Original audio source
Philly starts the discussion by pointing out a novel argument for removing the phrase, "under God," from the Pledge of Allegiance. The herd discusses this and some other rationales until OG reminds everyone of the best reason of all for removing the phrase. (00:00)
Segueing smoothly from the Pledge of Allegiance to a discussion of Good News clubs, the herd is frustrated that churches are using elementary schools to advertise their programs. Should non-school groups be allowed to advertise in schools? Moving on to more good news, the herd notes that the state of Kentucky has enlisted God into the Kentucky Dept. of Homeland Security. SI enlightens everyone about some of the legal issues involved in both of these matters. (14:20)
Philly digs down deep into the mailbag and pulls out a Dear Chappy letter that she is uniquely qualified to answer. After that discussion winds down, the herd considers a letter that prompts them to consider what documents, if any, a newly-elected atheist should use to take the oath of office. (39:22)
OG shares the latest poll results, then closes with her thoughts about a judicial decision that the state of Florida got right. That really is good news. (59:49)
Opening Music [00:00]: excerpt from "Another Goddamned Draft"
Bridge Music [12:56]: excerpt from "One of Many"
Bridge and Closing Music [38:18] excerpt from "Jesus Loves Me feat. Satan"
Closing Music [1:09:53] excerpt from "As Jazzy as I Get"
(All music: copyright 2008 by Rachel Murie)
This Week's Goddamned Links
It's Time to Update the Pledge
Evangelical group sues Haverford district over fliers
Anti-terror law requires God be acknowledged
Atheists sue to take God out of Kentucky terrorism law
Kentucky Homeland Security Update at Friendly Atheist
Gay Adoption: The Real Agenda
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21 comments:
All hail the Bellamy salute!!!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bellamy_salute
Thorum - thanks for the link to the Wiki article. I think Wiki has articles on everything. It knows more than God.
No, google is god chappy ;)
Another great show and very informative on the Salvo's. I didn't realise they were so strict. They always came across as less fundamentalist crazy and more hands on down in the dirt christians
Sean:
Google has a church, so you may be right. A deity is nothing without an institution to back it up.
As for the Salvos, they combine a strange mix of progressive and conservative thinking. On the one hand, their practices were several generations ahead of mainstream churches on the issues of female ordination and Christian involvement in social justice issues. On the other hand, their official theology is pretty straightforward conservative evangelicalism 101. The official positions uphold such doctrines such as the divine inspiration and authority of the Bible, Original Sin (regardless whether one reads Genesis literally), the literal virgin birth of Jesus, the physical death and resurrection of Jesus, the dual divine-human nature of Jesus, and the notions that heaven and hell are real places, among other beliefs.
I was going to send en email about this but figured maybe others would wnat to give their 2 cents. How about doing a show on the history/roots of Christmas? You know, the real nitty gritty heathen history. I mean, I don't really think it is just all about the birth of smeghead Jesus, do you? Tis the season. Anyway, have yourselves a merry little Christmas!!
Don't you hate when you hit "Publish Your Comment" instead of "Preview" and you see the hourglass ticking before it posts. And your still looking at your post ticking when you see the words "en" and "wnat" in there but you can't do shit about it and you think the Herd is really going to think you are stupid because you can't spell an and want correctly but you can spell smeghead correctly? Damn it!! I will tyr to do bettre nxet tmie.
I think the origins of the holiday have been done to death. Basically, humans have always reacted to solstices, eventually celebrating them. The Christians glommed on to the pre-existing celebrations and set their Christmas then. Over time as Christianity took over (thanks, Constantine), the celebrations just became known as Christmas (although those stubborn Jews wouldn't give in, but then they stubbornly won't get perfected either). That's about it.
But then there is this recent news.
Now if someone could explain to me how you can "follow a star" to a specific location on earth, to the exclusion of all other locations, it would be greatly appreciated. It seems to me that it would be akin to following the moon to say, Peoria IL.
Thing is, I remember hearing years ago that the Jesus birth would have had to have been in the summer. Why? I don't know. I just know that the Dec 25th thing is generally believed to be a fabricated date, most likely to take advantage of the seasonal celebrations.
Maybe the three kings had an early astrolabe?
I think I heard (or read), years ago, that Jesus was probably born in the spring or the summer, when the weather was warm enough for shepherds and sheep to be sleeping outdoors.
Chappy:
I think I heard (or read), years ago, that Jesus was probably born in the spring or the summer...
Ummmm ... Jesus was probably born NEVER. He's a fucking fictional character, although perhaps based loosely on a composite of trouble-making Jews.
How dumb this thread has gotten.
Thorum:
I think AGP should do a show on the history/roots of shows on the history/roots of Christmas. Alternatively, the Herd could just talk about something that's actually important to atheists -- like, say, how to avoid "The Chipmunk Song."
Hey I know Jesus he cleans my pool with his brother Jose...oh not that Jesus, ai curumba.
Alternatively, the Herd could just talk about something that's actually important to atheists -- like, say, how to avoid "The Chipmunk Song."
I thought you were singing that one on the next podcast?
Sean:
Hey I know Jesus he cleans my pool with his brother Jose.
Well don't keep vital information to yourself. Ask them when their birthdays are.
Chappy:
I was planning on singing "The Chipmunk Song." But my wife promised me a hula hoop for Chanukah, so I don't see any point.
Yeah, a hula hoop beats the Chipmunk Song every time.
Jesus says that they arrived here without any documentation as orphans. A cruel twist of fate. Damn it we came so close :)
Well of course he's probably not real, Ex. The whole thing is like discussing Pip or Bertha Rochester. No wait, maybe more like discussing why, for some period of time, Klingons didn't have bumpy foreheads. Yeah, I think talking about the Bible is more like that, only more thought went into creating the Star Trek universe.
Sean:
Hey I know Jesus he cleans my pool with his brother Jose.
Sorry, Sean, I think you're confused? Isn't that his stepfather?
You could be right there Evo.
Ex said: "I think AGP should do a show on the history/roots of shows on the history/roots of Christmas. Alternatively, the Herd could just talk about something that's actually important to atheists -- like, say, how to avoid 'The Chipmunk Song.'"
Wait, I have got it!! How about a show that talks about what is really important to Atheists.
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