Darwin Day

I just returned from the University of Pennsylvania Museum. There were some games, free cake, skulls, and even a couple of live specimen to gawk at but the largest draw was the teach-in, where a number of scientists talked about Darwin’s life, geological time, dinosaurs (rawr!), etc.

But what struck me the most was the human evolution exhibit that was not specific to the event, but I had not previously seen. What stood out for me was the direct approach that it took. As you walk in, there is a panel on the wall that has some description of apes, and then it simply said “you are an ape” (or something very similar). This was interesting to me because knowing that there is a significant percentage of the US population that would be completely insulted at this proposition, yet it is overwhelmingly supported by the facts. It is nice to see it spelled out so unambiguously.

I found myself trying to imagine myself in the mind of a creationist walking through this museum (let’s assume they were kidnapped, tied up, placed in a bag, thrown in a white van then driven there and forced to walk through it to escape) and seeing the words and cast bones and skulls on the wall. I simply cannot figure out what is going on in the minds of people who deny that evolution is a fact when the theory of evolution is supported as well as any other theory–say gravity.

I think what it comes down to, for most people, is mere ignorance of the nature of the theory as well as the evidence that supports it. The fact that so many charlatans exist to keep “goddidit” alive doesn’t help this either. Fear is a contributing factor, I would guess, but nobody should be surprised to find ignorance and fear in the same explanation.

But it was good to see that so many people attended. It was good to see children interested in the exhibits and being genuinely excited to be there, and not merely dragged by parents who are at least trying. At least there is that.

Happy (belated) 200th birthday Charlie Darwin!

Honesty

How honest are you? How honest should we be? Are you willing to hide things about yourself at work, around family, or in general in order to make life less of a hassle?

I like the ideal that I should be able to be who I am no matter the company. I also know that this is largely impractical because the vast majority of people are going to be uncomfortable with my views and lifestyle, and thus it will effect opportunities in life. I know that these abnormal ideas will continue to remain eschewed so long as they are not challenged. I also know that battles need to be picked; the right time, place, etc. I haven’t quite figured out the balance here. That being said, I’m going to now rant.

When I have to deal with small-minded, fear-riddled, and insecure people who will ignorantly criticize and discriminate against other people who live in different ways, forcing those other people to hide parts of their lives from said insecure people, I get angry. When I watch atheists afraid to come out, polyamorists who hide their other girlfriends or boyfriends from family, neighbors, and co-workers, etc then I realize that the insipid masses are forcing interesting people from mainstream society.

Think about how much more interesting life would be if people didn’t have to be scared or justifiably concerned about their parents, supervisors, and/or neighbors finding out about their little secrets. Think about how we could more easily find people with similar interests if we didn’t have to hide behind avatars on social networking sites for small hidden communities of freaks, geeks, and other assorted awesome people.

This myth about the “normal” way to be, what most are raised to covet (which is largely a fantasy anyway), is stifling people I want to get to know. And why? Because people are afraid to challenge themselves.

OK, rant over. So what do we do? How do you handle your freaky little secret that your family and some friends don’t know about? How much happier would you be if you didn’t have to hide as much?

Atheists…stop being wusses!

I wrote an article for the Greater Philadelphia Story, which is the newsletter for the Freethought Society of Greater Philadelphia, a little while back and I think it’s quite good (well, is that surprising?).

Here is the link to the article that I put up just recently

Basically, I’m demanding that those that don’t believe in god grow some balls and stand up and admit so proudly. It’s not that the discrimination that atheists face is comparable to what gays, African Americans, etc have faced in history, but that the discrimination and lies that exist about us are quite pervasive and annoying. These myths would disappear more quickly if there weren’t so many appeasers out there.

If you have a few minutes, read it and send me some comments.

Thanks.

In the Beginning…

So, I have a lot to say. Why? Well, when you are nudged into the corners of culture from different angles, you see culture from a different perspective, and thus pick up on things that others tend not to see. That is, when you look on belief in god, monogamy, and other so-called normal things as strange behavior patterns (and are not shy about it), you begin to feel the cold shoulder of people, even so-called open-minded people, whose beliefs and values are challenged by your views.

That said, perhaps I should define these words; atheist and polyamorous.

I’m an atheist. And despite what you’ll hear from disingenuous and dishonest commentators, apologists and other assorted ignoramuses, this does not mean that I’m afraid of gods, ignoring god to live a life of sin, nor am I claiming that I know gods don’t exist. It simply means that I have not yet seen sufficient evidence to compel belief in gods–any gods I’ve heard of–and so I lack belief in gods. BTW, I also am an agnostic. And no, this term is not some fence-sitting position between atheist and theist. And agnostic either recognizes that one simple does not know, or that they cannot know, whether gods exist. I’m an agnostic-atheist, one who doesn’t know but does not currently believe in any gods.

If you, for any set of reasons, do not currently hold an active belief in any gods, then you are an atheist too. (Yes, that means that in any time of your life that you, for whatever reason, didn’t believe in god even for a little while, that made you an atheist). I have a feeling there are a lot more of you atheists out there, but are too ignorant or to afraid to admit it, which leaves all of us out-of-the-closet atheists an easy target for discrimination from the people around you whom you are afraid to admit the same lack of belief to. Cowards.

I’m also polyamorous. No, that does not make me some fundamentalist atheist polygamist. It means that I live a life of non-monogamy. For all of you out there that are living happy, monogamous lives and tell your wife/husband/boyfriend/girlfriend/life-partner that they are the only one for you, well that’s just fine and dandy. But excuse me for pointing out the observation that this romanticized ideal of some Disney-esque bullshit about prince charming or princess if-you-look-at-another-woman-I’ll-kill-you is probably the result of you repressing a large part of your sexuality in order to convince yourself that this one person is everything you will ever need sexually for the rest of your life.

Polyamory is about more than sex, however. It is a recognition that we do indeed already have complex and important relationships with more than one person, and often this can include sexuality. It is about honesty, openness, and sharing both ourselves and our loved ones. One thing is for sure; it is a crash course in being good at relationships, which means a crash course in honesty (with yourself and with others).

Jealousy and insecurity will continue to help people believe in god and monogamy so long as we go on not challenging people. And for all of you that will comment that we shold not criticize, but rather allow others to live their lives as they want to, well allow me to preemptively point out that such a comment would be criticism (hypocrisy, much?). And that will be the tone of this blog.