Freethinker's corner

Many years ago I was investigating William James for my philosophy class. This is many years before I found that I was indeed an atheist. In that time they had these immense catalogue card cabinets wherein the books were carefully indexed. Finding the particular book on William James that I wanted to possibly check out I proceeded to the stacks of books. I found that this book and all other books on William James were missing and in their place these awful Christian tracts were carefully placed. At the time I thought it peculiar, but I did not draw the connection to William James apparent atheism. I really knew nothing about his atheism. I knew only that he was a philosopher. After failing to find the needed books a couple of months in a row I went to the check out desk to find out where they were. Although at the time I suspected it had something to do with Christianity it still seemed odd that people were checking out the book and leaving their names at the desk to be the next one to check it out. I wouldn’t have been able to check out any book for months on William James as these "wonderful" Christians had them all tied up.

Now to the present: I decided to do a web search for "proofs of evolution". Instead what came up were multitudes of references from desperate Christians presenting proofs against evolution. Evolution is indeed anathema to Christian believers, and with good reason, as it completely invalidates the Biblical account of creation.

Yes, you do the search, and you will feel the desperation of these pitiful ignorant people. Please do not pity them, for even though they are ignorant, they are ignorant by choice. They have grown up or at least prefer to live in a fantasy world. They will not accept any fact that might pull them from their fantasy. They have invested their lives heavily in this fantasy. I suggest that you leave them to their fantasy as long as their belief system does not endanger others. It is futile to try to rescue someone from a river when they vehemently want to drown. Why risk your own life, or even waste a moment of time, trying to rescue those who do not want to be rescued.

There are many religions. All religions were created by mankind in an effort to understand the natural forces at work on Earth and to explain the reason for human existence.

To believe in any of these "created" religions today requires either ignoring many of the past beliefs of these religions and picking the best of the beliefs or ignoring a preponderance of facts.

Those that believe without the qualifications of ignoring some past beliefs of their religion are called fundamentalists and are the most dangerous of all. If they truly believe then they must work towards making their religious dogma come true. Usually, this means making doomsday a reality.

For this reason, no fundamentalist should ever hold high office. The exception might be the deist who believes that a God may have created the world, but then left town.

                                       (09013116.10)

The United Nations is being used in an attempt to curtail the individual rights of citizens worldwide. The OI C, the Organization of the Islamic Conference is pushing the United Nations to pass resolutions combating the "defamation of religions". These resolutions encourage U.N. member states to limit free expression out of respect for religious beliefs, particularly Islamic beliefs. It is expected that the O I C will expand the resolution to cover incidents of criticism, satire, ridicule, and sacrilege.

Unfortunately, European courts have historically  ruled to protect Christian and Jewish sentiments from offense and it will be argued it would be only fair to extend the rulings to include all Abrahamic faiths.

The United Nations over the years has been used by many countries hostile to the United States. It has become a tool of these enemies of freedom.

It is time for the United States and all free nations to leave the United Nations. It is time for the United States to tell the United Nations to get out and to stop financial support of it’s anti-American  agenda.

I believe abortion should be used if:
1. The Mother’s life is in danger.
2.If the fetus is deformed and unable to live a full life.(This would include genetically doomed fetuses.)
3.In the case of r@pe or incest.
4.If the mother and father are mentally incapable of caring for a child.
5.If the mother is underage and adoption is not an option.
6.If the mother is unable to financially provide despite the many programs that provide aid in this day and age.
Other incidents might need a case by case decision.
As a byline, I believe euthanasia should be available to those who are terminally ill and in great pain.

What about Men’s rights? If he wants the child he should have a say in whether the pregnancy is terminated. If an abortion is done anyway, which is a woman’s right, then the man should be able to sue for damages.

If a woman get’s pregnant surreptitiously after agreeing to take birth control precautions and then not doing so, and then decides to keep the baby, a man should have no financial obligation.

If a man has no rights, then neither does a woman.

There is a saying, perhaps it was just a remark, that getting Atheists to agree on anything is like trying to herd cats. I believe I have an understanding why this is so.

With religious cults you have the dogma of that cult to bind people into a pattern of thinking. Depending on the particular cult involved the minds of the group are molded by the leaders’ interpretation of the doctrine. From a very young age malleable minds are repetitiously "programmed" into predictable thought patterns. Once this indoctrination has solidified it is rare that someone can completely break the "spell". Even if the spell is broken, mental powers may remain forever damaged, still influenced by archaic thoughts.

Atheists are another consideration entirely, especially if they are able to remain uninfluenced by religious dogma. Atheists opinions are infinite on myriad points of conjecture. To organize they must realize that the best they can hope for is a percentage of agreement. To expect total agreement on anything except the most basic things is to accept the literal fact that there will never be an organization wherein energies and monies may be directed to promote freethought. Atheists, express your opinion, but do not expect total agreement. Or nothing will ever get done!