Atheist in an Absurd World

Assisted Suicide - Why not a right?

2009-07-15T00:50:00.000-07:00

It's the same people who would shout that the unborn have a right to live that shout that the living have no right to die.

This article by the New York Times is hard wrenching, sweet, gutsy, and provides a story that we all must think about one day. What path do we take? It should be our own choice.

Traditional Marriage The Biblical Way?

2009-06-29T01:46:00.000-07:00

Great Quote

2009-06-04T02:50:00.001-07:00

I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours.

[Stephen F. Roberts]

Egypt Slaughtering Pigs?

2009-05-03T06:01:00.000-07:00

Several news agencies have reported Egypt to slaughter 300,000 pigs to "prevent the spread of swine flu." Many scientific and political groups have said that there is no link between eating pork and getting the flu. Does this not seem like an excuse for Egypt to "hurt" its Christian minority?

I am not one to stand up for Christians very often, but I do hate to see minorities get stomped on in principle. I haven't seen many articles point out this underlying racism in Egyptian culture.

Say there was a coffee flu. Would coffee drinkers in Utah be very upset if their state government decided to eliminate all the coffee in the state. Especially if there was no evidence for coffee drinking being linked to a flu?

Egypt - what your doing is absurd! At least I hope they use the meat to feed the hungry, or at least clog up their arteries.

Water into Whine

2009-04-17T03:36:00.001-07:00

Cyanide & Happiness @ Explosm.net

Homer Evolution

2009-04-17T03:25:00.001-07:00

Atheist's Creed

2009-04-15T23:23:00.001-07:00

I found this as a comment to a Friendly Atheist's blog post . . . deemed it worthy for remembering and have shared it here. The commentor didn't know the author, so for now, author unknown.

An Atheist’s Creed

I believe in time,
matter, and energy,
which make up the whole of the world.

I believe in reason, evidence and the human mind,
the only tools we have;
they are the product of natural forces
in a majestic but impersonal universe,
grander and richer than we can imagine,
a source of endless opportunities for discovery.

I believe in the power of doubt;
I do not seek out reassurances,
but embrace the question,
and strive to challenge my own beliefs.

I accept human mortality.

We have but one life,
brief and full of struggle,
leavened with love and community,
learning and exploration,
beauty and the creation of
new life, new art, and new ideas.

I rejoice in this life that I have,
and in the grandeur of a world that preceded me,
and an earth that will abide without me.

Funny Church Signs

2009-04-09T00:45:00.000-07:00

My friend emailed this to me and it was just too good not to post. The email said, "ok so i know you aren't a big god fan... but this you might enjoy...." Now there is an accurate statement. I think the photos might be photoshopped since the letters don't line up with the boxes on the marquee. Either way, it still funny. I wonder if this was in response to the recent atheist family guy episode named "Not all dogs go to heaven."

Email Subject:
Do Dogs go to Heaven?
Hysterical! Absolutely unreal that this actually happened!
These two churches face each other across a busy street.

Indoctrinatrion

2009-03-30T01:13:00.000-07:00

Indoctrination means to supply ideas to a willing mind without them questioning. Those who are indoctrinated with religion simply do not know how to question anything being said to them. They do not possess the skills necessary for formulating questions to fill in the gaps. They have taken no logic courses, do not know what fallacies are, and sometimes don't even know how to read yet. This is the case for indoctrination of children.

It is an important concept for most religions to keep them alive. When forced to find your own path at an age where you are capable of reasoning and accessing facts, indoctrination does not play a role.

My parents raised me with no religion. None at all. We did not go to church on Sundays, we didn't pray, and talking about my parent's religious beliefs was sorta taboo. I still to this day don't know when they pass away what type of service they want. Through this silence I learned on my own who I wanted to be. When I started exploring church in high school, they didn't stand in my way. When I became a liberal being raised in a conservative house hold, they didn't try to sway me. They knew I was an adult and of an age that I could make my own decisions.

Childhood indoctrination seems to be the highest card in the game of perpetuating belief in God. It is the key to church survival. Without believers who do not question, a church would have too many hard questions they are unable to answer. A child is not going to question you, they will soak up all the information and have do not have the capabilities to reason and question you properly. And when indoctrinated people start to question, they have childhood memories of being scared by the devil to sway them from asking the hard questions. It becomes a psychological wound that it extremely painful to explore and question.

My hope if that parents realize they are indoctrinating their children. I don't want to stop it, but I do want the realization that they are trying to convince a child. A child who is unable to resist. Not exactly a fair match. Many probably do this because that is the way they were raised and don't know any different.

I read a fantastic book recently called "Parenting beyond Belief" which provided me with great insight on how to fill some of the "gaps" that a social religious atmosphere leaves. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT!

Cartoon

2009-03-19T05:14:00.000-07:00

Picture Taken From Heaving Dead Cats.

Added to Atheist Blogroll!

2009-03-19T05:04:00.000-07:00

Atheist in an Absurd World has been added to The Atheist Blogroll. You can see the blogroll in my sidebar. The Atheist blogroll is a community building service provided free of charge to Atheist bloggers from around the world. If you would like to join, visit Mojoey at Deep Thoughts for more information.

Note that this blog is not meant to be as a resource to fellow human beings for information. It is meant as a place for me to write what I am thinking and share amusing and absurd articles. (Whether it is coherent or not). I joined the blogroll to connect with fellow freethinkers and to provide a place where more important articles can be found.

Jesus = God as is Santa Claus = Real Person

2009-03-19T04:58:00.000-07:00

Let go of childhood myths. Jesus was a real human being, I'll give you that. But he was nothing more then a good public speaker and a popular guy. Santa Claus is a popular guy too. Too bad he is not a real person and performs magic one night a year. I really want some people to get coal in their stockings.

Link to a Great Article

2009-03-18T00:44:00.000-07:00

I have been a reader of Atheist Revolution for a few months now and I have to say I really enjoy it. This article expresses very eloquently of what I think is really absurd about religious arguments. . . Enjoy!

Prop 8 Video from Keith O on MSNBC

2009-02-19T05:37:00.001-08:00

Cartoon

2009-02-17T07:50:00.001-08:00

Cartoon

2009-02-17T07:02:00.000-08:00

Defintion of Absurd

2009-02-09T06:04:00.000-08:00

A new blog requires an appropriate name. I have been an atheist for several years and have yet to compile all my thoughts into words. Atheist in an absurb world will be a collection of thoughts on religious absurdities and current events.

Now it needs to be said that just because I titled this blog with the word "absurd" does not mean that I think life is absurd. I am more of a classical athiest. I believe that you have to make your own meaning for life and that striving to find that meaning requires logic, reason, and probability.

Definitions of ABSURD collected from different sources -

1. From Merriam Webster Dictionary Online

ABSURD

Pronunciation:
\əb-ˈsərd, -ˈzərd\

Function:
adjective

Etymology:
Middle French absurde, from Latin absurdus, from ab- + surdus deaf, stupid

Date:
1557

Definition:

1: ridiculously unreasonable, unsound, or incongruous
2: having no rational or orderly relationship to human life : meaningless ; also : lacking order or value

2. From Wikipedia

ABSURDISM

"Absurdism is a philosophy stating that the efforts of humanity to find meaning in the universe ultimately fail (and hence are absurd), because no such meaning exists, at least in relation to humanity. The word "absurd" in this context does not mean "logically impossible", but rather "humanly impossible"."

3. From ThinkExist.Com

ABSURD

Definition:

(a.) Contrary to reason or propriety; obviously and fiatly opposed to manifest truth; inconsistent with the plain dictates of common sense; logically contradictory; nonsensical; ridiculous; as, an absurd person, an absurd opinion; an absurd dream.

4. From Answers.com

ABSURD

Definition: Adjective - Ridiculously incongruous or unreasonable. See synonyms at foolish.
Of, relating to, or manifesting the view that there is no order or value in human life or in the universe.

5. From MSN Encarta

ABSURD [ əb súrd, əb zúrd ]

adjective

Definition:

1. ludicrous: ridiculous because of being irrational, incongruous, or illogical
an absurd notion

2. philosophy meaningless: lacking any meaning that would give purpose to life
the notion that existence is absurd

noun

Definition: meaninglessness: the condition of living in a meaningless universe where life has no purpose, especially as a concept in some 20th-century philosophical movements.

Links to Learn More

To read another view of absurdity and the meaning of life - check out this article I found.

For some entertainment - watch a clip on Hulu - Monty Python's Meaning Of Life