Popular Post Brother Jeff Posted August 29, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted August 29, 2014 Just posted this a while ago on Facebook. Most epic rant I've posted in a while there, and it may end up costing me a few friends, but I am tired of atheists being discriminated against! I have been posting about religion for a while now and have recently expressed frustration about not getting much response or discussion. I have been accused of being militant, angry, and obsessed. And I will admit that I am guilty as charged. But there are very good reasons for the anger and obsession and very good reasons for being militant as well. But what I'm a bit angry about at the moment is the fact that my Christian friends can post about their religious beliefs and their religious thoughts all day long as passionately and emotionally and as militantly as they care to, and not a negative word is ever said about it. And anyone who does dare to say something about it is viewed very negatively. Yet, if I or any other atheist dares to speak out against religion publicly with passion and emotion, somehow that's not okay. We are either ignored or otherwise marginalized, or we get a very negative response. And we are criticized for our passion and our quite often completely justifiable anger. And we are "too militant" and we should "calm down" and "not let what others believe bother us". Can you say DISCRIMINATION?? I'd love to just post happy thoughts all day and just share meaningless frivolous bullshit all day. But... religious fundamentalism is destroying our world! It is causing HUGE problems in this country, HUGE problems in Iraq, and HUGE problems in many other places all over the world! Shouldn't something, just maybe, be said and done about that?? Or should people like me who CARE just remain silent and let the world continue to go to hell? So, damn... pardon me for CARING!! I speak out because I CARE!! And I am passionate and emotional and not always as nice and polite as I might should be because I CARE!! It just absolutely floors me that Christians can say whatever the hell they want on Facebook all day long as militantly as they want to, and well, that is perfectly okay. But dare to speak out from the other side of the fence? You're just an angry, militant atheist who should calm down, shut up, and be nice. Christians can openly and freely hate on entire groups of people and condemn them and anyone else who doesn't agree with them to hell, and that's all perfectly okay. (Holy shit, we have a man running for public office in Oklahoma who has publicly stated that homosexuals should be stoned to death. He says it with a smile and he is proud of it!) But if anyone says anything about it? You're just an angry, militant atheist who should just shut up! Christians can and do openly and freely condemn people of all other faiths and people of no faith at all to an eternal flaming hell where they will be tormented endlessly without any hope of reprieve forever. Dare to say something about it? You're just an angry, militant atheist who needs to just shut up and be tolerant and nice! Yes, that makes me ANGRY and it SHOULD!! 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super Moderator buffettphan Posted August 29, 2014 Super Moderator Share Posted August 29, 2014 Excellent rant and I wholeheartedly agree! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super Moderator florduh Posted August 29, 2014 Super Moderator Share Posted August 29, 2014 [[[[[[[[ like ]]]]]]]] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thurisaz Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 *frantically clicks the upvote button on that rant and realizes he'll need at least two weeks to give this thing the votes it deserves* 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
centauri Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 Good points. Sadly, Christianity is a sacred cow, embedded in U.S. culture with the efforts of Christian politicians, lobbyists, and clerics. Having tax exempt status also helps fund the non-stop propaganda that Christianity pumps out. Once they've subdued their enemies, rest assured they'll turn on each other, just as rabid alpha males dogs do. History shows that Christianity is constantly at each others throats once they think their "enemies" are marginalized. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orbit Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 Glory! Epic truth rant! Society is so skewed to Xtianity it feels dangerous to be an atheist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deconverted Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 Can you post some of the responses to your rant? I'd love to read some. By the way, I was just talking to my friend this morning about the double standard on facebook and other media. He is a former mormon was telling me how recently Mormon leadership encouraged everyone to get on social media and spread their message. I don't really ever say anything on facebook, but I get so tired of all the crap on there and feel like if I ever gave a different view point, I would be slammed for it. I feel your pain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brother Jeff Posted August 29, 2014 Author Share Posted August 29, 2014 Just posted this to Facebook a few minutes ago, for whatever it's worth: I posted a very angry rant last night that was absolutely spot on accurate and true, and that I don't apologize for to anybody one bit. I am sick and tired of Christians getting a free pass to say whatever the hell they want without consequences, while I and other atheists are harshly criticized when we dare to present our point of view publicly and we dare to do it with some passion and emotion (how dare we do such a thing! How rude!)! Somewhat predictably, not a single response from Christians. But really, what could they say? Everything I had to say, as angrily as I said it, is absolutely true, and they know it!! That said, what I had to say last night I stand by 100%, but... I am going through a bit of a hypomanic bipolar episode right now and I have been much more emotional than usual lately and more irritable as well. I'm sure that had some influence on that rant and the emotion of it. Hell, I'm even sure that it's heavily influenced the amount of times I've posted recently about farting, as much as I know that irritates some of my friends. Two sides of the same coin... I'm not even sure I should be apologizing for the emotion of that rant. After all, everything I had to say was absolutely true, and the anger about it seems completely justified to me. I just happen to see some bipolar emotional upheaval at work as well... my 2 cents... I'm calmer now, even after a sleepless night of insomnia thanks to some bipolar hypomania going on, but I still stand by everything I had to say 100%! Glory! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brother Jeff Posted August 29, 2014 Author Share Posted August 29, 2014 Can you post some of the responses to your rant? I'd love to read some. By the way, I was just talking to my friend this morning about the double standard on facebook and other media. He is a former mormon was telling me how recently Mormon leadership encouraged everyone to get on social media and spread their message. I don't really ever say anything on facebook, but I get so tired of all the crap on there and feel like if I ever gave a different view point, I would be slammed for it. I feel your pain. Somewhat predictably, not a single response, at least thus far, from my Christian friends. But I am happy to post what has been said otherwise... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fweethawt Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 Glory! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brother Jeff Posted August 29, 2014 Author Share Posted August 29, 2014 Richard: Agree absolutely. It's typical double standards of Christians. They can rant, bible bash, judge, condemn, continually go on about their religious fantasies on facebook as if they should be taken seriously. They expect everyone to respect their beliefs, but when it comes to the other side of the coin, it's a different story. You are right in everything you say. I think it's great that you're willing to stand up and say these things. These things need to be said and should be said. It's time Christianity was exposed for what it truly is rather than everybody shutting up just because they don't want to offend their xtian friends and family. I wish I had the guts to be as outspoken as you are on the subject. 11 hours ago · Unlike · 1 Ryan: Oh yes I quite agree! Case in point, I respectfully tried to comment on my niece's post where she said she was listening to a preacher on the radio about how the Devil was a loser and such silly stuff like that. I went about my response with a bible verse opposing such nonsense and how even when I was a Christian I did not hold such views of our "enemy". She responded back that since I was no longer a believer that I was in effect "ungodly counsel"! Therefore she had no obligation to read the Christian link I sent her! She said I attacked her beliefs! WTF! 11 hours ago · Unlike · 2 Ryan: So no matter how you go about it with family or friends even in the most kind way they still see it as attacking their faith and that is a no-no to most people. 11 hours ago · Unlike · 2 Ryan: I think we are on the cutting edge as it were of the demise of religious belief. The internet is where religion comes to die is really a true statement. Will it happen right away? Probably not yet it has begun in earnest. Even with the seemingly proliferation of religious nuttery I think we are seeing the mortal wound of religion rasping for its final breath. 11 hours ago · Unlike · 2 Richard: Absolutely. The Internet is what will spell demise of religion even if not in our life time. It is providing information to everyone, information they would never have been available to people before. If you are on the Internet it's pretty much impossible to remain trapped in your little Christian protective bubble. The bubble is what kept me in the delusion for so long because I never stepped out of it. My beliefs were protected and validated by fellow Christians. I never had anything to do with outspoken Atheists. I can say that the Internet had a huge amount to do with me waking up from my Christian delusions because I was faced with challenges and questions that I could not come up with adequate answers for from people I couldn't avoid if I wanted to be part of certain Internet communities (particularly discussion boards). Being a rational person I was forced to confront my beliefs I'd had all my life and question the truth of them. And having a rational mind there was just no way I could continue to believe the religious fantasies I'd been indoctronated into. 11 hours ago · Edited · Unlike · 2 Jeff Reid: I totally agree that the internet will eventually be the death of religion. My own journey away from fanatical religious belief back to the real world was greatly assisted by sites such as infidels.org and rejectionofpascalswager.net. That was back in early 2000. Those sites still exist today and they are still awesome and I would highly recommend them to anybody, but there are also many other great skeptical/atheist sites online now that didn't exist 14 years ago that are loaded with tons of good information that totally and easily debunks the Bible and Christian religious beliefs and claims. Talkorigins.org helped me out a lot too. I'm pretty sure they are still around too. I used to visit them regularly to educate myself about biological evolution and access information that easily and clearly debunked creationist claims. I am a very happy and very FREE ex-Christian atheist today because of the internet. Glory! 10 hours ago · Like · 2 Ryan: Yep I found you on ExC back around 2005 Brother Jeff! You helped me very immensely! At the time I retired from the Navy in 2003 I pretty much left the faith. Wasn't easy yet no regrets! I was literally floored by the wealth of scholarly info out there refuting my former beliefs! 10 hours ago · Unlike · 2 Richard: That's where I came across Jeff too and always enjoyed his posts. I haven't been in there for a while, but it's still one of my favourite sites. 10 hours ago · Unlike · 2 Richard: Would have been about 2005 too. 10 hours ago · Unlike · 2 Richard: I was still a christian at the time but with a lot of doubts. 10 hours ago · Unlike · 2 Ryan: Holy crap Richard, I didn't know that! What a pleasant surprise! I don't get over there too much either lately. Were you a lurker there when you were a Christian or did you try to bring people back to the fold? hehe 10 hours ago · Like Ryan: You see Brother Jeff? It is because of you we are here talking about this! hehe 10 hours ago · Unlike · 2 Richard: No definitely not to convert. I was there to see what ex-Christians were saying. I wanted to get points of views from people who had been in my situation. I am OnceConvinced over there. 10 hours ago · Unlike · 1 Jeff Reid Amanda and Dan, you have any thoughts to share about this glorious post? 10 hours ago · Like Jeff Reid I'm going to read Tom Swift for a while and then hopefully get some sleep. Goodnight, and may the Lard magically bless you! Glory! 10 hours ago · Like · 2 Richard: Hallelluuuuuuuuujah brother! 10 hours ago · Unlike · 2 Jeff Reid Edited the post to add commentary about Christians openly and freely hating on entire groups of people. Now I am going to read Tom Swift! 10 hours ago · Like Jeff Reid One last thought... I wonder how many friends this rant will cost me? 10 hours ago · Like · 1 Jeff Reid Edited again to add in the fact that Christians openly and freely condemn people of all other faiths and no faith at all to an eternal hell. 9 hours ago · Like Mike: We're all going to Zoroastrian hell anyway. That's been the commentary on Facebook so far... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brother Jeff Posted August 29, 2014 Author Share Posted August 29, 2014 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deidre Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 I'm not into FB anymore, but this makes me want to return, if for no other reason, than to see the replies to these comments of yours, Brother Jeff. lol Good for you, for telling it like it is. I'm not vocal enough -- this is inspiring in the sense that we shouldn't keep quiet in the face of religon trying to take over everything. Good stuff! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seven77 Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 Maybe this will cheer you up, Brother Jeff. All praise be to the Holy Farter. Can I get a "Ramen!" 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brother Jeff Posted August 29, 2014 Author Share Posted August 29, 2014 Just posted this to Facebook, and it will likely be the last thing I have to say there on the subject of this glorious rant. I'm going to say one more thing in regards to the rant I posted last night, and then, most likely, I'll consider it enough said. In this country, we have a wonderful thing called freedom of speech. I recently, in the course of conversation, had to comment to my 73-year old father that freedom of speech means that you are free to say anything you want to about anybody or anything, but you are not necessarily free from the consequences of saying it. Part of enjoying having freedom of speech is being willing to defend that right to the death. I often intensely disagree with what my fellow Americans who happen to be Christians or Republicans have to say. They frequently really piss me off, and in my opinion, justifiably so! But... I am willing to defend their right to have their say to the death, if necessary. It's a freedom that we enjoy that we cannot and MUST not ever give up! It has been my experience that certain groups of people in this country enjoy more freedom of expression than others do. Christians can say pretty much whatever they want to about anybody or anything, and not fear much in the way of consequences, if there are any at all. On the other hand, other groups such as atheists, if they dare to speak out just as passionately or publicly, often face significant backlashes for their comments and harsh criticism. It's not an even playing field at all. This country is heavily biased toward Christian religious belief, and it shows. Those of us who are not believers and who feel very differently about religion than our Christian friends do are not popular when we dare to speak out and have our say, and that's totally understandable. But our opinions matter too, and we should be just as free to express them as Christians are to express theirs. In a free country where the right to free speech is enjoyed, just about every religious or political or other view available on the planet should be welcomed in the marketplace of ideas, with the obvious exceptions of morally objectionable ideas (though Christians can talk all they want to about the morally reprehensible concept of Hell, so there is an exception for you) or criminal activities. The line has to be drawn somewhere, I guess. I have spent most of my life not being one of the popular people in the world, and at age 48, I'm used to it by now. And I am willing to stay unpopular and to freely express my unpopular views, regardless of the consequences, if that's what it takes to make this world a better place while I am here and hopefully even long after I am gone. I'm used to the consequences of expressing unpopular viewpoints by now, and though I sometimes get really upset about the very uneven playing field in this country as I did last night quite publicly, I'm willing to accept those very unfair consequences for having my say about religion. And I will rant about it occasionally because I am human too, and then move on with my efforts to make this world a better place for EVERYBODY. My 2 cents... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brother Jeff Posted August 29, 2014 Author Share Posted August 29, 2014 Maybe this will cheer you up, Brother Jeff. All praise be to the Holy Farter. Can I get a "Ramen!" OMG! I love the "Farting Preacher"! Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy! Glory! Robert Tilton is such an obvious charlatan and such a bad actor, yet he still manages to rake in millions from gullible religious believers. Gotta love him, though, when he lets one rip for JESUS! Glory! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aries256 Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 Just have to love the double standard and hypocrisy of xtians, vile scum they are. I mentioned my displeasure at the Oklahoma asshole saying I should be stoned for how I was born. But I'm a horrible monster if I say he's a vile moron who shouldn't be allowed to run for office making such horrible statements. They say I can't say that, that I have to respect his beliefs because it's in the buybull. Fuck the buybull and fuck xtianity. If I had made the same statement calling for the stoning of those who made the lifestyle choice of being a xtian, I'd be arrested. Big middle finger to xtianity, to xtians, to the buybull, to "god", the holy spirit and jesus. All the rights for them, and screw everyone else. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orbit Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 Speaking of freedom of expression, I just got an atom necklace that I take great joy in wearing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellinas Posted August 31, 2014 Share Posted August 31, 2014 I assume "atom necklace" means a pendant in the shape of a diagram of an atom... I also assume from Orbit's post that wearing a symbol of science is a touch... daring... You know, with all respect to those of you on the other side of the pond, I am increasingly glad to be living over here. The idea that a such a necklace would be a free speech issue, or that a person might be pilloried for speaking out against militant religiosity is pretty alien to me. Sometimes I find the posts on this site quite jaw-dropping when I realize the power of the religious lobby in the U.S. For years, I have openly worn a pagan pendant. Now, I'm not particularly wedded to any particular symbol. I take the view that symbols are just that, symbolic. They mean what the person using them wants them to mean. So, to some, I wear a bindrune that signifies the concept of "protection" and is connected to what some describe as the "Northern Tradition". To me, I wear a design that, with some imagination, can be seen as a highly minimalist representation of a caduceus, and links to Hermes. Despite my continued contact with a Christian group, this has never been an issue of "free speech" - in fact the only people who have ever asked me what it represents have not been connected with any church so far as I am aware. Nor is there any fear over a backlash - outside of the specific church group with which I am in contact - were the concept behind the design to become known. For those within that church, I'd simply tell them it's a design I happened to like. Brother Jeff - it seems to me to be no exaggeration to say your country needs people like you to speak out in defence of free speech and the individual's right to express him or her self as he/she sees fit. And whilst I am all for rational, calm discussion, sometimes, when faced with prejudice, the expression of anger can be the only way to get noticed. Well done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orbit Posted September 1, 2014 Share Posted September 1, 2014 I assume "atom necklace" means a pendant in the shape of a diagram of an atom... I also assume from Orbit's post that wearing a symbol of science is a touch... daring... You know, with all respect to those of you on the other side of the pond, I am increasingly glad to be living over here. The idea that a such a necklace would be a free speech issue, or that a person might be pilloried for speaking out against militant religiosity is pretty alien to me. Sometimes I find the posts on this site quite jaw-dropping when I realize the power of the religious lobby in the U.S. For years, I have openly worn a pagan pendant. Now, I'm not particularly wedded to any particular symbol. I take the view that symbols are just that, symbolic. They mean what the person using them wants them to mean. So, to some, I wear a bindrune that signifies the concept of "protection" and is connected to what some describe as the "Northern Tradition". To me, I wear a design that, with some imagination, can be seen as a highly minimalist representation of a caduceus, and links to Hermes. Despite my continued contact with a Christian group, this has never been an issue of "free speech" - in fact the only people who have ever asked me what it represents have not been connected with any church so far as I am aware. Nor is there any fear over a backlash - outside of the specific church group with which I am in contact - were the concept behind the design to become known. For those within that church, I'd simply tell them it's a design I happened to like. Brother Jeff - it seems to me to be no exaggeration to say your country needs people like you to speak out in defence of free speech and the individual's right to express him or her self as he/she sees fit. And whilst I am all for rational, calm discussion, sometimes, when faced with prejudice, the expression of anger can be the only way to get noticed. Well done. The atom is the symbol of American Atheists, so yes, it is a bit daring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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