The Atheist's Pulpit

The Atheist’s Pope? Not really.

I’m an atheist. Not only am I certain there is no god, I’m sure we’ve outlived the usefulness of religion. I hope Pope Francis proves me wrong about religion causing more harm than good. Like much of the world, I’m touched by the things he says.

pope-quote

The Catholic Church is a corporation. CEOs don’t reach the top of corporations by being the nicest and kindest people. While it is clear that the Church made a huge mistake (which factions may be regretting) by elevating this pope, he’s still in the 1%. At least he remembers being in and caring for the 99%. I hope he can make a difference.

If some members of Congress were moved by the pope to behave decently, I’m happy and surprised. I question the true character of someone who goes from rejecting compromise to embracing it simply because one powerful person says they should. Small wonder such weak-willed individuals are easily bought.

Election

BERNIE SANDERS FOR PRESIDENT | Progressive Democrats of America Central New Mexico Event

BERNIE SANDERS FOR PRESIDENT | Progressive Democrats of America Central New Mexico

What is Bernie all about?

BernieImage

Find out at this Sept. 30th Event sponsored by
Progressive Democrats of American Central NM chapter:

TIME:   7:00 PM, DOORS OPEN AT 6:30 PM
IBEW UNION HALL- 4921 ALEXANDER BLVD NE, ALBUQUERQUE, NM, 87107
Just off Renaissance Blvd NE

Guest speakers at the September PDA program will be

STEVE COBBLE, POLITICAL DIRECTOR,
PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS OF AMERICA

Steve is from New Mexico and has been a writer for The Nation and Huffington Post. Steve was one of the progressive leaders who encouraged Bernie to run for President. He is uniquely qualified to present Bernie Sanders’ positions and background.

Pamela Michaelis, Mistress of Ceremonies, President of Chatter
Eric Griego, former New Mexico State Senator
Damien Flores, award winning Albuquerque Slam Poet

AN INFORMATIVE AND…ENTERTAINING EVENING!

BERNIE SANDERS FOR PRESIDENT | Progressive Democrats of America Central New Mexico

Election

What Sanders means by ‘democratic socialism.’

I’ll be interested to hear Conservatives denigrate the Scandinavian countries. Surely, they can find a white supremacist who mourns the good old days before immigrants ruined everything. 

What Sanders means by ‘democratic socialism.’ (You still have your choice of pajamas.), The Washington Post, John Wagner

the longest-serving independent in Congress asked how many of the students were familiar with the Scandinavian countries of Denmark, Finland and Norway.

“Are these democratic societies? Obviously they are,” Sanders said, relaying that voter turnout in Denmark tends to approach 90 percent.

“Is it a society where the government owns every mom-and-pop store?” he asked. “Of course not. You have all kinds of capitalist entrepreneurship going on, a lot of wealth being created. But what else do you have? … An effort to make sure that all people benefit from the wealth that’s being created. So you have a much more equitable distribution of wealth and income. … I talked to a guy from Denmark, and he said, ‘In Denmark, it is very hard to become very, very rich, but it’s pretty hard to be very, very poor.’ And that makes a lot of sense to me.”

In Denmark, Sanders said, health care is a right, and college education is free. “Sounds like a very terrible form of government,” he said sarcastically.

What Sanders means by ‘democratic socialism.’ (You still have your choice of pajamas.)

More likely, Conservatives are simply apoplectic over the notion of it being difficult to become very, very rich (and ever more so under their policies).

5 stars, Viddy

Only Lovers Left Alive (5 stars).

The movie “Only Lovers Left Alive,” written and directed by Jim Jarmusch, springs into my Top 10 of all films I’ve seen. Amazing. Rich. Delicious. Funny at times (this will be one area viewers will react differently — it might actually be more of a comedy than I took it for).

I’ve come to think of Tilda Swinton as I do about Christopher Walken: both elevate any role and any movie, both have an extraordinary physical presence. I can’t imagine anyone else in her role here. However, all of the actors are great.

As I watched this movie, I thought, I’ve got to tell John Stewart about this (he may recall I’ve mentioned it before.) Steve O’Neill will like this. Then, Jas Mullany, Riley, Marj, and Maddy — all the Mullanys, who at times are a single being like a gorgeous aspen grove. Here’s where Walking Raven will laugh (twice) and Merri Rudd will say “see, I’m telling you….” Eventually, the circle grew so large that, for a moment, I thought not only is this the best movie ever made but absolutely everyone will love.

I’ve come down a bit — I know someone’s going to hate it, and, worse, someone will think “it’s ok, but what’s wrong with Mark.” I hesitate to watch it again. (That ruined Walkabout and Bad Timing for me, much to my sorrow decades ago.) I won’t watch it with someone else — I can’t bear to witness another person’s reaction, especially if it is disappointment.

I’ll warn that it is slow. And I’ll warn you away from reviews or trailers. This is a tapestry of shiny threads — the more you know going it, the more likely you are to think “when do they get to [blah].” (If you’ve seen it, please, no spoilers here.)

Although the movie is 90% unconventional, it veers into convention and predictability but recovers from that.

Election

Bernie Sanders in the lions’ den

Liberty University believes this is a Christian nation to be dominated / ruled by Christians. Bullshit. Kudos to Sanders for extending an olive branch.

At Liberty University, An Irreligious Bernie Sanders Voices A Progressive Embrace Of Faith
by Jack Jenkins, Sep 14, 2015 3:41pm

There was tension in the air when Vermont senator and Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders walked onstage on Monday morning at Liberty University, a college in Lynchburg, Virginia. The situation seemed ripe for conflict: Liberty is a deeply conservative Christian school with a long history of championing right-wing religious leaders and Republican candidates. Sanders is a Jewish man and self-proclaimed democratic socialist who has repeatedly distanced himself from organized religion, describing himself as “not particularly religious.”

Yet when the 74-year-old senator took to the podium to address several thousand Liberty students, he launched into a speech that focused not on these clear differences, but on shared values. In what amounted to a nuanced articulation of religion’s role in American society, the bespectacled Sanders voiced a surprisingly deep appreciation for the larger moral goals of faith — even the school’s famously conservative brand of Christianity. …

“I am far from being a perfect human being — but I am motivated by a vision which manifests in all great religions,” he said. “And that vision is so beautifully and clearly stated in Matthew 7:12: ‘do unto others as you would have them do unto you’. That is the golden rule … It is not very complicated.”

See the hour long video.

The Atheist's Pulpit

Which fairy do you follow?

Although I was raised in a Mother Goose household, I am born-again Grimm. I live my life according to the tenets codified by the Good Brothers, praise their names.

During a Grimm conclave, I met a woman I was interested in until I discovered she practices Lax-Grimm, which picks and chooses which Grimm beliefs to follow. I’ll have none of that. It’s Devout Grimm for me or nothing.

My best friend from childhood remained a follower of Mother Goose until he took drugs in college and read Revelations. I can’t even talk to him anymore.

My boss is from a family that has followed Aesop for ages. How can he have faith in greedy foxes but not in the Big Bad Wolf. What a fool he is.

When I’m feeling expansive, I consider that any fairy tale is better than none. I can’t imagine going through life without magic to comfort and guide you. Atheists scare me. How can they be good people without fables to guide them?

The Atheist's Pulpit

The Silence of 911

For days after 911, most air traffic was grounded. I was acutely aware of the resulting quiet — and very appreciative of it. I think we subject ourselves to stress in countless ways every day, including noise, particularly from air traffic. We’re fools, killing ourselves with indifference to our environment. That indifference is profitable to many, so go back to sleep. Perhaps a pill will help. There’s another to perk you up in the morning.

"It does not require a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority keen to set brush fires in people's minds." — Sam Adams