Thoughts on abortion...

Obama Tries to Appease Both Sides of Abortion Debate

Recently I saw a few dozen people protesting abortion here in town in the Downtown area. And it made me want give voice to few things about the issue. The following are my thoughts and questions:

- I am abhorred by abortion, and yet I cannot find it in me to tell a woman that she must carry her fetus to term. Although I wouldn't be against it being illegal say after 7 months or so--whatever is medically prudent. I wouldn't support it, but I wouldn't fight it. I think it would be an acceptable compromise. Actually, I think many states already have such laws, if I'm not mistaken.

- I am completely disgusted that there were children marching and holding signs. That's nothing less than child exploitation and indoctrination. No child should be allowed to participate in such a thing. They can't possibly understand what they are doing and will only parrot what the parent believes in. I fucking hate parents that do that to their children.

- Would they force a woman that is raped and impregnated to carry the fetus to term?

- Have those that march and protest against abortion ever really intellectually considered their stance?

- Why do we never see abortion protesters outside of fertility clinics? Life begins at conception, right? Many embryos ("babies") are destroyed or fail to develop. This is gambling with human life. People know full well that many embryos may die in order for one fetus to be carried to term. Could it be that many Christian woman would be inconvenienced by shutting down these clinics? Where's the moral outrage?

- The Catholic Church is against infertile couples having children without the act of sex being involved. I'll give them credit for being honest about their stance, but it doesn't make it any less stupid. It's one of the most retarded things I've ever heard coming from a religious faith, and that's saying something.

- Why is it that they fight so hard against using embryos for research that may have the potential to alleviate some of the most devastating diseases? They seem to care more for the potential living (a clump of cells in reality) than the actual, fully formed living beings.

- So I assume that the anti-choice folks would like all women that have abortions prosecuted for murder, since they constantly call it murder. The funny thing is, you rarely hear them actually say that. I wonder, is there a part of them that knows abortion isn't actually murder?

- Are they aware, have the anti-choice folks ever even considered what will happen if it is criminalized? Have they thought about the number of teenage girls that will commit suicide because they are desperate, scared, or ashamed to tell their parents, and the option of legal abortion is no longer there? Have they considered for one second how many women will die while trying to give themselves an abortion because they can no longer go to an abortion clinic? Do they really think abortions will stop because it is outlawed?

You constantly hear them cite how many abortions there are every year, as if there were none before Roe V. Wade. It's funny, you never hear them say what their plan is for a post legal abortion world. You never hear one offer a solution beyond criminalizing it. Their magic bullet seems to be adoption, which of course is an option today. For various reasons that isn't a persuasive option. What makes them think women will suddenly see the light? And maybe someone should point out to them that if they keep passing laws to ban gay couples and single people from adopting (in other words people that don't fit the definition of worthy according to their religious dogma), there won't be enough people to adopt this massive amounts of unwanted children that will come into the system.

- Have they given a moments thought to their positions on adoption? Do they imagine in their fantasy world that even if there were enough people that wanted to adopt, that every child would find an eager couple ready to adopt them and love them no matter what the race or affliction of the child? Have they considered how much more enormous the bureaucracy that oversees child welfare would need to become, and how many more children will slip through the cracks?

Every time I see one interviewed on TV, they seem woefully misinformed and ignorant. They seem like credulous fools that follow the lead of their master keepers without question. This is one more example of the dangers of religion to the human mind. Try pointing out some of the flaws in their stance and asking them some tough questions and marvel at the blank stares. At best you'll get a Frankenstein's monster response of "Abortion is murder!" or "Life begins at conception!" or some such tautology. Fire bad!

I certainly will admit that I don't have a solution. I wish there were no abortions and that there was an easy solution, but that's not reality. I can wish think all I want, but it won't change a damn thing. And being equated with a murderer because I support a woman's right to choose isn't making me amenable to engaging in a reasoned debate with them, and it sure as hell isn't helping their cause. If I hear one more goddamn time that I support the murder of innocent children, I can't guarantee what my reaction will be.

I want a solution, and right now all I can think of is education and at least making it safe. You may call it murder, but the killing won't stop just because you make it illegal, so shouldn't we at least make it as safe as we can with the least number of deaths as possible? And that includes going after doctors and clinics that don't follow the law and proper procedures.

So anyway, that's just what was rolling though my head after witnessing their little march. I just had to say something about it, so my apologies if this blog post seems a little perfunctory. The stupidity needs to end, and we need to find a middle ground where we can devise a workable solution. What that is I can't say, but I do know that the answer is not outlawing it. And religion needs to be left at the door, because there is no such thing as compromise for the fundamentalist. So just like any extremist, they need to be shunned and marginalized while the thinking adults work towards an answer; an answer that doesn't include divisive politics and ideology.

Copyright ©2009 Rum Tickled Humanist

Christianity: When you're short on crazy and/or nonsensical gibberish.

Related story

So I'm watching CNN just flipping around, and I come across a report about former President Bush and his pardons of two border patrol guards before he left office. Now I don't really care all that much about the story to be honest; that's a whole 'nother kettle of fish down Mexico way. I only caught the tail end of it, but on the screen comes Rep. Walter Jones from North Carolina. Now he's a Republican and I wish I could say this was something only a Republican would say, but I doubt it.

Here's what he said as he faced the camera:

"I said 'Mr. President, you profess to be a man of faith. Please get down on your knees and ask god if you should commute or pardon these two men, and listen to god and I believe he will tell you yes.' I don't know if that had anything to do with it, but I think god did quite frankly."

Now, if someone tells me that they are religious because it makes them feels good, or gives their life meaning and direction, or a feeling of belonging, that's cool, I can understand that. Lots of people belong to clubs and associations and such for various reasons. And they all have their beliefs and bylaws, so I understand why people are religious. We all want to feel like our lives have some sort of meaning. They don't really believe everything they practice is based on fact, but they need or want it.

But, there are some people that take it beyond that and really insist that it's all real and true, and there really is a god about. And again, that's fine as well. Some people are in deeper than others and they are the credulous type, or they kind of person that can't do something halfhearted and so they force themselves to believe it's true.

But here's the thing, when you're a United States congressman, I'm expecting that you're going to be a little more intelligent than the general public. And when you clearly demonstrate that you're not in an incredible display of hubris and superstition, I'm taken aback by it. You're a goddamn congressman for christ's sake--act like it. You're not some rube that's easily taken in by the latest conman, or at least you shouldn't be.

Let's break this down:

- "Mr. President, you profess to be a man of faith."

There's NOTHING admirable about being a man of faith. It's the faithful, credulous, and unquestioning fools that bring despots and corruption to our world.

- "Please get down on your knees and ask god if you should commute or pardon these two men"

Say what? You're asking the President of the United States and a grown man to bow down to a superstition to decide the fates of two men?

- "and listen to god and I believe he will tell you yes."

So not only do you believe that such a thing as an actual god exists and you just happen to worship the correct one, but you also believe you know what it thinks about a given situation?

- "I don't know if that had anything to do with it, but I think god did, quite frankly."

In other words it couldn't be that Bush examined the case and consulted legal experts before coming to a decision based on the facts, could it? No no, it was your god that either told Bush what he should do, in person I assume, or your god violated the sacrosanct "freewill" that Christians endlessly prattle on about when excusing their god for condemning people to hell and it made Bush pardon them--is that it? I realize that Bush wasn't real big on facts and never saw one that got in his way of his version of the truth, but damn, you're a fucking congressman, at least pretend like you're not a blithering idiot.

It just stuns me to hear an elected official, a person that makes important decisions on our behalf, say such incredibly idiotic, childish nonsense. People like him keep blathering these supercilious tautologies that have no basis in reality and just expect intelligent people to just nod approvingly or something. That's bad enough, and trying to convince people to think before they say stupid shit like that is probably a battle that's just not worth fighting. But seriously, shouldn't we expect people like him to make a little more sense and not talk to us like we're goddamn children, especially if we're expected to address them with the honorific of "The Honorable" so and so? Because damn, there ain't nothing honorable about Christian gobbledygook; and I'll be damned if I'm going to respect idiotic shit like that.

Copyright ©2009 Rum Tickled Humanist

Mortal Thinkage

Council for Secular Humanism

So I'm many, many months behind in blogging; I'm a bad boy. Let's see what comes to mind as I tap tap tap away. Well, the election comes to mind immediately. You know, as a secular humanist/atheist, I find it hard to swallow any brand of religion, but I voted for Obama anyway. I realize he doesn't hold any far right views, but the fact that he seems to be in favor of making nice with the religious concerns me. However, I also think that he probably doesn't believe a word of what he professes (presumptuous on my part, I know) and is probably just doing what he needs to do in order to be heard in our religious country. His views on the economy and social issues are what drew my support. I'm a bit concerned about his foreign policy skills because I get the impression that he is going to try and be a friend to all--which is probably not possible.

He apparently doesn't support gay marriage, which is a mark against him, but I don't think he would ever sign a federal law banning it. I really hope to hell that he honestly tries to fix health care and doesn't become corrupted by the insurance and drug company lobbyists. Let me just say this; I have great hope for his presidency, but if he fails, I'm through with voting. At that point I'll probably just say to hell with it, let the religious nutters have it and I'll move elsewhere. Hopefully the religious moderates will win the day and our land will never become a Christian Afghanistan.

The event at that preacher's church where Obama and McCain answered questions was pathetic. McCain sure knew his audience when he answered that "what you do with evil" question with "defeat it", and stated that life begins "at conception". No nuance, no fleshing out of the subject, just simplistic answers for a simplistic audience. Despite the fact that it left me shaking my head that Obama would bother answering questions from some idiot preacher, his handling of the questions was far more impressive than Johnny's answers. When will a brave politician refuse to answer questions from the nutters? I live for the day when a front running presidential candidate laughs when asked what his or her religion is, and says "None, I have a brain". That candidate would have all of my free time as a volunteer. But, I suppose that's too much to ask for in my lifetime.

It really sickens me to think of all the nonsense that was directed at Obama before the election, and still is to a certain extent. There's this bitch named Monica Crowley that was on the radio slandering Obama every fucking day, and is still at it. I cannot believe that someone actually gave this race bating dullard a radio show. She must have taken it in the ass from someone, is all I can say. The constant right wing diatribes and Muslim innuendos spouted against him everyday was stupefying. Those people have no shame. Listening to them is like porn for the credulous fools that worship them.

I do care about our country, but I consider myself a global citizen, without love for any particular ideology. And seeing the behavior of people during elections makes me love America even less. I love our Constitution, most of our citizens, and the greater part of our culture, but I honestly don't see anything here that isn't seen in the rest of the world. Of course it goes without saying that there are some countries that I would never live in. Dictatorships with their worship of the state, and theocracies with their worship of fairy tales hold not a lick of interest for me. I'd be more than happy to live in a fully secular state, but not one that mandates secularism or replaces religion with worship of the state. Unless a secular state is organically secular, then it isn't really an enlightened entity. But if the U.S. becomes more and more religious like it sometimes seems to be doing, then I'm not sure I'd care to be here. But I don't know if I would leave, or stay and fight. If they were ever put in absolute control, like all theocracies, they would bring this country to its knees. I'm not sure I'd care to see that happen first hand.

Well, what else?

Ah yes, the economy is tanking. Thanks, W, you began a useless war, raped the Constitution, and destroyed our reputation around the world. And now you have left us with a crumbling economy thanks to your laissez-faire attitude toward economic policy. It's mind boggling that people actually voted for John McCain knowing what a Republican had just done to our country. Of course all that he had to do was throw a fundamental (emphasis on "mental") Christian on the ticket and the holy credulous flocked to him like flies to a rotting carcass. McCain was about as Christian as Gandhi. The whole pregnant daughter episode was just too funny. Palin was the poster child for how preaching abstinence to teenagers doesn't work. Jesus doesn't mean shit when you've got a hardon or wet panties.

It just floors me that people can't see the right way to do things, and insist on sticking to ideas that have always failed, and will continue to fail. I certainly don't have all the answers for life, but I know when something isn't working. I wish I had the smarts, the eloquence, and the money to run for office, because there are many things I'd like to get off my chest on a national stage...right before they run me out of town. Religion is a poison and it needs to go away, as soon as possible. Yes I know it does some good, and gives many people direction in their lives, but it is holding us back from attaining everything that we could be. Despite the fact that religion can bring people together, it separates far more people than it can ever bring together. For every moderate religious person, there is a fundamentalist. For every good act that a fundamentalist performs, they bring a concomitant negative consequence along with them. It's up to humanists to provide alternatives to the enslaving of the human mind that religion requires for those that seek help with addictions and hopelessness. Thus far I would say we have failed. It may not be a fair game that we are playing because of the influence of religion, but we'll just have to try harder.

Man, we are so close to getting it right. I really don't think there is any reason why we couldn't attain a near utopia. Barriers are coming down because of travel and communications and the global economy. Overcoming the human condition is the major obstacle that we need to hurdle. Maybe I'm wrong, but I believe if we can convince people that religion is a dividing force in the world and is not something worthy of praise, we will have won half the battle. For it is religion that gives our evolved nature of mistrust an excuse to exist, an outlet for that mistrust, and an excuse to not overcome that ancient instinct. Sure, that wouldn't eliminate that instinct completely, because there are cultural reasons like past wars and such for hating people that are different than us, but it would go a long way toward exposing it for what it is, and a long way toward seeing each other as fellow humans, instead of objects of mistrust.

I envision a world without borders, poverty, or avarice. Now, I'm not so dumb to think that we will ever achieve that, but it is a goal that we should endeavor to realize because even coming close to achieving it will mean that we have made our planet a better place to live. Maybe we are doomed to destroying each other as we spin off through space on a planet ruled by hate and fear, but if we don't at least try to overcome the human condition, we will have failed to take advantage of the great gift that our evolution has given us -- the ability to overcome our base instincts and achieve things that no other species can hope to achieve. If we don't try, that may very well be a bigger sin than the destruction of our species, because by not taking advantage of our unique opportunity, perhaps we will have proved that we not worthy of our intellect, and that we are destined to be controlled by our lower nature.

Copyright ©2009 Rum Tickled Humanist

Preachers say the craziest things!

PamsHouseBlend.com


So how about a blog post, eh?

I was listening to this idiot preacher on the radio talking to Alan Colmes. I think his name was Bill Keller. That's bad enough because that's the name of one of my all-time favorite basketball players. But he's also a religious nut case. I can't quote him because I can't remember his exact words--but I'll give you the general points he was making. According to him, Muslims want to take control of America. He also made the remark that Muslims are born into Islam, but Christians aren't. And then he went on to say that Christians don't force people to believe, but Muslims do.

What struck me was the absolute hypocrisy of it all. Radical Islam wants to take control of America. And Radical Christianity doesn't? Please, save such sophistry for your ignorant followers. And Christians aren't born into Christianity? Are you fucking kidding me? Then why do you see countries dominated by one religion, professor?

Now, I won't argue that there aren't Muslims that want to turn our country into a Muslim theocracy. Of course there are. But isn't that just a little hypocritical? How can a Christian (that isn't a hypocritical blowhard) say that and completely ignore the fact that there are plenty of Christian religionists that want the same for their religion? How many times must we hear that this is a Christian nation, or that this country was founded on Judeo-Christian values? It seems to me that the problem such people as our Mr. Keller has is not that such a thing is possible, but that it's the wrong religion.

In other words, this is a "Christian" country and it belongs to the Christians. It's like an animal marking it's territory. And as their religion becomes less influential, they must face the doubt that must constantly be just behind their eyes. And if Jesus won't back them up, thereby confirming their faith, then they'll do it themselves; just so long as they win the battle. Once they have vanquished the other religions, then they can give it whatever spin they choose; which then allows them to maintain their faith.

How is that any different than what was done in other ages? Maybe they no longer have the authority to coerce people into Christianity and slay those that refuse to believe (or were even suspected of same) or are of another faith, but the intent is the same, which is to see our civilization ruled by Christianity at the exclusion of all other faiths and beliefs--and even Christian denominations that don't fit the bill. And don't kid yourself that the carnage of past religious wars wouldn't be visited on us again if the radical Christians had the chance. How is that not the same as radical Islam?

That's why I maintain that the only reason, or at least the main reason why most Christians support the war in Iraq, is that they see it as a war on Islam, and America is the instrument of their god carrying out the punishment. And if we are successful (however you measure that), then no doubt they will take that as a sign that their faith has been confirmed. It's not hard to see that when you consider the genocide that's seen in the bible.

As to the remark that Christians aren't born into Christianity, but Muslims are born into Islam, what a ridiculously stupid thing to say. Of course Christians are born into Christianity, just as Muslims are born into Islam. The right good reverend made the point that Christians must make a decision to become a Christian; and Muslims don't? Certainly not everyone raised in a religion will follow that religion as an adult, and not everyone that joins a religion does so because of the culture or family that they are exposed to. However, chances are that if you are religious as an adult, you're practicing the religion that you were most exposed to in your youth. If that's not the case, then why are the major religions dominant in certain countries, and essentially non-existent in others?

And of course his statement that Muslims force people to embrace Islam, but Christians don't do the same, is nothing but a cheap tactical diversion. Radical Christians don't have the power to enforce their beliefs on others (but they're sure trying to), that's why they don't. Do I really need to point this out? Who for a second thinks that there aren't believers in this country that would love nothing more than to make our country the United States for Jesus?

Oh yeah, I forgot about his statement about Mohammad. He tried to make the point about him being a pedophile and violent and all of that. Which may very well be true. But what I find hilarious is the fact that this fatuous mountebank completely ignores his own religion about such questions. His god is supposed to be one that forgives and washes sinners white as snow. Saul of Tarsus anyone? Why couldn't his god have used Mohammad? And please don't tell me that God has a problem with rape and murder. Have you read the Old Testament?

Let me be clear, I don't believe a word of what any religion tells me concerning the factual nature of their claims. They're all based on lies and mythology, and I certainly don't believe that gods exist, so ultimately I don't care what religionists believe because it's all just white noise to me. But if someone like Keller is going to spew such sophistry about other religions, I'll be compelled to point out the hypocrisy that I see. Every religion has its fundamental believers that are blind to their own inconsistencies and flaws, and they are the ones that make it difficult for people to give ear to a religious person that actually have something worthy to say, which despite the impression that I give, I do believe happens once in a while; although probably not from the fundies.

What's sad is that there are people, me included, that wouldn't mind having a dialogue on the role of religion in society; moderate religion in particular. Just because I don't believe it, doesn't mean that I don't acknowledge that others do. But it just seems like there are far too many radicals for that discussion to happen in a meaningful way. Maybe it's just that they are louder than everyone else. I think that's why I don't pull any punches against people like Keller. Someone needs to stand up to bullies like him and tell him that's it's no longer acceptable to spread hate and fear. If it's up to people like me to speak out, then our species will never advance to the heights that it could, and may even be doomed. No one with a religious bent is going to listen to someone like me. Just like a family with the black sheep member that eventually needs to be dealt with, all religions need to deal with their black sheep before all hell breaks loose.

Despite the fact that it's clear to me that religion and gods are obviously man made, I'm not so deluded as to think that religion is going away anytime soon. Man made religious cults like the cults of personality that surround dictators and despots of all stripes is another type of religion that will be around for a long time to come. But if we must live with it, and if I must live with it, then somebody better get a handle on it. Because I'll be damned if it's going to control my life. I can tolerate moderate religion despite my personal opinion about it. But I, and a lot of other people will not see our country and this world brought to the brink of chaos if we have anything to say about it, even if that means painting all of the religious with the broad brush of radical religion. It's getting too late to be polite.

Run for the hills! Evolution is coming!

Cosmos Magazine article

Well, I came across this nice little item from the Cosmos magazine website. It's a bit old, but it still demonstrates the dangers of religion in this world, and why we must be vigilant. It seems that one of the head Christians in Kenya was, and no doubt still is, worried about the "evil" of evolution in his country in the form of the National Museum of Kenya and it's hominid fossil exhibit.

I guess the good bishop isn't so sure of the veraciousness of his religion since he feels compelled to try to lead a fight to have the truth of Evolution suppressed. I guess his god isn't strong enough to overcome a museum exhibit in it's quest to make this world a Christian world. That's one pathetic god if you ask me. Foiled by fossils and nerdy anthropologists.

Maybe if Christianity can rid the world of all the competing religions, and rid the world of the science that is making religion more and more marginal everyday, then the Christian god can finally claim victory. I guess they have no choice but to use coercion, pseudoscience, and fear to win this battle, since Christianity isn't exactly winning willing converts hand over fist.

Maybe if the good bishop and his flock would have spent more time preaching acceptance, love, and tolerance, instead of an us against them mentality, perhaps Kenya wouldn't being going up in flames right now. Of course Christianity will never be able to solve those kinds of problems, nor will any other religion. People will always try to find a scapegoat when the shit hits the fan, and there isn't one goddamn church on this planet, of any religion, that doesn't have a ready supply of people that believe they have the only truth, and a disdain for anyone different then themselves. And they sure as hell have holy books that make violence seem like a duty.

Religion has a good side you may say; it helps many people. But don't be surprised when you use a fucked-up formula like religion to live by, that for every Dr Jekyll, the formula makes a Mr Hyde. And you don't have the right to be defensive or protest your innocence when you create a monster and it goes on a rampage through the countryside.

And that's exactly what this idiotic attack on National Museum of Kenya is. A rampage by the ignorant monsters that religion has helped to create and nurture.