Religion

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Sex with animals

What is it with these religious conservatives and sex with animals? Whenever people want to have a reasonable debate about gay marriage, it always degenerates into that. “If you allow gays to get married, then you have to also allow people to marry their dogs!”

Why don’t they ever use animals for other laws they’ve opposed over the years? “If you allow women to vote, then you’ll also have to allow turtles!” “If we allow schools to use affirmative action to admit minorities, then they’ll have to also admit squirrels!” “If you have to read rights to someone who committed a crime, then clearly you’ll also have to read rights to a cow before you slaughter it!”

Well, no. Those of us who are not crazy understand this.

I guess it’s because these people hate sex so much. I mean, these are also the same people who think that birth control, sex education, and oral sex are evil and should be illegal. To them, sex between two consenting men or women is just as evil as sex with a non-consenting animal. And so, like many of the more conservative right, they want to force their religious views on the rest of us.

The problem is that the faulty logic that works in their minds looks completely crazy to everyone else.

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Your boss gets to decide your health care?

…At least, that seems to be the ruling of a Federal court in Oklahoma, which held that the owners of Hobby Lobby don’t have to provide health care coverage to their employees if it may include nasty things the employer doesn’t like, such as abortions.

Yes, that’s right. Your employer gets to decide health care decisions for you.

This has been framed as a 1st amendment Freedom of Religion argument, but apparently the court only cares about the employer’s religion and not that of the employee.

Could be worse, I suppose. If he was one of those Jehovah’s Witnesses who thinks that you can pray away disease, then you wouldn’t get any coverage whatsoever according to this opinion.

I guess if a business owner didn’t like, I dunno, kidney stones, then those wouldn’t be covered either. Oh, right, only religious reasons allow an employer to discriminate like this.

Let’s see — I seem to remember a Constitutional amendment that prohibited that sort of thing.gavel

This is an absolutely ridiculous decision. Hobby Lobby is not a religious organization; it’s a for-profit business. A business owner should not have the right to decide health care decisions for his or her employees. This is not comparable to a church, for instance, being forced to disobey its beliefs.

Should I, as a business owner, be allowed to force my beliefs on my employees? What if my religion believes women should wear burkas and never speak? Should I make all my female employees wear burkas?

The Court apparently believes employers have powers to ignore laws they don’t like. “If you work here, you have to live by my beliefs, not yours. Don’t like it? Tough!” I think we should say to business owners, “These are people who work for you, who have the right to make their own decisions about health care. You will give them the option, because this is America where we value individual decisions. Don’t like it? Tough!”

Your religion does not give you the right to disobey the law. There are Jamaican religions that believe in smoking marijuana during their ceremonies — tough, that’s illegal. Animal cruelty in the name of religion is illegal. Refusing to give your child medicine in the name of religion is illegal. Religions shouldn’t be exempt from the law just because they “really really believe” something. That’s not what America is about.

Look, if you start a business in America, we expect certain things from you. You have to pay a minimum wage; you have to have a safe working environment; you have to pay business taxes; you have to pay for worker’s compensation; you have to provide health care. Keep in mind that your employees may decide to use their money or benefits to do things you personally disagree with. Don’t like it? Tough. Don’t open a business.

If you don’t like the fact that we have freedom from religion in America, then maybe you should open a business somewhere else, like Iran. I understand they have no problem with you forcing religion on people who work for you.

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Texas once again passes stupid law

Governor Rick Perry has three problems with the 1st amendment: First, it doesn’t allow Christians to say “Merry Christmas.” Second, it doesn’t allow for Christmas decorations. And third … uh … I can’t remember the third thing. Oops.

Yes, it’s true — Texas has just passed the “Merry Christmas Act” which is their fight against the “War on Christmas”. This law allows those in public schools to say “Merry Christmas” and allows for religious holiday decorations (as long as secular decorations are also included).

Hey, did any of you notice anything about that law? Such as that’s what the law is across the entire country now?

The whole made-up “War on Christmas” is based on the false premise that you are prohibited from having any religion whatsoever in the public sphere. “You’re not allowed to bring a Bible to school!” They yell. “You can’t even say a prayer if you want to, and you can’t have religious symbols even if secular symbols are included!”

The people who say these things are idiots, and assume you are too. They are absolutely wrong on every single point.

What is prohibited is government-sponsored religion. You can carry your Bible and say prayers all day long in school if you want to (so long as you don’t disturb classes and you otherwise follow all school rules that apply to everyone). Not to allow that would violate the “Free exercise” clause of the 1st Amendment. If a school official gives a prayer and hands out Bibles, then that would violate the “Establishment” clause of the 1st amendment (in that the government is not allowed to establish or promote religion).

It’s really very clear and obvious to anyone who takes a few seconds to read the Constitution — a small group of people that does not include Governor Perry, who proclaimed that “Religious freedom does not mean freedom from religion.” What an idiot.

But they don’t care, really. They just want to force everyone to follow their religion. A Texas judge even ruled recently that school cheerleaders were allowed to wear uniforms with Bible verses. If we protest, we’re waging a “War on Christians” but when they force their views on us, using our tax dollars, it’s never a “War on Non-Christians.”

These same hypocrites are the first ones who shout and scream about Sharia Law becoming part of America, even though this has never happened. It’s perfectly fine if their religion becomes part of our secular laws, but if anyone else’s religion pops up, suddenly they’re all 1st Amendment absolutists.

It’s maddening, it’s illegal, and it’s … it’s …. I can’t think of the third thing. Oops.

 

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Atheist monuments deserve to be vandalized, apparently

David Silverman’s American Atheist organization sued Bradford County in Florida after a ten commandments monument was placed on public property in violation of the 1st amendment. As a result of the suit, the atheists are allowed to place their own monument. It will be a bench containing a few sentences about what atheists believe, and will be dedicated next month.

Conservative commentator Tucker Carlson shrugged it off, said it was there to taunt Christians, and predicted almost happily it would be vandalized. Because, you know, how dare anyone else exercise their 1st amendment rights. r-ATHEIST-MONUMENT-large570

I mean, they’re just atheists. Who cares?

Can you imagine if he had said the same thing about Christians putting a monument up? It would be the “War on Christians” all over again. Apparently, a war on non-believers is perfectly fine.

I asked David Silverman (who happens to be a good friend) what he thought of this, and here’s what he said:

Just as the Governor of Georgia went out of his way to say he “couldn’t guarantee the safety” of atheist books legally placed alongside Bibles in public cottages, the commentators who laugh at the future vandalism are not only supporting such vandalism, but actually instigating it.

Religion wants nothing more than superiority – it hates equality. In Florida, as in Georgia and at the World Trade Center, atheists are demanding nothing but the equality guaranteed to us by the constitution. Religion views equality as an attack on itself, and facing the threat of equality, may resort to violence and vandalism, yet again. Yes, it’s pathetic. No, it won’t stop us. It will just reveal more of religion’s unseemly underbelly for all to see.

What we need are brave religious people to prove Silverman wrong — I want to see religious leaders decrying anyone who would dare to vandalize the monument. I want to see clerics welcoming non-believers as fellow Americans with just different views. I know there are some very nice and open-minded religious folks out there, because some are my friends.

But I’m not holding my breath waiting for the religious leaders to do the right thing.

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I don’t have to respect your views

When I criticize someone who has a religious view that, for instance, claims that marriage between anything other than a man and woman should be illegal, they sometimes come back at me and say that I am being anti-Christian and disrespectful to them.

Well, no, I am not being disrespectful to them. I am being disrespectful to their views.

Sometimes these people claim I am violating their rights by “not respecting” their views. This is ridiculous. No one has the right to not be criticized. (Let’s not veer off into a discussion about discrimination based on views — totally different topic.)

I will always respect everyone’s right to have unpopular and even stupid views. I even supported Westboro Baptist Church‘s right to spout their nonsense.

But I’m sorry — if you believe that the world is 6,000 years old and evolution is a lie, I have no respect for your beliefs. Why should I? You obviously don’t know anything about science. The fact that you believe something really, really strongly because of your religion doesn’t mean it should get treated any different from someone who believes that unicorns and fairies are playing in his backyard. Silly beliefs should be challenged no matter where they come from.

Some religions also believe that women should cover themselves from head to toe, never talk to a man, and be treated as subhuman. This is another belief that I have no respect for, and, ironically, many Christians will gladly speak out against that view too, while turning around and complaining whenever anyone challenges their own religious views.

I can distinguish these views about beliefs from views I have about people. Many have these silly beliefs but otherwise are honest, friendly, and wonderful people. After all, there are also people I disagree with politically who are some of my closest friends. I can respect them as people while not respecting their views.

No one’s views should be beyond question or criticism.

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Thanking God for Surviving a Tragedy

Wolf Blitzer interviewed a survivor of the terrible Oklahoma tornado and asked her if she thanked God for surviving. “No,” she replied, “I’m actually an atheist…”

It always struck me as kind of insulting for people to claim that God saved them from a disaster. I mean, what does that say to those who did not? “Sorry, God obviously didn’t like your loved ones; he saved me, though.” Do the families who suffered need to hear that?

I know that’s not what people mean, but it’s kind of insensitive, isn’t it?

And, as this woman interviewed by Wolf Blitzer shows, it’s not even accurate. Apparently God saved the atheist before He saved some believers. (I should note that the woman said, immediately afterwards, “I don’t blame anybody for thanking the Lord.”)

If you ever survive some catastrophe while others die, please think twice before you say something that may comfort you while you are unknowingly insulting those who died.

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Editorial cartoon of the day

An old cartoon but relevant to today’s blog post!

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Creationism and education

Why should a religious school that refuses to teach evolution be accredited?

This issue has always bugged me. I support the right of parents to send their kids to a religious school. I believe that under our Constitution you have that right.

However, since school is mandatory, the students need to be taught the basics they need. They need to be taught facts. Otherwise, you’re dooming their future at a time when they cannot make that decision themselves.

If a religious school taught that 1 + 1 = 5, there is no way a state would allow them to continue. But somehow, they can teach that humans and dinosaurs were on the planet at the same time and it’s perfectly fine. What nonsense. That’s not education. That’s child abuse.

Sadly, there are even some Christian colleges that do this. You get credit for saying the earth is 6,000 years old. It’s the only school where you can fail by getting the answer right.

So when you see that new picture floating around the internet which purports to show a test where the student is rewarded for this nonsense, remember: It’s not made up. There really are schools like this. And Snopes even confirms it.

And that is something we should all be ashamed of. No wonder the rest of the civilized world beats us in science scores.

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If God were allowed in our schools, there would never be a problem ever

If there’s one argument that really bugs me, it’s that one. “Our children aren’t allowed to read the Bible in school or pray! No wonder people who are not in the school come in and shoot them!”

Besides being absolutely wrong — you are allowed to pray in school and bring your Bible. You can even have Bible study groups after school and everything. What you can’t do is force everyone else to do it, too — this argument doesn’t make a damn bit of sense. What, if the kids had been forced to pray, then the gunman would have gone somewhere else? Should I point out the number of shootings that have taken place in churches?

Or maybe they are saying that God is so petty that he allows innocent children to be killed to make a point?

You want religion in schools, go to a private school. You want your country to support a religion? Maybe you should try one of those countries the Taliban runs.

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The right not to be ridiculed?

The problem with many religious people is that they see any criticism of their beliefs as an attack — the so-called “War on Christmas” for instance. If you question their beliefs, they think you’re trying to take away their rights. This is ridiculous.

No one is beyond having their beliefs criticized in America. That’s one of the great things about our country and our 1st Amendment (which covers both freedom of religion and freedom of speech). You can believe whatever you want. It doesn’t mean you are beyond question or that people have to agree with you, or even put up with you.

Not surprisingly, many of those sensitive believers who cry about being discriminated against when criticized are the first to speak poorly about Muslims or Scientologists or Wiccans or Atheists. I’ve often found it hilarious how some Christians scream that Muslims are trying to instill “Sharia Law” in America (they’re not) while at the same time they’re trying to make abortion and gay marriage illegal because that’s what their religious law tells them.

Anyway, here’s a clip of my friend David Silverman on Fox today talking about this issue. (Just yesterday, we were having breakfast together discussing it…)

(As an aside, in case you’re unaware, David was the inspiration of the WTF face meme, which was the face he gave Bill O’Reilly when O’Reilly claimed God must exist because otherwise you can’t explain how waves in the ocean work. So far, David is my only friend who has become a meme.)

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