In the last few years, more and more attention has been drawn to North Dakota mainly due to the oil rush in the west, however so few local people have been noticing the effects that large outside organizations are having on the state. North Dakota is now one of the very most corrupt states in the union according to national reports.
Besides the obvious rush and the lack of state oversight, the problem will continue to run deeper. The obsession for the free market has not accommodated for the lack of housing, or the strain on our infrastructure. I conjecture, this is exactly what happens when you add large business interests to religious areas.
There has been a strong correlation between religiosity and corruption for a long time, and we should try to find out where the correlation comes from. Clearly, religion does not make you more honest, but in one opinion, simply more apathetic to the dishonesty of others.
Is it from the understanding that having faith will solve all problems, or perhaps by removing critical thinking skills, the public tends not to ask questions? Countries like the United Kingdom, and most of Scandinavia, some of the most secular places in the world also have the lowest levels of corruption. Of course, the opposite is also true, with countries across the middle east, India, Bangladesh, Philippines, Brazil, etc...
If we are going to straighten out North Dakota and it's corruption, we are going to need discussion, critical thinking, and secularism.
Monday, May 5, 2014
Thursday, May 1, 2014
Fargo is Becoming Us
I often ask people who live in Fargo, ND what they think of Fargo. Essentially I have been doing this in different places around the world, and have found a pattern. Considering I tend to see places from an outsider's perspective, I try to listen as much as possible, but there is one inescapable trend.
For those who claim to appreciate the area in which they live, I find those people are characterized by a desire to be involved with it, to immerse themselves in it, and most importantly, to define the community around them by their own actions.
This can mean so much, and so little. whether you influence someone by having a controversial conversation, or finding new way to help those around you, you are being proactive. It gives a sense of belonging, or territorial pride, and as long as one knows the power of positive change, it is hard to blame anyone but oneself for any shortcomings an area presents.
On the contrary, I find those who are dissatisfied with the area are those without any personal involvement in politics or events. Those who bide their time until the next paycheck, and often hear sentiments of being stuck.
Let us not entrench ourselves in our preferred media types, but discuss and learn together. Let us not avoid controversy, but tackle it head on, while insisting we remain cordial and respectful. Let us help elevate others to be able to have these discussions. Most importantly, let us not enable apathy by ignoring others, but encourage everyone around us to come to the table for this discussion.
I love living in Fargo because I feel a part of what Fargo is, of the direction it is going, and ever so slowly, I am becoming Fargo and Fargo is becoming....us.
For those who claim to appreciate the area in which they live, I find those people are characterized by a desire to be involved with it, to immerse themselves in it, and most importantly, to define the community around them by their own actions.
This can mean so much, and so little. whether you influence someone by having a controversial conversation, or finding new way to help those around you, you are being proactive. It gives a sense of belonging, or territorial pride, and as long as one knows the power of positive change, it is hard to blame anyone but oneself for any shortcomings an area presents.
On the contrary, I find those who are dissatisfied with the area are those without any personal involvement in politics or events. Those who bide their time until the next paycheck, and often hear sentiments of being stuck.
Let us not entrench ourselves in our preferred media types, but discuss and learn together. Let us not avoid controversy, but tackle it head on, while insisting we remain cordial and respectful. Let us help elevate others to be able to have these discussions. Most importantly, let us not enable apathy by ignoring others, but encourage everyone around us to come to the table for this discussion.
I love living in Fargo because I feel a part of what Fargo is, of the direction it is going, and ever so slowly, I am becoming Fargo and Fargo is becoming....us.
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
Zeteticon
Zeteticon
zetetic (zəˈtɛtɪk) adj. proceeding by inquiry; investigatingconvention (kən-ˈven(t)-shən) n. a formal meetup for discussion
Announcement! Our first press releases are out and we are on a roll, Fargo's third convention and first sponsored by Great Plains Atheists is ready to blow you away.
It is hard to contain my excitement about this event, so I won't. SO much work has gone into this so far, and we are sure it will turn out to be amazing. Unsure if we could get all the work done in time, we managed to cobble together a rugged team from different backgrounds and specialties to organize everything. In future entries, I hope to go a bit more into the making of this event, but for now I would like to give you a teaser of what to expect.
Zeteticon will be held over three days in September, the 12-14th. Starting on a Friday we will be having a VIP dinner with limited seating for a special night of entertainment. Throughout Saturday and Sunday we will have a range of world-class speakers, soon to be announced, as well as a live band, and special social events.
Pricing and ticket sales will start on May 1st, and until then, stay tuned to www.zeteticon.org and www.greatplainsatheists.org for more details.
Please feel free to volunteer or contribute in any way: send us an email at contact@zeteticon.org
Monday, April 7, 2014
Virginity; the Sexual-Faith
Voltaire once was quoted expressing “It is an infantile superstition
of the human spirit that virginity would be thought a virtue and not the
barrier that separates ignorance from knowledge.”
And it is certainly a strange condition of humanity, and yet so surprising it still exists in willing-adult form today. It can be exchanged, given, taken, lost, stolen from you, and it is limited to one. Is that where the value comes from? Certainly not. It has maintained a social, financial, and even legal value throughout history, and almost entirely on one side of the gender spectrum.
As a sexually promiscuous species which changed threads in conjunction with the agricultural revolution, women quickly drifted from participants to possessions as patriarchal societies developed a system of control to ascertain parenthood and lineage, necessitating virginity as evidence of a young woman’s purity. I didn’t think I could summarize that one so succinctly, but I apologize for the short form. Read here for more.
It was once noble, virtuous, admired, desired, and demanded. Since our very recent revolutions of Human Rights, Individualism, and Sexual Expression, a once great taboo became something of a joke, and in many circles, something of shame. as popular media glorified sexuality and demonized the inexperienced, those who had chosen a life of ‘purity’ now felt compelled away from it.
The cake is a Lie
So we have a societal construct on our hands which has lingered beyond it’s claims, and we would expect such a tradition to fade into obscurity, yet it remains. The concept of virginity is largely based on misconceptions of science, as well as fear, such as the tearing of the hymen, pain when losing virginity, bleeding, etc. The grand majority of these misconceptions comes from the master of misdirection – religion.
The most stubborn tradition of all, religion maintains it’s obsession with sex (or the control of it), while venerating a purity of inexperience. In a way, it is a sexual-faith. Our ancient superstitions and mythologies, especially monotheism, subsumed and latched on to the fear of sex and the obsession of virginity. Even in the 21st century, it has convinced many that ignorance of sexuality is the right path. Sometimes we don’t pay attention, but it is there, from TLC’s show “Virgin Diaries”, specials on Oprah, to the large numbers who actually follow the teaching of the church, such as Tim Tebow, who will wait until marriage.
With the recent news articles and documentaries about “Purity Balls”, the world has once again become shocked by the level of sexual suppression (and some unsavory overtones), rather than openness, education, and disease prevention. Please tell me this does not make your face wrinkle up. Do you notice this kind of celebration of ignorance is still not practiced with groups of teen guys? Oh, they thought of that.
Purity Ball website Generation of Light has an answer for that as well. “Every year we invite the sons to attend the Ball to watch the way their fathers treat young women, and have had many attend with their families because we believe this standard is also important for young men to live out in their lives.” Once again, it is a tutorial, to show men how to guide women’s sexuality, and a refusal to see that as a sexist, patriarchal culture.
No More Pressure!
Now there should never be pressure to lose your virginity, especially if someone wishes to keep it until they are educated and ready, willing to give consent. however the opposite is true as well. Let us ask organizations to stop condemning society for normal, healthy expressions of sexuality, from intercourse to masturbation. Consent is the ONLY element of morality when we discuss sexuality.
To end with a quote,
- Grant me chastity and continence, but not yet.-
St. Augustine
And it is certainly a strange condition of humanity, and yet so surprising it still exists in willing-adult form today. It can be exchanged, given, taken, lost, stolen from you, and it is limited to one. Is that where the value comes from? Certainly not. It has maintained a social, financial, and even legal value throughout history, and almost entirely on one side of the gender spectrum.
As a sexually promiscuous species which changed threads in conjunction with the agricultural revolution, women quickly drifted from participants to possessions as patriarchal societies developed a system of control to ascertain parenthood and lineage, necessitating virginity as evidence of a young woman’s purity. I didn’t think I could summarize that one so succinctly, but I apologize for the short form. Read here for more.
It was once noble, virtuous, admired, desired, and demanded. Since our very recent revolutions of Human Rights, Individualism, and Sexual Expression, a once great taboo became something of a joke, and in many circles, something of shame. as popular media glorified sexuality and demonized the inexperienced, those who had chosen a life of ‘purity’ now felt compelled away from it.
The cake is a Lie
So we have a societal construct on our hands which has lingered beyond it’s claims, and we would expect such a tradition to fade into obscurity, yet it remains. The concept of virginity is largely based on misconceptions of science, as well as fear, such as the tearing of the hymen, pain when losing virginity, bleeding, etc. The grand majority of these misconceptions comes from the master of misdirection – religion.
The most stubborn tradition of all, religion maintains it’s obsession with sex (or the control of it), while venerating a purity of inexperience. In a way, it is a sexual-faith. Our ancient superstitions and mythologies, especially monotheism, subsumed and latched on to the fear of sex and the obsession of virginity. Even in the 21st century, it has convinced many that ignorance of sexuality is the right path. Sometimes we don’t pay attention, but it is there, from TLC’s show “Virgin Diaries”, specials on Oprah, to the large numbers who actually follow the teaching of the church, such as Tim Tebow, who will wait until marriage.
With the recent news articles and documentaries about “Purity Balls”, the world has once again become shocked by the level of sexual suppression (and some unsavory overtones), rather than openness, education, and disease prevention. Please tell me this does not make your face wrinkle up. Do you notice this kind of celebration of ignorance is still not practiced with groups of teen guys? Oh, they thought of that.
Purity Ball website Generation of Light has an answer for that as well. “Every year we invite the sons to attend the Ball to watch the way their fathers treat young women, and have had many attend with their families because we believe this standard is also important for young men to live out in their lives.” Once again, it is a tutorial, to show men how to guide women’s sexuality, and a refusal to see that as a sexist, patriarchal culture.
No More Pressure!
Now there should never be pressure to lose your virginity, especially if someone wishes to keep it until they are educated and ready, willing to give consent. however the opposite is true as well. Let us ask organizations to stop condemning society for normal, healthy expressions of sexuality, from intercourse to masturbation. Consent is the ONLY element of morality when we discuss sexuality.
To end with a quote,
- Grant me chastity and continence, but not yet.-
St. Augustine
Monday, March 17, 2014
Forming Ranks Against Domestic Violence
This evening I attended to Fargo City Commission meeting, and one message I have to deliver to our policy makers is - THANK YOU for identifying domestic violence as a major focus.
Police Chief Keith Ternes delivered the 2013 year-end crime data report to the Mayor and commissioners and the single longest point of discussion was directed towards the serious domestic violence problem. Happily, the message was well received and reciprocated by the board.
The worst thing we can do as a society is to ignore the problem of domestic violence, and understand that out silence is affirming. Let us stand together against Rape, Abuse, and Domestic Violence. Oh, and men: let us redefine masculinity to include the ability to speak up against this.
Also visit and support the Rape and Abuse Crisis Center.
https://www.raccfm.com/
Police Chief Keith Ternes delivered the 2013 year-end crime data report to the Mayor and commissioners and the single longest point of discussion was directed towards the serious domestic violence problem. Happily, the message was well received and reciprocated by the board.
The worst thing we can do as a society is to ignore the problem of domestic violence, and understand that out silence is affirming. Let us stand together against Rape, Abuse, and Domestic Violence. Oh, and men: let us redefine masculinity to include the ability to speak up against this.
Also visit and support the Rape and Abuse Crisis Center.
https://www.raccfm.com/
The Right Thing to Do
I have seen some banter recently on Facebook
regarding the poor condition Fred Phelps is experiencing at the moment,
and thought it needed a bit of reflection.
Let’s not forget what the Phelps are most
famous for: The hate-filled protests and picketing of events and
funerals with the message that god does not care for homosexuals. Some
have argued that the main source of hatred comes from Fred’s own brushes
with homosexuality as a younger man, and perhaps his denial as an
adult. These members of the church are not monsters, but misinformed and
uneducated. A number of the family have escaped and now live in the
real world, only understanding in hindsight the destructive message they
grew up with.
Nathan Phelps (who I met last year), Fred’s son, is now an atheist and
an LGBTQ activist, for example. Indeed I love hearing when people use
the expression “There is no hate greater than Christian love.” because
it emphasizes the source of their abysmal ethics and moral choices. On
that note, I think Atheists have to embrace the thing which many
Christians have failed to: forgiveness and love.
I say to you, let’s start a new campaign
idea: lets coordinate to atheist groups around the country and send a
card to the Westboro Baptist Church, as PRO LGBTQ groups, reminding them
how to love again! Please comment if you can share this post with other
groups.
Friday, February 7, 2014
Creationism... To Debate or Not to Debate...
Ever since Bill Nye decided to publicly debate Ken Ham, I have been cringing. Everybody knows, you NEVER NEVER DEBATE A CREATIONIST. There have been many classic points to support this position, many are some that I still hold. Yet there has been some doubt lingering in the back of my mind (can you imagine?!?) and I think it is important to try and understand why a clearly intelligent guy like Nye would choose to do this. He does not need the publicity, or money. So why?
Typically there are a few ideas we need to understand. Debating creationists often gives the false impression that there is actually something to debate. Nope. Creationism in any form is demonstrably wrong, inherently contradictory, and based on a priori assumptions. By bringing attention to Ken Ham and his ilk, Nye not only raised large sums of money for Ham's Creation Museum, which sets out to accomplish the opposite of what Bill intends, but it has the added complication of a rigged match.
http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science/2014/02/ken_ham_bill_nye_debate_science_and_fact_versus_fiction_and_fantasy.html
Scientists have to play by the rules, limited by logic, rationality, and the confines of evidence based reason... Creationists can and do simply make it up as they go along, using faith as a cop-out at every turn.
Going into the debate, I was highly skeptical. Now that the dust has settled, however, I see good ol' Phil Plait, astronomer and science advocate, was the one pointing out something we all missed!
http://www.slate.com/blogs/bad_astronomy/2014/02/05/creationism_debate_should_we_engage_anti_science.html
"But I’ve thought about it, and here’s the important thing to remember: Roughly half the population of America does believe in some form of creationism or another. Half. Given that creationism is provably wrong, and science has enjoyed huge overwhelming success over the years, something is clearly broken in our country."
And he is correct. There is something wrong with the way we deliver science to the public, and since the debate itself caused more controversy than we have ever seen coming out of the Discovery Institute, the organization trying to put creationism in the classrooms, perhaps this is an opportunity to illuminate some of the crazy. I would even go so far as to say that by choosing Ken Ham, Bill Bye has embarrassed those with 'faith-based science' all over the country. Pat Robertson of the 700 Club said "Let's be real, let's not make a joke of ourselves." Perhaps a bit late, Pat.
Biologist Jerry Coyne, initially was strongly against the debate occurring, came out afterwards stating that Nye had clearly won the discussion. In his article, he cites a poll at Christian Today website, 92% of viewers said that Bill Nye won. 92%!!
http://www.newrepublic.com/article/116478/bill-nye-ken-ham-debate-creationism-and-evolution-science-wins
So let us re-think how we approach creationism. Perhaps the apathy I have so chillingly spoke of before has likewise been offered to ignore creationism. Perhaps we should ask those to honestly defend their position. There is a possibility that the majority of Christians will stand up against this insanity, if only to avoid the embarrassment.
Typically there are a few ideas we need to understand. Debating creationists often gives the false impression that there is actually something to debate. Nope. Creationism in any form is demonstrably wrong, inherently contradictory, and based on a priori assumptions. By bringing attention to Ken Ham and his ilk, Nye not only raised large sums of money for Ham's Creation Museum, which sets out to accomplish the opposite of what Bill intends, but it has the added complication of a rigged match.
http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science/2014/02/ken_ham_bill_nye_debate_science_and_fact_versus_fiction_and_fantasy.html
Scientists have to play by the rules, limited by logic, rationality, and the confines of evidence based reason... Creationists can and do simply make it up as they go along, using faith as a cop-out at every turn.
Going into the debate, I was highly skeptical. Now that the dust has settled, however, I see good ol' Phil Plait, astronomer and science advocate, was the one pointing out something we all missed!
http://www.slate.com/blogs/bad_astronomy/2014/02/05/creationism_debate_should_we_engage_anti_science.html
"But I’ve thought about it, and here’s the important thing to remember: Roughly half the population of America does believe in some form of creationism or another. Half. Given that creationism is provably wrong, and science has enjoyed huge overwhelming success over the years, something is clearly broken in our country."
And he is correct. There is something wrong with the way we deliver science to the public, and since the debate itself caused more controversy than we have ever seen coming out of the Discovery Institute, the organization trying to put creationism in the classrooms, perhaps this is an opportunity to illuminate some of the crazy. I would even go so far as to say that by choosing Ken Ham, Bill Bye has embarrassed those with 'faith-based science' all over the country. Pat Robertson of the 700 Club said "Let's be real, let's not make a joke of ourselves." Perhaps a bit late, Pat.
Biologist Jerry Coyne, initially was strongly against the debate occurring, came out afterwards stating that Nye had clearly won the discussion. In his article, he cites a poll at Christian Today website, 92% of viewers said that Bill Nye won. 92%!!
http://www.newrepublic.com/article/116478/bill-nye-ken-ham-debate-creationism-and-evolution-science-wins
So let us re-think how we approach creationism. Perhaps the apathy I have so chillingly spoke of before has likewise been offered to ignore creationism. Perhaps we should ask those to honestly defend their position. There is a possibility that the majority of Christians will stand up against this insanity, if only to avoid the embarrassment.
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