. Once they had to rely on persuasion rather than intimidation, the story of British Christianity came to an end.
Very nice.
And pietv, I agree. As tempting as it is to move to a secular country (how cool is Australia with their outspokenly atheistic Prime Minister - who is also quite a babe) IMO we should start doing our bit for rational thinking here at home in Africa. Just tonight I met a guy at my gig who studied theology and, as a result, ended up becoming an atheist (he bought my book - heheh, cool).
It’s happening here is SA too - and quicker than we think. Exciting stuff.
It’s sort of atheism 101 - very basic book called “Courage To Doubt” by Stephen J Hurlin with a Foreword by Dan Barker. I think you can get it in Holland via Amazon.com - not sure. But it’s really an introduction to critical thought and how to remove Christianity from your life.
Courage To Doubt
Stephen J. Hurlin
Engels - Paperback
5-10 werkdagen
€ 9,99
Indicatie verzendkosten € 1,95
I have ordered the book. If I’ve read, I write an article on freethinker.nl. It may take a while because I have a lot to do now. I like that Dan Barker wrote the foreword.
Yes - Dan is awesome and added credibility to my contribution to free-thought. Thanks for ordering the book.
Speaking of atheism in Africa - I was contacted yesterday by a man called Micheal (not Michael) who is the acting president of the Atheist Alliance in Uganda. He sounds like a dynamic man and it seems as if he’s doing great work up there in mid-Africa. You can visit his site here http://www.aauganda.net/
I am surprised that in Uganda there is a small but well organized
movement. I have sent the president a message. I’ll think that support is necessary in this country. Uganda doesn’t sound as a liberal country.
I think they are worse off than us here in SA, with fewer skeptics and more intense religious practitioners. But organizing something takes a dynamic person with 4 things: vision, passion, time and money. I have the vision and more than enough passion, but spend most of my waking moments making a living as a musician. I can’t afford to pay for a web site and even giving a talk (I’m giving one this coming Thursday 19th) costs me R1000.00 in lost (an unrecoverable) income because another musician will have to play my gig.
The atrocities committed and havoc sown by the Lord’s Resistance Army in Uganda under the banner of religion is appalling.
The Lord's Resistance Army (also Lord's Resistance Movement or Lakwena Part Two) is a sectarian religious and military group based in northern Uganda.
The group was formed in 1987 and is engaged in an armed rebellion against the Ugandan government in what is now one of Africa’s longest-running conflicts. It is led by Joseph Kony, who proclaims himself the “spokesperson” of God and a spirit medium, primarily of the Holy Spirit, which the Acholi believe can represent itself in many manifestations.[3]
The group is based in apocalyptic Christianity[4][5][6][7][8][9][10], but also is influenced[11] by a blend of Mysticism[12] and traditional religion,[13] and claims to be establishing a theocratic state based on the Ten Commandments and Acholi tradition.[3][14][15]
The LRA is accused of widespread human rights violations, including murder, abduction, mutilation, sexual enslavement of women and children, and forcing children to participate in hostilities.[16]
The LRA operates mainly in northern Uganda, but also in parts of Sudan, Central African Republic and DR Congo.[17][18] The LRA is currently proscribed as a terrorist organization by the United States.
and
During an interview with IRIN, Vincent Otti was asked about the LRA's vision of an ideal government, to which he responded
"Lord’s Resistance Army is just the name of the movement, because we are fighting in the name of God. God is the one helping us in the bush. That’s why we created this name, Lord’s Resistance Army. And people always ask us, are we fighting for the [biblical] Ten Commandments of God. That is true – because the Ten Commandments of God is the constitution that God has given to the people of the world.
Clearly an atheist movement in Uganda is sorely needed, but it seems as likely to succeed in halting these human rights violations as farting against a tornado. Micheal is busy with a brave attempt.
I’ve talked with Micheal. I admire his efforts. There is virtually no infrastructure for atheism. Personally I think it is dangerous. The country is full of sects. I’m going to follow this movement and maybe give them financial support. I’ll hope that I could find more interested people.
Karlheinz Deschner - Wikipedia He wrote a lexicon Kriminalgeschichte (criminalhistory). Nine books with evidence that Christianity has brought humanity no good.
Sounds like their God. “Thou shalt not kill” but I will kill you if you disagree.
It seems as if “atheism in Africa” is a long way off but our tentative beginnings should be encouraged and supported. Perhaps, one day in the distant future, we will be remembered as the pioneers of truth and rational thought on our credulous continent. You know, a lone voice of reason crying out in the wilderness of irrational belief (or something). And one day, I hope, Christianity will be taught in schools as a quaint myth from a distant era (along with all the other religions of history).
I am optimistic and see many developments pass. Last year, the 50 best selling books in the United States, three atheistic books complete the list. There comes a time that we talk about primitive superstition. Fundamentalism is often the response to this movement. But rational thought conquers all.
Thank you very much. I’ll write an article about African Skeptics. I am looking for suitable people. It’s for a Dutch magazine called “De vrije gedachte”.
@Piet - cool. And don’t forget our own SteveMuso - he has an atheist book out. And there are a bunch of African atheist bloggers. See the African science and skepticism blogroll: Ionian Enchantment: African science and skepticism blogroll for August. Jacques Rousseau of Synapses is pretty prominent.
I had not been here for a long time. Sorry that I missed this reply. Last year I bought the book “Courage to Doubt” and wrote an article in a dutch magazine. And at freethinker.nl (1800 members) I put a review on our frontpage. So hopefully Steve sold a few books in the Netherlands.