I want to make sure I'm following any RRS forum users on twitter.  So do you use it?  If so please drop me a line here so I can follow you.

Follow me @RationalSquad and @BrianSapient

I have a daily newspaper compiled with links from RRS fans/supporters/activists.  Check it out, read it daily, like it on facebook, you get the drift: http://paper.li/rationalsquad/rational-response-squad

*UPDATE 7-29-11*   Jeff Owens was released from the Philadelphia Eagles today.  I don't think he ever got playing time.  Today he was waived/didn't pass physical.  I sent him a tweet, but feel bad for him.

http://twitter.com/#!/rationalsquad/status/96794836602068992

I'm a huge Philadelphia Eagles fan which is why I follow many of the players on Twitter.  Occassionally one of them will tweet something about God and I just can't keep my trap shut, I say something.  Today Jeff Owens responded to my tweet and was willing to indulge me in a day long back and forth conversation (transcript below).  I hope he got something out of it, maybe someday it'll lead him to question.  Should he choose to, I would be glad to show him what I've learned over the years, what I've managed to become after shedding my Christian roots.  Should he choose to I would be glad to show him just how powerful he is, how amazing his coaches and family have been for him, and how he managed to reach the NFL without any help from invisible powers in the sky.  

Jeff Owens is currently a practice squad DT for the Philadelphia Eagles after being drafted in the 7th round of the NFL draft in 2010.  He goes by jeffowens95 on twitter.  My responses to Jeff came from @rationalsquad (I also use @BrianSapient).

Since twitter posts show up in reverse chronological order I've attempted to piece them together, put them in chrono order, and make the discussion a little easier to read.  The following is what we said:

Jeff Owens: Good morning twitter fam, this is another day to give thanks for all the many blessing God has given us... #ThankYouJesus!!!!

Brian Sapient: There is no rational reason to believe in a god or thank it for blessings. Thank the people that raised you for doing it well.

Jeff Owens:  There is a God, and he loves you

Brian Sapient: A nice sentiment, but we have no solid evidence a God or Jesus exists. The bible is full of flaws, have you read it?

Jeff Owens: I read it daily, so if there isn't any proof of a God who made the earth???

Brian Sapient: How do you justify God condoning and making rules about slavery in the bible? Video on Earth formation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-x8-KMR0nx8

Jeff Owens:  that was Gods will, everything happens for a reason

Brian Sapient: Can you come up with a good reason that God would condone and advise on how to keep slaves? Doesn't seem loving in the least.

Jeff Owens: have u ever read the bible???

Brian Sapient: Of course Jeff. It was because I read the bible that I realized the story isn't possible. All loving God that didn't love all?  An all knowing God that doesn't know where Adam is when he gets to the Garden, or who told them he was naked.  An all knowing God that didn't know the serpent he created would trick Adam and Eve, a God not loving enough to plan better.  Those ideas that I just mentioned, we're just talking the first few pages. There are too many contradictions for it to be...

Jeff Owens: you should read a book call Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren...

Brian Sapient: I've read it, I even own a site that is responding to his "Purpose of Christmas" http://www.thepurposeofchristmas.net

Jeff Owens: I just started reading it, it will enlighten you on what God has call you to do in life, we live to serve God

Brian Sapient: Seriously Jeff you can't honestly say that allowing and condoning slavery was good or just or worthy of worship. Can you?

Jeff Owens: that was Gods will, everything happens for a reason

Jeff Owens: I'll worship Christ no matter what, like Job he loss his family his fortune and his health, but he worship God no matter what

Brian Sapient: Even if I could prove that Christ never existed and the God of the bible is impossible you would continue to worship?

Jeff Owens: That's one thing you can't prove, there is a God and I believe that you believe that too

Brian Sapient: Ok so you don't want to answer that question along with why God condoned slavery. I understand what's happening there.

Brian Sapient: Are you interested in books that challenge your beliefs at all? I would be glad to give you several.

Jeff Owens: no I'm not I love worshiping God

Brian Sapient: What if you're wrong Jeff? What if you're wasting the only life you get on a fantasy? Not worshiping God is nice as well man.

Jeff Owens: I have faith

Brian Sapient: Faith is useless man. You can have faith in smurfs or goblins too, that doesn't change the fact that you could be wrong.

Jeff Owens: Jesus will never leave you or forsake u

Brian Sapient: That's a sweet sentiment Jeff, but tell that to the people who will die of starvation or cancer today. They pray too you know.

Jeff Owens: everybody have a path

Brian Sapient: Dear people dying of cancer or starvation: Everyone has a path. Hope that makes you feel better. @jeffowens95

Jeff Owens: yes we all do... Retweet this, Christ died for our sins there is no greater love!!!

Brian Sapient:  I don't believe God came down to Earth to sacrifice himself to himself so that we can escape his wrath. It makes no sense.

Brian Sapient: Here's a list of contradictions in the bible if any of this conversation has you curious. http://tinyurl.com/2t8ou

Jeff OWens: do you believe in UFOs???

Brian Sapient: We don't have scientific proof of aliens in UFOs yet, but we have more evidence for them than Jesus/God. You?

Jeff Owens: how can u believe in UFOs but not God????

Brian Sapient: You didn't understand me, I didn't say that. I said we have more EVIDENCE for UFOs than God. Neither are firmly proven.

Jeff Owens: Final Thoughts: there is a God and he love you, he sent his son to die for you, he created all things

Brian Sapient: My Final Thoughts: You and all other XIANS can't prove that God is real and therefore might as well worship aliens or smurfs.

 I have a new advertiser.  For the next few weeks an image ad is on some pages of the website on the right hand side for a t-shirt company.  It's controversial, so I thought I'd give people a chance to lash out or comment in general.  What do you think of the ad?  What do you think of the shirts?  Would you buy one?  What would you think of someone who was wearing one?  What are your thoughts?

Here it is:

Stainedtees

I want to extend my congratulations to the Atheist Agenda students The University of Texas at San Antonio.  They put themselves on the line in public to raise awareness. Much like the Blasphemy Challenge they have found a way to be controversial thereby grabbing attention and literally forcing theists to think.  I should bring you up to speed if you're not familiar.  Over the last few days Atheist Agenda students have gathered on campus with magazines and books of various types of pornography and offered to swap any holy book for some porn.  The campaign is called smut for smut.  

Typically the reactionary over-emotional irrational thinking of theists hinders them from contemplating why a group would compare the bible to porn.  The irony is unique here in that theists are taught by their religious leaders to avoid pornography, yet pornography is one of the most successful businesses on the planet and made so largely by religious people.  The gut reaction of a theist when seeing someone turn in their bible for porn is to be disgusted or upset.  This reaction happens in part as a defense mechanism due to years of brainwashing.  Their defense is to avoid thinking about the bible in such a negative light.  One can only hope the campaign forces contemplation among the more sane theists out there, and from my years of experience watching them I believe it does.  For what it's worth the students have stated that this isn't about being for porn, it's about being anti-bible.  

I could go on and on but I don't want to lose you.  The main reason I'm writing this is to implore you to spread the word of this campaign.  It's already received national attention in several news pieces and it's the type of story that will force people to think about the vile disgusting nature of a book they call Holy.  

Here is how you can help...

Follow the Atheist Agenda on twitter and spread the word on twitter to follow them: http://twitter.com/AtheistAgenda

Check out their blog: http://atheistagendautsa.blogspot.com/

Engage in a discussion with anyone commenting on the project in the many national pieces currently running online. 

Here is a thread originally started by Brian37 on this site: http://www.rationalresponders.com/forum/19843

Here are two news stories on youtube from national news about the campaign: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1P44h0XoGk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gU_7j5Ctuo4

Here is one more story from Chris Deluna on smut for smut.

Last weeks atheist hero has got to be Angie the Anti Theist who smashed taboos about abortion by tweeting all the way through an at home abortion by pill procedure and engaging anyone who had a problem with it.  Add her on twitter as well!  http://twitter.com/AntitheistAngie

On December 25th I will maintain a tradition I started a few years ago, celebrating Christmas day with nonbelievers via webcam, and you're invited!  I'll be joined by longtime RRS moderator and friend Shaunphilly and his girlfriend Seana, who was a Christian before she met Shaun.  Christmas can be a depressing day if you're a non-believer, especially if you feel alienated or unwelcome at festivities of a more religious nature.  We look forward to bringing together a large group of non-believers who want to hang out, blaspheme, and exchange stories of our religious past.  This is a gathering in both live text form and video format.  We encourage you to hook up your webcam as we can have up to 6 people on webcam at once.  Christians are welcome to visit as well!  

You'll need an account with http://www.stickam.com If you don't have one, get it now.  It's free!  

The party will happen in this room: http://www.rationalresponders.com/rrs_webcam_room

If you have a problem with that page you can also view it here: http://www.stickam.com/sapient

Here is the schedule of events:

1 est: The chatroom will open to members of stickam

2 est: Christmas related youtube video presentation along with text chatting.  I'll show a conglomeration of youtube videos dealing with the history of Christmas intertwined with some atheist comedy and blasphemy.  I've prepared over 3.5 hours of youtube videos, giving you the chance to comment on these videos live, while exchanging stories.  If you have a favorite Christmas video you want me to show, you have to link to it by Tuesday the 22nd as a response to this post!

6 pm est: Shaunphilly and his girlfriend will arrive at my home and we'll all appear on webcam.  At that point we will open up the extra camera slots to as many people as possible.  We will talk about a variety of issues including but not limited to the origins of Christmas, my purpose of Christmas project, the tree of knowledge, and more. During our broadcast we will order a traditional ChristMyAss Sushi and General Tso's Chicken dinner.  We invite you to eat your ChristMyAss dinner with us!  

9 pm est: In the past we've shown The God Who Wasn't There Movie but we've never shown the commentary track version, this time we will.  

Once again the festivities will be here:

http://www.rationalresponders.com/rrs_webcam_room

FACEBOOK EVENT: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=257573686280&ref=mf

I found the recent appearance of Michael Specter on The Daily Show to have quite a few correlations to the efforts of atheists to help humanity abandon our unscientific religious past. 

http://video.rationalresponders.com/video/Tree-of-Knowledge-2009

I held an umbrella today over Margaret Downey as she put atheist book covers on the Tree of Knowledge.  A display outside of the West Chester County Courthouse in their Free Speech zone.  Here is a list of the books on the Tree of Knowledge.  Enjoy the video and photos.  

It's with sorrow and sadness that I announce the Rational Response Youtube account is back online.  In the years of my atheist activism I've never had the pleasure of working with a more frustrating and horribly run company.  It's often seemed to me as if they have 4 employees, 3 of which have their heads up their ass, and the 4th is measuring how far they managed to insert it.  I'd sit here and tell you the stories, but why relive the pain.  Nevertheless a few people asked for our youtube account to be back online, so I've been working on it since October 11th, and they finally managed to do what by law was supposed to be done by October 25th.  I have no plans to upload another video to that account, however it's likely that I will at some point.  I deleted a few videos that I felt were less relevant, and upon seeing some of these videos for the first time in months realized I would prefer to not come off quite as harsh.  Not that I don't think we shouldn't be mocking and laughing at religion, I would like to do it with a slightly more calm demeanor if I can.  Which of course remains to be seen.  

I've decided to put together a little playlist of the videos I'd most want someone to see if they've never seen any of the videos on our youtube account before.  

In Rationality,

Brian Sapient

Here they are...