Pharyngula: This is positive atheism

#1

I'd like to think this is our future, from a social standpoint at least; that this is the persona the next generation will embrace.

could be a bit less wordy, though.

;)

Posted by: Ichthyic | January 13, 2008 6:42 PM

#2

Just because:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFjH4ZqwOB4&feature=related

Posted by: Moses | January 13, 2008 6:57 PM

#3

Yes yes yes! I love it, she is incredible

Posted by: Brian | January 13, 2008 7:00 PM

#4

That's nice. I'm glad there are so many young people being outspoken about their disbelief.

I remember a while back I saw a video on Youtube that listed numerous atheists, I think the idea was that atheists could be good people like these famous ones. There were many scientists mentioned, like Stephen Jay Gould, but also celebrities, writers, and others. Does anyone know what video I'm thinking of?

Posted by: Gary F | January 13, 2008 7:03 PM

#5

can't say it was less wordy, but it certainly was more entertaining.

:p

Posted by: Ichthyic | January 13, 2008 7:03 PM

#6

This is a lot like the books of 'deconversion' like 'Leaving The Fold' by Edward T. Babinski, his book even has Dan Barker's story or John Loftus' book, 'Why I Rejected Christianity'.

Posted by: ChrisKG | January 13, 2008 7:04 PM

#7

Sounds like what I said. Of course, I'm not as pretty. :(

Posted by: Jon Voisey (aka. The angry astronomer) | January 13, 2008 7:08 PM

#8

Bravo to this girl.

Posted by: Jim | January 13, 2008 7:13 PM

#9

She's very sweet, but why does it take americans so long to work this out? The questions and decisions re abandoning faith are things that happened to me when I turned 11 and I am by no means unusual.

Posted by: yoyo | January 13, 2008 7:19 PM

#10

"and you can be too!"

She hasn't lost her evangelical spirit completely methinks :P

Posted by: Dutch Delight | January 13, 2008 7:21 PM

#11

Hey, she's cute. And that story, with the pity, is ermarkable for its being common in so many cases.

Posted by: Kimpatsu | January 13, 2008 7:38 PM

#12

So after watching this I did a little more poking around on YouTube and came across this little gem:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jx3EdM1DdPU

I'm typically not a laugh-out-loud type, but this really had me howling.

Posted by: Misanthrope | January 13, 2008 7:51 PM

#13

I love her. And she reminds me so much of an actress and I can't figure out who. It's really bothering me. Anybody?

Posted by: kristen in montreal | January 13, 2008 7:55 PM

#14

#8
Americans are a bit...slow.

Posted by: V | January 13, 2008 7:57 PM

#15

V @ #13 "Americans are a bit...slow."

Perhaps, but we're also much more heavily indoctrinated at earlier ages. That takes more time to overcome. I think it's an amazing triumph of reason that ANYONE can get over believing in this sort of shit when being bombarded so constantly. That it takes longer for those of us swimming in it as opposed to those who are sprinkled with it...not so surprising.

Posted by: Dahan | January 13, 2008 8:04 PM

#16

@ #8

You'd do well not to make broad insulting statements such as that.

Posted by: Jeremy | January 13, 2008 8:11 PM

#17

The very thing she describes as the point at which she started questioning things was exactly the one that in my "faith walk" started me thinking "um, wait a minute..." In the words of a Turk: "Yeah, not buyin' it."

In fact this was the fuel for family dinner conversation once, and I asked the very question she asked herself of my parents. My parents didn't really have an answer, but it didn't bother me that they didn't. I'm pretty sure they know now I am REALLY not buyin' it, though I'm sure they (or rather, my mom) figure I'll come around, or will pick it back up someday. That's entirely doubtful. I haven't "come out" as an atheist to family, but that particular bomb is likely to be dropped sometime between now and December 25th, especially with the election this year.

Posted by: BlueIndependent | January 13, 2008 8:30 PM

#18

Do people here seriously think that telling believers that their most important belief systems are "ridiculous" is going to cause anything other than offense?
A lot of believers, hearing those words would automatically see her as a 'militant fundamentalist atheist'

Posted by: Sigmund | January 13, 2008 8:32 PM

#19

@ #8

I takes people as long as it takes. I don't think folks deserve special praise for figuring it out early.

Posted by: Annie Mahoney | January 13, 2008 8:32 PM

#20

A good friend of mine gave up his belief when he went deep enough into it to learn greek, hebrew and aramaic, and started reading older versions of the scriptures. He concluded that if god was in the picture, it wouldn't have allowed all the translators to play fast and loose with the wording.

-jcr

Posted by: John C. Randolph | January 13, 2008 8:41 PM

#21

Sigmund, maybe so, but if someone comes up to me and starts pushing their views on me in a public venue and I let it be known that I would prefer to be left alone and that I am not particularly interested in their personal beliefs, and they continue to insist... Would you agree that I might be forgiven if I were somewhat offended? If I get a bit POed and let it be known that I think their views are, well ridiculous, maybe those good folks might actually get the idea that their behaviour is offensive, no?

Posted by: Fernando Magyar | January 13, 2008 8:45 PM

#22

Sadly, I doubt a movement of people making videos like this would get nearly the coverage, be it positive or negative, that groups such as the Rational Response Squad can muster through more "controversial" methods.

Posted by: Severian | January 13, 2008 8:47 PM

#23

Kristen @ #12: And she reminds me so much of an actress and I can't figure out who.

Could you be thinking of Marisa Tomei?

Posted by: Zeno | January 13, 2008 9:00 PM

#24

@Sigmund - what, we're supposed to be polite and play nice? Why?

I can promise you from vast experience - that conversation happens only under very defined circumstances, and it isn't because the rational person asked the believer if he/she was an atheist...

Posted by: ronbailey | January 13, 2008 9:01 PM

#25

Whoever you are, lady: Good for you!

You've done something really worthwhile, and I thank you for caring enough to make it clear that there's a reasonable, nice, hopeful, positive alternative to religion. And that ordinary people can achieve it.

Posted by: Hank Fox | January 13, 2008 9:03 PM

#26

Wow. What impresses me most is how natural it comes across, and how joyful. And like #1, I'd really like to think that this'd be the future (and I don't mind the wordiness at all ;-)).

So great.

^_^J.

Posted by: gyokusai | January 13, 2008 9:05 PM

#27

Her path to Atheism is so very similar to mine. I had one extra step though: I briefly converted to the Baha'i faith first. I wasn't ready to let go of religion quite yet, and Baha'i struck me as the most accepting and open-minded of religions. Once I could comfortably say "I am not a Christian" I quickly became comfortable saying, "I am not a theist."

Posted by: Sara | January 13, 2008 9:17 PM

#28

@Zeno(#22)-
No, it's not Marissa Tomei, but thanks for trying to help me out :)

Posted by: kristen in montreal | January 13, 2008 9:18 PM

#29

Wait a sec. Cute atheists exist? I didn't know that.

Posted by: Eric | January 13, 2008 9:18 PM

#30

F#20 and #23, Rernando and ronbaily,
personally I have no problem with her approach, the point I was making was that this will not be seen as 'positive atheism' by the religious. The framers tell us to advocate positive rater than negative atheism yet the reality is that any advocacy that involves reason is seen as negative to those who accept faith.

Posted by: Sigmund | January 13, 2008 9:51 PM

#31

"I love her. And she reminds me so much of an actress and I can't figure out who. It's really bothering me. Anybody?"

Molly Ringwald?

Posted by: craig | January 13, 2008 9:56 PM

#32

Hell seems to be the way out for a lot of folks. Once someone starts thinking through how evil a being would be that condemns good people (or even not-so-good people) to eternal hellfire, it is only a matter of time before the whole edifice comes down.

Posted by: idlemind | January 13, 2008 9:56 PM

#33

#8,

Back when I was reading about Zen, it was usually Americans they pointed to, negatively, as being the folks who tried to race toward enlightenment. This was not presented as a plus. :) I'm encouraged by anyone who manages to figure out a life lesson like atheism, even if they don't get it until they're a doddering old cuss. I do wish they'd get it earlier, because of the profoundly negative aspects religion brings to society, but it's not really an easy thing. I too got it fairly early, but then my family was progressive Methodists on my mom's side and nothing in particulars on my dad's, and they gave us a lot of leeway for a 1950s American family. Others do not have it so easy.

Posted by: QrazyQat | January 13, 2008 9:58 PM

#34

Kristen @ #12: And she reminds me so much of an actress and I can't figure out who.

I was thinking maybe Molly Ringwald:

http://images.eonline.com/eol_images/Profiles/20061006/244.ringwald.molly.100506.jpg

or

Elizabeth Berkley:

http://www.101lifestyle.com/images/celebs/elizabeth_berkley/prazzi-elizabeth-berkley-001.jpg

Posted by: Krash | January 13, 2008 10:01 PM

#35

@jcr (#19):

A good friend of mine gave up his belief when he went deep enough into it to learn greek, hebrew and aramaic, and started reading older versions of the scriptures. He concluded that if god was in the picture, it wouldn't have allowed all the translators to play fast and loose with the wording.

ain't nothing to break someone's faith like the bible itself. especially when you start learning about in earnest, studying greek and hebrew, etc.

also, this chick is cute as hell. and her points about judgementalness of evangelical christians is right on.

Posted by: arachnophilia | January 13, 2008 10:14 PM

#36

From the same person: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLNOntF7hVo

"I should note that, not too long after being 'born again', I starred in this very play, this very role in fact. I was told that my performance was powerful and helped to convert dozens of people and bring many more to tears. I hope these people have since recovered their sense of reason, but I guess I'll never really know. My point in all this that ... c'mon, this is some fucked up shit! Faith founded and inspired and reinforced by nothing more than a dread of the eternal consequences of not accepting the bullshit of Christianity."

...

"I just want to share the good news. My name is Nikki, and I deny the Holy Spirit. I'm not afraid. I'm not afraid any more. And you don't have to be either! Isn't that great?"

Posted by: truth machine | January 13, 2008 10:20 PM

#37

Do people here seriously think that telling believers that their most important belief systems are "ridiculous" is going to cause anything other than offense?
A lot of believers, hearing those words would automatically see her as a 'militant fundamentalist atheist'

You're a jackass, and I hope you take offense.

Posted by: truth machine | January 13, 2008 10:25 PM

#38

Am I a bad person for thinking her delivery needs work?

Posted by: B. Dias | January 13, 2008 10:29 PM

#39

GOT IT!
She reminds me of Lisa Brenner from The Patriot (I hated that movie, so don't jump on me). Now I realize that it isn't so much her face, but her voice and intonation.
Thanks to those who tried to help me decrypt this. Now I can finally sleep ...

Posted by: kristen in montreal | January 13, 2008 10:33 PM

#40

Truth Machine, I think you owe that person an apology. There was no insult. And the person said was that some religious types would even happy and polite atheists, 'militant fundamentalist atheist'. The only people being insulted are the dumb religious types.

Posted by: Janine | January 13, 2008 10:39 PM

#41

#31

yep, same here. I was attending Bob Jones University and started asking questions like did all the Native Americans really go to hell before the white man came to America? The answer, of course, was "Yes." I began to realize that this didn't make for a "just" God. And then I began thinking about, hmm, what evidence is there for this Satan guy? Do people really need any supernatural temptation to do bad things? And so on. I took a few years to give up religion, but I did. I think much of the battle is psychological for some of us: you begin to realize subconsciously that believing differently is going to ostracize you from family and loved ones - especially within fundamentalism. I bet many people don't make it beyond that stage. Guilt about doubting is built into this sort of religion.

Posted by: Bob | January 13, 2008 10:58 PM

#42

I think what ticks me off about this video is that she had the courage to say (at approx 18) what it's taken me much longer to say. I'm 48.

I do find a similarity in that a few weeks ago when I actually said to a couple of close friends that I was an atheist, they we so worried. They ended up taking comfort in the that they didn't think I was a real atheist but rather an agnostic.

The semantic games on this are tiring but I do find it interesting that they could deal with it if I was an agnostic but not if I was an atheist.

I tried to explain that even Dr. Dawkins doesn't say that he is 100% sure there is no God and that most atheists are simply people that say they have no preconditions. We will happily follow the evidence wherever it leads (emphasis on HAPPY and EVIDENCE). I would love to be a theist evolutionist. It would make my life ever so much more simple.

I came away from that with the understanding that agnostic is a more practical position to claim. Not that I understand the difference but it makes other people feel better if you're not an ATHEIST.

Posted by: rmp | January 13, 2008 11:05 PM

#43

Gary F, this video could be the one you were thinking of...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdVucvo-kDU

Posted by: UberUber | January 13, 2008 11:08 PM

#44

Truth Machine, I think you owe that person an apology.

You're wrong. Perhaps you lack experience with Sigmund.

There was no insult.

You're wrong; it was quite condescending.

Posted by: truth machine | January 13, 2008 11:13 PM

#45

#43
"Perhaps you lack experience with Sigmund"
Now I'm intrigued.
You're not my ex-wife are you?

Posted by: Sigmund | January 13, 2008 11:19 PM

#46

No atheist's Bible?

Hmm, what's this?

http://www.amazon.com/Atheists-Bible-Illustrious-Collection-Irreverent/dp/0061349151/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1200284578&sr=1-1

That' being said, I have a very nice leather bound, gilded copy of the Origin of Species which I keep near the door precisely so that when the JW's or other assorted proselytizers come by, I can grab it and say, "Well, you've got your Bible, but I too have a fancy gilded, leatherbound book, and it is called "The Origin of Species," what about that?"

Posted by: SteveC | January 13, 2008 11:27 PM

#47

"Do people here seriously think that telling believers that their most important belief systems are "ridiculous" is going to cause anything other than offense?"

If the facts are found by some to be offensive, is this the fault of the facts?

Posted by: SteveC | January 14, 2008 12:04 AM

#48

"Are Catholics Christians?"

Great question, and not at all rhetorical.

If you live in The Great City of Chicago you'll know that the Archer Avenue bus route is a wonderful place for street theater (there's a White Castle at Archer and Kedzie -- that always helps). Anyway, I was riding the Archer bus late one night and a fiftysomething woman boarded, settled herself across from the driver and went on a Jesus trip for us. The usual stuff -- J luvs you, do you luv J, are you ready for the end, do you read the bible, oo wah dah doo dah, ... Then she started asking us all if we were christians. She was deeply concerned about the driver, and asked him two or three times, "Are you a Christian?" The driver, clearly getting tired of the show, said, "Of course I'm a Christian; I'm a Roman Catholic!" Her eyes went wide with fright and she blurted out, "O no! Roman Catholics aren't Christian! Roman Catholics are of the Devil!"

So much for the ecumenical spirit.

Posted by: ChicagoMolly | January 14, 2008 12:45 AM

#49

Roman Catholics are of the Devil!"

maybe she was privy to inside information?

or she just finished reading some Dan Brown dreck.

I can understand her conclusion somewhat though; it's a horribly damaging dogma. Just ask anyone with half a brain in central/south america.

Posted by: Ichthyic | January 14, 2008 12:51 AM

#50

#46, as someone once said "Facts! You can use 'facts' to prove anything that's even remotely true!" It is the examination of the evidence (or lack thereof) that leads her to the conclusion that religion is untenable (or 'ridiculous'). Her conclusion is perfectly valid but in being open about her opinion she is going to cause emotional offense to those who do their utmost to avoid a critical examination for the evidence that would support their religion.
To the religious (and perhaps I should be more specific here - those who truly believe in the tenets of their church) can there ever be such a thing as positive atheism?

Posted by: Sigmund | January 14, 2008 1:27 AM

#51

Oooops, that should be #47

Posted by: Sigmund | January 14, 2008 1:29 AM

#52

Omg, I just fell in love with that girl!

Posted by: Ced | January 14, 2008 1:57 AM

#53

"Am I a bad person for thinking her delivery needs work?"

Nah. You could tell she was nervous at times, and her eyes spent a lot of time looking to the left. But frankly, I'm just glad she didn't fall into that increasingly popular American tic of putting a rising inflection on the end of every sentence like it was a question.

Wish she would have taken the guy's note though. I would have, I'd be too curious. And it would have probably been fodder for the video.

Posted by: Rey Fox | January 14, 2008 2:38 AM

#54

To the religious (and perhaps I should be more specific here - those who truly believe in the tenets of their church) can there ever be such a thing as positive atheism?

If not, what possible advantage is there to be gained by pretending to a deferrence the religious have no right to expect?

Posted by: Azkyroth | January 14, 2008 3:27 AM

#55

"Her conclusion is perfectly valid but in being open about her opinion she is going to cause emotional offense to those who do their utmost to avoid a critical examination for the evidence that would support their religion."

In other words, like the description of the destructive behavior of women at a clearance sale*, it's true, but you shouldn't say it. Feh to that.

* I didn't say it, it was Kent Brockman! Really!

Posted by: Rey Fox | January 14, 2008 3:36 AM

#56

Whoa, talk about positive ... again from Nikki.

Posted by: truth machine | January 14, 2008 3:56 AM

#57

Just because:

Here's a relevant and much funnier Roy Zimmerman, from Nikki's favorites:

Ted Haggard Is Completely Heterosexual (Glory How He Blew Ya)

Posted by: truth machine | January 14, 2008 4:21 AM

#58

@Kristen, Krash:

She reminds me Rebecca Pigeon.

Posted by: S.o.G. | January 14, 2008 4:26 AM

#59

Pidgeon

Posted by: truth machine | January 14, 2008 4:57 AM

#60

Kristen, maybe the actress you're thinking of is Amanda Bynes:

http://moviesbuff.com/images/amanda-bynes-gl5.jpg

Posted by: Sergeant Zim | January 14, 2008 5:18 AM

#61

Natalie Portman and Scarlett Johanson are both atheists by birth, and I believe that they've kept the faith.

Posted by: John Emerson | January 14, 2008 7:06 AM

#62

Bravo!

She should be in theater or doing monologues on stage.

I agree with the sentiment that you don't need religion to be happy or to be a good person. Too many people think the opposite.

Posted by: Guy | January 14, 2008 7:14 AM

#63

I thought she looked a bit like Maggie Gyllenhaal. Which is quite ironic.

Posted by: Der Bruno Stroszek | January 14, 2008 7:30 AM

#64

I liked the, "No, I'm not a Christian -- I'm a barista!"

Think I'll borrow that line, even though I'm not a barista.

Posted by: Susan | January 14, 2008 7:36 AM

#65

Wow, how distracting it was to have her read most of her essay, her eyes continually wandering away from the camera. Not as spontaneous and natural as perhaps the subject needed.

Posted by: Elayne Riggs | January 14, 2008 8:02 AM

#66

Sigmund, you have no point. Ed Darrell at Millard Fillmore's Bathtub links to a guest column in Fort Bend Now, written by a teacher who is not permitted to use the word "evolution" in her classroom because the administration doesn't want to "offend" the families of the pupils.

In the comments section, there is a beautiful quote. Perhaps you would agree with this:

I'm sorry, but I disagree. I believe any truly Godly religion encourages much critical thinking in order to interpret Biblical teachings as our loving God intended them to be interpreted.
Belief in evolution also requires faith that some scientists' and proponents' hypotheses are infallible.

I am a Christian and will stand by my faith, but please know that probably because of what I was fortunately lovingly taught as a child, I do not consider myself superior to any other human being, as I believe God and Christ love us all unconditionally (in the truest and most broadly encompassing sense of the word, "love").

...and I really don't care to debate any more, but I would like to propose that we all can agree to disagree on this topic for the sake of civility alone, without any belittling whatsoever, however intellectual, academic, self-righteous, or passive aggressive any belittling may be.

I hope you can see the problems that your accommodationist thinking leads to, your concern is misplaced here. Are you not concerned by the people who have this unrelenting need to preach whenever they get the chance? Do you concern-troll evangelical blogs?

I would guess not, but you are welcome to correct me.

Posted by: Mike Haubrich, FCD | January 14, 2008 8:47 AM

#67

Belief in evolution also requires faith that some scientists' and proponents' hypotheses are infallible.

Could there be any more wrong with that statement? What a complete lack of understanding of how science works and what a hypothesis is.

Posted by: SteveM | January 14, 2008 10:25 AM

#68

Do I concern troll evangelical blogs?
No, and I don't concern troll this one either. Did you even read my posts? My point is not that I'm worried about the feelings of the religious - why should I be? - but rather a specific point about the title of this thread "This is positive atheism"
I'm not sure if you viewed the four horsemen video of Dawkins, Dennet, Harris and Hitchens that was posted on RichardDawkins.net recently but Dennett made the same point (probably a little better than I have) that any statement of atheism on logic grounds - as this woman does in this youtube clip - will be seen as an attack, or offensive in some manner, by the religious. As I've said in this very thread I have no problem with what she is doing, (I actually think its great that people have the courage to do this) just don't expect the religious to feel that it is a positive role model too. Hitchens or Harris, for instance, pointing out that religious claims are fallacious and about as believable as the story of Santa Claus is commonly described as 'negative atheism' yet I wonder if there is a qualitative difference compared to this video - at least in the minds of the shocked and dismayed god squad.

Posted by: Sigmund | January 14, 2008 10:45 AM

#69

Being outspoken about your atheism is a very stupid thing to do, in my humble opinion. Jeez, folks, if you don't put on a little religion, how are ya' gonna fleece the rubes?
I believe in anything which help me get a buck outta those suckers.
I like Bach cantatas (and tatas generally, ha, ha) but you rarely here those in church anymore. They should concentrate on improving the music. Even atheists like music.

Posted by: Mooser | January 14, 2008 11:23 AM

#70

Sorry, but I'm a little tired of these "I used to be a christian but..." manifestos. How long must we patiently hand-hold these morons who are just now catching on? Christianity was always stupid. It was stupid 2,000 years ago; it's stupid now. If we are truly obligated to pleasantly smile and nod each and every time some dolt painstakingly relates his or her step-by-step acceptance of reality, it will take another 2,000 years to rid the world of this pernicious horseshit. I for one do not have that much time.

Posted by: BDM | January 14, 2008 11:24 AM

#71

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sigmund_and_the_Sea_Monsters

Posted by: Scholar | January 14, 2008 11:30 AM

#72

Listen, I asked begged and prayed for God to come into my life. I cleaned my house, got a bunch of nice snacks and imported beer, and stayed home from work in my best clothes.
The sonuvabitch didn't show! Crap! I had the joints all rolled and everything.
Any bastard rejects my hospitality and a polite invitation, the hell with 'em!
And I've done fine on my own, thank you.

Posted by: Mooser | January 14, 2008 11:31 AM

#73

The problem is when you start reading a lot or watching too many videos and movies, don`t do that, please!!

Posted by: Clara | January 14, 2008 11:32 AM

#74

Re: Sigmund

I find myself half in agreement with you. From experience I know that some religious people will take any criticism of their fait as an insult. That's unreasonable and unfortunate. But there are arguably equally as many who would respect you for forming your own opinion. I had a philosophy professor who was a devout roman catholic, and I would constantly get into discussions with him after class about intelligent design and the god hypothesis and almost everything he had to say about science (he didn't have much to say about science, though, as one might expect). He didn't find my arguments against god insulting at all, and he didn't try to convert me (if anything, I was trying very hard to convert him, but I guess I'm not very convincing).

I guess that this professor is not the kind of "religious person" you mean when you say that this young lady will be perceived by the religious as a fanatic. I think it's really too bad that those kinds of unreasonable people exist. Their intolerance defeats the apparent purpose of their faith.

Posted by: kristen in montreal | January 14, 2008 11:34 AM

#75

Christianity was always stupid

Have you tried Judaism? Oy gevalt what a mishegos! Give it a miss, especially if you value your genitals the way God made them, is my advice.
And that part about the genitals is from painful personal experience, pal, an alchoholic mohel is no laughing matter.

I gotta catch a boat, bye.

Posted by: Mooser | January 14, 2008 11:35 AM

#76

@35:
also, this chick is cute as hell. and her points about judgementalness of evangelical christians is right on.
Hah. Speaking of which, check out the first letter on this page:

(hell yes, we need more people like her!) Check out how intelligent she sounds compared with this guy (from the above link):

To Kevin Williamson

RE 'All joking aside' (ENT, Jan. 6, year in preview in movies): In the Jan. 6 issue of ENT, you wrote that the "collapse of The Golden Compass indicates fantasy-film fatigue". I would suggest that it is nothing of the kind. The fact is, moviegoers are not interested in "fantasy" films, which portray organized religion as the "bad guy." In this case, Christ Our Lord would also be the "bad guy" for setting up organized religion for the ordered return of souls to God. I write this letter not only to tell you of these things, but also to gloat over the future success of The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian. This movie will completely crush The Golden Compass and other atheist-inspired garbage. Because people in the West want to see "good" movies inspired by the writings of Christians such as J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, not atheistic garbage such as The Golden Compass.

Michael Sutka

Posted by: Reynold | January 14, 2008 11:44 AM

#77

They Put Me in Napa State mental hospital and gave me a
Lobotomy when I was just a teenager.

just because I said in response to a cleric

#@$%^^ your gawd its all in your mind, she does not exist.
I gave em a heck of a what fer though!

Posted by: Teenage Lobotomy | January 14, 2008 12:05 PM

#78

Sorry, but I'm a little tired of these "I used to be a christian but..." manifestos. How long must we patiently hand-hold these morons who are just now catching on?

Well bully for you that you weren't raised by Bible-beaters, or figured it all out before grade school. I find it kind of hard to believe, though, that we should be pissing on the people who have figured out reality too recently for your convenience. How is she asking to be "hand-held"? It sounds like she's already got it down.

Posted by: mothworm | January 14, 2008 12:52 PM

#79

I like it! Gives one hope for the future. Personally, I think she looks a bit like Scarlett Johansen (sp?>

Posted by: mathyoo | January 14, 2008 12:57 PM

#80

Dana Delany, definitely.

Posted by: Jay | January 14, 2008 1:22 PM

#81

And she's a hottie too, even better! =)

Even if her youtube profile is OMG MY EYES ugly. Seriously, chica. Wow...enough with the lime green stuff.

Posted by: E in Md | January 14, 2008 1:40 PM

#82

I find it kind of hard to believe, though, that we should be pissing on the people who have figured out reality too recently for your convenience. How is she asking to be "hand-held"? It sounds like she's already got it down.

1.) It's not just my convenience that's at issue. 2.) She's asking to be hand-held by walking out onto the enormous stage known as YouTube where we are supposed to shower her with endless applause for discovering the obvious.

As Richard Dawkins points out, we don't need to be applauded for rejecting astrology. Why then should we need to be applauded for rejecting a stupid fairytale of virgin births and eternal salvation, etc?

I don't mean to be jumping all over this girl; she's probably a nice person (she seems nice anyway). It's just that this kind of thing is way, way, way, way overdue. Kind of like it's way overdue for people to be discovering fuel efficient cars or that McDonald's is bad for you. Yay! You bought a Prius! Bully for you!

Posted by: BDM | January 14, 2008 2:03 PM

#83

Anyone from the UK think she looks a bit like our Katie Melua?

Just a bit, I'm not saying she's a spitting image. Maybe its the hair...

Posted by: Matt | January 14, 2008 2:07 PM

#84

It may just be my personal reservation, but something about her wide eyed enthusiasm puts me off a bit. It's good to see another person joining 'our side' so to speak, but I worry about people who are simply followers by nature following the bandwagon.

Posted by: Mechalith | January 14, 2008 2:25 PM

#85

*84 Mechalith:

I'm glad you said that it might be your own personal reservation because what you said actually has little relevance to the video itself. She never quotes anyone else, she never gives off the inkling that she is following any crowd, she basically gives the impression that these thoughts and her "conversion" are her own. That is highly respectable in my book.

Posted by: Jay | January 14, 2008 2:35 PM

#86

BDM, congratulations on life being so damn easy for you. If only we all could be so lucky.

This girl's video and others like it are probably not meant for you, or me, or anyone else. I get the feeling such videos are simply a way to help the individual to become comfortable saying "I'm an Atheist." A first step in entering a world where so many people, family and friends included, will think you're a terrible human being and not associate with you anymore because you don't believe in their sky god. That's not a very easy thing to do for most people.

I'm sure you're probably a nice person too, but your comments sound awfully condescending.

Posted by: Sara | January 14, 2008 2:54 PM

#87

Ya' gotta watch of for the Goddies who might have a brain cell or two more than the common-run believers. You know, the ones that initiate "spontaneous" prayer, and then use it as an indictment. As an example, this was the blessing my father-in-law gave before the family Christmas dinner: "O dear Lord, let us now pray for the relief of all those innocent, virginal young daughters with whom it's almost like they were sold into white slavery when that nasty atheist Jew (a two-fer!) he took her from the bosom of her own family. May no other woman suffer the terrible torture that marriage to such a creature necessitates! And Lord, please try and show a little mercy towards those incorrogible monsters who show up for dinner stinking of weed, and eat like a pig, oh what my poor girl has to put up with..."

Like I didn't know he was talking about me!

Posted by: Mooser | January 14, 2008 3:44 PM

#88

re: look alike... Im guessing Jessica Biel or Nicci Cox although I wonder how much important information I forgot to dig up those references. :(

Posted by: Lorax | January 14, 2008 3:57 PM

#89

What was there in my post that indicated that life is easy for me? I'm posting angry blog entries in the middle of a weekday. Any reasonably observant person would infer from that a deep level of discontent. LOL

It's not just religion that pisses me off; it's our overall reluctance to embrace common sense in general. Now that gas is three bucks a gallon, for instance, and we're mired in two going on three oil-related wars, people are finally starting to kind of sort of maybe think about considering possibly buying relatively fuel efficient cars. Should they make videos patting themselves on the back for ditching their SUVs 20 years too late?

Some of us are on the 18th green. I'm sorry for expressing displeasure that it took you this long to figure out how to put the ball on the tee, but I'd like to get the game under way. Know what I mean? There's nothing new in all this atheism stuff. Robert Ingersoll spelled it all out for us a over century ago, and a century from now it'll be some other guy. It gets old.

Sorry about the golf analogy. I'm not a golfer -- honest.

Posted by: BDM | January 14, 2008 4:00 PM

#90

I thought atheists were either cranky old white men, libertarian college undergrads, or asexual scientists/science students. As someone in the latter category, yay for cute female atheists.

Posted by: jeffk | January 14, 2008 4:03 PM

#91

I think she looks like Scarlett Johansson, and I too am in love with this girl.

Posted by: zer0 | January 14, 2008 4:26 PM

#92

sigmund,

Some religious people will be offended merely by our existence, and I just don't think we need to pander to their thin-skinned sensibilities. If you want to show the right way to tell this kind of story, please do so.

My guess is that, if anything, telling some rude religious stranger with boundary issues that he and his beliefs are ridiculous wasn't really intended as an earnest skeptical conversion strategy (now that would be "ridiculous".) Instead, I'm guessing the whole event could be considered a wothwhile teaching moment in practical manners: harrasing busy strangers at their place of work with uninvited religious treacle is not a way to make friends and influence others. There is a time to be nice... but this just wasn't one of those times. Hopefully, he will think twice before pulling that silly stunt on some other poor working stiff again.

BDM:

It appears that she isn't looking for validation from people like you. Rather, she's trying to encourage other people who are still making the journey -- and good for her. I'd love to live in a world where this message really was superfluous, but that's just not the world we live it. There are a lot of young kids who need to hear this. She comes across very sweet, and I would have loved to see this when I was struggling fifteen years ago.

I'm really not sure where you are coming from. For those of us that grew up in the religion-soaked, blue collar American heartland, coming out atheist is more than just some detatched intellectual exercise. It can mean the

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