Oklahoma GOP is insane

The Oklahoma Republicans have come up with (PDF warning!) their platform.

My favorite bit is from the Education section(emphasis mine):
Quote:4. While the objective study of philosophy and religion can be beneficial, public schools should not be endorsing any specific religion or philosophy. We believe that students and teachers should enjoy the right of free exercise of religion.

5. We support posting the Ten Commandments and our Nation's motto, “In God We Trust,” in all public schools in recognition of our religious heritage.

Considering #5, I doubt #4 a bit.

#7 makes me wince of course:
Quote:7. We believe that the scientific evidence supporting Biblical creation should be included in Oklahoma public schools curricula, and if any evolution theory is taught, that both should receive equal funding, class time, and material. Teachers should have the freedom to cover creation science without fear of intimidation, reprimand, or lack of professional respect.

Keep in mind that these people are running the second-largest city in Oklahoma and the 45th-largest in the US (according to Wikipedia). That is why yes, creationism is a problem.

There are quite a few "hilarious if they wern't in charge of a major metropolitan area" bits in the Curriculum section.

Quote:5. We oppose any curriculum that promotes one-world government, communism, socialism, global citizenship, and any curriculum originating with UNESCO. We affirm that our citizens, of any race, creed, or culture, are fully American. We support teaching our commonalities as U.S. citizens. We support teaching the intent of our founding fathers, the original founding documents, and the difference between a democracy and a republic.

The best argument against belief EVER!

"So why don't you believe?"

"The world is so awesome. How can you believe it all came from nothing?"

"You're an atheist so you can sin all you want."

(insert some version of Pascal's Wager here-usually a really simplified and stupid version)

Pretty much any openly atheist person living in the Bible Belt has had a conversation turn in one of these directions. I won't go into the ones that go into apologetics, because they're just silly.

So why is it I don't believe?

Because I don't want to.

Try it the next time such a conversation starts. It is truly enlightening how it shuts things down. After all-there's nowhere to go after that.

I have no need to disprove anyone's faith. Without any evidence for it, I can choose whatever I want to believe.