Leave Atheists out of it, Verashni

I read an article titled "Leave God out of it, Zuma" on the Mail & Guardian website this morning. The article is written by a journalist with whom I studied and respect greatly. Verashni Pillay is an amazing writer and a gifted journalist and has been since our very first day at Rhodes University.I have said all these nice things about her because it just goes to show that no matter how talented you are there will always be complications when writing about religion and politics. Even the best of us [Verashni] will occasional battle.In the opening paragraph of the story Verashni manages to weaken her entire argument against Zuma by stating the following:

You know, it's difficult enough being a Christian these days. Not only are there the money-making quacks to avoid, we also have to put up with smug and ill-read atheists. A tough job, all in all.

I believe that the argument is weakened because Verashni singles out one group to take aim at another.Why is is that Verashni needed to firstly mention Atheists at all and secondly mention them in such a condescending and mocking tone? Hypocrisy? I think so. Verashni, how could you possibly consider writing an article criticising Zuma's opinion on religion while in the opening paragraph of that criticism take a jab at another group?There are a few things after the fact that bothered me a little bit more than the initial statement. In a reply to @gordonwells @michaelmeadon on Twitter Verashni believes she didn't make a generalization. I sort of agree but why single out the "smug Atheists"? Why not applaud the well-read ones? Here's that tweet: "True. Which is why I didn't make a generalization. I spoke about a small group of people called smug atheists."Then Verashni states that the comment was a throw-away: "Not sure i DID want that. It was just one throw-away line that they're ALL focusing on now. Sigh." If it was a throw-away comment then why put it in the opening paragraph or article at all? When not just leave it out? Why pick on Atheists of any kind?I agree with many of the comments in the original article but most of all what I'd like to add to the debate is that it's not OK to single out a group in a condescending way if you are an impartial journalist whether you are writing an opinion piece or not. If the shoe was on the other foot and I'd written an article and added in a throw-away: "I hate dealing with Cheats, murderers and cocky Christians". I imagine that the religious in the crowd would have a few things to say about that.It's the same thing. I don't like being bundled with "Money-making quacks" or "smug and ill-read Atheists". I am neither but now anyone who read her story thinks that Atheists are smug and ill-read.Verashni, if you think it's tough being a Christian in this world, walk a mile in my shoes.

Atheist Bus Campaign

This is the sort of campaign that makes me smile inside, deep down in my gut. It's guerilla tactics make me proud and laugh at how easy it can be when there are passionate people similar to yourself out there.I found the campaign through Girl with a one-track mind. She aptly put it: "Things I am doing today: repeatedly clicking 'reload page' here and grinning, widely, from ear to ear, as I watch the donations increase, and the silent majority finally speaking out.It's a brilliant campaign: I cannot wait to see the posters on the buses."The Atheist Bus Campaign is a reactionary campaign in the UK to the religious adverts being placed on Red Buses in London.

CAMPAIGN

The Atheist Bus Campaign launches today, Tuesday October 21 2008. With your support, we hope to raise £5,500 to run 30 buses across the capital for four weeks with the slogan: "There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life."Professor Richard Dawkins, bestselling author of The God Delusion, is officially supporting the Atheist Bus Campaign, and has generously agreed to match all donations up to a maximum of £5,500, giving us a total of £11,000 if we reach the full amount - enough for a much bigger campaign. The British Humanist Association have kindly agreed to administer all donations.With your help, we can brighten people's days on the way to work, help raise awareness of atheism in the UK, and hopefully encourage more people to come out as atheists. We can also counter the religious adverts which are currently running on London buses, and help people think for themselves.As Richard Dawkins says: "This campaign to put alternative slogans on London buses will make people think - and thinking is anathema to religion."http://www.atheistcampaign.org The goal was to raise £5,500 and Richard Dawkins would match the figure of £5,500. Well you'll never believe it, in the space of 3 days the Atheist Bus Campaign has made it all the way up to £ 93,096.00.That equates to R1 659 901 at the current Rand-Pound exchange rate.The silent majority in the UK is clearly beginning to speak out. Wow.Cannot wait to see images of the buses.If you missed the photo above, the banners are going to read:

THERE'S PROBABLY NO GOD.NOW STOP WORRYING AND ENJOY YOUR LIFE

Gareth Cliff's going to hell, I'll see him there

I cannot actually believe that I need to blog about this story, but I do.I just read this article, here's a snippet and then I'll continue:

Not my cup of tea. I am sorry to say that my estimation of Gareth Cliff has been lowered, for what it's worth, not for his views on religion - I am not surprised by uninformed and shallow approaches to a Universe filled with mystery! That happens every day! I am disappointed in the manner in which he dealt with this issue, and the ordinary listener who expressed her opinion in relation to his. Clearly he was dismissive of her, yet he wanted to have the right to have his opinion heard without challenge!

The irony of this comment is that Dion (the author) is doing precisely what he criticises Cliff for doing; being dismissive. What a load of rubbish.I have openly stated before that I am an atheist and have no issue with that. I am not ignorant, uninformed of shallow. In fact, I am well versed in christianity and have gone out of my way to educate myself. Why is it that in the eyes of a christian, any form of altering opinion is blasphemous and tantamount to condemning yourself to "hell".Get real, freedom of speech is the answer here and Cliff said and did nothing that should be considered bad. So he aired his views, would christians be pissed off he said god was great? If he said that christians were right? No, they wouldn't because it would agree with their view on the world. Obviously they are upset because his opinion is different to theirs. Simple.There is really no reason for them to send in hate mail and tell him that they are praying for something to happen to him to convert him to god. Please.So if Cliff is going to hell then so am I. We need to get over this religious elitism in the same way that we have overcome apartheid.Another post to read: Sarah Britten.

Atheism and Christianity - someone needs to be right

I have been very cautious about bloging on this topic. The reasons are obvious. But I feel that it is time.It is no secret that I am an Atheist. Anyone who reads this blog will know that and I have no problem with others knowing it either. It is not something that I am ashamed of, as much of society dictates people in my position need to feel.I have been reading Jarred Cinman's blog on ThoughtLeader recently and he has made some great arguments on the topic, see "Why atheists are just plain right".My stance on religion (or lack thereof) comes under fire on a daily basis just about. I have no problem with this as I enjoy the topic and enjoy rational, reasonable debate around the topic.Note my use of the words rational and reasonable. There are some arguments that I will never accept as final from a christian; "Just have faith" is one of them and, "I simply believe" is another. Let me put it to you this way, I don't have faith and I don't believe. That is that.In the same way, I want to express something to those that challenge atheism and feel that we are wrong: We (atheists and christians) suffer from basic but opposite assumptions, I believe there is no god, you believe there is. At the end of the day this is where the argument starts and this is where it will always end. We do not believe the same thing. Simple.In my mind there is a very obvious reason for the raging debate however and this is where my post really starts. The reason is this:By the very nature that christians believe in the bible - which states that you need preach the word of god - they must innately believe that anyone who does not believe in the bible or Jesus or god is wrong. That's me. I'm wrong.Now I am taking a very scientific and analytical stance here. When I argue, I argue by asking what the difference is between my "wrongness" and how I perceive your beliefs to be "wrong"? There is no difference. Christians ask me to disprove the existence of their god, I ask them to prove it to me. They ask me to disprove heaven and I ask them to prove hell. There is no solution here.Yet without a solution we are lost. Why? Because one of us are wrong according to our belief systems.I am not going to continue providing examples, explanations and justifications as I think this is a very circular argument that will ultimately take us back to the starting point of differing belief systems. But why, why must I be wrong? Take a second and think, is it possible, for a split second, that you could be wrong?

Facing the family when your an Atheist

Religion doesn't often feature on this blog, I am always very undecided about how people will receive my opinions on the topic.I battle enough getting people to buy in to my views on SA that religion is a fight I am not ready to have with most people. I say this because many people (mainly christians) are not willing to dicuss the matter rationally with me but instead choose to condemn me to an eternal hell.Just like this mom:

glumbert - Don't tell Mom you're an atheist

WOW this is one scary mother, literally. My mom is much more understanding about my religious choices or lack thereof.