Finding Good Atheist Blogs

A reader sent me a link to a post she wrote about the top 25 atheist blogs. I know that many of you already read atheist blogs (or else you probably wouldn't be here, would you?), but I know how tough it can be to find good ones. I'm familiar with most of these, and while my own list would probably not be identical, there would be quite a bit of overlap. Besides, I'm always looking for easy and effective ways to promote what my colleagues in the atheist blogosphere are doing.

Here in Mississippi, I often wonder what I'd do without atheist websites, blogs, and forums.

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Obstacles to Being Openly Atheistic in Mississippi

If we were to ask readers to comment on the biggest obstacle to being openly atheistic in Mississippi, I suspect we'd have multiple answers. What might pose a serious obstacle for one person might not bother another in the least. Take me for example. I don't have any family in Mississippi, so that doesn't even enter the picture for me. I suspect that is not going to be true of most people.

What is my biggest obstacle? I really don't have many significant obstacles to being open about my atheism. Work probably poses the closest thing I do have to an obstacle, but it is really more of an obstacle to atheist activism rather than atheism per se. That is, I'm not particularly secretive about my atheism at work (anyone who asks will receive an honest answer, assuming I decide it is any of their business). However, I am not interested in those I work with learning that my atheism might actually motivate me to action from time to time.

I'm not sure if that makes any sense or not. For me at least, saying I do not believe in gods is different from disclosing that I write an atheist blog, belong to various secular organizations, defend atheist civil rights, etc. But for better or worse, the idea of disclosing such things holds considerably less fear for me than it used to.

How about you? What is your biggest obstacle to being openly atheistic in Mississippi?

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You Could Win a Trip to Netroots Nation in Minneapolis

If you are a political progressive in Mississippi and have always wanted to attend Netroots Nation but haven't had the money to do so, you should know that Democracy for America is trying to encourage applications from Mississippians for the Netroots Nation Scholarship Competition. I've posted the announcement they sent me over at Red State Progressive if you are interested.

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Education News: Budget Cuts and No Condoms

I've got a couple bits of education news from our state today, and neither are especially positive.

First, the controversial plan of state Republicans to count $65 million in federal money as part of the state's education funding has been approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee. This ends up having the effect of a cut to K-12 education in our state since less state money will be allocated. For those following this issue, the bill involved in HB 1494.

Second, our House sent their sex education bill (HB 999) to Gov. Barbour, who is expected to sign it. The bill allows Mississippi school districts to choose one of two sex education curricula for their schools: abstinence only or what is being called "abstinence plus" (i.e., abstinence plus information on contraceptives). The bill also prohibits teaching children about the proper use of condoms.

If teen pregnancy statistics suggest nothing else, it is that abstinence is unrealistic. I guess we'll just have to hope that individual districts make the right choice.

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Self-Described Christian Patriot Arrested for Public Masturbation

I had planned to let this one go. I really had. It has been covered on so many other atheist blog that I figured I'd just steer clear of it. But the more I think about it, the more important I think it is to highlight examples of Christian hypocrisy.

Rev. Grant Storms is known around New Orleans for his anti-gay protests. Evidently, the New Orleans Southern Decadence Festival really bothers him. He's turned up again and again with his band of Christian extremist bigots to protest it.

But now Storms will be known for something else: public masturbation. He was arrested in a public park in Metairie near a playground for...well..."worshiping his baby Jesus" (how's that for a euphemism for masturbation?).

We see so much hypocrisy from the loudest Christians that news like this cannot possibly surprise us. Still, I can't help thinking that it is worth highlighting them. After all, there are still plenty of people who believe this nonsense.

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