tags: God is Hate, christians are haters, religion is organized hate, religion, fundamentalists are everywhere, mindcontrol
The above letter was spoofed and supposedly signed by Alice Shannon of Soldotna, Alaska, and republished by DIGG. However, the original letter was published in the newspaper, The Augusta Chronicle on Monday, October 22, 2001, when all the good religionists in the area were pondering the role of a gawd-inspired terrorist act: the destruction of the World Trade Towers, portions of the Pentagon and the downing of an airliner in an Pennsylvania cornfield -- which triggered the USA to bomb the snot out of Iraq, a country than never had anything to do with the 9-11 terrorists. But some gawds are more equal than others, right?
Even if I was stupid enough to believe in gawd, this one letter to the editor would challenge everything I held dear because it openly advocates hatred of anyone who doesn't believe in gawd -- all with gawd's approval, of course. I was always taught that "god is love" but after growing up in a religious family where there was no such thing as love, and after reading this letter, I realize I am not ready for this sort of love, nor for all the other sorts of love that all you arrogant so-called "religious people" embrace, including pedophilia, female genital mutilation, murdering of medical doctors who offer abortions, an unfairly applied death penalty, wholesale terrorism and widescale genocide, just to name a few of the "loving" acts you engage in. Even though I don't believe in gawd and I strongly disapprove of the numerous cruel and hateful actions that belief in a mythical "supreme being" triggers, I will say this: I hope all you so-called religious wingnuts burn in hellfire for all eternity for all the hateful and cruel actions you have committed "in the name of gawd."
Apparently, the mindless control-freak who originally wrote the above screed is a proud product of the American educational system, and thus, she has not read, or is completely incapable of comprehending, the First Amendment to the United States Constitution:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion [bold mine], 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.
Further, if religious people weren't such proudly uneducated morons, they'd also know of the existence of the Treaty of Tripoli, which was signed by George Washington on 4 November, 1796, while he was still president of the United States. In article eleven, it states;
As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion [bold mine]; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquillity, of Musselmen; and as the said States never have entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mehomitan nation, it is declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries. [actual document]
This Treaty is no longer binding, however, it represents the reasons that this nation was founded, as stated by those who happened to be there when the country was born.
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Looks like it may have been a spoof:
snopes.com: Stomp Out Atheists Letter
http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/atheists.asp
thanks for that. of course, my sentiments stand anyway, especially in view of the fact that public officials like elizabeth dole feels they can attack a political oponent becuase they don't fulfill a pre-ordained mean-spirited and repressive standard of what consititutes a christian.
Sure was easy to believe....
According to Snopes "It was printed by a newspaper (specifically the 29 January 2007 edition of the Alaskan newspaper Peninsula Clarion)"
Alaska. Hmmm, now where have I heard that state mentioned before? Something about hunting witches in the name of the Lord and wanting "christian" dominion over the United States. I can't put my finger on it.
Someone should update the Snopes page:
http://ravingatheist.com/archives/2007/05/hoax.php
While the "Alice Shannon" letter may have been a spoof, its original source, an October 2001 letter to the editor in the Augusta Chronicle seems to be genuine and, AFAIK, has never been retracted.
http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/102201/opi_046-8549.shtml
It's not hard to believe, though, considering not only Elizabeth Dole's campaign but also the Prop. Hate in California.
it's also easy to believe when one is exposed to "good old fashioned christian love" as i am from time to time.
While I agree with your post, the Treaty of Tripoli was signed by John Adams on 10 June, 1797. It was presented to Congress on 4 November, 1796.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_tripoli
On February 24, 2007, I posted that same clip on my blog in a post called, "Christians say the darndest things."
So if you believed in God, the fact that someone else who also believes in God can still feel the emotion of hate, and express it, would persuade you that He did not exist? Logical. I like it.
And talk about tarring all religious people with the same brush. So we all embrace anything anyone religious people have done in the name of religion? Nice. Fair. Rational. You could probably start working for Fox News tomorrow.
And what is with your love of "so-called"? You keep using that word, I do not think it means what you think it does.
Do you really mean to suggest that these people aren't 'religious people'? Do you not think that they are religious wingnuts? I doubt it.
What good is freedom of religion if the only thing it provides is the freedom to choose which esoteric variant of Christianity to follow? That letter is just so nonsensical, I thought it was a Poe at first. On one hand it's sad that it isn't, but even if it was it'd still be sad that the newspaper felt comfortable publishing it without comment, letting every paranoid error of fact pass, simply by calling it a strong opinion.
As for Jeremy's issue (10), the way I am interpreting the original post, the idea is that, if you're growing up with the idea that god is love, and not much else, it's easy enough to passively accept everything about the religion, and follow it, and pass it on--seeing the religion, formerly seen as the encapsulation of everything good and loving, so clearly behind this kind of vile hatred, puts the whole edifice into question, or, at least, the very most core assumption. From there, it's pretty hard not to critically consider what would have been taken without any thought before.
I thought you might like to know that Gawd has responded.
http://deusexeverriculum.wordpress.com/2008/11/16/dear-grrlscientist/
Wow, I never knew I embraced pedophilia, female genital mutilation, murdering of medical doctors who offer abortions, an unfairly applied death penalty, wholesale terrorism and widescale genocide until now. Thanks for clearing that up for me.
How should I put this...you make PZ Myers look like a decent, rational, unbigoted person by comparison.
Just an FYI correction; the plane was downed in a PENNSYLVANIA cornfield, not in Iowa.
I am a Christain and i dont appreciate this crap! God does exist and not all Christains are the same!!!