Pharyngula

I really, really hope they go forward with that civil suit. That school district needs to be hurt badly in the bank account so that nobody associated with it even thinks of pulling this kind of crap ever again.

Posted by: Steve LaBonne | June 28, 2006 9:08 AM

yeah, jeez, Oklahoma. I did six long years in Stillwater OK and I can assure all that it is not a "perfectly normal state." It's off in the tail of the distribution, a place where the plumber asks what church you attend so he can "witness" to you; a place where University students regularly walk out of biology lectures because their pastors have convinced them that it's a sin to even hear about evolution. Truly culturally backwards. (Yes of course many individual exceptions and a minority of rational progressive folks.) All the more reason to celebrate this verdict.

Posted by: CCP | June 28, 2006 9:30 AM

Excellent!!
I think that what surprised me the most about this story is that there is an atheist family living in Hardesty, OK - a town with a population of approx. 277!! According to this, Hardesty High School only has 37 students (in 2004). She must have felt really out of place. Good for her for standing up for her beliefs and not caving to the pressure to be a believer.

Posted by: Cassandra | June 28, 2006 9:32 AM

But you make "The Passion of the Christ", which the fundaligionists love - and THREE PEOPLE get struck by lightning.

Maybe concentrated ignorance ionizes the surrpunding air, giving lightning an easier path through the air? There has got to be a perfectly rational natural explanation for this effect. :)

Posted by: Rick @ shrimp and grits | June 28, 2006 9:39 AM

I don't know whether to be relieved or greatly distressed at the idea that Alabama is not significantly different from other states.

Posted by: Mark Paris | June 28, 2006 9:47 AM

PZ, while stereotypes about atheists are national, there is a very real and scary difference in how that's expressed around the nation. In New York City I could shout to the skies that I am an atheist, and no one would care. In rural Alabama, I took care to just keep my mouth shut about the subject of religion, as my long hair was already drawing some uncomfortable stares from people when I'd stop and have breakfast with my wife as we were traveling together. I still remember what happened to uppity nigras in the 60s down south, and have no wish to needlessly tempt some yahoo's desire to pick a fight.

That said, the quote about the tornados of unusual violence having no relationship to the verdict is priceless, and sad at the same time. The fact someone thought they had to point out there was no connection is also very sad in terms of how people really do think in animistic terms, where non-human phenemenon are attributed with human purposes. Tornados are not people, nor are they acts of God. The insurance company will pay up for the damages the principal's home suffered, as the should. You don't have to be an atheist to be fair.

Posted by: David Wilford | June 28, 2006 9:57 AM

Maybe it's not God. Maybe Richard Dawkins bought a weather machine.

Posted by: sockatume | June 28, 2006 10:06 AM

I am always shocked to see such blatant bigotry from people who claim moral superiority. I know I shouldn't be, but to see that these people lied, slandered, attempted to physcial injure and then tried to run a family out of the state simply for not believing in fairy tales still manages to shock and dismay me. If this is the type of people religion produces, then they are the strongest advert of atheism ever.

Posted by: Lya Kahlo | June 28, 2006 10:51 AM

The "happy ending" ain't over yet: I predict a minority of the townspeople will try to make the Smalkowskis' life a living hell (a plurality if they sue; a majority if they win).

Further prediction: the family will move by the end of the decade, and the next occupants of their house (if it hasn't been burned down) will hold some kind of exorcism ritual before taking residence.

Posted by: Pierce R. Butler | June 28, 2006 11:40 AM

But Barack Obama says:

It is doubtful that children reciting the Pledge of Allegiance feel oppressed or brainwashed as a consequence of muttering the phrase `under God,'

BTW, I searched for Mainstream Media articles on the Smalkowski story and came up empty.

Posted by: quork | June 28, 2006 11:47 AM

And yes, I know that places like Alabama and Oklahoma are ripe with ignorance; but so are Minnesota and New York and California. We have a national problem, even if it sticks up more prominently in some places more than others.

Ignorance or benighted religiosity is not just an American problem--it's a human problem (even if it sticks up more prominently in some countries more than others).

Posted by: cm | June 28, 2006 12:08 PM

The night of the verdict, tornados of unusual violence descended on the panhandle of Oklahoma. The home of the Principal who had brought the false charges against Chuck Smalkowski was severely damaged.

As an agnostic, I've always said (or at least said since I started considering myself agnostic) that if there was a God, He wouldn't care if you were Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Agnostic, or Atheist. He'd just care if you were a good person or not. After all, as an omnipotent being who cared about His creations, He'd be above the need for worship and all that. This definitely falls in that pattern. :)

Posted by: DMLou | June 28, 2006 12:44 PM

"After Smalkowski rejected the offer to drop the charges if he and his Atheist family left the state, the charges were raised to a felony." I wonder who it was that "offered" this deal/threat? That is particularly troubling. And to leave the state? For which other state? Were all the other atheists in Oklahoma supposed to leave (and go where?) with them?

Just plain scary.

Posted by: Kristine | June 28, 2006 1:54 PM

Daryl's story reminds me of another. A Jew goes to Belfast on business and is asked by someone he meets, "So, are you Protestant or Catholic?" He responds, "Well, actually neither, I'm Jewish." His interlocutor responds, "Yeah, yeah, but are you a Protestant Jew or a Catholic Jew?"

Posted by: Jake B. Cool | June 28, 2006 2:55 PM

Just remember that Woody Guthrie was from Oklahoma.
It seems things have gone downhill from then.

Also the Cherokees settled in Oklahoma after they were ethnically cleansed from their land in Georgia and marched on the Trail of Tears. Of course they got robbed a second time there.

Posted by: bernarda | June 28, 2006 4:36 PM

I'd be pressing for a federal civil rights investigation.

Would it have a reasonable chance of succeeding?

Posted by: Alon Levy | June 28, 2006 8:47 PM

There is a new organization I just found out about that might be useful in combatting superstition politics.

It is called GAMPAC--Godless Americans Political Action Committee.

http://www.godlessamericans.org/

Posted by: bernarda | June 29, 2006 3:32 AM

There has been outside coverage of this story, but evidently not outside the immediate area, so you have to dig a little deeper to find it. Exhibit A: "Reason for suspension debated" from the Oklahoman (Google cached version, as the story has been deleted on the original site, for some strange reason). Money quote:
"'They told my daughter that another girl told them she threatened to kill someone,' said Nadia Smalkowski, Nicole's mother."
Exhibit B: "Trial Begins in Parent-Prayer-Principal case" from KFDA in Amarillo, TX.

The story's there, but very few news outlets seem to have bothered to pick up on it. But, you know, if you hear of the Hardesty School District or the Texas County Sheriff's Dept. sueing American Atheists for libel, and find outside coverage of the fact, be sure to let us know.

Posted by: Jurjen Smies | June 29, 2006 4:14 PM

It is about time atheist got bashed. After all, Christian have been bashed for years now. A Christian can't speak up for Jesus Christ in public for fear of offending someone, but an atheist or pagan can do anything they want and get a way with it. Look at the filthy homosexuals mocking God by their lifestyle. A fiery eternity is a waiting them. This is true of the pagans and the atheists. It is interesting that the Bible says, "The fool says in his heart that there is no God," (Psalm 14:1 and Psalm 53:1). This high school girl who is an atheists is foolish according to the Bible, and a warning must be given her. How many Christian high school students were denied the right to pray in school. It's against the law to pray in school, even though we live in a Christian nation that is suppose to depend on God, and ask for his provisions. Jesus Christ is Lord, and if people don't like it; tough. I will pray where I want to, when I want to, and how I want to; and I don't care if anybodies offended by it. Eventually every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord for the Glory of God. This girl will be forced on her knee's, and she will be forced to pray to the Almighty God (Jesus Christ) whether she wants to or not.

Posted by: Terry Gabrich | July 4, 2006 1:42 PM

The vast majority of tornadic activity is confined to North America, and specifically to the midwest and south of the USA.

Many if not most victims of tornadoes are Christian. This is simply the result of normal chaos, which does not judge or choose.

It always seems to work out, though, which is why I really like chaos...

Posted by: A rope leash | July 4, 2006 3:04 PM

I am thrilled to hear that Chester Smalkowski has been found not guilty on all counts. I am not surprised that during voir dire, the defense counsel had to explain to some of the potential jurors what an "atheist" is. After all, this is the bible belt. Considering the verdict, one might hold some hope for the folks in Oklahoma.

Posted by: Walter Klingler | July 9, 2006 1:54 PM

One of my favorite Terry Pratchett quotes (from The Last Hero):

"What goes around comes around. If not examined too closely, it passes for justice."

Posted by: David Harmon | July 9, 2006 6:20 PM

Hi there.
My first comment here, so first of all: love the blog!

This story boggles my mind. I'm from Belgium, and among the people I know, the prevalent religion is "there-must-be-something-ism". Being an atheist, I do discuss religion with these people, and it is always friendly or at least respectful.
I already knew that Americans are much more inclined to adhere to this or that specific church, but this kind of intolerance I simply cannot grasp.
I mean, are people trying to re-enact the dark ages in this "new world", home of the free.
Scary, to say the least.

Posted by: Kim Boone | July 11, 2006 9:36 AM

The people of Oklahoma may be a little low on the IQ scale - but they do have a wonderful sense of humor.

Posted by: auntie-em | August 10, 2006 2:29 PM

Well the bible DOES mention that thing about not bearing false witness against thy neighbor. Guess the fine upstanding Christians forgot about that part.

Posted by: Dee | April 1, 2007 3:29 AM

Ajay, you owe me a keyboard sir. And a soda. ;)

Posted by: Natasha | May 13, 2007 11:39 AM

You haven't got a very strong grip on reality, do you Terry?

'A Christian can't speak up for JC in public without being bashed'?

That's odd.. A simple Google search turns up at least 4 DOZEN 'Christian' televison shows. Can you point out ANY TV shows dedicated to the idea of Atheism? Looks to me like you're doing one HELL of a lot of 'speaking up' without anyone doing anything to stop you.

an atheist or pagan can do anything they want and get a way with it.

They can? That's funny, the laws of our country seem to affect everyone equally, though several religious groups have been caught hiding infractions of the law from public knowledge. Can you name a few things that atheists can 'get away with' that 'Christians' can't?

Look at the filthy homosexuals mocking God by their lifestyle. A fiery eternity is a waiting them. This is true of the pagans and the atheists.

What ever happend to 'Judge not, lest ye be judged'? 'Let he who is without sin cast the first stone'? 'Inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of one of these, my children, ye have done it unto me'? or even 'By this shall man know that ye are my disciples, that ye have love one for another'?

All I see in your post is hate and superiority, both of which appear to show you as far less of a 'Christian' than you think you are. You pick and choose a few cryptic passages that you can use to hate others, and completely ignore the actual words of Jesus himself! I'd look to the beam in your own eye before worrying about anyone else's motes.

You are yet another PERFECT example of a 'Christian' using their religion to hate, belittle, and force others actions into their own mold. Now WHY would anyone have a problem with such blatant hypocrisy?

Is it any wonder that some people don't want to be tarred with the same brush? *I* certainly wouldn't want to be known as 'Christian', when I see 'Christians' around the world continually breaking the very rules they are trying to force on everyone else.

How many Christian high school students were denied the right to pray in school.

Ooh, that's easy! NONE. It's perfectly legal to pray in school, Are you too stupid to understand the difference between personal prayer and FORCING OTHERS TO PRAY with you?

It's against the law to pray in school,

No, it's not. You've been fed lies by your religious leaders again. Maybe if you took the time to learn the TRUTH, you'd make less of a fool of yourself?

even though we live in a Christian nation

But we DON'T. We live in a FREE nation, a nation that is expressly NOT any particular religion, a nation that proudly trumpets our FREEDOM to believe as we wish! You've been lied to again, and you might do yourself a lot of good to educate yourself before looking even more a fool.

Jesus Christ is Lord, and if people don't like it; tough. I will pray where I want to, when I want to, and how I want to; and I don't care if anybodies offended by it.

But you think the atheists should be bashed, warned, punished in hell if they don't let you FORCE them to pray along with you? What a sanctimonious, blind hypocrite you truly are!

Thank you for reminding me again why I came to my senses and got away from Christianity and religion! Thank you for your excellent example of 'Christian' hate, bigotry, and hypocrisy. With people like you around, it makes it a lot easier to show people that Christians are no better (And in many cases worse!) than others. For all their vaunted closeness to God, they're just as small-minded, clannish, and petty as everyone else on the planet. Sort of strange, if they're supposedly recieving wisdom from the Supreme Being and no one else is, don't you think?

The Lesser of TWO Weevils!

Posted by: LesserOfTwoWeevils | May 14, 2007 12:34 AM