You know it will happen.  It always does.  You have a terrible tragedy and people need help.  There is a lack of water, a shortage of food and some will die for lack of simple medicine.  So we give money, we send food and doctors from around the world give up their time and risk their lives.  There are many wonderful people giving it all.  They all deserve a really big thanks. 

and….There are the shameful conmen that descend like vultures to take advantage of the weak and hungry.  They sell rancid food or steal you last slice of bread.  The worst of all of these are the ones that confuse your mind and tell you it will all be fine if you just have positive thoughts and use an e-machine to get rid of those evil thetans.  That’s right the Scientologists are sending some of their best e-machine reader type people along with  touch therapy and other made up shit.  To get a complete understanding you must read this post at Gawker.com.

Everything you ever wanted to know about creationism.

Islam, Christianity, Mormon, Scientology……

Which holey book is the right one?

It appears that in the first day of operation the Non-Believer Giving Aid organization has collected over $150,000.  This is the new organization that has been set up by the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science (RDFRS).  There are a total of 14 additional organizations supporting this effort. 

Please use the link above and send some money to help the people of Haiti!

This information has been on many other blogs and has seemed to upset some people.  I see it as a way to help people that really, really need help.  Some see it as shameless self promotion of non-believers. 

What do you think?

Next Meeting of CUFREE (Champaign Urbana Freethinkers) is Jan 24th at the Urbana Free Library. 

Next Next Meeting… we will go the “The Great God Debate!”  See the details below.

The Great God Debate Comes to U of I:
Authors Dinesh D’Souza and John W. Loftus to Tackle Questions of Faith and Reason

CHAMPAIGN,IL—On February 9, 2010 at 7:00pm on the University of Illinois campus, authors Dinesh D’Souza and John W. Loftus will debate the question “Does the Christian God exist?”  The event will be held in Foellinger Auditorium on the south end of the main Quad and is open to the public.  After the formal portion of the debate, D’Souza and Loftus will field questions from the audience.

Mr. D’Souza will be responding in the affirmative. He is the author of What’s So Great About Christianity? and has appeared on a number of popular news programs. He has previously debated Christopher Hitchens, Daniel Dennett, Peter Singer, and a number of others.

Mr. Loftus will be responding in the negative. He is a former Christian minister and the author of the recently published Why I Became an Atheist, which has been acclaimed as one of the most effective defenses of atheism in recent times.  Mr. Loftus is also a contributing author of the forthcoming The Christian Delusion: Why Faith Fails.

Moderating the debate will be Kenneth J. Howell, the director of the Institute of Catholic Thought at St. John’s Catholic Newman Center on the Illinois campus.  “This debate should be a great opportunity for different worldviews to have a healthy exchange of ideas, which is the essence of what a university is about,” said Prof. Howell. “D’Souza and Loftus are both articulate spokespersons for their worldviews and their presence promises an enlightening evening.”

The event is being co-sponsored by the Champaign-Urbana Freethinkers, the Atheists, Agnostics, and Freethinkers student organization, the Fellowship of Catholic University Students, and the St. John Institute of Catholic Thought. 

I hope to see you there!

This came out a few weeks ago.  It is even better now with the Pat Robertson and Haiti Comments.

There are many charities out there than can take your money.  When I give, I try to make sure that the group uses the money wisely.  Giving out bibles or spending money on preacher is not a good investment.  I have collected some charities for you to review.  Please send some help to Haiti.

Foundation Beyond Belief – This organization has found several secular charities read up on them and pick one.

Humanist charities

Doctors Without Borders

Partners In Health

Take it straight.  Pat Robertson…….

The Pew Research Center has published the results of a new survey.  I love surveys, data and charts.  Most of the data shows improving optimism in the black community.   Below is part of the results as they relate to marriage.

WOW!  Americans are starting to learn tolerance.  I was so happy seeing these numbers.  Of course they should be higher but, we have made a lot of progress.  But Pew had one last bit of information….

 …there is one new spouse that most Americans would have trouble accepting into their families: someone who does not believe in God. Seven-in-ten people who are affiliated with a religion say they either would not accept such as marriage (27%) or be bothered before coming to accept it (42%).

Showing once again,  Atheists are the one of the last groups to get acceptance.

This is a classic bit on skepticism.

Now a new version is being made.  “Storm The Movie”

Here is a sample. (enjoy)