Zach Sobiech was a 17-year-old who passed away on 05.20.2013. He was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer that takes the lives of a large percent of its childhood victims. Given only months to live, Zach turned to music to say goodbye.
My Last Days: Zach Sobiech “Clouds” Celebrity Music Video
My Last Days: Meet Zach Sobiech
With the number of atheists continuing to rise, CNN’s Wolf Blitzer on Tuesday afternoon learned the danger of assuming on live television that his interviewee is a Christian.
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Juan Mendez, a 28-year-old Democratic State Representative from Tempe, Arizona, got elected this past November. Somehow, this bit of information on his Facebook page slipped under our community’s collective radar:
Say what now?!
But if his atheism wasn’t publicly known before, it is now. Earlier today, Mendez did something we’ve rarely seen from any elected official in any state: He delivered an invocation before the House began its afternoon session in which he honored his Secular Humanism:
Most prayers in this room begin with a request to bow your heads. I would like to ask that you not bow your heads. I would like to ask that you to take a moment to look around the room at all of the men and women here, in this moment, sharing together this extraordinary experience of being alive and of dedicating ourselves to working toward improving the lives of the people in our state.
This is a room in which there are many challenging debates, many moments of tension, of ideological division, of frustration. But this is also a room where, as my Secular Humanist tradition stresses, by the very fact of being human, we have much more in common than we have differences. We share the same spectrum of potential for care, for compassion, for fear, for joy, for love…
Carl Sagan once wrote, “For small creatures such as we, the vastness is bearable only through love.” There is, in the political process, much to bear. In this room, let us cherish and celebrate our shared humanness, our shared capacity for reason and compassion, our shared love for the people of our state, for our Constitution, for our democracy — and let us root our policymaking process in these values that are relevant to all Arizonans regardless of religious belief or nonbelief. In gratitude and in love, in reason and in compassion, let us work together for a better Arizona.
I’m sure that went over well in the Republican-controlled House 
So how did all this happen?
The Phoenix New Times doesn’t go into much detail, but it’s no coincidence that members of the Secular Coalition for Arizona were in the gallery today.
A couple of weeks ago, the SC Arizona’s Executive Director Seráh Blain set up a meeting with him to talk about her group’s issues and get his take on them. That’s nothing unusual. But when Blain saw that he was an atheist on his Facebook profile, she asked him about it and they ended up discussing the state’s vibrant secular community (in addition to the other issues) and planned to stay in touch.
Cut to last week. Mendez was scheduled to deliver the opening prayer in the House — all members are expected to do it at some point — and he asked Blain for advice on what to do. Should he decline the opportunity? No, she told him, adding that he should use his time to challenge religious privilege by showing that atheists, too, have “beautiful, powerful beliefs and convictions.”
So Mendez gave the invocation. And he even acknowledged the SC Arizona’s presence in the gallery. That may not have even been the highlight of the event. According to Blain:
When we all said the Pledge of Allegiance, there was poignant silence on the word “God” in the gallery. One nation, indivisible. Amazing.
Agreed. Truly amazing.
Just to top it off, a press release from SC Arizona included this wonderful comment from a former leader of the Arizona House:
Former House Democratic Leader Phil Lopes added, “As a Humanist I am delighted that a secular message opened today’s House session. The challenges our state faces can only be solved if we welcome and encourage the ideas and views of all Arizonans. We do ourselves a disservice if we continue to exclude or ignore the concerns and interests of 20 percent of the population.”
Video of Mendez’s speech will hopefully be available tomorrow.
Incidentally, this is the same state House that Kyrsten Sinema (who is believed to be an atheist though she no longer talks about it publicly) was in for six years before being elected to the state senate and (now) the U.S. House of Representatives. The New Times points out that “many of Mendez’s constituents also call Sinema their Congresswoman.”
After the invocation, Mendez called himself one of just one of 1.3 million Arizonans not affiliated with a religious tradition or organization.
“I hope today marks the beginning of a new era in which Arizona’s non believers can feel as welcome and valued here as believers,” he said.
Secular Coalition for Arizona Executive Director Seráh Blain, Rep. Juan Mendez, and SC Arizona Chair Matt Schoenley, after Mendez’s invocation
Rep. Juan Mendez, surrounded by representatives of many of the 17 nontheistic groups making up the Secular Coalition for Arizona
(Thanks to Zachary for the link!)
I just returned from Washington DC yesterday, and early tomorrow morning I have to fly off for the IHEU General Assembly and to speak at the Humanism Romania conference. The theme is “Education, Science, and Human Rights” — I might be able to say a few words about that.
I don’t think I’ve fully recuperated from the last trip, though, so I’m going to be thoroughly worn out by this one. Blogging may be a little intermittent for a while, especially since I think my flights and layovers total about 13 hours each way. And I’m plunging into the lab as soon as I get back, too.
Some people have considered the recent criticisms of the CEO of the Center for Inquiry to be a wholesale attack on the organization (well, “some people” meaning “freakin’ loons”). Nothing could be further from the truth. I’m a supporter; I think many of their causes are essential; I appreciate the work of many of the people there. Let’s not forget that the whole of the organization is not the brain of the CEO, whether it’s Paul Kurtz or Ron Lindsay, both of whom have also done good work. We have to trust in the quality of the group to overcome the flaws of the individual.
So I thought I might throw out an occasional post to let you know about a few of the commendable efforts of CFI — you know, try a little positive reinforcement in addition to my usual spiked bludgeon of criticism.
CFI has an Office of Public Policy.
The Office of Public Policy (OPP) is the Washington, D.C. political arm of the Center for Inquiry. Our mandate is to advocate for public policy based on reason, science, and secular values. This includes lobbying at all levels of government — Congress, the Administration, and the international community, including the United Nations — to promote and defend separation of church and state, the role of scientific evidence and secular ethics in policymaking, and basic civil and human rights.
This is the unit that lobbies the government directly for secular causes — if there is something that pisses you off about public policy, this is an effective place to ask for assistance. The director of the OPP is Michael De Dora, who has been working his butt off to get things done. He’s also their representative to the UN.
He meets with the State Department on issues of international concern for secularists, and as we all know there have been a number of those lately, with atheists being persecuted in several countries. He lobbies to keep religion and politics out of science, and has fought against the corruption of our educational system.
He’s also stood up for women’s issues, opposing restrictions on emergency contraception and abortion. You can find a good summary of his position in his speech at the Unite Women rally.
If CFI had really felt it necessary to tap a high-ranking man to give an introduction at the Women in Secularism conference, it would have been a good choice to delegate it to De Dora, who has a solid record on women’s issues and would definitely have been politic enough to avoid throwing a few rhetorical grenades into the crowd. In the past I’ve said some rude things about a few remarks he made about creationism, but…he got better. I’ve met with him a few times, and I’m confident in his abilities in his job — and he’s one of a lot of faces at CFI who do great work.
So keep on criticizing where criticizing needs to be done — it’s how the organization gets better. But let’s not forget that CFI also does invaluable work on our behalf.
Michael De Dora of CFI addressing the Unite Women rally
Statistics: Posted by SouthernFriedInfidel — Wed May 22, 2013 12:02 am — Replies 1 — Views 26
Prominent humanists have taken a significant role in the International Day of UN Peacekeepers Remembrance Ceremony, which commemorates UN peacekeepers who have been killed in the line of duty. Flight Lieutenant Emily McCullouch of RAF Leuchars, who is a member of the BHA (British Humanist Association) and UKAFHA (United Kingdom Armed Forces Humanist Association), delivered the closing remarks at the ceremony which is on par with November Remembrance Day, on behalf of the 14.7% of Armed Forces personnel who last year identified themselves as non-religious. BHA Trustee Patricia Rogers, who is an educator and internationalist with widespread experience of running international campaigning charities, also attended. The BHA which has also been campaigning for four years for humanist representation at the national remembrance ceremony at the Cenotaph very much welcome the news.
The Remembrance Ceremony was preceded by the International Day of UN Peacekeepers 10th Annual Conference, which was organised jointly by the United Nations Association Westminster Branch and RUSI (Royal United Services Institute). The conference discussed the role of international police units in UN missions, who help to rebuild a modern state after the withdrawal of military forces, with a focus on the role of women police officers. The conference was followed by a parade along Whitehall involving members of the diplomatic community, which assembled at the Women of World War II Memorial for the Remembrance Ceremony. The Ceremony remembers those from the 122 participating nations who have been killed whilst serving as UN peacekeepers. A total of 3,108 UN peacekeepers have lost their lives in service, 103 of whom were British.
Flight Lieutenant Emily McCullouch delivered the UN Peacekeepers’ Day Humanist Tribute, as the Ceremony’s ‘closing prayer’. She explained that humanists share the vision which underlies the principles of the UN, which is that of ‘a world where everyone lives cooperatively on the basis of shared human values, respect for human rights, and concern for future generations’. She paid tribute to UN Peacekeepers who have been killed or injured in the line of duty, as well as their family members and friends who have supported them. She also honoured ‘all those who currently risk their lives, serving in the forces to build international peace and security in a world in which, as agreed by all parties to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, “recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace”.’
Notes
For further comment or information contact Pavan Dhaliwal, Head of Public Affairs at pavan@humanism.org.uk or on 0773 843 5059
UNA-UK – After the peacekeepers leave: International Day of UN Peacekeepers 10th Annual Conference:
The British Humanist Association is the national charity working on behalf of non-religious people who seek to live ethical and fulfilling lives on the basis of reason and humanity. It promotes a secular state and equal treatment in law and policy of everyone, regardless of religion or belief.
The post Humanists take part in International Day of UN Peacekeepers Remembrance Ceremony appeared first on British Humanist Association.
On today’s Situation Room on CNN, Wolf Blitzer interviewed a woman named Rebecca Vitsmun whose family survived the Oklahoma tornado. At one point yesterday, her husband was driving home and worried that something might have happened to Rebecca and their 19-month-old son Anders, but there was no reason to worry; Rebecca left the house as soon as she heard the weather was getting really bad and everyone is safe. Their house may be in ruins, but their family is intact.
Things got a little awkward at the end of the interview, though, when Blitzer asked her if she thanked God that she left her house in time:
Blitzer: Well, you’re blessed. Brian, your husband, is blessed. Anders is blessed… and I guess you gotta thank the Lord, right? Do you thank the Lord? For that split-second decision?
Vitsmun: I… I… I’m… I’m actually an atheist… [Laughs]
Blitzer: Oh, you are! [Laughs] But you made the right call!
Vitsmun: Yeah, yep. We are here! And, you know, I don’t blame anybody for thanking the Lord.
Blitzer: Of course not.
Way to represent, Rebecca
(via Washington Free Beacon)
Revolution Church, a liberal congregation in Minneapolis, served rainbow-colored communion bread at services recently to celebrate Minnesota passing marriage equality.
Pastor Jay Bakker of the gay-friendly Revolution Church serves rainbow communion bread in honor of Minnesota’s newly-passed marriage equality law
The idea for the colorful addition to church service came from Courtney Perry, a photographer who served the bread at her symbolic wedding ceremony in 2011. (She and her spouse didn’t marry legally in solidarity with their LGBT friends who are still denied that right.) Rev. Jay Bakker, the church’s head pastor, found the idea symbolic and fun.
“So many people have been hurt by the church and by Christianity,” Bakker told the News. “But this was a beautiful moment.”
Bakker describes his church as “pretty liberal” on social issues. Congregants in Minneapolis meet at a theater space with a bar and a bowling alley; the New York chapter of the church meets at a bar in Brooklyn. It’s friendlier and more neutral than traditional places of worship, and that’s how he wants members to see the church.
Bakker said he’s received plenty of backlash from conservative social media users after news about his rainbow communion bread spread online.
“They’ve missed out on the higher message of the Bible and who Jesus is and what he did,” Bakker said in response to those negative comments. “They’ve become victims of tradition.”
It’s refreshing to see more and more religious groups that aren’t so much about religion, per se, but about sticking together in the face of adversity perpetuated by others under the guise of “God’s will.” A little rainbow bread goes a long way.
SOME sense, and a great deal of manure has emanated from the House of Commons during the acrimonious and often lunatic debate over gay marriage this week.
Biggest bouquet, though, must go to David Lammy, MP for Tottenham, who is quoted here as saying:
The Hon Member for Gainsborough [Edward Leigh, Con] should also recall that this House deliberated for 20 years – he will know the name of William Wilberforce – on the abolition of the slave trade. Conservative Members may tut, but they know that this House was split for 20 years on the issue of whether black human beings were human or chattel. There were Christians in this House who sought to suggest that black human beings were chattel, and that somehow it was a matter of conscience and we should not end the slave trade. That is why this is a noble fight.
And the biggest brickbat? That, naturally, goes to Leigh, who said after the vote:
Army and NHS chaplains who preach in favour of traditional marriage in their own churches on Sunday could find themselves in trouble for it at work on Monday. Tens of thousands of teachers are at risk of disciplinary action for expressing traditional views.
And for those of you who might have been counting the minutes to see who would be the first to blame The Gays for Oklahoma’s devastating tornado, here’s this from the Westboro Baptist Church, which claimed that God had blown off in rage because basketball player Jason Collins came out as gay in April.
Collins, who played with the NBA’s Boston Celtics and Washington Wizards this season, became the first openly gay male athlete in US professional team sports after a very high-profile coming out.
Preacher/Theologian John Piper is one of those guys who gets off on telling women that God has a special role for them: to be subservient to their husbands and never in a position of authority. He’s one of those guys atheists salivate over because every time he says something, the pendulum moves a bit closer to our side.
So when he started tweeting last night in the wake of the Oklahoma tornado that has already killed dozens of people, bloggers like Nate Pyle were ready to take screenshots. Good thing, too, because he caught a tweet that has since been deleted:
It’s that middle one that raised Nate’s eyebrow:
I’m not sure what bothers me more about this. That in the face of loss and tragedy Piper callously quotes a random scripture to make a point I cannot fathom, or that 50 (since I imported this picture I saw another that had 65!) people retweeted it.
Granted, Piper did take the quote down rather quickly. But I cannot for the life of me figure out what he was trying to communicate. Was he trying to say that this stuff happens because God ordains it to happen? Was he trying to make a cause and effect connection between people’s sin and God’s judgement as he has in the past? Or did he find a verse that reminded him of the days events and so just tweeted it out? I can’t figure it out.
It doesn’t matter. It should never have been there.
Incidentally, Job 1 tells the story of how God told Satan that Job was a faithful servant and would never curse him no matter how shitty things were in his life. Satan doubted that, so God (in an awful judgment call) gave Satan the power to make Job suffer so they could all see how Job doesn’t blame God for it. Soon, messengers are telling Job that some of his animals have been stolen, while other animals have died by fire… and then we get to the verses in question:
While [a messenger] was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, “Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”
What significance could that possible have after the tornado? Like Nate says, it doesn’t matter.
But let it be known that after dozens of people had died and untold numbers of people were trying to figure out how to make sense of a natural disaster that took away their family members, homes, and memories, Piper saw fit to quote a Bible verse depicting the death of innocent lives at the hands of a dickish, “benevolent” God.
This afternoon, Piper issued a follow-up tweet that made even less sense:
My hope and prayer for Oklahoma is that the raw realism of Job’s losses will point us all to his God “compassionate and merciful.” Jam.5:11
— John Piper (@JohnPiper) May 21, 2013
Of course, there’s nothing compassionate or merciful about a God that would kill off innocent people just to prove a point to His enemy.
You know, for all the faults of the Catholic Church, at least the Pope tweeted out something in response to the tragedy that was at least genuinely heartfelt:
I am close to the families of all who died in the Oklahoma tornado, especially those who lost young children. Join me in praying for them.
— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) May 21, 2013
I learned a lesson from all this, though: Always take screenshots of pastors who have a habit of putting their foot in the mouths. Thanks, John Piper.
(Thanks to Ward for the link)
Last month, NBA player Jason Collins came out as gay.
NBA superstar Kevin Durant (of the Oklahoma City Thunder), when asked for comment, said this:
“If the guy’s happy, whatever he does, that’s cool with me,” Thunder star Kevin Durant said at Monday’s shootaround. “Jason Collins, playing against him, seems like a great guy. Never got the chance to know him. But if he’s happy, that’s cool. Nobody has any right to judge. He’s his own man. Makes his own decisions. As NBA players, it’s like a big group of guys, kind of like a brotherhood. I know I support him. Like I said, I don’t really know him, so whatever decision he makes is something he really thought was good for him. Nothing nobody else can say about him. As long as he’s happy, it’s cool.”
So obviously — obviously — that’s why a tornado just hit Moore, Oklahoma… according to Westboro Baptist Church’s Fred Phelps, Jr. (son of the church’s founder):
OK Thunder’s Durant flips God by praising fag Collins.God smashes OK. You do the math.#GodH8sFags #FagsDoomNations #FearGod #GodH8sU
— Fred Phelps, Jr. (@WBCFredJr) May 21, 2013
All of you who had picked Pat Robertson in your first-religious-person-to-say-something-stupid-after-the-awful-tragedy poll owe me $5.
Yes, Phelps is crazy. No, he doesn’t represent mainstream (and even most fringe) Christians. But I promise you it won’t just be outliers like Phelps who rationalize “God’s will” by saying He’s upset about whatever issue they happen to complain about.
(via Huffington Post)
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