freeThinkBham

Take a moment and ponder the last century of human history and you will hardly get five minutes into it without being completely overwhelmed by the achievements we have made as a species. Just think of how far we have come in the last one hundred years. Automobiles, aviation, relativity theory, wireless transmission, vacuum tubes, antibiotics, vaccines, space flight, microchips, computers, the internet, cell phones, bone marrow harvesting, respirators, microwaves, satellites, digital cameras, birth control, ipods, films, GPS devices, etc. In the last one hundred years we have doubled the life expectancy of a human being, significantly increased the infant morality rate, set a historical precedent for free enterprise, and fundamentally eroded equality barriers for women and black people. This is truly remarkable and I am proud to be alive and thriving in such a wonderful age of technological and social advancement.

Lest we congratulate ourselves too much it’s also important to thoughtfully consider and criticize the ways that we are stunted and morally retarded. It is amazing to me that in the age of reason we still haven’t made up our minds in our social discourse over whether or not homosexuals should have equal rights. Let’s consider some facts and some opinions.

Although the American Psychological Association makes it clear that the longstanding consensus of the behavioral and social sciences and the health and mental professions is that homosexuality is a normal and positive variation of human sexual orientation, some people still seem to think that it is a mental disorder. Although homosexuality can be observed in nature (lions, pigeons, giraffes, bison, elephants, gulls, bonobos, dragonflies, sheep, dolphin, just to name a few) some people still consider it a dysfunctional CHOICE. Although study after study shows that there is an equal level of commitment and relationship satisfaction amongst both gay and heterosexual couples, some people still think that homosexuals are incapable of having healthy and lasting relationships. Although studies show that children raised by same-sex couples are just as mentally healthy as other children, some people still think that homosexuals are not fit parents. Although studies show no correlation between homosexuality and child molestation, some people still consider homosexuals a threat and a danger to children.

Are we seeing a pattern of bigotry here, folks? Two years ago in the California state elections Proposition 8, a constitutional amendment seeking to restrict the definition of marriage to opposite-sex couples, actually PASSED effectively retarding the social progress of basic human rights to everyone that was ALREADY IN PLACE. In re Marriage Cases (passed in May 2008) held that “California legislative and initiative measures limiting marriage to opposite-sex couples violate the state constitutional rights of same-sex couples and may not be used to preclude same-sex couples from marrying.” This is a travesty and a huge setback for moral progress.

The National Organization for Marriage (NOM) is a non profit organization that seeks to prevent the legal recognition and acceptance of same-sex marriage. Their stated mission is to, “protect marriage and the faith communities that sustain it.” Maggie Gallagher, the group’s founder and original president, has stated that the LGBT community and specifically gay men are not capable of commiting to the “heteronormative” constraints of a monogamous relationship. Her bigotry is exposed when the above survey data indicates that between 40% – 60% of gay men are in romantic relationships and 18% – 28% of gay couples have lived together for over ten years.

NOM recently posted this video on youtube. It’s from a marriage rally in Albany, NY on July 17, 2010. This video claims that gay marriage protestors “bullied and intimidated” the mother and her kids at a peaceful marriage rally. Watch the video and then let’s talk for a minute about reality and false victimization.

Mother and Children Bullied

1. So, let me get this straight. Protestors simply stood silently in front of this woman and her family with rainbow colored flags and signs “about their agenda.” They participated in non-violent, perfectly constitutional protest. This is bullying and intimidation? Of course the cops were called. But after speaking briefly with the organizer of the pro-gay marriage protest they let them stay. Why? Because they have every fucking right to. You cannot call someone a bully for disagreeing with your bigotry. Got it?

2. Using her children in a ploy for false victimization is disgusting. Her kids have no idea why they are there and will, unfortunately, have to be TAUGHT to dehumanize gay people by their mother and her ilk.

3. She then asked the protestors to turn around so she could publically expose her breasts. When some of them refused she actually believed that this made her a victim. She goes into the public square and demands that everyone else give her privacy so she can expose herself? Stellar logic.

4. She claims that their goal was to intimidate her children. This is false. The goal was to consitutionally protest a meeting that propogates bigotry and the subversion of basic human rights. It’s funny because when I think about intimidation and bullying I tend to think about, oh I don’t know, the bible saying that homosexuals should be stoned to death. Maybe we just have subjective differences in our definition of bullying. I wonder if Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover, the eleven year old boy who hung himself last year because of anti-gay harrassment, would agree that standing quietly with rainbow umbrellas rises to the same level of intimidation as what led him to his death.

5. Here is the most frustrating thing for me. This woman is at a NOM rally which is all about protecting what? Oh, that’s right. Traditional marriage and family values. I’m no expert on nationality but it seems pretty clear to me that this woman has latino heritage. Two of her children look black and her husband is literally as white as they come. This is hardly a traditional family, wouldn’t you say? I mean. Go back just FIFTY YEARS and consider the implication of interracial marriage and interracial children. Just think about that for a second. By dehumanizing homosexuals this woman is putting herself at odds with the very progress of human rights and dignity that allow her the freedom to have her obviously untraditional family.

This is not progress. We are moving backwards on this issue. We cannot allow people like this one to create a culture of false victimization. This is not an isolated issue. Perry vs. Schwarzenegger, the federal court challenge to Proposition 8, implemented a block broadcast of the trial. Why? Because the publicity could potentially lead to the harrassment of proponents of Proposition 8 by those who don’t agree with them. Michael Hefflinger sarcastically notes:

Because, let’s face it: the straight folks who worked so hard and gave so much money to see Prop. 8 passed — and not gay and lesbian Californians — were the real victims during the campaign. It’s the straights who have suffered greatly since Prop. 8’s passage, and they are the ones who should be spared any further grief.

We can stop this madness. Bigotry will not survive in the marketplace of ideas, friends. Here’s to standing together for human dignity and the freedom and pursuit of happiness for all human beings.

In reason,

Clint Wells

Clint Wells Events, Living, Politics bigotry, homosexuality, NOM, Politics, religion

A few months ago, a billboard was put up on I-20 about 50 miles outside of Birmingham that said “Imagine No Religion.” Well needless to say, a lot of people got upset about it. Here’s a video of some local Christians praising Lamar’s decision not to display the “offensive” billboard.

That’s right, their argument is that the Atheist’s opinion is offensive to the Southern lifestyle. Heaven forbid a minority opinion be expressed in public. The majority shouldn’t have to stand for such dissension, right? Meanwhile, it’s not even Thanksgiving yet and Lamar has a billboard up that says “Jesus is the Reason for the Season” in one of the busiest parts in Downtown. On top of starting tree worship and gift giving, did Jesus also teach Americans how to eat in the new land?

admin Business, Living atheism, Lamar, religion

The Huffington Post published a great article about the recent case, 1568 Montgomery Hwy v. City of Hoover, aka Love Stuff v. Birmingham Prude Society, that upheld the ban on vibrators and dildos. It brings up a lot of good points and questions about religion bullying its way into the freedoms of individuals.

Here’s an excerpt.

So, what is it about the use of a vibrator or a dildo that affronts the “public morality”? Why is a person who uses such a device “immoral”? The answer, I submit, turns entirely on religion. The pivotal shift from the world of the classical Greeks to our contemporary world, in this respect, was the advent of Christianity, with its emphasis on sexual pleasure as sinful.
…
Of course, people have a right to believe whatever their religion commands. If they wish not to use a sex aid, or to be celibate, that’s their own business. But can this set of beliefs serve as a constitutionally permissible definition of the “public morality” in a nation dedicated to the separation of church and state?

Read the whole article here.

admin Living Love Stuff, religion, sex toys

I recently learned that Rogue Tavern will be screening a documentary called Collision about the topic “Is Christianity good for the world?” on Sunday, Nov 15. The film pits atheist intellectual, Christopher Hitchens, against Christian pastor and author, Douglas Wilson. I’ll have to admit, having never heard of the film, and seeing that it was being put on by Branch Life Church, I immediately assumed it would be sort of biased and edited so Christians could pat themselves on the back. Upon further investigation, that appears to not be the case. I mean, check out this preview! For the most part, it’s Hitchens just riffin’ with double-bass music in the background:

Pretty badass, right?

Well, good for the church that’s putting this on. Christians should allow their beliefs to be put on trial publicly from time to time. Since this is being screened by a church, I’m assuming most of the people there will be from the church and thus hooting and hollering for Wilson. However, it is a public screening, and I think it would be great if a lot of people that would be on Hitchens’ side of the debate would show up also. Perhaps afterwards, we could open up a civil discussion with the Christian viewers about topics like how non-theists can be moral and the importance of multilateralism in regards to spirituality that Hitchens is sure to bring up. This sort of dialog is the best way to make sure both parties really have a sound argument for their beliefs and could be a very positive thing for Birmingham.

FreeThinkBham.com hopes to see you there!

admin Events Branch Life Church, Christopher Hitchens, Douglas Wilson, religion, Rogue Tavern

On Saturday, I saw protestors in front of the New Woman All Women Health Care Clinic. These weren’t the kind of protestors that show big pictures of bloody blobs of cells, these were the kind that put red tape over their mouths that say “LIFE” and they just stand there and pray. I understand that these people aren’t necessarily right-denying bigots, they just happen to think life starts at conception (but not your birthday, I guess). However, I believe that–on top of being a little self-glorifying and well, annoying–as a protest, this style is very ineffective and is actually wasting the time of the protestors.

A good protest would portray a threat of power to actually change the system. These red tape prayers are not doing anything that could actually change the system that allows abortions to happen. They definitely aren’t offering an alternative to what to do with all unintended/unwanted pregnancies (Are they planning a magical giant orphanage colony in Australia?). I suppose at best, they could cause a little anxiety in people walking into the clinic, but they can’t even do that with efficacy because… well, their mouths are taped! So if they’re not doing anything to actually stop the system of abortion, and they’re not doing much to stop a particular abortion at that clinic, why are they spending their Saturdays with tape on their mouths? Apparently, the whole point of these “protests” is to just get in proximity of something they don’t agree with and pray that God will make it vanish from the earth. This would be like me standing in front of a particular McDonald’s chain with a sign that says “Don’t eat meat” and sending positive energy into the Universe hoping that the national franchise will suddenly stop serving meat. It’s just not going to work.

If the “tapers” truly believe that just prayer will achieve their goals, these people need to get a clue and pray on their own time and start doing something more constructive with their Saturdays. Abortions wouldn’t be needed if everyone had a good supply of birth control; why don’t they spend all afternoon handing out condoms? Oh, or I have another idea: if they’re so concerned with the “lives” of children, why don’t they go care for and help nurture a baby that WAS born, perhaps even an unintended child, who’s living a miserable life because the mother didn’t know how to take care of a baby and had one anyway… you know, the exact scenario that their protests are encouraging.

admin Living abortion, anti-choice, civil rights, LIFE, pro-choice, religion, women's health

***UPDATE*** (Nov 20th, 2009)
Artur Davis, after first voting for the Stupak amendment to the House health care bill, which restricts women’s reproductive rights (read what to do about it here), voted against the health care bill altogether. That’s just blatant disregard for the people of Alabama who voted him into the House of Representatives as a Democrat. I’m all for having him as our Governor and I know he’s probably just doing all this to get elected in Alabama, but how much is he going to have to change, and is it even worth it?

Rep. Artur Davis, gubernatorial candidate for Alabama, recently voted “No” on the Matthew Shepard Act which would expand the hate-crimes law to include crimes committed because of someone’s perceived gender or sexual orientation. Here’s what he had to say about his vote…

Two years ago, I voted for federal hate crimes legislation. Since casting that vote, a number of my constituents have made it very clear to me that they disagreed with this vote, and I have tried to weigh their arguments carefully.

Some of the objections have been based on distortions of what this bill actually does. Other objections have reflected nothing more than animosity toward some of the groups who would be covered. Candidly, I have not given a lot of weight to arguments based on groundless claims or fears. But as I have thought more deeply about this issue, there is an argument from my constituents that I have not been able to answer.

Some of my constituents ask why our federal laws should pick out some Americans for more protections than others. Some wonder why, in a culture that rejects violence against any human being, we should say that an attack on a black, or a woman, or a gay individual should be punished more severely than an attack on someone who happens to be a senior citizen, or a soldier, or a teacher. Others ask why some motives based on certain ideas should be punished by our criminal laws more aggressively than others.

The people raising these issues are in my opinion not bigoted people. They are Americans who are advancing fundamental questions about just what equal protection under the law should mean. After a lot of reflection, I have decided that I do not have good answers as to why our laws should not protect all of our people with the same force, and for that reason, I have changed my vote to a “no” on the federal hate crimes bill.

I think it’s obvious why all his constituents don’t support this act. We’re from a state where people take the Old Testament Bible a little too seriously, and use it to mask and fuel their bigotry. It’s sad that Davis is having to appease these irrational people with this vote but that doesn’t, however, excuse it.

This bill isn’t to give special treatment to people who are LGBT, it’s to make it more obvious that it is completely not acceptable to victimize them just as the original hate-crimes law came at a time when people needed reinforcement about how they should treat black people. If there wasn’t violent crime happening against gay people, there would be no need for this bill. Artur Davis should be EXPLAINING that to his constituents rather than appeasing them. Sanity is not statistical, and he shouldn’t have to vote for something wrong just because a majority of constituents think it’s right. However, if he actually, as he claims, doesn’t believe that gay people should be included in this law, then he is wrong and I really don’t know if I could vote for him.

admin Politics Artur Davis, civil rights, legislation, LGBT, religion

Christian churches were the main proponents of Dubya’s regime of war and planet-trashing. They’re also the main opponents of certain rights for people who are LGBT, immigrants, and women. And now, in Alabama, their mission is to stop gambling. Why do these churches–claiming to be centers of spirituality–think they are the final word on what is right and wrong?

Spirituality can obviously be attained anywhere. The other day while mountain biking, I was so focused on pedaling and steering and changing gears that my lower mind just tranced out and I started connecting to and “feeling” higher truths. It’s not that I was thinking any great thoughts, but I became solely focused and completely involved in very clear thoughts. These moments of tranced-out connection can happen to everyone at any time so I know you know what I’m talking about. To give these times of truth-connection a culturally pertinent name, I’ll call them “god moments.” A great song, sewing, an Obama speech, jogging, and yes, even church can give you these god moments.

Only in the church, however, are these god moments then linked to a moral system of right and wrong. I would argue that, conversely, more spirituality (which leads you away from your own ego and outside your small world) should lead to less absolute morality as you start getting a more mean (i.e. averaged, not hostile) view of existence as a whole. And i think this is where the church is failing the world, and themselves.

Everyone knows the Ethics 101 scenarios of shooting one man to save someone else from shooting 2 men that flip our morality on its head. And then there’s the people who oppose abortion but eat the meat of animals that have actually lived on this planet, or the vegetarian who eats plants that, you’ll agree if you’ve seen a venus fly trap, show arguably more consciousness than a human fetus, and so on and so on. Throughout the course of time, humans views of right and wrong have molded to help further our species and will continue to do so. Religion shoots itself in the foot by acting like its spirituality gives it the stronghold on absolute morality at that current time, only to have to go back every so often and admit that they were wrong then but NOW they have it right (e.g. slavery, the Inquisition, punishing sons for the crimes of the father, and women’s role in society). How long can this go on without people just completely giving up on it? They’ll soon find they can get their god moments anywhere and won’t need the church anymore.

All the church needs to do is accept that they have a successful and popular means for people to tap into the power of truth and forget all about trying to play the role of the moral superior. So by all means, sing and pray while we ALL weave our way through the labyrinth of right and wrong, and perhaps I’ll watch a Herzog film, go to a Hold Steady show… or just ride my bike.

admin Living civil rights, gambling, legislation, LGBT, religion

I mean, please! Why is this his thing? Does he think he’s some hero of an overwhelming Christian constituency that views gambling as evil? Other than this “inter-faith” mob that thinks gambling is a sin, I really don’t believe that many Christians or other religious people think it’s that wrong. They invest in the stock market, right? Thats the same thing. Do they drive around knowing that cops are probably in a high-speed chase after somebody who didn’t pay a speeding ticket? Lord knows that’s a gamble.

If we’re not buying the moral excuse for his hatred of Alabama gambling, then what’s the real reason? The standard formula for solving a political riddle is simply to look at who stands to benefit financially. In this case, it’s very obviously the casinos run by the Poarch Creek Natives or casinos in Mississippi. I don’t claim to know the financial connections between Riley and these casinos–although others say the connection is quite clear–but it just seems so obvious that I can’t figure out why he’s not being called out on it more. His feigned moral high-ground is just insulting.

admin Politics Bob Riley, gambling, religion

“Well children, now that we’ve heard about evolution from all these peer-reviewed scientists working from an ever-growing knowledge base of facts and discoveries, it’s time to turn to this other account of the origins of man… it comes from one book written thousands of years ago.”

That’s what State Rep. David Grimes and the Christian Coalition of Alabama are hoping to hear in Alabama classrooms in the future by promoting a new law in the state legislature.

How long must this go on? I have no problem with people having their own religion, but trying to have their completely unscientific ideas promoted in public classrooms that are supposed to be equipping our children for the future is just a bad idea. The Christian Coalition even went so far as to claim that the Shelby County Schools Superintendent was ignoring his duties and trying to “lobby to promote this ludicrous policy of promoting Darwinism” because he stated in a Alabama school superintendents meeting that the law was unnecessary.

At a time when so many other bills need to be passed in this state to catch up with the rest of modern society, I really just can’t believe people are promoting a bill that’s trying to put our state-taught science back in the Bronze Age.

admin Politics legislation, religion

Of course, Alabama is still well below the national average of 15% for people with no religious affiliations but 7% in 20 years is quite a jump. Interestingly, the ‘Nones’ are the only group to have grown in every state of the Union.

See the whole study

admin Living religion