Nicole Smalkowski, proud atheist [Pharyngula]

PZ Myers is a biologist and associate professor at the University of Minnesota, Morris . via ScienceBlogs

[btseier]

I know you aren't publishing all the comments on the atheist thing on 20/20 because I and others have sent in comments and they do not appear. You might want to read the ones sent into 20/20. I'm not a Christian by their standards, because to me God is Love, and there's no love being shown here. My daughter is LDS, her next door neighbor is Jehovas Witness and another neighbor is atheist. They never even think about it, and their children all go to school together. Of course this is in Ft. Collins, Co. and obviously we're more tolerant and educated here. Shame, shame on your town.

[bbdp19]

I have to disagree with btseir from Colorado. People in Oklahoma are tolerant and are just as educated as people in Colorado and if GOD is love to her she was not showing any love when she posted her comment. I am a PROUD OKLAHOMA CHRISTIAN and to me GOD is also LOVE, TOLERANT, PATIENT AND KIND. It is not my place nor is it any other Christians place to place judgement on this family or anyone else. I think this family and this young lady have blown things way out of proportion and have had their feelings hurt. Oklahoma is part of the Bible Belt in America. You can go to any small community in Oklahoma and find that they are all Faith based relgious communities. This community more than likely never would have thought anything about this family being Atheist if they hadn't continued to complain. Kids are cruel and sometimes so are their parents it is human nature to defend your beliefs instead of trying to understand someone elses.

[msginca]

Those horrible atheists will burn in hell for causing all this trouble!

[bell700]

Funny how bbdp19 and msginca think alike - huh these are the so called good Christians - No wonder the poor kid is an Atheist, especially since she was born one. Unfortunately so was bbdp19 and msginca except they were brainwashed.

[alex]

msginca wrote:

Those horrible atheists will burn in hell for causing all this trouble!

I don't know any ATHEIST who slautered hundreds of thousands, but I know thousands relegius assholes who did. I think You know some yourself, if you attended in any school. Besides the less educated region has more relegius people, and this is a statistic fact. What do you think, why the holly catholik church searching for new members in Africa, and South Amerika. If there is hell I rather be there than in heven with this ignorant narrow minded people like yourself.

[Don Small]

good god alex, thank you so much for saying exactly what i was going to say, lol.

but ya, what that town (and the lawyer in guymon and also the oklahoma aclu) did to that poor family was just plain wrong wether you are religous or not. this is a free country and we should be free to do whatever we wish as long as we do not hurt others in doing so.

[msginca]

bell700 wrote:

Funny how bbdp19 and msginca think alike - huh these are the so called good Christians - No wonder the poor kid is an Atheist, especially since she was born one. Unfortunately so was bbdp19 and msginca except they were brainwashed.

As it happens, I'm an Atheist. I just couldn't help myself after I read bbdp19s comment. Leave to any christian to avoid resposibility and denie reality regarding their own psychotic actions.

[JCR]

The saddest thing here is that this person is obviously uneducated because they don't how to spell. I'm a Christian with a Master's degree in Education. Whether I am an atheist or a Christian is not the issue. At least I'm not ignorant.

alex wrote:

<quoted text>
I don't know any ATHEIST who slautered hundreds of thousands, but I know thousands relegius assholes who did. I think You know some yourself, if you attended in any school. Besides the less educated region has more relegius people, and this is a statistic fact. What do you think, why the holly catholik church searching for new members in Africa, and South Amerika. If there is hell I rather be there than in heven with this ignorant narrow minded people like yourself.

[Mike - Barcelona - Spain]

JCR wrote:

The saddest thing here is that this person is obviously uneducated because they don't how to spell. I'm a Christian with a Master's degree in Education. Whether I am an atheist or a Christian is not the issue. At least I'm not ignorant.<quoted text>

Or maybe he is just from other country. The world is not just the U.S.A. There are many countries and as many languages. Keep that in mind Christian with a Master's degree

[Mike - Barcelona - Spain]

Or maybe he is just from other country. The world is not just the U.S.A. There are many countries and as many languages. If someone doesn't speak english doesn't mean he's "igorant". Keep that in mind American Christian with a Master's degree in Education..Pathetic!

[Ocean56]

bbdp19 wrote:

I have to disagree with btseir from Colorado. People in Oklahoma are tolerant and are just as educated as people in Colorado and if GOD is love to her she was not showing any love when she posted her comment. I am a PROUD OKLAHOMA CHRISTIAN and to me GOD is also LOVE, TOLERANT, PATIENT AND KIND. It is not my place nor is it any other Christians place to place judgement on this family or anyone else. I think this family and this young lady have blown things way out of proportion and have had their feelings hurt. Oklahoma is part of the Bible Belt in America. You can go to any small community in Oklahoma and find that they are all Faith based relgious communities. This community more than likely never would have thought anything about this family being Atheist if they hadn't continued to complain. Kids are cruel and sometimes so are their parents it is human nature to defend your beliefs instead of trying to understand someone elses.

So you are blaming the FAMILY? Good grief, what a small-minded attitude. This family "complained" because their daughter was kicked OFF the school basketball team because she exercised the right NOT to participate in the "team prayer." Then her father was put on trial for "assault" simply because the family wouldn't leave the state. Thankfully, he was acquitted.

Sounds to me that you're rather ticked because they are atheist and didn't leave your militant religionist state. Well, that's really too bad. An atheist family has just as much right to live in any town they please, just as a "christian" family does. But thanks for giving the heads up (warning) on how "welcome" atheists will be. Now I'll know to stay away from both your town AND your state.

S.I.N.= Self Inflicted NONSENSE

[simba]

not one of you people know the truth about this story, and 20/20 would not show whatn really happened. the trurth is this man is using his daughter and the media to make money. the only reason he wasn't convicted was the man he severly stomped was afraid to show up to testify and moved out of the country.this child was not punished for being an athiest but for being a thief, the rest of the story was invented in her fathers vengeful mind.

[Cube]

not one of you people know the truth about this story, and 20/20 would not show whatn really happened. the trurth is this man is using his daughter and the media to make money. the only reason he wasn't convicted was the man he severly stomped was afraid to show up to testify and moved out of the country.this child was not punished for being an athiest but for being a thief, the rest of the story was invented in her fathers vengeful mind.

Oh really? so it's all a conspiracy made by the Athiest girl right? So 20/20 made up the fact that she was kicked off the team when she refused to be part of the prayer? is that what happened? why did everyone else refuse to tell their side of the story then? by Gosh, i didnt know you had the inside scoop. how do you know this information? and why didnt you call the news stations to report what "really" happened Gumshoe?

[simba]

why dont you come up here and talk to her mentle case of a father to see what happened.or are you a dumdass that beleives the worst in everything that happens.there are a lot of kids that dont pray and still play sports but when you are caught stealing you are kicked out.

[simba]

a lot of people talked but that was not the story 20/20 wanted

[Brandi]

I might talk to him when you learn how to spell mental and comprehend what you mean by dumdass.
I believe in God but I know a few Athiest who are good people that don't believe in the same things that I do. They don't "believe the worst in everything"
Perhaps you should stop stereotyping and actually get to know people before passing your judgements, Simba.

[Ocean56]

simba wrote:

not one of you people know the truth about this story, and 20/20 would not show whatn really happened. the trurth is this man is using his daughter and the media to make money. the only reason he wasn't convicted was the man he severly stomped was afraid to show up to testify and moved out of the country.this child was not punished for being an athiest but for being a thief, the rest of the story was invented in her fathers vengeful mind.

Looks to me like you're just pissed that Miss Smalkowski's father didn't get convicted.

Oh, and what did this girl supposedly "steal?" If you're going to call someone a thief, provide some real PROOF of this. Otherwise, you're just making false accusations. I thought that was against commandment #9, "thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor." Isn't that a huge no-no in your religion?

[Ocean56]

simba wrote:

why dont you come up here and talk to her mentle case of a father to see what happened.or are you a dumdass that beleives the worst in everything that happens.there are a lot of kids that dont pray and still play sports but when you are caught stealing you are kicked out.

That is the second time you made this accusation. What PROOF do you have that Miss Smalkowski stole anything, and if you do, WHAT is the item?

[Ocean56]

Brandi wrote:

I might talk to him when you learn how to spell mental and comprehend what you mean by dumdass.
I believe in God but I know a few Athiest who are good people that don't believe in the same things that I do. They don't "believe the worst in everything"
Perhaps you should stop stereotyping and actually get to know people before passing your judgements, Simba.

Agreed. I'm still waiting for Simba to show what PROOF he/she has to back up the accusation of stealing made against Miss Smalkowski. So far, this poster has provided NONE.

[Ocean56]

simba wrote:

a lot of people talked but that was not the story 20/20 wanted

And you know this for a "fact"....HOW, exactly?