Presentation - 11/10/11 'The Luzerne County Holiday Display Incident

I was invited to speak at PA Nonbelievers' 11/10/11 meeting in Lemoyne, PA.

In my presentation, "The Luzerne County Holiday Display Incident," I discussed the church/state battle I was involved with in 2009, the importance of secular activism, my hate mail, and much more.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the 'incident,' I filed a church/state complaint in 2009 regarding a religious holiday display at the Luzerne County, PA courthouse. I quickly became "the third most hated person in Luzerne County" (according to a local DJ), received a tremendous amount of hate mail from the community at large including persons whom I attended college and high school with, and ultimately was successful in upholding church/state separation.

Thanks so much to the receptive audience at to PA Nonbelievers for having me.

Video to come!

PowerPoint URL:
https://docs.google.com/present/edit?id=0AUrJ2NxBfCDbZGhzNjdrcmNfMGNxcnZwY2M2

Wall of Shame: Family Members #2

My Aunt Lori is such a 'loving Christian' [and so is my Aunt Carolann] About a month or so after she added me as a friend on Facebook, she responded with vitriol (presumably because she read something I wrote) on my Facebook wall and in Facebook messages. She thinks that I am still a Catholic [Apparently giving up candy for Lent, going to church, being an alter boy, being confirmed, etc makes someone a Catholic forever. While some Catholics may think this, it's quite absurd because one can't be both a Catholic and an atheist (one who lacks belief in any gods], threatens me with Hell, am dishonest about my beliefs, is lying about what my family members are saying, is now calling family members to "talk to them about me," says that I will turn out to be a nothing [like my father, of course, because she also is bashing him for some reason and bringing him into this].

Some information is blotted out above. My aunt claimed that I was saying bad things about my mother and her boyfriend online (which led to my mother calling my phone to scream and cry in on a voicemail message). I later had to explain that I didn't say any of these things after some unneeded major drama. My aunt also claims that my "Aunt Dee" (I won't use her name here) is saying bad things about me which is false because I am on very good terms with "Aunt Dee."

It's obviously the case that not all religious people are like this, but I would find it extremely hard to believe that her religious ideas are not the cause of this nonsense (specially because she brings this into the discussion). The point of this post, really, is to show how harmful religious beliefs can be - to lead family members such as my Aunt Lori to send me nonsense and try to make my life worse.

Atheists need to come out if they can so that this nonsense is ebbed - help to end the marginalization, stigmatization, and invisibility of atheists. Theists, too, need to speak up in their own communities when they hear atheist-bashing language or other wild misconceptions.

I eventually blocked my aunt after she ceased to actually defend her beliefs and failed to respond to anything anyone was saying. Spew hate, talk nonsense...why not? I would think that she would follow 1 Peter 3:15 if she believes "the bible is from god above," but I suppose not.

Hate Mail Proves My Point

My blog and Facebook profile typically have lively positive discussion that is engaging, but I get quite a large deal of hate mail. As always, I welcome discussion, but little discussion is had when people offer personal attacks, wish that someone would shoot me, and tell me to come to a dorm room so "my fat face can get fucked up [for Jesus]." Of course not all theists are like this, but many of these people are indeed your "average Joe moderates." These are "regular, everyday people" who aren't the fundamentalists on TV that so many put all the blame on. These people are representing their religion (they are members of it, of course) with nothing but hate. And what, you ask, provokes such a visceral response? Perhaps you would expect this kind of stuff to be said to corrupt judges, rapists, or child molesters. Perhaps you would expect the most hated people to be the criminals in society. Nope. I'm the third most hated person in Luzerne County because I am publicly open and active about my skepticism and I filed a complaint against an illegal nativity scene that even courthouse officials admitted was wrong.

Recently, I got this nonsense from an anonymous blogger who hasn't read much of anything I have said, but took the time to type this:

Do you have a life or do you just think about this shit all day long?

I think people like you and religious watchdog groups are fucking pathetic. Get a life and concentrate on something important. You are actually infringing on people's First Amendment rights to practice religion by opening your mouth. I don't understand why you focus on this stuff so much. Maybe if you got a real job, you wouldn't have to ask for donations on your blog.

I know that by commenting this I will only fuel your fire of how people hate you. "I'm the most hated person in Wilkes Barre." that was you once quoted in the newspaper after you called the ACLU about the nativity scene. I think you should leave the elderly alone because they love religion and let them have their nativity. I saw a older woman cry outside the courthouse after they took down the nativity.

By expressing that I know this will only fuel your fire, I am no longer going to not say how I feel. You are ridiculous. You will never be famous only infamous and nothing is good about that. Even Michael Moore listens to the other side of the story, you just critcize.

I will end with this. May God Bless You and Keep You.

I followed-up with this simple response:

I really love people like you, previous poster. Instead of offering any argument on any of my 100+ blog posts, you simply send hate and offer personal attacks. Your fallacious assumption that I don't have a life is hilarious because I'm a fourth year college student, have two jobs, am quite involved with many activities and leadership roles.

How, exactly, are I depriving people of the freedom to worship by arguing that their religious ideas are false?

I never said that I was the most hated person I Wilkes-Barre. KRZ DJ Jumpin' Jeff Walker called me the third most hated person in Luzerne County. I wear this as a great badge of honor because it proves my point on so many levels. This demonstrates that religion is divisive as I have argued it is, moderates can be hateful people and part of the problem, people can turn their brains off when religion is involved, people lack critical thinking skills, and religion can do a great deal of harm. The nativity issue was a legal one, not a religious one. The arguments were and still are on my side and the courthouse officials even admitted they were wrong!

What do you mean "Leave the elderly alone?" All I am doing is upholding the law and voicing my opinions in the media, online, etc. I'm not knocking on doors handing out papers to people or anything like that. How can a dissenting opinion that is civil bother people so much if their beliefs are so substantiated, anyway? They should follow the advice in the Bible (1 Peter 3:15) and give arguments for their beliefs. How can a dissenter be such a bother in the face of God, if he exists?

I welcome disagreement on my blog, on my profile, and everywhere. If you don't agree, say so and dictate why. We can have a conversation instead of offering personal attacks, non-sequiters, etc.

It's also silly to suggest that I don't listen to the other side of the story because I listen (and post) debates from "the other side" and go to various religiously-themed events, and discuss these matters with other people frequently.

Thanks for brightening my day and proving my point!

I've previously argued that religion is divisive. Since I've been an atheist, I've lost friends [who really weren't my friends], have been lambasted by family members, and have received the ire of an entire county to become the "third most hated person in Luzerne County." First, as many have suggested, I did not bring this upon myself and it's not my fault. My former friends and family were the ones to break the ties and that is solely on them. Their actions led to the termination of those relationships. If you're going to cease talking to me because of a disagreement about politics and religion, there's a serious problem and something is wrong with the picture. What, besides religion... crime, substance abuse, and similar directly harmful stuff can possibly cause so many ties of friends and family to be severed? It's odd to put religion next to crime and drugs, but it is what it is.

I've previously argued that religion can greatly cloud thinking and impair judgment. It's quite easy to see that when people aren't listening to arguments and just have their ears covered. It's quite easy to see that when people ignore objections and continue to "believe what they want to believe." It's quite easy to see that, no matter what counter-evidence is presented, cognitive dissonance can be regulated to the point of double think and the magic answer of "God is mysterious and we can't fully understand him" when excuses would never be made elsewhere.

While I feel that hate mail is very entertaining, it proves my point. Let's tone down the hate, have an actual discussion, and not see each other as enemies because we disagree (unless, of course, there is more than a disagreement and the person is committing crimes against humanity).

Hate Mail - Haiti LTE

After publishing my recent letter to the editor regarding the local church sending stained glass windows and chandeliers to a church in Haiti, I got some hate mail. I love when people prove my point that religion is very harmful and can warp moral priorities. Sometimes, I don't have to go any further than my inbox!

To The Atheist:

One thing you don't understand about donation is that most of that money is still in your government. When they pledge a fund does not mean they pay it to the country. They use those funds to cover payroll and other cost for personnel living in that country. The hospital boat that's in Haiti is a perfect example of that. You think every one on that boat is working for free. You think the food,supplies and all other cost are free. This is how your government spends money that they pledge to other countries. Most of the countries who pledge have not yet given a dime to Haiti, because they claim they don't trust the Haitian government and I agree with them to some extent. Please don't blame people who are trying to send religious statues for the people. Maybe faith is the only thing they can rely on. Your penny may not save their lives at the end, God will decide.

My Response:

"One thing you don't understand about donation is that most of that money is still in your government. When they pledge a fund does not mean they pay it to the country. They use those funds to cover payroll and other cost for personnel living in that country."

Let's not give money because maybe it won't ALL get there? Of course there are administrative costs and such, but if you donate it to a good charity, the money gets maximized and as much as possible is given to the people. Let's say 90% of the money goes to people. Great, this is still better than chandeliers and stained glass going to a church. I'm sure that you wouldn't cease giving to charities here in the US because not all of the money would go to people. If everyone had this mindset, no one would give.

According to this charity, [http://givingaid.richarddawkins.net/] "every penny" goes to Doctors Without Boarders.

"The hospital boat that's in Haiti is a perfect example of that. You think every one on that boat is working for free. You think the food,supplies and all other cost are free. "

I never made any of these claims.

"This is how your government spends money that they pledge to other countries. Most of the countries who pledge have not yet given a dime to Haiti, because they claim they don't trust the Haitian government and I agree with them to some extent."

I'm not talking about giving to the Haitian government. I'm suggesting giving to organizations within Haiti.

"Please don't blame people who are trying to send religious statues for the people. Maybe faith is the only thing they can rely on."

They can have faith without statues, stained glass, and chandeliers. I'm sure, though, that they can rely on family, friends, drinking water, food, medicine, etc. All of these things are infinitely more important. In my letter, I also suggested that they donate money and then build a modest church.

How is God reliable, anyway, when he hasn't even been demonstrated to exist? ...and if he does exist, an all-loving God certainly wouldn't stand by and watch Haiti be devastated by an earthquake/design a universe with an earthquake.

"Your penny may not save their lives at the end, God will decide."

This is a big problem with your religious views. What if there is no "end" where "god will decide?" We need to focus on the certain life that we have now instead of focusing on the next possible life that is very improbable.

More Hate From King's Students

I love hate mail from King's College students. It's great for blog fodder, entertainment, and proves many of my points that I put forth in my blog posts. Instead of actually responding to arguments, some people will just levy personal attacks [and ignore what I say].

I find it funny that people say "no one is impressed when you have a blog" when I constantly have people commenting and discussing my posts saying things like "great job," "you write really well," etc. I'm not huge by any means, but my blog is getting a huge amount of traffic and it's quite fun. I enjoy writing and I enjoy having others interact with my ideas. People obviously are impressed by my blog.

I find it funny that people think I am arrogant when I constantly post things like "I'll change any and all of my beliefs provided new evidence and argument comes in." I hate the notion of absolute certainty and would never say that I am absolutely certain on anything. I always welcome people to disagree with me.

I still enjoy the argument of "it doesn't hurt anyone" being a justification to leave things alone. Many violations of the law certainly don't physically harm anyone, but are violations regardless. Should we leave things alone just because no one is harmed? I think not. Separation of church and state is a very important issue that people should support.

I do wear my accomplishments as badges of honor; my actions made a difference in this community and I was able to voice my opinion in a very public forum. I endured the criticism, wasn't wavered by the threats, and didn't shut up.

I don't expect anyone to care whether or not I call in the Corbett show. I enjoy the radio show and like participating in discussion.

I'm not sure what the Atheist tonight show is...

I do enjoy the publicity and attention. It's nice to be heard. Publicity doesn't drive my actions, though. I stand up for just causes and fight for what is right regardless of what other people think. I ask questions, challenge that which is supposed to be unchallengeable, and make people think.

I'm not harming anyone by any means...I'm simply asking questions, stirring the pot, and trying to make a difference in this world. People are thinking. People are reading arguments that they haven't heard before. More people are becoming non-religious. People are coming out of the "atheist closet" and are making a different. The tides are turning.

The purpose of this blog is to clear up common misconceptions about commonly held beliefs (religious and others) to make people think, sharpen critical thinking skills, and for me to keep a log of my thoughts. Even moderate theists enjoy my blog. If they disagree, they can post (hopefully good arguments) and we can discuss the issues at hand. People can also read what I have to say and might possibly reconsider opinions. Knowledge is power.

Though my blog and accomplishments may impress people, that's not the main goal here. If that's a by-product of this blog and my actions, so be it.

Hate Mail From a "Semi-Pro?" Wrestler

Here's some recent hate mail and my response. This one is quite entertaining and quite different. The mailer is indented while my responses are not. Commentary is in italics.

Let's be clear about a few things.

1) You're not an atheist; you're an attention whore- Your definition of "activist" is very concerning. Who exactly are you speaking for? Other atheists? Funny how in the months since your last public panty dance, not a single person has come forward to support you in any meaningful way. This is probably due to the fact that your logic is flawed, your actions are mean-spirited and spiteful, and that your personality detracts from any "cause" you may be championing.

2) You are much too lazy to be an activist- In all these months since you began spewing your nonsense, have you taken any time at all to serve your community or do something good? (*Please don't respond with "Yes, I got some Christmas decorations taken down for a day".*) You're somewhat notable in our area as a rabble rouser and trouble maker....but as far as being an actual benefit to the community, you are far from that. There are actual issues out there...and not even far away. St. Vincent's Soup Kitchen is right around the corner from where you live....I wonder if you can see it from your ivory tower?

3) You're a hypocrite- I read your post bashing the psychic who failed to answer your challenge. I DISTINCTLY remember going on the radio and challenging you at a charity event this past January benefiting a family who fell victim to a fire. This event could have used your notoriety to help a family in need...and apparently my challenge fell on deaf ears. Funny how you'll throw that in someone's face while conveniently forgetting your own past. This makes you a hypocrite, dear boy, no matter how much you hate it.

(I mailed a letter to the editor of the local newspapers here that was in no way "bashing" soon after someone enlisted the help of a psychic. I was also challenged to a professional wrestling match that I did respond to, but got no response. I was never directly contacted and only found out about this through google picking up my name in search engines. See Below.)

4) I know why you don't believe in God; because your parents failed you. That obviously makes you very angry, and you want the community to pay by proxy. Your whining approach to handling the drama you created at Christmastime was very telling; tantamount to a child throwing a tantrum in a store. And, just like a child, as soon as a parent (or, in this case, your community) spanked and scolded you, you ran off and laid low...afraid to even poke your head out. You will learn very early on in childhood development about the child testing the parents. You started trouble because you craved attention and knew people would be upset with you for attacking them at the holidays. You wanted attention of any sort and you got it. But, once you got it, you were unable to do anything useful with it. This is DIRECTLY reflective of your relationship with your parents, and it hardly takes a therapist to identify it.

In short, nothing you will ever say will matter in the least, because you lack the courage to follow your convictions past a typing fit. If you feel strongly that there is no God, go with it. Hell, I find dealing with you pretty convincing proof that no such thing as "intelligent design" exists. That does not change the fact, however, that you are just another useless bump on the log of social ignorance. I sincerely hope you'll figure things out and, to some extent, grow up and be an asset to your community.

In all seriousness, Justin, I strongly feel that you are better than all of this. You have the passion, that's obvious. Now channel it in a productive direction, and try to stir the pot less. These people you attack are just that....people. They deserve as much respect as you...and you forget that. Do better.

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Justin Vacula June 12 at 4:08am

" not a single person has come forward to support you in any meaningful way."

Look on my blog and see friendly and supportive comments. Look at various blogs and see comments. Look at comments from the CV and TL articles that are supportive. The prime supporter was Corbett on his show, of course...he went for about an entire week in full support of me. A local author, Kenny Luck, is going to release a book very soon about the political activities in Luzerne County....he contacted me for an interview and I accepted....and this is just the tip of the iceburg. Obvious other support came from members of The Atheist Experience TV show that featured me...after being on the show I recieved tons of friend requests, people going on the air, etc. In December, the organization in belong to, the NEPA Freethought Society, fully supported me.....


" This is probably due to the fact that your logic is flawed, your actions are mean-spirited and spiteful, and that your personality detracts from any "cause" you may be championing. "

How is my logic flawed? The officials at the courthouse even agreed that they were wrong. Deluca, in an interview with Corbett that is still on WILK News Radio archives agrees with me.

"You are much too lazy to be an activist- In all these months since you began spewing your nonsense, have you taken any time at all to serve your community or do something good?"

My group is currently working on a support program for prisoners as an alternative to religion. My group participated in an Autism relay benefit (the pics are on our main page)...... The discussion alone is a great benefit to many questioning individuals, non-theists, etc. I constantly get "Hey I really like what you're doing..." from many people.

"You're a hypocrite- I read your post bashing the psychic who failed to answer your challenge."

Bashing is a very charged word here. I called her out and said that there is no good reason to accept her claims unless she submits to a test of her abilities. She failed to respond as many psychics often do. James Randi's challenge is still active. She is playing on the emotions of various people, offering false hope, and taking peoples' money. Until she demonstrates abilities, there is no good reason to accept her claims.

"I DISTINCTLY remember going on the radio and challenging you at a charity event this past January benefiting a family who fell victim to a fire. This event could have used your notoriety to help a family in need...and apparently my challenge fell on deaf ears."

I actually e-mailed the e-mail posted on the blog of Anthracite Wrestling

Sent: Monday, December 28, 2009 11:15 PM
To:
anthraciteprofessionalwrestling@yahoo.com
So, today I found out that I was challenged by a wrestler from your organization.

Can you tell me more information about this challenge?

I am, by no means, a wrestler of any sorts.

Josh Solarczyk [anthraciteprofessionalwrestling@yahoo.com]
Sent: Wednesday, January 20, 2010 8:07 AM
To:
Vacula, Justin
Justin:

I have no idea what you are talking about. I am the promoter/owner of APWA. I do not have exclusive rights to any one wrestler who wrestles for me. If someone has challenged you, they are not acting on my behalf or APWA's behalf, but on there own behalf.

Thanks
Manslaughter

I even posted about this on my Facebook (but that's far back in the archive.

I went on the Corbett show and even discussed this...he said that the challenge was not credible and that I shouldn't accept it and I told him that I would do it. The wrestling organization should have contacted me directly, but I only heard about the challenge because of a Google search on my name.

" I know why you don't believe in God; because your parents failed you. That obviously makes you very angry, and you want the community to pay by proxy. "

This is ridiculous...and I've already addressed this claim. Parenting has nothing to do with this.

Was it I who caused the "drama" or the people getting angry and sending me hate mail? What about the people yelling on TV and holding Jesuses up early in the morning...you can see my hate mail on my blog. The issue was a simple legal issue. I address various other claims here:http://greenatheist.blogspot.com/2009/12/response-to-public.html

"In short, nothing you will ever say will matter in the least, because you lack the courage to follow your convictions past a typing fit."

Typing fit? I agreed to interviews on various mediums of media and appeared in the newspaper. I challenge religion at my CATHOLIC college and gave various presentations about why Christianity is false and how religion is harmful to society in my Catholicism class. I've written essays for classes about arguments about gods for philosophy....

People do care what I have to say...various events at King's College welcomed me to discuss atheism.

"you are just another useless bump on the log of social ignorance. " Comments like these aren't arguments, but rather personal attacks that are unwarranted...just like the parenting comments.

"These people you attack are just that....people. They deserve as much respect as you"

Who am I "attacking?" I'm questioning ideas and asking why people believe what they believe.


I think this sums up most of everything. You can find more on my blog that I linked.

Also: I added you as a friend on Facebook. You can feel free to post this on my wall (or anything else for that matter) and you'll see many of my supporters that you think I don't have. My friends and I are always up for productive discussion and debate.

-------

I won't be adding you anytime soon, bud. Nothing for nothing, but I'd be terribly embarrassed to have you on my list. I do appreciate you taking so much time in writing TWO lengthy, rambling, and self-promoting messages. It's glad to see that my indulging your need for attention has produced some creativity.

So thank you for the offer, but you and the rest of the D&D crowd will just have to play "Gotcha Games" and put on eyeliner without me.

It's quite funny when people try to make fun of D&D players because they often don't know what D&D even is. We don't wear eyeliner...

Justin Vacula June 12 at 7:25am

It's very unfortunate that you won't take me up on the offer to add me and post your arguments on my wall. If you are so sure of your position that I have no supporters and that your arguments are good ones, you should have no problem posting them on my wall. Also, the idea that "I won't add you as a friend because I'd be embarrassed to have on my list" seems very evasive. I have many Facebook friends who are often embarrassing because they post stupid stuff about politics, make poor arguments, etc. A Facebook friend is by no means a person you are on very good terms with or something similar. I've friended people who've challenged my positions and during December many people friended me to debate on my wall.

I gave sufficient and lengthy rebuttals to all of your claims and the "challenge" I proposed on the last message I sent would really put your claims to the test. You'll certainly see all of my supporters and you'll get to debate with us.

My messages where not "needing attention"...besides, what attention is there if I'm simply responding to your claims and defending myself. If someone told you that your philosophical positions are fundamentally based on "hating your parents" or something similar and you give a rebuttal, is this "needing attention" and "self-promotion?"

My D&D crowd doesn't out eyeliner on or dress up at all. The people in my group don't like LARPing at all.

You ought to do a bit of homework before you make many of these claims. I don't expect everyone to read everything in my blog before making arguments about me and my position, but many things you said have been thoroughly debunked by me.

If I'm going to respond to your arguments and you have nothing to say to that, it's as good as giving up your argument and saying "you win," unless, of course, you disagree and it's an opinion.

Many claims you have made are easily debunked and can be dismissed quite handily (as I did). When you make assertions like "this is based on hating your parents," (or mostly any other claim) you need some evidence, argument, and reason to support the claim.

----

Nah, just piss off. I'm bored with you already.

Are Atheists Bad for Challenging Beliefs and Asking Questions?

Apparently, when you have no good arguments for your god, the next logical alternative is to attack the person who challenges your beliefs, make baseless assertions, and make demeaning statements. Here's one for the Hall of Shame.

From a recent discussion in Facebook....
(Click the image to enlarge it)





I respond....

"If you really think you are so wonderful, why does everyone talk about you behind your back? Why do you have a reputation for being a cocky SOB? I CAN'T GO INTO THE LIBRARY WITHOUT HEARING ABOUT HOW BIG OF A DICK AND A JERK YOU ARE TO PEOPLE."

Well, I can't control what people think and how biased people are. People can read what I have to say on my blog, on my Facebook, have conversations with me face-to-face, etc, but they hardly ever do. Almost every theist I chat with face-to-face walks away not in rage, but in understanding. I'm friends with many theists here and work with theists - we share mutual respect. If you look at my hate mail, you see nothing but personal attacks, misrepresentation of my positions, and nothing but rude comments. Where am I rude to people? Where am I sending hate mail? I just have conversations, challenge beliefs, and critically examine the issues at hand.

If I'm a dick for challenging beliefs, that's not my problem, but the problem of the people who are being challenged. If people can't take criticism and thought provoking discussion of ideas, they might as well just crawl in a cave and just stay there.

I'd like to see one piece of physical evidence attesting to me being a dick to people, sending nasty messages, etc. You ...but I can show you several hate mails from students here at King's College. I hardly, if ever, lose my cool in discussions. I may have been a bit mean once before when people threatened my life, incited violence against me, called for people to attack me, etc, but that's almost certainly warranted and excusable.

A very low amount of actual discussion takes place from the "haters." Just the other day, someone who was pissed with me apologized to me online and I accepted the apology:

"So, I know I've been reading what you have been saying the wrong way, but after talking to one of my professors today, I've came to realize that I shouldn't have, and I'm sorry.

Most of what you post is very interesting to me, as I have a strong love for philosophy. You actually remind me of Socrates actually. Mostly because you seem to tell people what they don't want to hear.

I'd like to hear what you have to say, so if you ever want to get a coffee or something and chat I'm all ears."

If people have a problem, they should could to me, post on my blog, etc, instead of running around misrepresenting me.

-----

" If you believe that there is no proof for God, that's your business, but what we believe is none of your business."

So, do you think that we should stop all philosophy, critical thinking, and halt any societal change? Beliefs are often not private matters...they effect public policy, education, science, and almost everything in the world.

Beliefs certainly do effect me when people want to kill me because I disagree with them.

Beliefs certainly do effect me when I see a tremendous amount of unneeded suffering in the world because of a religious ideology.

Beliefs do effect me when friends are victimized by religious thoughts.

Beliefs effect me when my aunt disowns me because I'm not a Christian.

Beliefs effect society when children are taught not to listen to science and accept what the Bible says instead.

Beliefs effect society when we funnel money into abstinence-only education and forgo safe sex education. The rate of STDs in America is about 800x that in France.

We should challenge beliefs that are seemingly held for no good reason and are harmful. Psychics, for example, prey on the emotions of people who lose children and are very emotionally weak - individuals pay out thousands of dollars to scam artists. We should challenge psychics, call them out, and advocate critical thinking. I recently did this in two letters to the editor in local newspapers, online, and personally in sending a message to the psychic. Am I a bad person for doing this?

If your beliefs are so strong and true, why should me questioning them be so much of a big deal? You should be able to defend your faith as the bible suggests or just not worry about opposition.

If someone challenges what I accept as being true, I don't threaten people, hate people, call for violence, etc. I have critical discussion with the individuals and give my side of the story. I'm not personally threatened or offended by people who disagree with me, nor do I hate people who I disagree with.

----

"What if we don't want to be "helped"? What if we don't want to succumb to your "correct" way of thinking? We are content with what we believe and who we have in our life. That's what matters. "

Great, if you don't want to listen to what I have to say, don't. If you don't want to think about your beliefs and be self-reflective, don't. Don't visit my blog, don't visit my profile, don't respond to my messages, and stop questioning.

Personally, I feel that the truth and reality matters more than comfort or beliefs, but if you disagree, then simply disagree and don't question your beliefs.

----

" If you have to list your good characteristics in a list, you must be trying to rationalize and prove to other people that you are a good person, because we won't believe it to begin with."

Well, it seems that you're making me out to be a bad person, so I offered a rebuttal to the claim. If someone says that you are a bad person, wouldn't you say, "well, I'm not because..."

Anyway, how does it logically follow that since a person lists good characteristics he/she is rationalizing? Is this the attitude we should take when we meet new people?

------

There is more to life than that. There's more to life than sitting behind a computer desk searching random articles and trying to convince people that Atheism is the only logical possibility out there.

I don't only let atheism define me, but it is a big deal. Besides matters of religion, I read books, play D&D, go to college, have a job, have friends, play Scrabble, go to community events, etc.

I also don't say that atheism is the only logical possibility out there. Non-theistic Buddhism, Humanistic Judaism, Pastafarianism, Humanistic Christianity, Deism (with one qualm), Agnosticism, Apathetic, Secular Humanism, Skepticism, and many other choices are viable options, I think. I just don't think that theism is a logical possibility and have various arguments for why it is not. If you don't agree, so be it.

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"You have potential to have people respect you, honestly consider you to be a great person, and what do you do with that potential? You offend the crap out of pretty much every Christian you come in contact with.... I pity you, really I do. And I hope for your sake you can look past atheism as a crutch and discover who you truly are."

If I'm going to be a bad person for questioning beliefs and inspiring people to think critically, I guess I'll be a bad person. If people are "offended" by my questions and my critical examination of religion, that's on them. I could claim offense at long dirty fingernails of males, gangster rap, baggy pants, the republican party, and various other things, but does this warrant me complaining about the people and saying that they offend me even if they don't try to?

Asking questions and prompting people to think, apparently, is a horrible thing. We should stop philosophy, psychology, all questions of others' ideas, movie reviews, book reviews, disagreements about sports teams, opinion polls, popularity contests, King's Idol, all satire, all comedy, and just sit in public square holding hands followed by crawling into caves and vow to never critically examine anything, disagree with anyone, or raise valid questions about the world.

If people can't take valid and charitable criticism of IDEAS, that's too bad for them. Ideas don't deserve respect and religion or anything else shouldn't be above criticism. We should question everything, critically examine everything worth examining, and be informed citizens of the world.


Update: After this post, I was de-friended and my posts were deleted. So much for discussion.

Threats from a King's College student

Some theists are so dishonest and unable to have a discussion and often resort to threats:

More Ignorance from December

Here are comments from newspaper articles. Unfortunately, many of the articles are archived, thus the comments are not accessible.

Hate Mail Montage from December!

During December of 2009, I filed a complaint about an unconstitutional religious display at the Luzerne County Courthouse - this letter was sent.

The nativity scene and menorah were taken down along with the snowman behind the tree as evidenced in this press release. Because of this, I received a great deal of hate mail, hate, threats, etc from residents of Luzerne County.

If you'd like to read all of the media coverage including newspaper articles, television appearances and stories, and everything else, feel free to browse through my "December 2009" section of my blog.

I've been putting off posting all of the hate mail from my King's inbox...I now am finally posting it. This isn't everything negative, but it is a great deal of it. There are still archived comments in articles to post, but I'll get to that later.

After this experience, a person can not tell me that religious moderates are not bad people, religion doesn't cause people to behave poorly, religion is not dangerous, etc.

You can click the images to view them in a full-screen mode.

Enjoy!