I also see that there are atheists who seem to be humor-challenged.

I second that. And may I add spontaneity-, fun-, and goofiness-challenged? Then again, it’s not just the atheists. It’s across the board.

Hmmm… maybe we can look for the link between sense of humor and personali….. oh wait, that’s a different thread. Sorry!

Another site on charities. (really, only one link at a time is too restrictive, most sites allow two)

http://www.charitywatch.org/

I think you’re tying an emotional response to your reasoning. I’d like to see the analysis of religious charities and percentage of resources tied up in evangelizing versus providing non discriminatory aid. It can be very difficult to find secular alternatives to religious charities, depending on the region of the world you live in, and how well the charity is run, and how effective they are. Habitat for Humanity has a strong network of donors, suppliers, and staff who are able to provide a valuable service. However, they also give a Bible to each home buyer.

I think you can take the religious tests too far. Some atheists will research a secular organization so much, that if they find any taint of religious, either by a board member, or other high staff member, they will have no part in that organization, despite other factors, such as effectiveness or coordination.

- Richard Wade. Some xian charities do try to do good works, but for many they waste much, even most, of their resources on evangelizing rather than helping. One can help people better by contributing to or working for secular aid organizations. Oh, I know there can be corruption there too.

I think you meant to address this to someone else.

Personally, I think that forceful speech against the nonsense of religion in all of its aspects, …

There you go again, confusing being forceful with being sloppy and obnoxious. Do you really think that a few brief paragraphs in an obituary is enough warrant to make the sweeping claim that someone’s life is a waste? Then again, if you tried harder to make sure that what you were saying was actually true, you wouldn’t be as offensive, at least not to other atheists.

The problem I have with the post is, as Siamang and others have pointed out, he’s picking on a private person at a time when his family is obviously grieving. That’s pointless and it’s just in poor taste.

Yes, I can see why some people would be sensitive to that. But personally speaking, if I were a part of the grieving family, I would much rather have ten PZ Myerses posting their honest (not hateful) thoughts on their blogs rather than coming around with fake sympathies and prayer offers when they clearly know they don’t really care all that much.

Another thought I had was…. do we (Americans) not openly discuss our negative feelings toward the Middle Eastern culture and the the Muslim religion with no sensitivity toward the grieving families and disrupted lives there? Is it different when we’re so far removed and it’s not about us? Or is it different when we’re talking about people that don’t really matter? Or am I totally out of line again from the focus? The only reason I’m asking is because I often find myself doing the same thing… But it always looks worse when someone else does it. Go figure!

Hypocrisy abounds
In the streets filled with lies
Reaching for the pot of gold
Fighting for the prize

All too hollow greetings
Mechanical handshakes
Love – wrapped in ambiguity
Numbness, luke-warmness

Helping hand reaching out
to touch the self-pride
Feeding the hungry
to feed own self-doubt

Every corner, every turn
Humanity so real
Lost in blurred reflections
In the dream of SELF….self…self

You think I’m not speaking out because I’m not yelling. Quite the contrary.

Amen, sister!

If the path to atheist acceptance requires combing obituary pages for easy marks who can’t argue back, count me out.

Let’s be forceful and loud against the real buffoons in the public eye. There’s plenty of them. We won’t run out.

Preach it, brother!

It’s possible to speak forcefully and fight the power, without being judgmental and dismissive of some guy who just died and never asked for your opinion anyway?

Like Karen, I think that PZ is a great communicator, but other times he appears tone deaf. Sometimes obnoxious is just obnoxious.