I’ve reached an odd level of fame

Keep in mind this all took place with us screaming and not being able to hear because of loud dance music.

Me: *dancing somewhat drunkenly on the dance floor with a sea of people*
Gal I don’t know: Hey! Uh, I have a random question, sorry.
Me: Uh, what?
Gal: Do you know Josh [last name]?
Me: Yeah, he’s like one of my best friends
Gal: Oh my god, I think I read your blog!
Me: …Blag Hag?
Gal: YEAH! That’s so weird! I totally wanted to join your club too
Me: *attempts to explain the next date and website while mildly inebriated, probably failed*

…It’s one thing for people to recognize me at the Secular Student Alliance conference, but at a dance club/bar? I…am sort of in awe.

It was also around this point that a swarm of cute guys appeared on the dance floor and were actually dancing with me. Then I recognized a couple of them and realized they were all coming from the Queer Student Union’s callout. I shake my fist at you, cute gay guys getting my hopes up!

I take it back: Screw you, Indiana

Just when I found a reason to give Indiana some brownie points, I’ve found a reason to take them away. Goshen, IN voted against changing an anti-discrimination ordinance to include sexual orientation. Yep, it’s still a-okay to discriminate the gays.

“Some speakers discussed religious reasons for their stance on the law.

“This is an issue of morals, if we start telling people in our schools everything’s okay, where do we draw the line? I want to know where do we draw the line,” said one resident who said he talked with his pastor about the ordinance.””

Oh no, the slippery slope of being an understanding, kind person! …Yep, this sure is an issue of morals: if you want to discriminate against the GLBT community because of your bigotry, then you sir are the immoral one.

It really doesn’t surprise me, though. Western Indiana is fairly religious, with very high numbers of Amish and Mennonites. I’m not saying those particular groups were behind this, but that area has a very small town, country, simple living kind of feel. I complain about Indiana a lot, but to hammer the point home, let me just quote some of my favorite comments from that article:

Want is happening to the morals of this country. Just because Christians choose to honor God and respect the fact that the Bible teaches that a man and woman belong together not a woman and woman or a man or man doesn’t mean we are bigots. A sin is a sin and to say you were born this way is just your way of justifying your sin in your mind. As a christian if I would agree that God made you this way than I would be responsible for your sinning. It doesn’t mean that I hate that person. It just means I hate your sin. Next we will have to make special concessions for sex offenders because they could use the same argument and same hey I was born this way. I’m glad I live in Goshen where the city officials stand up for what is morally right. Do you expect God to keep blessing up if we keep forgetting to follow the Bible.

If we made laws to protect Socially unaccepted behavior then we would have to protect All socially unaccepted behavior opening a Pandora’s box. There are already discrimination laws that cover these things. Let Goshen pass this ridiculous law and they can be the San Fran of Indiana because this behavior is SOCIAL and will attract all that want to engage in it.

Wow looks like the Sodom and Gamorra aficianados lost this one. Score 1 for decent family people.

I do not see where discrimination comes into play because the ordinance changes did not pass. The City of Goshen decided not to add on extra protection for people who have different preferences. There is NO discrimination in that. If I have a preference in having body piercings or a tatoo, I do not expect a town to add an ordinance to protect me. The “small town thinking” and “hypocricy” comments; give me a break. Your use of guilt and put down tactics on people who do not agree with you is sad. It is amazing the ugly ways people have responded to this ordinance not passing. Wow! Stop slamming God and anyone who does not agree with you. Just because Goshen choose not to add special protection for a lifestyle choice does not mean we are filled with hate. I don’t agree with the lifestyle choice, I can still love the person making the choice. We are all human beings and the current ordinance protects those rights. I strongly believe in Christ’s love, for ALL of us.

Everyone else seems to want to talk about how Goshen is so closeminded…Your asking us not to discriminate bc of your opinions and CHOICE to be homosexual…so guess what…if you expect to be heard…so do we. Just because we can actually back our beliefs up with the Bible…and your backing up homosexuality by what?? Bc it feels good? Excuse us all for still having some moral fiber in this sick world!

Where did the morals go? Just because your “gay” everyone else should deal with your problem? ITS WRONG, always has been, always will be – no matter how many laws are passed. Get some help, or keep it to yourself.

I’m just going to stop there because about all that’s going through my head is constant screaming of “IT’S NOT A LIFESTYLE AARRRRHRGGGHGHGHGHHH!!!!”

(Via Friendly Atheist)

I don't say this often, but: Go Indiana!

This was up at Pharyngula a couple of days ago: a map showing states with their science education standards scores.I don’t often have an excuse to cheer on my state, but here I go: Go Indiana! We’re one of the few states with excellent science education standards. I really shouldn’t be too shocked: All of my biology teachers openly said Intelligent Design/creationism is not science, we got comprehensive sex education, there were many elective science classes offered… However, before I cheer them on too much, I want to make one caveat. Even though we have great standards, that doesn’t mean we’re getting through to people. I still see a frighteningly large amount of people here at Purdue who are anti-evolution or really just anti-science. Were these kids asleep during their high school classes?

Anyway, go Hoosiers, state pride, yadda yadda.

I don’t say this often, but: Go Indiana!

This was up at Pharyngula a couple of days ago: a map showing states with their science education standards scores.I don’t often have an excuse to cheer on my state, but here I go: Go Indiana! We’re one of the few states with excellent science education standards. I really shouldn’t be too shocked: All of my biology teachers openly said Intelligent Design/creationism is not science, we got comprehensive sex education, there were many elective science classes offered… However, before I cheer them on too much, I want to make one caveat. Even though we have great standards, that doesn’t mean we’re getting through to people. I still see a frighteningly large amount of people here at Purdue who are anti-evolution or really just anti-science. Were these kids asleep during their high school classes?

Anyway, go Hoosiers, state pride, yadda yadda.

Non-theist callout an insane success

I’m home from the Society of Non-Theists’ callout, eating a late dinner and drinking a much needed beer. I personally think callouts are the most stressful events to hold because they really set the precedent for the year. Can’t have people come to events if they don’t know about your club. They’re extra stressful when people keep tearing down or vandalizing your flyers, which we deal with all the time. So, how’d it go?

…

ONE HUNDRED AND FOUR PEOPLE SHOWED UP!
Holy crap. It was standing room only! We have our regular room that has 94 seats, and it’s never even been filled to capacity (well, we’ve had some larger events, but I reserve a larger room). To put this in perspective for you, our first year we had about 90 people (keep in mind we’re brand new so this is from all grade levels), second year 60 (now basically recruiting new students), and most clubs get 10 – maaaybe 40 people at a callout unless they’re huge and popular. We are now huge and popular.

And as a special side note, out of all of my stupid jokes or random ideas, the thought to go see the evangelical Porn & Popcorn night then go watch real porn got a thundering applause.

People who tear our flyers down because you’re afraid we even exist? Yeah, you’re not stopping us.

Porn is evil! God is good! Rarrrr!

Man, you know what’s one awesome thing about school starting again? Endless blog material! Thank you, conservative uber-Christian Midwest!

My friend directed me to this lovely event on facebook – Porn & Popcorn – that will be at Purdue on Friday the 11th. I thought, porn and popcorn? At Purdue?! Awesome! Then I took the time to read the event description, and I wanted to cry. Actually, it’s so bad, I’m going to have to continuously interrupt it; sorry folks:

Porn has now become an accepted mainstream topic.

Good. We need to stop having such Puritan views of sex.

Porn is glamorized in almost every hit TV show today, magazine (teen or adult); it is piped into your cell phones, children’s cell phones,

Okay, fear tactics much? Porn isn’t randomly being sent to the phones of 12 year olds. Actually, your 12 year old shouldn’t even have a cell phone, but that’s a different pet peeve of mine altogether. If there’s porn on your 16 year old’s phone, it’s because he or she wants it there. And if they can’t get it on their phone, they’re going to find other ways to find it because they’re naturally horny and sexually repressed by your domineering religion.

book stores and even public libraries. Porn is regular conversation at jobs, in classrooms, and on most radio programs. Yes, it can even be found on the shelves of the libraries at the conservative midwestern campus of Purdue University.

Uh, no, I’m pretty sure it can’t…but if it can, where can I find it?

The statistics associated with pornography and pornography addiction are truly staggering. What began as seemingly harmless “pictures of pretty girls and some good articles” has spawned a generation of pornography that is more explicit, more violent, and more deviant than ever before. We need to start talking about it.

The statistics associated with pornography and porn addiction are pretty much worthless, but spread by extreme right religious groups in order to scare their followers into not being sexual beings. You know, human beings. Yes, some studies have shown that watching violent porn increased thoughts about violent sex – but some studies show the opposite effect, that porn decreases rape. You know why? Correlation doesn’t imply causation. People could be watching violent porn because they’re already predisposed to violent sexual thoughts! If you were looking for porn and accidentally found something violent and you weren’t into that kind of stuff, would you just sit and keep watching it?

And violent sexual thoughts don’t necessarily mean rape. A large amount of people are into BDSM, which some people may view as “violent,” but it is completely consensual. Of course, we know how much fundamentalists respect consenting sex between two adults… And just because someone has a rape fantasy doesn’t mean they actually are going to – or even want to do it. Rape fantasy is one of the most common fantasies in females, but that doesn’t mean those women actually want to be raped. That’s why it’s called a fantasy.

And on a final note, I don’t deny that there are people with porn addiction, or that this isn’t a problem. But you know what, you can get addicted to nearly anything. Do we ban alcohol because some people have problems with it? How about the internet? Hell, some people get addicted to working out – does that make it evil? No. Some people are just predisposed to engage in addictive behaviors. If porn starts to interfere with your normal life, then yes, you should probably lay off. But for the rest of us, it’s not dangerous.

Join us for a FREE event at Slayter Hill on the campus of Purdue University!

The band will start rockin’ at 9:00 pm
XXXChurch (leading expert on pornography) will present from 9:30-11:30
Then, choose to stay for a midnight showing of the movie, Fireproof.

…Lies about pornography and Kirk Cameron’s shitacular movie Fireproof?!?! Nooooooo! I feel dirty knowing this will even be occurring anywhere near me! It’s bad enough they’re spreading lies, why spread bad movies too?

Stuff like this really bugs me. The same people who think porn is evil think all sex is evil. They’re the ones who cause more problems. If we we more accepting of sex and had more comprehensive sex education, we’d have less teen pregnancy and less spread of STDs. And you know what, people may even rely on porn less because they wouldn’t feel so bad about actually having sex! It just drives me mad that people can be against something so natural and human that they need to go around fear mongering.

Let's see how Purdue handles this…

Our student newspaper, the Exponent, had a special low rate for clubs advertising their callout. We decided to take advantage of it, and the ad ran today:


I think it looks pretty snazzy – they added the color. If you can’t read the fine print, it says “A student organization for atheists, agnostics, secular humanists, or anyone who lacks religious or supernatural beliefs.” I’m curious to see if there will be any negative reaction to this – maybe an angry letter to the editor? The Exponent has gotten letters about less controversial things in the past.

Can’t tear this down!

Let’s see how Purdue handles this…

Our student newspaper, the Exponent, had a special low rate for clubs advertising their callout. We decided to take advantage of it, and the ad ran today:


I think it looks pretty snazzy – they added the color. If you can’t read the fine print, it says “A student organization for atheists, agnostics, secular humanists, or anyone who lacks religious or supernatural beliefs.” I’m curious to see if there will be any negative reaction to this – maybe an angry letter to the editor? The Exponent has gotten letters about less controversial things in the past.

Can’t tear this down!

More school drama – flyers

The Society of Non-Theists has had a particularly bad time putting up flyers at Purdue. I’ve had events where 75% or higher of the flyers were torn down after 24 hours, and I had to constantly replace them. We only put them where they’re allowed to be, but that doesn’t stop students from tearing them down. Purdue used to allow you to tape flyers to the ground (no longer do, it was an eye sore), and even those went missing. I actually caught someone in the act and tried to stop them, but since he and his friends were very large males and weren’t being too kind to me, I decided my well being is more important than a flyer and backed off. And if the flyers aren’t being torn down, they’re being written on – stuff like “Jesus loves you” and “You’re going to hell.” Interesting dichotomy there, no?

Anyway, we have some new flyer drama developments. I was going to LILY to relax in the library, but instead I got all riled up. Why? Of our five flyers on the main for, two were torn down and replaced by a Fraternity’s flyer, and the other three were directly covered by that Frat’s flyers like so:

These poster boards had plenty of space for the flyers to go, and the only other group that had a flyer perfectly covering it was the Queer Student Union:

Coincidence? I think not.

My first instinct was “Grrrr Delta Pi Rho!!! You’re a minority frat! Shouldn’t your members know better than treats other minority groups’ flyers like that?!” But then I looked at the flyer set up again. None of them completely covered our flyers, which had been the case in the past. They all made sure to include “Atheist?!” or “God?!” or “Big Gay.” What do I think is really happening? Some jerkface probably thinks it’s funny to slur Delta Pi Rho by calling them gay atheists by rearranging the flyers that way.

And you know what? That probably makes me crankier than if Delta Pi Rho themselves had just been acting like jerks. The fact that “atheist” is used as an insult really illustrates how most of America (especially conservative parts like Purdue) view nonbelievers. It’s a dirty word and a slur. What’s worse than being an atheist or gay?

I usually could care less when rival frats play pranks on each other (which is probably all this is), but at least do it without making some of the largest minority groups in America the butt of the jokes.

Trying to find God – could he at least yell "POLO!"?

I don’t get too many overtly religious comments on my blog, but since I read all the comments you guys leave, I do read the occasional “you’re wrong, love Jesus” remarks. I have no problem with people disagreeing with what I say – I don’t pretend to be infallible or anything. But recently someone commented with a religious remark that I hear all the time and is a big pet peeve of mine (emphasis mine):

“…See the whole picture. There is plenty of proof there is a God, but you need to see what you see and believe what is clear. “Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.” So… there is evidence… look for it and you will be satisfied. ...“

The old “you’re just not looking hard enough” idea. It drives me nuts, particularly because I hear it over and over. They don’t claim God is making it difficult for me to believe in him or anything – I’m just too lazy or in denial to see the truth. One, it’s an ironic statement since it usually comes from the very same people who deny scientific facts in order to support their faith, and make no effort to actually understand said science. The vast majority of people who don’t believe in evolution don’t even know how to define it.

But the main reason it bugs me is because it implies atheists haven’t tried. Most atheists were at one point religious, and many of them had religious experiences that theists would say were evidence for God. They, however, realized such experiences were just their mind playing tricks on them or pure human emotion, not some supernatural force. And often those people take a long time to actually become atheists because there’s a period where they investigate their faith closely and look for proof of god. And you know what? They don’t find any. Are they really not looking hard enough?

I would even hazard a guess that many life long atheists have tried this at one point. I know there was a time in my life where I really wanted to believe in a God. I asked for all sorts of signs for evidence, I hoped beyond hope, and I got nothing. You know why my prayers weren’t answered? Not because I wasn’t trying hard enough, not because I hated God and I didn’t want him to exist – but because he doesn’t exist. I was talking to no one.

The idea that atheists aren’t trying to find truth is mildly insulting, honestly. We’re not sticking our fingers in our ears and screaming “LALALA GOD IS DEAD” every time someone tries to present religious “evidence.” No, we listen, think about it, and then (so far) come to the conclusion that it’s all bunk based on reason and facts. I say “so far” because I, like others, am open to the idea of God if given real proof. Our lack of belief isn’t based on faith or hope. We aren’t wishing that God doesn’t exist, or going around ignoring all these pieces of “evidence” theists claim to have.

On the contrary, this is exactly what most theists do. The commenter said it himself: “Faith is the substance of things hoped for.” It’s not based on truth, it’s based on your desires. If you desire a God, your mind will start creating “evidence” to support your position. That doesn’t make the evidence true or real. Think of it like flirting. Sometimes you’re so infatuated with someone, that you interpret every smile to mean that they like you back. It’s because you desire that they like you, and you start looking for things to confirm this – not necessarily because they actually do.

So Christians, we have been trying. Maybe your God isn’t too keen on giving us any evidence, but until I see it, I’m remaining an atheist. What does he have to do for me to be convinced? I don’t know, but if he’s all-knowing, he can surely figure it out.