Keep God out of North Carolina! (ILM)

[max]

"all religion should be made illegal"

come on, man.

[max]

yeah yeah. i understand why you would say that. but to say that all religion should be made illegal is seriously as stupid as people that think gays shouldnt be able to marry and that abortion should be illegal. i dont want the government interfering in my (or anyone else's) personal life.

[max]

you are talking about making a belief illegal. whats next? keep the government out of my head, thanks.

[zaneh]

Banning any sort of idea or belief is dumb, no matter how ignorant and hateful their beliefs are. Fuck censorship for anyone.
Also I do believe that you will see less and less of things like Amendment 1 when the Baby Boomer generation and Billy Graham tards finally die out. The newer teens and generations are becoming a lot more accepting for the most part and it's people in their 40's+ that really rallied for things like this.

[max]

if thats what you personally believe, thats cool. but why did you include it with the info on your rally if it has nothing to do with the rally?

[Parker]

A perspective worth considering, I think.

The Atheist Dilemma (excerpt from "Morals Without God?") - Frans de Waal

"Over the past few years, we have gotten used to a strident atheism arguing that God is not great (Christopher Hitchens) or a delusion (Richard Dawkins). The new atheists call themselves “brights,” thus hinting that believers are not so bright. They urge trust in science, and want to root ethics in a naturalistic worldview.

While I do consider religious institutions and their representatives — popes, bishops, mega-preachers, ayatollahs, and rabbis — fair game for criticism, what good could come from insulting individuals who find value in religion? And more pertinently, what alternative does science have to offer? Science is not in the business of spelling out the meaning of life and even less in telling us how to live our lives. We, scientists, are good at finding out why things are the way they are, or how things work, and I do believe that biology can help us understand what kind of animals we are and why our morality looks the way it does. But to go from there to offering moral guidance seems a stretch.

Even the staunchest atheist growing up in Western society cannot avoid having absorbed the basic tenets of Christian morality. Our societies are steeped in it: everything we have accomplished over the centuries, even science, developed either hand in hand with or in opposition to religion, but never separately. It is impossible to know what morality would look like without religion. It would require a visit to a human culture that is not now and never was religious. That such cultures do not exist should give us pause."

[josh]

I'm a little confused with this. Are you saying that ideally religion would be illegal or just organized religion? Either way, you would be shoving what you believe (or don't) down their throats exactly how they're shoving what they believe down yours. These blanket statements that you're making are the exact type of statements that make Atheists look as ignorant as Fred Phelps makes Christians look. All Christians aren't a part of the Christian Right, just like all Atheists aren't vegans who listen to black metal.

[Parker]

Jun 15, 2012 6:28:46 GMT -5 sam said:

if any of you have any advice to offer, (as this is the first rally I've ever organized), or just want to tell me how bad of an idea this is, any feed back would be appreciated. =]

Jun 19, 2012 17:10:37 GMT -5 sam said:

I apologize for assuming this would be a good place to garner support for a cause that could potentially better the state, maybe even world that we live in.

Sarcasm isn't an effective mode for communicating your cause. I'd suggest you mind your words carefully since they are all you have in representing what you envision as steps towards progress. I wish you luck, but I hope you consider audience and the major implications of your language.

[max]

^ what he said.

[sam]

There was not one hint of sarcasm in my initial post so.....what? ...and yes, ideally all religion should be abolished, for good. (again, I realize that this is an un-obtainable goal and it is not the focus of this rally) Nothing is more heinous to our culture than religious organizations and the ideologies they purport. The initial post here was a call to action as in I didn't really have a "cause," except that I wanted to lash out against religious peoples and their ideologies. Granted I could have started another punk band and continued preaching to the choir, or take to the streets and tell the people who have perpetuated this master/slave relationship (into the point where I personally am affected by a dogma that I do not hold) why they should reconsider. Since this posting my efforts have grown into something completely different, as also previously stated. If you want to get involved, check this:

www.facebook.com/events/462485603779825/

Our state constitution (along with something like 8 other states) makes it illegal for any person(s) denying the existence of Yahweh to hold political office. In the same breath, all non-religious peoples are equated to treasonous felons. If you don't see a problem with this and you aren't religious......I really have no words.

[mAx]

I think part of the argument that you're overlooking is that by living in this country as Americans, everyone is entitled to what they personally believe, and ideally nobody should be able to tell you your belief is wrong. Even if you believe in a book with no scientific evidence.
By the same power that people can believe in flying spaghetti monsters and reincarnation, you are allowed to believe that religion should be illegal. BUT you can not force that belief upon anyone because that is depriving them of their own identity.



One nation, tolerable of all beliefs.

[sam]

I think the part(s) you are overlooking is that I clearly stated (I believe more than once) that this belief was admittedly Utopian in nature. Secondly, I also mentioned multiple times that this is strictly a personal belief of mine and not the theme of the rally. I put it in my original post (from craigslist) and yes, the way it was worded it made me seem exceedingly crass, but I am in NO fashion trying to FORCE a belief on anyone. I am trying to change peoples minds about religion and the role it should play in our everyday life (which is none). My attempts are born solely out of legitimate concern for humanity and nothing else.

[dodson]

Maybe start with other issues related to the Christian right wing first before diving headfirst into a rally against religion? May I suggest involving yourself in efforts to appeal Amendment One?

[sam]

That is actually essentially what we are doing. Check out the facebook event if you are in Wilmington. Separation of Church and State is something even theists can appreciate.

[Parker]

Chris "the subtle voice of reason" Dodson

[jmattiacci]

a wild stalinist appears!

[Parker]

Jun 21, 2012 9:42:21 GMT -5 jmattiacci said:

a wild stalinist appears!

hahahahaha

[hellhammermario]

tldr.

But good luck with the rally, if it pans out. For real.

[mAx]

In total agreement, a rally against Amendment One is much more obtainable goal, especially in areas like Wilmington, Greensboro, and Raleigh, where the counties voted against the Amendment (or had a close count, like Guilford County who was only 42 votes short of voting against it).
Also a trend in these counties are large numbers of college students- go to them and a majority will probably help the cause.

[dodson]

yes, please go to the college kids.

you'd be amazed at how little college kids know about what they need to do vote in this state. Just because someone has shown up on campus to register you to vote does not mean you can vote. They may never turn in your registration to the county or may have instructed you to fill it out in the incorrect way. Also, MAKE SURE THE ADDRESS YOU PUT DOWN ON PAPER IS IN THE COUNTY YOU ARE VOTING IN. Can't tell you how many times I've seen college kids either put their hometown address down or put the mailing address of the university.

check your voter registration status here (www.ncsbe.gov/) to make sure you are kosher, otherwise take care of it yourself.

[ian geiger]

while you have all the college kids rallied together, we should hold a job fair too

[mAx]

Jun 22, 2012 12:33:19 GMT -5 dodson said:

(www.ncsbe.gov/) to make sure you are kosher

Is Mr. Dodson a Jew?

[dodson]

Muslim

[mAx]

Just got excited at the potential for a nchc jew crew

[dodson]

sorry brohemian rhapsody