Merit-bound Alley

The Canadian National Post has an interview with Dr. Robert Buckman, an oncologist and former collaborator with John Cleese, where he intimates his concern for his fellow atheists.His concern centers around his view that “the godless can be way too dogmatic and far too humourless”.

Try to be more humble. Or as he puts it, “humble up.”

“Stop feeling because you are sure you are right that gives you the power to shout and dominate and be a pill,” said Dr. Buckman, who will be appearing with his good friend Dr. Henry Morgentaler. “Humble up and accept that people may not agree with you.”

This is semi-valid advice that may change if Canada’s religious conservative movement continues to gain ground in their government. The squeakiest wheels in the atheist community at the moment are the ones who are most against religion as a whole and take the most agressive stance in promoting their views. Yes, I thought parts of Dawkin’s The God Delusion were presented in a very arrogant way that made roll my eyes  bit, and I have yet to buy Chistopher Hitchen’s God is Not Great for that very same reason. However, as with any book, you have to incoporate the opinions of the author into understanding the message of the book and why it was written.

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Tags: Dr. Robert Buckman, Humor, New Atheists

Yes, I mean the show.

I was channel surfing and happened to come upon a Good Times Marathon. The episode that caught my eye was one in which Michael, the youngest son, gets a job at a hardware store where the owner happens to be an atheist. The owner’s atheist views come into discussion, and Michael being a 15 year old boy, decides he is atheist too because of his repect for his new boss.

When Flo finds out about this, the heads to the hardware shop to tell the owner that Michael quits. They butt heads, with appropriate 70s humor, then the owner decides to fire Michael so that the boy wouldn’t blame his mother for losing the job. That night, at dinner, the owner stops by the Evans household and offers to make peace with Michael, who then finds out Flo caused him to lose the job due to the shop owner’s beliefs.

As happens on sitcoms, everything resolves with everyone the best of friends. The atheist shop owner has dinner with the Christian Evans family and everyone is happy friends.

It just struck me how unlikely that resolution would be in America today. Atheists are finding their voices against the Christian right, and the loudest ones are also the most critical. Christians are seeing these attacks on their faith and pushing back on the atheists with attacks on their morals and ethics. This is not an environment that will nurture togetherness between the faithful and secular.

It’s interesting to me that such an old sitcom is making a point about co-existence and acceptance that would be pretty advanced today.

Just thought I’d share.

The video you see here was released by the president of American Atheists, Ellen Johnson. In it, she explains why she did not vote on Super Tuesday, citing the reason that there was no candidate that courted the secular vote. Now, let me say right off the bat that I am no stranger to voter apathy, and have had doubts as to whether or not my vote really counts. Here’s what I did about that: I thought about it and came to the conclusion that the only way my vote doesn’t count is through not using it. I educated myself on the candidates and found one that perhaps didn’t court my secularism, but at least held secular principles in high regard. When the time comes, I’ll vote for Barack Obama because he is for the principle of Separation, and has said many times that religious and secular alike have to work together to repair this country and nurse it back to its former greatness.What I did not do is is remain in the pit of voter despair and try to drag others down with me. Quoting Ellen Johnson:

We have the votes to be courted, but we’re ignored! We should flex out 11% muscle and stay home during the General Election in November.

This is blind, thoughtless, and irresponsible. Anyone who has followed the primaries can see that secular issues have been discussed in secular ways. Few of the candidates (and none of the Democrats) have said we should pray the soldiers home from Iraq, or ask god to give us universal healthcare. Now, they may not have had a rally for the secular voters, but they don’t have to. All they need to do is promote their support for the secular government that we already have.

Advising secular Americans not to vote because the candidates want to start their day with a prayer, or say “God bless you all” at a rally is monstrously irresponsible. We have much more at stake in 2008 than whether or not our future President goes to church.

I am a secular humanist and I will use my vote in November. I will do so not only because it’s my right, but because it is my responsibility. I advise Ellen Johnson to do the same and to retract her ill-considered advice to the secular community.

(h/t to Friendly Atheist)

Tags: American Atheists, Elections 2008, Ellen Johnson

If you are on Facebook, throw a little love at the Atheists in Foxholes group. Started by USAF Staff Sergeant Chris Owen, this group is for support of Atheist troops, and welcomes civilian members.Also check out Operation Foxhole Atheists. From the website:

OFA started after hearing about several atheist soldiers in Iraq that attempted to start a group at their Forward Operating Base (FOB). They were harassed by a major that threatened to go after them with the UCMJ (Uniform Code of Military Justice). The soldiers did not violate the UCMJ at all. In fact, the major, by misusing his rank to harass the soldiers and try to trump their attempt to exercise their right in the military to the freedom of religion, violated the UCMJ directly.

 h/t to the Friendly Atheist 

Tags: 139, 142, 145, 147

This from the CNN covers an ignoramus department:

“I don’t want a president who’s an atheist.”

Lucky her, since it seems a two-headed donkey with chlamydia seems to have a better chance of getting into office than someone who doesn’t believe in god.

I followed a link from the Friendly Atheist to  my best surprise this week over at Greta Christina’s Blog. Greta has a moving piece up about why athiests are angry and why that is a good thing. Please don’t let it’s length deter you, this is one of the sharpest and most honest howls I’ve read.

I would encourage all of you, atheist or not, to read this. For those of you who are theistic, please be kind when making any comments. Don’t make me regret linking this!

If you are, then please consider helping out RAFT of the University of Illinois, Chicago with their project which gives atheists and freethinkers a place to reassert our non-theism or to proclaim it for the first time.

One might wonder how putting your name on a list may help. After a little consideration, I came to the conclusion that most of the communities that a person like myself has are online, where there is an overabundance of secrecy of real-life identity. Right off the bat, when I’m in a group that is full of pseudonyms, the community feels a bit closed-off.  If this list gets big enough, then it can create a community of real names, and that seems much better to me than a community of *atheist* pseudonyms.

So, if you’re an atheist and in a place to say it, sign the list. I’ll be checking up on it now and again!

(h/t to Hemant Mehta)

Now, I don’t normally announce these, since most of my adds are part of our incestuous little group of Delaware miscreants. However, the Friendly Atheist written by Hemant Mehta is one of the best atheist blogs out there.

You may have heard of Hemant as the guy who sold his soul on Ebay, and subsequently wrote a book about the experience. I Sold My Soul on Ebay details Hemants trips to several churches, from small to mega, and gives a constructive critique to Christians on how to better relate to their secular brothers and sisters. Read this book. Hemant is probably the most open-minded atheist I’ve ever come across and his willingness to show kindness to religious folk while still challenging their beliefs give the rest of us heathens a solid example of tolerance and compassion to learn from.

Check out the Friendly Atheist if you like well-written, humorous, and intelligent blogs. If you don’t, stick around here. Chances are I’ll have something innocuous or vitriolic posted about pirates or makeup-wearing politicians before too long.

Tags: Friendly Atheist, Hemant Mehta, I Sold My Soul On Ebay, Secularism