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Comment by Onyango Makagutu 5 hours ago

Pope Francis rocked some religious and atheist minds today when he declared that everyone was redeemed through Jesus, including atheists.

During his homily at Wednesday Mass in Rome, Francis emphasized the importance of "doing good" as a principle that unites all humanity, and a "culture of encounter"to support peace.

Pope Francis Says Atheists Who Do Good Are Redeemed, Not Just Catho...

Comment by doone 6 hours ago

All religions or no religions

by digby

I have long thought that a necessary approach to dealing with the insistence on the part of certain Christians that their "religious liberty" is impinged if the government requires something their creed does not agree with is to have competing religions demand the same "freedom." You'd think we could avoid this nonsense after 500 years of bloody European history but apparently not.

Anyway, it's at least a good way to illustrate why the state should justinsist that everyone play by the same rules in the public sector while letting the church do its thing in the private sphere: 

The governor of Georgia has ordered that Bibles recently removed from lodges at government parks throughout the state be returned, reports state.

Republican Governor Nathan Deal issued the order after the Georgia Department of Natural Resources removed the Bibles following an atheist complaint about their presence.

Ed Buchner, 67, the former leader of the organization American Atheists, expressed his disapproval last month after finding a Gideon’s Bible in a cabin at one of the state parks. He said that he believed the Bibles violated the Establishment Clause of the United States Constitution, which says that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.”

“Out of an abundance of caution to avoid potential litigation, the commissioner removed the Bibles from the rooms – though they were still available on site – after a complaint from a visitor,” explained Deal.

However, the governor states that both he and the state Attorney General, Sam Olems, believe that the Bibles stand on “firm legal footing.”

“These Bibles are donated by outside groups, not paid for by the state, and I do not believe that a Bible in a bedside table drawer constitutes a state establishment of religion,” he said. “In fact, any group is free to donate literature.”

Well, now. I'll just let Wonkette take it from here:

Oh? said some sharp kids at American Atheists. Did you say any group? Hey, guys, as it happens, we are a group, and we would just love to donate some literature to be placed in bedside table drawers in Georgia state parks! And so they will be sending the Georgia Department of Natural Resources “enough popular atheist books to place one in every state park cabin in the state.”

In a press release, the group acknowledged that it would really prefer that state-owned facilities be oppressively neutral on matters of religion, but if Georgia wants to play this way, sure!

“American Atheists does not believe the State of Georgia should be placing Bibles or atheist books in state park cabins; however, if the state is going to allow such distribution, we will happily provide our materials,” said President David Silverman.

I'm fairly sure this literature will never make it to those cabins. And frankly, I think it would be better if it were a Muslim group or a b'hai or something fairly exotic that nonetheless these people understand to be a religion. But still, the point has been made.

Comment by doone yesterday

The Pope And Atheists

MAY 22 2013 @ 1:51PM

Francis is living up to his promise.

Comment by Neal yesterday

Excellent video. Blitzer set himself up there, probably figured out he was safe with that crap in Oklahoma.

Comment by doone yesterday

She mentions being an Atheist after the 1:40 mark

Comment by doone yesterday

Quote For The Day

MAY 22 2013 @ 11:43AM

“This ‘closing off’ that imagines that those outside, everyone, cannot do good is a wall that leads to war and also to what some people throughout history have conceived of: killing in the name of God. That we can kill in the name of God. And that, simply, is blasphemy. To say that you can kill in the name of God is blasphemy … The Lord has redeemed all of us, all of us, with the Blood of Christ: all of us, not just Catholics. Everyone! ‘Father, the atheists?’ Even the atheists. Everyone! …

Comment by Don on Tuesday

We worked hard here in Vermont to get this legislation passed, but it was a tough go all the way. even in the country's least religious state.  You'd think all we'd have to do is look at Oregon and Washington, where it's worked just fine for 15 years, wouldn't you?

Comment by Neal on Tuesday

This should go well with the religious:

Vermont Is 4th State to Legalize Assisted Suicide

By WILSON RING Associated Press
MONTPELIER, Vt. May 21, 2013 (AP)

After years of debate, Vermont became the fourth state in the country Monday to allow doctors to prescribe lethal doses of medicine to terminally ill patients seeking to end their lives.

Gov. Peter Shumlin signed the bill into law at a Statehouse ceremony even as opponents vowed to push for its repeal.

The End of Life Choices law was effective immediately, although it could be weeks before the state Health Department develops regulations in accordance with the new measure.

Vermont Health Commissioner Dr. Harry Chen said he expects doctors to write between 10 and 20 lethal prescriptions a year, with a smaller number of patients actually using the drugs.

He based his figures on the experience in Oregon, the first state to legalize assisted suicide in 1997. Washington state and Montana followed later, with Montana's coming by way of a court order.

"It's used by a very small number, but it brings comfort to a much greater number knowing it's there," Chen said.

During emotionally charged discussion of the bill, proponents said Vermonters of sound mind who are suffering from terminal conditions should be able to choose when to end their lives. But opponents said the law could be abused and vulnerable people, especially the elderly, could be forced to end their lives.

Shumlin offered reassurances before signing the bill.

"This bill does not compel anyone to do anything that they don't choose in sound mind to do," he said. "All it does is give those who are facing terminal illness, are facing excruciating pain, a choice in a very carefully regulated way."

ABC

Comment by Neal on Tuesday

9/11 did bring out the theocrat, but his piety was only a cover for unchecked greed.

Comment by Don on Tuesday

I had always been an undeclared, laidback atheist, too (neither of my parents followed any religious tradition, and my mother's father was an admirer of Robert Ingersoll), but what really galvanized me, as it did Sam Harris and many others, I'm sure, was the 9/11 attack. 

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