The Varieties of Secular Experience

My job allows me to listen to a lot of podcasts. A lot. Tons. Something like 12-14 hours a day.

This means my iTunes is constantly being updated and I'm always looking for new shows to listen to. Sometimes this is wonderful. Sometimes it isn't. I get stuff on philosophy, skepticism, atheism, history...all of it. Everything from guys in a basement talking comic books and video games to serious university lectures on physics and chemistry. I get to be the information sponge I always wanted.

Unfortunately, sometimes the most promising podcasts turn out all wrong. Other times podcasts I'm initially dubious of, turn out to be gems. Recently, both of these have occurred.

First the bad, Irreligiosophy. This podcast had so much promise. Both hosts are ex-Mormon atheists, a religion I find fascinating. It is up there with Scientology for crazy origins, and these guys come from both the mainstream and fundamentalist sects, so they have good perspectives.

If only they'd stick with what they know. In their third episode, they interviewed a liberal Christian author who had blasted the New Atheist movement in one of her books, which is great. Unfortunately, they didn't address any of her book's claims, and spent the whole time throwing really bad questions her way. This is forgivable. It was their first guest. They aren't professionals. Whatever.

Then they ruined me with episode four. Most of the episode was dedicated to ranting about Rick Warren's prayer at Obama's inauguration and a segment about atheists on Glenn Beck's show. I agree with these guys in principle on both subjects, but the arguments they were making were childish and unconvincing. Worse, they were uninformed. On the Beck rant, they attacked a good piece of legislation out of the Illinois constitution, because it mentioned religion.

Now the good. I had a mildly religious experience today. One of those transcendent moments that nearly brings a hard heart like mine to tears. A podcast I recently subscribed to called Skeptically Speaking had a special episode of music inspired by science and skepticism. By the time they got to the remix of Carl Sagan's 'A Glorious Dawn' featuring Stephen Hawking, I nearly cried. It was like one of those moments during prayer that Christians talk about where they have to pull over for the feeling of transcendence.

Finally, I found something much less emotional, but wonderfully educational. A professor at York University in Toronto has a lecture series on the early Christian church, its diversity and establishment, along with the historical Jesus. Anyone who wants to have a solid grasp of the historical context of the early church, and what evidence there is regarding its culture shouldn't miss this.

Give money, you godless heathens!

This is your chance to help prove to the world that you can be good without a god.

The Richard Dawkins Foundation is spearheading a Non-Believers Giving Aid drive to raise money for Haiti. All donations will go through two entirely secular charities, Doctors Without Borders and International Red Cross. You can rest assured that none of your money is going to programs trading souls for food.

Additionally, if you prefer one of these over the other, you can pick which of the two you want your money to go towards.

The payments are through Paypal (you don't have to have an account, you can use a credit card). All of the money you donate will go to the charity. Richard Dawkins has agreed to cover the Paypal fees up to $10,000.

Here is a link to the press release and donation site.

Our family donated. Will you?

I actually paid for music this week.

I bought three albums this week.

First, I picked up Here Comes Science by They Might Be Giants. This is a band I've been into since I was in Jr. High, and now I can share the music with my kid. The whole album is great, and it comes with a dvd of really fun music videos for every song. My favorite right now is probably "Electric Car", but Amanda likes "Bloodmobile."



Second, I picked up Wilco by Wilco. They are probably my favorite band.



Finally, I bought a single off of iTunes...something I almost never do. I think I've only done so once or twice before, but this 50% of the proceeds are going to autism research, and it is my favorite Christmas song in years.

Quick thoughts and updates...

Yay! Internet again. Had to wait for Dell to mail me a new laptop. Old one took a crap.

Try to post more now.

Almost finished reading Dawkins' new book. Very good. Learning a lot. It is fun coming across a popular science book that is almost entirely new lines of evidence (to me anyway).

Had in interesting discussion with one of my cousins about my non-belief on Thanksgiving. Awkward, but not bad. He's a pretty good guy. Clearly disagrees with me, but isn't going to try to convert me at family functions.

Today I was contacted through facebook by members of an old Christian group I was a member of back when I was in Jr. High. It was surreal. There's going to be a reunion of cast members. First off, it was a basically a one-act play designed to scare teenagers into becoming Christians. At the time, I felt very proud of myself for doing "God's work." Now, I'm just disgusted to think that I might have actually helped steer someone down that road through fear. The play was on par with those awful Hell House travesties that evangelical churches put out every fall as an alternative to haunted houses. The reunion is on New Years Eve. I don't have any interest in going, and besides, I've already got plans that involve significantly more alcohol than would be present there. I'll be sure and toast them.

I called into a regional radio station about Tim Tebow's Bible verse under his eyes during the Florida - Alabama game last weekend. I don't really have a problem with it. I just wanted to hear the host's view on whether a coach would allow a satirical or anti-Chritian paint by a player. I somehow doubt a coach would let a player put "No God" under his eyes in a game. It would be a nightmare for PR and alumni donations. I pointed out the potential hypocrisy and definite liability at any public university. I don't want to see the verses stop. I want to see some smart-ass player try to get away with something like the FSM under his eyes. Probably won't happen, considering the group of me we are discussing, though.

I should have gotten vaccinated.

I have the flu. My wife has quarantined me to our bedroom for the last 30-something hours to keep me from infecting her and the baby. I ache. I have a fever. I have intermittent nausea. My boss doesn't want me at work. My wife doesn't want me around her and the kid. The flu sucks.

Get vaccinated.

Lawrence Krauss discusses the modern view of cosmology

Good pizza and good time.

My wife and I attended our first meeting of the Oklahoma City Atheists last night at Hideaway Pizza in OKC. Best pizza in the state. It is a drive for us, but I think we'll be regular members.

Now I'm sitting next to my passed out wife and baby after a long day of teaching high school kids about competitive debate.

I'm dreading judging this year. The value debate topic is on compulsory vaccination. I'm supposed to be dispassionate and let the kids' arguments decide things. That may be hard if one of them busts out some anti-science anti-vaccination rhetoric.