Why "Draw Mohammed Day" is Important

It's time for Draw Mohammed Day 2012.  May 20th is the third annual day to find your inner artist and challenge fascist Islamic governments around the world who oppress freedom of speech and expression by their citizen, and dare to threaten citizens in other countries for challenging their ridiculous arcane laws.

The video above reminds us that there are evil leaders in the world that has allowed religion to cloud their rational judgement to the extend that they refuse to allow their citizens to draw a picture.

These efforts to use social networking to challenge these authoritarian religious regimes and their blind followers      are vital to breaking down their mystique and power.  Yes, today Pakistan closed down Twitter because Twitter refused to block tweets about Draw Mohammed Day.  But today, hundreds of thousands of secular, agnostic, atheist, freethinker, and humanist citizens in these repressive countries live in daily fear of expressing their personal views.  As people who live in free societies, we have a responsibility to stand up and fight for the rights of all humans to be free from repression.

This is why days like Draw Mohammed Day are important.  In one little way, we stand in allegiance with all those who are fighting for freedom of speech and expression around the world.  Day by day, in both small and big ways, we will chip away at the wall of religious extremism.  We are working for the day that religious oppression is wiped off the face of a rational earth.      

Park Romney: Why he turned against the Mormon church

"I became convinced that it's a fraud," Park Romney told the BBC, explaining his reason for leaving the Mormon fold.

Park Romney, 56, is a former Mormon high priest, who turned against the church. Park Romney's criticisms of the church are fundamental.

Along with other ex-Mormons, he questions founder Joseph Smith's prophecies - for example Smith's translation of an Egyptian scroll, part of the Mormon book of Abraham, which Egyptologists say is a fraud.

"I am alienated from my family," he told the BBC.

"Their doctrine, their protocol and their culture as enforced by bishops encourages the families to disassociate themselves from the apostate."

Read here the full BBC News Article.

Also check out Park Romney's webpage and book, The Apostasy of a High Priest. For a link to his Apostasy page click here.

Quotes from Medieval Skeptics of Islam

Islamic leaders have always been p proficient at covering up and silencing dissenters of their religion.  But make no mistake, there have been brave dissenters around since the founding of Islam.  Here is an excellent video of quotes from Arab and Middle East voices of reason who stood against the tide of Islam in their region:

A Secular Creed

The famous humanist creed of the great orator Robert Ingersoll in his own handwriting. 

The Values We All Stand For

Winner of the 2010 Project Reason Video contest, this great video reminds us of the reason and logic that we have on our side. 

Atheist Billboard Goes Up in NJ Muslim Neighborhood

Hooray for http://www.atheists.org/!  I applaud when Atheist groups publicly take on the sacred cow of Islam in America. Atheists should treat Islam no different than any other oppressive, backwards and narrow-minded religious group.  


On March 7, American Atheists erected a billboard on the corner of 33rd Street and Broadway, the heart of a Muslim community in Paterson, New Jersey/ See full article: http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-758697

"Peaceful" Religions

Belief and Marriage � An Apostate's Chapel

This is merely a re-post, but to a very interesting blog post on leaving your religion and its effects on marriages:

Belief and Marriage � An Apostate's Chapel

Pat Robertson Believes Earthquake is God's Revenge Voodoo on Haiti

I'm sure this crazy old man is going to be on every blog in the universe, but this is just another reminder to myself why I could no longer remain in the Church that is full of superstition, bigotry, and hate.  Since I've left all that behind, I no longer have to feel the burden to defend a community that includes this crazy, deluded (and very wealthy, self-righteous) minister.

Humanist Network News - Greg Epstein Interview

Below is a extensive and thorough interview with Greg Epstein, author of Good Without God and the Humanist Chaplaincy at Harvard, from the Humanist Network News.  Greg is doing great work and spreading the important message of humanism in a rational and fair way. 

Tiger Just Needs Jesus

Fox News Brit Hume exhorts Tiger to change his womanizing ways by becoming Christian.  That approach has  worked out great for Mark Sanford, John Ensign and John Edwards (and thousands of other average Christians).  This blatant 'holier than your religion' is what drives intolerance and hatred between religious people around the world.    

The Absurb & Dangerous Ideas of Christian Dispensationalism

Check out the trailer below for an upcoming documentary called "Waiting for Armageddon."  The Dispensationalist theology of fundamentalist Christians is as dangerous (or more) to the world than any Muslim, Jewish, or Hindu fundamentalism.  Learn where you can see the film is playing near you:  http://www.waitingforarmageddon.com/

Humanism Defined by Author Greg Epstein

Harvard professor Greg Epstein discusses his new book on humanism, Good Without God. 
Check out the website http://www.goodwithoutgod.com for more.
 

Choose your Path Wisely

Humanism and Its Aspirations

The statement Humanism and Its Aspirations is the most recent of the Humanist Manifestos published by the American Humanist Association (AHA). The newest one is much shorter, listing six primary beliefs, which echo themes from its predecessors:

• Knowledge of the world is derived by observation, experimentation, and rational analysis. 
• Humans are an integral part of nature, the result of unguided evolutionary change.
• Ethical values are derived from human need and interest as tested by experience. 
• Life’s fulfillment emerges from individual participation in the service of humane ideals.
• Humans are social by nature and find meaning in relationships.
• Working to benefit society maximizes individual happiness.