A Note On Some Responses To Fred Phelps Dying

When Jerry Falwell died, I shed no tears.  I was happy because his absence made the world a better place.  But it's different for me this time around.  I simply cannot be happy about it this time.

Maybe it's because, since then, I've had more exposure to the atheist community.  I've seen so many people who naturally behave out of love rather than hate.  More than just about anyone I've met, Nathan Phelps is one of those people.  I've had the honor of meeting him and experienced first hand what a genuinely kind hearted person he is.

My inability to be happy is likely also biased by the fact that I've been through the same loss.  I know how hard it was for me, and I didn't have the added burden of both being excluded by my family and having the world tell me how happy they were about my father's death.  Every time I see that sentiment expressed, I see it through a combination of (my perception of) Nate's eyes and my own.

It's hurtful, unnecessary, and unbecoming of humanist values.  I get the urge to respond how I've seen many do, but we owe it to ourselves and to each other to be better.The best response to hate is not more hate.  The best response to hate is to show that, even when it's the easy choice, you will not add to the hate.

The best response to hate is love.  Let's please all remember that as best we can.

Are Atheists Being Ignored?

The last time atheism was mentioned in Omaha local media was when people got mad about our billboard last summer^[1].  In other words, the last time they talked about us was to talk about how people hated us.

With Apostacon^[2] coming up, the organizers have been offering our local media the opportunity to talk to any of the speakers^[3], highlighting Nathan Phelps^[4] and David Silverman^[5].  They even approached the local radio show hosted by 2 atheists^[6].  After speaking to some of the organizers about it, it appears that what's happened is the local media intentionally ignoring the atheists.

With our proximity to Topeka, Omaha is familiar^[7] with Westboro Baptist Church^[8].  And, with them currently suing our state^[9], it makes sense that they'd want to talk to a member of the Phelps family who got away from Westboro's hate.  But no.  Complete silence from local media.

And, of course, they should familiar enough with David Silverman^[10] to consider him worth talking to.  Complete silence.

If you'd like to help, please contact, POLITELY, any our media outlets and request they give the atheists the attention they deserve.

KMTV^[11]:
402-593-2700 or 212-975-3247
news@action3news.com^[12]

WOWT^[13]:
402-346-6666
sixonline@wowt.com^[14]

KETV^[15]:
402-978-8954 or 402-345-7777

KPTM^[16]:
402-554-4282
news42@kptm.com^[17]

KFAB^[18]:
402-556-5060
news@kfab.com^[19]

Todd & Tyler^[20]
877-931-4868
tnt@tntradioempire.com^[21]

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1.  http://aparticularblogbyaparticularatheist.blogspot.com/2012/07/uncontroversial-billboard-is.html
2.  http://www.apostacon.org/
3.  http://www.apostacon.org/speakers/
4.  http://youtu.be/WLFUaOWRlDA
5.  http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/are-you-serious-face-seriously
6.  http://www.tntradioempire.com/
7.  http://youtu.be/EQ7Bnzg7YgU
8.  http://youtu.be/7mJD1sqB0Ts
9.  http://www.omaha.com/article/20130903/NEWS/130909612/1707
10.  http://www.ibtimes.com/nj-motor-vehicle-commission-backpedals-after-rejecting-atheist-vanity-plate-david-silverman-1401389
11.  http://www.kmtv.com/contact/
12.  news@action3news.com
13.  http://www.wowt.com/
14.  sixonline@wowt.com
15.  http://www.ketv.com/tv/contact
16.  http://www.kptm.com/category/106683/contact-us
17.  news42@kptm.com
18.  http://www.kfab.com/pages/contactus.html
19.  news@kfab.com
20.  http://www.tntradioempire.com/contact/
21.  tnt@tntradioempire.com

Apostacon Offers Free Admission to Grace University Student Suspended For Lesbian Relationship

You may already be aware of the shameful behavior of the administrators of Omaha school Grace University^[1].  Especially if you're on Reddit^[2].  If you're not familiar with it, a Christian school found out one of their students was gay and kicked her out.  They're apparently even refusing to even transfer her credits until she pays $6,300 owed because she had her scholarship taken from her.  She's since married, and her wife has started a petition to have the debt forgiven^[3].

Today, Omaha Atheists posted that Apostacon has offered her free admission^[4].  Apostacon had sent out the following:

Thursday, June 15th, 2013 — Secular conference “Apostacon”, formerly known as the Midwest Freethought Conference, is offering free admission for their September 20th – 22nd event as a gift to Danielle Powell, the former Grace University student who was kicked out before finishing her bachelor’s degree after it was discovered she was involved a lesbian relationship.

“We take pride in welcoming everyone to Apostacon, regardless of anything as arbitrary as their sexual orientation.” says William Newman, spokesman for Apostacon. “While it may not make up for the financial and educational difficulties she now faces as a result of Grace University’s ridiculous behavior, we hope to show her that there is a large population of the Midwest who welcomes the LGBTQ community with open arms. This conference will be fun while also educational, focusing on secular activism issues like separation of church and state, as well as social justice causes and more. The Flying Spaghetti Monster theme and logo embraces our sense of humor while reminding us to utilize science and reason in our daily lives.”

 “As a member of the LGBTQ community, I am saddened by the news that Grace University would exclude any student based on the antiquated laws of an ancient religion, rather than embrace diversity and promote equality,” says Meagan, Treasurer of Apostacon.

 “It’s clear that Grace University is falling short of its name,” said David Silverman, President of American Atheists and Apostacon headliner. “This is a textbook example of religiously motivated bigotry. I hope that Grace changes its policy to reflect compassion and acceptance, rather than discrimination and intolerance. It’s pathetic.”

Apostacon 2013 is hosting quite a few speakers supportive of the LBTQ community. Nathan Phelps, son of Fred Phelps from Westboro Baptist Church, is a board member of the organization Recovering From Religion. Mr. Phelps speaks regularly in support of LGBTQ causes and against his father’s “God Hates Fags” placards. AJ Johnson, founder of Be Secular, identifies as bisexual and speaks on the topic “God Really Does Hate Fags.” Also speaking will be Dr. Darrel Ray, author of books entitled “The God Virus” as well as his most recent, “Sex and God,” where he promotes broad and healthy sexuality outside of religious beliefs.

 ###

 If you’d like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview with Apostacon spokesman William Newman, please contact Apostacon at info@apostacon.org or call (402) 522-6463, or visit the website at www.apostacon.org.

The Christians in this story rejected Powell for being comfortable with who she is instead of repressing her identity to conform to their narrow view of what they say sexuality is  Now they want her to pay a debt she shouldn't owe because she only owes it because of their bigotry.

The atheists in this story would welcome her with open arms, no matter her sexuality.  Even if she shows up to the conference wearing a cross and proclaiming herself to be a devout Christian.  As evidence, our conference last year had two Christians on stage.  One of them, Fred Heeren, is someone I've spoken to since and is someone who has my respect.  He also opened ReasonFest^[5], gets positive reviews from atheists^[6], and goes with them to speak to governors^[7].

There's a reason I'm so happy that I'm atheist instead of a fundamentalist of any religion.  A great number of people in my life do not conform to the narrow minded views of places like Grace University and too many other religionists.  If I were like them, I'd be forced to shut of a lot great people out of my life.  While Heeren, my new dialogue partner^[8], and my parents^[9] prove it's not an either/or situation, I'd still much rather be good without god(s) than a bigot with a god.

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1.  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/12/danielle-powell-grace-university_n_3428514.html
2.  http://www.reddit.com/r/atheism/comments/1g8iy3/christian_university_expels_student_for_being_gay/
3.  https://www.change.org/petitions/grace-university-don-t-force-my-wife-to-pay-back-college-scholarships-because-she-s-gay
4.  http://www.omahaatheists.org/2013/06/14/apostacon-offers-free-admission-to-grace-university-student-suspended-for-lesbian-relationship/
5.  http://youtu.be/i8z5MWsbFAY
6.  http://jrh3k5.blogspot.com/2012/03/show-me-god-stellar-book-review.html
7.  http://www.patheos.com/blogs/wwjtd/2013/05/atheists-including-my-fiancee-go-smile-to-smile-with-sam-brownback/
8.  http://aparticularblogbyaparticularatheist.blogspot.com/search/label/Discerning%20With%20A%20Christian
9.  http://aparticularblogbyaparticularatheist.blogspot.com/2013/04/an-open-letter-to-some-atheists.html

Saturday Morning Shares - 03-16-2013

Here's the links & tweets to share from the last week.  Please add any fun or informative stories I missed in the comments.

Not At All About Religion:

Meet the woman with the world’s strongest VAGINA (via Todd N Tyler Radio Empire)

designed-for-life: Invisible Farm (via @ZacharyNelson)

Seals Yelling Like Goats Yelling Like Humans (via @mashable)

R2-D2 Papercraft  (via @MattersofGrey)

(via @thinkgeek)

Don't Be Offended. Seriously, Don't. (via @SethMacFarlane)

Secular Coalition of America's Weekly Update:

National Secular Movement Update Call (03/14/2013)

About Religion:

Young, Sick and Invisible: A Skeptic's Journey With Chronic Illness (via @jteberhard)

Humanist Essay Contest (via @Teresamacbain)

(Thanks to Kevin, fellow fan of Atheist Experience & Non-Prophets)

(via @hemantmehta)

My father, the hate preacher: Nate Phelps on escaping Westboro Baptist Church (via @OuRR_World)

Petition Interdiction: Tenn. Legislator Seeks To Make It A Crime To Protest Church-State Violations

CIA Director takes his oath of office the right way. (via @jteberhard)

Last Year, Atheists Raised $430,000 for Cancer Research; Let’s Do Even Better This Year (via @hemantmehta)

Next Week Is ‘A’ Week (via Omaha Atheists)

Pope Stuff:

Who Is Pope Francis? (via @hemantmehta)

New Pope, Same Old Homophobia (via @hemantmehta)

Cardinal Archbishop of Buenos Aires Rages Against Abortion “Death Sentence” (via @hemantmehta)

All Of These Pope Twitter And Facebook Accounts Are Fake  (via @Alyssa_Milano)

What a New Pope Means for Atheists (via @hemantmehta)

Pope Francis in 92 Seconds (via @mashable)

(via Satan, thanks to Sarah for sharing)

Asshole Of The Week: