hearing numerous judgment day predictions in the past 60+ years, I am 100% certain we will all still be here at the end of the day.

I admit that there are times I wish all the "good Christians" and other religious people would be raptured. I'm sure this would be a less violent and more peaceful world without them.

At the Unitarian church, the reception afterward had great food. I am a nightowl and would normally have been in bed on Sunday (or any) morning. So I was tired, a bit cranky, and hungry. The coffee, fruit, juice, baked goods, and cheese were much appreciated.

And finally, the choir sang Holly Near's "I Ain't Afraid." I have always loved the lyrics and the tune is so catchy I found myself humming it for days afterward.

For your enjoyment, I am including several versions of the song, along with the lyrics (which are a bit difficult to hear on these videos.) Note that some versions seem to include or leave out some of the lyrics.

Enjoy!

I Ain't Afraid

by Holly Near

I ain't afraid of your Yahweh
I ain't afraid of your Allah
I ain't afraid of your Jesus
I'm afraid of what you do in the name of your God

I ain't afraid of your churches
I ain't afraid of your temples
I ain't afraid of your praying
I'm afraid of what you do in the name of your God

verse
Rise up find your higher power
Free up from fear, it will devour you
Watch out for the ego of the hour
The ones who say they know it
Are the ones who will impose it on you

I ain't afraid of your Yahweh
I ain't afraid of your Allah
I ain't afraid of your Jesus
I'm afraid of what you do in the name of your God

I ain't afraid of your churches
I ain't afraid of your temples
I ain't afraid of your praying
I'm afraid of what you do in the name of your God

verse
Rise up, and see /find/ know/ hear a higher story
Free up from the gods of war and glory
Watch out for the threats of purgatory
The spirit of the wind won’t make a killing off of sin and satan

I ain't afraid of your Bible
I ain't afraid of your Torah
I ain't afraid of your Koran
Dont let the letter of the law
Obsure the spirit of the your love--it's killing us

I ain't afraid of your Yahweh
I ain't afraid of your Allah
I ain't afraid of your Jesus
I'm afraid of what you do in the name of your God

I ain't afraid of your churches
I ain't afraid of your temples
I ain't afraid of your praying
I'm afraid of what you do in the name of your God


Money
Culture
Choices
I’m afraid of what you do in the name of your God

Sunday
Spirit
Teachers
I’m afraid of what you do in the name of your God

Sabbath
Borders
Dances
I’m afraid of what you do in the name of your God double

Children
Music
Stories
I’m afraid of what you do in the name of your God

Rise up to your higher power
Free up
Rise up to your higher power
Free up
Let's try to be highly evolved
I aint afraid

WEALTHY CITIZENS AND CORPORATE FREELOADERS

This has little to do with freethought or religion, but I am posting it here anyway.

My husband and I are retired and on fixed incomes. We already had some taxes automatically deducted from my pension. In addition we paid a substantial amount in estimated taxes. And just last week, I paid an additional $2500+ to the IRS.

I'm not one to complain about paying taxes. I know they go toward improving roads, education, healthcare, creating jobs and helping the unemployed and others less fortunate than I. I am glad my taxes go to fulfill my country's needs.

What I do object to is the wealthiest of American corporations and citizens who have received huge tax breaks, including many of the CEOs who are responsible for our current economic mess.

I don't mind paying taxes, I just don't want to pay an unfair share of the tax burden.

Click the image below for a larger view:

THE CHURCH OF BASEBALL

I posted this a while ago, but decided to repost it.

Around this time of year when the news begins to report on Spring Training, I have to pull out my old VHS video of "Bull Durham" ---one of my all-time favorite films (despite my general disinterest in baseball or any other sport.) I also added a quote I found recently.

Enjoy!

SHELTON, RON, writer, director, producer, composer (1945- )

“I believe in the Church of Baseball. I've tried all the major religions, and most of the minor ones. I've worshipped Buddha, Allah, Brahma, Vishnu, Siva, trees, mushrooms, and Isadora Duncan. I know things. For instance, there are 108 beads in a Catholic rosary and there are 108 stitches in a baseball. When I heard that, I gave Jesus a chance. But it just didn't work out between us. The Lord laid too much guilt on me. I prefer metaphysics to theology. You see, there's no guilt in baseball, and it's never boring... which makes it like sex... I've tried 'em all, I really have, and the only church that truly feeds the soul, day in, day out, is the Church of Baseball.”

(character Annie Savoy played by Susan Sarandon, “Bull Durham” 1988)

------------------

"A man once told me to walk with the Lord.

I'd rather walk with the bases loaded."

---Ken Singleton

(as reported in AARP Bulletin, March 2011, p.47)

OPEN LETTER TO AN ANTI-GAY CHRISTIAN

I RECEIVED THIS (AND SEVERAL SIMILAR MESSAGES) VIA EMAIL AND I HAVE SEEN IT ON VARIOUS WEB SITES. I RAN ACROSS IT AGAIN TODAY. I THOUGHT MY READERS MIGHT ENJOY IT.

As Mark Twain wrote: "Humor must not professedly teach and it must not professedly preach, but it must do both if it would live forever."

Dear (Choose your favorite religious hypocrite),

Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I have learned a great deal from you, and I try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind him that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination. End of debate.

I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some of the Bible's other specific laws and how to best follow them.

a) When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord (Lev 1:9). The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?

b) I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?

c) I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanliness (Lev 15:19-24). The problem is, how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.

d) Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?

e) I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself?

f) A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an Abomination (Lev 11:10), it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this?

g) Lev 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here?

h) Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev 19:27. How should they die?

i) I know from Lev 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?

j) My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev 19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? (Lev 24:10-16) Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14)

I know you have studied these things extensively, so I am confident you can help.

Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging.

Your devoted disciple and adoring fan,

(Sign name here)

I attempted to find the original writer, but this has been passed around so much, it was an impossible task.

CHRISTIANS BEHAVING BADLY #21: hiring a hitman

In my attempt to show that being religious

is not a guarantee of moral behavior,

this is just one post in my series of reports featuring

the bad behavior of religious people, past or present....

A former Roman Catholic priest has been charged with plotting to kill a teenaged boy. Unfortunately for the priest, the 'hitman' he tried to hire was an undercover police officer. On 11/23/10, John Fiala, 52, was charged in Texas with one count of criminal solicitation to commit capital murder. Bail was set at $700,000.

Apparently Fiala offered a neighbor $5000 to kill the boy. The neighbor called authorities who sent an undercover agent to speak to Fiala. Their conversation was caught on audio and video tape.

The teen's lawyer said the priest met the boy in 2007 and started giving the 16-year-old gifts including a computer and a car.

The boy filed a law suit in April accusing Fiala of raping him at gunpoint later that year and also filed against the church for covering up the priest's behavior. The sexual abuse continued through 2008 during private catechism classes and in hotel rooms.

The youth reported that Fiala had threatened him with physical violence and death. He also threatened to harm the boy's girlfriend and family if he ever revealed what had happened. The threats often came via daily text messages with Fiala threatening to kill himself and telling the boy they would 'go to heaven together.'

Finally in October 2008, the boy told a school counselor who reported the abuse to authorities, however Fiala was not arrested nor indicted on counts of sexual assault on a child until September 2010, and then he was freed on bond.

After the priest's arrest in the murder-for-hire plot, the teen, his family and lawyer are relieved the man is now in jail.

In Omaha, NE, the archdiocese has revealed that in 2002 a minor reported sexual abuse by Fiala which had taken place in the mid 1980s. Apparently nothing was done, except for moving the priest to another parish, as had/has been the Catholic church's practice. Finally when the San Antonio archbishop learned of the police investigation in 2008, Fiala was removed from active ministry.

Look for other posts showing the bad behavior

perpetrated by Christians and members of other religious groups.

For more information on the above topic search for "John Fiala" online.

New Autobiography of Mark Twain, Vol. 1

Mark Twain's outspoken views on religion were often suppressed by his only surviving daughter and by Twain's own biographers. Twain directed that some of his writings not be published until 100 years after his death. This year, 2010, marks the 100th anniversary of Twain's passing. Finally, the autobiography that Twain wished to be published is being published in 3 volumes. The first was made available, just this month.

Here is one of the many things Twain had to say about religion in the new version of his autobiography:

"There is one notable thing about our Christianity: bad, bloody, merciless, money-grabbing, and predatory. The invention of hell measured by our Christianity of today, bad as it is, hypocritical as it is, empty and hollow as it is, neither the deity nor his son is a Christian, nor qualified for that moderately high place. Ours is a terrible religion. The fleets of the world could swim in spacious comfort in the innocent blood it has spilled."

An excellent review of the new autobiography can be found at:

http://www.neh.gov/news/humanities/2011-03/MarkTwain.html

Happy 70th Birthday, John Lennon

John Lennon

October 9, 1940 - December 8, 1980

Imagine no religion.....