Maybe the human brain evolved faster than technology so that becoming sentient created abstract thought - especially about things for which there were no immediate answers.  This, I think, was the beginning of science.  As each mystery was solved, one more fear, or, from a cynical perspective, one more god went the way of the Edsel.

My name is David Edward Oliver and I live in South Carolina. I first lived in Virgina for 34 years before I moved to South Carolina. I am a political libertarian with liberal leanings. I hope to meet new people and talk politics or religion.

That's the headline from an article in The Observer yesterday.  It describes an honor killing in Basra, where a 17-year-old girl was stomped to death by her father for talking to a British soldier -- "the enemy, the invader and a Christian".

Well, it's been a long time since I posted and received the wrath of dKos for pointing out the obvious for stating this, but I'll do so again: this is another example of how religion kills.  

How's that headline? Do I have everybody's attention now? Good. Because a headline like that should get your attention. Would anybody tolerate "Gay Bashing Week" or "Woman Bashing Week?" The very idea is ludicrous. Yet, Dinesh D'Souza can print an article entitled "Atheist Bashing Week" and hardly anybody bats an eyelash. There's certainly not public outrage and condemnation for such blatant bigotry. He was just joking, you say? Even in all of our stunts here at the RRS, which are regularly criticized by atheists (often quite vehemently), we've only dared to tell people that their god doesn't exist or encourage others to say so and post it to YouTube. Even the mind disorder controversy doesn't encourage physical harm or even allude to it. If we haven't had "Christian Bashing Week," you can bet it's because we find the notion repugnant, even in jest.

Dear Barack,

Today I received two emails from you soliciting a donation for your campaign. I probably would have donated some money as I have four times in the past, but I’m a little strapped right now. It’s the economy, you know. I really gave it a lot of consideration before turning you down. I could have given up a necessity or two for a couple of days, but something kept stopping me from dropping something in the plate when it was passed. So I decided not to contribute right now.

What stopped me was this whole religious thing that has been going on recently. I know it must be a heart wrenching decision to denounce someone who has played a big part in your life. It seems that Rev. Wright was there to help you out of some spiritual uncertainty in the past and his leading you to Christianity was an answer for you at the time. I also know that all of us continue to associate with some people whose views we may not agree with 100 percent. I am also sincerely sorry that you had to deal with some personal turmoil caused by someone you had a great deal of respect for.  But I also think that all of this is significantly caused by trying to mix religion and politics.

CNN reports that 23 year old Jeremy Hall was denied a promotion because of his religious beliefs. Hall was also harassed by other soldiers while on duty in Qatar and told the army couldn't protec him from such harassment.

He even had a superior officer (a Major) threaten to bring charges against him for trying to organize a meeting of those who believed as he does.

Hall is a member of one of the most reviled groups in America today because of his relationship to religion. Hall is not a member of a fundamentalist Mormon sect, or a Muslim.

Hall is an atheist.

Religiously speaking, 2008 may seem like an upside-down political season.  John McCain doesn’t do God talk, Barack Obama does.  And the general consensus seems to be that even though Obama acknowledged that he went searching for a church only after he began organizing in Chicago, he genuinely means it.

That may seem upside-down because for seventeen years the U.S. has grown steadily more secular – and democrats pander to secularism, don't they?  The data comes from the American Religious Identification Survey (ARIS) from CUNY, first conducted in 1990 and repeated in 2001.  The study asked thousands of Americans "What is your religion?"  "No religion" came in third after "Catholic" and "Baptist" – and the number jumped from 14.3 million in 1990 to 29.5 million in 2001.

So where’s the evidence of rising secularism since 2001?  Well, I interviewed one of researchers behind the survey – and he heartily believed that the trend had continued.  But I can’t really cite that with links here.

There is some citable evidence, however, in modern politics.

Atheist soldier claims harassment

But the short and soft-spoken specialist is at the center of a legal controversy. He has filed a lawsuit alleging he's been harassed and his constitutional rights have been violated because he doesn't believe in God. The suit names Defense Secretary Robert Gates.

"I'm not in it for cash," Hall said. "I want no one else to go what I went through."

Known as "the atheist guy," Hall has been called immoral, a devil worshipper and -- just as severe to some soldiers -- gay, none of which, he says, is true. Hall even drove fellow soldiers to church in Iraq and paused while they prayed before meals.

More here and here.

It has often been said that "there are no atheists in foxholes".  The point, I guess, is that soldiers under fire will discover their belief in a higher being.  However, it is not meant to exclude non-believers from the armed forces.  Someone needs to tell that to our military commanders, apparently.

A story in today's New York Times details the travails of Specialist Jeremy Hall, who, while serving in Iraq, had the temerity to hold a meeting for atheists and non-believers.  When a superior officer upbraided him, and when he was subjected to continual harrasment, he was sent home early from Iraq due to threats directed against him.  He has filed suit against the US Army charging them with religious discrimination.

Who suffers from existential angst more, men or women? Apparently no one has really looked into this.

UPDATE: I added a couple more little things to the post that make some things in it more precise, and I wrote a lot in the comments that may interest people.

I recently listened to Thom Hartmann talking to Chris Hedges




While the show implied that atheism and science were the same, they are not. Also God and religion are not the same. In particular science may lead to a belief in God and a religion does not necessarily have to have a belief in God.

The issues are more complex.

Rob Sherman is an atheist activist.  A few days ago, an Illinois State Representative unloaded on him and slurred people who didn't believe in her deity.

http://www.dailykos.com/...

We have all made mistakes at some time in our lives.  Some people never own up to them.  Representative Davis did; she sent Mr. Sherman an apology.

More below the fold

I searched and it didn't look like anyone had posted the video yet, so here it is, Keith Olbermann made Illinois state Rep. Monique Davis his worst person in the world last night!:

A post I made earlier today in response to this diary was met with a lively discussion. A number of people in response said either that I was too dogmatic, that I had oversimplified, or that I had not clearly explained why monotheism and hate are related.

I make this hastily written diary in response. There is no point spending too much time on the topic since it has been argued endlessly for generations now. Others have done it better than I could and perhaps some of them will post in response now.

Hey all --

It looks like csquared's diary about Monique Davis ( http://www.dailykos.com/... ) is reaching 1,000 comments (which means we won't be able to continue the discussion for much longer), and I don't think csquared is still logged in to create an overflow, so if anyone still wants to chat or debate on these issues, feel free to post here instead!  :)

As most of you know, Illinois state rep Monique Davis (D-Chicago) made some highly bigoted comments to an atheist activist, calling his philosophy "dangerous" to children.

This cannot stand--especially coming from a Democrat.  Even if you aren't from Illinois, I think we ought to pester her and the state house leadership.  After all, if we can't keep our own in line ...

Here's Davis' contact info:
Springfield Office:
241-E Stratton Office Building
Springfield, IL   62706  
(217) 782-0010
(217) 782-1795 FAX

District Office:
1234 West 95th Street
Chicago, IL  60643  
(773) 445-9700
(773) 445-5755 FAX

I just fired off a fax to her capital office (thank you, eFax).  Pester the state house Dem leadership as well--contact info after the jump.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/...

Unbelievable.  I'd expect this from the Pat Robertson crowd, not one of ours.  According to this article, Illinois State Representative Monique Davis (D-Chicago) told an atheist that it's dangerous for children to even learn that atheism exists.

ETA: Here's another post detailing the exchange -- I think friendlyatheist has been a bit overwhelmed.