Atheism isn’t so scary. We’re not all bearded old men calling you nasty names you can’t understand from the comfort of a leather wingback chair while swirling scotch in a glass. Sometimes we’re pleasant young women who like to point out that atheism is nothing more than the lack of a god belief and it makes no sense to vilify those of us who hold this position. I’ll still take that scotch, though.
Dogmatic Atheists?
9 11 2009What does it mean to be an atheist? Is there some special club with weekly dues and funny hats that you must pay and don in order to be a ‘proper’ atheist? Do you have to know a special handshake? What sort of club is this and where is my gin and tonic? I ordered it ages ago. The service here sucks. Oh, wait. No wonder. This is Fuddruckers and not some convoluted atheist circle jerk.
I’m noticing a fairly disturbing trend lately. It seems that we atheists are expected to stick together and lift up anyone else who happens to be an atheist, as well, no matter what other factors might ordinarily inhibit support for them. First, I suppose we should define atheism. All it means to me is a lack of a god belief. Anyone can be an atheist. There really isn’t much to it. There are no codes or bylaws one must adhere to in order to join. There are atheist conservatives, atheist liberals, atheist Jets and atheist Sharks. It doesn’t matter. The only thing that binds us together is a lack of a belief in god.
I’ve never felt the need to support anyone just because he happens to be an atheist. What’s the point? Atheism isn’t a platform. It’s simply a word that helps us identify ourselves and other people who don’t believe in god. It’s a small part of our identity and, if you ask me, atheism is simply a by-product of something I find to be much more important: critical thinking. Without logic and reason I don’t know why anyone would come to the conclusion that there are no gods. That’s why it confuses me when atheists also happen to be conspiracy theorists or anti-vaxxers. I don’t quite understand how someone can come to one major logical conclusion and then throw reason right out the window in favor of some groundless conclusion. Can atheists have wacky beliefs? Sure. Do I have to respect them for it? Absolutely not.
In short, rules belong to religions. Now bugger off. Here comes my drink.
Cuddles,
Kate
Comments : 6 Comments »
Tags: anti-vaxxers, atheism, bill maher, conspiracy theorists, dogmatic atheists, Fuddruckers, new atheism, new atheists, religion
Categories : Uncategorized
And the Creepy Christian of the Millenium Award Goes To…
8 11 2009Ron and Marty from TBN’s Joy Junction! Enjoy, suckers.
Comments : 2 Comments »
Tags: atheism, Creepy Christians, dirty pictures, gingham shirts, Joy Junction, oh my god this shit is real, Ron and Marty, scary puppets, scary theists, ventriloquism, ventriloquists, wishy washy
Categories : Uncategorized
A Note to Dawkins
3 11 2009A note.
To Richard Dawkins: You’re being a dick. Yeah, I said it. Supporting Bill Maher? What are you thinking? That guy is a total whackjob! Have you seriously considered his position on Western medicine and vaccines? You’re giving him an award? Honestly? I know he’s supported atheism but is that enough? He doesn’t think critically and if he doesn’t think critically then he’s no friend of mine, atheist or no. Honestly, to me, atheism is about coming to a conclusion that you arrived at by … guess what? Thinking critically, that’s what. Bill Maher obviously didn’t do that since he’s a freaking nut bag about conventional medicine. Seriously. Think about it.
Cuddles,
Kate
Comments : 14 Comments »
Tags: :P, aagh, atheism, bill maher, criticism, richard dawkins, richard dawkins award
Categories : Uncategorized
The Cuddly Atheist’s Cuddly Comeback Post
28 10 2009I know, I know. It’s been a while since I’ve been in touch, but look … it’s not you, it’s me. Well, maybe you have something to do with it. Ok, if that’s the attitude you’re going to take, it’s all your fault. Look at you! Who wants to come home to this mess every day, especially considering I know you’ve been seeing other bloggers?! Do you know what it’s like to spend all day working hard, marking posts with misleading tags to drag unsuspecting readers to my blog when the whole time you’re sitting there pretty-as-you-please whoring it up for the likes of Pharyngula and the Friendly Atheist? How am I supposed to compete for that? You … you know what? I can’t. I just can’t. So I haven’t been posting. Are you happy now? Good, now maybe we can talk about my day for a change. Jesus.
Now, look honey, don’t get mad…. Promise you won’t get mad or I won’t tell you. Promise? Okay. Wow, this is even more difficult than I thought it was going to be. Okay, out with it. Igotmarried. Now hang on, hang on, hang on, you said you wouldn’t get mad! Wait a minute, I DO still love you! It’s just that I looked into it and it turns out I can’t legally marry a readership in this country because that would amount to polygamy and there’s like a law or something. No, honest, look it up! Man, this is awkward. Remember how I went to TAM7 awhile back? Well, I roomed with this guy, right? I know some of you were suspicious at the time that something might have been going on behind your backs, but look. At the time we were just friends. I swear. Nothing more. Yeah, but then, you see … then we hooked up a little after that and now we’re married. Hey, no, listen. Listen! There’s good news and you won’t very well hear it while you’re yammering on about fidelity and trust issues, will you? Okay, fine. I’ll let you vent, then. I’m sure this is a very difficult time for you.
Are you done? No? Okay….
Yes, thank you. Your feelings matter very much to me. Now that that’s out of your system and I’ve stealthily moved all sharp and heavy objects from out of your reach while you were venting, I’d like to tell you the good news. Okay. The good news is that he says I can still see you! Isn’t that great, cupcake? There! There’s that smile I’ve always loved! I knew you’d come around in the end! Look, I know I’ve done you wrong. I promise to not neglect you like I have these past few months but you have to give me something in return. You just get all your little friends to read me, right? I don’t care how you do it. You can graffiti my link on a bathroom stall door if you like. Here’s a sharpie. It’d probably be more effective to just, you know, casually link to me in high-traffic areas of the internet, though. What? Of course I’m a shameless self-promoter. You knew that coming into this deal. Okay, well, I should wrap this up. My husband Jay just came home and he’s still a little sensitive about this arrangement I have with you. So put your pants back on and sneak out the door while I distract him with an aperitif and a cheese platter. Go on, shoo!
Cuddles,
Kate
Comments : 6 Comments »
Tags: atheism, awkward, awkward break-ups, awkward reunions, bliss, Britney Spears, cheating, cuddly atheist, friendly atheist, happiness, it's not you it's me, Jay Laudig, Jonas Brothers, marriage, Miley Cyrus, negligence, not Jay Novella, pharyngula, promote my blog, rehab, self-promotion, TAM7
Categories : Uncategorized
Going to TAM7? Check This Out …
1 07 2009The South Pointe hotel is having a promotional sale for a short period of time (48 hours) so get in on the deal while you can! Just call and add promotional code “EDAY0409″ to your existing reservation and you’ll receive 50% off!
You’re welcome.
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Tags: James Randi, TAM 7, TAM7, The Amazing Meeting
Categories : Uncategorized
Where the Hell is Kate?
30 06 2009Dear readers,
I apologize for my extended absence. On a lovely quiet day while I was photographing some ducklings near a pond I received a phone call. I cannot recall the exact wording but it went a little something like this:
“Can you come to Birmingham next week for open heart surgery?”
And yes, dear readers. I could. I did. I’ve had two valves replaced (one pig and one mechanical which makes me a cyborg with a love for mud, apparently) and a graft on my aortic root. This is my second open heart surgery so I like to think I’m something of a pro with it at this point. I was re-hospitalized a couple of weeks ago for pleurisy and pneumonia and had to have a thoracentesis. That ordeal set me back a good bit but I’m working on getting into fighting shape. I feel lucky that I’ve had something to look forward to during my recovery – TAM! Yes, I’ll still be at TAM. If you’re there as well I may lean on you for support – literally – but I’ll be damned if I miss out on this opportunity.
My surgeon visited me several times during my stay at UAB and once noted that the book I was reading was ‘excellent’. That book was Sagan’s Demon Haunted World. I knew I was in good hands. And as for my final thoughts before going under the knife? They went something like this:
“Wow, this heated bed is fantastic. Where can I get one of these?”
“All these people in shower caps look a bit funny.”
“Ah, here comes the anesthesia.”
“Zonk.”
So, no last minute conversions for me. No worries of joining Bertrand Russel and the other heroes on my list in the fictitious 6th level of hell. Just me, drifting off with cheerful images in my head before they stopped my heart and lungs in order to save my life. In summation, thank you, modern medicine. I baked you a cake but I ate it.
Love,
Kate
Comments : 8 Comments »
Tags: anasthesia, atheism, atheists, Bertrand Russel, carl sagan, congenital heart defects, coping with death, foxhole atheists, heart disease, hell, heretics, hospitals, open heart surgery, surgery, university of alabama at Birmingham
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No Passion to be Found
11 04 2009Last night I decided to grab a few of my cameras and drive to this church in Biloxi I shall refer to as the God Dome. Every Good Friday, without fail, they put on a gruesome reenactment of Jesus Christ on a cross being flogged by Centurions. I wanted to capture it on camera. Desperately. I pulled up to the God Dome and … the lights were off. I saw a truck parked at the side entrance, so I pulled up next to it and asked the man inside to roll down his window so I could talk to him. He apologized that there would be no Passion Play this year and even went so far as to call his relative (who is a pastor) to find out if any other churches were putting one on. Nope. I called the local Christian radio station to ask them, but I received no answer. I drove to the Pentecostal church and it was explained to me that they usually have a Passion Play but just ‘ran out of time’ this year. Huh. I drove to the Baptist Church and all the lights were off and there were no cars parked in their lot. I resorted to widening my search and called a friend in hopes he could search the internet and find one that way. There was one listing for the entire state (and what’s amusing about this is that it was being held at a public university), but it was too far away. The nearest listing was in Mobile, Alabama, and I was willing to make the journey but it had an admission fee and tickets were sold out.
What do I make of this? There are two possible explanations. 1) Religion really is on the decline (at least in my area). 2) The poor economy is a factor and Passion Plays were nixed to save money. This second guess becomes more interesting when the only listing within driving range was a paid event. So, in the end, I’m not sure. We have recent studies showing that the number of people who claim to be non-religious is on the rise. That same study shows that mega-churches of the evangelical type are growing in popularity. So why aren’t they putting on reenactments of Christ’s gruesome death? It’s an interesting question, and one I cannot answer.
So, I’m sorry. I have no photos for you today. I do, however, have a possible glimmer of hope.
Cuddles
Comments : 6 Comments »
Tags: Alabama, atheism, christianity, easter, economy, good friday, holidays, mississippi, mobile, nontheists, passion plays, reenactments, religion
Categories : Uncategorized
Don’t Forget
19 03 2009The Southern Skeptical Society is hosting a ‘drink-up’ at the Old Absinthe House on Bourbon Street in New Orleans this Saturday, March 21st at 4pm. We’re expecting between 15-20 skeptics to show up and if you can make it, we’d love for you to come. You can RSVP on Facebook here.
See you there!
Comments : 1 Comment »
Tags: drink-ups, Great Southern Humanist Society, meet-up groups, meet-ups, new orleans, Old Absinthe House, skeptic meet-ups, skeptics, skeptics in the pub, southern skeptical society
Categories : Uncategorized
The IDiots Guide to Evolution: Haeckel’s Embryos
17 03 2009
Comments : 9 Comments »
Tags: creationism, Darwin, Discovery Institute, evolution, Haeckel's Embryos, icons of evolution, IDiots, intelligent design
Categories : Uncategorized
Discovery Institute Literature – A Study Guide
13 03 2009I finally got around to reading some of the lovely books I picked up at my visit to the Discovery Institute last year. I came across a study guide called “Icons of Evolution”. I thought I’d scan the pages and share it with you good people chapter by chapter so we can ridicule study its contents point-by-point. This first installment includes the introduction and why Darwinism should be utterly discarded scrutinized. Since I can’t post pictures of the pages large enough to read, I’m including links to larger versions underneath the images. Enjoy!
Cover:
Table of Contents :
Introduction, Page 1:
Introduction, Page 2:
Let the games begin!
Comments : 4 Comments »
Tags: creationism, Darwin, darwinism, darwinists, Discovery Institute, evolution, icons of evolution, IDiots, intelligent design, neo-darwinism
Categories : Discovery Institute
