This is the page for one of my major areas of political activism, Free Thought (aka anti-theism, or the campaign to free people from institutionalized religion). Because of this belief, I have had moronic Christians call me “satanic”, Muslims call me “a Christian crusader”, Jews call me “anti-Semitic”, and Wiccans call me “a tool of corporations”. Needless to say, I think it’s working.

My main point is this. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS MAGIC. That’s all. Lemme say it again, THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS MAGIC.

Now, that doesn’t seem like an inflammatory statement, but it’s amazing how angry that will make people in the USA, Pakistan, and Saudi-Arabia. Let me walk the people from there through this…

Nobody has magic. There are no wizards. If someone says “good luck”, it doesn’t actually affect the odds of something bad happening to you, it’s just a way to show their support. Having two people say “good luck” won’t change any odds.

Having someone with a magic scarf (Catholic priest), magic robes (Buddhist monk) or magic hat (Moslem Imam) say “bless you and go with god” also has no real effect. None. Going to a church and lighting magic candles, then going home and lighting magic incense and saying magic words (prayers) and doing the magic gestures (genuflecting or kneeling in prayer like at a mosque) also HAS NO EFFECT on the world because… wait for it… THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS MAGIC.

Again, that doesn’t seem too difficult to figure out. But George Bush had a government department praying for things to happen. Americans pay tons of money to the Christian churches for blessings (weddings, funerals, mass, etc.). People in Saudi-Arabia are too scared to stand up to anyone with magic Moslem power. That’s just sad.

So join me, and just keep repeating to people “There is no magic” until they understand. If someone says “I’ll pray for you” the correct reply is “Wow, you have SUPER POWERS? Cool! Can you pray for me to get rich instead?”

Together we can make the world a better, saner, place where there are no right wing religious nutjobs blowing themselves up, murdering doctors, or hacking bits of the genitalia of children. Let’s hope!

P.S> I have no issue with people who use the word “god” to mean “I don’t know”. If you look up at the sky and are awestruck by the enormity of it all and start talking about god’s glory. That’s fine. If, for you, praying is a way of hoping out loud, go for it. But the instant you start telling me the schools should teach that the world is 6,000 years old, and that the root of all morality is a band of bronze age Jewish cannibals, well, you’re a nutjob.