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	<title>Heaving Dead Cats &#187; Atheism</title>
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	<link>http://www.heavingdeadcats.com</link>
	<description>Skeptical Freethought Atheist Musings to Dispel Ignorance and Enlighten the Mind</description>
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		<title>What&#8217;s Going On!?</title>
		<link>http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/2010/03/18/whats-going-on/</link>
		<comments>http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/2010/03/18/whats-going-on/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 18 Mar 2010 11:51:28 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Neece</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Atheism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[action]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[politics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[religion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[government]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[school]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[secular coalition for america]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[senator]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[separation of church and state]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/?p=2615</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/aec80fe0-f7a2-4829-99ff-050b4c04a370.jpg"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-2616" title="basement cat committee meeting" src="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/aec80fe0-f7a2-4829-99ff-050b4c04a370.jpg" alt="" width="426" height="319" /></a>Remember the other day I told you I was working on my computer, installing some hardware upgrades? That saga continues and is yet to be resolved. Sigh! Unfortunately I know just enough about computers to get myself into trouble and not be able to fully get myself back out again. So I&#8217;m telling you because it&#8217;s taking up a lot of my brain power, trying to figure out how to get everything to play nice. So that&#8217;s that!</p>
<p>Also, I don&#8217;t often talk about politics, but I told you about the <a href="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/2010/03/04/tell-your-senator-to-stop-the-federal-funding-of-religious-schools/">federal funding of religious schools bill</a> that Joe Lieberman was pushing. I thought you might like an update. In this case, secular values won! Woot!</p>
<p>Here&#8217;s what the <a href="http://secular.org/" target="_blank">Secular Coalition for America</a> said about the victory:</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">Two weeks ago, we alerted you to Sen. Joe Lieberman&#8217;s proposed amendment to the Senate jobs bill [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/aec80fe0-f7a2-4829-99ff-050b4c04a370.jpg"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-2616" title="basement cat committee meeting" src="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/aec80fe0-f7a2-4829-99ff-050b4c04a370.jpg" alt="" width="426" height="319" /></a>Remember the other day I told you I was working on my computer, installing some hardware upgrades? That saga continues and is yet to be resolved. Sigh! Unfortunately I know just enough about computers to get myself into trouble and not be able to fully get myself back out again. So I&#8217;m telling you because it&#8217;s taking up a lot of my brain power, trying to figure out how to get everything to play nice. So that&#8217;s that!</p>
<p>Also, I don&#8217;t often talk about politics, but I told you about the <a href="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/2010/03/04/tell-your-senator-to-stop-the-federal-funding-of-religious-schools/">federal funding of religious schools bill</a> that Joe Lieberman was pushing. I thought you might like an update. In this case, secular values won! Woot!</p>
<p>Here&#8217;s what the <a href="http://secular.org/" target="_blank">Secular Coalition for America</a> said about the victory:</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">Two weeks ago, we alerted you to Sen. Joe Lieberman&#8217;s proposed amendment to the Senate jobs bill that would reauthorize the &#8220;D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program,&#8221; an initiative that forced American taxpayers to subsidize religious institutions through school vouchers.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">A July 2009 report by Rutgers University on the D.C. voucher program concluded that the way the voucher program is structured &#8220;essentially push[es] students into Christian Association and Catholic schools, pricing out independent (non-religious) schools and Hebrew schools.&#8221;</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">Those of us who do not wish to subsidize religion with our tax dollars would continue to be forced to do so if Senator Lieberman had his way.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">Thousands of you responded, writing to your senators to tell them that public funds should be never be used to pay for anyone&#8217;s religion. The amendment never made it to the jobs bill&#8211;though Senator Lieberman promised he would bring it back as soon as he could.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">So the Secular Coalition for America took your message directly to the Senate. SCA staff met personally with over fifteen key senators to make the case that our tax dollars must not be used to fund religious activities, particularly in schools.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">Tonight, Senator Lieberman managed to bring the amendment to the floor, attaching it this time to a bill funding the Federal Aviation Administration. Debate was heard, votes were cast, and the amendment was defeated, 42 to 55. We worked together, and helped to stop the unconstitutional public financing of religious education.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">It&#8217;s only the latest sign that the secular movement is growing. Just last month, the Secular Coalition for America and representatives of the secular movement <a href="http://secular.org/node/218" target="_blank">met with the Obama administration</a> for an official policy briefing-the first of its kind for our movement in history-opening up new lines of dialogue between our community and the White House.  Many more issues lay before us, and we need your help to keep up the momentum.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">If you are interested, sign up for the <a href="http://action.secular.org/t/10399/signUp.jsp?key=2057" target="_blank">SCA Action Alerts</a>. When the rights and values of nontheistic Americans are on the line and you can put in your two cents, the SCA makes it really easy.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">Want to see how your senators voted on this bill? <a href="http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=111&amp;session=2&amp;vote=00053" target="_blank">Go here</a>. Then if they voted nay, consider going to that senator&#8217;s official contact page and thanking them for respecting the separation of church and state.</p>
<p>Please keep commenting about <a href="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/2010/03/12/advertisements-and-logical-fallacies-part-1/">Advertisements and Logical Fallacies</a>. I am still thinking about your input for a follow-up.</p>

	<h4>Related posts</h4>
	<ul class="st-related-posts">
	<li><a href="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/2010/03/04/tell-your-senator-to-stop-the-federal-funding-of-religious-schools/" title="Tell your Senator to Stop the Federal Funding of Religious Schools (March 4, 2010)">Tell your Senator to Stop the Federal Funding of Religious Schools</a> (0)</li>
	<li><a href="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/2010/02/04/your-two-cents-about-the-faith-based-initiative-program/" title="Your Two Cents About the Faith Based Initiative Program (February 4, 2010)">Your Two Cents About the Faith Based Initiative Program</a> (0)</li>
	<li><a href="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/2009/12/07/dont-give-up/" title="Don&#8217;t Give Up! (December 7, 2009)">Don&#8217;t Give Up!</a> (2)</li>
	<li><a href="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/2009/10/20/todays-score-atheists-2-churches-minus-100/" title="Today&#8217;s Score: Atheists 2, Churches -100 (October 20, 2009)">Today&#8217;s Score: Atheists 2, Churches -100</a> (5)</li>
	<li><a href="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/2009/05/15/separation-of-church-and-state-benefits-everyone/" title="Separation of church and State Benefits Everyone (May 15, 2009)">Separation of church and State Benefits Everyone</a> (24)</li>
</ul>

]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/2010/03/18/whats-going-on/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
	
		<series:name><![CDATA[politics]]></series:name>
	</item>
		<item>
		<title>New Mr. Deity and Some Other Godless Entertainment</title>
		<link>http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/2010/03/10/new-mr-deity-and-some-other-godless-entertainment/</link>
		<comments>http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/2010/03/10/new-mr-deity-and-some-other-godless-entertainment/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:29:50 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Neece</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Atheism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[fun]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[humor]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[religion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[video]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Atheist]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[godless]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mr deity]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/?p=2598</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTTwSJK_XMI" target="_blank">Mr. Deity and the Host</a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">
<p style="text-align: center;">This one has a good point, actually. But I don&#8217;t know that it&#8217;s a good idea. <img src='http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_razz.gif' alt=':P' class='wp-smiley' /> </p>
<p><a href="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/atheist_eve-590x393.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2599" title="atheist_eve" src="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/atheist_eve-590x393.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="393" /></a></p>
<p><span id="more-2598"></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Belief in a Higher Power vs Scientific Education in a handy graph.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/20100117.gif"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2600" title="science is awesome!" src="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/20100117.gif" alt="" width="403" height="374" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">
<p style="text-align: center;">Isn&#8217;t religion fun?</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/NwLMf1.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-2601" title="Isn't religion fun?" src="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/NwLMf1-450x345.jpg" alt="" width="450" height="345" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">
<p style="text-align: center;">Determinism explained, lol!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/2010-02-24-determinism.png"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-2602" title="determinism" src="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/2010-02-24-determinism-323x450.png" alt="" width="323" height="450" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">
<p style="text-align: center;">Poor Joseph. God was a hard act to follow. (This was a billboard in Australia, I believe. It was put up by a church. But a &#8220;good christian&#8221; defaced it in broad daylight within about a day. I don&#8217;t believe it, but it&#8217;s still amusing)</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/hardact.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-2603" title="hard act to follow" src="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/hardact-450x262.jpg" alt="" width="450" height="262" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">
<p style="text-align: center;">Atheist Trap, because babies are delicious. (Where did this stupid nonsense ever come from? I missed  a memo, but it still cracks me up)</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/atheisttrap.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-2604" title="atheist trap - babies are delicious" src="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/atheisttrap-450x360.jpg" alt="" width="450" height="360" /></a></p>

	<h4>Related posts</h4>
	<ul class="st-related-posts">
	<li><a href="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/2009/12/18/mr-deity-and-edward-current-videos/" title="Mr. Deity and Edward Current Videos (December 18, 2009)">Mr. Deity and Edward Current Videos</a> (0)</li>
	<li><a href="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/2009/09/21/in-search-of-zingers/" title="In Search Of Zingers (September 21, 2009)">In Search Of Zingers</a> (23)</li>
	<li><a href="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/2008/08/21/de-christianizing/" title="De-Christianizing (August 21, 2008)">De-Christianizing</a> (22)</li>
	<li><a href="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/2009/02/04/atheist-fun/" title="Atheist Fun (February 4, 2009)">Atheist Fun</a> (4)</li>
	<li><a href="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/2009/10/17/are-you-rapture-ready/" title="Are You Rapture Ready? (October 17, 2009)">Are You Rapture Ready?</a> [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTTwSJK_XMI" target="_blank">Mr. Deity and the Host</a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" width="560" height="340" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/GTTwSJK_XMI&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1&amp;" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="560" height="340" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/GTTwSJK_XMI&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1&amp;" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">
<p style="text-align: center;">This one has a good point, actually. But I don&#8217;t know that it&#8217;s a good idea. <img src='http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_razz.gif' alt=':P' class='wp-smiley' /> </p>
<p><a href="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/atheist_eve-590x393.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2599" title="atheist_eve" src="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/atheist_eve-590x393.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="393" /></a></p>
<p><span id="more-2598"></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Belief in a Higher Power vs Scientific Education in a handy graph.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/20100117.gif"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2600" title="science is awesome!" src="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/20100117.gif" alt="" width="403" height="374" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">
<p style="text-align: center;">Isn&#8217;t religion fun?</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/NwLMf1.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-2601" title="Isn't religion fun?" src="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/NwLMf1-450x345.jpg" alt="" width="450" height="345" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">
<p style="text-align: center;">Determinism explained, lol!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/2010-02-24-determinism.png"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-2602" title="determinism" src="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/2010-02-24-determinism-323x450.png" alt="" width="323" height="450" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">
<p style="text-align: center;">Poor Joseph. God was a hard act to follow. (This was a billboard in Australia, I believe. It was put up by a church. But a &#8220;good christian&#8221; defaced it in broad daylight within about a day. I don&#8217;t believe it, but it&#8217;s still amusing)</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/hardact.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-2603" title="hard act to follow" src="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/hardact-450x262.jpg" alt="" width="450" height="262" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">
<p style="text-align: center;">Atheist Trap, because babies are delicious. (Where did this stupid nonsense ever come from? I missed  a memo, but it still cracks me up)</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/atheisttrap.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-2604" title="atheist trap - babies are delicious" src="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/atheisttrap-450x360.jpg" alt="" width="450" height="360" /></a></p>

	<h4>Related posts</h4>
	<ul class="st-related-posts">
	<li><a href="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/2009/12/18/mr-deity-and-edward-current-videos/" title="Mr. Deity and Edward Current Videos (December 18, 2009)">Mr. Deity and Edward Current Videos</a> (0)</li>
	<li><a href="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/2009/09/21/in-search-of-zingers/" title="In Search Of Zingers (September 21, 2009)">In Search Of Zingers</a> (23)</li>
	<li><a href="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/2008/08/21/de-christianizing/" title="De-Christianizing (August 21, 2008)">De-Christianizing</a> (22)</li>
	<li><a href="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/2009/02/04/atheist-fun/" title="Atheist Fun (February 4, 2009)">Atheist Fun</a> (4)</li>
	<li><a href="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/2009/10/17/are-you-rapture-ready/" title="Are You Rapture Ready? (October 17, 2009)">Are You Rapture Ready?</a> (10)</li>
</ul>

]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Don&#8217;t Assume I&#8217;m A Sensitive Soul</title>
		<link>http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/2010/03/04/dont-assume-im-a-sensitive-soul/</link>
		<comments>http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/2010/03/04/dont-assume-im-a-sensitive-soul/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 04 Mar 2010 15:30:27 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Neece</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Atheism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Think]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[believing problem]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[bible]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[critical thinking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[discussion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[email]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[faith]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[apologetics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[barbarism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[christianity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[delusion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ethics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[golden rule]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[myth]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[religion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[slavery]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Superstition]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[worship]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/?p=2580</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/funny-pictures-basement-cat-loves-his-job.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-2582 alignright" title="funny-pictures-basement-cat-loves-his-job" src="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/funny-pictures-basement-cat-loves-his-job.jpg" alt="" width="392" height="295" /></a>I received this email from a woman the other day. After careful thought I replied to it and decided it was worth sharing.</p>
<p>Here is the email in its entirety:</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">Thank you for sharing “<a href="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/2009/01/25/wild-geese-by-mary-oliver-my-favorite-poem/">Wild Geese</a>”.  After Joe Biden used most of this poem as his reflection upon the anniversary of 9/11, I went in search of the poem. The two of Mary Oliver’s collections I own did not include it. I was happy to find it at your site and amazed, actually.  Amazed and delighted, because a poem I find so “religious” is at the same time such a balm for you.  I grew up Roman Catholic; I am now an Episcopal priest.  I am convinced after 20 years that what most people throw away – the cats they heave – are indeed worth heaving.  Sometimes we have to go deeper, below the interpretations of [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/funny-pictures-basement-cat-loves-his-job.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-2582 alignright" title="funny-pictures-basement-cat-loves-his-job" src="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/funny-pictures-basement-cat-loves-his-job.jpg" alt="" width="392" height="295" /></a>I received this email from a woman the other day. After careful thought I replied to it and decided it was worth sharing.</p>
<p>Here is the email in its entirety:</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">Thank you for sharing “<a href="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/2009/01/25/wild-geese-by-mary-oliver-my-favorite-poem/">Wild Geese</a>”.  After Joe Biden used most of this poem as his reflection upon the anniversary of 9/11, I went in search of the poem. The two of Mary Oliver’s collections I own did not include it. I was happy to find it at your site and amazed, actually.  Amazed and delighted, because a poem I find so “religious” is at the same time such a balm for you.  I grew up Roman Catholic; I am now an Episcopal priest.  I am convinced after 20 years that what most people throw away – the cats they heave – are indeed worth heaving.  Sometimes we have to go deeper, below the interpretations of history, to find our own deeper truth.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">Yes, a “barbarous” God exists in the pages of the Bible:  What all-kind God and Father would will the death of a Beloved Son?  How could God command Abraham to kill his son Isaac as a test of faith? Isn’t that sadistic?  Yes, indeed.  On the face of it.  For us in the 21st century these stories are barbaric. They are foreign to our experience. They were not foreign to the persons for whom they were written when the “first fruits” in ancient societies were offered up to the deity – including in some cases, the first born child. In some places in later writings there seems to be a critique of these practices in the Bible itself.  The question becomes, it seems to me, is it worth reinterpreting these stories for our own time, or do we jettison them and replace them with our own stories of sacrificial obedience and love?   Yes, life does involve sacrifice – we give up our children constantly to the gods of war who exact a savage price. There are no rams in the thicket to take their place …</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">But the same source of barbarism comments on itself in texts of amazing love and mercy.  We cannot hear these texts enough.<span id="more-2580"></span></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">I hope the love, mercy is what you kept when you threw away the dead cat of guilt and the burdens of all that teaching that depressed and suffocated you.  If you are still seeking a metaphor or metaphors for the love that is the universe and your place in it, Mary Oliver’s poetry surely hints at it in all its complexity. It is worth the search if you are willing to expand your conversation to include persons who have made a transition through the grief and disillusion you have experienced.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">You have purified your heart. You have surrounded yourself with friends eager to  share what they’ve rejected. Is it time to resume the search for what you seek and share what you have found as a replacement that has enriched you spiritually, given you new life? Perhaps you have done so.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">Please forgive me if I’ve “pried” too much or presumed too much. You are obviously a sensitive soul. Thank you again for sharing a favorite poem.</p>
<p>And here is my reply:</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">Thank you for your email. I&#8217;m glad you enjoyed Wild Geese. It&#8217;s a great poem. Funny that you find it religious. It seems very anti-religious to me, which is why I like it. I guess it&#8217;s down to interpretation. I also think you are very presumptuous with your assumptions of me. My character is not nearly as weak as you suggest. The poem is not a balm to me. I find it inspirational, but I don&#8217;t need to be soothed by it. I find it delightful. Perhaps it might be best to not assume what others are thinking and maybe just ask them.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">You immediately go into apologetics with your loose, cherry-picked interpretations of the bible. If a caring, loving god inspired the words of the bible, I&#8217;m sure slavery would not have been condoned, nor the rape of daughters, nor the hatred of your own family (that was Jesus, by the way. How loving was that?) If it can&#8217;t be taken literally, then the whole book is just about how you interpret it, which means it can mean anything, which means it&#8217;s completely worthless as a guide. It IS completely worthless as a guide anyway. It was written in the middle east in the iron age by goat herders. It has zero relevance for today. It is filled with hate and murder with the occasional rape. Lovely. How you can find anything worthwhile in there is beyond me.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">What little bit of &#8220;wisdom&#8221; in the bible is not original or new. The Golden Rule? Older than Jesus. He didn&#8217;t come up with it. If he even existed, which is highly doubtful.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">So no, it isn&#8217;t worth reinterpreting those fables into stories for our own time. We don&#8217;t need them. They fuel hate in people who interpret them literally, and just confuse good people who think they are the word of their god. They are completely useless to society.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">And no, why do we need to replace them with more sacrificial obedience? Why do you need that? How is that healthy to anyone? Love, sure. We can all use love. But the bible is very thin in that department. Give me a book like The Golden Compass. That has love. And even sacrifice for the good of all mankind. A great epic story with no mixed messages to confuse people. It even has god.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">Life involves compromise and sometimes sacrifice. But teaching children ethics, critical thinking and basic philosophy while giving them love will give them the structure they need to build their own moral code. Not one based on blind obedience and fear of eternal damnation if they make a mistake. How could a loving god torture his creation for all eternity just because they aren&#8217;t blindly worshiping him? He needs some serious psychotherapy. That&#8217;s insane.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">I kept nothing from the bible or my early indoctrination into christianity. I have jettisoned the guilt and fear. There was no love to be had. There was only that blind sacrificial obedience you mentioned. That is not love. That is sickness.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">And you presumed again that it depressed and suffocated me. I find that offensive that you would presume to know me. Do you talk to your parishioners with such condescension? Why not ask someone what they are thinking instead of arrogantly assuming.  I did not experience grief. Although of course I was disillusioned by the lies of religion.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">Shaking off the lies of the church, ridding myself of that sick pack of lies was the most liberating, uplifting, positive step I&#8217;ve ever taken.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">Again, you presume that I am seeking some great truth. How patronizing. For me, the completely natural workings of the universe inspire and awe me daily. That is my truth and I am quite happy to explore it often. I don&#8217;t need to find some god or false belief in a supreme being, or the ridiculous reward of an afterlife. I am happy to have nature in all its complexity. Science is fantastic. That&#8217;s all I need. It&#8217;s quite satisfying to rid myself of superstitions and myths. You should try it. It&#8217;s quite liberating. Maybe it will help you to ask people their feelings and thoughts instead of filtering what you think they experience through your own worldview.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">Oh, and you don&#8217;t know who my friends are either. Again with the presumptions. I guess you probably don&#8217;t think I&#8221;m a sensitive soul anymore. Well, when someone I&#8217;ve never met claims to know me so intimately, I get a bit irritated. I don&#8217;t have a soul. Neither do you. Live this life for today, not for a future promise which doesn&#8217;t exist.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">I&#8217;m glad you enjoyed the poem. But just because I like it too, obviously for very different reasons, doesn&#8217;t mean I think like you or share your delusions.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">I hope someday you too can shake off the shackles of blind faith, sacrificial obedience, repression and future rewards for constant servitude.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">Have a great day!</p>

	<h4>Related posts</h4>
	<ul class="st-related-posts">
	<li><a href="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/2009/05/06/conversations-with-craig-the-christian-5-more-interpretations/" title="Conversations With Craig the christian 5 &#8211; More Interpretations (May 6, 2009)">Conversations With Craig the christian 5 &#8211; More Interpretations</a> (10)</li>
	<li><a href="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/2008/12/12/belief-unbelief-scientific-method/" title="Belief, Unbelief and The Scientific Method (December 12, 2008)">Belief, Unbelief and The Scientific Method</a> (19)</li>
	<li><a href="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/2009/06/23/10-reasons-to-believe-in-god/" title="10 Reasons To Believe In god? (June 23, 2009)">10 Reasons To Believe In god?</a> (24)</li>
	<li><a href="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/testimonial/fruitloop/" title="Neece (July 31, 2008)">Neece</a> (1)</li>
	<li><a href="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/2009/05/31/conversations-with-ash-1-answering-questions/" title="Conversations With Ash: 1 &#8211; Answering Questions (May 31, 2009)">Conversations With Ash: 1 &#8211; Answering Questions</a> (9)</li>
</ul>

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		<slash:comments>5</slash:comments>
	
		<series:name><![CDATA[Debate With christians]]></series:name>
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		<item>
		<title>Being Good Without God Is Natural</title>
		<link>http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/2010/02/18/being-good-without-god-is-natural/</link>
		<comments>http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/2010/02/18/being-good-without-god-is-natural/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 18 Feb 2010 17:45:50 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Neece</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Atheism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Study]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[evolution]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[god]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[hypocrisy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[morality]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[religion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Atheist]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[bible]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ethics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[godless]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Islam]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[morals]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[research]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Science]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/?p=2515</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/128672762465021160.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-2517" title="keels you ded!" src="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/128672762465021160-450x337.jpg" alt="" width="374" height="281" /></a>I walked away from religion when I was 12. While it took me almost another 2 decades to become and accept that I am an atheist, I have basically lived without god for a long time. In fact, I&#8217;ve been an atheist for about 9 years and in that time, I have managed to refrain from killing anyone, stealing anything, cheating on my husband, and many other bad behaviors.</p>
<p>I do still drink copious amounts of coffee and swear a lot, but hey, nobody&#8217;s perfect. <img src='http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_razz.gif' alt=':P' class='wp-smiley' /> </p>
<p>I&#8217;ve met christians who have said they would kill, rape, steal and basically go on a rampage without god watching their every move. I&#8217;m very glad those amoral people are afraid of burning in hell because they have no moral compass like most of us do. Those few people who think they need god to be good need [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/128672762465021160.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-2517" title="keels you ded!" src="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/128672762465021160-450x337.jpg" alt="" width="374" height="281" /></a>I walked away from religion when I was 12. While it took me almost another 2 decades to become and accept that I am an atheist, I have basically lived without god for a long time. In fact, I&#8217;ve been an atheist for about 9 years and in that time, I have managed to refrain from killing anyone, stealing anything, cheating on my husband, and many other bad behaviors.</p>
<p>I do still drink copious amounts of coffee and swear a lot, but hey, nobody&#8217;s perfect. <img src='http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_razz.gif' alt=':P' class='wp-smiley' /> </p>
<p>I&#8217;ve met christians who have said they would kill, rape, steal and basically go on a rampage without god watching their every move. I&#8217;m very glad those amoral people are afraid of burning in hell because they have no moral compass like most of us do. Those few people who think they need god to be good need to stay religious. They have a screw loose.</p>
<p>Apparently research is finding that being moral is part of our evolution. Recently I&#8217;ve been hearing of studies that show morality in other animals. And awhile ago I read about <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0307276864?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=zenswor-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=0307276864">E. Coli</a> and how it sometimes sacrifices itself for the good of the colony. Basically, working within the framework of your given society is beneficial in fundamental ways, and that&#8217;s been with us and many other creatures for eons.</p>
<p>Still, religions think they have some kind of monopoly on morality. But if you actually read their &#8220;holy&#8221; books, you&#8217;ll find rampant murder, religious wars, rape, killing of women and children, wholesale slaughter of people who believed differently, and on and on. Recently I read the first part of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/095642760X?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=zenswor-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=095642760X">God Hates You, Hate Him Back</a> by CJ Werleman which goes through every book of the bible. I was reminded how much god hates everyone, even his chosen people, and how much he kills people and has his people kill people, children and animals. It&#8217;s <span style="text-decoration: line-through;">heart-warming</span> mind-numbing. That&#8217;s the main gist of the old testament. (the other main theme is how the chosen people aren&#8217;t worshiping god correctly, how they are worshiping other gods &#8211; wait, isn&#8217;t there just one? even god admits there are others! &#8211; and generally being bad followers and need to be punished. It&#8217;s very <span style="text-decoration: line-through;">loving</span> crazy-making to read it.)<span id="more-2515"></span></p>
<p>The bible and other religious texts also say that morals are fixed and unchanging, but the easiest way to refute that is simply to look at slavery. The old and the new testament both promote slavery and tell people to be good slaves if that is their lot. Yet we learned some time ago that slavery is morally wrong and in all civilized places in the world it is rejected as unethical.</p>
<p>Also, look at how women are treated in the bible and the quran while in our modern, civilized society women are becoming fully equal in stature. We still need to keep working on it, but it would be so much easier if people would stop turning to a dusty old book from the Iron Age. In some parts of the world women are subjugated to status lower than dogs, but in every culture I can think of, religion plays a huge part of why that is still the case.</p>
<p>Another point to make is that people from all walks of life, with different religions or no religions at all, have the same basic set of morals. Of course there are differences for each culture, especially over time, but in most societies murder and stealing are wrong. If only one religion had the corner on morals, everyone else would be barbarians, would they not?</p>
<p><a href="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/funny-pictures-cat-hides-body.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-2518 alignright" title="funny-pictures-cat-hides-body" src="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/funny-pictures-cat-hides-body-450x337.jpg" alt="" width="393" height="293" /></a>Of course, look at islam which condones rape, killing your own children even today, and many other reprehensible ethics. This is where religion is most definitely not on the high ground. As an atheist no prophet or god tells me I have to kill my daughter or son if they convert to another religion. No god or &#8220;holy&#8221; book tells me I have to hate my parents and my children if they don&#8217;t follow jesus either. Face it, religions are barbaric and amoral.</p>
<p>If you read the 10 commandments, the only really good ones are &#8220;don&#8217;t murder&#8221; and &#8220;don&#8217;t steal&#8221;. Most of the rest of them are self serving to the jewish/christian god. And those two moral concepts have been around since long before we were even human, and certainly in every culture.</p>
<p>I was listening to some old Point of Inquiry episodes and found a short three part series called Can You Be Good Without God? where <a href="http://www.secularhumanism.org/index.php?section=main&amp;page=kurtz" target="_blank">Paul Kurtz</a> explores:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.pointofinquiry.org/ibn_warraq_why_i_am_not_a_muslim/" target="_blank">POI Jan 6, 2006</a>: the  real origin of morality. (go to 30:06 in the podcast which you can get on iTunes through the link)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.pointofinquiry.org/max_maven_magic_and_skepticism/" target="_blank">POI Jan 13, 2006</a>: defending godless morality. (starts at 37:05 in the podcast)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.pointofinquiry.org/eugenie_scott_the_dover_trial_evolution_vs_intelligent_design/" target="_blank">POI Jan 20, 2006</a>: the specific ethical ideals secular humanists cherish.(starts at 42:09)</li>
</ul>
<p>Some studies that might interest you:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/02/100208123625.htm" target="_blank">Morality Research Sheds Light on the Origins of Religion</a>: (Feb. 9, 2010) — The details surrounding the emergence and evolution of religion have not been clearly established and remain a source of much debate among scholars. Now, an article published by Cell Press in the journal <a href="http://www.cell.com/trends/cognitive-sciences/abstract/S1364-6613%2809%2900289-7" target="_blank">Trends in Cognitive Sciences</a> on February 8 brings a new understanding to this long-standing discussion by exploring the fascinating link between morality and religion.<br />
&#8230;Citing several studies in moral psychology, the authors highlight the finding that despite differences in, or even an absence of, religious backgrounds, individuals show no difference in moral judgments for unfamiliar moral dilemmas. The research suggests that intuitive judgments of right and wrong seem to operate independently of explicit religious commitments.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091229105906.htm" target="_blank">Why Powerful People &#8211; Many of Whom Take a Moral High Ground &#8211; Don&#8217;t Practice What They Preach</a>: (Dec. 30, 2009) — 2009 may well be remembered for its scandal-ridden headlines, from admissions of extramarital affairs by governors and senators, to corporate executives flying private jets while cutting employee benefits, and most recently, to a mysterious early morning car crash in Florida. The past year has been marked by a series of moral transgressions by powerful figures in political, business and celebrity circles. New research from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University explores why powerful people &#8211; many of whom take a moral high ground &#8211; don&#8217;t practice what they preach.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090626141233.htm" target="_blank">Why Saints Sin And Sinners Get Saintly</a>: (June 28, 2009) — To many, New York Gov. Eliott Spitzer&#8217;s fall from grace seemed to make no sense at all. But a new Northwestern University study offers provocative insights that possibly could relate to why the storm trooper of reform &#8212; formerly known as the Sheriff of Wall Street &#8212; seemingly went from saint to sinner overnight.</li>
</ul>
<p>So while a lot of us were raised on the 10 commandments, we are faced with many grey area issues in our daily lives that we need to decide, what is right or wrong here? What are your 5 top morals and where do you feel you got them from? If not from religion, then from society or perhaps from your own innate sense of right and wrong? Have they changed as you&#8217;ve matured? I&#8217;d love to hear what you have to say about it all.</p>

	<h4>Related posts</h4>
	<ul class="st-related-posts">
	<li><a href="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/2009/03/25/morals-ethics-and-pope-benedict-evil/" title="Morals, Ethics and Pope Benedict Evil (March 25, 2009)">Morals, Ethics and Pope Benedict Evil</a> (13)</li>
	<li><a href="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/2009/02/19/why-do-atheists-have-to-rock-the-boat/" title="Why Do Atheists Have To Rock The Boat? (February 19, 2009)">Why Do Atheists Have To Rock The Boat?</a> (22)</li>
	<li><a href="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/2009/06/23/10-reasons-to-believe-in-god/" title="10 Reasons To Believe In god? (June 23, 2009)">10 Reasons To Believe In god?</a> (24)</li>
	<li><a href="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/2009/07/20/swearing-brings-pain-relief/" title="Swearing Brings Pain Relief (July 20, 2009)">Swearing Brings Pain Relief</a> (6)</li>
	<li><a href="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/2009/05/28/suffer-the-martyr-and-they-will-come/" title="Suffer The Martyr And They Will Come (May 28, 2009)">Suffer The Martyr And They Will Come</a> (3)</li>
</ul>

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		<slash:comments>4</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>Religion Is Evil And Contagious</title>
		<link>http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/2010/02/10/religion-is-evil-and-contagious/</link>
		<comments>http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/2010/02/10/religion-is-evil-and-contagious/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 10 Feb 2010 14:03:05 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Neece</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Atheism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[believing problem]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[evolution]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[god]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[humanity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[morality]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[religion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[video]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[beliefs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[dawkins]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[delusion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[evil]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[indoctrination]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Richard Dawkins]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Science]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/?p=2502</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>But don&#8217;t take my word for it. How about an Oxford professor whom you know and love? Richard Dawkins, of course! I found this 2 part video he did for the BBC in 2006. It&#8217;s a very good overview of his ideas and concepts of religion, evolution and atheism. See below for the descriptions of each episode.</p>
<p><a href="http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=9002284641446868316&#38;hl=en&#38;emb=1#" target="_blank">The Root of All Evil? Part 1: The God Delusion</a>. (Richard Dawkins, 2006) &#8211; 47:51</p>
<p></p>
<p><a href="http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8210522903232438954&#38;hl=en&#38;emb=1#" target="_blank">The Root of All Evil? &#8211; The Virus of Faith</a> (2 of 2) &#8211; 47:58</p>
<p></p>
<p>Here&#8217;s a description of the first episode:<span id="more-2502"></span><br />
The Root of All Evil? is a television documentary, written and presented by Richard Dawkins, in which he argues that the world would be better off without religion. The documentary was first broadcast in January 2006, in the form of two 45-minute episodes (excluding advertisement breaks), on Channel 4 in the UK. [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>But don&#8217;t take my word for it. How about an Oxford professor whom you know and love? Richard Dawkins, of course! I found this 2 part video he did for the BBC in 2006. It&#8217;s a very good overview of his ideas and concepts of religion, evolution and atheism. See below for the descriptions of each episode.</p>
<p><a href="http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=9002284641446868316&amp;hl=en&amp;emb=1#" target="_blank">The Root of All Evil? Part 1: The God Delusion</a>. (Richard Dawkins, 2006) &#8211; 47:51</p>
<p><object id="VideoPlayback" style="width: 400px; height: 326px;" classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" width="100" height="100" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="src" value="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docid=9002284641446868316&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=true" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><embed id="VideoPlayback" style="width: 400px; height: 326px;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100" height="100" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docid=9002284641446868316&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=true" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></p>
<p><a href="http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8210522903232438954&amp;hl=en&amp;emb=1#" target="_blank">The Root of All Evil? &#8211; The Virus of Faith</a> (2 of 2) &#8211; 47:58</p>
<p><object id="VideoPlayback" style="width: 400px; height: 326px;" classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" width="100" height="100" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="src" value="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docid=-8210522903232438954&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=true" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><embed id="VideoPlayback" style="width: 400px; height: 326px;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100" height="100" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docid=-8210522903232438954&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=true" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></p>
<p>Here&#8217;s a description of the first episode:<span id="more-2502"></span><br />
The Root of All Evil? is a television documentary, written and presented by Richard Dawkins, in which he argues that the world would be better off without religion. The documentary was first broadcast in January 2006, in the form of two 45-minute episodes (excluding advertisement breaks), on Channel 4 in the UK. Dawkins has said that the title &#8220;The Root of All Evil?&#8221; was not his preferred choice, but that Channel 4 had insisted on it to create controversy.[1] His sole concession from the producers on the title was the addition of the question mark. Dawkins has stated that the notion of anything being the root of all evil is ridiculous.[2] Dawkins&#8217; book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0618918248?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=zenswor-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=0618918248">The God Delusion</a>, released in September 2006, goes on to examine the topics raised in the documentary in greater detail. The God Delusion explores the unproven beliefs that are treated as factual by many religions and the extremes to which some followers have taken them. Dawkins opens the programme by describing the &#8220;would-be murderers . . . who want to kill you and me, and themselves, because they&#8217;re motivated by what they think is the highest ideal.&#8221; Dawkins argues that &#8220;the process of non-thinking called faith&#8221; is not a way of understanding the world, but instead stands in fundamental opposition to modern science and the scientific method, and is divisive and dangerous.</p>
<p>Here&#8217;s a description of the second episode:<br />
In The Virus of Faith, Dawkins opines that the moral framework of religions is warped, and argues against the religious indoctrination of children. The title of this episode comes from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0199291152?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=zenswor-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=0199291152">The Selfish Gene</a>, in which Dawkins discussed the concept of memes.</p>

	<h4>Related posts</h4>
	<ul class="st-related-posts">
	<li><a href="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/2009/03/29/what-is-atheism-to-you-conversations-with-craig-the-christian-1/" title="What Is Atheism To You? Conversations With Craig the Christian 1 (March 29, 2009)">What Is Atheism To You? Conversations With Craig the Christian 1</a> (36)</li>
	<li><a href="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/2009/12/29/interesting-enlightening-evolution/" title="Interesting, Enlightening Evolution (December 29, 2009)">Interesting, Enlightening Evolution</a> (0)</li>
	<li><a href="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/2009/10/25/panel-discussion-of-secular-society-center-for-inquiry/" title="Panel Discussion of Secular Society, Center for Inquiry (October 25, 2009)">Panel Discussion of Secular Society, Center for Inquiry</a> (0)</li>
	<li><a href="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/2009/03/25/morals-ethics-and-pope-benedict-evil/" title="Morals, Ethics and Pope Benedict Evil (March 25, 2009)">Morals, Ethics and Pope Benedict Evil</a> (13)</li>
	<li><a href="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/2009/09/02/justifying-our-false-beliefs/" title="Justifying Our False Beliefs (September 2, 2009)">Justifying Our False Beliefs</a> (18)</li>
</ul>

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		<title>Your Two Cents About the Faith Based Initiative Program</title>
		<link>http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/2010/02/04/your-two-cents-about-the-faith-based-initiative-program/</link>
		<comments>http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/2010/02/04/your-two-cents-about-the-faith-based-initiative-program/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 04 Feb 2010 22:20:46 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Neece</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Atheism]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Freethinker]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[secular coalition for america]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/?p=2489</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/ZeNeece108.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-2490" title="ninja grizzlies!" src="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/ZeNeece108-450x300.jpg" alt="" width="450" height="300" /></a>The Secular Coalition of America sent me a request a few minutes ago, asking me to write a letter to Obama about the Faith Based Initiative Program. I pretty much keep my nose out of politics, but I thought I&#8217;d pass this along because I firmly believe in the Separation of Church and State as my God Given Right! <img src='http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_razz.gif' alt=':P' class='wp-smiley' /> </p>
<p>Seriously, this country was founded on the incredibly important idea of religion and politics being separate. If you want to see a country where there is no separation, just go to Iran. I&#8217;m pretty sure they are a theocracy. Don&#8217;t hold me to that, though. My world politics skills have never been very sharp.</p>
<p>Anyway, I think letter writing campaigns work best when the people or organization targeted gets absolutely inundated from all over the place with the same request. Here is what the [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/ZeNeece108.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-2490" title="ninja grizzlies!" src="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/ZeNeece108-450x300.jpg" alt="" width="450" height="300" /></a>The Secular Coalition of America sent me a request a few minutes ago, asking me to write a letter to Obama about the Faith Based Initiative Program. I pretty much keep my nose out of politics, but I thought I&#8217;d pass this along because I firmly believe in the Separation of Church and State as my God Given Right! <img src='http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_razz.gif' alt=':P' class='wp-smiley' /> </p>
<p>Seriously, this country was founded on the incredibly important idea of religion and politics being separate. If you want to see a country where there is no separation, just go to Iran. I&#8217;m pretty sure they are a theocracy. Don&#8217;t hold me to that, though. My world politics skills have never been very sharp.</p>
<p>Anyway, I think letter writing campaigns work best when the people or organization targeted gets absolutely inundated from all over the place with the same request. Here is what the Secular Coalition for America says:</p>
<blockquote><p>As a presidential candidate, Barack Obama promised to abide by &#8220;a few basic principles&#8221; that would protect the constitutional separation of church and state in his plan for an expanded faith based initiative program. He was specific: &#8220;First, if you get a federal grant, you can&#8217;t use that grant money to proselytize to the people you help and you can&#8217;t discriminate against them &#8211; or against the people you hire &#8211; on the basis of their religion. Second, federal dollars that go directly to churches, temples, and mosques can only be used on secular programs.&#8221;</p>
<p>On February 5, 2009 President Obama issued his Executive Order establishing his Faith Based Intiative program. Twelve months later at the National Prayer Breakfast, President Obama claimed that his administration had &#8220;turned the faith-based initiative around&#8221; from its misuse during the Bush administration. But it appears the only thing President Obama has changed about how millions of federal dollars are spent is that the office guiding the direct funding of houses of worship is now called  the &#8220;White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships&#8221; rather than the &#8220;Office of Faith Based and Community Initiatives.&#8221;   Twelve months, Two words. That&#8217;s not a turn around, it&#8217;s a re-branding.</p>
<p><a href="http://action.secular.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=2193" target="_blank">Go Here to Send a Letter to Obama through the Secular Coalition of America</a>. Hey, maybe if enough of us say something it might just make a difference.<span id="more-2489"></span>The Secular Coalition for America has called for reform and oversight of the Office and the agencies that it oversees for years. Government reports and hearings have documented the constitutional problems and gross abuses rampant in this program, but a year later all Americans continue to have their federal dollars used for government-condoned religious discrimination, while reforms to prohibit proselytizing in these purportedly secular social service programs have still not been enacted.</p>
<p>No law is required to fix this &#8211; simply the stroke of a Presidential pen.</p>
<p>America&#8217;s Founding Fathers strongly believed in a clear separation between church and state. They gave us a Constitution that forbids government to support or oppose any religion, leaving Americans free to follow their own consciences when it comes to matters of faith. In the words of the First Amendment, government shall make &#8220;no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof….&#8221;</p>
<p>Churches and other houses of worship are free to spread their beliefs. But they are expected to raise their own funds through the voluntary contributions of the faithful. Taxation to support religion and religious endeavors was forbidden under the Founders&#8217; constitutional framework. No American should be compelled through taxation to subsidize any religion. Twelve months, Two words.</p></blockquote>
<p><a href="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/funny-pictures-polar-bears-find-an-igloo-with-cream-filling.jpg"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-2491" title="funny-pictures-polar-bears-find-an-igloo-with-cream-filling" src="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/funny-pictures-polar-bears-find-an-igloo-with-cream-filling.jpg" alt="" width="428" height="237" /></a>I will resist the urge to climb up on my tallest soapbox and rail against the machine and leave you with another <span style="text-decoration: line-through;">lolcat</span> lolbear.</p>

	<h4>Related posts</h4>
	<ul class="st-related-posts">
	<li><a href="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/2010/03/18/whats-going-on/" title="What&#8217;s Going On!? (March 18, 2010)">What&#8217;s Going On!?</a> (0)</li>
	<li><a href="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/2010/03/04/tell-your-senator-to-stop-the-federal-funding-of-religious-schools/" title="Tell your Senator to Stop the Federal Funding of Religious Schools (March 4, 2010)">Tell your Senator to Stop the Federal Funding of Religious Schools</a> (0)</li>
	<li><a href="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/2009/01/21/remaking-america-day-one/" title="Remaking America &#8211; Day One (January 21, 2009)">Remaking America &#8211; Day One</a> (4)</li>
	<li><a href="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/2009/04/04/my-letter-to-president-obama/" title="My Letter To President Obama (April 4, 2009)">My Letter To President Obama</a> (0)</li>
	<li><a href="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/2009/05/15/separation-of-church-and-state-benefits-everyone/" title="Separation of church and State Benefits Everyone (May 15, 2009)">Separation of church and State Benefits Everyone</a> (24)</li>
</ul>

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		<title>A Rational Chain E-mail</title>
		<link>http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/2010/01/30/a-rational-chain-e-mail/</link>
		<comments>http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/2010/01/30/a-rational-chain-e-mail/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 30 Jan 2010 13:43:17 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Neece</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Atheism]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[christianity]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[lies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Think]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/?p=2474</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>My friend Charles composed the following email as a response to a ridiculous christian forward he got call &#8220;Untimely Deaths&#8221;. He thought I might like to share it with you. So here it is, including the angry christian email reply he already got and his reply to that at the end. His version had the classical large fonts, underlines and bold text that inflammatory emails often have, but for the web, I had to strip most of the formatting. If you decide to send this on to your christian friends, feel free to make them more at ease by using insanely large font sizes, underlines, unreadable colors, etc. <img src='http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_razz.gif' alt=':P' class='wp-smiley' /> </p>
<p><strong><a href="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/n1320962393_347933_67437561.jpg"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-2475" title="reason is the greatest enemy that faith has" src="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/n1320962393_347933_67437561.jpg" alt="" width="375" height="334" /></a>Do you have the COURAGE to Read this whole E-Mail?????</strong></p>
<p><strong>The TRUTH about UNTIMELY DEATHS!</strong></p>
<p>John Lennon (Singer):<br />
Some years before, during an interview with an American Magazine, he said:<br />
&#8220;Christianity will end, [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>My friend Charles composed the following email as a response to a ridiculous christian forward he got call &#8220;Untimely Deaths&#8221;. He thought I might like to share it with you. So here it is, including the angry christian email reply he already got and his reply to that at the end. His version had the classical large fonts, underlines and bold text that inflammatory emails often have, but for the web, I had to strip most of the formatting. If you decide to send this on to your christian friends, feel free to make them more at ease by using insanely large font sizes, underlines, unreadable colors, etc. <img src='http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_razz.gif' alt=':P' class='wp-smiley' /> </p>
<p><strong><a href="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/n1320962393_347933_67437561.jpg"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-2475" title="reason is the greatest enemy that faith has" src="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/n1320962393_347933_67437561.jpg" alt="" width="375" height="334" /></a>Do you have the COURAGE to Read this whole E-Mail?????</strong></p>
<p><strong>The TRUTH about UNTIMELY DEATHS!</strong></p>
<p>John Lennon (Singer):<br />
Some years before, during an interview with an American Magazine, he said:<br />
&#8220;Christianity will end, it will disappear. I do not have to argue about that. I am certain. Jesus was ok, but his subjects were too simple. Today we are<br />
more famous than Him&#8221; (1966).<br />
Lennon, after saying that the Beatles were more famous than Jesus Christ, was shot six times.</p>
<p><strong>Is god lazy? Lennon said he was bigger than Jesus in 1966. Mark Chapman shot him in 1980.<br />
Fourteen years later!  Was god too busy all those years assassinating other sinners?  Is he a procrastinator?<br />
&#8220;Oh yeah, that one blasphemous beatle. I really should smite him.&#8221;<br />
The next day:<br />
&#8220;Crap! I forgot! again!&#8221;</strong></p>
<p><strong>And so on, for the next fourteen years!<span id="more-2474"></span></strong></p>
<p>MARILYN MONROE:<br />
She was visited by Billy Graham during a presentation of a show. He is a preacher and Evangelist and the Spirit of God had sent him to preach to her.<br />
After hearing what the Preacher had to say, she said: &#8220;I don&#8217;t need your Jesus&#8221;<br />
A week later, she was found dead in her apartment.</p>
<p><strong>Of course, the fact that Marilyn Monroe was Jewish is inconsequential!</strong></p>
<p>Now consider:</p>
<p>Saloth Sar, better known as Pol Pot, was the leader of the Cambodian communist movement known as the Khmer Rouge<br />
During his time in power, Pol Pot imposed a version of agrarian collectivization, forcing city dwellers to relocate to the countryside to work in collective farms and forced labor projects, toward a goal of &#8220;restarting civilization&#8221; in a &#8220;Year Zero&#8221;.<br />
The combined effects of slave labor, malnutrition, poor medical care, and executions resulted in the deaths of an estimated 1.7 to 2.5 million people, approximately 21% of the Cambodian population.</p>
<p><strong>Also, he was not a Christian.  Also, he lived to be 70.</strong></p>
<p>Aleister Crowley, born Edward Alexander Crowley, was an English occultist, writer, mountaineer, poet, playwright, yogi, and possible spy He was an influential member of occult organizations, including the Golden Dawn, the A∴A∴, and Ordo Templi Orientis (O.T.O.), and is known today for his magical writings, especially The Book of the Law, the central sacred text of Thelma. He gained notoriety during his lifetime, and was denounced in the popular press of the day as &#8220;The wickedest man in the world.&#8221;</p>
<p><strong>And yet lived to be 72. </strong></p>
<p>Donatien Alphonse François, Marquis de Sade, was a French aristocrat and writer famous for his libertine sexuality and lifestyle. His works include novels, short stories, plays, and political tracts; in his lifetime some were published under his own name, while others appeared anonymously and Sade denied being their author. He is best known for his erotic novels, which combined philosophical discourse with pornography, depicting bizarre sexual fantasies with an emphasis on violence, criminality, and blasphemy against the Catholic Church. He was a proponent of extreme freedom (or at least licentiousness), unrestrained by morality, religion or law.<br />
The term &#8220;sadism&#8221; is derived from his name.</p>
<p><strong>Lived to be 74.</strong></p>
<p>Idi Amin Dada,  The military dictator and President of Uganda from 1971 to 1979.<br />
Amin&#8217;s rule was characterised by human rights abuses, political repression, ethnic persecution, extrajudicial killings, nepotism, corruption and gross economic mismanagement. The number of people killed as a result of his regime is estimated by international observers and human rights groups to range from 100,000 to 500,000.<br />
A polygamist, Idi Amin married at least six women, three of whom he divorced. He married his first and second wives, Malyamu and Kay, in 1966. The next year, he married Nora and then Nalongo Madina in 1972. On 26 March 1974, he announced on Radio Uganda that he had divorced Malyamu, Nora and Kay.<br />
<strong>Kay died on 13 August 1974,  Her body was found dismembered.</strong></p>
<p><strong>Lived to the ripe old age of 78.</strong></p>
<p><strong>Finally, the REAL TRUTH comes out! </strong></p>
<p><strong>UNTIMELY DEATHS?</strong></p>
<p>Every day, almost 16,000 children die from hunger-related causes&#8211;one child every five seconds.<br />
In the time it takes you to read one  E-mail full of &#8220;little lies for Jesus&#8221; at least 200 people will have died of starvation.<br />
Over 4 million will die this year.</p>
<p><strong>“Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able?<br />
Then he is not omnipotent.<br />
Is he able, but not willing?<br />
Then he is malevolent.<br />
Is he both able and willing?<br />
Then whence cometh EVIL?<br />
Is he neither able nor willing?<br />
Then why call him God?”</strong></p>
<p>- Epicurus (Greek philosopher, BC 341-270)</p>
<p><strong>Use Your Brains.</strong></p>
<p>Charles already got an angry response and replied:</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">On Fri, Jan 29, 2010 at 5:35 PM, (unnamed Christian) wrote:</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">Man is where evil dwells not God. Don’t blame MAN’S shortcomings, cruelty, greed, racism, etc,,, on God!. Man has a choice….all of us have a choice. What we do with that choice is up to us. Our hand is not being forced by any being including God….use you brains!!!!!!!!!!</p>
<p>Charles&#8217; reply:</p>
<p>An intelligent man would never blame god for any of those things, because he understands that god is but a creation of man.<br />
Don&#8217;t devalue all humanity by blaming all the world&#8217;s injustice on them.   You do not only the world, but yourself a disservice.<br />
It is ludicrous to claim that the people who died in the earthquake in Haiti choose that to happen.  As ridiculous as claiming that children choose to die of starvation.<br />
Saying that &#8220;all of us have a choice&#8221; is the biggest &#8220;blame the victim&#8221; pile of steaming&#8230; well you get the idea, that religion ever propagated.</p>
<p>If you believe in god then you already believe in a place god created that is without suffering and yet all the people there still have free will, it is called heaven.<br />
There is no reason an all powerful god couldn&#8217;t have made earth the same way.   Unless he is just a dick?</p>
<p>But again, that would be silly to blame the world&#8217;s problems on an imaginary being.  As silly as blaming people for things that they have no control over.</p>
<p>Things just happen, good and bad.  It is a result of living on an imperfect natural world we have by chance evolved to live on.</p>
<p>Maybe someday you can see reality without the &#8220;Jesus glasses&#8221;.  Good luck with that.</p>

	<h4>Related posts</h4>
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	<li><a href="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/2009/03/04/young-earth-invasion/" title="Young Earth Invasion (March 4, 2009)">Young Earth Invasion</a> (6)</li>
	<li><a href="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/2009/01/05/religulous-were-on-the-road-to-nowhere/" title="Religulous: We&#8217;re On The Road To Nowhere (January 5, 2009)">Religulous: We&#8217;re On The Road To Nowhere</a> (3)</li>
	<li><a href="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/2009/08/15/religious-murderers-get-off-easy/" title="Religious Murderers Get Off Easy (August 15, 2009)">Religious Murderers Get Off Easy</a> (9)</li>
	<li><a href="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/2009/11/28/religions-problem-of-evil-the-top-15-excuses-religious-people-give-for-their-god/" title="Religion&#8217;s Problem of Evil: The Top 15 Excuses Religious People Give For Their god (November 28, 2009)">Religion&#8217;s Problem of Evil: The Top 15 Excuses Religious People Give For Their god</a> (0)</li>
	<li><a href="http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/2009/12/17/conversation-with-anne-about-religion-truth-science-and-history/" title="Conversation With Anne About Religion, Truth, Science and History (December 17, 2009)">Conversation With Anne About Religion, Truth, Science and History</a> (4)</li>
</ul>

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