Keep Atheism and Fellow Travelers Out of Schools in Mississippi
The Mississippi legislature passed a bill and its Governor signed it to put anyone in jail who provides books in schools by atheist Sam Harris, paganists or other like minded authors. The sentence would be up to 30 days and a fine of up too $500. I suppose schools in Mississippi have computers so here is a note to teachers, don't let kids look at this blog. It's not good enough to sacrifice 30 days of anyone's life.
In the anti-atheist industry things are going well. In Mississippi, it was reported church bells rang to celebrate. The Governor said citizens of Mississippi have suffered long enough with unGodly information coming to their children. The infamous Rep. Greene demanded legislation removing information about witchcraft.
I've read something like this was the majority view of Pagan people back in the early days of Christianity. Pagans trying to stop Christianity was no more successful than will be efforts today to stop Paganism and atheism from growing today. When the right time comes along things change. No one can stop them.
It was surprising to me the Mississippi legislation actually mentioned Sam Harris. I know him. He has had best selling books on atheism and spoke in Fargo a few years ago. It was never my impression he was especially successful in converting Christians to atheism though it must have happened a few times. I suppose since atheism is growing a little and Christianity declining someone needs to be fingered as the villain. But why not Richard Dawkins, Ron Reagan or Bart Ehrman?
If there is one thing predictable about Christian propagandists it is they will make the wrong decisions. Giving Sam Harris this cache will boost the sales of his books. We learned when he was invited to Fargo we had to pay a stiff fee and had to deal with his booking agent. Other atheist speakers were easier to deal with.
Maybe I'll tell our children to tell our grandchildren, "Don't ever read Sam Harris' books." That will ensure they will quickly find and read them.
P.S.: MUCH TO MY EMBARASSMENT, IT SEEMS THE STORY OF THE SAM HARRIS LAW IS SATIRE. LOOKING AT THE ACTUAL LAWS IN MISSISSIPPI IS FUN, THERE ARE SOME REAL ONES THAT ARE AS BAD AS THIS ONE. :)
This is such a bizarre rant by Jon. There is only one link to his claims and the link is replete with confusing, conflicting and outright false information.
ReplyDeleteThe link references Mississippi bill A.C.A. 5-71-226 and governor Canard.
There is no evidence I found that Mississippi has such a bill.
The governor of Mississippi is not named Canard.
Based on that start, nothing in Jon's screed, rant, essay or other act of fiction is trustworthy. It's a ruse to fit a narrative that doesn't exist.
I could not find any evidence of any governor named Canard.
There is a bill with the number referenced by Jon from Arkansas but it has nothing to do with the subject matter.
It appears the whole thing is satire. But there is a fish in Iowa that bit hard on the lure and is now thinking of what to write about in the comments section.
He'll be walking this one back about as far as Forrest Gump walked across America.
Matt "He'll be walking this one back...."
DeleteMississippi has a peculiar governing system. The State Legislature is essentially a town council. Hundreds, maybe thousands, of bills are introduced that, for example one I saw in 2020, set the week for a reading contest in one specific elementary school. Nearly all are "killed in committee."
After your comment I looked for some record of the bill discussed in the blog. I could not find any record of it. That doesn't mean it does not exist, I only have the link as reference. It could be satire, could be an urban legend or could be some years old and is buried in the mounds of Mississippi legislation and ignored in practice. I may put a cautionary disclaimer in the blog.
Matt: PS I'm leaning toward you being correct it is satire. (walking back) :)
DeleteOnce you swallow hard and apologize to everyone for posting crapola, I may fall off my chair.
DeleteHearing you opine about a peculiar governing system in Mississippi, about the bill may actually exist, that you somehow blame the sole link you have in your story (fairy tale), that it could be satire, urban legend, years old truth, buried in mounds of Mississippi legislation, ignored in practice .... that you MAY put a cautionary disclaimer in this blog.
You really should go to work for Cuomo in New York. How does he roll?!? Admit nothing, take no responsibility and blame Trump?
And now you are leaning?! Atheists crack me up.
Governor Canard of Mississippi, the alleged Governor who signed the bill into law. Besides not existing, this non-person has a peculiar last name. That should have been a clue to the unsuspecting reader.
ReplyDeleteFrom the dictionary, we learn the definition of the word, canard.
canard: (1) an unfounded rumor or story.
what can I add. I checked the site referenced by Jon. it was obvious a satirical site the sole purpose of which was to mock evangelical Christians. what is really noteworthy was Jon's apparent failure to see it for what it was. does this episode have anything to say about other posts that show up on this blog? readers beware!
DeleteIt's especially embarrassing for me because I write Christian satire myself. And, I consider myself kind of good at it. I wrote a piece once (under an assumed name of course) that a nationally know author attacked as an example of how stupid fundamentalist religion is. I have visited with this guy personally a few times but I didn't reveal myself to him. Had a good chuckle however.
Delete