What the fuck is wrong with the world?

Thanks to Sxephil on Youtube, one disturbing story was brought to my attention. And another that is a lot less disturbing, and not so surprising, yet still pisses me off.

Soldier waterboards 4 year old daughter for having trouble reciting her ABC's:
Click here.

Begs the question; Can we blame the war for inflicting such psychological damage on someone, or is this man simply psychotic, and shouldn't have had his daughter in the first place? I'm not sure. As much I as I am against this war, I don't see how serving in it could make someone think it was okay to waterboard  their four year old daughter. I'm sure it causes a lot of damage, damage that we'll be dealing with for many years to come, but this was a little girl. A little girl being treated like an Al Qaeda soldier because she was having trouble reciting the ABC's. It's sick.


Christian group in Michigan claims hate crime laws are an effort to eradicate their beliefs.
Click here.

I don't have much to say about this. It is in no way surprising to me, and I honestly don't understand how it surprises anyone at all. Read the story and see if surprises you.

KY church ordains sex offender?

It seems as though this church is getting the awkward child molesting drama out of the way ahead of time, by ordaining an already registered sex offender.

He was convicted of sexually assaulting an 11 year old boy. While this incident happened years ago, I personally do not believe sexual predators recover from their--what I would call--illness. They refrain, but I don't think the risk ever just goes away.

This is probably a horrible thing for me to say...
But when this man can no longer resist the temptation that his sick, twisted mind feeds him....he will strike against one of the kids attending this church.

When that happens, it is the fault of the parents. Yes, this man should know better. Yes, they should be able to trust him. But knowingly taking their kids to a church led by a pedophile, is knowingly putting their kids in harms way. It. Will. Be. On. Their. Hands.

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When religious figures attack.

MSNBC is reporting, a female pastor has been jailed for abusing her five adopted daughters.

She recieved two consecutive life sentences. I think it's about time they actually punish someone for abusing kids. In this case, she didn't recieve a slap on the wrist like they usually do.

But why not? It's rare that a child abuser of any kind does hard time for their crimes.

Here's my issue with this. The woman is 65 years old. She would be lucky to survive one of those life sentences, let alone both. Is that why they gave her this sentence? Because they're confident she won't have to actually spend too many more years in prison before she dies?

She deserves worse. She deserves to die in prison. But I don't think the remainder of her life is enough suffering for her crimes. But it's the only way.

Are we surprised that she was a pastor? There seem to be many cases when pastors get caughting abusing children. Whether it be their own, or someone else's. That's not to say all pastors are child abusers, but we can't deny the fact that this is not uncommon among them.

I'm not religious. But I imagine people who trust pastors with their children, truly believe as a man or woman of god, they will treat their kids the way kids should be treated. That's what you would expect from someone claiming to be holy, right? But it's not often the case. They are abused more often than not, and yet parents continue to trust these religious figures.

Do you truly have that much faith in your god? That he would stop it from happening to your child? What happens when it IS your child next time?

In this case, these children were adopted the predator. But that is rarely the case. Furthermore, I'm sure she would've abused someone else's children, had her own not been there.

When will it end? When will the world realize that religion causes many more problems than it solves?


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Atheists, you aren't alone.

Nearly ten whole minutes of celebrities who share the same views as us atheists. I posted this because I know only a handful of atheists personally. The ones I do know, don't like to talk about religion. I personally enjoy discussing it, because it affects each and every one of us, every single day. Apparently some people don't care about that.

That's not to say I'm an atheist advocate. And I'm not going to try to get someone who believes to become an atheist. But I don't think any choices should be made blindly.

That's just my opinion of course. I have a lot of those, don't I?

I'll be the first to admit, I have no idea who some of these people are. However, there is a massive list online of celebrity atheists, but there are also many agnostics that aren't included in this video.

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Carrie Prejean at Values Voters Summit.

If you enjoy the urge to dig your ear drums out with an icepick, click here to view the rest of this bigot's speech at the Values Voters Summit.

I want to address a few points this blond bimbo made during this portion of her speech. I haven't watched the other two portions, so who knows, she may say something stupid enough for me to speak out against in those as well. Here goes.

1. "I never let that get to my head, but I was confident. I did see me competing for Miss Universe. I did see that coming.".....Um, that's letting it get to your head sweetheart. Hoping for it, not so much. "Seeing it coming", yes, that's letting it get to your head.

2. Miss USA wanted you? Yes, because you're slightly attractive, and you happened to win Miss California. Needed you? I think you're overstating your worth a bit my dear. It's a beauty pageant.

3. "I feel as though I'm Miss UNIVERSE." But you're not. You're a pageant contestant that lost because you're a bigot. You're being made a hero by the republican party because you're a poster child for their bigotry. Nice.

4. "God chose me for that moment....he knew that I would be able to get through all of the junk that I have been through." You've been through "junk" because you agree with taking away rights from people that are none of your concern. You deserved that "junk", as does anyone else who believes gay marriage should be outlawed.

5. "Why me? A twenty year old young woman?" Because you're a bigot. Age and gender has nothing to do with that fact.

6. "Who had the courage and the bravery that not many people have." Yeah, or not everyone is a christian radical such as yourself.

7. "I live in the greatest country in the world." Have you been to another country? Hmm, something tells me you probably have not. Most of the world hates America, by the way. Only foolish Americans believe this is the greatest country in the world without even visiting another country.

8. "I'm not really into politics, at least I wasn't at the time." Right, and because the right wing is excepting you because they share your common hatred for people who don't agree with them, you're suddenly "into" politics? Please. Learn something before you pick sides. Though it wouldn't be necessary, I am sure you'd still fit in perfectly with the right wing.

9. "I am disgusted at the way some people can be so intolerant." This one is quite possibly my favorite. You're saying you think a certain group of people (homosexuals) shouldn't allowed to get married because "god" doesn't want it? And THEY'RE the ones being intolerant? All they want is the same rights you have. You're the intolerant one...but you're too self-centered to realize that.

10. "Even though I didn't win the crown that night, I know that the lord has so much of a bigger crown waiting in heaven for me." Ha. That one is amusing. Is that what heaven's about then? God supposedly giving you the things you don't deserve? Well I'm sorry, no one will be bowing down to you in reality Queen Carrie. But whatever you have to tell yourself to get through the day....

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Police say "no evidence" supporting Rifqa Bary's claims.

The police have investigated, and found no evidence supporting the claims she made, regarding her fathers threats to kill her for converting to christianity.

Evidence? I'm sorry, what did the expect? To find it in writing? What evidence would there be to prove something someone said?

That being said, do we believe her? I'm not sure. The way I see it, this could have gone two ways.


He threatened to kill her when he found out her plans, and she ran away to avoid death...

OR

She ran away and the police found her, so she chose to play on the Islam stereo-types to try to justify her actions.




Here's the thing. The girl claims she had to hide her cheerleading activities due to fear of her father finding out and punishing her. Let's assume those pictures of her in her cheerleading outfit displayed in her parents' house were placed there after she ran away.



Still yet, the parents would have to know about their daughter cheerleading.
A. High school cheerleading is not free. Where did she get the money if they hadn't known?
B. Cheerleading takes up massive amounts of time. Where would her parents have thought she was all the time?

If her parents were as hardcore as she claims, I'm sure they would have paid enough attention to her activities to know that she was doing something this significant. This isn't a case where the daughter is secretly listening to rap on her headphones in the privacy of her bedroom.

If what she says about them is true, there is no possible way they did not know about her cheerleading activities.

So where does this leave her story? I don't know. And I don't think we should know. This is a private matter, and I believe it should be treated as such. There has to be something more important to report about, right?

Teen birth rates higher in the more religious states.

A study was performed at Drexel University College of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh, revealing that states with a higher religiosity, tend to have a higher teen birth rate.

I find it rather amusing, actually. Deeply religious people are constantly frowning upon teen pregnancy. And they should. I was a teen mother. I know how hard it is, and teenager girls should know how hard it is, so they try to avoid it.

So why the higher rates in religious states?

A contributing factor, as the survey suggests, is that religion often frowns upon the use of contraception. It seems plausible. But teen sex is teen sex, regardless of whether or not you're using contraception. So it leaves me wondering, what do these parents think? They teach their kids that contraception is bad, and end up with a teenage daughter (or son) pregnant. Does it cause them to rethink their teachings? I doubt it. My guess is, they force their kids into a teenage marriage, that is bound to fail.

Another reason, I believe, is that religious families often push their daughters into early marriages. Or they approve the early marriages that their children want. So they sign the paper, allowing it to happen. Thus, we end up with a sixteen year old wife, with a baby.

So somehow, it is believed that marriage makes it better? It's still a teen pregnancy, regardless of the piece of paper binding those teenagers. This country is so extremely twisted.

Has our country lost its desire to learn?

I am frequently asked (both online, and in life), how I'm happy as an atheist. How can I possibly be happy without God in my life? My simple answer is, point me in his direction, and maybe I'll rethink my choices. No, not in the direction of the bible. And don't tell me to pray. Point me in HIS direction. Like, seriously. Where is he?

I don't need an imaginary being to pray to in times of need. That's what people are for. Real life, in the flesh, shoulder to cry on people.

Losing people I love does suck. And it has happened to me enough to last a lifetime, and I'm only twenty. So, people ask how I cope with that. Without God? Without the belief that I'll see those people again someday?

I grieve. And I move on with my life, missing that person. It is hard facing the facts; that our last encounter was truly our last, but I refuse to delude myself into believing in something that doesn't exist to help myself cope. I refuse to lie to myself.

Moving on....lets get to the point of this post.

I am proud to be an American, though it may not seem so. I have many issues with the way our country is run--issues that are set apart from the regular democrat vs republican war.

The truth is, regardless of what party is in office, they base many of their decisions on their faith. This country acts as if separation of church and state does not exist. The only time it is put into action is involving schools. Which I am grateful for, because I wouldn't want my kids being taught about god, when they're there to learn academics. But how would the politicians feel if a teacher refused to teach anything that went outside their personal beliefs? I'm sure they are forced to do so on a regular basis, which is only right. If they wanted to teach their beliefs, they should be teaching Sunday school.

So why is it different for our political leaders? Why do they get to base decisions on their personal beliefs?

Our rights are taken away from us daily. I don't mean things that are against the law, most laws are enforced for a good reason. (with the exception of marijuana being illegal, but that's for another time.)

Rights such as, gay marriage. There is no reason it should be outlawed. The only reason it is, is because the bible says it's wrong. Okay, lets ignore the fact that the bible is nothing more than a four thousand year old fairy tale. Lets assume the bible is true, and it is the word of a god. It still should not be used, to make decisions for mass amounts of people. There are millions of people living in this country who are not Christians, or christian affiliated. Even those who believe in their own god, have to play by the rules of those who believe in the christian god. It's disgraceful.

Blind faith confuses me. I can't understand how people can just assume there is a higher power, worship him, and refuse to accept the possibility that maybe, just maybe, god isn't the answer.

When you blind yourself with your god theory, you're shutting out any other possibilities that may have put us here. There is evidence to support the possibility that we came to be in another way, and absolutely no evidence to support the fact that god put us here.

Evolution is an observed theory. We have watched it happen, and no one can deny that evolution exists. You don't have to agree that evolution put humans on earth, but you can't deny the evidence that supports the theory of evolution.

But you do deny it. Because it discounts the possibility that your god exists. And because your bible says so, you shut out anything that may place doubt on your god's existence.

I think it's about time this country realizes that their faith may be nothing more than just that. Faith in a fairy tale.

Oh...how good it feels to be an atheist right now...

I love when the hypocrisy is captured on camera. Such a beautiful thing.

Blind Faith.

***Some of you may find this ridiculous. Many may be offended. Some may not get the message. Either way, it isn't my intention to offend anyone. I have my beliefs, you have yours. I still love you. This is just another writing activity.***



Forget everything you ever knew about Santa Claus.
What if I told you Santa Claus was real?

When I was eleven, I was in a desperate place. I was a greedy little child. I felt like the world revolved around me. Every eleven year old thinks that way, right?

I was walking alone in the dark alley I called home. It was behind a line of restaurants. I chose this place because it was my only hope for eating. Do you have any idea how much food is thrown away each night in these dark alleys, left for scavenging animals? You would be amazed.

Or you wouldn’t care. The average American doesn’t think much about those who go without.

I spent my days in a park. I sat on the benches in my dirty clothes, with my ratty hair, and no one ever approached me. Were they afraid? Of an eleven year old girl? Or did they just turn the other cheek, assuming my parents just didn’t care?

Maybe that was the truth. Maybe they didn’t care. Who were my parents? I didn’t remember them. I had been alone as long as I could remember. But an eleven year old’s memory doesn’t go back that far. Who knows where I came from.

I was sitting in the park one day, when a mother brought her two small children to play. I wasn’t sure of their ages, but I could see the mother was trying to keep them away from me.

A woman walking a dog stopped to let the children pet it. The little girl looked up to her mommy and said “Mommy, do you think Santa will bring me a puppy for Christmas?”

The woman thought for a moment before answer. “Put a puppy on your wish list when we get home, and we’ll see what Santa Claus thinks, okay?”

I didn’t hear the rest of the conversation. I couldn’t stop thinking about “Santa Claus”. Who was this person? What was Christmas?

Most important, he’s who you go to, to get what you want?

I did my rounds that night sluggishly. I knew so little about life, and yet I fought for my own. Would I ever have a mother such as theirs? One that may someday buy me a puppy?

I went to bed that night, and talked to him. I looked up into the stars, and imagined what Santa Claus looked like, and imagined that he was staring back at me.

I asked him for a warm place to sleep. I asked him for someone to care about me. I asked him for brothers and sisters. I asked him to give me something, anything, to push me forward. Give me a reason to live in this world.

I heard nothing.

I woke the next morning to a shadow hovering over me. A man stared down at me with confusion. He was wearing a suit, and there were cops standing behind him.

Was I in trouble? My first instinct was to run, but something told me that was a bad idea.

“What’s your name young lady?” The man asked.

“Sarah.”

“Do you have a last name, Sarah?”

“No, I don’t think so.” I admitted, ashamed.

The man turned and looked at the two cops. The cops shook their head simultaneously.

“I’m going to need you to come with me.” The man ordered, and extended his hand to help me to my feet. I followed.

I was taken to the police station and asked several questions. Such as; who are my parents, where did I come from, what’s the last thing I remember. And so on.

I knew the answer to none of these. I knew my first name, and I wasn’t even sure if I was right about that. It was the first thing that came to mind.

They realized they were getting nowhere with questioning me.

“We’re going to take you to a place with some other kids just like you, is that okay?”

Other kids?
“Sure.” I said, my excitement showing.

The kids in this place accepted me. I was one of them. They didn’t look at me like they wanted to run away like the kids in the part. They were my friends.

Until my mother and father came. Well, my new mother and father.

They took me home with them. They had two other kids. I had a brother and a sister. I had a family. Something I dreamed of, but never thought was possible.

I had my own room. The walls were pink, with a matching blanket on my white bed.

I had a television. I had art supplies.

I had food. Food that wasn’t the garbage restaurants thought wasn’t good enough for its customers. A real, home cooked meal.

Most importantly, I was loved. I was a part of something wonderful. I was happy.

I had Santa to thank for that. I asked him, and he gave me all of this.

People tried to tell me he wasn’t real over the years. That he was a fairy tale. Just some guy someone made up. A symbol of Christmas.

I don’t believe them.

In my time of need, I asked him for help, and all of this happened. How could I deny that it was him? I would be a fool to not believe. I would not betray by denying him.

The end.
Silly, silly girl?
Wrong.
It’s called blind faith.
Look around. It’s everywhere.

They believe in God.

© 2009 Amanda Harris

Ranting and Raving-Fair warning.

I try my best to enjoy every day of my life. But I guess today I'm just in one of those moods, that make it difficult to maintain a cheery mood.

There are a lot of things going through my head today, a lot of them are meaningless, even to me, but they stay there all the same.

I just realized how much I hate the phrase "Bun in the Oven"....I think it sounds very disrespectful to the baby, even if the baby has no idea what's going on. It just sounds, nasty.

I knew this girl, back in about fifth grade. We were really good friends, and to this day, our families are slightly invested in each other. However, I have personally, not been friends with her for a very long time. She's now pregnant. I'm honestly not sure if she even knows who the dad is, nor do I care. It's her life, I just hope the baby is well taken care of.

Although her situation is really none of my business, it does pose some questions in my mind. I will probably never understand "casual sex", and I'm totally okay with not understanding it. It's just not something I personally would ever do. But for those who do it....there are so so so many things you can do to prevent pregnancy, and if you're having "casual sex", it only makes sense to do everything in your power to keep from getting pregnant. Yet, most of them don't. The guys, nor the girls. And baby's are consistently brought into this world to parents who barely, if at all, know each other. It simply disgusts me, for the kids' sake.

Someone I've known for a very long time passed away a few days ago, and I just simply don' t understand it. Something seems very, off, about the whole situation. I feel like someone is hiding something, but I have no clue who, what, or why. But something doesn't feel right.The police have apparently ruled it a suicide, yet the family/witness, have told about five different stories. Their stories have all led back to it being an accidentally, in one way or another. Nothing makes sense to me.


I think coping with death, may be a little easier for me if I had faith in the fact that I would see them again someday. However, I can't force myself to have faith in something I simply don't believe exists.The feeling of hopelessness after someone dies is one of the reasons I believe man created religion in the first place. It makes me understand why I believe religion was created, but it doesn't help me believe in any religion. It's times like these that I wish I could bring myself to believe in something, anything.

I'm happy without religion in my life. I try to live every single day to the best of my ability, and I try not to take anything for granted. It's not like I'm a devil worshiper. I don't believe there's a devil either. Death just doesn't seem like something that should force me to become religious. It just wouldn't be right.

I think I'm done for now.....

My mind is opened by wonder.

I would rather have a mind opened by wonder than one closed by belief.---Gerry Spence.

I am truly fascinated with all types of religions. I enjoy learning about what other people believe. I do not believe in any religion. I believe they're all created by man to give us faith. I don't see anything wrong with having faith. If you believe it to be real, by all means, worship it. I will not live my life that way. I will not live by someone else's standards. I have my own set of standards. My own beliefs on what is right and wrong. I call it morality.

There may come a day when something happens, that proves to me that there is no other explanation, then God. But then poses the question, which God? Who's God? There is a different God for every religion. These miracles that people speak of, to which God do we give credit? I honestly feel like I will go to my grave, just wondering. I will not pretend that I know there is a God. I will not pretend that I know there isn't a God. Seeing is believing, and I have yet to see anything to make me believe.