M.A.S.H.fest

This question came to me via Formspring, but I thought it was deserving of a little more attention than what I could give it there:

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First let’s talk about the “Four Horsemen” of “New Atheism”: Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennet, Christopher Hitchens and Sam Harris.

• When he’s talking about…

WARNING Please do not read this if you do not have a sense of humour. In her radio show, Dr Laura Schlesinger said that, as an observant Orthodox Jew, homosexuality is an abomination according to Leviticus 18:22, and cannot be condoned under any circumstance. The following response is an open letter to Dr. Laura, penned by a US resident, which was posted on the Internet. It’s funny, as well as informative, and proves that one still has to use common sense and put things in context when interpreting any religious text: Dear Dr. Laura: Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God’s Law. I have learned a great deal from your show, and try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind them that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination … End of debate. I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some other elements of God’s Laws and how to follow them.

1. Leviticus 25:44 states that I may possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can’t I own Canadians?
2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?
3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of Menstrual unseemliness – Lev.15: 19-24. The problem is how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.
4. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord – Lev.1:9. The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?
5. I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself, or should I ask the police to do it?
6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination, Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don’t agree. Can you settle this? Are there ‘degrees’ of abomination?
7. Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle-room here?
8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev. 19:27. How should they die?
9. I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?
10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev.19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? Lev.24:10-16.

Couldn’t we just burn them to death at a private family affair, like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14) I know you have studied these things extensively and thus enjoy considerable expertise in such matters, so I’m confident you can help. Thank you again for reminding us that God’s word is eternal and unchanging. Your adoring fan. James M. Kauffman, Ed.D. Professor Emeritus, Dept. Of Curriculum, Instruction, and Special Education University of Virginia (It would be a damn shame if we couldn’t own a Canadian)

I am not singling out the atheist veteran because they are more worthy of praise and honor than the Christian, the Jewish, the Muslim, the Wiccan, and the other religious veterans. They are not. But they are also not worthy of less …

History will repeat itself again right here. It’ll never end. Australia Says Sorry to Stolen Generation

Apology Speech by Kevin Rudd 13th February 2008 to the Stolen Generation. Part 1. A little History Part 2. Personal Interviews Part 3. Footage from Australian supporters Part 4. Apology Speech by Kevin Rudd The Stolen Generation is a term used to describe the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, who were removed from their families by Australian government agencies and church missions, under various state acts of parliament, denying the rights of parents and making all Aboriginal children wards of the state, between approximately 1869 and 1969. The policy typically involved the removal of children into internment camps, orphanages and other institutions. Footage from the ABC, “Sorry”.

WHAT IS THE ATHEIST EXPERIENCE?

The Atheist Experience is a weekly cable access television show in Austin, Texas, geared at a non-atheist audience. It is produced by the Atheist Community of Austin. The Atheist Community of Austin is organized as a nonprofit educational corporation to develop and support the atheist community, to provide opportunities for socializing and friendship, to promote secular viewpoints, to encourage positive atheist culture, to defend the first amendment principle of state-church separation, to oppose discrimination against atheists and to work with other organizations in pursuit of common goals.

Complete episodes of The Atheist Experience are officially archived here:

► Ustream.tv.
► Blip.tv
► Google Video
► RSS feed

How many have heard of this?

I found this an interesting read for the future of our film festival when we take submissions. Sent on the TELUS Mobility network with BlackBerry

Tags: Rapper, Atheist, Greydon Square, Black Atheist, Sent on the TELUS Mobility network with BlackBerry

Book Review: Although the best skills can be developed through courses on formal logic and philosophy, they simply aren’t feasible for most people — they either aren’t readily available or are too difficult. Fortunately most people don’t need that level of skill, they just need to be better than they currently are. This can be achieved if a person is willing to invest some time and effort into studying some basic texts, then getting into the habit of applying the lessons from those texts to real life. The latter can be especially difficult, but at least there are several good books which people can use to start their efforts. Sent on the TELUS Mobility network with BlackBerry

Always good to read up on festivals to gear up for ours.

I’m creating a list of all the Atheists who are here on tumblr. If you are an Atheist, and wish to appear on this list, please reblog/like (if you’re already on this list please only reblog) this post and I will update it as often as I see fit!

Added 3/13/10

http://ageofreason.tumblr.com/

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1. Abstinence Makes the Church Grow Fondlers
2. Honk If Your Religious Beliefs Make You An Asshole
3. Intelligent Design Makes My Monkey Cry
4. Too Stupid to Understand Science? Try Religion.
5. There’s A REASON Why Atheists Don’t Fly Planes Into Buildings
6. “Worship Me or I Will Torture You Forever….

How do you wipe out something you don’t believe in? Unless all they do is pull the rubber masks off of demons and werewolves, Scooby-Doo-style, I think they’re missing the point. That isn’t atheism; it’s supernatural genocide.

Sit back, grab a snack, get comfy and witness Richard Dawkins in shorts.

See how evil/good your site really is with this machine!

There’s something very odd going on in space – something that shouldn’t be possible. It is as though vast swathes of the universe are being hoovered up by a vast and unseen celestial vacuum cleaner. Sasha Kaslinsky, the scientist who discovered the phenomenon, is understandably nervous: ‘It left us quite unsettled and jittery’ he says, ‘because this is not something we planned to find’.