Twelve Apostates - JT Eberhard

JT Eberhard, author of the popular blog WWJTD, is a fast rising star within the atheist community.  He knows it but doesn't behave like it, and I do not think he ever will.  It's just not something that seems within his personality. 

JT co-founded Skepticon, the largest free atheist convention in America.  Of the few I've been to, it's my favorite, with the exception of the Reason Rally of course.  Their speakers have included Richard Carrier & PZ Myers (who have both been at all 5), Dan Barker, Matt Dillahunty, Hemant Mehta, Brother Sam Singleton, and more.

He also spent some time with the Secular Student Alliance, helping kids in high school start SSA chapters at their schools.

At Lobby Day, the day before the Reason Rally, there was some buzz about the fact that he was there participating.  Although, that was mostly centered around comments about him and his girlfriend being excessively cute together.  If you've seen them together, you know what I mean.  Especially if you saw his talk at Skepticon 5.

As good as that talk was, his workshop on activism, earlier the same day, was better.  It was informative and fun, which fits his main point about how to do activism effectively.  Make it fun.  This attracts both attention to the cause and people to participate.  I previously said the debater I most wanted to emulate was Christopher Hitchens, but the activist I would choose to emulate is JT.  I'm hoping to get him to Omaha to do that workshop for the people here, who I already know are interested in activism.

I doubt JT would like being put on a list like this one, but having met him a few times, and being aware of what he's done for the movement, I wasn't left with any other choice.  He's done amazing things for the movement and will likely do even more.

It's those things done that has him on this list.  He's not content just to write a popular blog, which he does well.  He's not content just to debate Christians, which he does well.  As he once put it (in a post I was hoping to link to but could not find), he's out there doing shit.  We should all be so motivated.  After all, we know he's doing shit for a very worthy cause.

Find JT on Twitter, Facebook, or Google+

Don't Be Afraid To Call A Hate Group A Hate Group

Multiple times, I've been told by defenders of the American Family Association that they're not a hate group. Multiple times, I've been told by anti-Islam Christians that Christianity is superior to Islam because it isn't violent.  But it isn't Islam that has the head of the American Family Association supporting the Ugandan law that punishes homosexuality with death.  And it sure as fuck isn't love.

Bryan Fischer, the public face of the certified anti-gay hate group, American Family Association, Sunday came out in favor of Uganda‘s anti-homosexuality law. Via Twitter, Fischer praised Uganda, falsely suggesting Uganda had just made homosexuality illegal. In fact, homosexuality has been illegal since British 19th century colonial rule. It’s rather embarrassing for Fischer to be unaware of the state of Uganda’s anti-homosexuality law.

And he wants to do the same here in the United States. 

“Homosexuality now against the law in Uganda, just as it was for 200 years in the US. It can be done,” Fischer wrote.

If you know someone who learns this about Bryan Fischer and the American Family Association and doesn't think they're a hate group, please let me know so we can begin the fundraiser to help them get the surgery required to remove their head from the ass.

(Found via @AtheismResource sharing a post on WWJTD)

A Contest Needs Your Atheist Ideas

Atheism Resource is holding a contest on their Facebook page:

Dear Fellow Heathens, 

I am proud to announce our first user based contest. 

So, what is the contest about?

We want to hear from YOU. Do you have a quote that you came up with? Have an argument you think is insightful? We want to read it. But, we want it to be pasted on a picture of you, the contributor. So, break out your best image, quote, and Photoshop skills. We will pick five finalists over a period of five days and post their picture (one per day). Whomever receives the most likes by the end of the contest wins. 

Now, what do you win? Atheism fame? No. Something to put on your resume? Not if you live in America. What you will win is a $25 donation to any secular charity of your choice. 

How do you post? Simple. Take an image of yourself, post your legible quote on it, upload it to imgur.com, then inbox us the link. We will choose one per day to share with the community, and their likes will decide who takes home the interwebz trophy, and we will do some charitable good in the process. 

Good luck!

- The Atheism Resource Team

I've probably come up with something worth submitting at some point.  If only I could remember any of it.