Atheist Climber Prominent People Project

Atheist Climber Blog is turning One year old on October 10! Yay! And I remember like yesterday thinking “Do I have anything to write about? Will anyone care? Will anyone read it?” I just wish I had taken more baby photos!

Well you have all spoken to me by visiting and commenting on my blog. My measure of success has been reflected in the blog stats with over 60,000 page hits, over 100 subscribers, and more than 1500 comments for the 100+ articles and videos I have posted. This far surpasses my expectations and for that I thank you all.

To celebrate, I am in the process of interviewing a selection of prominent figures in humanism, atheism, science and critical thinking. Most of these will be in the form of written interviews, but who knows? I might, down the track, do some video or audio interviews too. This will be dependent on how these interviews are received by my readers.

I don’t want to say too much at this stage, but suffice to say, I already have confirmation from a few very prominent and important people who I’m sure you’d recognise. More information to come. So stay tuned!

The first interview will be published on Atheist Climber Blog’s first birthday, October 10, 2010. So come celebrate with me, and feed your brain with the words of some great thinkers.

Thanks again,
Atheist Climber

“Dear God” – XTC, 1986

This is an oldie but a goodie. I heard this song on the radio (3RRR) this morning and it reminded me how good it is, and it is certainly pertinent at this juncture. You an read about the song here. From the Wikipedia page about the song:

“The song riled believers because of its anti-God sentiment which might be interpreted as either dystheism or atheism. In the UK, when the song was originally released as a single many record shops refused to stock the track, fearing a religious backlash.”

“Dear god, hope you get the letter and…

I pray you can make it better down here

I don’t mean a big reduction in the price of beer

But all the people that you made in your image

See them starving in the street

‘Cause they don’t get enough to eat from god

I can’t believe in you

Dear god, sorry to disturb you but…

I feel that I should be heard loud and clear

We all need a big reduction in amount of tears

And all the people that you made in your image

See them fighting in the street

‘Cause they can’t make opinions meet about god

I can’t believe in you

Did you make disease and the diamond blue?

Did you make mankind after we made you?

And the devil too!

Dear god don’t know if you noticed but…

Your name is on a lot of quotes in this book

And us crazy humans wrote it, you should take a look

And all the people that you made in your image

still believing that junk is true

Well I know it ain’t, and so do you

Dear god

I can’t believe in

I don’t believe

I won’t believe in heaven or hell

No saints, no sinners, no devil as well

No pearly gates, no thorny crown

You’re always letting us humans down

The wars you bring, the babes you drown

Those lost at sea and never found

And it’s the same the whole world ’round

The hurt I see helps to compound

That father, son and holy ghost

Is just somebody’s unholy hoax

And if you’re up there you’ll perceive

That my heart’s here upon my sleeve

If there’s one thing I don’t believe in

It’s you

Dear god”

First Aid Kit – Hard Believer

While this track is over a year old, I heard it on the radio this morning, and thought I’d share it. It’s simple, intelligent and fits nicely into my worldview. In particular, the second verse is particularly poignant.

“Well I see you’ve got your bible
Your delusion imagery
Well I don’t need your eternity
Or your meaning to feel free
I just live because I love to
And that’s enough you see
So don’t come preach about morality
That’s just human sense to me”