Category Archives: The Atheist’s Pulpit

One believer’s view.

The Atheist's Pulpit

The Void

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The following is from Roger Ebert’s journal (he is so much more than a movie reviewer). This post is about Christopher Hitchens, a renowned atheist. (I reject atheism proselytizers as much as any others.)

Traveler to the undiscovere’d country – Roger Ebert’s Journal

Ebert: I was asked at lunch today who or what I worshipped. The question was asked sincerely, and in the same spirit I responded that I worshipped whatever there might be outside knowledge. I worship the void. The mystery. And the ability of our human minds to perceive an unanswerable mystery. To reduce such a thing to simplistic names is an insult to it, and to our intelligence.

Traveler to the undiscovere’d country – Roger Ebert’s Journal

It’s an interesting take, although he lost me at worship (barf). I think a lot about the unthinkable, especially the unknowable. I think we’re fools – scientist or priest – to believe the entirety of our knowledge is more than one grain of sand on an infinite beach. Moreover, I believe there are things not merely unknown, but truly eternally and infinitely unknowable.

However, gawd, in every variation humans have imagined, is not a part of that. (But, I can’t know that, can I.) More to the point, death is not part of that. We know what death is and we deny it every chance we get. Death is not a passage to a new adventure. Death is the end of self. But, no worries, you won’t feel a thing. After all, you didn’t spend the millennia before your birth tapping your foot and watching the proceedings.

NADA, The Atheist's Pulpit

Happy Birthday, Barrack Hussein Obama!

I don’t like veneration or adulation. That ties into my rejection of religion and certainty there is no god. It’s why I don’t give a damn about American Idol or idolatry or most celebrities.

So, I’m not the kinda guy to wish the President a happy birthday just because he’s president.

It’s troubling how many people who consider themselves patriots absolutely hate Obama beyond all restraint. These are people who stand and cover their hearts for the National Anthem and who pledge allegiance to the flag. I do not. These people coined “My country, right or wrong,” and “America, Love it or leave it.” Indeed, just six years ago, they were joyously hoping for a liberal exodus to Canada or some other socialist nation (hear the sneer). They screamed for us to sit down and shut up. They herded us into Free Speech Zones without a clue about irony.

Today, many good, decent, upright, gawdfearin’ sons and daughters of the Republic hate one man with every fiber of their beings. They pray and hope for his death. He is Satan, as far as they are concerned. And it has nothing to do with his race.

Now, to be fair – and I do want to be fair, even to people who aren’t fair themselves – I know something about anger and hatred and I have plenty of both for some people. I hate George Duhbya Bush to this very day. Spit on the ground. I hate Big Dick Cheney. I hate Karl der Grosse Rove. Yes, I hate them passionately and I won’t shed a tear when they die. But I want them to live out a natural life. I want them to live long enough to realize that if they are remembered at all, it won’t be kindly.

I think the damage those vile men wrecked on the nation is as obvious as taking off your shoes for the Homeland. I think they are evil villains. So, I voted against them and spoke out against them every chance I got. I endured their horrible reign over the nation for eight awful years. I never once waived a gun in their directions.

I believe change is inevitable and only fools fight it. And I think the biggest fools waive their guns the hardest. I know the crazies won’t simply SHUT THE FUCK UP and wait for 2016. With luck, their venom will poison only them or they’ll shoot each other.

Happy Birthday to Barrack Hussein Obama. I thank him for his extraordinary courage in taking on the huge mess made by Duhbya and AmeriCo. I wish Obama good luck, and a long, long life.

Happy “Birth” Day, Mr. President; Welcome to the Post-Fact Era – Tuned In – TIME.com

Posted by James Poniewozik Wednesday, August 4, 2010 at 3:07 pm

Submit a Comment • Related Topics: news media politics , birthers

Barack Obama celebrates his 49th birthday today. Or so he claims. According to a CNN survey, more than a quarter of Americans doubt that Obama was born in the United States; 29% say he probably was; and a mere plurality of 42% have no doubt. This despite widely reported empirical documentation of the President’s birth in Hawaii in 1961, contemporary newspaper reports of his birth and the dismissal of birther rumors by Hawaii’s Republican governor. Speaking of which, big shocker, there’s a partisan divide in the findings: 41% of Republicans believe Obama probably or definitely was not born here, next to (a not entirely comforting itself) 15% of Democrats.

There is no reasonable basis to believe Obama was born outside the U.S.; a lot of people believe it anyway.

Happy “Birth” Day, Mr. President; Welcome to the Post-Fact Era – Tuned In – TIME.com

obituaries, The Atheist's Pulpit

She deserved a better end…

Our friend, Kathleen Crownover, died 6/12/10. Eleven months ago, I wrote of her leaving her long-time home of Albuquerque as a kind of death. She proved my pronouncement foolish by prospering for months after the move. Unfortunately, for the past two months, she suffered more and more. One might wish for death, but the body clings to life, no matter how weak or pain-full.

I do not share the belief that Kathleen has gone to a better place. She’s gone. I would feel so much happier if I could think there is more to it than that. But, all can agree, she’s better off than she was a week ago.

Though her end may have a lesson for us all, her life surely did. Kathleen was extraordinarily kind, gracious, and generous. She had a good smile and a sweet chuckle. She was a good friend. We will think of her often.

One story: Kathleen took Merri to Paul’s Monterey Inn many times a year, simply as a friend as well as a thank you to Merri for her long, tireless work on KC’s behalf. I joined them many times in later years. We always had Mark Lyon’s as our superb waiter. One day, Kathleen, who was legally blind, albeit not completely, leaned over toward me in the dark restaurant and said, “Mark, your beard has turned white!” She was right, of course, but anyone who makes you laugh at a truth you’d rather ignore is a gift.

PS: Herewith, I start a new category on my blog: Obituaries. The entries will grow as the exits do.

The Atheist's Pulpit

Walking Without a Dog

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Lucky Dog died 5 months ago this afternoon. We still miss him terribly and always will.

Lucky taught me patience and forgiveness. I used to call him “the nicest person I know.” Toward the end of his life, he taught me to question my assumption that “a little more time” is always a good thing. (A lesson emphatically underlined in 2009.)

While Lucky lived, we walked him twice each day. One of us would walk him in the morning and both of us walked with him in the evening. Most walks were about two miles. (We hiked 6-10 miles when we camped.) The pace slowed and the distance shrank those last few months. Eventually, we left him at home to walk alone, feeling guilty, at first.

Since Lucky died, Merri and I both walk more and faster than before. We usually walk twice each day, about an hour each time. We’ve been averaging more than 6 miles a day, most of that aerobic (100 steps per minute or more). Walking has been somewhat therapeutic, if not in the same way as the companionship of a dog.

The Atheist's Pulpit

Freedom *of* Religion Includes Freedom *from* Religion

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Time to recall the reason for the season: Peace on Earth, Good Will To All. Recently, the Albuquerque Journal ran a letter in which the writer declaimed that Christ is the Alpha and Omega of the holiday season:

 ABQJOURNAL OPINION/LETTERS: There’s 1 Reason for the Season

I WANTED TO comment on Obama’s statements he made in a speech, that the United States is not a Christian nation but instead is a country of "citizens who are bound by ideals and a set of values." My response is that it is a load of bull. Anyone who knows the history of this great country is aware of the truth: that the founding fathers were Christian men who founded this country to be a Christian nation based upon Christian values.

As for the people who try to keep Christ out of all the celebrations this time of year, I would like to know, exactly what is it they think these celebrations are for? Maybe they have some reason for celebrating on Dec. 25 I’m not aware of. As far as I know, the one and only reason for the world-wide celebration on that day … is a birthday party. – STinker

ABQJOURNAL OPINION/LETTERS: There’s 1 Reason for the Season

Soon after, several other letters appeared from those who disagreed. This one is representative:

 ABQJOURNAL OPINION/LETTERS: Letters To the Editor

The Founding Fathers, to which Mr. STinker refers, were not all practicing Christians. They did not intend to create a Christian nation. Nowhere in the Constitution did they put the word Christian, or Jesus, or Christ. In fact, the very first amendment they added to that marvelous Constitution grants freedom of religion to all Americans.
        In addition, not only are most of the people in the world not Christian, and therefore do not celebrate Dec. 25, not even all Christian sects consider Dec. 25 as the day marking Jesus’ birth.
        Our president was absolutely correct. We are not a Christian nation. Rather, we are a nation of people bound by certain ideals; among those is freedom of religion.
        Happy Chanukah, Joyful Kwanza, Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, peaceful Ramadan, and may all celebrate their religion in freedom and respect. — A. FLICKER

ABQJOURNAL OPINION/LETTERS: Letters To the Editor

As an atheist, I have no objection to people being nice, friendly, festive, and generous. The holidays – the weeks from Thanksgiving through New Years, really are the most wonderful time of the year (if you don’t feel compelled to shop). We gather, we catch up, we brighten each others lives a bit. It’s ironic people need to be forced to be nice by rules and faith, but, whatever works. Far worse, are those whose faith says “love one another,” but who, in fact, hate those who are different.  Further proof that religion has outlived its usefulness and may well cause more harm than good. Merry Solstice and a Happy New Calendar to one and all. Joy to the World. peace, mjh