So, I’m on facebook (where it seems so many things happen to infuriate me), and one of my Christian friends says: “Yes, let’s get rid of Judeo-Christian influence in government.  That way, you can kill and steal until your heart’s content.”

Not only is this statement loaded with fallacies, but just how fucking insulting can you be? (Christians, when you say this to someone, it reveals just how little you respect them.)

And, it’s not the atheists in our government who are torturing innocent people, bombing innocent people (which we know from Wikileaks is something our military does intentionally), setting up secret prisons, assassinating American citizens or imprisoning them indefinitely without trial, violating the sovereignty of other nations, paying energy companies to destroy the oceans, cutting food stamps by billions in a recession, paying Wall Street to destroy our retirement accounts , supporting and fostering bullying (but only in the name of religion, of course), destroying science programs, and trying to rewrite history text books to indoctrinate children into the false notion that America was founded on Christianity.

It’s Christians pulling this bullshit. (Because there are a precious few atheists in government to begin with.)

And, on top of that huge turd pile, I have to listen to Christians tell me that I must vote for an asshole who believes that Jackson County, Missouri houses the Garden of Eden because they think Obama is the Antichrist.

So, let me preface this by saying I am completely open about my sexuality and my love of sex.  My mom, dad, brothers, and sisters all know about it, and it’s something I refuse to be ashamed of. (Though the little ones understand it as my being ‘girl crazy’)

Watching my kid brother’s football game, a rather attractive young woman happened to walk by, and my head naturally turned to appreciate it.  (This is a rather common occurrence.) My mother, offended, lamented upon my admiration for women that tend to overexpose themselves, and I saw an opportunity.

(Abbreviating this for space and time, but yes I did monologue)

“Mom, you do realize that, I, your son, am a slut too, right? I love sex, and it doesn’t change the goodness that I have in my heart, and my desire to be a good person. I’ve helped you raise seven kids that are nothing short of wonderful, and I can confidently state that when people in this family need someone they can count on with absolute certainty, they don’t hesitate to call me for help.  Is sex really a bad thing?  Sex ultimately makes me happier, and considering I was a self-hating Christian for twenty years, I know how dangerous the alternative is. 

…Besides.  There are (censoring the real number, but by her reaction it’s quite larger than she assumed) women in the world who’d be much sadder, if not for the romances we shared.  Would you deny them that, mom?”

She didn’t have a response for that.

Progress.

Most atheists tend toward liberal and progressive thinking, and I’m not an exception. I consider myself an independent thinker leaning toward the Libertarian political brand. (Though I did, regrettably, vote Democrat in 2008, a vote I wish I could take back in hindsight.)

My background as a former (read: escaped) Christian has given me a greater sensitivity to the attempts by religious groups to codify their beliefs in secular law, and those are very hot-button issues with me. I vehemently oppose the misguided notions that religion equals morality and atheists, thus, do not lead a moral lifestyle. As I’ve said before, the acknowledgment that life is finite, and that an afterlife may not exist, causes a person to place greater emphasis on living well, enjoying life, and giving those they love the best part of themselves. I know my time isn’t going to last forever, so I spend it as well as I can, and give nothing but unconditional love to the people in my life.

(1) Do not do to others what you would not want them to do to you.

(2) In all things, strive to cause no harm.

(3) Treat your fellow human beings, your fellow living things, and the world in general with love, honesty, faithfulness and respect.

(4) Do not overlook evil or shrink from administering justice, but always be ready to forgive wrongdoing freely admitted and honestly regretted.

(5) Live life with a sense of joy and wonder.

(6) Always seek to be learning something new.

(7) Test all things; always check your ideas against the facts, and be ready to discard even a cherished belief if it does not conform to them.

(8) Never seek to censor or cut yourself off from dissent; always respect the right of others to disagree with you.

(9) Form independent opinions on the basis of your own reason and experience; do not allow yourself to be led blindly by others.

(10) Question everything.

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(11)  Be excellent to each other. (My personal addition)