The Hidden Atheist - Hiding in plain sight: Aug 15, 2009

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Atheist Satire

Atheist Satire

Atheist Satire
(author unknown)
Sat, 25 Jul 2009 10:25:56 GMT

Religion Goes Green for Government Money

Wouldn’t it be fabulous if our tax dollars went to pay for new air conditioning units and windows in churches?

No?

Last week, the US House of Representatives passed a measure that will “provide subsidies to ‘faith-based’ organizations and other non-profits to cover of up to 50 percent of the cost of retrofitting their energy systems.” Americans United explains the problem:

Aiding the environment always sounds great, but here’s the problem: the First Amendment prohibits the government from constructing or repairing buildings used for worship. Those funds must come from private donations. It’s not the job of the state to make religious institutions green.

The provision for faith-based institutions was pushed by Diament and a coalition of religious groups that included the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, the National Council of Churches and United Jewish Communities, as well as the Rev. Joel Hunter, senior pastor of Florida-based mega-church Northland; the Rev. Jim Ball, head of the Evangelical Environmental Network; and Jim Wallis, head of Sojourners.

Luckily, the Senate version of the climate-change bill makes no mention of similar subsidies for religion. Americans United is supportive of the Senate approach, and here’s hoping that perspective prevails in the long run.

I’m with the AU here. The government should not be taking money out of our pockets and putting it into the hands of churches to get better A/C’s or windows. These organizations have a tremendous amount of money — just consider that to be a member of a church you usually commit to “tithing” at least 10% of your income.

No folks, churches ain’t poor. They don’t need government handouts — let them improve their buildings and purchase more efficient air conditioning themselves.

Religion Goes Green for Government Money
Daniel Florien
Sat, 11 Jul 2009 09:00:23 GMT

Religious pamphleteers try reverse psychology

So I picked this leaflet up on the train this morning - it was clear that either secularists had started counter-leafleting the Christians outside stations (the natural progression of counter-bus-advertising perhaps? Soon to be followed by counter-sandwich-boarding?), or the Christians had discovered reverse psychology.
Naturally it was the latter. You open the leaflet up, and it explains that, actually, being a religious fanatic is a good thing, because "being consumed by anything in our lives qualifies us for the title fanatic". It then goes on to explain that "This pamphlet (for instance) was handed to you by a genuine religious fanatic" (and they wonder why people cross the road to avoid them).
And if you consider yourself just plain old "religious", you may be sorry to hear that's not enough:

"The religious fanatic who handed you this pamphlet wants you to know that there is a BIG (as in huge, large and vast) difference between being 'religious' and having a relationship with God (who loves us lots). God wants us to look to him as number one, before anything or anyone else ... to find our security and self worth in God alone."
And presumably once you've found that relationship with God, you can start handwriting leaflets with a black felt tip pen, photocopying them and handing them out at train stations.
So which particular group of "fanatics" (or solitary "fanatic") produced this leaflet? That honour goes to Jews for Jesus, who aim to convert Jews to Christianity (lucky them). It's worth looking at their website, as it explains who they are while also offering you this hilarious gag:
Sometimes people ask us, "How long has Jews for Jesus been around?" We love that question because it gives us the chance to grin and say: "Since 32 A.D., give or take a year."
Ah those Jews for Jesus - such jokers!