Brunching Skeptically: 2/5/2012

Starts
February 5th at 12:00 am
Ends
February 5th at 2:00 pm

Start the month off right. Come and join your fellow freethinkers/skeptics/humanists for brunch. And bring the family since this is a family friendly environment.

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god is an imaginary friend!

Hellafreakinlooya boys and girls, it’s official.  The billboard, and others just like it, are goin’ up soon around Colorado Springs.  I hope this puts the matter to rest, at least in Colorado Springs.

And what might be the objections to encouraging others to seek sanity and reason in their daily lives?  Wonder no more.  The geniuses at Colorado’s KKTV found some of the Spring’s more enlightened citizens to give us the low down.

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Inside the troglodytic mindset

Chris Mathews – MSNBC’s host of Hardball – suddenly discovered that one of his favorite guests was a troglodyte.

His discovery could help everyone to recognize early when they’re confronting a trog.

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Ignorance and Superstion Reigns Supreme in PA House

Recently, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed a resolution proclaiming 2012 to be “The Year of the Bible”. (Read commentary along with much of the text of the resolution in the Scranton Examiner http://www.examiner.com/atheism-in-scranton/pa-house-of-representatives-declare-2012-to-be-year-of-the-bible . Funny that there is no mention of this in the Post-Gazette. Maybe Ann Rodgers got to the story first.) This is so wrong on so many levels that in addition to being absolutely infuriating, it is almost mind boggling.

In the first place, it shows how completely hypocritical these idiots are. They take an oath of office in which they swear (on their book of fairy tales) to uphold and defend the Constitution. It goes like this:

“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support, obey
and defend the Constitution of the United States and the
Constitution of this Commonwealth and that I will discharge the
duties of my office with fidelity.”
They just swore this oath less than a month ago. And then they turn around and thumb their nose at the Constitution, completely rejecting the intent of the Establishment clause of the First Amendment.

Not only that, but the same conservative assholes that push this kind of nonsense through are the same ones that blather on at length about the importance of the Constitution and how we need to get back to following it and… and… – Yeah, right. Obviously, they don’t really believe that. Nor do they have even one shred of integrity.

But let’s look on the bright side. At least they have dropped any pretense of actually wanting to promote jobs and keeping the Commonwealth competitive into the future. By loudly proclaiming their devotion to ignorance and superstition, they have shown their true agenda behind the Draconian cuts to public education and the school voucher proposals – namely the destruction of public education. Forget what their oath of office says about discharging the duties of their office with fidelity. Instead, let’s keep the populace even more ignorant so they are even more easily manipulated.

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Secular Freethinking Discussion Group: 2/2/2012 at The Quiet Storm Coffeehouse

Where: The Quiet Storm Coffeehouse (5430 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15206)

When: 2/2/2012

RSVP at: http://www.meetup.com/Pittsburgh-Secular-Freethinkers/events/45674582/

Hi Everyone,

Our topic this month comes from Chris:  picking our battles.  As atheists and nonbelievers, we are a minority and an oft maligned group–how do we choose when to defend our rights and valuesand whento back down?  Which situations are worth your intervention, and which are not?  Some examples: debunking; opposing nativity scenes or prayers on public property; debating with individuals; legal actions.  How do you prioritize your personal battles, and how can we prioritize our actions as a movement?   

To get the discussion started, here is an recent example of a 16-year old girl who sued her school over a prayer hanging on the wall.  She won the suit, but has been discriminated against by businesses, individuals, and even legislators in her community: here’s a video of Jessica Ahlquist being booed at a school committee meeting.

See you there!

 

*Our monthly discussion group at the Quiet Storm Coffeehouse in the East End.  They have a great menu that’s veggie and vegan friendly if you get hungry. I post the discussion topic a few weeks in advance, so stay tuned for more information!

Please note:  The Quiet Storm continues to be a wonderful meetup site for us.  Out of respect for the servers and for everyone’s convenience, please approach the front counter to order and pay for your food or drink separately.  In this way we will avoid combined checks and interruptions to the group, and they can ensure we get the best service and individual attention.  Thanks! :)

Thursday, February 2 at 7:00 PM

Details: http://www.meetup.com/Pittsburgh-Secular-Freethinkers/events/45674582/

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PSF Cider Night: 7PM TONIGHT

Starts
January 25th at 7:00 pm
Ends
January 25th at 9:00 pm

Join Nicole and the rest of the Pittsburgh Secular Freethinkers gang for a night of chasing away the chill with some warm cider. Of course, if cider is not your thing, there is always wine or other things.

www.meetup.com/Pittsburgh-Secular-Freethinkers/

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PSF Cider Night!: 6:30PM TONIGHT at Arsenal Cider House and Wine Cellar

Where: Arsenal Cider House and Wine Cellar (300 39th St, Pittsburgh, PA 15201)

When: 6:30PM TONIGHT

RSVP at: http://www.meetup.com/Pittsburgh-Secular-Freethinkers/events/45637872/

Is it cold yet?  Do we need to warm up?  Or do we just want to try Pittsburgh’s most awesome cider house?  Let’s head over to Arsenal Cider House and Wine Cellar in Lawrenceville and tip back a few, civil war style.  Aftwerward we can head on down to Piccolo Forno or Tram’s Kitchen if drinking only makes you hungrier. :) 

Wednesday, January 25 at 6:30 PM

Details: http://www.meetup.com/Pittsburgh-Secular-Freethinkers/events/45637872/

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Cliff Notes for Skeptics?

Time for some humor.  How many of these have you said?

 

Via Pharyngula

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CFI Social Night: 7PM TONIGHT

Starts
January 24th at 7:00 pm
Ends
January 24th at 9:00 pm

The fourth Tuesday means that it’s once again time to partake of the hospitality of our ever gracious host, Bill H., and socialize with like-minded friends. So come on out and join us. For more information or directions, email pgh@centerforinquiry.net or call BillK at 412-384-5893.

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Sense and Sensibility in Rhode Island

630WPRO in Rhode Island is reporting that some common sense is finally emerging in the bannergate incident:

The Rhode Island State Council of Churches will hold a news conference in support of Jessica Ahlquist, the 16-year-old atheist who challenged the Cranston prayer banner, on Tuesday at 2:30 p.m.

The news conference “in favor of tolerance and civility” will include faith leaders in Cranston and throughout Rhode Island speaking out to support Ahlquist’s right to challenge the prayer banner.

The press conference will also condemn the treatment and inappropriate language and words use to describe Ahlquist.

Rev. Dr. David Brown, Interim Exec. Minister of the American Baptist Churches of RI, Rev. William Zelazny, District Exec., Ballou Channing District Unitarian Universalist, Rabbi Peter Stein, President, RI Board of Rabbis, Imam Farid Ansari, Muslim American Dawah Center of RI, Rev. Israel Mercedes, Executive Director, Providence Bible Institute, Rev. Betsy Garland, President, RI State Council of Churches, and Rev. Dr. Don Anderson, Exec. Minister, RI State Council of Churches are all confirmed to speak.

I hope the local politicians, radio hosts, florists, and all the other haters in Cranston follow suit and stop the witch hunt against a courageous 16 year old student who understood the law and the basic constitutional principles.

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