X is…

As if Obama’s Father’s Day speech wasn’t annoying enough.  Since, after all, only Christian fathers celebrated that Sunday.

As if, somehow, it doesn’t seem that Obama is completely campaigning from the churches these days and not from lecture halls.

As if it’s not annoying enough that each and every one of his speech’s could rival Rod Parsley’s ranting and raving on the stage in front of thousands.

Maybe it’s simply locking up the nomination for the Democrats that has allowed Obama to become extremely blatant about his faith.  To tell the world that his faith will be first and foremost in his presidency.

Is he trying to show us that he is more devout that Bush?  Is he trying to make us think, “hmm, Obama’s alright; if only he were less religious like Bush”?

Ever since capturing the nomination has spent countless hours trying to make a mockery of the separation of church and state.

By announcing that he plans to overhaul Bush’s faith-based initiative, Obama is taking yet another step in the wrong direction.  He once portrayed himself as a man of principle, and now he is simply doing whatever he can to become president.

The world does not need more faith-based initiatives.

“Make no mistake, as someone who used to teach constitutional law, I believe deeply in the separation of church and state, but I don’t believe this partnership will endanger that idea,” Obama said.

He emphasized that those receiving funds could not proselytize the people they help nor could they discriminate in hiring practices on the basis of religion. Faith-based groups could only use federal dollars for secular programs. And he committed to ensure that taxpayer dollars would only go to “programs that actually work.”

Oh.  So the funds can’t be used to proselytize?  Nor can they be received if people are being discriminated against.  Fantastic.  And who’s going to head up this operation?  Who’s going to police the use of funds for all the “right” reasons?

Obama’s “rock-star” status has turned into something a lot less cool.

There is not a shortage of religious leaders and we certainly don’t need one in the White House.

What do I want?  Somebody to stop jerking our collective chain.  Obama seemed, for a second, to be the one to actually implement change, or at least enough to make us feel we’re going kinda-sorta in the right direction.

Instead, we’re getting more of the same.  Packaged slightly different.  Tone is quite a bit better.  May actually be somebody who earned his degree.

They say he’s courting the Christian Left.  How about simply courting the left?  How about showing that religion doesn’t actually have to play a part in the election process?

Thank you Jesus.

Popularity: 7% [?]

Posted in Politics, Rant, Religion

I’m not a fan of television.  Really never have been.

I do, however, love music.  So the one big value of youtube for me is to watch videos of bands or artists who otherwise would never get a song on the radio or MTV- those wonderful reality television people.

Everything else is like watching television on the computer.  I don’t get it.  Nor do I get the random people telling us their life stories on youtube.  I don’t understand and I cannot watch it.

I’ve decided to make a page.  I call it Music, Music.  Link is at the top, or you can click here.

You may not like what I like to listen to, but it takes me where I want to be.

Oh, and music really is the one value of myspace too.

Popularity: 10% [?]

Posted in Music, Television

One of the challenges in taking a new job is learning how your co-workers and various bosses are.  For bosses, learning their styles is the first hurdle.  Similar to a new professor in college, a person who wishes to succeed must adapt to the style of the boss in order to be successful.

Recently I discussed my boss and how he has been reading the Bible at work.  While I find it odd that a person would read the Bible at work, this bothers me very little.  Only because he does not discuss it and only reads it in his office.  I also find it peculiar that a man who claims to never read decides this is it.  This is the one book.

Now his boss is in another state.  I’ve only interacted with him over the phone.  I’ve been told he’s a big guy and he definitely has a big voice.  One of these people I’ve met before who yells when things are quite right.  A first class bully.

Well, over the last few weeks, this man I’ve never met has been noticeably calmer.  Only it’s attempted calmness.  It’s forced.  It’s killing him.  I’ve commented to my boss that I think he’s on Prozac.

A few days after the post regarding my boss reading the Bible, this interaction happened over the phone.  My boss always talks to everybody on speaker… except his wife.  For clarity’s sake, if I’m infinity, my boss will be pi and his boss will be zero.  I’ve eliminated quotes for the story, since some of it is not quotes.

Calmly, Zero began talking about how all we can do is what we can do.  Calmly is not Zero’s style.  As I stand there listening to the conversation, I mouth the word “prozac” to Pi.

Pi speaks up.  We have a question, he says, You’ve been calm lately.  Are you taking Prozac or something?”

No, a slightly agitated Zero says.  I’ve been going to church more.  I figure if I have more faith, my customers can see it and will like me more.  So that’s what it is, if you must know.

I must of had a look of disbelief.  Maybe annoyance as well.

Pi asked, what religion.

Quickly, Zero snapped, Christian.  And I’m not Wiccan or one of those crazy Christian extremists that are running around.

OK, I had to ask.  What kind? asked Pi.

I used to go to an Evangelical church, but now I go to a Crossroads church.  My preacher is really good.  Is on T.V. and the radio.

I know I am shaking my head.  I can’t help myself.

Infinity is a practicing atheist, says Pi.  There it was, he announced it.  I’m not afraid of people knowing, I just don’t want some people knowing.  Especially when they are bullies that are over me.

He is not, said Zero.

Well, he knows a lot about all religions, and I mean a lot, but doesn’t practice any, said Pi

He is not- are you?  Are you an atheist, Infinity? queried Zero after a bit of a pause.

I answered, Yes I am.

I hope that works out for you, replied Zero.

I thought of many ways to answer this.  Confrontational is how I prefer to go.  Many answers to somebody suggesting I’ll get mine on judgment day.  I decided to stay calm.

So far so good.

A knowing chuckle from Zero and then business finished.  Back to business.

Later I had to call Zero’s office.  I knew he wouldn’t be there.  I talked to the guy who does my job for Zero.  See Zero had called me on my cell phone and asked I call the office.

Hey, Zero needs you to call him.

Oh, I must have left my phone in the car.  Slight pause.  Maybe if he prays hard enough, I’ll hear it.

I learned a ton from this conversation.  Apparently Zero got in trouble with his wife.  That prompted him to go to church regularly and really drive the chatter home.  He brought in his radio and listens to his really good preacher with it blasted all day.  He’s driving everybody nuts.

Another reason why religion doesn’t belong in the office.  And if it doesn’t belong in the office, then it doesn’t belong anywhere public- especially the government.

People like Zero have no tolerance for anybody else and their way.  I’m waiting to see if this has an impact on how he treats me or deals with me in the future.

The truth is, I have a tried and tested philosophy.  My wife accepts it and believes the same as I do.  Zero has to change focus because he gets in trouble.  In reality, he’s still the same guy holding back how he really wants to treat people.  He’ll likely explode one day or just revert back to his old ways.

As his person told me, going to church doesn’t change who you are.

I hope that works out for him.

Popularity: 24% [?]

Posted in Rant, Religion

I’m slow at times.  This is one.

The wonderful and always good read whydontyou tagged me for these ten questions.  I will answer them, but I’m reluctant to tag anybody as I’m such a social introvert.  The questions are interesting though, so I have enjoyed reading the responses around the ‘net.

Q1. How would you define “atheism”?

No god.

Q2. Was your upbringing religious? If so, what tradition?

No.  I would say that my parents brought me up with no religious ties.  Although I was spawn from a lustful Mormon affair that created a short, one year, shotgun marriage, so I have a lot of family that is LDS.  My step dad, who raised me with my mom, was raised Baptist, I believe, but he dropped most of that as an adult.

Q3. How would you describe “Intelligent Design”, using only one word?

goofy

Q4. What scientific endeavor really excites you?

Are they solving anything outside the realm of erectile dysfunction?

Q5. If you could change one thing about the “atheist community”, what would it be and why?

I’d like us all to get a place at atheistspace.com and then we could share all sorts of great adventures.

Q6. If your child came up to you and said “I’m joining the clergy”, what would be your first response?

“What?  You listening to country music now too?  Get out of my house!”

Wait.  Is this what I would say?  Let me change that.

“OK, good.  Let me know if you need anything.”

Q7. What’s your favourite theistic argument, and how do you usually refute it?

Not really a theistic argument.  Kind of a agnostic argument.  The “rather safe than sorry” argument.  I’m not sure if there is anything, but I’d rather believe and be wrong than not believe and end up in hell.  I hate this argument.  Be your own person and a whole lot less chicken shit.

Q8. What’s your most “controversial” (as far as general attitudes amongst other atheists goes) viewpoint?

Umm, atheists are known for saying there is no god.  So all controversy would surround that one statement.

Q9. Of the “Four Horsemen” (Dawkins, Dennett, Hitchens and Harris) who is your favourite, and why?

I’ll be honest.  I’m poorly read on the topic.  I said on a recent post that reading atheist books are simply preaching to the choir.  I tend to shy away from them and find more interest in reading other points of view.

Q10. If you could convince just one theistic person to abandon their beliefs, who would it be?

Ah hell, one is italicized.  My biggest problem is the government.  I’d really like to convince Congress.  Maybe they could stop passing legislation or grow a pair of collective balls to the Christian community who really think that this country was founded on Christian principles.

One person?  I’m going with Obama.  He would be a decent candidate if he would quite pandering to the Christian community.

Wow, that was fun.

If anybody else wants to answer, please copy and paste the questions only to fill in with your own answers.

Popularity: 25% [?]

Posted in meme

My boss doesn’t read.  Well, he never did before and has expressed his dislike for reading many times.

We have some downtime during the days often and I have been reading various books.  Both fiction and non-fiction.  Whatever gets me through the day.  He generally sits in his office and plays Tetris on his cell phone.  Sometimes I solve Sudoku puzzles.  It’s a great atmosphere.  Sometimes he reads the news and we discuss what’s going on in the world, but those moments are short and rare- the way they should be.

I took a week off and when I came back, my boss was reading.

There it was.  The neat pages with the gold edges.  And it was leather bound too.

My boss had the Bible open right on his desk and has the entire week.  He spent the entire week studying it as if he were seeking something great.

He asks me what I’m reading.  I started a book Tuesday that I finished Thursday; reading it only during work hours.  I tell him Tuesday that so far the main character is posing as a suicide line worker and all he does is tell people to kill themselves.

What a good, strange book that was.  He asked me again the next day and I didn’t want to tell him more.  It was about a man who grew up in a church cult so he didn’t quite get society and socialized norms.  He later became a media-made messiah.  His friend sees the future.  The cult killed themselves.  They were phony.  The author writes in short sentences this way.  He bounces back and forth through ideas.  He doesn’t use quotes often.  The book was good.

My boss never mentions his Bible.  He never tells me anything.  Other than that he goes to church and teaches Sunday school so his Sunday mornings are booked, he doesn’t mention anything about his religion.  That is good.

He plays on his church softball team.  They suck.

He played on my heathen softball team.  We won the league.

I’ve also worked through some Dawkins for something to read.  That’s called preaching to the choir so I have a hard time reading it.  I’d probably read the Bible easier.  I’ve also spent some time this last month reading Palast, Chomsky, and Hartmann.  I don’t think my boss knows who any of those people are.

There we are, though, the good and evil of our civilization in one office.  He’s reading all the proof and arguments that he needs to understand that his god exists and to refute any point that an atheist like me could make.  I’m reading all the proof I need that there is no god and gathering quotable information to refute any arguments a Christian, Muslim, or Jew may make.

There is no HR for 1,000 miles.  Although, a phone call could make it feel as if HR is real close.

I wonder if my boss got in trouble.  If his newly wed wife got mad at him for something.  If he’s trying to find the arguments to make a point to her or show that he’s a better person today than he was a week ago?

He doesn’t read!  The Bible is very tough to read.  Maybe he has a slang version?  A leather-bound, golden page edged, slang version.

I don’t think the Bible is appropriate for workplace atmosphere.  I will never complain.  I’m unoffendable.

I’m amazed at just how many people have had their Bibles open on their desks at work over the years.  How many people think that it’s appropriate to read their religious texts in plain view of the world.  I guess that their belief system suggests they do.  It allows them to create a clique of Bible readers.

I often wonder why they don’t read something else.  Why it is that they not only have to spend all their free time reading this text, but they squeeze it in any chance they can.

I feel like telling them that I know how it ends.

Spoiler alert…

Popularity: 31% [?]

Posted in Events, Religion