I was wondering how long it was going to take before The Atheist Spot received anti-atheist comments and/or story submissions. Check out the comments under this story:

ATHEIST DAY: April 1st. (April Fool's Day)

THOSE WHOM GOD CALLS FOOLS

The fool says in his heart,

"There is no God." (Psalm 14:1).

For the message of the cross is foolishness

to those who are perishing,....(1 Cor. 1:18).

You fools, when will you become wise?

(Psalm 94:8).

It's the first time I heard an "Atheist Day" and April Fools associated with one another. This would have had much more impact on April 1st. It was a little premature, but at least I know to look out for this stuff on April Fools.

We have been receiving and unusual amount of spam as of late. We try our best to keep a leg up on the spam, but may fall through the cracks. Thanks to Boreas for point them out.

Jon

Here are is a short list of cool and interesting things from exhibition tables:


If you are an atheist and have kids, this is a fascinating new concept. Charlie's Playhouse, http://www.charliesplayhouse.com/, brings the history of evolution to life. All the games and toys are inspired by liberation. They also had a baby outfit with a clever saying, "I was made from Natural Selection". Also, they have a very clever name for the company, see if you can figure out the connection. It stumped me at first, but once I figured it out, thought it was quite genius.


Enlighten the Vote, http://www.enlightenthevote.com, is a strong advocate for the separation of church and state, and seeks to support secularists and constitutionalists alike. They used to be called something else (which escapes my memory at the moment), like Godless Something. But the new name reflects a more alluring and inviting message, that both even believers may support. Not the separation of individuals to God (if you so choose) but the separation of the state imposing religious ideology on a nation.


Andrew Newberg and Mark Robert Waldman are coming out with a new book in 2009, How God Changes Your Brain. It's based from a neuroscientist perspective. Interesting note, they were actually conducting a survey of AAI attendees, with various God/Godless questions, and even asked us to draw a PICTURE of God. I drew nothing, but labeled it [This space intentionally left blank], for obvious reasons.

Though not exactly Atheist related, I thought this thing was hilarious. It's a Bill of Rights, made of metal, http://www.securityedition.com. At an airport, when you pass through the metal detectors, it will set them off, resulting in a search. They search you for the metal object, you "Bill of Rights" are taken away, and hopefully your "Bill of Rights" will be given back.

Paul Martin, http://www.aspiringatheist.com, created a folk music atheist inspired album. I was talking to Paul, and we was saying that seeing Greydon Square perform at the last AAI Convention was one of his inspiration to making this album. I really like Track 2, Happy Heathen, here is a sample line:


I wasn't born a Christian,
I wasn't born a Jew,
I wasn't born a Muslim,
I wasn't born Hindu.
I was born free to think,
to question and to reason,
I was born free to think,
I was born a Happy Heathen

This is by no means an all inclusive list, there were tons more cool stuff.

I am going to submit each of these links individually, to see how the atheist spot community votes each up or down.

Margaret from AAI returned my call last Friday! It was a weird area code, so I decided to let it go to voicemail. She has been busy getting everything all straight for the atheist convention. I called her back on Saturday and chatted for a bit about the up coming convention. It looks like there is high demand for exhibition tables at the convention (a good sign that atheism is gaining more and more traction), that they are opening up more space.

I was thumbing through AAI 2007 photos, it looks like they had some big names show up, Dawkins, Hitchens, Dennett. Looks like there will be a great showing this year as well! Not that Atheism is about the superstars, but its great to see and perhaps even meet the outspoken that have given Atheism a voice in decades past.

After I sent in the exhibition reservation check, I got a little anxious for the event. Usually I am the lone Atheist, come the end of September, I will be surrounded by Atheists. Don't get me wrong, the online Atheist community is great! But sometimes, it feels good to meet face to face. Hope to see you there!