Saturday, October 16, 2010
Friday, September 10, 2010
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Friday, July 16, 2010
Saturday, July 03, 2010
Secular witnessing
I went to a Giants-Red Sox game at AT&T Park (where the good guys won!). Sure enough at the 7th inning stretch a public announcement told us to stand up, take off our hats and sing "God bless America". Without a second thought my friends and I did not move and sat for the entire song. We could not see anyone else sitting and wondered if we would be accosted, verbally or otherwise, but there was no aftermath.
I need not remind you of the dangers of conflating "patriotism" with public expression of belief in the supernatural. I share this small story with you with the thought that many of us take a stand from time to time to express our opinions publicly without much fanfare.
I encourage others to "come out" with their stories of their small acts of civil disobedience, as well as encourage others to begin to take a stand.
Warmly, Dan
I need not remind you of the dangers of conflating "patriotism" with public expression of belief in the supernatural. I share this small story with you with the thought that many of us take a stand from time to time to express our opinions publicly without much fanfare.
I encourage others to "come out" with their stories of their small acts of civil disobedience, as well as encourage others to begin to take a stand.
Warmly, Dan
Monday, June 21, 2010
Friday, May 14, 2010
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
San Francisco Atheists protest against the Ninth Circuit Court’s ruling video
San Francisco Atheists protest against the Ninth Circuit Court’s ruling video
Click here to see the video
Click here to see the video
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Friday, March 12, 2010
Friday, February 26, 2010
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Wednesday, February 03, 2010
Who We Are: Welcome Paul Gehrman (Author of Kaleidoscope)
Now that I’ve completely extricated myself from the hold of religious dogma, I have great appreciation for how manipulative and vicious religion can be, particularly on children, who are frightened into believing with threats of eternal torture, ostracism, etc. This is unethical to say the least. I think all people of goodwill should vigorously oppose this thought cancer in the hope that we can move humanity past superstition, bigotry, homophobia, etc., and to a place where reason, knowledge, and intellectual honesty are highly valued.
Tuesday, February 02, 2010
Let’s welcome Julia to the Who We Are page on our web site.
Who We Are web page.
Monday, February 01, 2010
Saturday, January 30, 2010
The Jesus Sign by Don Havis 2010
Here is a story from one of our own. It shows that we can be an opposing force to irrational thought.
The Jesus Sign by Don Havis 2010
Regards,
San Francisco Atheists
The Jesus Sign by Don Havis 2010
Regards,
San Francisco Atheists
Friday, January 29, 2010
Let’s welcome Tommi to our Who We Are page on our web site
Regards,
San Francisco Atheists
Who We Are
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
San Francisco Atheists - New Blog
This is the blog of San Francisco Atheists, a "non-prophet" organization affiliated with American Atheists. Posts are authored by San Francisco Atheists Steering Committee members.
Opinions expressed in the Posts here are solely those of the author, and not always the opinion of San Francisco Atheists or American Atheists.
Dissenting and agreeing Comments are welcome, but preachy, vulgar, or hateful Comments are promptly deleted.
Welcome to our blog!
Opinions expressed in the Posts here are solely those of the author, and not always the opinion of San Francisco Atheists or American Atheists.
Dissenting and agreeing Comments are welcome, but preachy, vulgar, or hateful Comments are promptly deleted.
Welcome to our blog!
Friday, November 11, 2005
Atheists in Foxholes Rally
Washington DC, Veteran’s Day, Nov 11, 2005
Speech by Jim Heldberg
------------
Atheists make America strong.
I served the US Navy as both a sailor and an officer. Yes, I went through 2 boot camps.
I’m proud that I served under President John F. Kennedy. But an hour after I was commissioned, he was assassinated. I still miss him.
I started a war. No, not by myself, but I helped start a war. I was a deck officer on the ship that put the first US troops into Vietnam at the Chu Lai landing in 1964. I came home safe, but the names of some of my shipmates are on that black wall a few blocks away.
I managed a large Navy school. I had 100 instructors and 1,000 students, working 2 shifts day and night, studying topics from mathematics to metallurgy, learning to operate nuclear-powered Navy ships.
Atheists make America strong.
For most of us, the passing years have not dimmed the intensity of our time in uniform. Like you, I worked hard in the military. I worked hard as a veteran, too. I raised children, sent family members to war, worked 3 careers, paid big taxes, took part in government, and voted in every single election. I fly the American flag in front of my home every day, as I’m sure many of you do, too.
No one dare call us unpatriotic. Atheists make American strong.
Terrorism is today’s threat. Terrorism isn’t new. It has been used in every war. (pause) Today’s religious terrorism is different, though. It’s hard to stop people who want to kill to prove who has the best imaginary friend. But the best solution to religious terrorism is on a bumper sticker on my truck. It says, “Atheism cures religious terrorism.”
Atheism has been around much longer than religion. After all, we were here first. Strangely enough, American religion thinks they have Atheists pinned down. They do have us out-numbered, out-spent, out-organized, out-lawyered, out-advertised, and maybe even out-rifled.
That’s what the British thought about the Continental Army, too. General George Washington’s army spent several years ducking and running, learning and training, until they were big enough, strong enough, smart enough, and ready enough to take America away from England. I’m sure the Atheist Army assembled here today won’t let religion take America away from us.
Against the forces of religion, today’s Atheists are like Washington’s army. We’re still mostly Minutemen, dedicated amateurs doing a important jobs, sometimes on only a few minutes’ notice. But, we’re more than just Minutemen. We’re recruiting, we’re building, and we’re training. We now have Special Forces to use for specific battles. Sometimes we win. More important, we’re growing stronger, and we’re learning to fight better.
We’re much more powerful than we appear, because we have the ultimate weapon: the truth. Religion is really afraid of us. One Atheist can scare a thousand religious folks. You know that. So, multiply the number of people here today by 1,000, and that’s how strong we really are. Veteran Madalyn Murray O’Hair scared millions, and she changed American history.
Unfortunately, much of today’s Atheist manpower is still on the reserve list. We know that 30 million Americans are non-religious. But most of them are still waiting to join our fight. We need to mobilize our Atheist reserves. We need to cultivate our allies, too.
We need to get even better organized. Veterans can lead the way. The US military is the most organized group in the world. The military taught us how to organize a fight for land, water, air and space. Let’s use those skills to organize a fight for America’s brains and future.
Atheists make America strong. Stronger Atheists will make a stronger America.
Speech by Jim Heldberg
------------
Atheists make America strong.
I served the US Navy as both a sailor and an officer. Yes, I went through 2 boot camps.
I’m proud that I served under President John F. Kennedy. But an hour after I was commissioned, he was assassinated. I still miss him.
I started a war. No, not by myself, but I helped start a war. I was a deck officer on the ship that put the first US troops into Vietnam at the Chu Lai landing in 1964. I came home safe, but the names of some of my shipmates are on that black wall a few blocks away.
I managed a large Navy school. I had 100 instructors and 1,000 students, working 2 shifts day and night, studying topics from mathematics to metallurgy, learning to operate nuclear-powered Navy ships.
Atheists make America strong.
For most of us, the passing years have not dimmed the intensity of our time in uniform. Like you, I worked hard in the military. I worked hard as a veteran, too. I raised children, sent family members to war, worked 3 careers, paid big taxes, took part in government, and voted in every single election. I fly the American flag in front of my home every day, as I’m sure many of you do, too.
No one dare call us unpatriotic. Atheists make American strong.
Terrorism is today’s threat. Terrorism isn’t new. It has been used in every war. (pause) Today’s religious terrorism is different, though. It’s hard to stop people who want to kill to prove who has the best imaginary friend. But the best solution to religious terrorism is on a bumper sticker on my truck. It says, “Atheism cures religious terrorism.”
Atheism has been around much longer than religion. After all, we were here first. Strangely enough, American religion thinks they have Atheists pinned down. They do have us out-numbered, out-spent, out-organized, out-lawyered, out-advertised, and maybe even out-rifled.
That’s what the British thought about the Continental Army, too. General George Washington’s army spent several years ducking and running, learning and training, until they were big enough, strong enough, smart enough, and ready enough to take America away from England. I’m sure the Atheist Army assembled here today won’t let religion take America away from us.
Against the forces of religion, today’s Atheists are like Washington’s army. We’re still mostly Minutemen, dedicated amateurs doing a important jobs, sometimes on only a few minutes’ notice. But, we’re more than just Minutemen. We’re recruiting, we’re building, and we’re training. We now have Special Forces to use for specific battles. Sometimes we win. More important, we’re growing stronger, and we’re learning to fight better.
We’re much more powerful than we appear, because we have the ultimate weapon: the truth. Religion is really afraid of us. One Atheist can scare a thousand religious folks. You know that. So, multiply the number of people here today by 1,000, and that’s how strong we really are. Veteran Madalyn Murray O’Hair scared millions, and she changed American history.
Unfortunately, much of today’s Atheist manpower is still on the reserve list. We know that 30 million Americans are non-religious. But most of them are still waiting to join our fight. We need to mobilize our Atheist reserves. We need to cultivate our allies, too.
We need to get even better organized. Veterans can lead the way. The US military is the most organized group in the world. The military taught us how to organize a fight for land, water, air and space. Let’s use those skills to organize a fight for America’s brains and future.
Atheists make America strong. Stronger Atheists will make a stronger America.
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
Evolution a religion?
Letter to Editor, San Ramon Valley Times
By Burt Bogardus
A Sept. 28 letter claims that "evolution is just as much a religion as the belief in God," and its teaching in public schools should therefore be unconstitutional.
I strongly agree with the writer that religious indoctrination has no place in public schools. Sectarian schools can perform that role well enough.
But what is religion? The word derives from the Latin religare--to bind or restrain. Most religions contain the following elements:
Frankly, I fail to understand how evolution bears any resemblance to the above.
The precepts advanced by Charles Darwin's Origin of Species in 1859 have withstood scientific scrutiny for almost one and a half centuries. They are controversial in only one sense--they flatly contradict the puerile creation mythology found in the Book of Genesis.
For 2,000 years, religion (specifically Christianity) has been the enemy of scientific advancement. If America is to play a significant role in the future, it must cease binding the developing minds of its youth with the shackles of ancient superstition.
By Burt Bogardus
A Sept. 28 letter claims that "evolution is just as much a religion as the belief in God," and its teaching in public schools should therefore be unconstitutional.
I strongly agree with the writer that religious indoctrination has no place in public schools. Sectarian schools can perform that role well enough.
But what is religion? The word derives from the Latin religare--to bind or restrain. Most religions contain the following elements:
(1) A "Holy Book" (e.g. Koran, Bible) delineating specific beliefs and behaviors to which adherents must strictly conform.
(2) Belief in the existence of one or more invisible, all-knowing, all-powerful beings.
(3) Prescribed rituals (e.g. sacrifices, fasts, prayers) to propitiate the gods and curry their favor.
(4) Special intermediaries (e.g. priests, ministers) who claim to intervene on the supplicant's behalf.
(5) Observance of "Holy Days" (holidays).
(6) Belief in a supernatural existence after death, in which rewards or punishments are meted out.
Frankly, I fail to understand how evolution bears any resemblance to the above.
The precepts advanced by Charles Darwin's Origin of Species in 1859 have withstood scientific scrutiny for almost one and a half centuries. They are controversial in only one sense--they flatly contradict the puerile creation mythology found in the Book of Genesis.
For 2,000 years, religion (specifically Christianity) has been the enemy of scientific advancement. If America is to play a significant role in the future, it must cease binding the developing minds of its youth with the shackles of ancient superstition.
Thursday, July 14, 2005
Fundies Fan Flames
Letter to Editor, San Ramon Valley Times
By Burt Bogardus
The religious right leadership (Robertson, Dobson et al) have gleefully seized the gay rights issue with even more zeal than their other divisive pet topics--abortion, school prayer, vouchers and creationism.
If the Christian fundies would cease fanning the flames of anti-gay bigotry, the widespread prejudice against lesbians and gays would be greatly diminished.
While you or I may not find same-sex unions to be our cup of tea, the decision is not ours to make. It is hard to understand how two gay people committing themselves to one another threatens the relationship or marriage of anyone else.
These Christian busybodies need to redirect their excess energies toward purging their churches of pedophiles and other perverts. I suggest they heed Christ's advice about casting the first stone.
Amending the Constitution should be reserved for matters of importance.
By Burt Bogardus
The religious right leadership (Robertson, Dobson et al) have gleefully seized the gay rights issue with even more zeal than their other divisive pet topics--abortion, school prayer, vouchers and creationism.
If the Christian fundies would cease fanning the flames of anti-gay bigotry, the widespread prejudice against lesbians and gays would be greatly diminished.
While you or I may not find same-sex unions to be our cup of tea, the decision is not ours to make. It is hard to understand how two gay people committing themselves to one another threatens the relationship or marriage of anyone else.
These Christian busybodies need to redirect their excess energies toward purging their churches of pedophiles and other perverts. I suggest they heed Christ's advice about casting the first stone.
Amending the Constitution should be reserved for matters of importance.
Monday, April 25, 2005
No Saint
Letter to Editor, The Argus (Fremont, CA)
By David M. Mandell
Well, Pope John Paul II is dead. So what.
After reading about him it's obvious the pope was no saint.
You would think with all the millions of people mourning over him, he was a saint. But he wasn't. The only good thing he did was wave his arms and hands blessing everybody.
I would say as an atheist, he was an excellent public relations man. But what did he do that was so bad?
The worst is that he banned condoms in Africa resulting in millions of babies who would die because their mothers had no milk. Banning condoms also caused thousands of HIV deaths, and left families throughout the world producing so many kids that they have to live in squalor.
Next he ordered bishops in the U.S. to oppose civil rights laws that protect gays and lesbians (including hate-crime laws), leaving them outside the boundaries of legal protection.
Then he told heterosexuals what to do: no contraceptives, no premarital sex, no oral sex, no anal sex, no masturbation, no remarriage, no divorce, no artificial insemination, no three-ways, no swinging, no sterilization, no legal abortion, no stem cell research, no women priests, and no death with dignity because you are forced to live against your wishes.
And let's not forget he didn't stop the priests from sexually abusing thousands of children.
By David M. Mandell
Well, Pope John Paul II is dead. So what.
After reading about him it's obvious the pope was no saint.
You would think with all the millions of people mourning over him, he was a saint. But he wasn't. The only good thing he did was wave his arms and hands blessing everybody.
I would say as an atheist, he was an excellent public relations man. But what did he do that was so bad?
The worst is that he banned condoms in Africa resulting in millions of babies who would die because their mothers had no milk. Banning condoms also caused thousands of HIV deaths, and left families throughout the world producing so many kids that they have to live in squalor.
Next he ordered bishops in the U.S. to oppose civil rights laws that protect gays and lesbians (including hate-crime laws), leaving them outside the boundaries of legal protection.
Then he told heterosexuals what to do: no contraceptives, no premarital sex, no oral sex, no anal sex, no masturbation, no remarriage, no divorce, no artificial insemination, no three-ways, no swinging, no sterilization, no legal abortion, no stem cell research, no women priests, and no death with dignity because you are forced to live against your wishes.
And let's not forget he didn't stop the priests from sexually abusing thousands of children.
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