An atheist’s view by Tom Rasmussen:

The USA is the greatest country in the world, but we have some serious problems…really serious problems. Consider the following:

• $14 trillion in federal debt
• Real unemployment of 21+ million
• Underemployment of 26+ million
• 50 million without health insurance
• 120 million without dental insurance
• 48 million receiving food stamps
• Inflation in the cost of basic needs-food, energy and health care
• Schools are turning out morons
• Continued loss of manufacturing capacity to foreign companies
• Two foreign wars, one the longest in US history(Afghanistan)
• Porous borders

 This list could go on and on but these are biggies. Most Americans will agree that these are the major problems but there is little agreement as to the causes and solutions. That’s because the root causes of the problems are not openly and truthfully discussed. Too many people have their minds in the past and a distorted view of reality caused by religion and stupidity. The politicians have sound bites but no answers.

The largest direct cause of the above problems is overpopulation from both over breeding and excessive immigration. The economy and the societal infrastructure cannot keep up with the endless flow of new people, especially during a severe recession. Until these causes are addressed, the problems will continue to get worse. Most of the population growth comes from minorities at the lower end of the economic spectrum. This is not a statement of racism but one of statistics. Of course, whites and Asians are quite capable of over breeding as well. Just look at all the dumb rednecks there out there…many with an oversupply of dumb redneck kids.

But nobody will talk about it—except it is a component in the undertone contained in the Tea Party rhetoric. Like Dr. Phil says: “You can’t fix what you don’t acknowledge.”

Population control needs to become a major part of our national dialogue. If we stuck to the principle of zero population growth (two children per couple), these problems would lesson over time. It should be a major goal of American society. Otherwise, we will evolve into a third-world country.

We also need to have a sincere national discussion as to who we really are as a people. Let’s answer the question: “To what extent are we our brother’s keeper?”  What are the precise rolls of government versus the private sector? Maybe we are too divided to form a national consensus but can’t we at least talk about it straight on? “Go forth and multiply” is a medieval principle that needs to be revised for modern reality. Of course, almost all religious teachings are medieval.

This discussion would put the Christian-right in a very uncomfortable spotlight. While they claim to be Christians, they believe in “every man for himself” which is totally contrary to the (supposed) teachings of Jesus Christ. The liberal-left believes the government should provide for all regardless of the circumstances which too is impractical. Nevertheless, most of the real humans contained in the above statistics or affected by the problems don’t want to be there. They want jobs and the ability to be self sufficient not the victims the Right blames for the statistics.

In 1970, author Alvin Toffler wrote a book named “Future Shock” which he defined as “too much change in too short a period of time”. He had no clue as to the magnitude of what he was projecting. In fact, Toffler coined the term “information overload”—this was before personal computers, fax machines, cell phones, CDs, HVDs, the internet, digital cameras, Fox News and MTV.

Well folks, we as a society are so deep in future shock that we are becoming unable to function. This is probably why people, in today’s modern world, are turning to religion…they are just plain scared. So let’s address the real problems, their causes and their solutions.

Religion is like smoking, it can make you feel good in the short run but it has a negative impact in the long run. Smoking ruins your physical health while religion ruins your mental health as well as your intellect. If you do both, that’s a double negative impact. Why didn’t most of the preachers of the 1950s and 1960s speak out against tobacco use? Some, like the Mormons, did but I never heard it when I was forced to attend church.

When I was a kid, most adults smoked. Smoking was glamorized on TV and in the movies. All of our heroes smoked. There were even TV ads for cigarettes. I remember arguing with my friends about whose father smoked the best brand. The nasty habit was implanted in our minds as the thing to do. As a result, many of us too smoked, starting in our teens. It was easy to do as there were unattended cigarette machines everywhere. Or we would steal them from our parents. Before long, we too were hooked.

Concurrently, we were being indoctrinated in religion. We were forced to attend church and Sunday school every week and we did it without question. Like smoking, it was the thing to do. I argued with my friends as to which denomination was the best. However, I did start to doubt the religious dogma at an early age and I made futile attempts to avoid church attendance. My mother would have none of it, I was going or else! Interestingly, my mother never smoked.

However, my father did smoke right up to the time he died of a stroke at age 56. The cigarettes killed him. But, he didn’t attend church; however, he always told me that I needed to go. I don’t know why as he was always stated that any con man, who was a good orator, could start a religion…right on the money.

As soon as I could, I stopped attending church but I smoked until age 51. By then we all knew better but it was difficult to quit. Smoking actually made me feel better and I enjoyed it even though it was a filthy, nasty habit. I encouraged my two kids not to smoke and, fortunately, one never did.

Today’s youth have mostly rejected smoking and they are turning away from religion as well. This is a very positive trend as people are getting smarter and believing science. Hopefully, over time both of these two nasty habits will disappear. Am I saying there is a direct correlation between smoking and religion? No, just they are like traits for weak-willed individuals.

Rev. Terry Jones

Terry Jones, an evangelical crackpot preacher, finally cancelled his planned event to burn copies of the Quran on September 11th to protest the 2001 attacks. This asshole has a First Amendment right to do it but it would have been a grand display of very poor judgment, hatred and intolerance. Hopefully he was just looking for his “15 minutes” and will permanently cancel the event. After all, he did get President Obama to publically ask him not to do it plus a call from the Secretary of Defense. What more does he want? I guess it has to be more than 15 minutes.

Now even though I am an atheist, I don’t believe in “hate” crimes that this act could be considered. I don’t care for Muslims or the Quran but they have the right to practice their religion even though I think Islam is also a radical, totalitarian political ideology. The significant symbology of burning their sacred book is too intolerant for them to ignore. And, it would trigger more anti-American hatred and motivate more attacks on us and our troops…all for the edification of some stupid cracker’s attempt at fame.

This douche Jones is the latest poster boy for Christian hypocrisy and blatant stupidity. His actions are totally opposite the teachings of Jesus Christ which seems to be a trait common to most Christians…say one thing, do another. Plus any huckster, like Jones, can invent his own denomination of Christianity and make up his own creed. Then with a few lines of bullshit, get dumb asses to follow him. This time though, a small-time religious nut could trigger worldwide deaths and increased hatred. Maybe he doesn’t give a shit as long as he gets in front of the cameras…a loser’s fast-track to fame.

Now this lunatic is trying to inject himself into the New York mosque controversy which is a matter to be decided by the citizens of that great city. Who does this screwball think he is? His puny, Florida church has about 50 members who must be real simpletons to follow this jerk! He should be locked up for mental evaluation. Of course, so should most clerics.

If Jones should change his mind and go ahead with this idiotic plan, I’m going to burn a Bible and sent him the carcass to see how he likes his book of religious fiction being burned. If there are protests outside his church, I may drive to Gainesville and join in. Not that I have an affinity for Muslims, but I believe in their right to peacefully practice their religion and there is no need to spit in their faces even if we think they are mentally-deficient. To me, all religions are evil and the primary causes of war, hatred and intolerance. Jones is a moron who just doesn’t get it.