Monthly Archives: June 2022

Back in 2015, I interviewed presidential hopeful and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee for C-SPANs Book TV. His newest book at the time, God, Guns, Grits and Gravy was a chicken-fried paean to all the Bubbas of the American heartland.

The god-fearing superiority of Bubbaville over the folks in coastal Bubbleville was Huckabees schtick, and he came by it naturally.

The interview was returning an odd favor. Though I was and am an atheist, Id previously written a book defending Christian America. Hed written the forward for my book, and now asked the atheist to interview him about his book celebrating religious America.

I say all this as a point of illustration: There was in fact a time when Republicans had a sense of humor about God.

Somehow, in 2015, God, Guns, Grits and Gravy, though soapy and somewhat cartoonish in its populist portrait of American believers, didnt feel confrontational, menacing or even all that exclusionary. (When pressed by Jon Stewart on whether Huckabee believed that the Bubbas are better than the Bubbles, Huckabee said, No, different.)

In contrast, the new rights variations of God and Guns bumper stickers, t-shirts, yard signs and rallying cries can feel today like an actual threat, one that sometimes even implies violence.

The insurrection at the Capitol on Jan. 6 was in many ways a Christian nationalist event. Crosses, Christian banners and signs reading Jesus is my savior, Trump is my president, were unavoidable. Michael Sparks, charged by the FBI for entering the Capitol through a broken window, wrote on Facebook that Trump will be your president four more years in Jesus name. Many touted Jesus and Trump as their reason for being there.

The QAnon Shaman, having breached the Senate chamber, led a group in prayer thanking Heavenly Father for allowing them to send a message to all the tyrants, the communists, and the globalists that this is our nation, not theirs.

The threatening rhetoric has permeated parts of Congress, where posing with guns, often in the name of Christianity, has become de rigueur for far-right electeds and candidates. Last year Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie and Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert traded Christmas cards on Twitter with their arsenals of firearms.

In 2020, Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene posed on Facebook with a gun and images of three Democratic members of Congress, writing, We need strong conservative Christians to go on the offense against these socialists who want to rip our country apart. Facebook removed the post for violating its policies.

Meanwhile, in Texas, the state Republican Party is voting on a new platform, which puts God and guns front and center.

The first five words are Affirming our belief in God. The platform includes 10 mentions of guns and 16 mentions of God, including the belief in the laws of nature and natures God, giving schools the option to display the national motto In God We Trust, affirming Gods biblical design for marriage and sexual behavior, and declaring all gun control a violation of the Second Amendment and our God-given rights. Youd almost think we were a theocracy.

All of this the rise in Christian nationalism and the literal and metaphorical weaponizing of faith to intimidate opponents while the country grows less and less religious.

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A new Gallup poll found 81% of Americans now believe in God, down from 87% in 2017, and a new low in Gallups trend.

With nearly 20% of the country considering themselves non-believers, its hard to believe there arent more open atheists in Congress. The closest we get is Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, who identifies as religiously unaffiliated (her spokesperson says she is not an atheist). And California Rep. Jared Huffman, who announced in 2017 that he was a humanist, and has also called himself a non-believer and a skeptic.

That news wasnt met with much fanfare. When appearing on Stephen Colberts show, the host jokingly said, Ill just put you down for heathen-slash-hell-bound.

Perhaps another poll shows why weve had no avowed atheists elected to Congress since the late Pete Stark, the brash California congressman who served from 1973 to 2013.

A 2019 Gallup poll asking Americans who they were willing to vote for revealed 60% said they would vote for an atheist, compared to 96% who would vote for a Black candidate, 94% for a woman, 76% for a gay or lesbian candidate and 66% for a Muslim. The only category an atheist beat out was a socialist (47%).

Surely, there are atheists in Congress and running for Congress, just as there are atheists everywhere else in America, even if they remain closeted. With the right using God to coax the party into regressive, punitive and at times increasingly scary places, heres hoping theyll finally have the courage to come out of the shadows.

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The GOP weaponizes faith; will atheists object? New York Daily News - New York Daily News

BAKERSFIELD, CAThis week, longtime evangelist Nate Groze found himself grappling with his Christian beliefs during an online debate. He was presenting evidence for the resurrection when interrupted by the revelation that Jesus wasnt white, shaking the very foundations of his faith.

Why wasnt I told this before?? Mr. Groze cried after "Truth_S33ker_12345" broke the news to him on an atheist forum.Ive staked my faith on firsthand experience of Gods saving power, the historical evidence for the Bibles truth, and my unwavering faith that Jesus was a white man who looked exactly like me. How did I miss thisand how did my decades-long study of apologetics miss such a bombshell?

Sources confirm that Grozes feelings turned to guilt from not being prepared to give an answer for his hope of eternal life in Christ. I was prepared for the cosmological argument, the ontological argument, and even the if sky Daddy real, why I no have girlfriend argumentbut never that Jesus was a brown man. Im devastated! I don't know what to believe anymore!"

At publishing time, Groze had his faith restored when he ate a banana, remembering Gods intelligent design in the natural peel, curve of the banana for easy consumption, and delicious taste with potassium to spare.

Judges at a school spelling bee are stumped and infuriated when a child dares to ask them for a definition of the word woman.

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Christian Has Devastating Crisis Of Faith After Internet Atheist Informs Him Jesus Wasn't White - The Babylon Bee

All Photos From The Pomona/Glass House Show By Thomas Delgado (For The Horde Productions)

As I made my way back up the 5 freeway leaving behind the anti-climactic NAMM (Nation Association Of Music Merchants) convention, I also left behind the hangover I was feeling from the day before. I had to get myself in order and cruise back to L.A. for another killer show at the 1720. Ive said before, the skid row-adjacent hood location isnt the most appealing, nor are the over-priced beers but its a venue that is holding it down in terms of great HEAVY shows and tours hitting Los Angeles. On this night in particular, the line-up was stacked with Brutal and Technical bands in that of CONTRARIAN and SOREPTION, capped off by a pair of Old School names in that of ATHIEST and the mighty SUFFOCATION.

Up first and opening the night was CONTRARIAN, a progressive Death Metal band from New York of which on this tour only consisted of 3 out of 5 regular members. Vocalist Jakob Sin was filling in on this tour for an absent Cody McConnell and also absent was drummer Bryce Butler who was currently out on tour with SHADOW OF INTENT. Not much was known of this band but they made a good impression despite a thin crowd. Very technical stuff almost made it hard to wrap your head around but they have a strong sound. Still a young band with only 4 albums under their belt, the lastest in 2020 and one album Their Worm Never Dies (2019) features Sick Drummer George Kollias its obvious they arent kidding around demonstrating their musical ability of chords and melodies, and drumming as complex as possible. Id be interested to see these guys again in full-form.

SOREPTION was a band that was on my radar for some time now. Swedish Death Metal is another label that deserves a hefty representation and SOREPTION definitely has all the meat-and-potatoes to carry the label. Unlike most Swedish DM, these guys are graced with awesome technicality and are more Brutal and a lot less melodic. They are one of modern Death Metals best with a young career of 4 albums and just over 10 years as a band. It takes a lot of effort playing complex, technical stuff and sometimes your stage presence suffers a little, which was the only thing missing from them. Otherwise, their music really took hold of the crowd who was just in awe of their skills. We got a taste of a couple of songs off their new album Jord and they performed this new material with ease.

I had always known the name ATHIEST but I admit that I wasnt really at all familiar with them other than a tune here and there that I heard and that they are legends from Florida. They have an avant-garde approach to their style of Death Metal that has gained them a loyal following ever since 1990s debut Piece Of Time (Active Records). There was a lot of energy coming off that stage thanks to frontman Kelly Shaefer and bassist Yoav Ruiz-Feingold (who actually came through on tour recently with HIDEOUS DIVINITY). After their split in 1994, then reforming in 2006, theyve only released 1 album since then in 2010, so their whole set was mostly all classic tunes from the 90s that demonstrates how ahead of the curve they are as being recognized as one of the early technical death metal bands, especially one to come out of Florida, ripe with Technical and Brutal Death Metal. Very entertaining to watch and hear.

Now with SUFFO, what can I say that I havent already stated. One of my favorite Death Metal bands of all time, Ive seen them several times late in their career and Ive been lucky enough to see them with Frank, Mike and Guy. Its be an understatement to point out the tremendous amount of respect I have for Terrance Hobbs and bass-beast Derek Boyer to keep SUFFO going. Guitarist Charles Errigo, Eric Morotti and his man-bun on Drums and drummer-turned-vocalist Ricky Meyer (DISGORGE) have done more than just earn their stripes. Theyve damn well murdered it. Ive caught this new line-up several times and they get better and better each time. SUFFOCATION came to kill. L.A. always shows love and I think Terrance and the guys were feeling it. With a setlist that was non-stop brutality, only playing 1 track of the last album while the rest went all the way back with cuts off Effigy OF The Forgotten, opening with "Liege Of Inveracity" and then the title track.

For an hour and 15 minutes, a set way too short, it was hard to fit in everyones favorites for sure but we needed songs like "Catatonia", "Thrones Of Blood", and a couple of my all-time favorites with "Bind/Torture/Kill" and "Infecting The Crypts". With a birthday shoutout to their merch girl right before "Entrails Of You" and a honorable mention of the recently departed Trevor Strnad to introduce "Pierced From Within" this only emphasized the Metal-bond that was felt not only in the room but the whole night.

*We were unable to provide photos from the L.A. show due to vandalism, but we got photos from the Pomona/Glass House show June 6th by Thomas Delgado (For The Horde Productions).

Check out some more photos from the tour!All Photos From The Pomona/Glass House Show By Thomas Delgado (For The Horde Productions)

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Reviews - SUFFOCATION, ATHEIST In Los Angeles With Photos! - KNAC.com

A.B. Yehoshua, one of Israels most revered authors, died on Tuesday last week at the age of 85.As a member of the 1948 generation, his struggles with the transformation and redefinition of Jewishnesshas gone through several intellectual stages, and is concisely described in the essay below, whichhe contributed to the book I am Jewish, Personal Reflections Inspired by the Last Words ofDaniel Pearl ( Jewish Lights Publishing, 2003). His emphasis on a secular, choice-based national Judaism,in the spirit of Ruths Your people is my people, reflects the attitude of most Israelis, buthas acquired new dimension in light of the appearance of psuedo-Jewish groups such asJewish Voice for Peace and other anti-national or anti-Zionist movements that American Jewry has spawned.To be a Jew means to belong to a national group that can be left or joined.

We discover an astonishing fact in the classic Halachic definition. According to the Halachah, nothing is said about the Jews conduct, histhoughts, or basic principles of behavior. There is nothing indicating his homeland or language, or even the nature of his affiliation to a specific collective (such as maintaining solidarity with the Jewishpeople). A Jew is nothing more than a child of a Jewish mother, not even of a Jewish father. Is this biological fact really so compelling and binding? Not at all! Jews are not a race and never viewed themselves as such. They viewed themselves only as a people. According to the Halachic definition, a Jew, the son of a Jewish mother, who converts to Christianity ceases to be a Jew. That the Halachah enables someone not born of a Jewish mother to become a Jew also indicates that the Jews do not constitute a race.

To be a Jew means to belong to a national group that can be left or joined, just as any other national group is left or joined. Countless Jews have abandoned the Jewish people, and the struggle now and in all generations against assimilation indicates that it is possible to leave the Jewish people, that the individual is not compelled to retainhis membership in it.

We are now approaching the root of the matter. If we delve deep into the logic of the religious definition we see at its base another definition:

A Jew is someone who identifies as a Jew.

Someone born of a Jewish mother is no longer considered a Jew if, for example, he converts to Christianity or to Islam. It is of no importance where the Jew goes. What matters is his desire to leave. It must be understood that in the past, when everyone had a religious identification, Judaism ruled that passing to any other religion turns the Jew into a non-Jew. But today, when the individual is not obliged to maintain a religious identity, a person can leave theJewish people without having to pass through a religious corridor, even if according to the Halachah it seems that he must. The determining factor is not the technical step of formal religious conversion but his desire no longer to identify with the Jewish people. A Jewish atheist can become a non-Jewish atheist; the passage through another religion is a dispensable formality.

The same holds for joining the Jewish people. The determining factor is the act of identification, free will, and not the formal conversion, which may be altogether meaningless for the convert who, let us assume, is a confirmed atheist. These religious corridors (for entry and exit) may be good as a salve for the conscience of religious establishments, but they are irrelevant and meaningless for someone who wants to enter or leave, anddoes so as a freely chosen act.

The definition I am proposing, that a Jew is someone who identifies as a Jew, is not one I would want to be maintained always, but his definition has been the realistic, correct, and genuine definition until now. Itis the base definition underlying the Halachic definition. The Halachic definition, born in the recesses of Jewish history, was suited to a world and situation in which religion was the decisive element of a personsidentity. The secular identity taking shape before our eyes in the world and in Israel (which always existed as a potential) exposes the deep and true definition at the foundation of the Halachic definition, that whichdeclares that a Jew is someone who identifies as a Jew.

All the pseudo-Sartrean theories that would base Jewish self-identification on the existence of the Gentile (in the best circumstances) or the anti-Semite (in the worst circumstances), who forces the Jew to identify as such, are ridiculous. I dont need the Gentiles perception or the anti-Semites hostility to establish my Jewish identity. Even if there werent an anti-Semite in the world I would still want to identify as a Jew. How demeaning to present Jewish identity and belonging as a kind of trap from which there is no escape. Hundreds of thousands of Jews have left theJewish people for good, as a matter of their own choosing, and have been lost forever among other peoples. To be a Jew is a matter of choice. This element of freedom in the act of Jewish identification has of late been obscured, but it is an element of tremendous importance,for it brings with it responsibility. If I identify as a matter of free choice I assume certain responsibilities. When young people repeatedly ask, as they have been doing with increasing frequency since the Yom Kippur War: Is it possible to cut ones ties with the Jewish people? Is it possible to carry out a disengagement of forces with the Jewish people? Or, in the words of a soldier, is it possible to be just a person?to all of these questions my answer is clear: It most definitely is possible. But if a person decides to identify as a Jew he assumes responsibility for his identification, since his decision was freely made. I do not ignore the social, cultural, and family influences a decision about identification, but these are not sufficient to determine the identification. It requires willed choice. The dimension of freedom, which always formed part of Jewish identification and which has recently been obscured by notions of Jewish fate and by the experience of the Holocaust, needs to be highlighted once again. The sense of freedom immediately lightens the sense of responsibility. A man is capable of mighty actions if he has a sense of freedom, while feeling coerced only depresses and incenses him.

The element of freedom in the act of identification is also what makes possible change and reinterpretation of Judaism. I do not dismiss those who think only of continuity, who want to keep alive the ember they imagine has been passed on to them. But no less legitimate is the desire of those who want to introduce change in Judaism, with which they identify as an act of free will.

Reprinted with permission from I Am Jewish: Personal Reflections Inspired by the Last Words of Daniel Pearl.Based on excerpts from AB Yehoshuas book, Between Right and Right.

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The Definition of the Jew: The Dimension of Freedom - Jewish Journal

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You might think the most profound change in her thinking came to OCallaghan when she spent four weeks in a submarine six kilometres under the sea off the coast of Panama. Shed joined American scientists researching the the pulse of the planet, which features in the show.

Normally [the scientists] are measuring vibration, not listening to it, and one of the scientists had this very simple idea, what does it sound like?, she says.

Mel OCallaghan with her artwork and performer Ryuichi Fujimura, part of the All is Life exhibition at Carriageworks.Credit:Louise Kennerley

But her understanding of life changed most radically when she and husband Clemens Habicht had to work to help their Ukrainian surrogate, with whom they had their daughter, escape the country earlier this year.

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It was one of the hardest things I think Ive gone through, and shes definitely gone through, she reflects. But in all of this destruction and degradation of life, I was editing this film all about the celebration of life, and life in its extreme, which is also featured. Until youre going to lose life ... I suppose the value of life, and my concept of it, became extreme.

For all the reflection on the profundity of life, you might take OCallaghan to be a spiritual person. Shes not sure.

I would say Im an atheist, I was brought up by quite strictly atheist parents. But I can appreciate [being spiritual], she says. She doesnt know if shes found spirituality yet, but there is one thing of which shes certain: Life isnt exactly what I thought it was.

All is Life opens on Thursday, June 23, at Carriageworks in Eveleigh and runs until Thursday, August 21. Open Wednesday to Sunday, 10am-5pm, with performances every Saturday at 11am.

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Looking for life? You might find it in these tuning forks, artist says - Sydney Morning Herald

Do an areas popular religious and political views ever deter you from vacationing there?

I recently spent a few days in Tennessee visiting family. In true Midwest fashion if you can drive somewhere in under twelve hours theres just no need to fly, so my husband and I made the eight-hour drive from Northwest Ohio to Eastern Tennessee. Our daughter did surprisingly well on the road trip. In fact, most of the time she was pretty quiet watching videos in her car seat.

My relatives moved to Tennessee just a few months ago; this was the first time I had visited the area. I knew Tennessee was more conservative but I didnt think it would be as visible my relatives live in a very busy tourist area in the Great Smoky Mountains.

I was wrong!

Christianity and conservative viewpoints were definitely on display but I think it just added to our entertainment. My favorite was the huge cross on the mountainside right above the gigantic Adult World store.

There were several year-round Christmas stores along the main drag. Gross.

I shit you not, there were also two Trump Stores. We dont have that in Toledo! I did not have the guts to go in.

Just after lunch, on our first full day in Tennessee, our cars brakes started making some horrible noises. Surprisingly, we found a shop that was able to fix our car in a couple of hours and it didnt cost as much as it could have. We thought the mechanics might take advantage of us since we were from out of town.

We have several atheist and humanist stickers on the back of our car and I thought about that as we handed the mechanic our keys. Were a long way from home and at the mercy of the mechanic could my stickers be a reason they screw us?

Luckily, the mechanics were great. Our car is fine and we could still afford the rest of our vacation.

Obviously, I didnt choose to vacation in Tennessee; thats just where my relatives live. Despite the local conservative views, its a very beautiful area and Im glad I got to see it.

If you knew an area had conservative religious and political views, would you think twice about traveling there?

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If you knew an area had conservative religious and political views, would you refrain from traveling there? - Freethought Blogs