Texas Atheist Group Message: 'God is Dead. Have a Good Friday'

[rug]

By Mark Whittington | Yahoo! Contributor Network – 47 mins ago

According to the CBS affiliate in Dallas/Fort Worth, a Texas atheist group decided to initiate what it called "outreach" to a number of Christian pastors in North Texas on the occasion of Good Friday.

"God is dead. Have a Good Friday"

According to the affiliate, the group calling itself the "Dallas-Fort Worth Coalition of Reason" left the following message in the mailboxes of 50 church leaders. The message was: "God is dead. Have a Good Friday." The group's coordinator, Zachary Moore, called it "outreach to Christians."

The Dallas-Fort Worth Coalition of Reason

According to the organization's Google Plus page, the Dallas-Fort Worth Coalition of Reason "is a group of local organizations joined together to increase the growth, visibility and acceptance of all atheists throughout the Metroplex. While all of these organizations share common ground, each has its own particular emphasis and atmosphere. Some are focused on scientific inquiry and education; others are focused on ethics and community. Still others seek to create environments of rationality where people can socialize in climates of tolerance and support. All organizations are committed to promoting wider acceptance of a more rational and realistic view of the universe and the humans who live in it."

Why such a message on Good Friday

Good Friday, as About.com points out, is the Friday before Easter Sunday when, according to Christian tradition, Jesus Christ suffered and died by crucifixion. Believing Christians commemorate the occasion with prayer and fasting. The day is considered a solemn occasion, leading up to Easter Sunday when, according to Christian beliefs, Jesus Christ rose from the dead. As Jesus Christ is considered the Son of God, the Dallas-Fort Worth Coalition of Reason is clearly making an attempt at humor, imparting the message first suggested by the philosopher Frederick Nietzsche that "God is dead" on the occasion in which God was killed.

http://news.yahoo.com/texas-atheist-group-message-god-dead-good-friday-163000801.html



This group otherwise seems to have its act together. If this report is accurate, it's a shame somebody pulled this sophomoric stunt.

http://www.dfwcor.org/about-us.html

http://www.dfwcor.org/families.html

http://www.dfwcor.org/events.html#year=2013&month=4&day=1&view=month



Meanwhile, in the rest of the world, this crap is going on.

‘Atheist’ bloggers to ‘repent’

Staff Correspondent, bdnews24.com

Published: 2013-03-31 18:47:13.0 Updated: 2013-03-31 20:05:06.0

The investigation committee of the Prime Minister’s Office on Sunday nodded a recommendation by ‘Islamist’ scholars that suggested repentance (‘tauba’) for the bloggers who are accused of making offensive statements against Islam and its Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH).

During a meeting with the committee at the Home Ministry following filing of cases by the state, they also put forth their proposal to take stern action against those involved in such acts.

They submitted a list of 84 ‘atheist’ bloggers and those spreading propagandas against Islam to the committee and said they should be sued if they didn’t repent for their ‘sins’.

Mainuddin Khandaker, Home Ministry’s Additional Secretary and also the committee chief, echoed the scholars during the meeting.

http://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2013/03/31/atheist-bloggers-to-repent

[ZombieHorde]

1. That is something I would have done when I was a teenager.

I used to make comics, and put them in people's cars when they left their window open a crack, and some of the comics would be placed in the church mailboxes in my neighborhood.

This behavior of mine started while I was on acid one night, and thought this would be a funny thing to do to strangers. I only did it for one summer.

[backscatter712]

2. Ridicule has always been a rhetorical weapon.

Atheists aren't the first people to do it, nor will they be the last.

We all laugh when Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert ridicule Michele Bachmann or Louie Gohmert.

But as atheists, we believe in one thing. NOTHING, and I mean nothing, should be immune to criticism or ridicule.

As atheists, we get criticized and ridiculed all the time. BRING IT! We can take it! But don't expect us to declare religion to be off limits. In fact, from the atheist point of view, so many of the religious beliefs that most people have been conditioned to see as normal, we have reexamined, and found to be utterly absurd.

[rug]

3. I agree. I like to ridicule stupidity.

[okasha]

4. Stupidity usually sets itself up, too.

It's almost an unkindness not to go for it.

Nested wrong. Replies to #3.

[mr blur]

5. Seems a reasonable message. "God is dead. Grow up" would have been better.

[SpartanDem]

6. Kinda of a dick move

but then again if I was an atheist in uber religious Texas I might feel differently.

[backscatter712]

7. For three days, atheists and Christians were in agreement... n/t

[edhopper]

8. Stupid thing to do

first, there is no God and never was one. So God is dead, it is a confused message.
This was not a response to something the churches did, this was a silly attack on their holy day.
It's chance of getting any churchgoer to think about their faith is probably zero.
A stupid prank that just makes them look bad.

[Humanist_Activist]

9. Hey, at least they aren't attacking people, like your Church does. n/t

[rug]

10. Oh? Do you mean the Church you left?

[Humanist_Activist]

11. Uhm, yes, what is that a surprise? I valued the worth of my LGBT and female friends over your God...

I'm just sorry your morality is so skewed as to think that is worthy of contempt.

[rug]

12. And I'm just sorry you feel the need to hide behind others to justify whatevever dilemma you had.

But, of course, none of this has anything to do with the OP.

[Humanist_Activist]

13. I'm just highlighting a huge difference between Atheists like this group, and groups you affiliate..

with, Atheists attack imaginary creatures and beliefs, groups like your Church attack people and their civil rights.

Would you like me to post what Cardinal Dolan said this past weekend? Or how about your current Pope's beliefs on same-sex marriage, choice, contraception, etc.

Besides that, I just learned a fellow DUer of ours, and one who shares your faith teaches that acting on LGBT feelings is a sin, to 8th graders, in a Catholic Church. I'm fucking outraged and appalled such a bigoted fucker is allowed to post on this board.

[hrmjustin]

16. Can you direct me to the link that was said about the 8th grade teacher.

I am shocked that was allowed to stay as well. Being LGBT is NOT a sin and I can't stand it when people say it is a sin.

[Humanist_Activist]

18. Sure, right here...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=2593920

Might get this post deleted, but I don't care.

[hrmjustin]

20. Thank you for posting it.

Being gay is not a sin nor should we teach anyone that it is in any situation.

[Humanist_Activist]

21. Well, to be honest, he makes a distinction, saying that being gay isn't a sin, but that acting on...

it is. That is still bullshit, homophobic "hate the sin, not the sinner" justification, and matches the Catechism of the Catholic Church to a T.

[hrmjustin]

22. Well being gay and acting on it is not a sin in my church.

[Humanist_Activist]

23. Yeah, I'm just straight up appalled that he posted that here, without many challenging him on it...

he teaches hate, there's no way around it, yet, because its his Church's teachings, it gets a pass, which is unacceptable.

[rug]

17. No you're not.

You are trying to defend this juvenile behavior (which is likely not representative of this group) by trying to distract by a tired old attack on religion. It's all very tedious. Not to mention stupid.

Before you go off again talking about "Atheists like this group", maybe you should click the link to that group and read what they're about.

"For the religious community, we want them to realize that, although atheists reject the supernatural, we share with them compassionate human values that most religious believers embrace. In most ways, we are like them, hard working, tax paying, moral citizens who care deeply about our families, our communities, our state and our country."

Whatevever it is you're trying to peddle, it's not this. Oh, and you know what you can do with your lame "skewed morality" insult.

[Humanist_Activist]

19. It may be juvenile, but still more mature than your Church leaders. n/t

[Humanist_Activist]

15. In addition, who am I hiding behind, and what dilemma? n/t

[hrmjustin]

14. That was tasteless on this Atheist Group part.

[dimbear]

24. In future I will make no financial contributions to that Texas atheist group, as they don't

live up to my standards of Victorian politeness.

[Humanist_Activist]

25. LOL, if only fellow DUers felt the same towards their respective Churches.

Over more substantial things at that, but alas, they do not.

[Phillip McCleod]

32. you have a mighty mighty wit, dimbear..

dry though it may be.

[struggle4progress]

26. The Good Friday story DOES come from a time when Greek rationality had unthroned and desacralized

the gods of the ancient world, and it really IS about humans murdering G-d, though with a peculiar Hebraic twist: the notion from the ancient Jews that we need only look rightly towards our fellow human beings if we want to see the image of G-d, and that mercy and justice towards our brothers and sisters are the only sure and proper foundation for a religious life. This notion threads its way carefully throughout the original Hebrew scriptures, filled as they are with the sad violence and gore that is the reality of too much human life, even today, and that has remained the constant of empires from the beginning of empire

And indeed, against the cruelty of tyrants, eager to terrify people into submission, what could be a right response? We really should make the effort not to fear them, that we should try to hold onto mercy and justice, no matter what the cost

... Though laws were carved in marble, they could not shelter men. Though altars built in parliaments, they could not order men. Police arrested magic, and magic went with them ...

[Act_of_Reparation]

27. Accept Jesus as your savior or face eternal damnation

A rational story of mercy and liberation, indeed.

[struggle4progress]

28. The fundamentalists misunderstood

[cleanhippie]

29. The Apologists rationalization

[struggle4progress]

30. If you want to argue with the fundamentalists, go argue with them

I myself long ago decided that they had a fixed and impermeable mindset, not conducive to useful discussion. Some people are like that, as you probably know

Since I don't share their view, I'm not the right person for you to argue with about their views

[Act_of_Reparation]

31. So you should be able to interpret scripture to your liking without justification?

No doubt you feel the answer is "yes", but some of us feel that if you arrive at an interpretation that is wildly different from that espoused in the only canonical accounts of the life and works of Jesus Christ, that you should be able to provide a sound reason for it.

[struggle4progress]

33. How does this concern you? What is your actual stance regarding Christianity?

[Act_of_Reparation]

35. My position is that extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence

Now, if you'd be so kind as to stop deflecting the question with ad hominems, you can get back to supporting your (a)historical revisionism.

[struggle4progress]

36. You're certainly welcome to regard Christianity as a superstition unsupported by any evidence.

Of course, if that is your primary view, then I doubt you can find anything interesting in the texts. But you nevertheless seem to want me to justify to you my divergence from the views of the fundamentalists -- I do not share their views; perhaps I do not even understand their views; you evidently do not share their views; so what more can be said there?

In my opinion, there do exist useful and informative ways for committed atheists to read these texts, without abandoning the demands of conscience and (in particular) without committing themselves to any anti-scientific metaphysic. Here I might point you to a long dense lyrical essay by the German atheist and Marxist Ernst Bloch (1985-1977), who fled Germany soon after the Weimar era ended -- Atheism and Christianity: The Religion of Exodos and the Kingdom, written in the late 60s and translated into English in the early 70s. Bloch's underlying attitude is, I think, that of Marx:

A Contribution to the Critique of Hegel’s Philosophy of Right (1843)
http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1843/critique-hpr/intro.htm

... Religion is the general theory of this world, its encyclopaedic compendium, its logic in popular form, its spiritual point d’honneur, its enthusiasm, its moral sanction, its solemn complement, and its universal basis of consolation and justification. It is the fantastic realization of the human essence since the human essence has not acquired any true reality. The struggle against religion is, therefore, indirectly the struggle against that world whose spiritual aroma is religion.

Religious suffering is, at one and the same time, the expression of real suffering and a protest against real suffering. Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the people.

Criticism has plucked the imaginary flowers on the chain not in order that man shall continue to bear that chain without fantasy or consolation, but so that he shall throw off the chain and pluck the living flower ...

That is a most informative passage: it discusses our struggle to become ever more fully human in a world that constantly attempts to defeat us in that struggle, and our psychological projection of our hopes into an ideal world, when we are unable realize our hopes immediately. That struggle must continue directly against the heartless conditions real people actually encounter and not just indirectly against their psychological projections, which result from their real suffering. As religion is a simultaneous "expression of and protest against suffering," it would be mere cruelty to "pluck the imaginary flowers" from the chains that oppress people and then leave them to wear those chains unadorned

Let me now comment on a few of the introductory quotes with which Bloch prefaces his essay:

The best thing about religion is that it makes for heretics

This is indeed an idea often implicit in the old texts. The Hebrew proscription against idols, for example, was widely misunderstood in the ancient world: when Romans conquered Jertusalem in 63 BC and entered the Jewish Temple, they were horrified to find no "god" (because the Jews had no statue to worship) --and therefore accused the Jews of atheism. A century later, according to Christian texts, Jesus of Nazareth was executed by the Romans on the demand of certain people who accused him of blasphemy

Only an atheist can be a good Christian ...

Bloch in his epigraph also includes Moltmann's inversion of Bloch's original assertion. The importance of materialist justice runs through the ancient Jewish texts, and later James (2:14) writes

Suppose a brother or a sister without clothes and food. If you say, “Be at peace! Stay warm and well fed!” but do nothing for their needs, what good is that?

Finally,

Dies septimus nos ipsi erimus

That is, we ourselves must become the seventh day

[Act_of_Reparation]

37. Completely off the mark

Last edited Fri Apr 5, 2013, 06:45 PM - Edit history (1)

My point is this:

To those who interpret the story of Good Friday as an act of blood atonement for original sin, and that only by acknowledging this sacrifice may one have even the slightest chance at redemption, you authoritatively proclaim "they misunderstand".

Regardless of how I feel about Christianity, I find such a proclamation hypocritical and thoroughly absurd in both its reasoning and its outright arrogance. The only "authoritative" accounts of the life and acts of Jesus Christ are those found in the Bible. There are no external sources to work with. Your position is, therefore, that the sweeping majority of Christians, from the religion's inception until present, have been mislead because they took their holy book at its word; that you have instead arrived at the "correct" interpretation of Christ's death, despite having no more factual a leg to stand on than they.

It has been, in my experience, that people rarely follow a God with whom they disagree. To liberal believers, God is a liberal. To conservative believers, God is a Republican. Both will go to great lengths to make their cases, but in the end, each falls back on an arbitrarily selective reading of the Bible in which agreeable passages are kept and the disagreeable ignored, forgotten, or rationalized. Those you call "fundamentalists" no doubt do a good of this, and it is not beyond my imagining that you routinely do the same.

More to the point, however, is the context of this conversation. What you personally hold to be true isn't particularly relevant as these billboards are a reaction to a belief which, right or wrong, is predominant among Christians. If it is your contention this "interpretation" of Good Friday is ill-informed, then you should be lecturing your fellow believers, not the non-Christians they compulsively and habitually offend.

[cleanhippie]

38. "you should be lecturing your fellow believers..." Fat fucking chance.

It's so much easier to disparage those that do not share the belief than it is to deal with the contradictions an irrationality of those that do.

[struggle4progress]

39. You want me to justify to you my divergence from the views of the fundamentalists -- I do not share

their views; perhaps I do not even understand their views; you evidently do not share their views; so what more can be said there?

[Act_of_Reparation]

40. If you believed one word of that...

... I daresay we'd be seeing a lot less of you on these forums. I can only conclude you are again deflecting the question.

Nevertheless, the issue remains. You deploy the loaded term "fundamentalist" to describe those Christians who believe Christ's sacrifice was an act of blood atonement as if they are members of some literalist lunatic fringe, and chastise atheists for using them as an excuse to bash an otherwise wonderful holiday.

The problem here is that those people are not on the fringe, and the interpretation to which they subscribe is canon across virtually all sects of Christianity. That atheists should criticize them is absolutely justified, even if their interpretation of the story is incorrect.

And, if their interpretation of what is written rather plainly across the pages of the Gospels and the Pauline Epistles is incorrect, then, again, you should be lecturing them, not us.

[Fix The Stupid]

34. a 'Gotcha' question - good luck.