Illinois allows civil unions, Diocese ends adoption programs in response

Today, Illinois becomes the 7th state to recognize civil unions for homosexual couples. It’s a great day for equality, though it didn’t quite go far enough in my opinion (which would be full-fledged marriages). Unfortunately it’s not a such a great day for orphaned children in Illinois because as reported by the Chicago Sun-Times, “Meanwhile, an opponent of the law, the Catholic diocese in Rockford, announced last week it will end its state-funded adoption and foster-care program rather than comply with the law, which would require it to place children with gay or unmarried couples.” I hope anyone and everyone can see the issue here. Rather than embrace two people’s love regardless of their sexual orientation, the Catholic church prefers to close down their state-funded adoption and foster-care program. They’d rather not help children find home because now they have to adopt children to gays. Those dirty, blasphemous gays. They’d rather let children be homeless than let them be around gay people.

Do I need to keep repeating this? Or has it sunk in already? Where is the love and tolerance Christians preach about? Does that go out the window just because two people who want to get married are the same gender? I guess the answer to that is yes when it comes to the Catholic Church in Rockford, IL

Q: Does science require faith? A: No.

The inevitable debate begins with someone who claims to share similar beliefs with you. You both go through the motions saying how silly religion is and how archaic their beliefs are. “Haha, yeah. We’re so right. Woo!” you both say while high five-ing. You share a drink, sit back and have a little laugh. “I’m so glad we’re so similar in our opinions and how we aren’t blinded by religions,” you say. But then you continue, “I can’t believe people believe this stuff and not observation-based science. It’s really crazy!”

The conversation participant looks at you puzzled, then says, “Well, I don’t know.” You pause at this. Jaw beginning to drop. “Science requires a lot of faith, too.”

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Atheist billboard in Jersey sparks debate, counter billboard

Coming in and out of the Lincoln Tunnel, both on the New Jersey (yuck) side and the Manhattan side, there are billboards up. Coming into New York there is a billboard (which purportedly cost $20,000 for a month) that reads “You know it’s a myth. This season celebrate Reason.” Coming out of New York there is a billboard put up by the Catholic League and Bill Donahue reading “You know it’s real. This season celebrate Jesus.”

While I think the Atheists’ billboard is more clever and a little catchier, I feel like their Jesus-looking President’s, David Silverman, attitude is partly to blame with the way we godless heathens are portrayed in this country. He’s smug and insensitive. Don’t get me wrong, I can be smug and insensitive too, but I try to put a little more seriousness into my arguments than, “You know the big daddy invisible guy in the sky is fake” while being interviewed on television. Come on, Silverman. What’s your fucking problem? You want people to come out of their religious “closet” then be more articulate and smart about what you say to journalists.

That’s not to say Bill Donahue’s a gem, though. He’s just as smug and just as annoying. In fact, even more so because while Silverman’s making an ass of himself on television, at least his opinion is a little more fact-based than the Catholic League and Donahue’s is.

Oh, well, either way Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah and I guess Happy Kwanzaa

God did it, and you can’t change my mind

Let me set the scene for you.

New York City. Mid-day. a 39-story apartment building on the Upper West Side and flying past all the windows is the body of 22-year-old Thomas Magill after he took an intentional step off the roof of the building.

Now get this: He lands in the back of a Dodge Charger and survives! Holy hell, he survived a 39-story fall? That’s unreal. Airspeed, friction and the way he impacted were so coincidental and perfect that he survived, that truly is amazing, isn’t it?

That is, unless you’re Guy McCormack, the owner of the Charger in question. If you’re this guy, then the survival of Thomas Magill’s purported suicide attempt is in fact a miracle. and what caused that miracle? How about rosary beads? That’s right. According to this article from the BBC, McCormack is “convinced rosary beads he kept inside the car saved Mr Magill’s life.” Nevermind that many Christians believe that suicide is murder and therefore a sin, and if you’re sinning, and in the act of sinning, why would God spare your life? But the idea that a couple pieces of plastic (or wood. We weren’t told) could save someone’s life from a 300+ foot fall, but that same piece of plastic can’t prevent the rape and sexual assault of thousands of young boys and girls is ridiculous.

I agree that it’s a miracle, but it’s a miracle of the universe and the way gravity interacts with other forces. Now that’s amazing. Also, the terminal velocity of a falling body is only 125 mph; that’s not that fast. Anyway chances are he was only going about 75 mph anyway (based on my calculations, which are subject to being wrong). That’s math and math is involved with physics and physics is science!

There’s a time and place for God to be involved in the events of earth and the unlikely survival of a human being falling through the air for 4ish seconds before landing on the Duke boys’ car, and that place is church and that time is when you’re in church. Leave miracles of the universe to scientists and mathematicians, please.

Dear atheists, the Boy Scouts don’t want you

And so it continues that the Boy Scouts of America (along revered organizations like Salvation Army) are disallowing gays to serve as even “leaders” let alone letting them wear the shirts given to them by the “cub pack.” This is all according to an article posted on CNN about a Dallas man, John Langbert, who after a few of the fellow dads complained was stripped of his “leader” title and was asked not to wear the traditional BSOA shirt given to him the previous year.

But that’s not really what this article is about, it’s about something the Scout executive Pat Currie said about the incident. Currie said, “We do have a policy that avowed gays and atheists are not allowed to be a registered leader or member of Boy Scouts of America.” And there’s where we here at AnAmericanAtheist come in. Continue reading…

Review: Spiritual Growth Is Not What You Think

After reading Doyle Barnett’s Spiritual Growth is Not What You Think: How Seekers Mistake the Evolution of Their Philosophy for Spiritual Progress, I can only tell you one thing: spiritual growth was exactly what I thought it was. That may be because Barnett and I have a slightly differing view on spiritual growth, though.

His explanation is a tricky one to find in his book. He spends dozens of pages talking about “spirituality” and “Spirit” but declines (whether intentionally or not, is still up in the air) to tell us his definition until page 151 in the “An Important Distinction to Consider” section of Chapter 11: Defining Spiritual Achievement. According to Barnett “Spiritual growth is the expanding of one’s ability to love holistically.” What is holistic love, you may be asking. Well, wait 11 more pages to find out. On page 162, he defines “Real love”, “Personal love”, “Grand love” and “Holistic love”; the latter meaning “a comprehensive love… It is caring for one’s self, for others, for humanity, and the planet.”

Now that’s something I can get behind. I understand, I like it, but unfortunately it may be a let down for most people. I would be inclined to believe that the lay-religious-person would think spiritual growth is coming closer to God, but Barnett makes it painfully obvious through quotes, diatribes and anecdotes that to know God is an impossibility. Of course this is coming from a self-proclaimed atheist (according to the letter he sent me with the book).

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Comics explain everything so perfectly

From the brilliant comic Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal. No other introduction needed.