Crommunist

0 Because I am an atheist: Pharm Sci Grad

Today’s contribution comes from Pharm Sci Grad via e-mail.

…I am more accepting of the transient nature of my relationships with people

There’s an old religious line that goes “People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime” and I always had a hard time accepting that. This whole religious concept of eternal life meant you never really let anyone “go” forever but I still didn’t like the idea that sometimes people would be friends and then friendships would fall apart. I struggled with that. Strangely enough, since I let go of any belief in eternal life, I realized that I would never really have anyone with me for a lifetime – and, well, since there is no god, it’s not like I’ve got any god with me either. So all that leaves are temporary friends, those for a reason or a season, which means that is just the nature of life, of friendship. What a freeing notion.

How much easier it is to accept the wonderful friends I have and to accept the changes in a relationship when the time comes, without anger or blame, because of course the time would have to come eventually. That is just how it is. You change, you adapt, sometimes you allow friendships to fade, but you move forward forever altered by the people who’ve entered your life. Not because a god placed them in your path, but because we’re all fortunate enough to coexist together on this pale blue dot, and you and your friend, however briefly, recognized your shared humanity.

Consider submitting your own statement, by e-mail or as a comment!

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10 Less relevant by the minute

June 12, 2012
by Crommunist
· blog · Catholic church · crapitalism · news · religion · science · sex

Since I was a little kid, I’ve loved stories. Even as an adult, I am drawn to the narrative arc – the pacing, the twists and turns of a good plot, the art of a well-crafted climax – these have always been like magic to me. In my younger days though, I was drawn to Greek mythology in a big way. It wasn’t just the fanciful tales, although I liked that aspect a lot – it was the fact that each story was attached to some kind of lesson. They weren’t just stories told for amusement – they were expositions of human foibles and an accounting of how ancient peoples saw the world.

While Aesop’s Fables are not, strictly speaking, Greek mythology, they are perhaps the best exemplar of that type of morality and psychology as taught through story that we have. While Jesus of Nazareth (supposedly) taught in parables, it can often be an arduous exercise to pick out the nuggets of useful knowledge from the heaps of nonsense (what kind of shepherd abandons an entire flock to search for a single lost sheep? A bad one, I’d imagine). The fables attributed to Aesop are far clearer and more real-to-life.

One of the most famous, at least among the secular community, is the Emperor’s New Clothes. The reason it’s famous in our clique is because it so perfectly mirrors the public perception of religion – everyone is told how important and meaningful and significant it is, but as soon as someone takes a critical look at it the whole edifice quickly unravels to reveal one naked fallacy after another. However, turned on its head, there’s another valuable lesson contained in that story. One about the vanity and blindness that accompanies unchecked power and how it can lead people into situations where they completely fucking embarrass themselves: … Continue Reading

39 Songs in the key of H(umanism)

June 11, 2012
by Crommunist
· blog · bmusic · psychology · religion · secularism

As you may know (and should certainly know if you followed my Blogathon Songathon yesterday), one of the many hats I wear is that of musician. I am no great talent, to be sure, but I’ve got some moderate game. I’ve been a musician as long as I can remember – somewhere there exists a photo of me as a 3 year-old sitting on the steps, banging out rhythms on my knees. I started guitar lessons at age 6, singing lessons a couple of years after that, picked up the guitar at age 14, started my first string quartet at 15… I’ve been in the game for a minute.

Which is why I was torn this past weekend when James Croft, a person I otherwise respect for his outspoken defense of humanism, came out in favour of using song as part of humanist gatherings. His position (and I am trying my best not to straw man) is that because narrative and song have such a persuasive power, humanists should involve it as part of our regular discourse. Humanist gatherings should involve group participation in song and storytelling (he actually used the word ‘witnessing’ at one point), because they are useful in building consensus and community, and what he calls a more ’emotive’ humanism.

I attempted to point out that, given the number of humanists who have actively fled religion, the adoption of a quasi-liturgical form to humanist gatherings was pretty likely to spook a lot of people. When I attempted to defend James’ idea of a church-like gathering for atheists who were in need of the kind of stable community and group interaction that churches provide to believers, there were a number of people who responded that, even if they thought the idea had some merit there was absolutely no way they would attend. Any attempt to ‘churchify’ humanism is going to alienate a lot of people.

James’ response was basically “Yeah? So?” … Continue Reading

10 Because I am an atheist: Lousy Canuck

Today’s submission comes from fellow FTBorg Jason Thibeault, who writes at the brilliant and therefore deceptively-named Lousy Canuck blog.

Because I am an atheist…

I’ve been an atheist since I was 13. This is well before I knew the word, or the implications, though I had a vague inkling that a lot of people were probably wrong about a lot of things. When I further realized that my own parents counted among those people, I figured it was a very bad idea to let anyone else know what I thought about theology.

Several years ago, my sister came out to me as gay. The way she approached it was to ask me, “what is the worst possible thing you could imagine me telling you about myself?” I joked, “that you vote Conservative.” So, she apparently took that as an indicator that I’m safe, and came out of the closet. … Continue Reading

2 Skeptivism: Jamie’s story

June 11, 2012
by Crommunist
· blog · Blogmeta · gender · good news · skeptivism

My Blogathon efforts left me far more drained than I thought it would. By the time 6 hours of recording was up, I didn’t have much left in the tank for blogging. All is not lost, however, because a friend of mine from Vancouver has been engaged in some truly impressive local activism, so I asked Jamie to sum up the events for you all to take a look at:

I’ve been writing a lot about demonstrations, protests, nearly frothing at the mouth while yelling profanity, and taking my top off, all in the name of exercising bodily autonomy as a person who has two X-chromosomes. I mean a lot. This entry concerns a summary version of what is contained in all those posts, with links to the original writing.

The inciting incident concerned a woman in a sun dress, who felt particularly brave one afternoon while approaching a pro-life group that appears at the same intersection every weekend, to the Great Annoyance of the entire neighbourhood and virtually all passersby. She said “If a woman is raped and conceives from it, should she be forced to carry the child?” and was answered with “If she’s dressed like you, she should.” When I found out she wanted to organize the community to hold them accountable, I flipped all my shits. Read about it here.

Read Jamie’s epic saga; it’s really impressive.

I will be back to normal tomorrow, I bet. Plus I still owe a bunch of people cover tunes, so that’ll happen.

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3 Blogathon songathon: Glory Hallelujah

I’m afraid that I’m going to have to tap out at this point, Cromrades. The combination of 2 back-to-back shows with the band followed by 6 hours of learning and recording has completely flayed the fingertips of my left hand, and the remnants of my voice to boot. If I haven’t done your request, fear not: SSA Week is not over. I will keep adding videos as the week progresses. To be completely honest, I did not expect this kind of response, so I have to thank all of you for digging into your pockets the way you did.

I will leave you with this fantastic secular anthem, requested by Danny White:

Compare this to the original here.

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1 Blogathon songathon: The Pedestrian

Nicole requested this excellent tune by Foxboro Hot Tubs.

Compare this to the original here.

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3 Blogathon songathon: The Last Unicorn

I’m not entirely sure how Momo Elektra knew about my disastrous first date with a woman who believes in unicorns, but there you have it. Anyway, ze wanted to hear this song, and here it is:

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2 Blogathon songathon: Helter Skelter

Loren Price requested this classic Beatles tune. I had to pull the punches on my voice a bit – both to preserve it, and because while I’m sure my neighbours are Beatles fans, I doubt they want to hear me screaming “Helter Skelter” at the top of my lungs in the middle of a Sunday afternoon.

Compare to the original here.

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2 Blogathon songathon – Haw

David Hart wanted to hear something by 16 Horsepower, so here’s my attempt to oblige him:

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