Conversations With an Ex-Jehovah's Witness
Virushead Posts For Ex-JWSNews and Links For Atheists: Ghost Hunting Technology
By The Atheist Geek | February 7, 2010
NOTE: I’ve been trying to move for the past week even while the East Coast has been dealing with an string of blizzards. Yeah, it sucks. And before that I was trying to get everything together for settlement on our place. That’s why I haven’t been posting much. Sorry about that. Too many problems hitting all once.
AUDIO: How Stuff Works-Ghost Hunting Technology
This podcast is told from a skeptic’s viewpoint. The link takes you right to the mp3.
Hear the rumble of Christian hypocrisy
The evangelist who says the Haiti earthquake is retribution for sin is at least true to his religion
That one comes from Richard Dawkins.
It’s idiotic to blame God, the devil, or anything other than geology for the Haitian earthquake.
On a related theme, we have one from Christopher Hitchens. Go Hitch!
Bowling for Atheists: Haiti Proves that Nonbelievers Care Too
On Friday, January 15, I received in email from Richard Dawkins explaining that his Executive Director Elizabeth Cornwell has organized a campaign to raise money on behalf of the victims of the Haitian earthquake-induced tragedy, and he wanted to know if the Skeptics Society would like to participate, which of course I unhesitatingly agreed. The campaign is called Non-Believers Giving Aid and is set up through PayPal. Richard Dawkins has generously offered to cover all the PayPal fees (up to $10,000) and the Skeptics Society got things started off with a bang with a $1000 donation. Within minutes of it’s launch on Saturday morning, tens of thousands of dollars started pouring in as members of the other participating groups (Sam Harris’ The Reason Project, The James Randi Educational Foundation, Atheist United, Atheist Alliance International, and many others) jumped in without hesitation. (All monies go to Doctors without Borders and the International Red Cross—you choose.)
Michael Shermer joins the fray, though on a more positive note. It’s almost as if skeptics can be nice and charitable too. Hmmm… If skepticism had it’s own four horsemen, Shermer would be one of them. (Hmmm. Can you guess who those four horsemen would be?)
Leaked climate change emails scientist ‘hid’ data flaws
A shame something like this had to happen. This is one of the reasons I and others find it so hard to believe the “factual” claims made by creationists and other hard core believers. They often use disinformation to try to bolster their claims. When people figure out a few of their misleading assertions, they start to doubt everything that comes from those sources and feel the need to check them. Some people skip right to the doubting.
As far as I know, the case for climate change is still plenty strong, but now those who don’t want to believe it will use these headlines as an affirmation. Most won’t even bother listening to the fact that life threatening climate changes are still a real concern to scientists and that this is a minor, isolated incident.
And now the antivaxxers’ humiliation is complete
This one’s by Phil Plait. Another candidate for the four horsemen of skepticism? Anyone, I know a few people who are hot on the “don’t get vaccinated” bandwagon. Hope they read this article. There are a lot of links in it to other sources, so this one kinda sums them up. Follow the links if you want more on this.
VIDEO: Loophole Allows Gays To Marry
No comment. You figure it out.
How sad that yet another medium has been given press approval. I could write a post on a different medium or phony psychic every week and never run out of material. This week’s entry into the never-ending cycle of mediums I predicted would be coming (see my post “ESP Boot Camp” of 23 Feb. 2009) is Rebecca Rosen. I will hopefully not catch all the flack I caught two weeks ago when the Internet press release I quoted from was taken down, making the points I tried to make un-verifiable. This time, you can read all about Mrs. Rosen here:
Why Atheists Don’t Turn to Religion When Faced with Death or Disaster
The notion that ‘there are no atheists in foxholes’ isn’t just mistaken, it’s bigoted and ugly; a denial of atheists’ humanity and the reality of our experience with death.
No, really. It’s true. Stop looking at me like that. Oh, just deal with it already!
Word salad lunacy Bible babble blah blah blah
I’ve often noticed a tendency for some people to host a whole gnarly syndrome of denialist symptoms: some people are creationists+HIV denialists+global warming denialists+ant-vaxers+whatever. They stand out in the crowd as hyper-intense paragons of idiocy; I often wonder how they get around at all, since the power of their disbelief is so strong that they probably deny their shoelaces as soon as they get up in the morning, yet at the same time they believe a magic man in the sky will soon make them float up into the air to a rapturous eternal congress of their fellow reality deniers.
I’ve found an amazing example of this syndrome. You’ll be able to recognize the problem from just the title of his blog post:
Creation is an indie movie about Charles Darwin.
Pink Ouija Board Targeting Young Girls Riles Critics – FOXNews.com
I’m not real big on Freethought Radio myself. It seems like more of an acquired taste to me. But they are interviewing Dawkins, which I’m always interested in.
Topics: Atheist News and Links, Secular Atheist | No Comments »
News And Links For Atheists: A God Delusion Video
By The Atheist Geek | January 7, 2010
VIDEO: A God Delusion Video
The God Fraud: Sam Harris responds to Karen Armstrong
Best-selling atheist author Sam Harris pushes back against Karen Armstrong's sympathetic take on religion.
Without God, Without Leader, Harlem Atheists Have Faith in Future
Once a month, Harlem atheists, along with a smattering of outerborough residents, gather at the Adam Clayton Powell State Building on 125th Street to discuss the ubiquitous role of religion in American society. While there’s a revolving door of participants, one constant is the meeting’s diversity: blacks, whites, Muslims, Christians, Jews, everyone is welcome.
Archbishop of Westminster criticises dogmatists
He told Radio 4's Sunday programme: "Public life is not a neutral place.Everybody comes with their set of values and religion has just as much right to be there as anybody else.
This one might be of interest to my ex-Witness readers.
Ditto.
Inferiority & Aggression: Why Do Some Believers Lash Out?
Austin is on a roll!
Passions over 'prosperity gospel': Was Jesus wealthy?
Each Christmas, Christians tell stories about the poor baby Jesus born in a lowly manger because there was no room in the inn.But the Rev. C. Thomas Anderson, senior pastor of the Living Word Bible Church in Mesa, Arizona, preaches a version of the Christmas story that says baby Jesus wasn't so poor after all.
How To Handle Criticism From Friends and Family
How Atheists Can Use Christianity
Christian Story of Jesus's Birth Is a Myth Born of Politics
I could go even further…
Topics: Atheist News and Links, Secular Atheist | No Comments »
Why Jehovah’s Witnesses Think They Have More Freedom Than You Do
By The Atheist Geek | December 31, 2009
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People who are not Jehovah's Witnesses are free to make choices. We can go to church, become atheists (like yours truly), or celebrate any holiday we choose. We can read whatever we like, listen to any music we like, or watch any movie we like. All without fear that an Elder will tap us on the shoulder and haul us before a judicial committee. We can even use our own judgment without consulting a Watchtower Magazine for the Governing Body's take on every major decision we make. Jehovah's Witnesses can't claim any of that with a straight face. Not that it matters. Because they think they have more freedom than you do. Seriously. And they think they're the only ones capable of exercising that freedom fully. How can that be?
It's simple. To Jehovah's Witnesses, the rest of us have made the only choice can make: death. Most of us don't even know we've made that choice. But it's the only option we'll allow ourselves to have. Meanwhile, the Witnesses–bless their little hearts–keep knocking on our doors in an attempt to keep us informed about the alternative. Very few of us are willing to listen, so our choices remain limited to just one: death.
Well, that's how they see it at least. But I digress…
Witnesses have two choices because they're better informed than we are. (At least they think so.) They can choose 1) death, or 2) life everlasting in paradise. In their minds, that's twice as many choices as everyone else. So while pitiful old "worldly people" like you and I can do whatever we'd like with our brief lives, those choices are meaningless because they're only short term. Our lives are finite. Their lives will go on forever and they'll be in paradise too! They've chosen to make that happen by going to meetings, knocking on doors, and obeying the Governing Body. They reaffirm this decision every time they do any of these things instead of something they'd rather do. These are all daily sacrifices, and every sacrifice only increases a Witness's commitment to the Watchtower Society. Every sacrifice is an investment.
So when worldly people accuse them of being a cult or complain that the Watchtower Society is doing all their thinking for them, most Jehovah's Witnesses are happy to just chuckle and deflect our comments with something like: "We can do anything you can do…so long as it isn't wrong." You know the drill. That's the part where they elbow the Witness next to them in the ribs and wink knowingly.
"Man," they say with that wink, "being right sure is awesome. Glad I'm not this poor dope. Aren't you?"
Of course, I can't agree with their view. Anyone else have an opinion worth sharing?
Let's hear it.
Topics: Ex-Jehovah's Witnesses, XJW Commentary | 2 Comments »
HAPPY HOLIDAYS! Oh, And Merry Christmas Too.
By The Atheist Geek | December 25, 2009
First, I want to wish you all Happy Holidays to annoy anyone who is bothered by the phrase Happy Holidays. Their pointless hate gives me strength. (I'm looking at you, Fox News.) Second, I want to wish everyone who doesn't care which phrase I use a Merry Christmas, '09 style.
My wife and I have been busily trying to move. One deal fell on it's butt cheeks, so we're working on another. Since we pretty much live in a dump, anything short of a cardboard box will be an improvement. Too bad about the first place we tried to buy–it would have made a nice Christmas present. Especially for my wife, who's a Jehovah's Witness. Insert sly laughter here.
I'm also working on some new articles for Austin Cline, atheist extraordinaire, and hoping to see a little movie called "Avatar." You'll know if I saw it because there will be a review right here on Atheist Geek News. Hopefully, it'll suck so I can make fun of it. Alas, the reviews are very good.
For all the ex-Witnesses out there who are celebrating the holiday, have an extra scoop of holiday cheer. Only punch an Elder if he knocks on your door while celebrating the holidays. Make sure to shout "Atheist Geek!" when you do. Maybe an epidemic of busted noses will break out and they'll write an article about me! That'd be neat. It's the only present that could rival a new place to live. Well, there are even better presents, but I'm not sharing what those might be. Insert sideways glance at pics I uploaded to this page.
Once I've moved, I hope to start posting more frequently again.
Peace.
Topics: Announcements | No Comments »
News and Links for Ex-Jehovah’s Witnesses: A Witness account
By The Atheist Geek | December 13, 2009
Tom Blackwell: A Witness account – Holy Post
The boy was just five years old and desperately ill, but as he crouched in the back seat of Donna Ryder's car, he became more fugitive than cancer patient.
Police in New Brunswick were already out looking for the child when, according to Ms. Ryder, she hid him and his mother in her Dodge Omni and drove them to Fredericton, away from children's aid officials who might have forced the son of Jehovah's Witnesses to accept a blood transfusion.
Jehovah's Witness please answer.? – Yahoo! Answers
This is about a question asked on Yahoo! Answers by someone studying to become a Witness. A young woman is living with her boy friend because they want to get married. But he isn't a Witness, and she wants to know if this will be a problem. I'm posting it because I thought some of you might want to contribute to the conversation. And because this response was too effed up to overlook:
I think that you know what the Bible says about marrying only in the Lord. Jehovah is going to kill you, but what good can come from marrying a non-believer?
My suggestion would be to ask him to go Watchtower.org and request a free home Bible study. Even if he is an unassigned territory someone will figure out a way to get there to study with him.
Wow.
It's a gateway drug to a lifetime of depravity!
This one's a little old, but you know I gotta mention it when P.Z. Myers talks about Jehovah's Witnesses. (Well, the atheists among you probably should at any rate.)
I was sent this scan of a delightful article from Watchtower Magazine — you know, that bizarre piece of pulp from the Jehovah's Witnesses. Look at their list of wicked temptations that might lead a faithful person into a life of sin. Take special note of #2.
Check it out. Caught the link from this page.
How We Know We Are in "the Last Days" – Jehovah's Witnesses Official Web Site
The Society was pimping this one on the front of their web page. See how many holes you can poke in it. It ain't hard. Go nuts.
JURIST – Paper Chase: Russia Supreme Court bans Jehovah's Witness congregation
The Russian Supreme Court [official website, in Russian] upheld a lower court decision [press release, in Russian] to shut down the Taganrog Jehovah's Witness congregation and ban the distribution of 34 Jehovah's Witness publications on Tuesday. Both the Jehovah's Witness congregation and the publications are "extremist," the Supreme Court said [Forum 18 report] in its decision. In response to the Supreme Court's decision, Chairman of the Presiding Committee of the Administrative Center of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia, Vasily Kalin, said [press release]:
Apparently Jehovah's Witnesses aren't the only ones affected by this ruling.
On a more personal note, I hope to be moving soon. Finally. That's one of the reasons my posts have been so light this month. That may continue for a little bit longer. Hopefully, I'll be posting more goodies soon.
Topics: Ex-Jehovah's Witnesses, XJW News and Links | No Comments »
News And Links For Atheists: What is Scientology?
By The Atheist Geek | November 15, 2009
VIDEO: What Is Scientology?
Suddenly, I like James Spader. And Boston Public.
I have a vivid childhood memory from when I was perhaps eight or nine years of age. I was with my mom in our minivan. I think my younger sister was with us, but I'm not positive about that. I remember saying to my mom, "I'm scared that someday I'll reject Jesus and won't be a Christian anymore." My mother, wholesome and wonderful person that she is, told me that I'd have to be careful. "Just follow Jesus and you won't have to worry about it." I remember other times when she told me that she "worried" and "was concerned" about me, because I was intelligent. "I worry that your intelligence will lead you away from Jesus." As things stand, I suppose she had good cause for concern.
Greta Christina's Blog: Atheists and Anger
Worth reading if you haven't already.
Austin Cline's Mailbag: Why Choose Atheism?
Although the New York Daily News has no problem endorsing astrology on its news pages, the idea of giving sympathetic coverage to atheism is apparently too much for them to swallow. In a recent issue, they published this obnoxiously bigoted column from Gabriel Gillen, a Dominican friar, which manages to cram just about every anti-atheist slur in the book into a brief space.
We start with the old standby: pick a controversial atheist, accuse him of hypocrisy or some other charge, and assume that he somehow speaks for or represents all atheists:
Death threats force removal of atheist billboard
Daylight Atheism > Anti-Atheist Bigotry in the Daily News
PTN: Paranormal Television Network
Well, we knew it had to happen. It wasn’t a matter of where, only when. Get your flashlights out ghosthunters! We are about to embark on an new era of supernatural fiction the likes of which have never been seen or heard of in any other civilized country. Watch as the glimmer of skepticism that was once a bright new concept in television gets buried under an avalanche of dung masquerading as entertainment. Ahhhhhhhh. Only in America…
I agree with Mark. Even networks like Discover and History Channel are getting inundated with this stuff. ::Sigh::
Atheism 3.0 finds a little more room for religion
Abstinence Makes The Church Grow Fondlers
For your amusement…
Daylight Atheism > Jehovah’s Witnesses Hate the Smurfs
Yeah, this is more for my ex-Witness readers, but I couldn't resist posting it now.
Topics: Atheist News and Links, Secular Atheist | No Comments »
Review: Stargate Universe
By The Atheist Geek | November 8, 2009
Stargate Universe (or SGU) is the latest original offering from Syfy. It takes place in the same universe as Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis, two shows I enjoy and complain about. (Not unlike the Star Trek franchise.) For me, SGU's predecessors suffered from a lack of gritty realism, where a team of only four soldiers could defeat an army of aliens who had superior technology. The Stargate series did have plenty of interesting characters and lots of action–two qualities sorely lacking in Star Trek–but the stories felt a bit shallow to me. Still, I'm always hungry for more scifi, so I knew I was going to give Stargate Universe a shot as soon as I had heard about it. My expectations were low … until I heard that this series would be driven by the characters instead of plot. Intrigued, I set my DVR to record the first episode as soon as it appeared on my program guide.
Was it worth the seconds I spent hitting buttons on my remote, or was I shaking an angry fist at Syfy for wasting precious moments of my life?
Topics: Geek Entertainment, Geek Review | No Comments »
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