Religion is becoming increasingly passe, and laughable according to liberal elites, who are bound and determined to drill into our heads, and especially into our children’s heads, that there is no God.
There have been a whole slew of anti-Religious books of late: God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything, by Christopher Hitchens, The God Delusion, by Richard Dawkins, God: The Failed Hypothesis, How Science Shows That God Does Not Exist, by Victor J Stenger, Letter To A Christian Nation, by Sam Harris, and Atheist Universe: The Thinking Person’s Answer to Christian Fundamentalism, by David Mills.
Whew! They’re getting downright evangelistic in their zeal to spread the atheist word. I get the feeling that they’re attempting some kind of Atheistic juggernaut.
At least a couple of the books seem to focus on Christianity, just judging from the titles, which doesn’t surprise me, because I’ve been sensing a growing amount of vitriol towards Christians, in particular, by leftists. But I haven’t read them, and I won’t read them, because they don’t interest me. What interests me, is that these people feel the need to write these books.
And now, we have a new Documentary in the works by noted atheist, Bill Maher, which will show us all, how stupid, crazy, and dangerous, believing in God is.
“Religulous” (as in ridiculous) will attempt to poke fun at what Maher feels is the absurdity and inherently comical nature of most organized religions. “I think it’s going to release a great torrent of energy,” Maher says.
Charming, no?
Bill Maher does not want a “person of faith” in the White House.
I, on the other hand, just want a conservative in the White House. If the most conservative nominee happens to be an atheist, so be it. I will vote for him.
But I’m the fundamentalist because I’m a devout Catholic.
You can see Maher talking about the film on Larry King, here.
An excellent essay on the Hitchens book, here.
H/T: Patty Ann
Nice Deb 
I have little patience or tolerance for “evangelical” atheists/agnostics. I find them to be quite ridiculously idiotic, far more than the idiocy or stupidity they project onto religious people.
Granted, the realm and history is not spotless, but I firmly believe that ideologies cause more war and suffering than anything. Some ideologies are religious (Islamist militancy), some are quasi-religious (some sects of Communism), some are independent of religion (nationalism, “ethnicalism”).
More people have died in the name of the proletariat and the working class than for God or whatever religious symbol.
The devotion payed by many atheists and agnostics to science is quasi-religious.
The proverb says: People in glass houses ought not to throw stones. The Lord tells us to mind the beam in our eye before obsessing on our brother’s eye’s mote. Evangelistic atheists/agnostics should follow these sage advices.
I wonder how such atheists/agnostics will react to having their religious aspects (and, especially, extraordinary religious zeal) pointed out to them.
One of the major problems of the right wing of American politics is the uneasy relationship between religious conservatives (who want their values legislated) and libertarians (for whom religion and values are a private matter). But I have always admired how libertarian atheists and agnostics — such as Ace, Jeff Goldstein, and WickedPinto — get along with us religious types.
Regarding the Left an Reigt divide: I am dismayed by how religious activism for Leftist causes (anti-war, welfare, illegal immigration, and so on) are applauded and lauded by the Left, but when there is religious activism for Rightist causes (national security, marriage, pro-life, values) suddenly the Left remembers the separation of Church and State and how evil they think religious involvement is (and how evil religious people are).
Whatever suits their purposes.
Nevertheless, I am getting very, very weary of the characterization of religious people as idiotic, illiterate, gullible, stupid, ignorant, parroting hicks.
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“I am dismayed by how religious activism for Leftist causes (anti-war, welfare, illegal immigration, and so on) are applauded and lauded by the Left,”
Oh, that is a very good point, that is!
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With the exception of Hitchens, most atheists attack only Christians. Somehow, fundamentalist muslims evade scrutiny.
Also, I love how Maher, Jon Stewart, Colbert and the like can put out viciously partisan films and pieces that are political in nature, yet when they receive criticism for their work, they retreat back to the “But I’m just a comedian” line.
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That’s why I can tolerate Hitchens, but have no use for the others. He’s at least consistant.
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Also, I love how Maher, Jon Stewart, Colbert and the like can put out viciously partisan films and pieces that are political in nature, yet when they receive criticism for their work, they retreat back to the “But I’m just a comedian” line.
Good point. It would be refreshingly honest if someone like Bill O’Reilly or Rush Limbaugh came out and admitted that they were just comedians as well.
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great point, spunko.
Oh. Wait. I’m sorry, I mean, you’re an idiot. Yeah, that’s it.
The point that eddiebear is making is that Rush, et. al, freely admit that they are partisans. The others (Maher, Stewart, Colbert) don’t seem to have the courage to admit to their biases or defend their positions when someone calls them on them. They simply fall into the “Hey, don’t attack me. I’m just a dopey comedian.” and then try to ridicule the critics because they are arguing with a dopey comedian.
At least Rush and O’Reilly stand up for their beliefs and are willing and able to debate and defend them.
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>>I, on the other hand, just want a conservative in the White House. If the most conservative nominee happens to be an atheist, so be it. I will vote for him.
Well bless your little heart. As a devout agnostic ( I have no idea if there is a God and it doesn’t influence my politics accept to be very afraid of anyone who so devout in their belief that it becomes their lodestar) I welcome religious types who get that there is a difference between politics and religion.
Render unto Caesar and all that.
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JackStraw!!!! I have missed you!
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Mushiloon-
What do you make of Pakistan releasing Mohammed Naeem Noor Khan? It seems Pakistan’s idea of negotiation is to cede more and more to the jihadists.
It appears to be getting more and more ominous to me.
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The Taliban recently said they will unconditionally release 14 members of the Pakistani armed services, whom they have held captive. (Ostensibly, this is a result of the recent jirga.) I would not be surprised if the military government makes overtures to the terrorists to win their favor and, thereby, make agreements or concessions.
Unfortunately, it won’t work. The military government may give the terrorists some things they want, and in the end the terrorists will find some excuse to refuse to hold up their part of the bargain.
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Which also means we need a political and military doctrine that will help us deal with these inconvenient realities. Forget trying to stop global warming, let us try to stop terrorism first.
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It’s both the strength and the weakness of democracies that all voices are heard and for the most part given equal weight. People in the west forget what it costs to earn freedom very quickly.
We talk about lofty principles like freedom, equal rights and the right to choose personal happiness but we forget that those are gifts we were given by many who died to give them to us and more who perserved them for us. We assume that all people see the world as we do and we are astounded when cultures who have been around centuries longer than us who have never had these things and have lived under one form of tyranny or another don’t instantly embrace them.
We won’t embrace a political doctrine that really embraces the political realities of what we face until we truly feel threatened. The war against terrorism is too much like a slogan for too many people because for the most part it happens over there. We were united after 9/11 because it was real, it happened here. Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan…might as well be the moon to those who refuse to see it as a threat.
We will get hit again, I have no doubt. We as a people aren’t willing to admit we are in danger, this still seems like a politcal argument to many people. Only when our backs are to the wall do we stop bitching at each other and fight against the people who are trying to kill us. The jihadists have one fatal miscalculation in their planning. As much as they hate us on their ground, we will hate them more. And when we are pissed off and united, free people will never lose our ground.
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As much as they hate us on their ground, we will hate them more. And when we are pissed off and united, free people will never lose our ground.
Amen, brother.
Dr. Victor Davis Hanson says that one reason why The West has been successful militarily is because one element makes us fierce fighters: we fight for our freedoms and our loved ones, and to that end we cannot and will not be stopped, no matter what needs to be done.
Perhaps if our enemies studied what we did to Japan after Japan attacked us, they will realize we are not to messed with.
I fear for when we are attacked, because the dragon that will be unleashed will be horrible to behold. I don’t want to see it.
But then, I just might be a part of that dragon. Like you. All of you. Is there not that fierce emotion, hotter than the sun, a combination of hatred, fear, bravery, revulsion, protectiveness, simmering beneath and behind everything? Do we not keep it suffocated with layers and layers of inhibitions, lest we do something bad? But does it not fester anyway, ready to sprout like talons when our nest is set afire by rats and vermin? I feel it. And when I imagine just what I could do to protect The Republic, it tells me that our enemy has woefully misunderestimated us.
Behold: the world will stand aghast and afraid when the American giant is finally woken in his rage.
The emotional side of me can’t wait for us to safe and secure again. But the rational side greatly fears how much our enemies and their supporters will suffer. Just think: we are not the ones proudly boasting of our military’s prowess. No, when that time comes, we will do instead of talk. And when our military’s prowess is plain for all to see, there will be no need to boast or draw attention thereto. Those who talk too much perhaps betray they insecurity…perhaps an unconscious realization of truths that could make them shudder?
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It’s so nice to have you back, Mr. Straw!
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>>Perhaps if our enemies studied what we did to Japan after Japan attacked us, they will realize we are not to messed with.
“I’m afraid we have awakened a sleeping giant and filled it with terrible resolve.”
Admiral Isoruku Yamamoto, Dec 8, 1941
You’re far to kind, Mushiloon. I really enjoy reading your views on the middle east, Islam and how you see the west. I’m pretty much a moron who just says what’s on my mind, but I do enjoy learning from people who know what they are talking about and have lived the life I am trying to understand. Like you.
Mazel tov.
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