Christianist thanks God for atheists

It's sort of like how cops would be out of business without crooks. And God would be out of business without sinners.

Or, God-believers would be out of business without atheists.

Charisma magazine tells how the Rev. George Hargreaves, who heads up the United Kingdom's (Scottish) Christian Party, noted on his website that "he's almost grateful for the opportunity atheists have presented him with since they launched bus ads in January targeting people's beliefs in the Almighty."

Before we go further, you should know that Hargreaves is considered a "bible-thumping moralist," and his "party" is based primarily on an anti-homosexual platform.

Hargreaves is quoted as saying how "[Over] the past month I have had to be at my most tolerant." He was patting himself on the back because he didn't go publicly ballistic at those bus ads that said "There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life."

Hargreaves' tolerance only went so far, though. He promptly launched his own bus ads: "There definitely is a God. So join the Christian Party and enjoy your life."

Heh. Heh.

Well, hell, at least it gave Hargreaves something to do, and the opportunity to publicize his little political party.

Thank God for atheists. She must be rolling on the golden streets laughing.

There's more here. Charisma magazine is a right-wingnut, fundamental Christian, Pentecostal operation - here.

Texas atheists attack "godly" moment of school silence

[Image from constitutioncenter.org]

For most teachers, a moment of silence in a classroom is a rare and wonderful thing.

The State of Texas, however, mandates that, in Texas schools, as the school day begins, following the students mumbling their "allegiance" to the flags of the United States and the State of Texas, there be a "moment of silence."

In spite of the fact that said moment of silence is promoted as an opportunity for students to "reflect, pray, meditate, or engage in any other silent activity" that does bother other students, this is moment of silence is but a perverse means by which the christianist right got some sort of "prayer" in the public schools. It's a religious thing, as you shall see.

Other than in professional football, where do you see people come together and have a moment of silence before they get about their business?

Good christianists in Texas are all agog because an "atheist" couple from Carrollton have sued to get the moment of silence tossed from Texas schools.


On the other side, the right wing christianist Liberty Legal Institute, has stepped into the fray and filed a friend-of-the-court brief arguing for the maintenance of the moment of silence. Kelly Shackelford, a legal beagle with the LLI, just can't understand why anyone would object.

It's so intolerant, he thinks. "You know," he said, "it's hard to understand these kinds of folks who are so intolerant that they don't want there to be a moment of silence to start the day. ...

"...I hope," whines Shackeford, "we are at a day and age where the idea of striking down times of a moment of silence where every kid gets a right to really pray or not pray or meditate or do whatever they want -- I hope we're at a day and age where we're not that hostile to religion..."


Aha. See! It's all about religion!

A moment of silence is no big deal. It's kind of stupid, though, when a teacher is trying to settle the kiddos down and get to the lesson plan, to have to monitor a moment of silence -- to make sure nobody is talking or whispering or passing notes or listening to their iPod or talking on a cell phone or text messaging or beating up on the person sitting in the seat in front.

What is about these christianists that they just can't keep their grubby little creepily "spiritual" hands off the public schools?