The most popular secular speakers of our time were there as well as several musical acts, Tim Minchin being my favorite.  There were booths, creative T-shirts, signs and even a 10 foot high Jesus.  Yes it was cold and rainy – but the sun did come close to coming out – oops I said that phrase again!  It was well worth attending such a large gathering of individuals who felt strongly that the act of simply standing to support others who think the same would be worth the trip, notwithstanding the weather and length of it (over 9 hours).

I’ve never been to a rally before and didn’t know what to expect. But there’s a sense of pride that overcomes oneself when feeling like their presence makes a difference.  That price, I’m sure, was felt by 20,000 people that day.  I heard that Glen Beck had less people attending his rally – and that was on a sunny day!

I’m going to refer you to a wonderful video edited by The Thinking Atheist who gives the true taste of what this rally was about.  See the video here:   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d11tcjO–70

If there is another rally in the future I beseech you to attend it.  You will not be disappointed.

Although we, (and by we I mean all those who are the ‘nones’ – those of no religious affiliation) are expanding the idea that religion has a dark and evil side which few religionisis can admit to, there are those which include myself that see the writing on the wall.  That telltale message is that we have to protect our rights of conscious – our right to NOT to believe in woo-woo, superstitions and pious traditions, and more importantly not to have those beliefs infiltrate our private domain.

It’s a dash of liberalism, social awareness of the trends of our government leaders and the acknowledgement of the harms which social conservatism cause to a pluralistic society to finally submit to the advocacy of non-belief. Once one reaches that point of no-return, action to the only option to make the changes needed to reel in the runaway, cross-bearing bandits of freedom  called the Religious Right.

And what actions do the ‘nones’ take? They search the internet for skeptic and atheist groups.  They start questioning the odd and misleading traditions and superstitions of different religions.  Youths are asking their friends more questions and starting to use their critical thinking skills.  The result?  Over 25% non-believers in several states, and the average number of ‘nones’ have grown by over 50% in the past 5 years.  If this trend continues, the churches will soon be barren, but what will take its place? Groups like the one I visited in Long Beach.  Groups like the Backyard Skeptics.  Groups like the next Meetup in your local town.  Maybe if there are secular Meetups in your area, you could startone.

What would each of us do for the other if we know we had such a disease with a terminal illness?  Is life to be sacred under all circumstances?  No.  The life  of a baby born without a brain – anencephaly is of no value to the family or the mother.  A tragedy yes.

I told my wife that if I was diagnosed with a terminal disease to start hoarding those drugs that would put me away when the time comes.  We talked about the suffering of our family and how it could be reduced if they know I took my own life, not to mention how the last few weeks of my life would be absolute hell (no pun intended) if I were to continue to survive.  I surely would be happier to know if the tables were turned, that my wife would be happier in her last days and our family would suffer less knowing her choice of when to take her own life.

Religion generally has the opinion that the value of live is absolute – that life, from the impregnated human cell to the cancer-stricen patient has to be spared because of what?  A supernatural belief that a soul should like under all circumstances, even in the midst  suffering.  Why does religion induce such pain and suffering in the world?  It’s because they have an absolutistic attitude toward the value of life.

Save the drugs honey!

Bruce Gleason

It’s been surprising how many people have commented on this billboard and not the others BYS have placed in Orange County.  I assume is what sparked this outcry was the combination of the national belief that this is a Christian nation and the fact that the majority of Americans are believers.  I have also heard from many supporters as well.  My goal of making others think a bit more is fulfilled, albeit at my expense of my lack of researching the Monticello website .

Some Xtians soy we are taking these out of context….but in what context would any of these verses be moral?

Bible Verses Christians Tend to Ignore     (New Testament)

Don’t Get Married:   1^st Corinthians 7:27  NASB

Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be released. Are you released from a wife? Do not seek a wife.

Prayer (not doctors) if You’re Sick:  James 5:14  NASB

Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up.

Women Should Shut Up in Church:  1^st Corinthians 14:34  NASB

The women are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak.

The Wealthy Will Be Condemned by God:  James 5:1-5  NASB

Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you. Your riches have rotted… Your gold and your silver have rusted; and their rust will… consume your flesh like fire. You have lived luxuriously on the earth and led a life of wanton pleasure; you have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter.

Women: Don’t Dress Up, Fix Your Hair, or Wear Jewelry:  1^st Peter 3:3  The Good News Translation

You should not use outward aids to make yourselves beautiful, such as the way you fix your hair, or the jewelry you put on, or the dresses you wear.

Return Runaway Slaves to Their Owners:  Philemon 1:12   The Message

I’m sending (the slave Onesimus) back to you… I wanted in the worst way to keep him here… But I didn’t want to do anything behind your back… Maybe it’s all for the best that you lost him for a while. You’re getting him back now for good—and no mere slave this time, but a true Christian brother!

Gouge Out Your Eyeball:  Matthew 5:29  New Living Translation

So if your eye—even your good eye—causes you to lust, gouge it out and throw it away.

Cut Off Your Own Hand:  Matthew 5:30  New Living Translation

And if your hand—even your stronger hand—causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away.

Never Swear an Oath:  Matthew 5:34  God’s Word Translation

Don’t swear an oath at all.

Don’t Defend Yourself if Attacked:  Matthew 5:39   Amplified Version

But I say to you, Do not resist the evil man [who injures you]; but if anyone strikes you on the right jaw or cheek, turn to him the other one too.

Give Anything You Have to Anyone Who Asks:  Matthew 5:42  Common English Bible

Give to those who ask, and don’t refuse those who wish to borrow from you.

Do NOT Pray in Public:  (Matthew 6:6)    Common English Bible

When you pray, go to your room, shut the door, and pray to your Father… in that secret place.

Don’t Save Your Money:  (Matthew 6:19)  New Living Translation

Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal.

Don’t Plan for The Future:  Matthew 6:34  NASB

So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself.

Do Not Marry a Divorced Woman:  Matthew 5:32  NASB

Whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

Don’t Wear Nice Clothes:  Matthew 6:28-29  NASB

And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you?

Hate Your Family:  Luke 14:26  NASB

If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters… he cannot be My disciple.

Give Away EVERYTHING You Own:  Luke 14:33  NASB

So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions.

Old Testament

Crushed Nuts = No Heaven

Deuteronomy 23:1 “If a man’s testicles are crushed or his penis is cut off, he may not be admitted to the assembly of the LORD.”

Slavery

You may purchase male or female slaves from among the foreigners who live among you.  You may also purchase the children of such resident foreigners, including those who have been born in your land.  You may treat them as your property, passing them on to your children as a permanent inheritance.  You may treat your slaves like this, but the people of Israel, your relatives, must never be treated this way.  (Leviticus 25:44-46 NLT)

OK To Beat A Slave to Death

When a man strikes his male or female slave with a rod so hard that the slave dies under his hand, he shall be punished.  If, however, the slave survives for a day or two, he is not to be punished, since the slave is his own property.

Stone your insubordinate son

“If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them: Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place; And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard. And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.”  Deuteronomy 21:18-21

A Raped Woman Must Marry Her Attacker

“If a man find a damsel that is a virgin, which is not betrothed, and lay hold on her, and lie with her, and they be found; Then the man that lay with her shall give unto the damsel’s father fifty shekels of silver, and she shall be his wife; because he hath humbled her, he may not put her away all his days.” – Deuteronomy 22:28-29

Purchase a piece of property, and get a woman as part of the deal.
Boaz (Ruth 4:5-10)  Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the land from Naomi, you also acquire Ruth the Moabite, the dead man’s widow, in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property.”

Stone a Non-Virgin Bride

“But if … evidences of virginity are not found for the young woman, then they shall bring out the young woman to the door of her father’s house, and the men of her city shall stone her to death with stones…” (Deuteronomy 22:20,21)

If you were born to an unwed mother, no heaven for you!

(Deuteronomy 23:2)  “One of illegitimate birth shall not enter the congregation of the Lord.”

Lots of feedback on the many sites which allow comments from the billboard we placed in Santa Ana, CA last week.   the Patch in Mission Viejo, the Friendly Atheist’s blog and of course several sites from the OC Register.  Hundreds of comment were posted.  I’m very glad to see the discussion of atheism and how it can be viewed as more philanthropic than other belief systems.  we’ll be placing two more billboards on Sept 11th. The billboard company has rejected any add that has to do with 9/11 (sad) so you won’t be seeing any twin towers pictures.

To add yourself to our confidential email list, visit Meetup.com HERE and sign up.

We have monthly meetings with interesting topics each month as well as movie nights, science-oriented field trips and outreach programs to encourage other non-believers to join our group. We meet on the fourth Wednesday or Thursday of each month. See our MEETUP.COM page for the next event
HERE

Our Purpose: To support the atheist, agnostic, skeptic and humanist community with local meetings, potluck parties, food drives for the homeless and other events. We also support all efforts to keep church and state separate. We enjoy spreading the word that skeptics and non-believers are good and moral people, and we cherish humanistic values over any supernatural superstitions. We encourage others to look at their world view with critical thinking skills so they too can feel they can be good without God.

Our Goal: To increase social and community activities for the skeptic community and to increase our numbers by showing that being a skeptic or atheist has many advantages over superstitious belief systems. Our goal is not to convert people away from their religious beliefs. We believe they will do that on their own if they ask enough questions and explore the answers from a more rational life-stance.