A student at Saudi-Daisy High School in Tennessee started an uproar when he contacted the Freedom From Religion foundation (www.ffrf.org) to inquire as to whether prayer at football games and commencements was illegal.
It is.
But that's not what I'm on about now. Endorsing prayer in public schools has been ruled unconstitutional by the supreme court. Done. The end.
No. What I want to discuss is the moronic nature of the prayers. The FFRF podcast of Freethought Radio (Nov 1, 2010) features an audio clip of a half-time, mid-field prayer led by a student. What were they praying for? Yes of course, they were thanking god for the day and the chance to glorify him, all the standard formalities that go into talking to god before one gets to the heart of the matter. But what was the heart of the matter? Safety. The safety of the players and coaches during the game. The game of FOOTBALL!
What!?
If I were god, I'd send that prayer back with a note attached. "Sorry, your prayer could not be delivered because you're a bunch of morons!"
Let's play an incredibly dangerous game, but pray the no one gets hurt. Yep.
It wasn't a selfish prayer (so that's one thing in their favor). They didn't say, "so OUR players don't get hurt." The student who led the prayer spoke in general terms, indicating that she didn't want players or coaches from either side to get hurt.
But, in football, people get hurt. SO, someone's fervent prayer is going to go unanswered. That's like saying, "I hope no soldiers die in this war!" Or, "Boy, I sure hope the swimmers in the swim meet don't get water in their ears!"
And of course there's a holy hullabaloo in response to the School Superintendent's directive to stop school sponsored prayer. And THIS is what they're fighting for, the right to gather students and parents together to pray for something so mind-blowingly pointless. They are screaming about persecution and free speech. Then they violate direct orders to stop breaking the law. And for what purpose? To pray for peace in the middle east? A cure for cancer, aids? A top quality education for the kids at that school? NO! They pray that kids, who have chosen to play a dangerous game, whose parents had to sign consent forms so they could play this dangerous game in which people get hurt, wouldn't get hurt.
Ah, I'm done being respectful of belief.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Religion is dangerous
Geologist Kurt Wise, an Ph.D from Harvard once said that if all the evidence in the universe supported an old earth he'd admit it but would still be a young earth creationist because that is what holy scripture teaches.
Here's an imaginary conversation with such a person.
Rational Person (RP): Well that stance makes you dangerous because you believe in the bible which instructs you to do all kinds of heinous bullshit, selling children into slavery, killing neighbor for working on the sabbath, killing non-believers...
KW: No, you're mis interpreting all that [insert bullshit justification].
RP: That makes you even more dangerous. Just a few seconds ago I could have gone to your book, the bible, and looked up what you believe. Then, based on your literal interpretation, at least I could, oh, avoid you on the sabbath. I'd know where you stand on things. But now I can't because you believe some of it and reject others. I can't know which parts of the book you hold to be literal truth and which you don't. This makes you unpredictable and dangerous.
Religious thinking is dangerous.
Here's an imaginary conversation with such a person.
Rational Person (RP): Well that stance makes you dangerous because you believe in the bible which instructs you to do all kinds of heinous bullshit, selling children into slavery, killing neighbor for working on the sabbath, killing non-believers...
KW: No, you're mis interpreting all that [insert bullshit justification].
RP: That makes you even more dangerous. Just a few seconds ago I could have gone to your book, the bible, and looked up what you believe. Then, based on your literal interpretation, at least I could, oh, avoid you on the sabbath. I'd know where you stand on things. But now I can't because you believe some of it and reject others. I can't know which parts of the book you hold to be literal truth and which you don't. This makes you unpredictable and dangerous.
Religious thinking is dangerous.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Thank you. You're welcome.
True story:
I had this girlfriend a long time ago, back during my spiritual journey. She was fundy Christian. She and I were driving at night in the middle of winter.
Suddenly we skidded out. It was really no big deal. We were on a nice wide, four-lane road with no ditches – in fact with a curb – and it was deserted, but for us. We were only moving about 40 mph when we went over some railroad tracks. That little bump was enough on that slick stretch to send us into a very slow skid.
Immediately she started praying, “Help me Jesus! Oh dear God, Jesus please don’t let us die.” Etc.
I was at once annoyed and trying to keep control of the car. Seriously, I thought, “Well that’s not going to help.”
The car made a wide, slow sweep that took us to the other side of the road where, once it bumped the curb, it came to a stop. I mean, it was not the stuff of action movies. Remember the OJ chase, all those shots from the helicopter and you watched going, “Well this is the lamest chase I’ve ever seen?” Yeah, it was like that. Really, no big.
As soon as we stopped moving she, hands still clasped in prayer, whispered hoarsely, “Thank you!”
I turned to her and said, with as much annoyed sarcasm as I could muster, “You’re welcome!”
I think that may have been the beginning of the end of our relationship.
Whenever I have a meal prepared by someone I know I like to say, “Could we please stop and give thanks?” then turn to the cook and say, “Thank you.”
And here’s a joke I stole from Dan Barker:
I man is nearly late for a very important interview and is having trouble finding a parking space.
He starts praying, “Oh dear Jesus, help me! Please provide me a parking space right up close so I will make to my interview on time!”
At the last possible moment, a minute before his appointment someone pulls out of a spot right in front of the door. The man says, “Never mind, Jesus. I found one myself.”
I had this girlfriend a long time ago, back during my spiritual journey. She was fundy Christian. She and I were driving at night in the middle of winter.
Suddenly we skidded out. It was really no big deal. We were on a nice wide, four-lane road with no ditches – in fact with a curb – and it was deserted, but for us. We were only moving about 40 mph when we went over some railroad tracks. That little bump was enough on that slick stretch to send us into a very slow skid.
Immediately she started praying, “Help me Jesus! Oh dear God, Jesus please don’t let us die.” Etc.
I was at once annoyed and trying to keep control of the car. Seriously, I thought, “Well that’s not going to help.”
The car made a wide, slow sweep that took us to the other side of the road where, once it bumped the curb, it came to a stop. I mean, it was not the stuff of action movies. Remember the OJ chase, all those shots from the helicopter and you watched going, “Well this is the lamest chase I’ve ever seen?” Yeah, it was like that. Really, no big.
As soon as we stopped moving she, hands still clasped in prayer, whispered hoarsely, “Thank you!”
I turned to her and said, with as much annoyed sarcasm as I could muster, “You’re welcome!”
I think that may have been the beginning of the end of our relationship.
Whenever I have a meal prepared by someone I know I like to say, “Could we please stop and give thanks?” then turn to the cook and say, “Thank you.”
And here’s a joke I stole from Dan Barker:
I man is nearly late for a very important interview and is having trouble finding a parking space.
He starts praying, “Oh dear Jesus, help me! Please provide me a parking space right up close so I will make to my interview on time!”
At the last possible moment, a minute before his appointment someone pulls out of a spot right in front of the door. The man says, “Never mind, Jesus. I found one myself.”
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