An Eye for an Eye February 19, 2009
Posted by Anita in God is Imaginary, Humanism, Islam, Rational Thinkers, Religion and Culture.Tags: Acid Attack, Ameneh Bahrami, Islamic Law, Majid Movahedi, Sharia Law
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Ameneh Bahrami before
Ameneh Bahrami now
Majid Movahedi
A 31-year-old Iranian woman has demanded justice by asking the courts to apply Islamic law and blind the man who blinded and disfigured her in an acid attack.
Ameneh Bahrami claims she isn’t seeking revenge; she only wants to prevent Majid Movahedi from ever doing it again.
Mr. Movahedi confessed to the crime and was convicted in 2005.
Ms. Bahrami’s lawyer, Ali Sarrafi, says Mr. Movahedi has never shown any remorse and claims he blinded the young woman because he loved her.
An Iranian court has sentenced Mr. Movahedi to be blinded with drops of acid in each eye, and his appeal has been rejected.
I never thought I’d be condoning Islamic law, but in this case, I have to admit the punishment fits the crime.
Do you agree?
Read the entire article here.
What’s Religion Without Hypocrisy? February 17, 2009
Posted by Anita in God is Imaginary, Humanism, Islam, Rational Thinkers, Religion and Culture.Tags: Aasiya Hassan, Muzzammil Hassan
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According to CNN.com, the founder of an Islamic television station in New York has confessed to beheading his wife.
Ironically, the station was aimed at countering Muslim stereotypes.
Muzzammil Hassan was charged with second-degree murder after police found the decapitated body of his wife, Aasiya Hassan, at the Bridges TV station in the Buffalo suburb of Orchard Park, said Andrew Benz, Orchard Park’s police chief.
Hassan was arrested Thursday.
His wife filed for divorce January 6, and police had responded to several domestic violence calls at the couple’s home, Benz said.
Mr. Hassan has four children, a 4- and 6-year-old from his current marriage, plus a 17- and 18-year-old from his previous marriage.
In 2004, he launched Bridges TV, an English-language cable channel designed to “balance negative portrayals of Muslims” following the attacks of 9/11.
Good job, Muzzammil. Murdering your wife certainly puts a positive spin on Islam.
You Don’t Need God to be Good February 13, 2009
Posted by Anita in God is Imaginary, Humanism, Rational Thinkers, Religion and Culture.Tags: God, You Can Be Good Without God
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The Humanist Association of Canada will be launching a transit ad campaign similar to the Atheist Bus Campaign, but with a message more to the point:
YOU CAN BE GOOD WITHOUT GOD
Here are some excerpts from their press release dated January 30, 2009:
“We want people to know that belief in a god is not necessary to live a full, moral and happy life. Humanists embody this concept every day”, says Humanist Canada president and spokesperson Pat O’Brien.
For too long, religion has assumed the authority of moral teacher and the Humanists are here to say that the teachings of progressive thinkers, such as philosophers Epicurus, Baruch de Spinoza, Bertrand Russell and Noam Chomsky, physicists such as Albert Einstein and Steven Weinberg, and other freethinking individuals are just as good, or even better, than many of the teachings of religion.
The “Good Without God” transit campaign was created to reach out to non-believers everywhere that there is an organization that will protect their rights, values, and the separation of religion and state.
The press release also notes:
“According to several global studies, the safest and most humane societies are the ones where religion and state are kept separate.
For example, the Journal of Religion and Society, a U.S academic journal, reported in 2005 that ‘higher rates of belief in and worship of a creator correlate with higher rates of homicide, juvenile and early adult mortality, STD infection rates, teen pregnancy and abortion in the prosperous democracies.’”
For more information go to: www.humanistcanada.com.
The Guiding Principles of Humanism January 22, 2009
Posted by Anita in Atheism, God is Imaginary, Morality, Rational Thinkers.Tags: Humanism
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1. Humanism aims at the full development of every human being.
2. Humanists uphold the broadest application of democratic principles in all human relationships.
3. Humanists advocate the use of the scientific method, both as a guide to distinguish fact from fiction and to help develop beneficial and creative uses of science and technology.
4. Humanists affirm the dignity of every person and the right of the individual to maximum possible freedom compatible with the rights of others.
5. Humanists acknowledge human interdependence, the need for mutual respect and the kinship of all humanity.
6. Humanists call for the continued improvement of society so that no one may be deprived of the basic necessities of life, and for institutions and conditions to provide every person with opportunities for developing their full potential.
7. Humanists support the development and extension of fundamental human freedoms, as expressed in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights and supplemented by UN International Covenants comprising the United Nations Bill of Human Rights.
8. Humanists advocate peaceful resolution of conflicts between individuals, groups, and nations.
9. The humanist ethic encourages development of the positive potentialities in human nature, and approves conduct based on a sense of responsibility to oneself and to all other persons.
10. Humanists reject beliefs held in absence of verifiable evidence, such as beliefs based solely on dogma, revelation, mysticism or appeals to the supernatural.
11. Humanists affirm that individual and social problems can only be resolved by means of human reason, intelligent effort, critical thinking joined with compassion and a spirit of empathy for all living beings.
12. Humanists affirm that human beings are completely a part of nature, and that our survival is dependent upon a healthy planet that provides us and all other forms of life with a life-supporting environment.
“No God” Campaign to Hit Toronto Buses January 17, 2009
Posted by Anita in Atheism, God is Imaginary, Rational Thinkers, Religion and Culture.Tags: Canadian Atheist Bus Campaign, Freethought Association of Canada, Toronto Atheist Bus Campaign
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I was very happy to learn that Toronto, Canada will be following in the footsteps of a British campaign, where ads supporting the non-existence of god will appear on city buses.
The Toronto-based Freethought Association of Canada launched the campaign and is seeking donations to buy the bus ads.
According to their website:
“This campaign was created as a rebuttal to the multitude of religious advertisements on city buses, subways, and roadsides. When taking a ride on the TTC here in Toronto it is not uncommon to sit down and look up only to realize someone has posted an advert of a bible quote. Usually something that tries preaching about a God whom supposedly sent his son to save us, somehow inferring that all of us need to be saved or we’re going to hell. The CABC (Canadian Atheist Bus Campaign) wants to advertise inspiring and thought provoking ads that let transit riders know that it’s OK not to believe in a God and that you do not need to be ’saved’. We want to encourage people to look at the facts and evidence before making decisions throughout life, especially when it comes to religion.”
The bible quotes mentioned above are part of the “Bus Stop Bible Studies” campaign. Although they’re annoying (and offensive to many non-Christians), Christians have the right to advertise.
Ergo, as Cliff Erasmus, coordinator for the Center for Inquiry in the Calgary area, said: Atheists, humanists and agnostics should have the same opportunities to voice their opinions as do people of faith.
Emulating the UK campaign, the Toronto ads will say: “THERE’S PROBABLY NO GOD. NOW STOP WORRYING AND ENJOY YOUR LIFE.”
Washington, Barcelona, and Madrid have all launched similar campaigns – originally conceived of by Ariane Sherine. She came up with the idea after noticing ads on London buses leading people to a website claiming non-Christians would burn in hell.
Personally, I think the “no god” ads would carry more weight if the word “probably” were removed. It’s not like the Christian ads say things like, “Jesus probably existed and you will probably go to heaven if you believe in him.” But if they must be politically correct, I would change the word “probably” to “almost certainly.” Having said that, I’d much prefer: “God is Imaginary. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life.”
The Freethought Association was hoping to collect between $6000 and $7000 in donations to purchase the bus ads, and they’ve already exceeded their goal. Yay!
For more information, and if you’d like to donate, please go to atheistbus.ca.
Putting Judaism and Christianity into Perspective… December 22, 2008
Posted by Anita in Atheism, Christianity, God is Imaginary, Judaism, Rational Thinkers.add a comment
Humorist Sarah Silverman said this about religion:
“Different religions… The only time it’s an issue would be if you’re having a baby. You have to figure out how you want to raise your baby, which still, would not be an issue for us. Because, you know, we’d just be honest and say, Mommy is one of the chosen people, and Daddy believes that Jesus is magic.”
Happy Hanukkah!
Godless and Free November 7, 2008
Posted by Anita in Atheism, God is Imaginary, Rational Thinkers, Religion and Culture, Videos.Tags: Atheism, Clergy, Faith, Pat Condell, Religion
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“… Religion feeds on a broken spirit, and that’s why it tries to break your spirit the moment you come into contact with it. Submit. Obey. Do not question. … ‘Praise the Lord,’ or else. … Clergy are the only salesmen who don’t have to justify or prove any of the outrageous claims they make for the product they’re hustling, and this leaves them free to engage in the kind of open fraud which, in any other walk of life, would be a criminal offence.” – Pat Condell
