Merry Christmas, fellow atheists! An eager reader notices that President Obama sent us secular humanists a present last Friday when he signed the Frank Wolf International Religious Freedom Act. The new law, originally H.R. 1150, amends the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to expand the federal government’s efforts to protect religious freedom worldwide. Among other useful provisions, H.R. 1150 clarifies that persecution of “non-theists, humanists, and atheists” counts as a violation of “freedom of thought, conscience, and religion.” For the first time, U.S. law expressly includes not having a religion as part of the freedom of religion.
A Christian subject to a variety of persecution himself, President Obama has done a fair job of including non-believers in his vision of the United States. He mentioned us on Day One, in his First Inaugural Address. He mentioned us a couple weeks ago in his final Christmas Tree Lighting speech as fellow Americans with a shared basic morality:
Along with celebrations like these, the holidays also offer us a time for reflection and perspective… A message that says we have to be our brothers’ keepers, our sisters’ keepers, that we have to reach out to each other, to forgive each other, to let the light of our good deeds shine for all, to care for the sick and the hungry and the downtrodden. And, of course, to love one another, even our enemies, and treat one another the way we would want to be treated ourselves.
It’s a message that grounds not just my family’s Christian faith but that of Jewish Americans, Muslim Americans, non-believers, Americans of all backgrounds. It’s a message of unity, and a message of decency, and a message of hope that never goes out of style, and it’s one that we all need very much today [President Barack Obama, quoted in Hemant Mehta, “President Obama Says at Tree Lighting Event That Believers and Non-Believers Honor the Golden Rule,” Patheos: Friendly Atheist, 2016.12.23].
This explicit recognition of my right not to practice religion passed on unanimous consent in both the House and the Senate. Thank you, Kristi, John, and Mike, too!
Now you see, Al Novstrup? That’s what a real religious freedom bill looks like: not a bill you vote for to permit your majority to discriminate against people you don’t like, but a law everyone supports to protect fellow Americans and people worldwide who don’t share their beliefs.
Peace on Earth; good will to man, woman, and child, no matter what or whether they believe.
This is indeed swell news. grudznick is most approving.
Now if we could get our (moderate independent) Mayor Mike to understand humanism, and stop painting Jesus on the snowplows.
Art is art, Mr. E. Even crappy art needs an outlet.
The Unpreacher
One who refuses to believe in the un-believable
One who understands those that have un-believed in their old faiths. “Reformed religious fanatics.”
One who brings to the pulpit stories of un-spiritual things, un-believable, and un-holy things.
One who believes in un-prejudices against individual people, but not their imaginary friends.
And one who remains to be, un on his knees, un-bowed, and un-repentant, because there is nobody to kneel to, bow to, or repent to. Or if there is I’ve not seen, heard, or smelled him, her, or it.
Free at last, free at last, thank the black lesbian and her partner with the adopted kids, “and Phil from Duck Dynasty,” I’m free at last.
The Blindman
Humanism is a religion. So is atheism. Grudz is even a believer. The only argument is whose (religious) worldview will prevail – I think all should have a hearing and a seat at the table. Your ideas don’t offend me. Best ideas win. Humanists, atheists and Grudz don’t want any ideas but their own out there in the public space.
Mr. Hickey, for a generally inoffensive fellow you sure went out of your way to try to offend me. But grudznick is all about live and tolerance, and I forgive you and even tolerate your goofier views. Have a happy holiday young man, and munch a little haggis for me.
South DaCola, Mayor Mike didn’t paint Jesus on the snowplows–some school kids did. Are you saying that kids don’t have the freedom of ideas, expression and religious beliefs to paint Jesus on the snowplow? You and yours can paint your own city snowplow.
Cory, I fully support your right to not believe in any religion. I also don’t support people using their own religious belief as a sword to discriminate against others. However, I do take issue with folks who want to shut down the freedom to express one’s own religious beliefs–be they in a public or private forum as long as the forum itself doesn’t discriminate based upon religious belief.
Yesterday the mailman brought an early Christmas gift from my brother’s wing of the family: a 200-page book of research on the historical Saint Nicholas called The Saint Who Would Be Santa Claus (Adam C. English, 2012). Really interesting stuff, to me at least.
I regard much of Roman Catholicism’s legacy to the world as a waste of time, but I’ll confess to liking Christmas.
This JPEG image is intended as lighthearted humor:
http://www.jarofquotes.com/img/quotes/a3fd09ef310d30b169417817e5d3b7c0.jpg
It has always been offensive to me that this type of legislation is necessary. Legislation has been necessary for Indians to become citizens, women to vote, Civil Rights, LGBT Rights, etc.
The U.S. Constitution already grants religious equality as well as many other rights that should be assumed.
I would take issue with Rev. Hickey’s comment, “The only argument is whose (religious) worldview will prevail – I think all should have a hearing and a seat at the table”.
Religion, Christianity, and spirituality are deeply held personal beliefs, no one should have to sit a table to decide whose worldview will prevail.
I would mostly likely refuse a seat at the table.
I think no single worldview needs prevail. We are all entitled to our own, Mr. Hickey.
Let us all learn to live with the land, learn to put something useful back. Earth wasn’t put here to rape and plunder. It was put here to sustain all life forever. Cherish the Earth as you do your children. That is all the religion one needs.
Mike from Iowa ??✌?️
Good one, Cory. “No matter what or whether they believe”. Did you write that?
Personally, I’m proud to be part of a group with such diversity of spirit.
No, Steve, the whole point of this new law is that non-belief in its various forms is not a religion. I do not worship or believe in supernatural powers. Freedom of religion includes the right to worship as one sees fit and the right to not worship.
By the way, Cully Williams sends me a note via Twitter and contends that the South Dakota Constitution could use an update to protect non-believers. Consider Article 6 Section 3, our Freedom of Religion clause:
I can see where Cully’s coming from. The state constitution explicitly protects the right to worship God, but not the gods of Greece or Wounded Knee. That first sentence also excludes not worshiping. The later text says no one can compel me to worship or deny me “any civil or political” right because of my “religious opinions”… but uh oh: if I stick to my guns in my response to Hickey and contend that I don’t have religious opinions but rather non-religious opinions, then Article 6 Section 3 doesn’t protect me! Yikes!
I share Roger’s surprise and distaste at the apparent need for this federal statute to clarify what I thought was already sufficiently clear in the First Amendment. When I act on behalf of the state (teacher, elected official, what have you), I promise I will still protect the religious freedom of all citizens under my jurisdiction, not just those who agree with me. I hope a majority of my elected officials and fellow voters will show the same equanimity.
No, it doesn’t protect you. It alienates you and is an “invasion of the rights of others”. What panel of fundamentalists wrote this biased B.S.?
Gerald Gardner is laughing from his grave.
Imagine there’s no countries, it isn’t hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for and no religion, too
Imagine all the people living life in peace…
May the Spirit of Peace of the holidays reign on us all.
Atheism is religion in the same way that not collecting coins is a hobby, Hickey. No. Sorry, you don’t get to lump others’ pragmatism and rationality in with your mythology and superstition.
If you want to worship, worship.
“And if you want to be free, be free. Cause there’s a million things to be. . . . And if you want to be me, be me. And if you want to be you, be you. Cause there’s a million things to do. You know that there are.”
http://adage.com/article/cmo-strategy/jeep-cat-stevens-song-unifying-debate-ad/306025/
We talk about religious freedom and then Kurt Evans bashes Catholics. Nice Kurt, Merry Christmas or should I say Happy Holidays.
Just as a point of trivia, I used to work for Frank Wolf. He was (and I presume is) a dedicated conservative evangelical Christian. The law was named in his honor, as it was introduced shortly after his retirement from the House after serving for more than 30 years.
Back in the days when I was guest hosting “Viewpoint” for Rick Knobe on KSOO-AM in Sioux Falls, Frank was a call-in guest of mine. We discussed the selling of Crazy Horse whiskey, among other political topics of the day. Frank may have been the only House member to openly carry a bottle of booze on the House floor and proceed to talk about it!
Did You Know? …Most Muslims in the world today celebrate Christmas with their Christian brethren. Jesus is revered alongside Muhammad, Moses, Abraham and other prophets of monotheism by most Muslims. They exchange cards and presents with friends and family, gather for meals, pray for peace, and have parties around decorated evergreen trees. In many Muslim countries all the ballrooms of the major hotels are reserved for parties for the week before Christmas.
“no matter what or whether they believe”—thanks, Porter! Yup, that’s mine. Hard to make a more efficient phrase. As for the fundie authors of Article 6 Section 3, that may have been the state’s founders back in 1889. I don’t see any amendment information on the LRC page.
Michael, you knew Wolf? And he was a conservative evangelical? Interesting!
Not collecting stamps is not a hobby—I need to remember that one, JonD!
Greg, religious freedom includes being able to say that Catholics and atheists are full of crap… if that’s what one thinks. *<):-)
Mr. Hickey. The term religion implies having a set of formalized doctrines that are meant to govern one’s interactions with the world and one’s fellow human occupants of same. It implies an organized structure, a hierarchy, and a set of observational and observable rituals. Please describe how atheism exhibits any of these basic identifying characteristics of a religion.
Is that thing like *<):-) a Santa hat, Mr. H? Santa is a secular imaginary being, almost a higher power, Mr. H. I don't believe in Santa.
I’d written:
Greg replies:
Merry Christmas is fine, Greg, and same to you. I regard much of Roman Catholicism’s legacy to the world as a waste of time, but lots of good Christians identify as Roman Catholic, and I wasn’t bashing Catholics in general.
Cory writes:
For the record, I’m not saying Catholics or atheists are full of crap.
Porter Lansing writes:
Did You Know? … Saint Nicholas was a Christian leader during the AD 300s in what’s now Muslim Turkey. The government of Turkey allows one Christian worship service per year at the historical Church of Saint Nicholas in the city where he lived. The service is held on December 6, traditionally the feast day of Nicholas and the anniversary of his death.
K. Evans … This is the time of year even born-again, evangelical fundamentalists are accepted as part of Christianity and you want to spend your precious Christmas time competing with other religious factions around the world? What’s your point? Is your self-esteem and religious tolerance so low that even Jesus would turn away from your actions?
There is no such thing as “Muslim Turkey”. “Turkey is a secular republic, where Muslims may, perhaps have a majority. As mentioned by Anon, after the fall of the Ottoman Empire, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk (the founder of the nation) came about and made some drastic changes in the country in order to de-link itself from its Islamic heritage.” – Quora
Now, go away and stop peeing on my Christmas spirit, ‘ye of so much intolerance.
Porter Lansing asks:
In a sense, I guess.
I think my main point was that I wasn’t bashing Catholics or atheists.
I’m not entirely sure, Porter, but I hope not.
The CIA’s World Factbook describes Turkey as follows:
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2122.html
LMAO Porter, “peeing on my Christmas spirit” really says it all. Kurt Evans, as far as I know you have had your Festivus yesterday. “The non-commercial holiday’s celebration, as depicted on Seinfeld, occurs on December 23 and includes a Festivus dinner, an unadorned aluminum Festivus pole, practices such as the “Airing of Grievances” and “Feats of Strength”, and the labeling of easily explainable events as “Festivus miracles”
I see that you got to air your grievance with Cory on the email requests, so all should be good.
Jerry writes:
I’m not sure what you’re talking about, Jerry.
“Airing of Grievances”
Porter Lansing says:
A week ago the New York Times said:
“In Turkey’s Home of St. Nick, Far From North Pole, All Is Not Jolly” (New York Times, December 17): http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/17/world/middleeast/turkeys-santa-claus-.html
You are all in my prayers. Merry Christmas
Oh goody. I’m dismayed that the modern invention of Christmas displaced the winter solstice celebrations. We have no business celebrating the middle eastern immigrants, however wise, enthralled over homeless parents and an anchor baby. Bring on Perchten.
http://nyti.ms/2itYh3G
Thanks for the positive sentiment, OldSarg. And hooray for refugees giving birth to the Son of God, right, John? :-)
Darn right that’s a Santa hat, Grudz. I swim in the soup of my culture.
According to wingnuts, Drumpf is the new king: “Merry Christmas to all! Over two millennia ago, a new hope was born into the world, a Savior who would offer the promise of salvation to all mankind. Just as the three wise men did on that night, this Christmas heralds a time to celebrate the good news of a new King.”