Green Oasis

For those who get tripped up on the idea of a secular state, Barack Obama gives a good definition. A secular state isn’t anti-religious. It is religiously neutral, allowing everyone to believe whatever their conscience dictates. It involves coming together on common ground to work together.

It’s good to hear a presidential candidate making this much sense.

(via Mind on Fire)

Provocative? Perhaps.

But I know that I, personally, am much less willing to ask people to die to secure more oil to maintain my lifestyle now that I believe that once they die they are completely, irrevocably dead. I didn’t realize how precious life is until I knew how easy it is to lose it forever.

No, the soldiers who die won’t see their families again in heaven. Their mothers and fathers, spouses and children will never see the fallen again. Children will have to grow up without Mommy or Daddy. They will never again speak with them, hug them, or kiss them. They will never hear them laugh again.

Who am I to ask someone else to pay that eternal price so that I can drive my car and watch my DVDs?

A prescient Charlie Chaplin on the hope for a better world. (via Truthdig)

I saw a very popular bumper sticker this morning. You’ve probably seen it a thousand times yourself. It read “Christians aren’t perfect, just forgiven”. Isn’t this an acknowledgment that Christianity’s only benefit is that your invisible father isn’t pissed at you anymore?

Religion is superfluous. At best it encourages us to express our natural compassion. Most of the time, it just gets in the way.

If you believe that we should keep religion around, your challenge is to name a single, measurable benefit that religion provides that can’t also be provided by a suitable secular organization.

Update: I forgot to credit Christopher Hitchens’ challenge. Mine is just a variation on his theme.

(via Atheist Hussy)

I enjoyed this presentation of the humanist viewpoint. Some see God or religion as the source of what’s good in the world. I don’t see it.

My only complaint against the video is that dangerous fanatics would still exist without theistic religion, contrary to what the video says.

May the human family come together without the distraction of superstition.