03.12.10
Posted in General at 6:00 am by Hemant Mehta
President Obama’s 2011 budget calls for a big change of course for NASA.
As one reader, Ben, puts it:
The new proposal has the potential to put a lot of people out of work, depending on how the budget is implemented. This would affect not just NASA employees but people working in the service and other industries around NASA if our NASA center [in Houston] down-sizes.
One local church has chosen to deal with this situation… by praying about it.
Clear Lake Presbyterian Church, near the Johnson Space Center in Houston, is collecting 500 prayer requests.
(Because if they only get 499, God won’t listen…?)
Here’s the kicker — Pastor Steve Oglesbee said this about the prayer requests:
“We wanted to do something to help the community.”
Prayer was an obvious choice, and gathering specific prayer requests requires congregants to reach out in a practical way.
“We want to connect with what people’s real and specific needs are,” he said. “We want to know what people are really worried about.”
Of course, the prayers aren’t going to get any jobs back.
And no one is listening to the prayers.
But it’s a nice gesture, right?
Or does it just make you mad when you hear that’s the recourse people are taking? (Got a problem? Let’s pray about it.)
If that didn’t do it for you, what about this?
Christian blogger/author Jon Acuff is organizing a 24-hour prayer marathon this weekend.
He has a list of people who will be praying each hour. (Because if you only have 3 people praying between the hours of 4:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m., God just says, “Screw that” and goes to sleep?)
Again, their intentions are wonderful; they want to help people dealing with all sorts of tough situations. That’s commendable.
But their solution is to pray.
I can’t decide whether to just let it go because that’s their coping mechanism.
Or to laugh.
Or to *facepalm*.
Or to tilt my head a bit to the side with a confused look on my face as if I’m looking at an exotic animal.
For what it’s worth, I am aware of studies that show people do indeed get better if they know people are praying for them — but it’s for the same reason that you get better if you know your loved ones are thinking about you. You feel cared for and that changes you.
But the people doing the praying aren’t thinking that. We know that. They think a god is going to act on their prayers. That’s just silly.
…
Despite my thinking that this is all just an attempt to make those who are praying feel like they’re actually making a difference (when they’re not), I have no desire to make them stop doing it.
I don’t want to go on their websites and let them know that god isn’t listening. If I met the people praying, I wouldn’t waste my time telling them it’s all useless. They sounds like good people who (mistakenly) think they’re helping.
What are you thinking when you hear about others’ prayer attempts?
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Posted in General, Humor at 12:15 am by Hemant Mehta
Now, it all makes sense:
(via SMBC)
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03.11.10
Posted in Books, General at 1:00 pm by Hemant Mehta
In the latest issue of the Secular Student Alliance’s eMpirical, there’s a debate on Greg Epstein’s book Good Without God: What a Billion Nonreligious People Do Believe:
Sharon Moss, president of the Humanist Community of Central Ohio, is a fan of Epstein’s message:
If our message is going to reach beyond just white men — to get the majority of nontheists off the couch and into our movement — we need to get our faces out of the philosophy books from time to time. We can take cues from other movements and embrace both our firebrands and our diplomats. It takes all kinds — and different points of entry — to make a movement. Good Without God is a push to get us there.
Frank Bellamy, president of the Secular Student Alliance at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, thinks the book does more harm than good:
… what makes Good Without God offensive to me is that unlike the “new atheists” (as he calls them), who do not claim to represent all secular people, Epstein has the arrogance to claim he speaks for you, me, and everyone else who does not believe in a god (see the subtitle). He clearly does not. I agree with PZ Myers, who said, “just as we can be good without god, we can also be good without rituals, good without sacraments, [and] good without priests and chaplains.”
Where do you stand on the book and its premise?
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Posted in General at 6:00 am by Hemant Mehta
I’m recovering from speaking at Beloit College last night (it was awesome), so consider this an open thread!
Discuss what you will.
Need a topic?
What the %&$*# is happening on Lost? I’m obsessed with the show and yet I’m still so damn confused about everything.
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03.10.10
Posted in General, Pseudoscience, Science at 6:00 pm by Hemant Mehta
Do you ever find yourself in a heated debate with Creationists and all you have with you is your iPhone?!
Yes. Yes, you do. Every day.
That’s why you want to download Creationist Claims by Insomnia Addict — it’s the iPhone version of The Counter-Creationism Handbook by Mark Isaak.
And it’s free!
How awesome is that?
(Thanks to Elsa for the link!)
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Posted in Art, General at 11:00 am by Hemant Mehta
The band Tense Kids has a fun little song called “Song for James Randi” that I’ve been listening to for a couple nights now. The lyrics are great.
Feel free to listen to it here:
And check out singer/songwriter Joe Harbison’s personal page here.
Yay for skeptic music!
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Posted in General, Lawsuits at 6:00 am by Hemant Mehta
This is what you need to know about Jeff and Marci Beagley:
They allowed their son to die of an inflammation of his urethra because they figured a god would cure him. Instead of taking him to a doctor for real help, they prayed… and sat back idly while he suffered.
A jury found them guilty of criminally negligent homicide.
The other day, they finally received their sentence:
Clackamas County Circuit Court Judge Steven Maurer sentenced Jeffrey and Marci Beagley to 16 months in prison this afternoon, calling the couple’s decision to not seek medical care for their 16-year-old son, Neil Beagley, a “crime that was a product of an unwillingness to respect the boundaries of freedom of religious expression.”
… The sentence also includes three years of post-prison supervision.
A little over a year. They killed their own son and that’s all they have to serve for it.
I saw the video of their sentencing and I felt no sympathy for them.
I just hope this sends a lesson to other parents. Pray for your children’s health if you want, but god won’t help them as much as a good doctor will.
(via Religion Clause)
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03.09.10
Posted in General, Humor at 7:00 pm by Hemant Mehta
I don’t think I want one, but maybe some of you are interested in a Jesus:
Incidentally the actual location is in New Zealand.
(via FAIL Blog)
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Posted in Advice, Atheist Parenting, General, Richard Wade at 2:00 pm by Richard Wade
Dear Richard
We are an atheist couple with three children aged 10, 8 and 5. The youngest starts school this year.
We have explained to our children that different people believe in different gods, but neither of us believe in god, and that when they are older they can decide for themselves what they want to believe in. I think it is wrong for parents to impose religious views on children, and so I do not feel I can impose atheist views on them either.
We have told them we believe that science can now explain most of what religion was constructed to explain, that morals/ethics are not tied to religion, and that people who do not believe in god are ‘good’ too.
Their grandmother is hoping to instill her Catholic beliefs into them by discussing religion with them at every opportunity. We told them in age appropriate ways that they are to listen politely, not argue, and to largely ignore what she says about religion. We teach them to show tolerance and respect for others’ beliefs, but we are clear that we do not believe in religion as a truth. We have explained the agnostic view that the idea of god(s) cannot be proved one way or another, however the probability of a higher power is extremely low, to the point where we cannot imagine how it could be possible.
We aren’t perfect and do our fair share of eye-rolling at what we consider religious stupidity, we dismiss religious belief out of hand and discuss the idiocy of fundamentalism etc. in front of them (and with them) too.
In Australia where we live, most schools provide Christian religious education, which children can opt out of with parental permission. It is an ecumenical Christian course, 30 minutes per week. We gave our two older boys the choice to attend or not. The oldest wants to continue attending. He is not particularly interested in religion, but he doesn’t want to stand out from the crowd. The middle boy has opted out of religious education, but he is more questioning.
My concern is this: Our middle child is now questioning this agnostic point of view. If we cannot prove god does not exist, how do we know he doesn’t? We have had no problems discussing issues such as evolution, but he has been asking about the big bang theory and what (who?) caused that. I am pleased he is asking questions instead of just accepting what he is told, but it makes me nervous too. While I can field most of these questions (so far) and I will be searching for some age appropriate literature for him, I am wondering if our liberal, tolerant, ‘you decide for yourself’ attitude will backfire and the children will become religious. Should we be more hardline? And if so…
My other concern is: what if they become fundamentalist (Christians, presumably) as a means of rebelling against us? I think children sometimes rebel against their parents by taking the opposite stance – what should we do if it plays out like this? Is there any way we can avoid it? I guess this the same concern religious parents have if their children decide they don’t believe in god. Of course I think I am correct (just like everyone else) and I will be doing the children a disservice by not telling them what I believe to be correct – but does raising a free-thinker mean allowing them to think the ‘wrong’ thing?
Thank you,
P
Dear P,
This is what freedom means. When a person is truly free to make a choice, they’re not necessarily going to choose what others would prefer. When a person is truly free to have their own ideas, they’re not necessarily going to agree even with those who gave them that freedom. This is why freedom, real freedom is not as popular a concept around the world as people in free countries might assume. Living in a free society requires a great deal of courage to accept that others will make choices that we don’t prefer, and have ideas with which we disagree.
Many people are just not capable of that level of courage. They want to see their preferences followed by others, even at the expense of their own freedom. Here is where you get to see if you have the courage of your convictions. Do you really mean it when you say that parents should not impose either religious or atheist views on their children? Do you really mean it when you tell your children they can decide their beliefs for themselves? Or will their being accepted by you require that their beliefs agree with yours, as so many religious families require?
You have taught your children well to think for themselves and make their own choices, so they are doing just that. Good!
Your 10 year-old is choosing to go through the motions of religious practice, not because he’s actually interested in it, but for the social benefits of “fitting in.” That’s his choice, and all choices have their pluses and minuses. He’ll have plenty of time to sort out what’s in his own best interests, and to make adjustments to his mix of conformity and individuality.
Your 8 year-old is choosing to question what people present as truth, just as you have encouraged him to do. Right now, he’s questioning what the two of you have been presenting as truth, both in your words and your reactions. Later, he will probably be questioning other things he heard presented as truth from other people. Questioning things may be part of his innate nature, and you have wisely cultivated that. Like his older brother, he’ll have plenty of time to question his conclusions again and again, and to make adjustments to his mix of skepticism and belief.
The specifics of his questions about ultimate causes and beginnings, and about the burden of proof have logical responses that you can offer for him to consider. He’s simply asking you to give him more challenging ideas to apply to his questions.
So whether he eventually becomes a theist, an atheist, an agnostic, or a combination, he will have reached that position through careful consideration and deliberation. He’s a very thoughtful kid. I like him.
Remember that they are still children. They will go through several more incarnations as pre teens, adolescents and young adults. It will be a tumultuous time of experimentation, differentiation, challenge, and yes, rebellion. But young people’s most destructive rebellion is usually against oppressive and authoritarian parenting. You have given your children freedom to be who they are as they change and grow. Whatever their expressions of independence from you they may try, they won’t have to go to extremes in order to make their statements and plant their flags.
It sounds like you have also taught them that there must be a balance between freedom and responsibility. They are responsible for their social interactions and the effect they have on others. They are responsible for their personal choices and the consequences. And it sounds like you have also instilled the responsibility to support and defend their own ideas. So if they choose to believe something, they know that they will be expected to back it up with a strong and thoughtful argument. Just keep promoting and practicing that expectation, and let it run its course as they try on different ideas.
You have promised your children freedom of thought. They know what you would prefer them to think, but they are free to adopt your preferences wholly, partially, or to disregard them. Now you must honor your promise by not penalizing them if they choose something other than your preference.
Regardless how much or little they agree with your ideas as they grow up, I think they will love you dearly and gratefully for the courage you had to give them the skills and freedom to find their own paths, even if their paths might diverge from yours. They are very lucky kids.
Be glad that they are using your courageous gift to them. Celebrate as equally wondrous both how they are similar to you and different from you.
Richard
You may send your questions for Richard to 
. Please keep your letters concise. All will eventually be answered, but not all can be published. There is a large number of requests; please be patient.
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Posted in General, Politics, Secular Coalition for America at 10:00 am by Hemant Mehta
Wayne Laugesen, the editorial page editor of the Colorado Springs Gazette, has a piece in which he chides the atheist movement as a whole.
He says we had a good run, but we’re committing a comedy of errors:
… The organization Atheist Agenda, at the University of Texas-San Antonio, draws attention by offering pornography in exchange for Bibles, Torahs, Korans and other religious texts.
Here’s some unsolicited advice for the college atheists: Grown-ups don’t think it’s cute, and you don’t help the atheist cause by aligning it with porn. We’re just saying…
Meanwhile, the Freedom From Religion Foundation has decided to battle the U.S. Postal Service over its new Mother Teresa stamp….
He focuses on things like the recent chaos at the Richard Dawkins forums as evidence that our movement is fading fast.
That’s ridiculous. There are plenty of things atheists do that I like and much that I dislike. But overall, we’re heading in the right direction.
And when you have momentum on your side, a few distractions won’t change that.
The few blemishes we have don’t necessarily set us back all the way. I’m not a fan of Smut for Smut but I don’t think they’re going to undo everything that Dawkins and Sam Harris and the national organizations have been working toward. They don’t help, but they’re not the end of the world.
We’re not unified in our tactics but we don’t have to be. And we’re not going to keep our mouth shut if we don’t like what someone else is doing. That said, we are basically unified in our message that we would be better off living in a society where religion had less power than it does now. We’d be better off without all the superstitious nonsense. We’d be better off if people realized they could be good without a god.
But how does Laugesen treat the few instances where atheists don’t come off looking great?
As a collective, atheists are falling apart. Their movement probably has no great future. It may have seen all the momentum it ever will. The atheist community will thrive only if non-believers find positive and constructive causes, as Mother Teresa did. It will find a future only if disbelievers put time and money into soup kitchens, homeless shelters, hospitals and AIDS hospices — as Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus and Christians do. A movement can’t go far on negative energy alone… If atheists want acceptance, and to make a difference in this world, they need to find the love.
He’s overreacting.
But he has a point about the love. We can’t tear down religion without offering something to replace it. You can’t take away someone’s hope without inspiring them in another way. You can’t remove someone’s social network without offering them a new community to join.
The atheist movement is working on all of those things.
Laugesen neglects to mention groups like Foundation Beyond Belief (which I’m on the board of) which focus on getting Secular Americans to give to charity.
He forgets that young people are coming out, starting local groups, and being vocal about their non-theism moreso than ever before.
He doesn’t mention that we’re meeting with the White House, lobbying in Washington, D.C., and working together more than anyone would’ve ever thought possible.
Yes, there are a few individuals and groups who do things that might hurt our image. But the overall trend is favorable to us and that’s not about to change because of a few people.
(Thanks to Bob for the link)
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