Atheism under Fire

Summary:

Soldier is openly discriminated against for not being Christian while on tour in Iraq. He sues the DoD and Secretary of Defense - but he's not suing for money, he's suing them to change their policies on faith in the service.

While I applaud him, I really do, I can't help but think this will prove ultimately ineffective. The DoD does not condone what was done to him. The Secretary of Defense does not condone it either. However, because each individual command has a near autonomous control over it's personnel, commands separately develop "climates." This means that while one base appears to be full of bitter, system-bucking, party-animals another command might literally be polar opposite. This culture takes years to build and does not change quickly. Policies and directives are a start, but they only go as far as they are enforced. And when it comes to Faith, some Commanding Officers follow the policies and directives differently then others. It isn't right - but it happens. 

It happens a lot because the normal tight-lipped soldier will say nothing. He isn't stupid. His supervisor, his supervisor's supervisor, and so forth all answer to a Commanding Officer who has decided to enforce Christianity at his command. If he raises the issue on this, he knows he will be contending with - literally - his entire command against him while the very slow wheels of military bureaucracy roll into action possibly years later. While those wheels are starting to roll, his career is over, he's getting the absolute worst assignments, and he has his entire chain of command actively searching for a reason to take disciplinary action against him. It's a courageous fight to raise an issue like this - but have no doubt, this soldier is a pariah at his command now.

I don't know how to fix it. As an atheist, I saw some of the same things he brings up in this article, but not to the extent he advertises in his case. I had to swear on a bible. I had to listen to prayers over our announcing circuits. I had to stand watch on Sunday morning (not forced, just sorely encouraged) so that Christians could go to church.

I only hope something good - something effective - comes out of this. Because this soldier has already given up his career to start the ball rolling.

God - The Arguments

There are many 'Proof of God' websites. Some notable ones are:

All About Creation

Proof God Exists

Proof That God Exists

In addition to siting these sites, I will also site, as rebuttals:

The Skeptic

Richard Dawkins

I was drawn to make this post due to the long winded commentary of one of these site's administrators (Proof That God Exists's Sye Ten Bruggencate).

Here, we will take a brief review of the 'staple' arguments of each of these sites.

Proof God Exists and All About Creation are Intelligent Design Websites:

A summation of the intelligent design argument is:

Intelligent design (ID) is an anti-evolution belief that asserts that naturalistic explanations of some biological entities are not possible and such entities can only be explained by intelligent causes. Essentially that many organisms, including humans and animals, are too complex in nature to have come to be by chance mutation.

This argument's strong points against evolution are two-fold:

They assert that evolution can only make small changes on single components at a time.

They assert that the essential nature and complexity of the design leave no room for randomness or error.

The rebuttal to intelligent design (from the Skeptic):

The multiple parts of complex, interlocking biological systems do not evol

ve as individual parts. They evolve together, as systems that are gradually expanded, enlarged, and adapted to new purposes.

The assertation that the nature and complexity of the design of man would leave no room for randomness or error seem to disintegrate when you consider the presence of the appendix, and the relatively poor designs of the spine, birth canal, and the prostate. (Summation from the Skeptic, multiple contributors)

My Opinion: If God really did design us, we should sue him for poor quality control.

Third Site, Proof that God Exists's Argument (summation):

"To reach this page you had to acknowledge that immaterial, universal, unchanging laws of logic, mathematics, science, and absolute morality exist. Universal, immaterial, unchanging laws are necessary for rational thinking to be possible. Universal, immaterial, unchanging laws cannot be accounted for if the universe was random or only material in nature...

Only in a universe governed by God can universal, immaterial, unchanging laws exist. Only in a universe governed by God can rational thinking be possible. We use rational thinking to prove things."

My rebuttal here is simple:

1.) Morals are taught - a trained function. This is not to be confused with instincts which are inherent in virtually all life on this planet. I can teach a dog to attack people on sight, and likewise I can teach a child the same. This has been proven numerous times in psychological analysis.

2.) This argument is simpler to refute. There is no evidence supplied, either on this site or anywhere else to my knowledge to support this assertion that abstract ideas can not exist without God. He makes the assumption of God to explain the known of abstractions existing. There is no additional evidence supplied outside of quotes from the Bible. This is not how theories are proven in the scientific world.

I post this thread here due to the lengthy and cyclic commentary on some earlier posts. In an effort to lay this out succinctly and clearly, I made the entire discussion it's own topic.
*Minor edit on April 1, 2008 to fix formatting

The Billboard War - Personal Rage

One billboard, a message recycled from the late John Lennon, reading 'Imagine No Religion.'





The attacks that railed against the billboard ad (featured left) show that Atheists are NOT Patriots. They show that Atheists HATE America.








These people need to stop drinking the Cool-Aid and wake up!

Without regurgitating the original story at the FFRF site, I'll drop my opinion here.

I am an atheist. I am a veteran. I am willing to bet 2/3 of the ones behind this billboard, if not more, have never served in any civil or federal function. How dare these non-serving, religious zealots question my patriotism because of my lack of belief in God.

They haven't sacrificed one minute of their time for this country and yet I AM NOT A PATRIOT!? Don't make me laugh.

I've put my life on the line for this country. Five generations of my family has done the same. My family has left our blood, sweat, and lives in nearly every battlefield America has fought on for the last century. Most of them believe in God, some do not. They are all patriots - proven and tested.

I don't believe in God. I love my country. I will scream out in disgust at anyone who seeks to associate Christianity with patriotism.

I do not Trust in God. I trust in the Constitution. I do not swear Under God. I swear on my own merit, on my own integrity. I have the freedom to say this because our flag still flies and my I and my ancestors have defended my right to say it.

My patriotism is absolute. Look hard at what YOU have done for your country before you call anyone's patriotism into question.

Edit: 29 March, 2008, 1804 MST
I have attempted to contact the administrator of www.ingodwetrustusa.org. They have not responded to my emails. Albeit, this lack of response may be due to the extremely inflammatory nature of the message I sent them.

It appears though, they are tough on billboards, but weak on confrontation.

Beware the Fake Christian!

Beware the False Christian! This is the truly dangerous Christian!

I will be the first to salute any honest Christian. It's hard to be a good Christian, impossible really, but I honestly admire those who try and make an honest effort at it. However, these people are truly rare.

I am no Christian, but I've read the bible a few times and I have a better then average understanding of what it is saying, in my opinion.

The true Christian does not judge, or at least tries not to. The true Christian does not condemn others, but rather seeks to help and enlighten. The true Christian does not visit hardship, prejudice, anger, or persecution on others - regardless of faith.

They are the selfless, forgiving, and patient epitome of good in society. According to the bible, this is what Christ was - and what he preached that all people should be.

True Christians do what Jesus would have done.

These people are rarer then diamonds.

False Christians, the vast majority, are just regular people who have adopted the moniker of 'Christian.' Through this self-proclaimed title, they judge, ridicule, harass, and sometimes even attack those who they feel aren't Christians.

The false Christian will say things like "Well, you're going to Hell."

Find me one spot in the bible where Jesus told someone they were going to hell. He didn't. He said what was required to go to heaven, but he never judged someone himself and told them they were going to hell. Furthermore he frequently chastised those who did judge the actions of others.

'Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.' Christ said this as an angry mob was about to stone an adulterer.

'Speak not of the splinter in my eye until you have removed the plank from your own.' Christ also said, saying that all people were sinners and that no man was less of a sinner then any other.

The Faux-Christian (the pretend Christian) will persecute at will.

Judgement of others is what helps the False Christian justify that they are still 'Good Christians.' They say to themselves, 'I sin, but I'm not nearly as bad as Bob.'

I live, now, in a city packed full of militant false Christians, who raise militant False Christian children.

It is a sad thing that I see. And, while I am volunteering, I often wonder why it is that none of these False-Christians, have the time to volunteer for the community - like Christ did... I can honestly say, I'm glad I am an atheist, because at least I can live among better company.

Those that would call me a servant of the devil, ironically, will all be joining me in the same hell they say I'm headed to.

If there is a Hell, it better have a lot of vacancies.

Faith Based Blitz

With his appointment by God, President Bush is on a mission to not only empower the presidancy, but also to errode the seperation of Church and State.

First, here's some excellent quotes from Bush:
"God told me to strike at al Qaida and I struck them, and then he instructed me to strike at Saddam, which I did, and now I am determined to solve the problem in the Middle East. If you help me I will act, and if not, the elections will come and I will have to focus on them."

"This crusade, this war on terrorism is going to take a while." – George W. Bush


And one from Lt Gen. William Boykin (USAF, formerly my parents Wing Commander when he was a Lt Col., I include since it's relevant, for posterity)
“George Bush was not elected by a majority of the voters in the United States, he was appointed by God.” - Lt. Gen. William G. Boykin


Now, the problem.

Hein vs. Freedom From Religion Foundation

In a long standing precedant, beginning, really with the Mayflower Pilgrims (who were fleeing religious persecution from England) and later with Roger Williams fleeing Massachusetts and founding Rhode Island there was a definate and standing need to seperate church's from political power.

This need was inacted into the Constitution with intense pressure by James Madison in the phrasing of "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof . . . ." in the First Amendment. With the term itself coming from Thomas Jefferson in a letter he wrote discussing the matter.

This was expanded in several instances, but specifically regarding federal funding of churches or church activities by the Supreme Court in 1971 in the Lemon vs. Kurtzman case, when they established these three rules for governments funds going to an organization:

1.) The government's action must have a legitimate secular purpose;

2.) The government's action must not have the primary effect of either advancing or inhibiting religion;

3.) The government's action must not result in an "excessive government entanglement" with religion.

For the last 3 decades this has been consistently interpretted as 'No Government Funding to Overtly Religious Projects or Groups.'

This has changed. Now the Federal government issues grants specifically tailored for religious groups' community events. By literally interpretting these three rules, the right-wing Supreme Court has over turned the long standing precedent and allowed 'Faith Based Initiatives' to be granted federal tax dollars for community projects. The website for grant application is here

I wouldn't have an issue with this, on the surface, except that none of the 'Faith Based Initiative Programs' I have yet seen failed to advertise God, their church, the Bible, Jesus and the whole gambit in the process of conducting their community program. Now my tax dollars aren't just buying soup for s oup kitchen, they're buying a 'Jesus Loves You' banner, pocket bibles, crucifixs and pamphlets too.

Why should my tax dollars be spent to garner members for a church?

Statement of Purpose

I have created this blog for a few reasons:

1.) A common place for me to voice my own beliefs and opinions and have meaningful discussion on them.

2.) To give a common ground for people I know now or will met later to post discussion material.

3.) Centralize information I have found and researched and make it easily accessible to anyone who cares to learn about it.

My Beliefs:

There is no god.

I don't care what you believe in. If it makes you happy, I am happy for you, honestly. I am not out to convert you to atheism. I'll discuss religion, sure, any religion for that matter. However, I don't hold any need to see more or less atheists.

I do believe in a secular state. Leave your faith out of my laws.

I believe America is in dire shape today. I believe that a lot has contributed to this and no single solution will fix everything. I hope we, Americans, can pull out of this death spiral soon. I'd hate for my generation to be known as the one that gave birth to the totalitarian state of America.

Frequent Discussion Points:
Religion, Politics, History, Current Events

And always feel free to post comments or email me directly at sacrilegeblog@gmail.com