Funeral Mass

I will be attending my first Catholic funeral this week. My mother in law just died from cancer Friday night. Any of you who have read my blog before may remember my previous posts about my in-laws. They were a very big part in my becoming an atheist. Their over the top fundamentalist behavior ensured I would not become a Catholic.

My mother in-law died from ovarian cancer after three years of surgeries, chemo and prayer. I honestly think she thought God would save her. She was such a devoted servant, I can 't imagine she didn't hope for a miracle.

I did not grow up as a Catholic and will admit my exposure to Catholicism is very limited. But, during the last 18 years, I did not gain a favorable impression of it. What I saw was a woman who dedicated her whole life to the church, an anti-abortion activist, so focused she alienated her own flesh and blood.

During her very last visit, and we all knew it would be her last, all she could do was parrot right wing jabs at just about everyone and everything. Never once did she let down her facade of pious self righteousness. It was kinda sad for my children to see this behavior from their grandma and will only remember her last words as being judgmental and negative.

I saw a woman so blinded by faith, she could not see her grandchildren for who they are and not what she thinks they should be. She will not be missed, she was never really here.

Facebook

Just unsubscribed another "friend" on Facebook. Being an atheist is not getting any easier for me. My feed has less and less people, and more organizations or businesses. It's sad. I have no one locally to be real friends, someone who is like me.
This old friend, actually more of an acquaintance through my sister. Posted a silly "poster" she probably got it from one of her Facebook friends . I was bummed to find it on my feed. It went like this, "Why is there so much violence in our schools?, a concerned student. Because I'm not allowed in the schools, God." or something stupid like that.
Another clueless so called Christian, who does not understand what this really means. I posted this comment. "Sorry, that is not true."
Does she really want God in our schools? Which God, which prayers, how often?
Students are still allowed to pray in school, teachers are not allowed to lead prayer. Students are allowed to carry a bible and talk to other children about their religion, just not while class is in session. All government institutions shall remain neutral towards religion. Neither for nor against the establishment of religion.
I don't want public employees implying my kids are 2nd class citizens because they don't believe in the supernatural. Go ahead and send your kids to Sunday school, any which one you prefer, Its a private, personal choice and its none of anyone's business what I believe. There is no proof a belief in God will make society safer, just the opposite, the more fundamentalist a culture is, the more violent that society is.

Learn from Religion?

This in response to an opinion piece on CNN by what appears to be an atheist from the U.K. that thinks atheists should learn from religion.

I think I know what this fellow is trying to say, but his misunderstanding of atheists and secular society is so muddled, one can’t really tell what he means.

He thinks he speaks for atheists? That was the most irritating thing in this opinion piece. He doesn’t seem to know very many atheists and if he is one, he is an uneducated, inexperienced atheist and those are the worst kind.

Most atheists are very well aware of what religion does and does not do for individuals, that is why they are atheists! The reason why religion has been so successful, is because it was the only game in town and over the centuries was politically powerful and still is, but today many people are learning that the bad side effects of religion are not worth it. If you disagree, take the Christopher Hitchens challenge: “name one ethical statement made, or one ethical action performed, by a believer that could not have been uttered or done by a nonbeliever“. (No) And another challenge, “Can anyone think of a wicked statement made, or an evil action performed, precisely because of religious faith“? (Yes)

This fellow fails to mention how science has improved life for almost everyone alive today and has reduced suffering throughout the world. He needs to do more research about how beneficial a secular society is for both the believers and the non-believers. That’s right, never mind, he’s British. He wouldn’t understand. He is forced to support the Church of England and he can’t imagine life without it or something like it.

If things were like they should be, and the sectarian and secularist can live and let live, activist atheists could stay home and find something else to do. But, until the majority of theists continue to believe in the literal interpretation of the bible and use the political process to shut down secular and scientific progress. “We” activist atheists will continue to try and protect everyone’s freedom of conscious, which is really what is at the core idea behind freedom of religion, but it also means freedom from religion.

The Jefferson Bible a Critique

I've actually read the Jefferson Bible in one evening a few weeks ago. Jesus is still the end times prophet preached about today, and in it he still threatens damnation to all those who do not believe in him. I could not disagree more with Jefferson who seemed to think Jesus was a great moral teacher. On page 38 you will find the popular quote, "...they shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth". Jefferson may have cut out the miracles, but he left in Heaven and Hell, false promises and threats. I was not impressed and actually had hoped the Jefferson Bible was going to be all about "love thy neighbor" and "turn the other cheek". No such luck.