Atheism Corner — Humanity in Progress

Somali Pirates Had a Good Day, Danish Family Has an Even Better One

September 7, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Just saw the news, it looks like the Danish family of 7 that has been held prisoners from February this year have finally been released, not because of a surprising humanistic revelation the Somali pirates had but rather because a huge ransom (estimated at $3,000,000) has been paid.

This sad story of Somali pirates abusing westerners at free will is not new, however the even sadder reality of constant submission to the pirates and their highjacking culture, supported by the law of Islam, in which any non Muslim can be taken as slave at any time, and for any reason.

Until we get a modern day version Thomas Jefferson to go out and wipe these thugs out of the water (and land) anyone taking the sea anywhere close to Somalia should be a little anxious, unless they are Muslims of course.

Memories of September 11th

September 6, 2011 by Leave a Comment

10 Years ago our world was living in a state of relaxed war, most of us in the west did not realize it yet, but we soon discovered that there are a lot of people out there that really wanted the worst for us. The events of September 11th, 2001 changed our world and us forever, if you were aged 15-55 you lived through a significant moment in our modern history and probably the event that will shape our future.

To us atheists the terrible event is a glimpse into what religions do, an idea of how blind people turn when they are deep in religions that teach them that other people are do not deserve to be treated as people. It gives you an idea of how long religious wars can go on for (hint, ever since the Muslims took Jerusalem) and what will be our end if we do not break away from those hate filled books.

This week is going to be full of 9/11 stories, memories, photos and videos. Here are two that a very meaningful, one is of the building falling apart, just above a cross. The other is of Father Mychal Judge, the New York Fire Department’s chaplain body carried out of he rubble, a brave man who gave everything he had trying to comfort the people who were dieing inside the world trade center tower. Father Mychal Judge case is an example to how one religion is currently more concerned with compassion while another is obsessed with death and murder. With all the criticism that we have on Christianity father Mychal Judge is pure and true, a hero and one of the victims of this barbaric assault on the free world.

(More photos, some very difficult to watch, in here – there are credits for the photographers as well)

A Bunch of Religious Issues in the Mid East

September 6, 2011 by Leave a Comment

It is not even worth trying covering all of it, but in what might seem like a serious regression the whole area moves back to its religious fights, and it is not exclusively Muslim-Jewish thing, its only the continuous riots in Syria (yes, still going on, no one cares really) the suffocation of the liberal democratic revolution in Egypt by the Muslim brotherhood and much more, so here is just a taste of what is going on in that part of the world –

Title – Turkey Detains 40 Jews at Istanbul Airport, forced to strip, passports confiscated

(here is the link to the article) On the escalating situation between Turkey and Israel, now the Israeli diplomats have been expelled from Istanbul, and officials in the airport have harassed Israelis coming into Turkey (which is almost nuts, to bother tourists coming in to your country).

Title – Israeli Settlers Burn Mosque Near Nablus

(link to the story) The West Bank Jewish Settlers take advantage of the situation in the south of the country and the political system inability to deal with extreme Jews harassing the Arab-Palestinian population and torch a local mosque, adding graffiti in Hebrew on the walls, just to make sure everyone knows its a Jewish thing.

From Africa – Title – Youth Kill Family of 8 in restive central Nigeria (which should actually read “Christian Family of 8 Slaughtered in Nigeria”, link here)

nigiria1 — Killings on Both Sides in Nigeria

The bloody history of Muslims and Christians in this part of Africa does not let go, and it is becoming a bloodier present. This evergreen hatred between the two religions is now at a boiling point, with killings on both sides going on daily.

Anti Fascist Phase 2011

September 5, 2011 by Leave a Comment

bbc-edl — EDL Bus Attacked by Anti Fascist "Asian" Men

This weekend I had some time to check out the news, and I saw that there was something going on in London, England. I saw that an organization called EDL (“English Defense League”) was gathering in East London to protest, but what exactly are they protesting for or against?, a quick look in the news explained that these were extreme right wing, borderline racists who are just trying to get a fight going.

Since official news do not score much points for honesty and real reporting these days I checked in even further. Turns out that this is a rather problematic organization but its leaders are mainly concerned about one thing, that the UK is turning into a Muslim state, with active Sharia law courts operating in the country, honor killings, extortion and rape of non-Muslims. This is pretty far from the regular far right nonsense of foreigners taking jobs and crowding the streets, in fact it looks like very reasonable thinking – if its all true.

So the EDL went on to demonstrate, while “anti fascists” were counter protesting, and when I think of anti fascists I think of hippies in white dresses and people holding hands and singing. Well, not these people. When you see the photos and video you might actually think the opposite, that the far right people in the bus are the hippies and the peace loving “lets all live together” anti fascist are the thugs.

Looks like this crowd, mainly made of Muslim men, was busy counter protesting by hurling things at a bus, breaking windows and physically attacking a young female while on the ground (BBC news report here). Now this is strange. either these people just call themselves anti fascist movement members or they are seriously confused as to the manner liberals should protest and the values that they hold dear, like for example not attacking anyone who poses absolutely no danger to others, or is struggling to get to her feet after being attacked.

A protest against Sharia law implemented in the UK turns into a fascist and anti fascist confrontation in London, does that mean that anyone who opposes religion and refuses to let ancient and barbaric law to be forced upon people in his city is in fact a fascist?

In one small and powerful word – No.

Sharia law is Islam’s tool, Islam is a totalitarian philosophy, who has a full manual to every minute detail of life, it rejects democracy and is brutal in its dealing with non members, women and others. It is Sharia that is the fascist, by the very definition of the word – it is totalitarian.

To be anti fascist is to oppose totalitarianism in any form, so you actually had hard core right wing British people as the anti fascist movement and the ones who opposed them were all for fascism – difficult times we live in, ay?

Religion Should Stay at Home

September 5, 2011 by Leave a Comment

To be an atheist does not mean to be rude or arrogant when it comes to religion, atheism should walk hand in hand with tolerance and acceptance of others and what they believe in, however this does not mean that anyone can force his or her opinion and set of beliefs on anyone else. This leaves us at a rather confusing point, if an atheist should not actively try and get people out of religion and stand against it at all time how should he regard religious people?

The answer is pretty clear, religion is absurd (at best) and plain evil (at worst), religion could personally offend many of us who do not believe, there are many topics to choose from, slavery, homosexuality, human rights, women rights etc., however we should hold the principles of modren civilization close to our hearts and keep an open minded and democratic view.

So here is the magic solution, whatever believers do they should do it in their homes, without forcing anyone else to do the same and they should also leave us out of it, meaning no more pathetic attempts to convert the atheists among us, keep the streets clean – that’s one way of looking at it.

If someone would like to demonstrate the existence of god he or she will need to do it at a proper place and at a proper time, to an audience that is willing to participate in this debate. As far as the allocation of tax money to any religious institute atheists should have zero tolerance and let the government know that it is not acceptable that any government would invest its honest people’s hard earned money into the non-sense that is religion, no matter which and of what form it is.

Bottom line, believers should keep their religion to themselves, should not hurt or force anyone in the process of practicing it and should not try to convince anyone of its truthfulness. Just as believers should keep religion at home they should invest, themselves, in their places of worship, freeing some much needed funds for research and culture, which are the true building stones of civilization today.