A brief writeup on the convention (that doesn’t do it justice) and a video (that doesn’t do it justice) was seen on Good Morning America Weekend Edition this morning.
Check it out here!
[tags]atheist, atheism[/tags]
Bomb sniffing dog.
White men dancing to rap music.
One speaker’s suggestion that there should be a special fast-track line for atheists at airports. Because, really, are there ever atheist suicide bombers?
Details (and more!) to come later.
Good night!
Great speeches by Richard Dawkins/Sam Harris.
I have entertaining pictures.
I was Daniel Dennett for an evening. (<— Not a typo)
I’m very sleepy.
More later.
I’m off to DC in the morning for the Atheist Alliance International convention.
Good times will be had.
Pictures will be taken.
Interviews will be transcribed.
And if I have my way, Richard Dawkins and Sam Harris will be signing my copies of I Sold My Soul on eBay.
With some possible exceptions, I’ll be back in a few days.
Be good while I’m gone.
[tags]atheist, atheism[/tags]
There’s an article in The New York Times about Ben Stein’s movie Expelled. It mentions Richard Dawkins and PZ Myers and others who were duped into giving interviews to a group of Creationists who lied about their intentions for filming the interviews.
Anyway, the reason I bring this up is because PZ and others are glowing about this phrase by reporter Cornelia Dean:
There is no credible scientific challenge to the theory of evolution as an explanation for the complexity and diversity of life on earth. And while individual scientists may embrace religious faith, the scientific enterprise looks to nature to answer questions about nature. As scientists at Iowa State University put it last year, supernatural explanations are “not within the scope or abilities of science.”
Awesome. Straightforward, blunt, and honest.
Though she liked it better the first time Cornelia Dean said it:
There is no credible scientific challenge to the idea that all living things evolved from common ancestors, that evolution on earth has been going on for billions of years and that evolution can be and has been tested and confirmed by the methods of science. [“Evolution takes a back seat in US classes,” Feb 2, 2005]
Not so much the second time:
”We were invited to debate one supposed theory against another,” Dr. Leshner said, when in fact there was no credible scientific challenge to the theory of evolution. [“Opting Out in the Debate on Evolution,” June 21, 2005.]
Or the third time:
“Darwinian evolution is the foundation of modern biology. While researchers may debate details of how the mechanism of evolution plays out, there is no credible scientific challenge to the underlying theory.” [Leading Cardinal Redefines Church’s View on Evolution,” July 9, 2005.]
Or the fourth time:
There is no credible scientific challenge to the idea that evolution explains the diversity of life on earth, but advocates for intelligent design posit that biological life is so complex that it must have been designed by an intelligent source. [“In ‘Design’ vs. Darwinism, Darwin Wins Point in Rome,” Jan 19, 2006.]
Or the fifth time:
There is no credible scientific challenge to the theory of evolution as an explanation for the diversity and complexity of life on earth. ["Science of the Soul? ‘I Think, Therefore I Am’ Is Losing Force," June 26, 2007.]
Annie Wagner may be tiring of the phrase, but I like that Cornelia Dean is doing this. There’s something to the broken record method. The more you repeat the phrase, the more people get used to hearing those words together.
Say it together now: There is no credible scientific challenge to the theory of evolution.
(It’s the same reason I named this site “Friendly Atheist” — get used to saying those words together!)
The more people quote Dean’s phrasing, the more it spreads, the more evolution-deniers have to answer to that fact.
It’s the same technique the Intelligent Design people have utilized for so long: “Teach the controversy,” anyone?
(Via Slog)
[tags]atheist, atheism, evolution[tags]
It’s one thing to not stand up during the daily Pledge of Allegiance recital in high school. It takes balls to do that in most places.
But to get 50 of your classmates to do it with you… that’s just freaking phenomenal:
“Boulder High has a highly diverse population, not all of whom believe in God, or one God,” said Emma Martens, a senior and president of the [Student Worker Club], which has about a dozen members.
“We didn’t think it was fair for the whole school to have to listen to it. It’s almost religious oppression,” she said.
The 50 students left class and recited their own God-free Pledge:
“I pledge allegiance to the flag and my constitutional rights with which it comes. And to the diversity, in which our nation stands, one nation, part of one planet, with liberty, freedom, choice and justice for all.”
The principal isn’t getting rid of the pledge, but he supports the students:
Principal Bud Jenkins told the Camera newspaper on its Web site Thursday the pledge will not be moved, but added he was proud of the students for standing up for their beliefs.
It was not immediately clear what discipline, if any, the protesting students would face.
Check out the video:
(Via Reddit)
[tags]atheist, atheism, Under God, Michael Newdow, activism[/tags]
In a piece by Baylor University senior Justin Mueller, he argues that the school “should be more friendly to groups of disbelief.”
Within the Atheist and Agnostic Society on campus (yes, there is one) nearly every member has told his or her “story” of their rejection of religious ideas, and the oft-ensuing parental sobbing and family strife that unsurprisingly follows.
Some of these people have also been homosexuals, which can add another layer of duress with the conservative prejudices that can accompany religiosity.
He sheds the myths…
As far as I know, very few atheists eat unbaptized babies. Nor do we have a higher propensity for kicking puppies, to my knowledge.
… and tells anecdotes of intolerance:
We have no crosses or official symbols, yet the display of a simple Darwin fish, or some other celebration of science and reason is far more likely to receive the smashing in of a windshield with a baseball bat, or a personally delivered death threat (both of which I have had the pleasure of receiving during my tenure at this loving Christian community) than any sort of openly positive response.
And he asks university leaders a great question:
Finally, and perhaps most futile, a query for Baylor’s religious establishment: Why are non-Christians not deserving of recognition and the right to organize on campus?
Yes, we non-Christians are fully aware that this is a private religious university, and that you can do what you wish. The question is whether you should.
It is hypocritical to portray Baylor as a university that respects diversity and seeks intellectual advancement while denying the aspirations for self-discovery and intelligent discussion that many students can only find in the sorts of groups and organizations that Baylor disallows.
Baylor will never achieve its long-term goals of academic maturity if it continues to ignore and treat non-Christian students as if they are undeserving of similar privileges.
Nicely said.
What exactly is he talking about, though? Isn’t his atheist group already on campus?
Yes, but only unofficially.
Check out this article from just over a year ago:
In spring 2005, Mueller approached Dr. Dub Oliver, vice president of student life, to begin the process of making the Atheists and Agnostics Society an official student organization on campus. The request was denied because of Baylor’s policy, Oliver said.
Baylor’s Student Policies and Procedure states: “The recognition of a student organization represents University endorsement and approval of the goals and purposes of that organization as being consistent with and in support of the goals and mission of Baylor University.”
Oliver said he believes an atheist group would not be consistent with Baylor’s goal.
The mission of Baylor apparently being to stifle any contrarian voice.
I went (and will one day return) to grad school at DePaul University just outside Chicago. It’s also a private religious institution. I haven’t have time to start an atheist group in my brief time there so far, but I don’t anticipate there would be much resistance. The school has been pretty open to non-Catholic voices in my time there.
Justin has the right idea. Keep raising the question. Draw attention to it. Even if the school keeps saying no, you succeed in making them look hypocritical and foolish. All you’re asking for is the opportunity to meet and converse. It’s not asking a lot.
[tags]atheist, atheism, The Lariat[/tags]
Tonight’s special moment from Survivor: China featuring Leslie Nease, the Christian radio talk show host:
Imagine the tears flowing as she says the following line:
It’s just hard because I don’t have a Bible…
Umm… You’re a Christian radio talk show host.
I’m guessing you know large parts of the Bible by heart.
At the very least, you understand the gist of it.
I like music. When I’m traveling sans iPod, I can still play the songs in my head.
I can still function and do everything I need to do without my music.
You can live without a physical Bible, too. It’s just temporary.
By the looks of things, you’re going to be voted off soon, anyway.
[tags]atheist, atheism[/tags]
Skepchick Rebecca Watson won the Public Radio Talent Quest competition!
Wonderful news for a very talented woman.
I shall refrain from making any Oreo references.
On a side note, I’m honored to be a part of next year’s Skepdude calendar. More on that later.
[tags]atheist, atheism[/tags]
(L-R: Sgt. Mike Aguilar, SPC Christopher Carr, SPC Jeremy Hall, SPC Tony Hernandez, and SPC Dustin Chalker)
The one in the middle, Jeremy Hall, is joining the Military Religious Freedom Foundation in suing the Department of Defense (here’s a PDF of the lawsuit):
The suit, in U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Kan., alleges that [Maj. Paul] Welborne threatened to file military charges against Hall and to block his reenlistment for trying to hold a meeting of atheists and non-Christians in Iraq.
…
In naming [Defense Secretary Robert] Gates as a defendant, the lawsuit alleges he permits a culture that sanctions activities by Christian organizations, including providing personnel and equipment. It also says the military permits proselytizing by soldiers, tolerates anti-Semitism and the placing of religious symbols on military equipment, and allows the use of military e-mail accounts to send religious rhetoric.
There’s currently an issue about who/where Welborne is. The lawsuit has now been amended to charge Freddy J. Welborn, not “Paul Welborne.”
Over at The Second Enlightenment, we hear about the response to Hall:
One unfortunate consequence of this is that, according to SPC Chalker, SPC Hall has been receiving death threats, ostensibly from some of his fellow soldiers, and has been assigned a bodyguard because of it (the person behind the camera, accord to SPC Chalker). I guess the theistic asshats making the threats never understood the concept of “brothers in arms,” because this sure isn’t any way to treat a fellow soldier, regardless of what religion he follows (or doesn’t as the case may be).
Why this is an issue baffles me. If the soldiers want to have a meeting for atheists, let them. End of story. This is the military, not church. Do the Christians who are stopping these meetings have nothing better to do in Iraq?
(via The Second Enlightenment. Thanks also to Richard for the links!)
[tags]atheist, atheism, military, army, religion, Jesus, Christian[/tags]
I Sold My Soul on eBay
Jim and Casper Go To Church
