A Bad Situation Made Worse
Alexander Aan, an atheist in Pulau Punjung, Indonesia, was attacked by a mob of dozens of people. They stormed into the office where Alexander works as a civil servant and beat him. All of this crap started after a heated Facebook exchange which began with Alexander writing, “God doesn’t exist”, on his Facebook page.
After arresting Alexander, the local Police Chief, Chairul Aziz said, “He is suspected of having blasphemed against Islam.” Seeing how blasphemy can carry a five year prison sentence, Alexander must have had a brass set to run a Facebook group for over 1,200 atheists. Every religion likes to think of itself as the “religion of peace” – but in a country that is mostly Muslim – Alexander needs protection in jail from those same Muslims. I love this world.
Communion Denied
A seven year old boy of catholic parents was refused the sacrament of Holy Communion. The church defends it’s position because the young child named Denum Ellarby has Down Syndrome. After the parents complained to the Leeds diocese Vicar General, he still defended the action taken by the local priest, Father Mungovin, saying:
[Mungovin was not] unreasonable in sharing the view that Denum should proceed to First Sacraments when he will be better placed to understand the preparation and to enjoy participation in Mass.
I hate to say that I agree with the catholics on any topic, but I do. For a totally different reason. Just as Dawkins says you don’t have religious children; you have children of religious parents. I don’t care if the boy has Down Syndrome. Seven years old is no where near old enough to take a vow like that. Religious groups need to accept the fact that children are not doing any more than mouthing their parents words at that age. Throughout their lives… repeating those words and never understanding what those words mean until they are much older – and sometimes not even then.
What is the best way to bring the religions of the world into the 21st century without all hell breaking loose? Give those children a chance to think for themselves. Teach them about all religions in school. I’m an Atheist and I endorse this message. =p
Homeopathic Birth Control
Greatest thing ever. I even bet the Catholics can take it. Derived from the cells of a fetus. Just like mom used to make.
Fine, it’s not real, but damn it is funny. Great way to show the idiocy of homeopathy. Just like a homeopathic treatment for a burn… using more fire. (Shamelessly pulled that last link from the SGU)
I hope to see each and every one of you at the Northwest Free-thought Convention in Seattle, Washington in a couple months!
~Wesley
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Yeah, the suppression of atheism in Islamic nations is horrible. I know several arab atheists – they happen to be scientists as well and they know that God does not exist. However, they still go prayer, they still attend the religious festivals because their families would ask questions if they didn't. Even in a free country like Australia, many Arabs and people of Persian or Malay or Pakistani descent have to live a double life and watch what they say in regards to religion. There have been stories of members of the muslim community using hard intimidation tactics against any one of "their" people they suspect of being less than devout. It's despicable. The only real solution is just to leave for another city far away and tell everyone else you're indian or thai. That's what some of my colleagues did: they left, changed their name and pretended to be someone else.
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