I’m watching CNN going on about the “veepstakes” as in who each nominee will choose as a running mate, used to it didn’t much matter but now it wont help a candidate much but it can damn sure hurt him.
I hear on the rdio Sean Hannity going apoplectic ovre the idea that McCain might actually choose a pro choice running mate. and Hannity is is carrying on about GOD.
and it hit me
That’s the fucking problem
What we need is a good clear thinking Atheist running for president. Someone who doesn’t have to carry around God’s baggage as righteousness.
Let us take a look at what religion has brought us over the years:
The Crusades.
The Inquisition.
Witch trials in Europe and America.
The Divine right of Kings (valid until killed by another Divinely-appointed King).
Missionaries destroying/converting smaller, “heathen” religions and cultures.
Missionaries such as Mother Teresa.
The demonization of other religions, e.g. Christianity demonizing Pagans (“They’re devil-worshippers!”), the Romans demonizing Christians (“They’re atheists and cannibals!”).
Persecution of Heretics – e.g. Galileo for daring to suggest that the Earth orbits the Sun.
Children dying because their parents refused them medical treatment on religious grounds; relying instead on faith-healers and prayer.
Slavery, supposedly supported by scripture (“Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, just as you would obey Christ.”, St.Paul, Ephesians 6:5)
Holy wars – followers of different faiths (or even the same faith) killing each other in the name of their (benevolent, loving and merciful) gods.
The destruction of great works of art considered to be pornographic/blasphemous, and the persecution of the artists.
Censorship (often destructive) of speech, art, books, music, films, poetry, songs and, if possible, thought.
Persecution/punishment of blasphemers (Salman Rushdie still has a death sentence on him), and blasphemy laws in general.
The requirement of theism in order to stand for public office or to testify in court.
Serial killers believing they are doing the work of Satan (or sometimes Jesus).
Often-fatal exorcisms by priests believing they are destroying the work of Satan.
People suffering dreadful injury or death in the belief that their faith has made them invulnerable (e.g. people climbing into lion enclosures at zoos, with a Bible as protection).
Whole societies divided by minor differences in belief or doctrine, often resulting in violence.
Mass suicides of cult-members following a charismatic leader who believes the world is about to End
The attempted genocide of followers of a particular faith (e.g. the Jewish Holocaust, “ethnic cleansing” in former Yugoslavia).
Blood sacrifices to appease the Gods, or to ensure a good harvest. (The Aztecs made daily human sacrifices to ensure that the Sun would rise. Or did they? )
The practice of “female circumcision” (more accurately termed genital mutilation).
The discouragement of rational, critical thought (resulting in young-earth creationists, for example).
Uncontrolled population growth caused (or at least helped) by churches prohibiting birth-control and abortion. (You can also add : unwanted pregnancies, ill-fated forced marriages, and pregnant teenagers condemned to a life in mental institutions to avoid embarrassing their families.)
The spread of sexually transmitted diseases (e.g. AIDS) due to churches prohibiting the use of condoms.
Believers whipping, impaling, poisoning or crucifying themselves during religious festivals as a demonstration of their faith and piety.
Suicide bombers taught to believe that martyrs go straight to Paradise.
The indoctrination of children into the religion of their parents, giving them an arbitrary, life-long belief that is almost entirely dependent on their place of birth.
Women treated as second-class citizens or even slaves
Pentecostal snake-handlers
Persecution of homosexuals
Abuse of power, authority and trust by religious leaders (for financial gain or sexual abuse of followers and even children).
I’m thinking it makes more an more sense.
I’d vote for a man or woman who had the intellectual courage to stand up and say “I am an atheist, God is not a factor in my decisions, humanity, liberty and and individualism are my guiding principles.”
5 Responses
Interesting you say that, recent poll says Americans are more likely to elect a homosexual 56% than an atheist 46%. Weird stat and who would have thought.
http://www.economist.com/world/unitedstates/displayStory.cfm?story_id=11920933
We might as well have an atheist for President. The country shits itself at the mere mention of God at Christmas time–heaven forbid we say Merry Christmas instead of the politically correct Happy Holidays–or have a nativity display in public. And don’t even mention the word God in their Pledge of Allegiance or in school. Puhleeze.
BTW, whether or not the country would elect a homosexual over an atheist in this country depends on whether or not there’s a natural disaster around election time. (And no, I’m not talking about the election itself.) Cuz that’s the only time people in this country know God.
Besides the invention of the cock ring, name the great accomplishments of atheism. It has been my experience atheists are angry mom and dad made them go to sunday school and their just gonna SHOW those CHRISTIANS a thing or two. There’s half satisfying debate about divine existence that atheist love to win.
Okay, atheists, have it your way.
While you’re at it, where does joy come from?
This is an excellent post Mike.
Kissing the ass of a pastor who dances around with rattlesnakes every Sunday does not represent modern potential voters. I work in a big city, support flat tax initiatives, am a strict constitutionalist, and love to fuck women that I barely even know as often as possible. There are thousands of other people out there just like me. As long as republican candidates refuse to acknowledge that we exist and choose to instead market themselves to abortion clinic skeet shooters, they will never see a campaign contribution out of my pocket.