Calling Rob Sherman to apologize for her bigoted tirade was a step in the right direction, however Rep. Monique Davis (D-Chicago) still owes a public apology to the millions of American atheists to whom her public comments were also directed.

Ebonmuse also mentions that Monique Davis and the Illinois governor are Democrats – and it should be noted that both house and senate are controlled by Democrats. Although to be fair, the governor did oppose the Student Prayer Act. Regardless, it certainly isn’t just Republicans involved in this stuff.

In a comment above, someone also seemed to be blaming the federal government for this situation in Illinois. I am not sure how the feds are involved with the Baptist church rebuild effort – my understanding is the state designated the church as having landmark type status, and state funds are proposed for contribution to the rebuild. The entire sordid history is really something, since one million dollars was already given in a previous grant to the church, only to somehow end up being used by a private school that was renting space in the church – no one is quite sure at the moment how that happened. But there is also mixed up in it all - a pardon for one of the school operators and sexual harassment claims against some workers. In politics they say there is the way everyone else does it – and then there is “The Chicago Way”. What a mess!

Rep. Monique Davis (D-Chicago) finally apologized to atheist activist Rob Sherman for her tirade of bigotry. She was reportedly stressed over learning about the death of a Chicago are public school student, somehow excusing her behavior. Sherman has ...

Xianity still appeals to those who believe themselves mistreated. To those in whom resentment surges. To those who must blame others. To those who must punish their guilty selves.

Xianity is practical nihilism. Directed inward, hatred of self. Directed outward, hatred of others and the world.

This is not some peripheral ideological stance -- it is the dark heart and sick soul of Paul's life-negating world view, tarted up as a religion of “love”.

bipolar2

Yesterday, State Representative Monique Davis (D-Chicago) called me from the Floor of the Illinois House of Representatives to apologize for what she had said to me at last Wednesday's hearing of the House State Government Administration Committee. Rep. Davis had said, among other things, that atheism is dangerous to the progression of the State of Illinois, that children should not be allowed to know that my philosophy (atheism) exists, and that I had no right to testify to any Illinois legislative committee because the People of Illinois believe in God. She concluded by ordering me to "Get out of that seat!"

Some bloggers have asked what I said to instigate Rep. Davis' comments. I was testifying about why the Governor's proposal to donate one million tax dollars to Pilgrim Baptist Church is unconstitutional. Specifically, I was reading, in a very calm manner, from my laptop computer, the words in the March 4th "Latest Update," which appear below and which explains why the proposal to give money to the church is unconstitutional.

Rep. Davis said that she had been upset, earlier in the day, to learn that a twenty-second and twenty-third Chicago Public School student this school year had been shot to death that morning. She said that it was wrong for her to take out her anger, frustrations and emotions on me, and that she apologized to me.

I told her that her explanation was reasonable and that I forgave her. I also suggested that if she really was concerned about public school students dying needlessly, she should look into helping me to get passed legislation to get lap and shoulder seat belts on school busses that is pending in the House and in the Senate.

She thanked me for forgiving her and said that she would look into those two pieces of legislation.

Personally, I think Davis' explanation is pretty thin. Her anger at the shooting may be justifiable, but one could hardly believe it would cause her to suddenly feel prejudice toward atheists. (If it had been a Jewish person testifying before her committee, would she have started shouting, "You Jews believe in destroying!"?) More likely, because she was upset, she let slip a prejudice that she already held. Still, if Sherman accepts it, that's good enough for me. And the best thing is, his forgiving her gives him the moral high ground - a very smart move.

Even if Davis doesn't resign, I think we've accomplished something significant by this whole affair: we've shown American politicians that you can't expect to insult atheists and get away with it without censure. Rest assured, tonight there are some officeholders out there thinking that we may have a bit more political muscle than they had previously realized. If that persuades them to take our concerns more seriously in the future, then this shameful episode may end up being a very good thing for us overall.

Interesting? Possibly. But the profusion of religious thought is not evidence for its usefulness; rather, it is a measure of its popularity. An alternative explanation for religion's existence:

Man looks up in sky at lightning, hears thunder, is frightened; we'll call him Ken. He notes that fire has started where lightning struck. He goes to the wise old man of the tribe -- who's actually a touch senile. Wise old man tells Ken that Joe the sky god is upset because this stupid tribe neglected to sacrifice to him yet again. So this man has a great idea -- to appease Joe, he'll not only make a sacrifice, it'll be a double dose, and to boot, he'll use the fire -- let's call it "the Eternal Flame", for Ken has vowed to tend it wherever the tribe wanders. Now, where to find two virgins?

Five years later, Ken has become leader of the tribe, largely due to his ability to read weathersign as well as he does. He doesn't let on to the tribe; they seem to think he's in touch with Joe, and because of that, they give Ken power over them -- and on occasion their virgin daughters. Besides, if they don't believe Ken is nearer to Joe, then Ken can cast them out. He's done so several times already, once in the middle of winter.

Ken has grown comfortable in his old age, and had many children -- some have even survived to adulthood thanks to the animal sacrifices the tribe brings. But none can read the weather; so Ken picks the brightest tribe member, and begins to teach him. But his heart isn't in it, and the student picks up on the cynical, tired tone, and sees (perhaps better than Ken himself) that this is the perfect means for control.

********

Obviously speculative, it at least has the strength of relying on qualities we already see in people, rather than postulating god genes and such.

And my apologies, Adam, to such a long digression.

I'm pretty sure I know about the article you're talking about. If memory serves, it was in a famous magazine fairly recently. I do have an article about the scientific exploration of religion in my favorites links, but I don't think that's it.