I’ve done two things to make life easier for all of you who live inside Facebook. First, you can now use your Facebook account to login and comment and even share your comment on your profile. Second, you can now read and comment on our posts from within Facebook with our new Facebook app. So now you won’t have to leave Facebook. Ever.

As promised, here’s a bunch of blasphemous nonbelievers. Blasphemy Day’s still two weeks away, but as Benj said, let every day be Blasphemy Day. Freethinkers, blaspheme away!

Download FF Blasphemy Game

Subscribe to the Filipino Freethinkers Fodcast

Yesterday, we celebrated the National Day of Reason (as declared by Geri) by having a meetup, and the second most fun thing we did was do a podcast on Blasphemy Day. The first? We played a Blasphemy Game, which I’ll upload soon. Till then, hope you enjoy this one!

Download FF Podcast Episode 2: Blasphemy Day

I like the taste of faith. As a matter of fact, I use it whenever I watch fantasy.

But when it comes to reality, I like this even better:

Reason™. Makes reality fun, productive and meaningful.

Faith in my fantasy, reason in my reality. Makes sense to me.

Reason™. What you use in reality even when there’s faith around.™

• Added Recent Forum Topics to FilipinoFreethinkers.org sidebar #

Two hands working can do more than a thousand clasped in prayer.

~Anonymous

You might not know it, but for several years now President Arroyo’s government has been abusing the duly constitutional clause of Separation of Church and State, not only by having a recent special non-working holiday, a National Day of Mourning for the late Eraño Manalo of Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC), and the upcoming special non-working holiday for the end of the Ramadan period for the Muslims, but also by mandating an official, state-sponsored National Day of Prayer for our country. Continue Reading

Date: Sunday, September 13, 2009
Time: 1:00pm – 4:00pm
Location: Starbucks (near cinemas) at Shangrila Mall
Meetup Agenda:

1. FF Forum 3/Film Festival
2. Blasphemy Day activities
3. Informal club organization
4. Relevant issues and current events
5. New member introductions
6. Separation of Church and State in the Philippines

Facebook event

I could begin with a lot of caveats, disclaimers, and excuses. But instead, I’ll make an appeal to all you skeptics: For a few minutes, please turn off your bullshit detectors, turn on your faith generators, and enjoy the first episode of the Filipino Freethinkers Fodcast

FF Podcast 1: Noynoy’s Candidacy

• Integrated Twitter with Filipino Freethinkers website. This should be fun! #
• Have you seen the Penn&Teller season finale on the Vatican yet? http://bit.ly/Emnog #
• Preparing for the next big event on October 18, 2009 #

The development director of the American Humanist Association got in touch with me the other day, and guess what? She’s Filipino.

Maggie Ardiente is interested in writing an article for The Humanist about humanism in the Philippines. I already told her a bit about our story, and pointed her in the direction of other non-theist groups and individuals for her interviews.

I’m sad that there’s more to write about our country’s lack of humanism than its presence, but happy that at least now there is something to write about, and people who are willing to come out and talk about it. And of course, the technology to make all the talking happen.

Continue Reading

It’s been a while since the first few FF meet-ups way back in February, and until a couple of weeks ago I haven’t been showing up around the God-forsaking crowd. From the beginning I wasn’t sure this was the sort of group for me anyway; I didn’t care for debating religious nuts, I wasn’t discriminated against for my beliefs or lack thereof, and I harbored no anti-religion sentiments whatsoever. I was perfectly alright with where I was, as I am now, amidst believers and non-believers alike, without having to constantly argue a point or post a quote ridiculing the ridiculous, so while FF was getting on its feet, I stuck around to see what other godless people were like. And then after a few mailing list and forum threads, I decided that I’d seen enough.

I’m back for the time being, because there are new faces, this time of those not quite as aggressive against religion but merely seeking the company of like-minded heathens. It seems the first wave of members were those from other atheist communities, used to mental pushing and shoving, pointing and laughing. This second wave, or trickle, seems more like a collection of people sick of walking alone or tired, as Cat put it, of talking to a wall. I can stand to stick around this bunch for a while.

[ And it really helped that the last two meet-ups were at Red's place too, where Rock Band and Let's Tap beat Starbucks chatter, and Tin's delicious concoctions keep coming in waves. =) ]

I believe that when I die I shall rot, and nothing of my ego will survive. I am not young, and I love life. But I should scorn to shiver with terror at the thought of annihilation. Happiness is nonetheless true happiness because it must come to an end, nor do thought and love lose their value because they are not everlasting.
– Bertrand Russell

FF Rock Band, rocking till 4am. Thanks for celebrating with me, guys

Two major news hits our nation today. One political and the other religious. Which is which? You decide.

The all too passionate “sacrifice” of Mar Roxas to give way to Noynoy Aquino as the standard bearer for Liberal Party in the 2010 Mafia Wars a.k.a National Election. Despite his low estimates at presidentiability meter, he now resurrected himself as a faithful Good Samaritan to this country.

The death of Eraño Manalo – executive minister of bloc voting religion of Iglesia Ni Cristo. Crowds gathered in front of INC central area, and as usual politicians, want-to-be politicians, and want-to-stay as politicians convene “to extend their goodwill and symphaty”. Regardless if their current religion directly contradicts INC’s doctrines, kiss-ass ethics for organize superstition prevails.

Filipino Freethinkers. Freedom Forever.

For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

– John 3:16.

I remember hearing it in the 3 p.m. prayers. It is used so often that it is fair to say that this is the closest thing Christianity has to an opening spiel.

The verse shows pride in a God – or at least the Son did – who abandoned all the trappings of omnipotence and lived as a human being.

Continue Reading