NoGodBlog.com

So you live in the heart of the Southern Bible Belt. Your neighbors have elected an anti-evolution teaching skool bored. You don't have the money to afford adequate private education for your children. What do you do?

Or you live in an urban area with the now usual violence in the public schools and once again you can't afford private schooling. What do you do?

A California ruling says you can't homeschool unless you are a certified educator. Great news for the teacher unions and real bad news for the Dobson Focus on the Family. Read the link to the title to this posting. Also, Ask Rockridge is discussing this situation. Can a progressive support homeschooling?

Got Children? Discuss.....

Peter Nuhn

American Atheists has just learned of the sudden demise of our own National Outreach Director and my friend, Lance Wilhelm. Lance was a fixture in our activities and conventions, and I had dinner with him twice last week at the convention in Minneapolis, which was one of his favorite things (along with Dr. Who and really heavy metal music). Lance will be missed.

If anyone has any pictures of Lance at the last convention, please send them to me. I will post funeral upodates on this thread as they become available.

Mortality sucks.

The Vatican acknowledged that Islam has surpassed Roman Catholicism as the world's largest religion.

Vittorio Formenti, who compiles the Vatican's yearbook, said that Roman Catholics account for 17.4% of the world population - a stable percentage - while Muslims are on the rise at 19.2%.

Mr Formenti, in comments to Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, said the data referred to 2006. http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/world/islam+worlds+largest+religion/1898147

Buuuttt..

ROCHESTER, N.Y. and LONDON – December 20, 2006 – A Financial Times (FT)/Harris Poll conducted among adults in the United States and in five European countries (France, Italy, Germany, Great Britain and Spain) shows that Americans are more likely than Europeans to believe in any form of God or Supreme Being (73%). Of the European adults surveyed, Italians are the most likely to express this belief (62%) and, in contrast, the French are the least likely (27%).

http://www.harrisinteractive.com/news/allnewsbydate.asp?NewsID=1131

http://www.thefitna.com/

Just released, This anti-Muslim movie is about 15 minutes long and is very scary and graphic. I wonder how many innocents will be killed by barbarians THIS time.

Watch it -- before they pull it off the server.

Thanks Zac and Marc.

David Silverman, Communications Director, and Kathleen Johnson, Military Director for American Atheists were both featured on the show Interfaith Values which airs on XM radio and has already been made available through the show’s web page.

The show’s producers have asked for an Atheist prospective and so they now have one.

To listen to the show through the web page, visit:

www.interfaithradio.org

The show will also be on Fri. March. 28- Thur. April 3rd on our 40 stations across the country, including XM satellite radio. Here's the full list of when and where the show is on:

http://interfaithradio.org/tunein

Who: David Silverman, Communications Director for American Atheists
Kathleen Johnson, Military Director for American Atheists

What: Interfaith Values radio show

When: Available now online: www.interfaithradio.org
Airs Fri. March. 28- Thur. April 3rd on 40 stations across the country

Note: This looks interesting. Check it out if you're in NY!

http://tinyurl.com/28ybkl

Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev made clear this past weekend that he is an atheist after European news agencies last week claimed that he had confirmed his Christian faith during a visit to the tomb of St. Francis of Assisi in Italy.

Gorbachev, the last communist leader of the Soviet Union, confronted speculations that he had been a closeted Christian during an interview with the Russian news agency Interfax.

"Over the last few days some media have been disseminating fantasies – I can't use any other word – about my secret Catholicism, citing my visit to the Sacro Convento friary, where the remains of St. Francis of Assisi lie," Gorbachev said, according to an Interfax article posted Friday.

"To sum up and avoid any misunderstandings, let me say that I have been and remain an atheist,” he stated.

Rumors for decades had circulated that Gorbachev was a Christian after he moved to loosen restrictions on religious worship and expressed to a party congress a year before the communist state dissolved that “spiritual rebirth is as essential to society as oxygen,” according to the Chicago Tribune.

As a result, media agencies had jumped to conclusions when Gorbachev visited St. Francis’ tomb last Wednesday and was seen kneeling for half an hour in silence at the tomb.

But Gorbachev, who was baptized Russian Orthodox as a child, explained that his visit to the tomb was as a tourist and not a pilgrim. He acknowledged the important role religion plays in society and said he looks forward to visiting Orthodox churches in Russia, Catholic and Protestant churches in the United States and Europe, synagogues in Israel and mosques in the Arab world, according to Interfax.

"But all these years, it has never occurred to anyone to list me among followers of any faith on that basis," Gorbachev noted.

Back in Russia, the Russian Orthodox Church seemed unimpressed with Gorbachev’s visit to St. Francis’ tomb.

"In Italy, he spoke in emotional terms, rather than in terms of faith," a spokesman for the Russian Orthodox patriarch Alexei II told the Russian media.

"He is still on his way to Christianity. If he arrives, we will welcome him."

Notice how the Christian spokesperson can't accept what Gorbachev says himself. He's not an Atheist, he's "on his way to Christianity". This is intolerance (AGAIN), and we should not be open to such BS. If you say you're a Christian, do we say "you're on your way to Atheism"? No. We ACCEPT your choice, instead of assuming you're lying.

A psychology professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem hypothesizes that Moses was probably stoned on Mt. Sinai and tripping when that burning bush spoke to him.

I had read once that the entire concept of religion or god was first started by a drug induced high. Dr. Shanon's peer reviewed paper starts:

"In his book Poisons sacrés, ivresses divines (which, to my knowledge, has not been translated into English), Philippe de Félice (1970 [1936]) reviews various cultures throughout the world and notes the use of psychotropic substances in them. The use of such substances, most of which fall in our contemporary Western culture under the label “drug,” has in many traditions been considered sacred. Indeed, de Félice points out that in many religions, both in the old world and in the new, the use of such substances was (and often still is)central. The substances, or the plants from which they were produced, were deemed holy and at times even divine. De Félice puts forward the hypothesis that the use of psychotropic substances is deeply embedded in human culture and intrinsically intertwined with what he characterizes as the most basic human instinct—the search for transcendence. Thus, he proposes, the use of psychotropic substances is at the root of perhaps all religions." From Biblical Entheogens: a speculative hypothesis; Dr. Benny Shanon; Time and Mind: The Journal of Archaeology Consciousness and Culture; Vol.1, Issue 1, March 2008, pp. 51-74

Seems like a reasonable assumption to me.
Peter Nuhn

King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia called for a dialogue among monotheistic religions Monday, marking a first for the ultra-conservative Muslim kingdom.

"I ask representatives of all the monotheistic religions to meet with their brothers in faith," Abdullah told delegates to a seminar on "Dialogue Among Civilizations between Japan and the Islamic World," according to the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

“If God wills it, we will then meet with our brothers from other religions, including those of the Torah and the Gospel... to come up with ways to safeguard humanity," he added.

Abdullah said the country’s top clerics have given him approval to pursue his idea and that he plans to get the opinion of Muslim leaders from other countries.

According to SPA, the Saudi king also intends to address the United Nations on the subject.

"We have lost sincerity, morals, fidelity and attachment to our religions and to humanity," Abdullah said Monday, deploring "the disintegration of the family and the rise of atheism in the world – a frightening phenomenon that all religions must confront and vanquish."

Abdullah's message of tolerance comes at a time of religious tensions caused by the re-igniting of a two-year-old controversy over Danish cartoons deemed by Muslims to be insulting.

Danish newspapers reprinted the controversial cartoon of the Muslim prophet Mohammed last month in defiance of Islamic extremism and to defend freedom of expression.

There are so many things I can write down here, I really don't know where to start.

Atheists didn't make your cartoon, Your Highness, and we didn't kill innocent people when they were published. We're standing on the side, watch as Islamic hordes killed innocent people because of a drawing. A DRAWING!

This reminds me of Hitler. All united against the terrible religious minority, whose only crime is speaking, or even just being. I hope the Jews don't fall for this.

And How exactly can a quote about "vanquishing" a group of people due to their philosophy sound like a "message of tolerance"?

Folks, for those who haven't written a letter to the editor recently, now's the time. Go sick. Post the letters here. MINE IS POSTED IN THE COMMENTS. And if this P.O.S comes to the UN, we will make our presence known.

American Atheists urges all people of all religions to voice their concern over this grave and scary message. These are terrorists and terrorist supporters, and they want you on their side.

Please join us this Thursday, March 27, at 7:00 PM ET for Answers in Atheism.

This week's show will feature a recap of the recent American Atheists Conference. A highlight of the conference was the presentation of The Atheist of the Year Award to our host, Edwin Kagin, for his work in organizing and implementing the Rally For Reason demonstration outside the gates of the Answers in Genesis' Creation Museum on its opening day. We will talk about this accomplishment plus...

We will have our usual news reports, Famous Freethinker of the Week segment, and some great music. See you on the radio at www.answersinatheism.net

I've been toying with the concept of life's relativity. A brief conversation I had with Richard Dawkins has emboldened the meme. So here's what I'm thinking.

Life, consciousness, and humanity are relative terms. Sure, a rock is dead, but the smallest building-blocks of life (as it is usually used) are actually simply "less alive" than more complex life forms. Bugs are alive, but less alive than humans, and even humans can be less alive than other humans. The word LIFE, then, can be defined as a formula of the ability to multiply and the level of consciousness (also relative), as well as other variables.

I think this is an interesting premise. The whole concept that "all life is sacred" has caused the abortion debate, the vegetarian movement (besides health reasons), and opposition to death-with-dignity, when in fact all life is far from equal. In fact, this is a flawed concept.

Life relativity helps to solve these issues, or at least places them in perspective. We can see how life began (it was a process over time, not an instant), how it is evolved, and how it continues to evolve. We can ask questions as to the value of life of an orangutan vs a vegetative human. New ethical questions arise, and old ones go away -- and I like that.

How would we measure this? Could we actually quantify "life"?

Excitement Builds for Historic Church-State Separation Simulcast

The sets are built, the celebrities and champions have arrived, and everyone is excited about bringing you the best show possible!

On March 26, in movie theaters in 37 cities nationwide, interested citizens will gather to learn about the threats to church-state separation and to demand that candidates for elected office answer questions about key issues dealing with individual freedom.

Peter Coyote, celebrated Hollywood actor and filmmaker, will emcee the program, which will include such special guests as The Bacon Brothers (featuring actor Kevin Bacon and his brother Michael), actors Michael J. Fox; Jack Klugman; Wendie Malick; Dan Lauria; and Catherine Dent, comedian and Air America host Marc Maron; singer/songwriter Catie Curtis and satirist Roy Zimmerman.

The event will also feature Americans who have fought for individual freedoms against great odds. And find out the 10 QUESTIONS you need to ask every candidate running for public office!

DON’T MISS your chance to find out “Everything you Always Wanted to Know About Church and State … but were afraid to ask!”

The March 26 simulcast is being produced by Progressive Media Agency, a Portland, OR, based firm led by Adam Klugman and Enrique Arias.

WHAT: “Everything You Always Wanted to Know about the Separation of Church and State … but Were Afraid to Ask!,” historic, 37 city, nationwide movie theater simulcast event featuring celebrities and community leaders to focus need for Church-State separation in 2008 elections.
WHO: Celebrity participants include: Hollywood actor and filmmaker Peter Coyote as emcee; The Bacon Brothers (band featuring actor Kevin Bacon and his brother Michael), Michael J. Fox (“Family Ties” and “Spin City”), Jack Klugman (“The Odd Couple” and “Quincy, M.E.”), James Whitmore (“The Shawshank Redemption”), Wendie Malick (“Just Shoot Me!”), Dan Lauria (“The Wonder Years”), Catherine Dent (“The Shield”), stand-up comedian and Air America host Marc Maron, singer/songwriter Catie Curtis and singer/satirist Roy Zimmerman.
WHEN: Wednesday evening, March 26, 2008
6:00 PM Eastern Time
5:00 PM Central Time
7:00 PM Mountain Time
6:00 PM Pacific Time
WHERE: 37-Cities Nationwide (see www.firstfreedomfirst.org for full theater list)

For more information about First Freedom First and the simulcast event: www.firstfreedomfirst.org

I was going to respond to this IN the thread, but perhaps dedicating a day to it will put this stupid subject to bed.

Look at the post below with the Moslem cartoons. I posted anti-Moslem cartoons in response to Moslems making threats about cartoons. I called them "impotent barbarians" and, to prove my point, told them where I would be and when, just in case they wanted to murder me. I knew there would be nothing -- that's what I mean by impotent -- and I was right.

I posted a picture of the Pope (comparing him to Palpatine) to point out that I can insult Christians all day long and not get death threats. It was intended again to show the barbaric attitude of Moslems compared to Christians.

That's all.

Some on this blog are giving me grief about not posting an anti-jewish picture too. There are two reasons I did not. One is I don't have any such pictures readily available, and the other is it would have been redundant -- my point had been made, or so I thought.

As to any favoritism I have to Jews, Hindus, or Bhuddists, please let me set the record straight. If they are not a threat to American civil liberties, I have no problem with them unless their activities are extreme. They all have their wars, but they are not a problem HERE (Hint: AMERICAN Atheists). If you find a problem with any religious leader threatening our way of life, let me know. But I'm not going to go out of my way to insult the Jews (or anyone else) just because I ALSO insulted the Christians and the Moslems who deserve it. That's ridiculous.

YES, I call myself a Jewish Atheist, like Herb Silverman, Carl Silverman, Dennis Horvitz, Ken Bronstein, Guy Shapiro, and many many other prominent Atheist activists. I observe one Jewish holiday -Passover- where I go to my mother's home and we eat ourselves stupid. How many of you go to Mom's for Xmas?

I openly critized Joe Lieberman's "Vote for me I'm an Orthodox Jew now" pandering and voted for Nader because of him (including writing an opinion letter published in the USA Today, as some bloggers will remember). I shamed Israel when they moved settlers into disputed areas (effectively creating human shields out of children, which really pisses me off). I also gave this year's Chinn Scholarship to a fantastic young Atheist who spends much of his time trying to stop US funds from going to Israel from a Church/State Separation perspective.

So PLEASE -- PUT UP OR SHUT UP. Here's your chance. Got a reason to say I favor Jews (or Hindus or Buddhists)? Give it here, and I'll address it. If you're just bitching because of my background or what I call myself (not because of my actions), vent here and risk exposing your own bigotry to your peers.

Happy Eoster! or is it Oester? or Easter? This is the wonderful day in the year on which you can really nail Christians (hee) for just totally stealing a holiday. The Vernal Equinox has been a time of celebration for millenia, most recently celebrated by Pagans with items of fertility -- you know, eggs and bunnies.

Then the Christians usurped it, all the traditions, and even the NAME of the day. And then they expect US to take them seriously! Another good example of them kidding themselves.

I need to go downstairs to moderate a god debate. The convention was GREAT this year -- I'll post more about it in a while. In the mean time, remember: Tomorrow all those chocolate bunnies go on 50% off sale! Please enjoy responsibly.

Hi everyone from Mineapolis! Well, guess what- I introduced Dawkins and no irrelevant barbarians tried to kill me for posting that last entry.

Dawkins was very good, and spoke to the hungry-for-him crowd for two full hours. After his speech, I told him he was "ok" in a reassurative way, just as a litle joke -- and he accepted the reassurance with good humor. Interestingly, we had no books for him to sign (the publisher screwed up) so he only signed books that people already had -- and that took an HOUR! It seems everyone already has all his books!

We then had some other great panels, and will probably be making a few announcements on this blog in the coming days or hours.

In the mean time, a gang of Atheists hit the snowy streets last night at about 10pm, and I made it back to bed at 2;45. Now I'm awake, at 9am, wearing a tie, knowing I have stuff to do, not not knowing exactly what. Where are the irrelevant barbarians when you need them?

DUBAI (March 19) - Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden threatened the European Union with grave punishment on Wednesday over cartoons of Islam's Prophet Mohammad.

In an audio recording posted on the Internet coinciding with the birthday of Islam's founder, bin Laden said the drawings, considered offensive by Muslims, were part of a "new crusade" in which Pope Benedict was involved.

"Your publications of these drawings -- part of a new crusade in which the Pope of the Vatican had a significant role -- is a confirmation from you that the war continues," said the Saudi-born militant leader, addressing "those who are wise at the European Union."

You are "testing Muslims ... the answer will be what you shall see and not what you hear. May our mothers lose us to death if we did not rise in defense of the messenger of God..."

OK folks one more time. Osama is DEAD. No multi-billionairre on the planet can't afford a cam-corder. Audio only? It could be any number of impressionists -- but not Osama.

And... testing Muslims? There need be no test. Islam is a terrorist, barbaric religion. The test is done -- you failed. You are backwards, impotent, and useless. You are no longer to be feared. You need to reform (excellent efforts on that front) or descend further into irrelevance.

Here's your test, BITCH. I'll be at the convention this weekend. I'll be on the podium, introducing Richard Dawkins. I'll bet you a $200 camcorder I'll survive.

Here's the cartoon that cost the lives of innocent civilians

Muhammed the terrorist teddy bear -- terrorists wanted the death penalty.

Here's a nice offensive picture of the Pope, for whom I have absolutely no respect. But somehow, no lives have been threatened.

Senator Obama has distanced himself from his former preacher who said some hateful things about this country. As I read about his speech, I felt anger seethe from my pores.

Nobody blames GW Bush for supporting Fallwell, or accused Guiliani of being antisemitic because Pat Robertson endorsed him (and Rudi accepted with glee). This is a ridiculous argument.

Listen folks, Christian preachers spew hate ALL THE TIME, and nobody accuses the parishioners of agreeing with everything they say (because nobody believes their preachers anyway).

I'm personally more of a Hillary guy, but I'm sure Hillary's preacher has said things with which I would strongly disagree. Can't stop hate mongers from mongering hate, and you can't blame those within earshot.

Let's talk about the war, the economy, and the price of gas, please!

Today the US Supreme Court decided to decide if it will strike down Washington DC's ban on owning a gun. Not much to do with Separation of church and state -- but I own a gun, in fact I once was a damn good shot. It's a .22 -- I think it's as small as they come; a far cry from the assault weapons you can get at a gun show.

Should ALL guns be outlawed? To do so would literally repeal the 2nd Amendment. If we do that, should we worry about those who wish to repeal the 1st Amendment?

If Peter's post hasn't highlighted it enough, this country is in dire need of MORE Atheist activists -- and activism starts at conventions!

If you have the time, try your very best to attend the convention this weekend in Minneapolis. The pre-registration numbers are huge -- thanks in part to the news that I, David Silverman, will be introducing Richard Dawkins. Yes, that's right, Dawkins is coming and best of all, I will be introducing him! Don't worry -- I'm very good at not overshadowing the people I bring on stage.

OK but seriously, this is going to be a great place to meet 500+ other Atheists, face to face, and get some great insight on how you can help this country. Please join us!
http://www.atheists.org

Senators Brownback and Lieberman have introduced S. Res. 483 'A resolution recognizing the first weekend of May 2008 as "Ten Commandments Weekend". I have created a legislative alert to get as many of us who oppose this type of pandering legislation as possible to write to their Senators about our objections.

Thank you for all your support.

Peter Nuhn

What does this day celebrate?

I don't know, but we're supposed to drink green beer. Is this one of those religious holidays that Atheists can feel comfortable celebrating because it's so secularized? Like Valentine's Day?

Or is it just some lame excuse to sell green beer?

Hi All,

Just got back from Lunacon (a NY Sci-Fi Convention) and here's what happened:

1) I met up with Charles Pellegrino, who helped find the "Jesus Family Tomb". He seems intelligent and quite sane -- and has a bone fragment which really appears to have belonged to a Jesus, brother of James, Son of Joseph, and husband to Mary Magdalene. Interesting stuff. Perhaps an historical Jesus didn't ascend bodily into Heaven, huh?

2) A fact came out that Some chimpanzees are actually shaping sticks and rocks to get more food -- ushering them into their own "stone age"

3) ALL the atheist literature I put out was slowly but completely taken by the clientèle.

4) We use 10% of our brains, and 93.7% of our asses.

5) I am officially too old to stay out partying until 3am. Sure, I'll do it again next weekend at the American Atheists convention -- just don't look to me for brilliance at the early events.

http://www.eunicure.com/

Pesky testicles causing you to have sinful thoughts?

CUT THEM OFF! FREE!

There are many things of which I am sure, and this is one: Heaven would be hell without my balls!

Not a bad idea for preachers though...

GOOD: The American Family Association has ended its boycott of Ford Motor Company. They were protesting Ford's donations to gay friendly associations. In the end, Ford didn't change any policies, but reduced all donations due to financial pressure. Ford is STILL earning the highest gay-friendly ratings by the Human Rights Campaign. In other words, the AFA completely buckled -- thereby showing how weak they really are.

BAD: The walking dung at GodHatesFags.com won a lawsuit in Kansas and is once again allowed to protest military funerals.

Ugly: A gay teen has been denied asylum and will likely be deported to iran, where the bloodthirsty barbarians already executed his lover for sodomy.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a report that states 26 percent of American teenage females (3.2 million) is infected with at least one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases (human papillomavirus (HPV), chlamydia, herpes simplex virus, and trichomoniasis).

Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, said the study shows that "the national policy of promoting abstinence-only programs is a $1.5 billion failure, and teenage girls are paying the real price."

Thank you BTMFs.

Peter Nuhn

"May God intervene to stop Governor Spitzer from succeeding in this evil ambition to make abortion a "fundamental right" in New York! May pro-life New Yorkers somehow prevail, even as they did when he pursued Crisis Pregnancy Centers in 2002! May New Yorkers arise and stir their neighbors to understand the consequences of pursuing this course, and may this bill be defeated!"

Well, we have to concede: God 1/Spitzer 0

But was it God? Here are some questions that are popping up: "Why did Mike Bloomberg suddenly start talking about running for governor recently? And why did he give $500,000 to Joe Bruno? He's good buddies with Mike Mukasey. What did he know and how did he know it?"

Another good question being asked is: "Amazing how Senator David Vitter’s name never leaked out of the Justice Department after the arrest of the D.C. Madam, but Eliot Spitzer’s name leaked out of the Justice Department within a week of the initial arrest in the Emperor V.I.P. case."

"The NYTs reported that Spitzer got caught by a wire tap on an investigation of a prostitution ring (the Emperors Club VIP), but ABC reported that the Feds were investigating potential bribery and fraud with funds going to a bogus corporation (QAT) that was a dummy for the Emperor Club VIP. Which story is correct? Why would the FBI be investigating a rich guys prostitution ring, that is a state crime, not a federal one? So how did Spitzer's name get leaked to the media, and who did it? Didn't happen to Dave Vitter."

It took Hustler to leak Vitter's use of New Orleans prostitutes. Well at least the Democrat was using a thousand dollar an hour hooker and not a cop in a public rest room in some airport in middle America. At least the Democrats have taste, which the Republicant's will never be accused of having.

Peter Nuhn

A Vatican official has listed drugs, pollution and genetic manipulations as well as social and economic injustices as new areas of sinful behavior.
...
When asked to list the new areas of sinful behavior, Girotti denounced "certain violations of the fundamental rights of human nature through experiments, genetic manipulations."

He also mentioned drugs, which weaken the mind and obscure intelligence; pollution; as well as the widening social and economic differences between the rich and the poor that "cause an unbearable social injustice."

Girotti said the Catholic Church continued to be concerned by other sinful acts, including abortion and pedophilia.

He said Church authorities had reacted with rigorous measures to child abuse scandals within the clergy, but he also claimed that the issue had been excessively emphasized by the media.

Soooo let's run down the list. Pollution is now bad. Genetic manipulation and experimentation is bad (doesn't say anything about non-human, doesn't say anything about curing disease). Raping children is still bad, but has been blown out of proportion. Condoms are still bad. Hate against gays and non-Catholics is not mentioned as a sin of any kind. Abortion is still bad.

So now "sins" have gone beyond sex and has evolved to include science that may save life. The Vatican is all about the Environment (and sex, and abortion, and condoms, and homosexuality, and infallibility of the pope who hid rapists, and the need for public funds). I can't fault them for taking a stance here; it's a good cause -- and only a few decades too late.

I just wish they'd stay out of the bedroom and the doctor's office. I really feel as though the Vatican COULD be a source for GOOD, not intolerance, hate, and control. This is the single richest entity in the universe -- they could stop world hunger with a simple decision. Perhaps the fact that 60% of the congregates don't take them seriously enough to go to mass is an indicator for them that it's time for the Church to evolve.

The Phoenix New Times reports that Rep. Rick Renzi's current corruption charges now include evidence that he allegedly extorted money from his insurance clients to run for Congress. Renzi operated an insurance brokerage firm and is charged for allegedly taking his clients money to fund his campaign for Congressman.

We don't know exactly which clients' premiums were embezzled (Renzi's lawyer didn't return calls for comment), but records from the Arizona Department of Insurance suggest that they included nearly a dozen local agencies — pregnancy clinics from Tucson to Flagstaff, a Boys & Girls Club in Sierra Vista, and even Arizona Right-to-Life were left temporarily uninsured. So Renzi was vowing to represent right-to-life interests in Washington even as he allegedly swiped money from the very groups that help pregnant women who choose life in Arizona.

Check out Renzi's YouTube address to March for Life.

I have to say that I would never scam the mentally delusional. I mean, come on, where is the sport in that. It's like Cheney hunting on a farm where they drive cars out to shoot flightless birds.

Peter Nuhn

Gary Gygax, one of the co-creators of the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, died Tuesday morning at his home in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, according to Stephen Chenault, CEO of Troll Lord Games.

Gygax designed the original D&amp game with Dave Arneson in 1974, and went on to create the Dangerous Journeys and Lejendary Adventure RPGs, as well as a number of board games. He also wrote several fantasy novels.

http://blog.wired.com/underwire/2008/03/report-gary-gyg.html

Awww... I used to like playing roll-playing games in high-school and college. I was a cleric (all in the name of God), a magic user, a Paladin, and an orc. By the way, what's an orc?

ELLEN JOHNSON, FRANK ZINDLER LIVE
ON ATHEISTS TALK RADIO SUNDAY MARCH 9, 2008
Tune in or catch the Internet stream...

ELLEN JOHNSON, President of American Atheists and FRANK ZINDLER, Editor of American Atheists Press will be the guests on the live Minnesota Atheists talk radio program, Sunday, March 9, 2008.

From 9:00 to 9:30 AM, Central Daylight Time Frank Zindler will discuss the American Atheist Press publishing projects. From 9:30 - 10:00 AM, CDT Ellen Johnson will talk about the upcoming American Atheists Conference in Minneapolis (http://www.atheists.org/conference).

You can listen by tuning in to AM 950 KTNF Radio, or catch the live Internet feed at http://AirAmericaMinnesota.com/listen. Enter a Minnesota zip code such as 55401 when prompted. During the program you can also call in with questions at 952-946-6205, or e-mail to radio@mnatheists.org.

The show will be available for download or streaming at the Minnesota Atheists web site at http://minnesotatheists.org .

WHO & WHAT: Ellen Johnson and Frank Zindler on "Atheists Talk" radio show
.
WHEN: Sunday, March 8, 2008 ~
From 9:00 to 9:30 AM, Central Daylight Time Frank Zindler will discuss the American Atheist Press publishing projects. From 9:30 - 10:00 AM, CNT Ellen Johnson will talk about the upcoming American Atheists Conference in Minneapolis (http://www.atheists.org/conference).

WHERE & HOW: Tune in live to AM 950 KTNF or Internet at http://AirAmericaMinnesota.com/livstream.

MORE INFO: http://MinnesotaAtheists.org

(AMERICAN ATHEISTS is a nationwide movement that defends civil rights for Atheists, Freethinkers and other nonbelievers; works for the total separation of church and state; and addresses issues of First Amendment public policy.)

The irreligious wrong are all in favor of public school students being required by law to observe a moment of silence every day, but they are protesting the April 25, 2008, Day of Silence.

DAY OF SILENCE, April 25, 2008: This year’s Day of Silence will be held in memory of Lawrence King, who friends say was murdered in a California school February 12 because of his sexual orientation and gender expression. The event brings attention to anti-LGBT bullying, harassment and discrimination in schools. Students observe the day in silence to echo the silence LGBT and ally students face every day.

My high school is listed as a participant, as well as the one down the street from me. AFA reports 4,000 high schools. I am surprised at the extent of the support for GLSEN

I guess only GOD can tell us why His followers are such hypocrites. You know what that means? We'll never know!

Peter Nuhn

http://www.propeller.com/viewstory/2008/03/06/christian-coalition-supports-guns-in-churches-bill/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ajc.com%2Fmetro%2Fcontent%2Fshared-blogs%2Fajc%2Fpoliticalinsider%2Fentries%%2F03%2F05%2Fchristian_coalition_supports_g.html&frame=true

The Christian Coalition supports H.B. 89, the gun bill that would expand the places where you can carry concealed. Churches, for instance.
...
At the same time, Beck has declared his group’s neutrality on S.B. 454, the measure to permit the Sunday sales of beer and such at a new Braves minor league stadium in Gwinnett County.

OK Obvious jokes about God not protecting churches aside, what really irks me is that the religious group thinks it has a SAY over beer at baseball games. It's Neutral. Big whoop. How DARE some Christian group even have an opinion about what happens outside their church, at a public event?

SURE they can have opinions on whether there can be concealed weapons in their churches. But baseball??? Butt out!

PS. Blue Laws are ANOTHER Separation of Church and State issue!

OK so we have a few new trolls here (and a couble of old ones), and SOME people just love feeding them.

Please use THIS THREAD to debate god or religion. Open forum. Don't want to debate, don't go here.

Have fun, be civil, and please, keep the debating here and try to stay on topic on the other threads.

Thanks to Ron Coleman for donating this original cartoon to the NoGodBlog.

No Jews allowed in Delaware anymore. The last family that tried to stand up for their right to live in Georgetown, DE, went through three years of hell and finally had to move. Why? Because the damn xians don't like the so-called "christ killers".

I am real sorry, but this is the type of story that makes me madder than hell. And before those of you go telling me that all xians are not like those in Georgetown, forget it. They damn well are. A whole town full of religious bigots made it impossible for a family with a little eleven year old boy to go to their public schools. This is one of the most disgusting stories that go on all the time across our bigoted nation.

We aren't allowed to know what the settlement was, but if it didn't cause a drastic increase in the real estate taxes of all Delaware, then it was clearly not enough to teach the Delaware bigots a lesson.

This story needs a lot more daylight. It was printed in the New York Times, but we need to write letters to the editors of every damn newspaper and put this in every blog we know about.

Peter Nuhn

Scholarship 2008 Winners Announced!

I LOVE TO GIVE AWAY MONEY!!!

2008 Founders’ Scholarship ($2500) Ms. Rebecca Robinson
Founders’ Runner-Up ($1000): Ms. Shannon Black
Chinn Scholarship ($1000): Mr. James Kennedy

Honorable Mentions: J. Schmitt, O. Fromenthal, N. Conrad, S. Finklestein, L. Lebrasko, N. Paspalofski, And K. Lyon

I am personally very proud of this year’s applicant pool. All of you are GREAT ASSETS to the movement, and to your country. I invite all who didn’t win to apply again next year.

ALL applicants will receive a complementary 6-month membership to American Atheists.

Can I have a brief roll-call of who will/may be attending the Convention this month? I was thinking of a party.

Also -- would the existence of said party influence your decision to come?