Political Evolution

I was scratching away in my litter box the other day and it occurred to me that today’s conservative xian worldview was a lot like the big stinkin’ pile of crap I was trying to cover up (not sure this new brand of cat food is working out for me).

To most supporters of the progressive/liberal worldview, this probably isn’t anything they haven’t thought about.  But for some reason, I’d never considered why a conservative is a conservative and why someone—like the pet who was raised as one—goes from being conservative to being progressive.

In her case, I’m sure it was because of her deconversion from fundamentalist xian to atheist.  But how and why does that happen?

I started stepping it backward.  First of all, you experience something or gain some knowledge that makes you question the Bible.  Is it truly the inspired Word of God, as you were taught, or could it be just a book written by flawed men?

If you shore up your shaken faith and stick with ‘inspired Word of God,’ you’ll probably stay a conservative.  If you give your brain a chance to do its thing and go with the flawed men choice, then you step back a little more and figure out that if the Bible isn’t divinely inspired, then the idea of “original sin” loses its meaning.  Take away the “man is born bad and stays that way unless he opts in to the forgiveness that some dude dying on a cross gives him” and you start to consider that man’s behavior and morals might come from the society in which he lives rather than an arbitrary set of rules dictated by a god.

Once you’ve accepted that there was no Adam or original sin and the Bible stories are all myths, you become much more open to learning what the facts really are.  You learn about evolution and cosmology and neuroscience and suddenly things start to make sense.  If man evolved into what he is today, then why couldn’t empathy, compassion, and altruism evolve with him? 

Conservative xians spit out the word “socialism” like it has four letters.  They seem to define it as ‘stealing from those who work nose to the grindstone for it and doling it out to the indolent sloths who do nothing but hold their hands out and believe themselves to be entitled to it.’  What makes these conservative xians feel this way? 

I think one reason is because they’ve been warped by their religious upbringing.  All that “us versus them,” “we’re right they’re going to hell” stuff they get spoon fed shuts off some of that compassion wiring in the brain.  They get mean.  They get greedy.  They get selfish.  They bash “different.”  They can’t step back and see need and suffering.  They rail against having their tax money pay to help those unlike themselves.  They bemoan a return to the “Judeo-Christian principles” on which their twisted version of history claims was the basis for the country when the nation was actually founded on secular values that benefit everyone instead of just their favored clan.

Do they have their paws over their ears singing “lalalalala” whenever a doubt tries to creep in?  Are they too ignorant to start stepping back?  Is there a point when any brain rewiring becomes impossible? 

Why are they so afraid that helping someone less fortunate will encourage dependency instead of realizing it might give someone a chance to achieve independence?  Why do they think denying gays the right to marry will make their life any less miserable than it already is?  Why do they think they have the right to stick their nose into someone else’s choice to have a child or not?  And on and on.

I think a conservative xian who travels the road to progressive atheist probably has to stop and bury a lot of stinky crap along the way.   But I know at least one who is glad she made the trip. 

The Passion of the Krauss

While the pet was at work yesterday I watched a video one of her Facebook friends had posted on her timeline.  It was an interview with Lawrence Krauss, mostly about his new book, A Universe from Nothing.  The pet has a thing for Dr. Krauss—I get the intellectual attraction (which leaves me wondering what she sees in her boyfriend, but then that’s a story for another day) and will admit to getting carried away myself by the man’s passion and enthusiasm for his work and for the amazingness of the Universe itself. 

Watching him led me to thinking about passion in general. 

Having passion is a grand thing.  I can get totally wrapped up in a good bout with my raggedy stuffed ball, in batting around a strip of glue removed from one of those page-a-day calendars, in a pinch of catnip on my scratching post, or even in an absurdly decadent middle-of-the-morning nap.  

My pet can get passionately immersed in a lot of things, too, like cooking or reading or writing or her job or just learning something new.  

It makes me wonder about the inclination of the animal brain to seek passion in life.  I’m sure it’s healthy.  Aren’t all sorts of happy hormones generated when in the midst of passionate engagement?  That’s got to be good for the immune system, right? 

The trick is to find and channel that passion into doing worthwhile things.  No, I can’t be the judge of what’s worthwhile to everyone, but I can sure have my opinion on what’s not.  Take religion for example (please, take it!).  Watching people get all into a church service, with the raising of hands, the swaying, the speaking in tongues, is a lot like watching Dr. Krauss get all animated when talking about how something can come from nothing. 

Oh please, no I’m not comparing Dr. Krauss to the sheeple at a church service.  I’m just suggesting that the mechanisms in the brain that allow for that kind of engagement are the same.  However, in the case of the sheeple, there’s no good purpose for expending energy on something as stupid and useless as endlessly poring over an ancient book and worshiping an imaginary deity.  In the case of a theoretical physicist, there’s plenty of purpose for getting all excited at unraveling the mysteries of the Universe.  That kind of excitement can lead to new understandings and insights, which can then lead to new technologies to improve the world for everyone in it, even the sheeple. 

There are plenty of other ways to misuse the brain’s craving for passionate engagement.  Pursuing pseudoscience like homeopathy, searching for evidence for ghosts and Bigfoot, throwing all your energy into learning how to use a New Age astrological crystal pyramid magnetic bracelet or some shit, protesting gay marriage, being a conservative Republican…you get the idea.  Fervently pursuing things that cause suffering in others, that encourage hate, that impede societal progress, or that just don’t make any damned sense seems to me a tragic way to spend a life.

Be passionate because it’s good for you.  But be passionate for something worthwhile so it’s good for all of us.

Thank you, Dr. Krauss.

Oh and in case anyone wants to question my commitment to not causing suffering in others, I promise I ate that silverfish too quickly for him to feel any pain. 

Well, not much.

Atheists Should Cut Down Trees

I’ve been getting fat and lazy eating too many Whisker Lickins’ and haven’t felt the need to write much.  However, I saw yesterday that the FFRF had elected to sue over that Montana Mountain Jesus statue and their latest blog post contained an excerpt from a 700 Club show.

According to intellectual giant Kristi Watts, atheists should start cutting down trees because Wiccans revere them.

Facepaw!

You know…I think I’ll just leave it at that.  What else needs to be said?

Criticism or Hatred?

I’d rather be lounging in my favorite spot under the bed right now, but the human has the vacuum cleaner roaring in the bedroom.  I despise vacuum cleaners—what reasonable cat doesn’t?

But at least while she’s occupied, I can write a few words about something I’ve noticed some Christians saying on the various “atheist versus theist” type Facebook pages.  They seem to be accusing atheists of hatefulness, suggesting we are full of hatred, and calling us “haters.”

I can’t speak for all atheists, but I’d venture to guess that most of us don’t hate the Christians.  Christians seem to mistake criticism for hatred.  Calling them out for their belief in a supernatural deity isn’t being hateful.  Pointing out their lack of education regarding the secular nature of our government isn’t hatefulness.  Poking fun at their inability to understand how their school-sanctioned prayer is illegal doesn’t mean we hate them.  Mockery doesn’t equate to hate either. 

Perhaps only those with delicate sensibilities (or a lack of certainty about their faith) are unable to distinguish between criticism and hatred.

Oh, crap, got to run.  The Dyson is headed this way.

Rocks for Brains

A perfectly peaceful grooming session was disturbed when I overheard my human talking on the phone about a conversation she’d had with a coworker about evolution.  Seems this paragon of intelligence had postulated that the different races of people had evolved from different types of animals.  Like the African Americans of his acquaintance had evolved from chimps and perhaps Asians had evolved from pandas.

Unfuckingbelievable.

The level of ignorance about evolution in the USA staggering.  We even have candidates running for President who say they “don’t believe in” evolution.  In 2012, we have candidates running for President of the United States who don’t accept the reality of evolution.

I’d ask what else they have their heads up their butts about, but I already know that all of them admit to believing in a supernatural cloud fairy and we can assume they plan to consult with it about policy if elected.  Some of them even proudly say they believe the country should be run according to their “God’s Law.”  Oh for Leo’s sake!  What law?  “Thou shalt not commit adultery?”  “Thou shalt eat no unclean, abominable things like shrimp and lobster?”  “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s ass?”  Give me a break. 

They should all excuse themselves and slink back to whatever Stone Age rock from under which they crawled.

Now how am I going to get back into my grooming with my hair all puffed out like this?

Blasphemy Law?

I’ve been reading about anti-blasphemy laws and resolutions and it’s got my whiskers in a bunch.  I’ve got a better idea.  Instead of making an international law to criminalize speaking ill of religion, why don’t we make one requiring it? 

“It is hereby established from this day forth, that all superstitious belief systems, including and not limited to those requiring

• worship of unseen and undetectable deities,
• adherence to contradictory, inflammatory, and often indecipherable scribblings in ancient texts,
• participation in useless and absurd rituals and rites,
• constant beseeching for special dispensations, 
• complete and total disregard for logic, intelligence, and scientifically proven facts

shall be mocked, ridiculed, and derided at every opportunity.  Failure to do so will result in a $25 fine (or a comparable amount in any country’s currency) and possible enrollment in the nearest accredited college or university with a science degree program.”

Forcing people to defend their own nonsensical beliefs while throwing stones at someone else’s might open some eyes. 

Maybe not, but I’ll bet it would be fun to watch.

Atheism is Cool

My tail goes to twitching uncontrollably when I hear about the madness that is Tebow.  Thing is though, Tebow is good for atheism.

Tebow shows how utterly absurd it is to believe that a god cares about what you do with a piece of inflated plastic.

Tebow highlights the banality and uselessness of imagining the hand of a god in everyday activities.

Tebow is a perfect target for ridicule and mockery.

Tebow is not cool.

Cool is Bill Maher, the writers at SNL, and others for having the guts to say what a growing number of people are thinking—that spurious displays of god belief are embarrassing and the only way to counter them is to be openly derisive.

Tebow is proof that atheism is cool.

It’s Not About Them

It’s a lovely Sunday—cold, cloudy, and raining—and I plan to spend much of it curled up and lap napping.

But first I wanted to comment a little more on my last post about how to deal with Christians who remain deliberately ignorant. 

It’s not about them. 

The human with whom you are debating on Facebook or in another forum, might never, ever change her mind, but what about the others who are reading the threads but aren’t participating?  They are not being personally attacked so they aren’t shuttering their minds, digging in their heels, and defending themselves.   They are safely on the sidelines, able to hear and process each side’s arguments.  And we all know which side is the most lucid, the most rational, the most—let’s just say it—the most intelligent. 

Eyes are opened.  Brains are awakened. 

Even if the “arguments” devolve into name-calling, insults, and derision, the name-calling, insults, and derision from the atheists is funnier, smarter, more entertaining and clever, and therefore more likely to inspire fence-sitters to jump over to the side of reason. 

After all, why choose to be a dumbass when choosing to be smart feels so smugly superior?

Merry December 25^th!

There Are None So Blind As Those Who Are Deliberately Ignorant

Since I sleep a lot (ah, one of the best things about being a cat), I also dream a lot.  I woke up once yesterday with this quote in my head, “There are none so blind as those who will not see.”  The pet was at work so I got up and did a little poking around on the Internet.  I couldn’t find a consensus on the exact wording or even an absolute attribution, but I did come across this reference to Jeremiah 5:21-22:

‘Hear this now, O foolish people,
   Without understanding,
   Who have eyes and see not,
   And who have ears and hear not:
   Do you not fear Me?’ says the LORD.

So that got me to thinking.  I don’t know what the context is and I don’t much care.  I do know that this could be used by both sides of the theist/atheist fence.  The theists might use it to discount evolution, for instance, raising that tired argument of “how can you not see that our world was perfectly designed for us, up to and including that bananas are perfectly formed to fit our hands?”  (That always slays me!)  The atheists on the other hand, might say that the writer of this verse is worried that his precious control is slipping and is trying to herd the straying sheep back into the fold by suggesting they are stupid for trying to think for themselves.

Now me, I apply that quote and those verses to Christians and other religious adherents who are blinded by their faith and who are therefore either unable or unwilling to recognize that their god not only isn’t active or participating in their lives, isn’t waiting for them in heaven, but also doesn’t even exist.  I see the damage their delusions cause, such as the erosion of science education (since learning science can be harmful to religious health), the apathy toward improving this society (since a “better one” awaits), and the disregard for other species on the planet (since humans supposedly have “dominion” according to their book of fairy tales—grr!).  Those are just a tiny few.

One of my gravest concerns—the assault on the wall of separation between church and state—can actually keep me awake at night (and during the day, too).  A perfect example of how blinded Christians are about the purpose of that wall can be seen on the Freedom From Religion Foundation Facebook page.  Some believers who post there not only have zero understanding of the country’s history, of the Constitution, or of the Supreme Court rulings, but also refuse to be educated about them.  One thing they whine constantly about is that they are being persecuted because they aren’t allowed to display their little standalone storybook manger scenes on government property.  They are incapable of understanding the reasoned arguments of why they are wrong.

I admire the tireless members of FFRF who constantly battle these illiterate doofuses and I admit to having been conflicted about how to deal with them myself.  Part of me wants to sit down and dine on them.  At times I wish instead of being ten pounds of gorgeous cat I was five hundred pounds of mighty lion and could simply eat the crazies.  At other times, I’ve wanted to calmly, sweetly, and with limitless patience try to persuade them out of their delusions.   And yet still other times, I think ignoring them is the nicest, sanest, least cruel way to handle them.

However, after much consideration and observation, I’ve concluded that none of these options is effective.  Therefore I am finally convinced it’s time to ridicule, insult, deride, and mock.

Religion and those who follow it have had a pass for too long.  Thanks to the more vocal “new” atheists, it’s already become acceptable to ridicule religion.  Soon it will become much more acceptable to ridicule the religious as well.  And once it becomes not just acceptable, but hip, fashionable, trendy, or whatever the cool word is, then reason and rationality will finally get a leg up on faith-blinded stupidity.

No one should get a free pass for being deliberately ignorant.  Kudos to those who have been and who continue pointing that out.  Keep your claws—and your wits—sharp!

Skepticism

I’m a cat who blogs.  Are you skeptical? 

Skepticism isn’t “fun.”  That is, it’s not entertaining to the masses.  The masses would rather believe in ghosts and ESP and gods than hear those beliefs challenged by rational discourse.  That’s why there are lots of “Ghost Hunters” and “Medium” and “Touched by an Angel” type shows but very few “Why Paranormal and Other Woo Woo Shows are Crap” kind of shows.  (Actually I don’t watch TV anymore, so I don’t know if there are or not; I could be talking out of my furry butt.)  There are more people who believe in the supernatural than don’t and “entertainment” shows have to appeal to the majority to get ratings. 

Skepticism is making bold inroads, however.  As atheists come out of the closet, their eagerness to acquire knowledge leads them to the array of both established and fledging skeptic blogs, podcasts, magazines, and conventions.  The skeptic community online is growing and supportive.  My human listens to several skeptic podcasts, is a member of some skeptic and freethinking organizations, and has skeptic friends on Facebook.

 I have a dog friend on Facebook.  He sounds slow.  All he says is “Ruff.”  Typical canine.

 Anyway, check out these podcasts online or available free on iTunes:  Skepticality, The Skeptics’ Guide to the Universe, For Good Reason, Skeptoid, The Skeptic Wire, Reasonable Doubts, and Rationally Speaking.

Oh, and I’m not just a cat.  Behold I am a DEMON!