You’ve no doubt seen such ‘demotivational posters’ covering a variety of topics on the internetz. Here are a few of my favorites covering the topic of non-theism. Some are hilarious, others thought-provoking. Enjoy, kids.
*Bonus – spot the non-atheism/religion image, just thrown in for pure hilarity!
…however unintentionally
I posted on Facebook (via GetGlue.com) that I was currently reading Bart Ehrman’s ‘God’s Problem’ to which a friend commented “dislike.” Amost immediately, mind you. I wondered if he responded this way out of distaste for the title. To my knowledge, he’s not an unbeliever, but he’s never shown himself to be overtly faithful, either. And I seriously doubt he’d even had time to remotely explore what the book is about. It’s a somewhat provactive title, but could just as easily been written by a theologian in defense of Christianity, etc.
My subsequent thinking on the matter led me here. The funny part about it is this: the person who left the comment happens to be of two different societal groups to which much derision and intolerance has been heaped. I find it most puzzling, if fascinating, how even the oppressed can oppress others with impunity.
I have respect for this individual, so I didn’t really pursue the matter much. I see scores of religious posts on Facebook – ranging from “please pray for…” requests for people going through difficulties, to overt messages such as the oft-posted “Will you repost this and stand up for Jesus, or be afraid and just delete it?” And yet, I say nothing. I generally hold a certain level of respect for these people; otherwise I wouldn’t have them on my friends list. And while I’m all for healthy debate, it is rare that I find someone who would actually wish to intelligently debate such topics, rather than simply emotionally browbeat in defense of their position.
Also, be sure to check out this interesting new article from Sam Harris.
I am totally wiped out from this week, so this is what you get today, kids. But technically this counts as a “post a day” post, so suck it. 😉
Enjoy.
Jesus, please be sure to cover me with your eviscerated blood. Ours is an evil, violence-obsessed cult of suffering, death, and magical-mystery!
and it’s fucking creepy and yet hilarious!
If you’re following this blog, you know I’m participating in the ‘30 Days of Truth‘ project I’ve seen on other blogs. It’s helping me commit to posting every single day, since I’m also taking part in The Daily Post project.
Day 07 → Someone who has made your life worth living for.
I have to confess – I’ve sort of been avoiding this post. Honestly, I don’t know how to respond to it. So, I guess I’ll just respond in my own way, not necessarily according to the title – these challenges are just a guide anyway, right? Right.
I don’t think anyone has ‘made my life worth living.’ If I required someone else’s presence to need a reason to live, what would be the point? I’m glad that I live, and for my life, even with all it’s MANY faults and shortcomings. I’m grateful to my spouse, the love of my life, who gets me even though she doesn’t get me, if that makes sense. I’m grateful to my true friends – the number may not be huge, but they know who they are and what they mean to me. And I’m grateful that I know what I mean to them.
I’m grateful to the teachers I come across – random strangers, friends, acquaintances, coworkers, and so on. I’m grateful to those people I learn from, and as long as I see another person during the day, I’m bound to learn something new about the world.
No one person has made my life worthy. No one person has made it any less worthy. The people I hold close in the dark hours are the people that enhance and enrich my life, and help make it all that it is.
Sorry, I hope this isn’t any less astounding than you might have been hoping for – under the assumption you seek anything profound in these posts.
I’m grateful to myself, for seeing what I’m worth, even in those moments when I don’t feel all that worthy. I make my life worth living for, and the people I love enrich it in various ways, adding something spectacular that I couldn’t dream up on my own.
“Religion is largely irrelevant to most young people who rely instead on a ‘secular trinity’ of themselves, their family and their friends to give meaning to their lives …” – here
via PostSecret.com
Sorry for the overtly provocative title – I couldn’t help myself. 😉 It’s honestly the first thing that came to mind earlier this week on the last stretch of my morning commute.
In addition to the briefcase containing my work laptop, etc., I carry an extra canvas tote with a couple of books, magazines and periodicals, etc. I have a decent-length commute, so I like to have ample reading material on hand. Well, I just happen to have been carrying a couple of print copies of The Atheist Voice, the newsletter published by the Metroplex Atheists.
Just enough of the newsletter was sticking up in the bag for the title to be clearly visible. Little did I know, I had a copy wedged into opposite sides of the bag’s interior, so the same was true no matter which way the bag was turned. I was busy reading a newspaper (disclosure: it was a copy of Freethought Today, published by FFRF). I happened to notice the exposed newsletter, and while I hadn’t deliberately placed the papers that way, I suspected a couple of held glances at my bag. I let my eyes skip up from my reading, just to try and catch someone looking, and watch for their reaction, if there was any.
Well, not quite. I’m not even 100% sure anyone really noticed it, but I had the very distinct feeling a man did, then later a woman (who also works in my office, it turns out) did. There really was no discernible reaction, but it felt like an odd little rush. It reminded me of when I used to ride the train or bus and read my copy of ‘The Lucifer Principle‘ by Howard K. Bloom. It actually has nothing to do with the “Lucifer” of Christian mythology, but I always chuckled a bit on the inside wondering if the other commuters were intrigued, scandalized, or otherwise. What can I say, I guess I enjoy a wee bit of high dudgeon – given or received – from time to time.
I have no shame in my position or loss of faith. (Tangent alert!) It doesn’t feel quite right to even say ‘loss of faith’ since I never really had much to begin with. But, I digress. I have no shame about what I feel and believe (and thus, don’t believe), but I’m still getting past the stigma the word ‘atheist’ has attached to it (see my “Coming Out” post).
This oh-so-mild form of exposure to outsiders and strangers felt a tad bit taboo, forbidden, and yet… exhilarating, and right. It felt good to let go of some societal baggage, and to let others know that we’re out here. I wondered what the woman who works in my office thought. I don’t really know her, but we share a walk from the bus into the office each morning in the pre-dawn dark, and we’ve made the usual forced small talk. I wondered if she might think I’m a nice guy, and what (if anything) this new revelation might do to that impression, if it exists at all.
Since then, I’ve been somewhat shocked and pleasantly surprised to find out several friends and acquaintances are non-believers of some ilk. My, my, we are indeed out here, aren’t we?
undeniablymaybe 