OK Woman Politely Declines to Thank the Lord; Atheists Unite

[cbayer]

http://truth-out.org/speakout/item/16981-ok-woman-politely-declines-to-thank-the-lord-atheists-unite

Friday, 14 June 2013 12:37
By Becky Garrison, Religion Dispatches | Report

As comedian Doug Stanhope watched CNN’s Wolf Blitzer insinuate that Rebecca Vitsmun must thank the Lord for saving her life, he jumped off the couch, high-fiving himself when she outed herself as an atheist. “For her to say she’s an atheist in that type of a crisis in front of her neighbors takes balls. So I thought we should start a fund as a reward to show there’s a spine of atheism that will support people who stand up. This is especially true in a state like Oklahoma where you’re dealing with snake-talking kind of Christians.”

On May 22, he set up Atheists Unite, an Indigogo fundraiser to help rebuild her home in Moore, Oklahoma which was devastated by the deadly tornadoes that killed 24 people. “I felt this was a way of giving where people could give the finger to Christian America. This was something people could do quickly to change a person’s life under the flag of atheism.”

Right after Stanhope called Emery (an atheist activist and co-host of the Ardent Atheistpodcast) for assistance, Emery sent out 20 emails to key celebrities within the atheist movement. When Emery went to bed on May 22, the campaign had already raised $7,000 thanks to grassroots advocacy and a boost from the James Randi Foundation, an organization of skeptics led by D. J. Grothe. He woke up the next morning to find tweets from the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason & Science and Ricky Gervais, and considerable outpourings of support from individuals resulted in $46,000 in donations. On Sunday, magician and comedian Penn Jillette used the bullhorn of Penn’s Sunday School podcast to lend his support, though the Church of Bacon remains the single biggest donor with their contribution of $2,500.

National nontheist organizations quickly lent their voice to the effort, including American Atheists, whose president David Silverman pointed out that, “We don’t need the promise of cosmic reward to know this is the right thing to do; it’s simply what being good is all about.”

more at link

[csziggy]

1. Wonderful people that could teach Christians a lot about being good!

[cbayer]

2. Oh, I think both believers and non-believers can learn a lot from each other.

But kudos to these groups who are helping this woman.

[csziggy]

3. I should have qualified that as "some Christians"

I have met some Christians that live by the lessons of their deity's representative - but very, very few of them. Most Christians need to burn the Old Testament and re-read the parts of the New Testament NOT written by Paul, in my opinion.

[cbayer]

4. I appreciate your explanation and agree that it varies from person to person,

much as it does from non-believer to non-believer.

But I am very happy to see some atheist groups coordinating to provide support and assistance to this woman.

I guess I just object to using it as an opportunity criticize others.

[LostOne4Ever]

8. I find it funny in a sad way

That some Christians pretty much ignore the words of the man they follow (Matthew 7 in particular) to instead focus their attention on the man who spent a large part of his life persecuting Jesus' followers.

[cbayer]

6. Strongly agree.

We are all in this together.

[skepticscott]

7. I find it hard to bless people

who not only revel in ignorance and uncertainty, but lord it over others and use it to trumpet their own superiority.

[cleanhippie]

20. Not believing in a god is a belief system?

You are free to convince yourself of that if it makes you feel better. But that's all you are doing, convincing yourself.

[cleanhippie]

31. "And it is a "belief" system, unless you've died and come back, it's a belief without certainty."

And it is a "belief" system, unless you've died and come back, it's a belief without certainty.

You made a very specific assertion of truth about non-believers here. Are you now claiming otherwise?

Atheism is a lack of belief in a god. Period. Full stop. Are you disputing that? Your statement above indicates that you are.

[cleanhippie]

38. Perhaps we are having a misunderstanding. Can you please clarify this?

Is it your assertion that atheism, the lack of belief in a god, is a belief system?

A simple yes or no will get us on the same page.

[cleanhippie]

41. Are you really not going to answer this question? Seriously?

I'll ask you again, just to be certain.

Is atheism, the lack of belief in a god, a belief system?

If you are unable or unwilling to answer this simple question with a simple yes or no response, then our conversation will be finished, for without knowing just what you think about this question, I cannot communicate effectively with you.

[cleanhippie]

43. I'm not seeing it then. Kindly clarify it for me.

A yes or no is all I need to understand your position. Further refusal to answer tells me that you are no longer to be taken seriously.

[cleanhippie]

45. What is a nonbelief system? I've never heard that term before.

Perhaps an example of another nonbelief system would help me understand what you mean.

[cleanhippie]

47. I have one, its called non-stamp collecting. Maybe you can help me improve my system not collecting.

Sorry, Charlie. If you are going to create your own terms with definitions only you know, then you need to expect to get questions about just what you mean.

As a non-stamp collector, just how does my non-stamp collecting system work? Because not believing in a god must have the same kind of non system, according to you.

[cleanhippie]

49. So you have no advice on how to improve my non-stamp collecting hobby?

No? Perhaps the Interfaith Group is better suited to your needs. You will find your nonsense to be welcomed there. Enjoy.

And have a nice day!

[skepticscott]

37. Let's make this easy to start

Read what I've used as my tag line, and tell me what you think it means. Then try to convince me that you've been even remotely honest or accurate in characterizing my position. Then we'll talk.

Unless you'd rather just fling and flee.

BTW, knee-highs work best.

[skepticscott]

55. Well, let's see now

You completely dodged responding about my tag line, which I'll take as an admission that you know perfectly well that your attempt to paint me as someone with no grasp of the uncertainty surrounding us was horseshit.

And insult to you? What insult? You said: Bless the agnostics, those who are aware of our humbleness in the multiverse & claim no righteous certainty one way or the other. I said: I find it hard to bless people who not only revel in ignorance and uncertainty, but lord it over others and use it to trumpet their own superiority. Obviously, I was referring to the same agnostics, not you. unless you're so narcissistic that you're blessing yourself and talking about yourself in the third person. Show us how there's a personal insult to you anywhere in there.

You, on the other hand, seem to revel in personal insults...unless in your little world, "small-minded" is a term of endearment.

And given your subsequent snark towards other posters here, you'll forgive me if I regard your seeming attempts at conciliation as less than convincing. If anyone here is spoiling for a "pissing match", it seems to be you, despite your claim.

[trotsky]

56. Scorched earth cut-and-run.

What a classy individual.

[skepticscott]

57. They had the aroma

of a sock puppet. But they would have fit in perfectly with the community of true believers here.

[trotsky]

9. "who... claim no righteous certainty one way or the other"

Yet you are doing exactly that - do you honestly not see it?

Oh, those rigid dogmatists at the extremes. You know, from the insane religious types who fly planes into buildings or murder abortion providers, all the way to the extremists at the other end like Richard Dawkins, who write books and give speeches.

Yup, two extremes.

[trotsky]

17. What a peach you are.

Honestly, you appear to be as judgmental as some of the worst religious fundies I've met. Thank you for confirming that you shouldn't be taken seriously.

[cleanhippie]

32. Perhaps a mirror is what YOU need to consult.

I don't expect you to understand, when someone's mind is closed off, that door is shut.

Yeah, no judgement there.

[cbayer]

23. I hope you will visit this group more often

and not allow any one to run you off.

Some here see this as a team sport, but there are lots of great people who post here as well.

[trotsky]

27. And then there are those who passive-aggressively smear others...

in an attempt to control and silence them.

[trotsky]

54. I'm not trying to win over anyone.

Please, don't flatter yourself.

You came in here, proclaimed your superiority, and attacked anyone who pointed out your blatant hypocrisy. As I said, you're a peach!

Feel free to insult me again if that's what makes you feel better.

[skepticscott]

58. Apparently your invitation

has been soundly rejected.

[Rob H.]

33. Never has this been more appropriate

[jtuck004]

10. "snake-talking kind of Christians"

[ErikJ]

11. Just think if she said she thanked Allah or Shiva.

[cbayer]

12. Hopefully, people both of her faith and not of her faith would step up to the plate.

[edhopper]

19. Wolf Blitzer

who should be considered a journalist in name only and should have apologized publicly for asking such a loathsome question, is an embarrassment to all reporters.
I have no problem with victims of such disasters invoking "The Lord" or Jesus a such times. But for Blitzer to prod and implore this poor woman to thank God on national TV is disgusting.

[cbayer]

21. I'm no fan of Blitzer, and I think his question was inappropriate and presumptive.

However, he didn't really prod and implore her.

And if one were looking for silver linings, it did create an opportunity for someone to show their atheism in a very positive light.

[cbayer]

25. We are on the same page on this.

And I am very glad that she is getting some recognition.

Perhaps more news-people will think twice in the future before they make any assumptions about what people do or don't believe.

[cbayer]

29. I think the pendulum is swinging back after way too many years of

the religious right dominating both nationally and locally.

Most of the believers that post in the group are also secularists. If we build more coalitions between believers, non-believers and those in between, I think we have a greater opportunity to keep pushing them back.

[edhopper]

51. He said that she, her husband and child were blessed

(highly inappropriate for a reporter to say) and then said "you gotta thank the lord, do you thank the lord?"

That is prodding and imploring a response in my book.

He was wrong however you look at it, unless he wants to go work at the 700 Club.

[cbayer]

52. I agreed that it was inappropriate. I just don't agree that he rose to the level

you describe.

And her responses were perfect.

[Leontius]

53. Well if that's what it takes to get someone off his couch and help someone

it's kinda sad but at least they did something to help her whatever the motive.