Rants and Raves of a Black Skeptic

I love movies, and will probably be watching quite a few now that it is summer. I’ve decided to review some movies of interest that deal with religion/freethought or a combination of both. So … enjoy

(note: that’s Lucifer in the background of the movie poster)

Angela IMDB page

Lucifer to Angela: “I love you. More than anything else in the world. You are like me.”

My Review: I can’t tell what to take seriously in this movie. Both of the girls (Angela, 10 and her sister, Ellie, 6) see a few things that are not really there. Their mother has a mental illness (probably bipolar), so I’m not quite sure if what they’re seeing is related to their perhaps genetic predisposition to mental illness. I kept thinking, “These girls are too young to be hallucinating. Perhaps it’s just little kids playing with their imaginary friends. Are they really seeing these things?”

Personally, I was more intrigued by seeing things from these two children’s point of view rather than the religious aspects of the movie, but someone on the IMDB said, “It [the movie] was also about religion, and how religion can fuel mental illness by giving the victim stories that can feed and enhance their delusion. The symbolism here greatly enhanced Angela’s bizzare belief that if she and her sister could somehow cleans their souls that it would cure their mother severe manic depressive disorder.” Couldn’t have said it better myself!

It’s amazing how Angela is obsessed with purification. How much she wants to be pure and holy and how she feels as if the only way to do this is by performing bizarre rituals (sounds familiar, huh?) I think that that’s a basic human need/want and that religion exploits this by saying that there is only one way to be “saved.” There is, after all, a tendency toward chaos, toward disorder, toward entropy and we are constantly fighting against that. It reminds me of the Bright Eyes lyrics, “Why are you scared to dream of God, when it’s salvation that you want? If you hate the taste of wine, why do you drink it till you’re blind?” I think I understand why people are religious, and why people stay religious – we all want salvation, we all want to feel pure and good. But for me I have to find another way of achieving salvation that doesn’t include God, but I’d be lying to myself if I didn’t admit that I, too, am like many religious people. Searching for balance and greater meaning in my life, but coming to the conclusion that it’s got nothing to do with a god.

Not everyone likes this film, and quite a few people thought that it was too vague and trying too hard to be existential, but ended up being cryptic. But all in all, I really enjoyed it and I’d give it 3/5 stars.

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I heard about this song/artist on Fresh Air (with Terry Gross) after Terry’s interview with Al Gore. His book “The Assault on Reason” is on my “might read” book list because I’m not a big fan of political writing (I tried with Barack’s “The Audacity of Hope” and that didn’t go too well). After that interview Carll’s CD was given a positive review. I’m sure that Carll’s a Christian (of course I’m not sure sure, but I assume that everyone in America is Christian until I know for sure (yes, I know that approx. 20% of Americans are nonreligious, but I live in the South so I don’t come across them too often). I don’t want to read into the song too much because it seems like it’s just a fun/satiric type of song. The lyrics are definitely worth taking a look over. It’s a funny song, and I’m sure it’s not meant to be taken seriously so I hope nobody takes much offense to it.

Artist: Carll Hayes
Song: She Left Me For Jesus
Album: Trouble in Mind

Lyrics:

(***Don’t mind the all caps***)

WE”VE BEEN DATIN SINCE HIGH SCHOOL WE NEVER ONCE LEFT THIS TOWN
WE USE TO GO OUT ON THE WEEKENDS AND WE”D DRINK TIL WE DROWNED
BUT NOW SHES ACTING FUNNY AND I DONT UNDERSTAND
I THINK THAT SHES FOUND HER SOME OTHER MAN

CHORUS:

SHE LEFT ME FOR JESUS AND THAT JUST AINT FAIR
SHE SAYS THAT HES PERFECT HOW COULD I COMPARE
SHE SAYS I SHOULD FIND HIM AND ILL KNOW PEACE AT LAST
IF I EVER FIND JESUS IM KICKIN HIS ASS

SHE SHOWED ME A PICTURE ALL I COULD DO WAS STARE
AT THAT FREAK IN HIS SANDALS WITH HIS LONG PRETTY HAIR
THEY MUST THINK THAT IM STUPID OR I DONT HAVE A CLUE
ILL BET HES A COMMIE OR EVER WORSE YET A JEW

REPEAT CHORUS

SHES GIVEN UP WHISKEY AND AH TAKIN UP WINE
WHILE SHE PRAYS FOR HIS TROUBLES SHES FORGOT ABOUT MINE
IM A GONNA GET EVEN I CANT HANDLE THE SHAME
WHY LAST TIME WE MADE LOVE SHE EVEN CALLED OUT HIS NAME

REPEAT CHORUS

IT COULDA BEEN CARLOS OR EVEN BILLY ORTEZ
BUT IF I EVER FIND JESUS
HES GONNA WISH HE WAS DEAD AMEN

First, let me start of by saying that I consider myself a very friendly atheist.

This school year has been very interesting because I’ve befriended two Christians, one of them being superchristian ™. They’re both creationists, but the superchristian is born again, and new in her walk with Jesus. She says that she’s always been a Christian, but now she’s got a personal relationship with Jesus so she’s got the holy ghost coursing through her veins. So it’s new to her, and in order to not deviate from her path, she goes to several bible studies a week, wears the torture symbol around her neck, and adheres to the party line. I mean, I don’t think that she thinks for herself very much. She lets the church do that for her. It’s frustrating that I attempt to step into her shoes, and try to understand her beliefs when she won’t return the favor.

Okay, back to my point about people not getting it. It frustrates the hell out of me when I feel like I’m tolerant of other people’s beliefs, and respect what their belief means to them (notice I respect what it means to them, not what it is). I am fully aware that perhaps there is a god somewhere, and that there’s a teeny chance that it’s the fundamentalist christian version. But what I hate is when I try to be somewhat openminded, and yet when I say something simple about my disbelief, people just don’t get it. Why am I the one that’s looked at as if I have three horns sticking out of my chest when I say, I don’t believe that there was a virgin birth, I don’t believe that Jesus or Mohammed flew to the heaven with or without a winged horse, I don’t believe that Jesus turned water into wine or fed 5000 people with a few pieces of bread and fish. I don’t believe that. Shit like that has never happened (and I’m not counting magicians). Why do I get looked at as the crazy one? Why am I looked at as a person that should be saved. The lost, deluded soul. Satan’s spawn. Do these people ever step out of their outrageous beliefs and look at it objectively and see how ludicrous it sounds (and it actually is)?

UGH! So yes, I’m frustrated because I feel like my lack of belief is so rational. It’s like 2+2=4. Yet I’m a member of one of the least liked minorities in America. I’m tired of people giving us the evil eye, talking shit about us, and walking around like they’re better than us with smug looks of pity on their faces. UGHHH! Yes, it frustrates the bejeesus out of me. I don’t want religion to be done away with – I’m just tired of being misunderstood (and misrepresented) and demonized.

<3.

[note: i started writing this on the day after xmas]

… so christmas is over. and it was disappointing, but only because i’m still deluded enough to believe that christmas is going to be better than any other day. all i like is the food and the lights. and some of the lights are ugly and i don’t need another holiday to release my inner glutton. and i generally don’t like family functions because my immediate family was pretty much isolated from my extended family while i was growing up and now it feels too late to attempt to forge anything meaningful (or genuine).

while in the bathroom i saw an oprah magazine from the early 2000s and she did a story about the healing power of prayer. i didn’t read the article, but i’m sure it’s bullshit. i read a little excerpt and it mentioned that most healers say that when it comes to prayer you should fake it till you make it. i mean, come on.it’s the whole “nonbelievers will eventually believe by pretending to believe” bullshit. i hate when “healers” and such are called to talk about prayer as if they’re scientists talking about important research. the research on the efficacy of prayer is very loopy because it’s hard to tell what is circumstantial and whether “god” knows that research is being done so “he” won’t answer the prayers. and i believe that there is a natural explanation for why prayer “works.” perhaps it’s like meditation. if you allow yourself to be still and focus on a problem – that’s the first step in reaching a solution and if you really believe that an invisible friend is helping you out, then you’ll start to look for change. and if no change happens, you might just think that that is part of “the plan.” after all, doesn’t the good lord work in mysterious ways? and sometimes his answer is no.

on the car ride to the family function my dad blasted church music and i was quite disgruntled the whole time. but then on the drive back, i didn’t mind the music because after two glasses of my new favorite wine (ballatore), i was feeling better. and like richard dawkins and some others have said – why should i get upset when a song about giving all praise to god is playing? or why should i not allow myself to enjoy a hauntingly beautiful song about the birth of baby jesus? am i scared that the song is going to convert me to theism? am i too concerned that the more i listen to the songs, the more i’ll believe them? sure there are some songs that are “too christian” and that proselytize too much for comfort, but i’m not going to deny myself musical … eh, pleasure? i’m an equal opportunity kind of person. and i like music that’s about yearning for something greater. no, not god or someone supernatural. but something greater than … shopping and other superficialities that are all too present in day to day living. two of my new years resolutions are to meditate and practice yoga at least on a weekly basis. i’m trying to get more spiritual (not superstitious).

so i’m reading an article in my favorite zine (BITCH) and there’s an article about a “born again atheist” that enjoys jesus rock. and it got me thinking – are we limiting ourselves as atheists by closing ourselves off to christian entertainment? and by entertainment, i mean music (b/c what other forms of christian entertainment are there – besides movies that obviously christian). i used to love christian music when i was a christian. it’s not like it was the only thing i listened to – but i’d enjoy switchfoot and jennifer knapp. i like christian songs that are about searching for something greater, but do not explicitly call it god. for example, switchfoot has a song with the lyrics, “we were meant to so much more. have we lost ourselves?” lyrics that i can totally appreciate that a christian could interpret in supernatural contexts, but that is optional.

i can definitely identify with wanting to live for something greater. i don’t believe that religion has a monopoly on spirituality. spiritual atheist is not an oxymoron. i’ve been meaning to practice yoga and meditation for a long time and sometimes i’ll do it for several days, but then i’ll sleep in and not do it. that’s part of the reason that what sam harris has to say about spirituality appeals to me so much. i’m a rational person, but i’m also a dreamer. i like talking about the meaning of life and meaning in general. i like subjectivity. i like romance.

i was watching “make me a muslim” on atheistmedia (on youtube) and i enjoyed the show even though it sugarcoated islam. i still don’t think it’s a religion of peace. sure parts of it are peaceful, and it’d be wonderful it more muslims focused on those parts (same with every religion/belief system) but after watching the show – it reminded me that modesty is okay. i’m not a fan of their extreme amishlike modesty and why they believe that women should be covered up, but i personally like dressing modestly and although i’m an adult, sometimes i feel like there’s something wrong with me and that i should dress more revealingly. it’s almost like being in your 20s gives you the okay to shed more clothing. after all, these are my golden years, right? i guess the media unconsciously gets under my skin. and sometimes i feel different b/c i’m supposed to be out clubbing and drinking and neither or those things really appeal to me. so it’s nice to be reminded that it’s cool to be modest (not a prude!) but to me subtlety is sexy and a good night is dancing at a house dance party or staying in and enjoying some form of my home life.

(the cover of neon bible//by arcade fire)

so right now the current album with antireligious undertones that i’m listening to is neon bible (by arcade fire). lyrically, it’s a fantastic album. i also like the song “jesus saves, i spend” by st. vincent. of montreal’s newest album, “hissing fauna, are you the destroyer?” has an awesome song called “gronlandic edit” that is also irreverant. it’s one of my favorite songs right now. if you’re interested in any of artists/albums/songs – just youtube them. i definitely prefer the tongue in cheek religious and nonreligious songs better and most of these are just that (so they leave room for interpretation).

GOOD PASTOR:
Delman Coates of the ENOUGH IS ENOUGH campaign.

Unlike some apocalyptic theists (and pessimists in general), I believe that we can make this whole living-on-the-planet thing work. That’s why I love when I read about any person (religious or not) that’s working for the greater good on whatever level. (exhibit 1 …) (As opposed to believing that only magical Jesus can save the day).

In his own words, he is trying to affirm “black humanity.” It’d be nice if more diversity within the black community was shown (*cough* black freethinkers *cough*).

He also says that the new programming on BET (like the gospel version of American Idol) is fine and dandy, but it doesn’t condone all the negative programming that they have. It’s like giving someone giving someone four glasses of water and four glasses of bleach each day as the eight glasses of fluid that we need each day. Poison is poison, whether it’s diluted or not.

What he is doing makes me SOOO proud. It’s wonderful to that there are people out there actively trying to change/combat the negative portrayals/stereotyping of black people. Even as a black person, after I watch more than 30 minutes of average BET programming, I feel such a disconnect with it. Maybe I’m getting too “old,” or maybe it’s because I realize that programs on BET (and most other channels) are made to dumb down and entertain, not educate and entertain people.

I’ll follow up with my “BAD PASTOR” post soon …

The Reverend Ken Hutcherson:

On a mission to take over Microsoft and turn gays in bible thumping heteros …

He’s got his own show on the Jesus Network. I think he’s one of those preachers that ask you to put down a $1000 “seed” that “Christ” will “harvest” later in your future. I’m sure he’s rolling in dollar dollar bills.

Another day. Another nutjob. That’s not really a nutjob. Just an ordinary evangelical minister of a megachurch – doing what they do best … running their mouth about homos and how they’re ruining the world by fighting for equality. Hide your wives and children and throw bibles at the homos! (I can’t paint all evangelicals with a broad brush … Joel MULET Osteen is alright. I wonder what his stance on gay love is …)

He’s taking on Microsoft for actually listening to their gay employees.

Memorable quotes from the article include:

• “I consider myself a warrior for Christ. Microsoft don’t scare me. I got God with me.”
• Mr Hutcherson’s office is decorated with the heads of deer, elk and a buffalo – “when I run into animals, I kill them and bring them home and eat them” – as well as invitations to the White House and signed pictures of himself with President George W. Bush.
• “I don’t care how big Microsoft is,” he said. “They are nothing but a feather in the wind of God. America basically got started with a tea party and Goliath, if I’m not mistaken, got taken down by David, who believed in the same cause I believe in. I’m going to go after the new Goliath with one little rock called a share and I’m going to make them tremble before we get through.”

Go check out the LOLs for yourself. (Hmm … maybe I shouldn’t be laughing).

I don’t really keep up with politics too much. I tend to watch debates like the youtube debates (I cannot wait till it’s the Republican’s turn to get grilled and answer some tough viewer submitted questions). I don’t really know what each politician stands for down to the tee, but I do get the gist of each one. So far, Hilary and Obama are my favorite, but I haven’t done enough homework to really be a supporter of one or the other. As far as change, I think that Obama would do the best in changing the system, but Hilary seems to really have a good head on her shoulders. But Obama is right … he didn’t vote for this horrible war that we’re in. I’ll give him that.

Barack Obama

His pastor, Reverend Jeremiah Wright, known for militant screeds against the “United States of White America,” has met with Qaddafi and Farrakhan. “When [Barack’s] enemies find out,” Wright has predicted, “his Jewish support will dry up quicker than a snowball in hell.”

Hillary Clinton

An agnostic in college, now professes a return to her Christian faith, but passed up a key enlightenment opportunity when she told a spiritual guru who facilitated her “conversations” with Eleanor Roosevelt and Gandhi that she didn’t want a séance with Jesus.

Find out about the other candidates’ faiths here! I’m not sure how much of this website is exaggerated and how much of it is factual. I’m sure it’s a bit of both, but I’m not sure where one begins and the other ends. I do know that Obama’s mom was secular and he claims to have a lot respect for us secular folk. Hilary says that she is suspicious of anyone that wears their faith on their sleeve. I guess it comes down to choosing the lesser of two evils (when it comes to faith/religion). All we can do is put pressure on them to keep their faith personal and not part of their policies (although it’s sadly a part of their politics).