Just 9 days ago, my son totaled his car but was not injured. Two days later, one of my best friends totaled her car driving to work but wasn't injured aside from some bruises.
Yesterday my mother was driving home from work and totaled her car but only has very minor injuries. This has been a very bad month for wrecks. Fortunately nobody was hurt badly that I knew. But there have also been an unusual number of car crashes and deaths it seems over the past few months, as well as people I know getting hurt in odd ways.
I sure hope things improve. This is all getting a bit depressing.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Thursday, April 24, 2008
New atheist movement in America
Not too long ago, I watched "Root of all Evil?" by Richard Dawkins, and he spoke of a phenomena that he has noticed. He says that there are far more "closet atheists" in American than the general public realizes, but since he is a public authority an semi-celebrity in the atheist community, that he has seen it first hand.
He goes on to say that he isn't quite sure what has brought about this phenomenon, but speculates that the Bush tendency to wriggle toward a theocratic government has likely polarized Americans, which is why we see a rise in Evangelistic Christianity. But since many atheists tend to keep their lack of belief a private matter, the real number of atheists is not apparent.
However, recently he has noticed a growing number of those "closet atheists" coming out and making their views known. Dawkins thinks this is in response to the rise in evangelical Christians, because they are well known for pushing political agendas and non-theists and even some moderate christians do not agree with these agendas.
I think Dawkins is on the right track in his thinking, and I can definitely confirm that there are FAR for atheists and agnostics in America than the public is aware of. This is especially true in the 30 year old and under crowd. The younger generations are increasingly non-theistic, but I think this age group is that way not because of political reasons so much, but because this is the age of information. The availability of the Internet, and a host of communication devices, satellite TV, etc. have made information and knowledge freely available. People are now able to educate themselves on the facts of theology, history, mythology, science, etc. and this is often lethal to "Faith" because the evidence does not favor religion and exposes them as the myths that they are.
It's really no surpise that we are seeing a new atheist movement in America. Many people are tired of religious dogmas, and the evagelists that force these views on the public. So, many are coming out to finally stand their ground and to tell the religious majority "Enough is enough! We will no longer pretend to respect your idiocy!"
We are just normal people who believe in, and respect the views of our founding fathers like Thomas Jefferson.
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
He goes on to say that he isn't quite sure what has brought about this phenomenon, but speculates that the Bush tendency to wriggle toward a theocratic government has likely polarized Americans, which is why we see a rise in Evangelistic Christianity. But since many atheists tend to keep their lack of belief a private matter, the real number of atheists is not apparent.
However, recently he has noticed a growing number of those "closet atheists" coming out and making their views known. Dawkins thinks this is in response to the rise in evangelical Christians, because they are well known for pushing political agendas and non-theists and even some moderate christians do not agree with these agendas.
I think Dawkins is on the right track in his thinking, and I can definitely confirm that there are FAR for atheists and agnostics in America than the public is aware of. This is especially true in the 30 year old and under crowd. The younger generations are increasingly non-theistic, but I think this age group is that way not because of political reasons so much, but because this is the age of information. The availability of the Internet, and a host of communication devices, satellite TV, etc. have made information and knowledge freely available. People are now able to educate themselves on the facts of theology, history, mythology, science, etc. and this is often lethal to "Faith" because the evidence does not favor religion and exposes them as the myths that they are.
It's really no surpise that we are seeing a new atheist movement in America. Many people are tired of religious dogmas, and the evagelists that force these views on the public. So, many are coming out to finally stand their ground and to tell the religious majority "Enough is enough! We will no longer pretend to respect your idiocy!"
We are just normal people who believe in, and respect the views of our founding fathers like Thomas Jefferson.
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Kids
I have two sons, one is mine from a previous marriage and the other is my wifes son from a previous marriage. My son will be 17 next month and hers turned 17 in January. I love them both dearly. For the most part, they are good kids. Both of them just recently started driving, which has been a really stressful ordeal. Any parent with kids eventually goes through this stage.
Both of them had vehicles given to them, and all we asked is that they pay the insurance.
Anyway, my son has turned out to be possibly the worst driver ever. On the third day he was driving, he had an accident in which he was behind a new Chrysler 300C and accidently hit the gas instead of the brake and rear-ended the car - $800 damage to the 300C. On the 2nd week, he got a ticket for having his brake lights out, but got it dismissed after replacing a blown fuse. On the third week, he was driving to school and a truck in front of him had a blowout, he swirved to avoid the debris and collided with another car. Fortunately it was another young driver and no claims were made on insurance.
He did OK for about a month, then got a speeding ticket for going 9MPH over the limit in a school zone - $240.
He was repeatedly told NOT to have any friends riding with him, and he had a curfew of 11:00PM. I explained to him that with his increasingly bad driving record, that having passengers was a BAD idea because we could be liable for them if he were to have an accident, etc. Well, he goes to visit his mother in a town about 30 miles away every other weekend and I guess he assumed my rules didn't apply when he was visiting his mom...
Last Sunday morning, I got a call from his mother at 2:30AM. She tells me that he has crashed and totaled his car. Not only that, he also had 3 friends with him and they were out at 2AM when the crash happened. WHAT THE F**K???
Oh, and that's not all...
He had fishtailed, overcorrected, and again hit the accelerator instead of the brake and demolished a Southwestern Bell telephone switch box, and part of a fence as well! The car ended up on top of the telephone switch box, and nearly flipped over. I think he may have done less damage had he run into a Corvette! His car was totaled and he was cited for wreckless driving. It was a 1989 Firebird, and I still owe over $2000 on it. He had liability only so Im still stuck with the bill for the next few years.
His mother and I took them all to the Emergency room at the local hospital, and fortunately nobody was seriously injured. Only small cuts from broken glass and perhaps a few bruises.
This was possibly THE most stressful night of my entire life.
Total damage and cost:
Car- $2,400
Driving citations- $400
Fence- $300 approx
Phone switch- $18,000
Towing- $150
Hospital bills- $3,000 approx
----------------------------
Total $24,250
Not to mention the amount my insurance premium will probably increase...
The only good that came from it all is knowing that the kid won't be driving again any time soon.
I hope he learned some valuable lessons from this. He had been driving for only 3 months, and lost his car and driving privalages for a long, long time, But at least he and his friends walked away from this accident with their lives and minimal injuries.
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Religious humor
For the devout, the topic of religion is a very serious matter but from a non-believers point of view many religious ideas are so silly that it's comical. Even some of my religious friends get a chuckle out of poking fun at certain religious beliefs.
Anyway, I for one certainly get a kick out of humor that mocks religion because it underlines just how funny it appears to non-theistic people. Here are a few of my favorites:
1. Phone call to God - by Mediocrefilms
2. Become An Atheist Today by LeeWood
3. Sunday Heroes "Thomas"
4. Sunday Heroes "Judas"
5. Sunday Heroes "Ian"
6. Sunday heroes "woman of sinful life"
7. Sunday Heroes "the Vineyard Owner"
8. Sunday Heroes "Thaddeus"
9. Sunday Heroes "the Last Supper"
10. Jesus Christ Action Figure
I know most of them are the Sunday Heroes, but that series is hilarious! Enjoy...
Anyway, I for one certainly get a kick out of humor that mocks religion because it underlines just how funny it appears to non-theistic people. Here are a few of my favorites:
1. Phone call to God - by Mediocrefilms
2. Become An Atheist Today by LeeWood
3. Sunday Heroes "Thomas"
4. Sunday Heroes "Judas"
5. Sunday Heroes "Ian"
6. Sunday heroes "woman of sinful life"
7. Sunday Heroes "the Vineyard Owner"
8. Sunday Heroes "Thaddeus"
9. Sunday Heroes "the Last Supper"
10. Jesus Christ Action Figure
I know most of them are the Sunday Heroes, but that series is hilarious! Enjoy...
Friday, April 18, 2008
Atheist crap
It sometimes astounds me how people (even friends and family) treat me about my views on religion, but expect me to respect their views. Hypocracy is something that I have always had trouble with.
For the most part, my church going friends and family have been accepting of my anti-theistic views, but it is tolerence more than acceptence and they usually avoid the subject of god and religion around me at all costs. What really got me going this time is that yesterday, I got a copy of "Freethought Today" in the mail. While I was on the couch reading through it, my wife looked over at me and said "You didn't subscribe to that bullshit did you?"
I told her that it was a complementary copy, but that I rather enjoyed reading it. She replied "You better not be paying for that shit! We don't need any more bills."
For the most part, my church going friends and family have been accepting of my anti-theistic views, but it is tolerence more than acceptence and they usually avoid the subject of god and religion around me at all costs. What really got me going this time is that yesterday, I got a copy of "Freethought Today" in the mail. While I was on the couch reading through it, my wife looked over at me and said "You didn't subscribe to that bullshit did you?"
I told her that it was a complementary copy, but that I rather enjoyed reading it. She replied "You better not be paying for that shit! We don't need any more bills."
Uh, excuse me? This coming from a woman who has at least 5 magazine subscriptions?
First, let me say this; my wife and I have what I would consider just about the best relationship and best marriage of anyone I know or have ever heard of. I love the woman more than life itself, and she never - I mean never tells me that I can't do anything! The problem wasn't money at all, I assure you. It was the fact that this newspaper was anti-religious and she is a religious person. My wife and I have a lot in common, but our religious views are polar opposites.
I could tell by the tone in her voice that she was simply offended that I was reading anti-religious material in her presence and that I had commented about an article to my son - who is also a free thinking individual at 17 years of age.
My point here is that I have never gotten offended about her reading the Bible, and I certainly wouldn't call it bullshit to her face while she was seriously reading it. Well, at least up until this point. I did after her comments explain to her that "Freethought Today" was not bullshit, it was truthful and informative. I continued that if she wanted to read bullshit, just open ANY Bible. It's chock full of bullshit.
At any rate, she unapologetically turned the conversation to another subject and said nothing more of it. I believe she probably spoke before she thought about the consequences of her words, and then realized that she should have not attacked me like that. To her credit, nothing more was said and we continued our evening as if it had never happened.
What really puzzels me is that she says she trusts my judgement implicitly and that I'm one of the smartest people she knows. She will take my advice on nearly anything - except when it comes to the existence of a god. Religion is a powerful thing...
Thursday, April 17, 2008
American Hillbilly Atheist
Let me introduce myself. My name is Dwayne Sessom and I live in the "Bible Belt" of the United States - right on the Texas/Oklahoma border. I'm currently 38 years old and work in the Information Technology field.
My fathers family were rather poor and the majority of them live in Texas. They are by and large a loving and generous bunch, but they are what most would consider stereotypical Rednecks. My mothers family was very poor, living in a Southern rural farming community for generations back in West Texas. Again, they are very kind and loving for the most part but would be considered by most outsiders to be Hillbillies. The house that my grandparents lived in (and their grandparents before them) looks like Jed Clampetts house on the Beverly Hillbillies. I'm not kidding.
But, this is my lineage and who I am. Aside from my sister who has a Masters Degree, my family on both sides lacks scholars, and as far as I know, most if not all are religious - some deeply so.
My family always considered me to be a bit of a rebel because I had a mind of my own and was one of the types who learns mostly through experience. My mother would tell me not to do something and I would want to know why. If she didn't give me what I thought was a rational answer, I would do it anyway and deal with the consequences. That's just how I learn, and my 17 year old son is not different.
I was raised in a rather religious household, and when I was younger was fully indoctrinated into the Catholic religion. As I grew older into my teenage years, I started to have doubts about the Catholic faith, and later in the early twenties my doubts extended farther to other religions.
By the time I was about 25, I was fully agnostic about anything supernatural including all organized religion and a belief in any god. I felt it was necessary to educate myself as much as possible about world history including biblical history, the sciences (biology, physics, etc.) and to prove or disprove to myself the validity of my world view which was increasingly non-theistic and skeptical. I attended 2 1/2 years of college and by that time, I was undoubtedly atheist.
I consider myself a pretty average person, of perhaps slightly higher than average intelligence but by no means a genius and I was able to break free of religious indoctrination by myself while living smack in the middle of the Bible belt.
The purpose of this blog is to raise awareness that there are in fact far more atheists and agnostics in America than is commonly believed. I hope to inspire others like myself to voice their opinion and rational beliefs and to remain publicly quiet no more. I personally agree with many of the views of such authors as Christopher Hitchens and Richard Dawkins. One of my main concerns is that the general perception of Atheists in America is that we are evil or somehow lesser humans than those of faith. We are the least trusted demographic, yet we outnumber most other minority groups. It's nearly impossible for a atheist to be elected to public office because of the negative stereotype that religion has branded us with.
It's time for rational thinking, non-superstitious people; atheists and agnostics to stop hiding our opinions from the public for fear of retribution.
It is commonly believed that 8 to 16% of Americans are atheist or agnostic. From my experience and the experience of others I know, these numbers are wrong. I believe the true figure is probably closer to 20 - 25% if not more. The problem is that many people still claim to belong to one faith or another, when in fact they haven't been to a church for years and don't care to go.
While these individuals would not be considered atheists or agnostics, they are certainly NOT religious. Others who are in fact atheist or agnostic do not make their belief known because they do not want to deal with the possible negative consequences. But if more of us make our voices heard, those negative consequences will become less and less negative.
Stand up and be proud of who you are. I for one refuse to "sit down and shut up" any longer.
My fathers family were rather poor and the majority of them live in Texas. They are by and large a loving and generous bunch, but they are what most would consider stereotypical Rednecks. My mothers family was very poor, living in a Southern rural farming community for generations back in West Texas. Again, they are very kind and loving for the most part but would be considered by most outsiders to be Hillbillies. The house that my grandparents lived in (and their grandparents before them) looks like Jed Clampetts house on the Beverly Hillbillies. I'm not kidding.
But, this is my lineage and who I am. Aside from my sister who has a Masters Degree, my family on both sides lacks scholars, and as far as I know, most if not all are religious - some deeply so.
My family always considered me to be a bit of a rebel because I had a mind of my own and was one of the types who learns mostly through experience. My mother would tell me not to do something and I would want to know why. If she didn't give me what I thought was a rational answer, I would do it anyway and deal with the consequences. That's just how I learn, and my 17 year old son is not different.
I was raised in a rather religious household, and when I was younger was fully indoctrinated into the Catholic religion. As I grew older into my teenage years, I started to have doubts about the Catholic faith, and later in the early twenties my doubts extended farther to other religions.
By the time I was about 25, I was fully agnostic about anything supernatural including all organized religion and a belief in any god. I felt it was necessary to educate myself as much as possible about world history including biblical history, the sciences (biology, physics, etc.) and to prove or disprove to myself the validity of my world view which was increasingly non-theistic and skeptical. I attended 2 1/2 years of college and by that time, I was undoubtedly atheist.
I consider myself a pretty average person, of perhaps slightly higher than average intelligence but by no means a genius and I was able to break free of religious indoctrination by myself while living smack in the middle of the Bible belt.
The purpose of this blog is to raise awareness that there are in fact far more atheists and agnostics in America than is commonly believed. I hope to inspire others like myself to voice their opinion and rational beliefs and to remain publicly quiet no more. I personally agree with many of the views of such authors as Christopher Hitchens and Richard Dawkins. One of my main concerns is that the general perception of Atheists in America is that we are evil or somehow lesser humans than those of faith. We are the least trusted demographic, yet we outnumber most other minority groups. It's nearly impossible for a atheist to be elected to public office because of the negative stereotype that religion has branded us with.
It's time for rational thinking, non-superstitious people; atheists and agnostics to stop hiding our opinions from the public for fear of retribution.
It is commonly believed that 8 to 16% of Americans are atheist or agnostic. From my experience and the experience of others I know, these numbers are wrong. I believe the true figure is probably closer to 20 - 25% if not more. The problem is that many people still claim to belong to one faith or another, when in fact they haven't been to a church for years and don't care to go.
While these individuals would not be considered atheists or agnostics, they are certainly NOT religious. Others who are in fact atheist or agnostic do not make their belief known because they do not want to deal with the possible negative consequences. But if more of us make our voices heard, those negative consequences will become less and less negative.
Stand up and be proud of who you are. I for one refuse to "sit down and shut up" any longer.
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