BS in Religion

Liberty University has this ad up on FaceBook.



I have already been given plenty of BS in religion already. Thank you very much.

Freethinkers at The Sign

Donald Morton, Darrell Henschell, Doug Krueger, and Dr. Bill Harter talk about the sign, atheism, and freethought groups.



You can talk to these guys on The Fayetteville Freethinkers forum.

We're in the News!

Earlier, this week, three freethought groups in Northwest Arkansas put up a Coalition of reason billboard. I attend two of these groups, so I am very proud, though the part I played was so minuscule as to be almost nothing.

Here's a local news video featuring a very good friend, Darrell Henschell.

In a few minutes, I am heading out to the site of the sign to get my picture with a bunch of other freethinkers.

I Get Mail

Here's an except from an email exchange with a young christian woman. Sometimes, I just don't know what to say when presented with something like this.

I can tell that you are a very intelligent man, and I have no problem discussing things with you, because I feel that you, too, have respect for my beliefs, as I do for yours. I want to tell you something funny that was on my fb page today. I have a daily Bible verse that is different everyday, and the funny thing is what today's post said! Colossians 2:8 says, see to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ! LOL I have lead a very sinful life for so long, that I cannot even believe that the Lord would even want to help me!! I have had one addiction after another!! My new addiction, is to educate myself with the word of the Lord. My mom studied theology, and she and I were talking about things today, and I already knew that some things were left out of the Bible, but she let me know that there is alot that has been left out! I would like to communicate with you through messages, because I am more comfortable talking to you in this manner!! I don't care what other people think, or don't think, about me!! I started reading my NIV, after I felt insulted by our preacher, when I had asked for our family to become members of our church, and was told, not until we have a public baptism performed in front of the congregation. He is an old southern Baptist, but you do not have to be baptist to get a chance to go to Heaven!! And by the way, I want you to know, that I have learned so much from reading, and even if what I have been reading is not true, it has opened my eyes to happiness, loving, and a much more peacefull life!! I can't see that as a bad thing, so I will continue to be happy, and hopefully, someday, to serve God in Heaven!! I can tell that you do alot of your research in philosophy!! Believe me, Robert, I have questioned myself, for most of my life, whether God was real, or not!! I know that He is, because of things that have happened to me, that are to bizarre to tell about! Thank you, for being respectful to me, and discussing issues with me!! I will never be persuaded to any other beliefs, but hope to persuade you, but I will not push it!! God Bless You Robert!!!

What do you guys think about this?

A Depraved Creature am I

On, Facebook, I recently shared a quote from A. A. Milne in my status.

The Old Testament is responsible for more atheism, agnosticism, disbelief—call it what you will—than any book ever written; it has emptied more churches than all the counterattractions of cinema, motor bicycle and golf course. ~A . A . Milne

One of my family members, who is a minister, responded in a somewhat cynical way.

Could be true. Man is a depraved creature and always tends to run AWAY from God not TO Him. Man doesn't understand that the limitations of "do not kill, steal, lie, covet, commit adultery" are actually good for him.

I rather think my uncle is probable being a bit sarcastic, which is part of his character. However, it does reflect the attitudes toward non-theists I observed when growing up in chruch.

Believers (particularly fundamentalist christians) often have the idea that one becomes a non-theist because he/she likes to sin. In my case, nothing could be further from the truth. Here's my response to my uncle's comment.

The OT had a lot to do with my deconversion. My problem wasn't with the ten commandments. It was with verses like deuteronomy 21:18-21. As long as a horrible commandment like that is in the bible I will never except accept it as the inerrant word of God.

I know, you'll protest that that was before the new covenent or something similar. But, the fact that God would have commanded filicide at all is very troubling to me. The simplest explaination is that it (the bible) was written by tryanical men who sought to control the common people through fear. Stuff like that has no place in my spiritual life.

My deconversion was a troubled time for me. I didn't come to a decision to be an atheist, lightly. I sought answers from ministers. I prayed. Man, did I pray. I read the bible. I read literature. As much as I hated it, I had to come to the conclusion that The Bible was like all other holy books. Written by men who thought that they knew about the universe, but didn't. The Bible, like all other holy books, was written to control people and written to make them conform.

Unlike my uncle, I don't think that humans are that depraved. Sure some of us are, but most people? Nah. Morality comes from society and from our own conscience. We are moral because we don't like to see others suffer. Maybe, it's a survival trait. Maybe, a species whose members help themselves have a slightly better chance of survival.

Cube Shaped KBO on Course for Earth

Nasa scientists have discovered a new Kuiper Belt Object that will make a close approach to earth in 2019. The object is nearly a perfect cube in shape. and measures roughly 1500 miles across. Right now it is well past the orbit of pluto, but will make an approach to Earth in 2019. It is not predicted to collide with earth. However, the object does appear to have the ability to change its course.

I Like This Kind of Prayer!

I think that when someone tells me, unsolicited, that he/she is going to prayer for me, he/she should send me one of these prayers.


Click here to see the fuzzy-bunny poem inside.

Let's face it. When most Christians say that they'll pray for you, they are trying to make you feel better, or feel supported, without actually doing something. Often, the one offering prayer offers prayer so that he/she can feel like he/she is doing something without actually doing something. Also, offered prayer is probably nothing more than an offer to pray, because I'm willing to bet that most people offering prayer do not actually do the prayer.

So, I think that when I'm offered prayer, I should be sent this little chocolate prayer. See, chocolate is something that actually makes me feel better. Also, it's just darned nice to give someone chocolate.

I think that I will buy some of these (only $1.00 at Deals) and send these prayers to those in my family who are distraght over my de-conversion.