“Hank Fox wrote a book. You should read it” – Me

My fellow Freethought Blogger, Hank Fox, put a book out earlier in the year called, “Red Neck, Blue Collar Atheist.” To be sure, there are many of us on the Freethought Blog network who’ve written books. This one is kinda different, though. If I had to use one word to describe it, I would choose “refreshing.”

Hank is, by far, not without intellect. I’ve been reading his blog since he came on board, and have never been disappointed. Hank, however, writes from the perspective of a Texas Cowboy, having spent his life working outside of academia. His list of occupations include carpenter, truck driver and, yes, working with horses and mules. He’s even dabbled in bull riding.

Not Your Typical Atheist…?

“Chandler McGrew (is) showing us how to scare the pants off readers with his latest paperback original…” – The Chicago Tribune

I absolutely love reading. In fact, I’d rather read a physical book than an e-book. Something about the feel of it, the heft of it in my hands and the act of actually turning pages. Sometimes, I even fold a page over if I can’t find something handy to use as a bookmark.

To me, a good book can be like a drug. A well-written, intricately woven novel that is rife with twists, turns, plots, sub-plots and unexpected turns of events will captivate me for hours on end. Page-turners are hard to find, and even more valuable is an author who can turn out more than one.

Chandler McGrew… 

“[Our] principles [are] founded on the immovable basis of equal right and reason.” – Thomas Jefferson

There has been much written about the Founding Fathers and their religious views. In spite of the actual historicity, most believers still think they were all devout Christians. Truth is, most of them were Deists and only minimally religious. Many were actively opposed to organized religion. Even if it can be clearly demonstrated that some of the Founding Fathers were religious to an extreme, it speaks nothing about the prevailing lack of religiosity of the Founding Fathers as a group. This is reflected in the collective writings of these men; documents that we know as the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, including the Bill of Rights.

Their Creator…

‎“We are not anti-gay, we are pro-marriage.  And the point — the whole point — is simply that you don’t rewrite the nature of God’s design for marriage based on the demands of a group of adults.” – Tami Fitzgerald, Vote For Marriage NC.

I spent seventeen years living in North Carolina. For ten of those years I was a Minister, and while the last seven years consisted of tumultuous arguments with Christian Fundamentalists, it was still my home. One of the hardest choices I had to make was to leave when the hatred, bigotry and threats from my former brethren and fellow ministers came to a head and it was made very clear that I was not wanted.

On Tuesday, May 8th, 2012, the people of North Carolina voted in favor of Amendment 1, effectively banning any marriage other than that between a man and a woman to be unconstitutional. They have collectively told the LGBT community the same thing they told me…

Get The Fuck Out…

“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves” – Matthew 7:15

Either our friends at the Secular Coalition for America have a twisted sense of humor and chose a very late April Fool’s joke, or they have gone off the deep end with their choice for their new Executive Director.  According to their website, the SCA – billed as the nation’s only  full-time nontheistic lobbying organization - announced the  selection of longtime Republican lobbyist, Edwina Rogers, as its new  Executive Direcor. They tout that she twenty years of experience on  Capitol Hill as a lobbyist and attorney, including roles as General  Counsel for several high-profile politicians.

So, what’s wrong with that…?

My new book, “Free Thoughts – A Collection Of Essays By An American Atheist” is published and available for whoever wants it. This book is a collection of the top 60 most critically acclaimed essays and articles that I’ve written over the past couple of years. They include essays that can be found here, my old blog and various periodicals, publications and magazines both digital and print.

There are also a few from my last book, and all of them have been remastered and re-edited for relevancy and content. This represent the cream of the crop, and a book that I hope you’ll want to have on your book shelf, either in paperback or digital format.

If you want a copy, follow these instructions…

Hello, friends, fans and supporters! As most of you know, I am working on a novel called “The Regiment” that will be out by the end of the summer. In the interim, I have a new book coming out in a couple of weeks called “Free Thoughts – A Collection Of Essays By An American Atheist.”

It’s a collection of the top 60 essays and articles I’ve written over the past couple of years that have been re-edited and refreshed. Some of them have been posted here, others in various venues and publications, a few from my last book that have been remastered and a couple from some years ago.

There is a lot of content in this book. It is roughly 400 pages long, formatted in 10 pt font. The paperback price is set at $13.95. However, once I get the converted digital files for Kindle, Nook, Apple, etc., I am still going to release the ebook for $1.99.

Stay tuned…

“But it is dominion we are after. Not just a voice. It is dominion we are after. Not just influence. It is dominion we are after. Not just equal time. It is dominion we are after. World conquest.” – Thomas Ice

Atheists are enjoying three things that we have not had the privilege of enjoying since the advent of religious belief became the evolutionary norm in our species. Those are the three basic human desires I have been referring to. To be understood, to be heard and to belong. As we increase in these areas, it stands to reason that we are stealing some of the thunder from the fundamentalists. Not to be outdone, and in fear of being undone, they have had to kick it up a notch. Or two. Or three.

Muslim extremists, already having a lot of experience making loud noises, have had to use increasingly divisive rhetoric, make louder noises and take more drastic measures as regimes continue to fall in the Middle East. It is the only way they can keep control over whatever nations they may be able to hang onto.

The American Fundy…

“Homosexuals are brute beasts…part of a vile  and satanic system that will be utterly annihilated,  and there will be a celebration in heaven.” - Jerry Falwell

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize that horrendous attitudes, actions and rhetoric towards the LGBT community is still alive and well on planet earth. Yes, it is true that the issue of discrimination toward the LGBT community here in these United States has been steadily declining. An understanding regarding the facts and data regarding human sexuality continues to grow within the general population, as is the acceptance that the LGBT community is, otherwise, no different from any other demographic within our species. Personally, I find this a very positive indication that we are making progress as a society, shaking loose from one of the oldest and most stubbornly clung-to forms of bigotry.

Obviously, there is still a problem…