Or do they? From Ape Not Monkey:

Click image to enlarge

I wonder what will happen when we get a Friday the 13th while the Antichrist sits in the White House?

Brother Richard

From the web description:

Schaeffer has a new book now, Patience with God: Faith for People Who Don’t Like Religion (or Atheism), and in it he takes on both the “incipient fascism” of the religious right and what he called “proselytizing” atheism of Richard Dawkins and others. He joins Laura on GRITtv for a fascinating interview about his own journey, and how people, religious or irreligious, are all looking for answers to the same questions.

Am I the only one that sees this as an apples and oranges comparison? None of the “new atheists” claim to have the truth. In fact, they declare that no one can know the truth. The beliefs of the religious people they question, are not those who believe in an ethereal deistic spirit that makes us feel warm and spiritual. They stand up to the primates who claim to know the mind of God and how he wants all of mankind to live.

And, for the record, the freaking “A” pin is about not hiding your beliefs, and “Coming Out Atheist.” It is not about deconverting people.

Brother Richard

From Flora Culture International:

Ms. Hirsi Ali, a feminist, author, activist and former member of the Dutch parliament completed the traditional naming ceremony by drizzling champagne over the bulbs and declaring, “From now on this Tulip has the name ‘Ayaan’.” Mr. Thijs Leenders, president of the North American Flower Bulb Wholesalers Association represented the Dutch bulb sector in the event.

Congratulations Ms. Hirsi Ali. Thank you for your confidence and inspiration.

Brother Richard

A recent debate in London asked the same question. Archbishop John Onaiyekan and Anne Widdecombe MP argued that the Catholic Church was a force of good, and Christopher Hitchens and Stephen Fry argued against the motion. The five part video is below. Each part should play simultaneously.

From Telegraph:

The voting gives a good idea of how it went. Before the debate, for the motion: 678. Against: 1102. Dont know: 346. This is how it changed after the debate. For: 268. Against: 1876. Dont know: 34. In other words, after hearing the speakers, the number of people in the audience who opposed the motion increased by 774.

Brother Richard
(Props: Atheist Media)

I join with my friend Ed Buckner, President of American Atheists, in publicly thanking President Obama for our inclusion.

From Ed Buckner’s letter:

Nonbelievers go by a variety of labels — Atheists, Freethinkers, Humanists, Rationalists — and we make up more than 15% of the population. We thank the president for including us in the diverse population that is the people of the United States. We appreciate the fact that President Obama has acknowledged what we have always known: Of course there are Atheists in foxholes, and there are and always have been men and women who have worn the uniform of this nation and have served with courage in the military and in many other ways.”

In the same letter, the Military Director for American Atheists, Kathleen Johnson who happens to be a civilian employee at Ft. Hood, also spoke to religious harassment that takes place in the military.

There have been serious problems in the past with religious proselytizing, mostly Christian fundamentalists,” said Ms. Johnson. ”The tragedy of Ft. Hood claimed soldiers regardless of what they believe in respect to religion, though. Our armed forces — at all levels — need to be united. It’s good to know that our Commander-in-Chief shares that vision.”

If you’re not a member of American Atheists, I encourage you to join.

Brother Richard

What an amazing impersonation!

Brother Richard
(props: Rationality Now)

Details: Is it true that when you stay at hotels you tear out the Bible page that condemns homosexuality?

Ian McKellen: I do, absolutely. I’m not proudly defacing the book, but it’s a choice between removing that page and throwing away the whole Bible. And I’m not really the first: I got delivered a package of 40 of those pages—Leviticus 18:22—that had been torn out by a married couple I know. They put them on a bit of string so that I could hang it up in the bathroom.

Details: So did you?

Ian McKellen: It is in the bathroom, yes, but it’s too much of a curiosity to actually put to use.

Sir Ian did not comment on whether he makes a habit of ripping chapter four out of copies of The Fellowship of the Ring.  The title of the chapter is “A Short Cut to Mushrooms,” and in it, Sam makes a homophobic statement about elves:

They seem a bit above my likes and dislikes, so to speak,” answered Sam slowly. “It don’t seem to matter what I think about them. They are quite different from what I expected — so old and young, and so gay and sad, as it were.”

Clearly Sam is acting out because of his hidden love of Frodo.

Brother Richard

Again Laci posts a great video that speaks for itself.

Brother Richard

Sorry we’re no longer nodding and smiling when you regurgitate your superstitious dogma all over us. If you bring it up, you give us the right to tell you our opinion.

Brother Richard

“Demoncandy”

The seventeenth episode of the Atheist News Podcast has posted.

Happy belated Halloween everybody!

Halloween is a favorite holiday of mine, and of course–because it’s fun and there is no Jesus involved–it’s under fire from the loonies. Richard joins me for a SPOOOOKTACULAR Atheist News Podcast show in which we discuss topics such as DEMONCANDY, God naming rights, the terminally credulous (some dead, some only sweaty), Michael Beeheeatch, the thwarting of political tomfoolery and which days of the week it is and is not acceptable to pick your nose. And, not to be left out, the Pope had some stupid shit to say about Halloween as well.

Enjoy!

Want to participate? Join the Atheist News Group.

Remember, as always, it is NSFW.

Download Episode 17

Brother Richard