Legislative Prayer in Canada Interview with Teale a Dedicated Community Builder

by | Feb 15, 2022 | Blog

Legislative Prayer in Canada Interview with Teale a Dedicated Community Builder: VIEDO 

Cory Cory Johnston ☭ Ⓐ Atheist Leftist @Skepticallefty & @AthopeMarie I had a great talk with @TealePB Dr. Phelps Bondaroff on Legislative Prayer in Canada Interview with Teale a Dedicated Community Builder

To Damien and Cory, Lovely to chat with you both. I think as far as links go, folks can find most things here on the BCHA website:https://www.bchumanist.ca/ And if they are interested in my work in general, which is wide-ranging, they can find everything here: www.teale.ca Specific information about our work on legislative prayer can be found here: https://www.bchumanist.ca/secularism

And I somehow forgot to mention that we are running a letter-writing campaign about legislative prayer here in BC, which might be a little outside the area of your listeners but there’s a link there as well. I’m going to have to go watch your videos on the dignity attacks, that’s new to me (I’ve dabbled in street epistemology but this seems totally different).

A pleasure and hope we can chat some other time as well.

Cheers, Teale

Dr. Phelps Bondaroff conducts a wide range of research both as an independent academic scholar, through his strategy and research consultancy, The Idea Tree, as well as in his roles as Director of Research for OceansAsia, and Research Coordinator for the BC Humanist Association.

As a consultant, Dr. Phelps Bondaroff has examined such topics as:

  • Marine debris, derelict fishing gear, and oceanic plastics.
  • Human trafficking, slavery and labour violations in the fishing industry.
  • Shark finning and shark conservation strategies.
  • Sea grass and carbon sequestration.
  • Greenland halibut. whale, and krill conservation.
  • The impact of protected bike infrastructure and local businesses.
  • Urban noise pollution.

An expert in illegal fishing, Dr. Phelps Bondaroff’s work has played a central role in efforts to re-framing illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing as a form of organized crime, an important step to encourage states to invest adequate resources in combating this crime.

You can learn more about his current research projects on the Campaigns and Projects page.

The principle focus of Dr. Phelps Bondaroff’s academic research is the strategic use of international law by non-state actors. This focus has led him to study the strategies of organizations such as the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, Women on Waves, the Seasteading movement, the Gay and Lesbian Kingdom of the Coral Sea, and similar groups.

He also studies:

  • Illegal fishing, slavery at sea, and the international politics of marine conservation.
  • Canadian and BC politics.
  • Arctic and Antarctic politics and conservation issues.
  • Separation of religion and government in Canada and BC.

Publications

Peer Reviewed Publications

Non-Peer Reviewed Publications

Book Reviews

About Teale

Lives in Cloverdale, Saanich near Rutledge Park with his partner Stephanie.

A community organizer for over 15 years, and is active in Saanich municipal politics.

A volunteer member of the board of the Greater Victoria Placemaking Network.

Has helped set up dozens of little free libraries across the region.

Volunteers as a debate coach, coaching speech and debate across Vancouver Island.

Has a PhD in politics and international studies from the University of Cambridge, and two BAs from the University of Calgary (political science and international relations).

Runs his own research consultancy, The Idea Tree, where he conducts issue research for environmental organizations.

An expert in illegal fishing and the strategic use of international law by non-state actors.

A dedicated environmentalist, he co-founded OceansAsia, a marine conservation organization dedicated to combating illegal fishing and wildlife crime.

Passionate about equality, he co-founded and chairs the AccessBC Campaign for free prescription contraception in BC.

Teale is a dedicated community builder

Teale learned early on that welcoming and engaging public places invite neighbours to meet, mix and ultimately form community.

The process by which people work together to create quality public spaces is known as placemaking, and Teale is dedicated to using this practice to nurture community in Saanich. Combining his passion for books and placemaking, Teale has been actively involved in promoting the spread of little free libraries across the CRD. Along with his partner Stephanie, Teale started off by mapping out over one hundred of these little public book boxes, which operate on the principle of ‘take a book, leave a book.’ For these efforts, they were awarded a Victoria Community Leadership Award.

“I grew up on a street in downtown Calgary where all the neighbours knew each other. It was more than a street, it was a community. On any given summer evening you’d find neighbours gathered on one porch or another, chatting and enjoying a glass of wine. This evening tradition needed friendly neighbours (and wine) to develop, but it was also helped along by readily available front porches. This taught me a valuable lesson; that the spaces in which people live influence how community develops. Creating the spaces and programs that will allow community and well being to flourish is an important role for municipal government.” – Teale

Teale is a board member for the Greater Victoria Placemaking Network, and leads their Pocket Places Project, which is principally dedicated to mapping, supporting, and propagating little free libraries. Over the past year, he has helped set up dozens of little free libraries around the region. You will often see him cycling about town dropping off books to little libraries – to date he has personally delivered over 20,000! Teale also volunteers with the Victoria Tool Library, and supports his strata’s community garden.

Teale is a passionate teacher and debate coach

Speech and debate have played a central role in Teale’s life. He began debate in grade 8, barely able to get through 30 seconds of a speech, but worked his way towards competing in national and international tournaments at the high school and university levels. Teale now works to pass this experience on to others, particularly young people, through speech and debate coaching.

“Debate opened my eyes to the world around me. I would watch the news so my arguments would be better informed, and in the process I was exposed to new ideas and issues. The critical thinking skills that are fostered through debate help me approach policy decisions with care. I’m able to appreciate and weigh a wide range of different perspectives. Debate was also my first experience with teaching. As the president of my high school and university teams I was in charge of training my peers. It’s amazing to watch the transformation of a shy student into one who can successfully express opinions, gaining confidence along the way. Debate has the power to change lives and open minds.” – Teale

Teale has worked with individuals one-on-one and with teams at schools across the capital region, including Bayside Middle School, Glenlyon Norfolk School, Brentwood College School, Stelly’s Secondary School, Selkirk Montessori. He currently volunteers with the Alberni District Secondary School debate team, which he helped form and coaches weekly by Skype. Teale also provides advice and support to schools across Vancouver Island to help increase the number of active debate teams in the region. He has played a lead role in reviving the BC Provincial Mock Trial competition held in Victoria.

Teale is a skilled researcher and policy-maker

Teale has BAs in political science and international relations from the University of Calgary, and a PhD in politics and international studies from the University of Cambridge. Teale was the recipient of a Chancellor’s Scholarship for his undergraduate studies and was awarded a Commonwealth Scholarship for his PhD. His training as a researcher taught him how to absorb and synthesize large amounts of information quickly and to take in – and appreciate – a wide range of views. It has also taught him the value and use of quantitative metrics to evaluate the success of policies.

“I have studied international relations for many years, and I am increasingly convinced that the solution to so many global problems can be found at the local level. We should not wait for cumbersome international negotiations to conclude before setting ourselves to the task of improving our communities and the ecosystems where they are found. The city is the future of change, where tangible and transformative change occurs.” – Teale

Teale has worked as a freelance researcher on issues ranging from forestry, fisheries, secular issues, Arctic politics, marine conservation, and organized crime. He is a world expert on illegal fishing, and has presented his research at several UN conferences and meetings.

He currently works as the Director of Research for OceansAsia, a marine conservation organization he helped found, and as the Research Coordinator for the BC Humanist Association.

Teale has written policy for issues at the provincial and federal levels, and is currently a lead organizer on the BC-wide campaign for free prescription contraception. To learn more about his various projects please visit the Campaigns and Projects and Media pages.

Teale is a proud and active New Democrat

Teale has been an active member of the New Democratic Party since he joined in 2006. Since this time he has served in a wide variety of roles in both Alberta and BC.

He was the candidate for the NDP in Calgary West in the 2006 and 2008 Canadian federal elections, and ran for the Alberta NDP in Calgary Bow in 2008.

Applying his training as a political scientist, Teale has drafted policy for provincial and federal conventions, including policies on access to contraception, post-secondary tuition, and protecting the environment.

“I am drawn to the values of the NDP – principles like equality, fairness, and justice. New Democrats believe that we can build a society which allows everyone to reach their full potential. I want to live in a society where progress is measured by how much we care for and support each other and our environment. Where people and their well-being are put before narrow private interests.” – Teale

Teale has volunteered and worked on a number of campaigns in roles ranging from canvasser, speech and debate coach, and organizer. Teale currently servers as the President of the Saanich-Gulf Islands Federal NDP Riding Association, a position he has held since 2016. Teale is also proud to support electoral reform and has worked on referendum campaigns in BC and in the UK.

Teale is Bilingual

Fluent in, and an avid supporter of French. He has worked to promote French and bilingual debate in the province, hosting a bilingual provincial tournament when he was the head debate coach at Glenlyon Norfolk School. He has also been a volunteer and regular guest on CILS 107.9 FM, Victoria’s Francophone community radio station.

A Budding Mycologist

Teale has an Instagram account dedicated entirely to photos of mushrooms! He loves hiking around Vancouver Island, where his ever-patient hiking companions wait (for a little while at least) for him to snap shots of all sorts of fungi.

A Hockey Player

A strong supporter of sport, Teale has played hockey all of his life. He played hockey while at University and coached the Cambridge University Women’s Ice Hockey Club.

He was a volunteer games maker at the 2012 London Olympics and more recently volunteered at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts, BC Women’s Curling Championship in Victoria.

THE DUTY OF NEUTRALITY BEYOND SAGUENAY: UNCONSTITUTIONAL PRAYERS AT MUNICIPAL COUNCILS IN BRITISH COLUMBIA

A little known fact is that in 23 municipalities across the province, city councillors are unconstitutionally beginning their inaugural sessions of council with a prayer in direct violation of a ruling from the Supreme Court of Canada.

To date, there has been no research to investigate the prayers given by elected officials in BC municipalities. In this report, a background into the Saguenay decision is given to provide background into the state duty of religious neutrality and the democratic imperative that is the separation of church and state. It examines prayers given by municipal councillors and invited guests at council meetings in order to monitor compliance with Saguenay. In pursuing a better understanding of prayers at the municipal level, this report shows that this practice is unconstitutional and does not reflect the diversity of British Columbia, and should thus be abolished.

THE SAGUENAY DECISION:

In 2006, a resident of Saguenay, Quebec named Alain Simoneau raised a complaint to the mayor of Saguenay over his overtly religious beginnings of his regular sessions of council. On a regular basis, Mayor Jean Tremblay would say a prayer, cross himself, and then begin the council meeting. In addition, the council chamber was also decorated with a sacred heart washed in red light and a crucifix on the wall. As an atheist, Mr. Simoneau found such an act to be “uncomfortable,” and violating the separation of church and state. As such, he filed a case with the Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse (The Human and Youth Rights Commission) which found its way to the Supreme Court of Canada.

In a unanimous ruling, the Supreme Court found that the state has a “duty of religious neutrality” that was being violated by beginning a session of council with a prayer. Writing for the majority, Justice Gascon also called this duty of religious neutrality “a democratic imperative” as city councils need to be “neutral public space that is free of discrimination and in which true freedom to believe or not to believe is enjoyed by everyone equally.”

Since Saguenay, many municipalities have rightfully opted to end prayers in their council meetings altogether. In British Columbia, 23 have chosen to continue.

METHOD:

In order to determine which municipalities were unconstitutionally beginning council meetings with a prayer, BCHA researchers sent emails to every municipality in BC to ask if prayers were part of their routine business. but were met with a low response rate. As such, researchers visited the municipal website, and located the agenda, minutes, and where possible an audio/video recording of the most recent inaugural (post Saguenay) meeting. Municipalities found to have included prayer(s) in their inaugural meeting were recorded in a table, along with additional information about the person who delivered the prayer. In order to verify whether or not regular meetings of councils included prayer(s), researchers selected three to five recent meetings from the council (post-April 2015) and inspected the agendas, minutes, and where possible, any audio/video recordings of these meetings for prayer(s). If researchers were unable to find agendas, minutes, or recordings of inaugural or regular council meetings, they were instructed to contact the municipality directly by email and/or phone. Where instances of prayer were identified, researchers recorded the name, affiliation, and gender of the person delivering the prayer. In order to capture the specific content of the prayers, researchers copied verbatim written minutes or transcribed audio/video recordings of the prayers when these were available.

KEY FINDINGS

We found that the following municipalities are continuing to begin their inaugural council meetings with a prayer, despite the unanimous ruling to the contrary in Saguenay from the Supreme Court of Canada.

100 Mile House

Armstrong

Chilliwack

Clearwater

Creston

Dawson Creek

Lake Cowichan

The City of Langley

The Township of Langley

Nanaimo

Nelson

City of North Vancouver

Parksville

Peachland

Port Coquitlam

Qualicum Beach

Saanich

Spallumcheen

Terrace

Trail

Victoria

White Rock

Williams Lake

  • Prayers done at municipal councils are 100% Christian. In contrast, 44.6% of British Columbians identify as Christian
  • 73.9% of all prayers were done by men, while only 49% of British Columbians identify as male
  • Every municipalities but one had only one prayer in their inaugural session
  • The District of Saanich featured two prayers: a ‘multi faith blessing’ and a ‘blessing,’ both of which were delivered by members of the clergy of Christian sects

RESPONSES FROM MUNICIPALITIES

As the Supreme Court ruling in question was handed down in 2015, BC municipalities have had years to change their procedures. Despite this, letters were sent to every municipality who was in violation of Saguenay in order to give them an opportunity to amend their bylaws to remove ignorance as a possible defence. The City and Township of Langley, Spallumcheen and Trail have since amended their policies to remove prayer from their future council meetings. Seven municipalities did not respond.

READ THE REPORT

This work is not possible without generous donations from BCHA supporters. If you would like to see more research in 2021, feel free to click the link below to help with our end of year fundraising.

DONATE

Damien Marie AtHope’s Art

Damien Marie AtHope’s Art

Damien Marie AtHope’s Art

Damien Marie AtHope’s Art

Damien Marie AtHope’s Art

Damien Marie AtHope’s Art

Damien Marie AtHope’s Art

Damien Marie AtHope’s Art

Damien Marie AtHope’s Art

Damien Marie AtHope’s Art

Damien Marie AtHope’s Art

Damien Marie AtHope’s Art

Damien Marie AtHope’s Art

Damien Marie AtHope’s Art

Damien Marie AtHope’s Art

Damien Marie AtHope’s Art

Damien Marie AtHope’s Art

Damien Marie AtHope’s Art

Damien Marie AtHope’s Art

Damien Marie AtHope’s Art

Damien Marie AtHope’s Art

Damien Marie AtHope’s Art

Damien Marie AtHope’s Art

Damien Marie AtHope’s Art

Damien Marie AtHope’s Art

Damien Marie AtHope’s Art

Damien Marie AtHope’s Art

Damien Marie AtHope’s Art

Damien Marie AtHope’s Art

Damien Marie AtHope’s Art

Damien Marie AtHope’s Art

Damien Marie AtHope’s Art

My stuff is totally different than street epistemology. My style is Truth Navigation I have blogs on. Here is one: https://damienmarieathope.com/2017/12/truth-navigation-techniques-for-discussions-or-debates/?v=32aec8db952d

Here is my three videos on using my style in this one blog post:

My Caring Firebrand Atheist Activism Training, as Easy as 1 2 3: https://damienmarieathope.com/?s=training&v=32aec8db952d

Atheist Activism Training #1: Know You, Know Your Motivations and Understand Others: Blog

Atheist Activism Training #2: Ontology, Epistemology, and Axiology: Blog

Atheist Activism Training #3: Navigate the Discussion, Control the Questions, and Turn the Argument: Blog

As a prehistorian thinker, I see culture as producing religion but one clear thing is different people want to often hold their culture exclusively and most with religion want to push it on everyone if possible.

Damien Marie AtHope’s Art

Damien Marie AtHope’s Art

Damien Marie AtHope’s Art

Damien Marie AtHope’s Art

Damien Marie AtHope’s Art

Damien Marie AtHope’s Art

So, what it seems like you mean, is all the research we have validates my thinking, in all ways, but you hold out for a different scenario, on no evidence.

Intellectual honesty

“Harvard ethicist Louis M. Guenin describes the “kernel” of intellectual honesty to be “a virtuous disposition to eschew deception when given an incentive for deception”. And, intentionally committed fallacies in debates and reasoning are called intellectual dishonesty.” ref 

“Intellectual honesty is an applied method of problem solving, characterized by an unbiased, honest attitude, which can be demonstrated in a number of different ways:

  • One’s personal beliefs or politics do not interfere with the pursuit of truth;
  • Relevant facts and information are not purposefully omitted even when such things may contradict one’s hypothesis;
  • Facts are presented in an unbiased manner, and not twisted to give misleading impressions or to support one view over another;
  • References, or earlier work, are acknowledged where possible, and plagiarism is avoided.” ref

I don’t have time to waste on talking to people that continue logical fallacies. I just blocked a person that kept using logical fallacies after I asked for evidence several times. I am too busy to deal with nonsense. I teach if others act the fool they get the door. 

Who should win, EGO or the truth that YOUR ego is too often the one, you reflectively protect, don’t you? – Dignity attack, I could do, but will not, as I am done with that person.

I want to help everyone get this, so people are less powerful against us when we see and understand what they are doing, and how to effectively respond with words of power.

I wish to be more than the weakness of anger and instead with open arms of love welcome and support kindness as a way of life, not just a thing I do if convent. To me, it is almost never deserved rather it’s a gift. How beautiful is a kindness not earned? Words are world builders and dramatic destructors. They can build mental castles to protect or dungeons to torment.

P.S. Relistening to my last video, I see I need to work on not calling people or groups “motherfuckers.” I just mean “people” in my ghetto/street language but others may take it as me putting them down.  I need to work on this.

Be the leader you would follow.

What is the most lingering threat to humanity? 

It is indifference to the oppression and suffering of others!

It can seem as though some see the best way to inspire socialism is to inspire your anger but unlike me seem to not also strive to win others over with love. I am more inspired by love and so I strive not to forget to champion this worthy cause too. Just because one can do a Dignity Attack does not mean they should.

If it has to happen to YOU, for you to care, please think, what kind of person is like that?

Who should win? The truth or one of our EGOs?

I thought I would die long ago as the result of violence, for most of my life. So, I just live my life, as if every moment matters. We have now.

Religion I am told is about morality… So I gather it’s a cautionary tale of how blind obedience can turn dangerous and unhealthy for free humanity flourishing and self-mastery.

Damien Marie AtHope’s Art

Damien Marie AtHope’s Art

While hallucinogens are associated with shamanism, it is alcohol that is associated with paganism.

The Atheist-Humanist-Leftist Revolutionaries Shows in the prehistory series:

Show one: Prehistory: related to “Anarchism and Socialism” the division of labor, power, rights, and recourses.

Show two: Pre-animism 300,000 years old and animism 100,000 years old: related to “Anarchism and Socialism”

Show tree: Totemism 50,000 years old: related to “Anarchism and Socialism”

Show four: Shamanism 30,000 years old: related to “Anarchism and Socialism”

Show five: Paganism 12,000 years old: related to “Anarchism and Socialism”

Show six: Emergence of hierarchy, sexism, slavery, and the new male god dominance: Paganism 7,000-5,000 years old: related to “Anarchism and Socialism” (Capitalism) (World War 0) Elite and their slaves!

Show seven: Paganism 5,000 years old: progressed organized religion and the state: related to “Anarchism and Socialism” (Kings and the Rise of the State)

Show eight: Paganism 4,000 years old: Moralistic gods after the rise of Statism and often support Statism/Kings: related to “Anarchism and Socialism” (First Moralistic gods, then the Origin time of Monotheism)

Prehistory: related to “Anarchism and Socialism” the division of labor, power, rights, and recourses: VIDEO

Pre-animism 300,000 years old and animism 100,000 years old: related to “Anarchism and Socialism”: VIDEO

Totemism 50,000 years old: related to “Anarchism and Socialism”: VIDEO

Shamanism 30,000 years old: related to “Anarchism and Socialism”: VIDEO

Paganism 12,000 years old: related to “Anarchism and Socialism” (Pre-Capitalism): VIDEO

Paganism 7,000-5,000 years old: related to “Anarchism and Socialism” (Capitalism) (World War 0) Elite and their slaves: VIEDO

Paganism 5,000 years old: progressed organized religion and the state: related to “Anarchism and Socialism” (Kings and the Rise of the State): VIEDO

Paganism 4,000 years old: related to “Anarchism and Socialism” (First Moralistic gods, then the Origin time of Monotheism): VIEDO

I do not hate simply because I challenge and expose myths or lies any more than others being thought of as loving simply because of the protection and hiding from challenge their favored myths or lies.

The truth is best championed in the sunlight of challenge.

An archaeologist once said to me “Damien religion and culture are very different”

My response, So are you saying that was always that way, such as would you say Native Americans’ cultures are separate from their religions? And do you think it always was the way you believe?

I had said that religion was a cultural product. That is still how I see it and there are other archaeologists that think close to me as well. Gods too are the myths of cultures that did not understand science or the world around them, seeing magic/supernatural everywhere.

I personally think there is a goddess and not enough evidence to support a male god at Çatalhöyük but if there was both a male and female god and goddess then I know the kind of gods they were like Proto-Indo-European mythology.

This series idea was addressed in, Anarchist Teaching as Free Public Education or Free Education in the Public: VIDEO

Our 12 video series: Organized Oppression: Mesopotamian State Force and the Politics of power (9,000-4,000 years ago), is adapted from: The Complete and Concise History of the Sumerians and Early Bronze Age Mesopotamia (7000-2000 BC): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szFjxmY7jQA by “History with Cy“

Show #1: Mesopotamian State Force and the Politics of Power (Samarra, Halaf, Ubaid)

Show #2: Mesopotamian State Force and the Politics of Power (Eridu “Tell Abu Shahrain”)

Show #3: Mesopotamian State Force and the Politics of Power (Uruk and the First Cities)

Show #4: Mesopotamian State Force and the Politics of Power (First Kings)

Show #5: Mesopotamian State Force and the Politics of Power (Early Dynastic Period)

Show #6: Mesopotamian State Force and the Politics of Power (King/Ruler Lugalzagesi)

Show #7: Mesopotamian State Force and the Politics of Power (Sargon and Akkadian Rule)

Show #8: Mesopotamian State Force and the Politics of Power (Naram-Sin, Post-Akkadian Rule, and the Gutians)

Show #9: Mesopotamian State Force and the Politics of Power (Gudea of Lagash and Utu-hegal)

Show #10: Mesopotamian State Force and the Politics of Power (Third Dynasty of Ur / Neo-Sumerian Empire)

Show #11: Mesopotamian State Force and the Politics of Power (Amorites, Elamites, and the End of an Era)

Show #12: Mesopotamian State Force and the Politics of Power (Aftermath and Legacy of Sumer)

Damien Marie AtHope’s Art

The “Atheist-Humanist-Leftist Revolutionaries”

Cory Johnston ☭ Ⓐ Atheist Leftist @Skepticallefty & I (Damien Marie AtHope) @AthopeMarie (my YouTube & related blog) are working jointly in atheist, antitheist, antireligionist, antifascist, anarchist, socialist, and humanist endeavors in our videos together, generally, every other Saturday.

Why Does Power Bring Responsibility?

Think, how often is it the powerless that start wars, oppress others, or commit genocide? So, I guess the question is to us all, to ask, how can power not carry responsibility in a humanity concept? I know I see the deep ethical responsibility that if there is power their must be a humanistic responsibility of ethical and empathic stewardship of that power. Will I be brave enough to be kind? Will I possess enough courage to be compassionate? Will my valor reach its height of empathy? I as everyone, earns our justified respect by our actions, that are good, ethical, just, protecting, and kind. Do I have enough self-respect to put my love for humanity’s flushing, over being brought down by some of its bad actors? May we all be the ones doing good actions in the world, to help human flourishing.

I create the world I want to live in, striving for flourishing. Which is not a place but a positive potential involvement and promotion; a life of humanist goal precision. To master oneself, also means mastering positive prosocial behaviors needed for human flourishing. I may have lost a god myth as an atheist, but I am happy to tell you, my friend, it is exactly because of that, leaving the mental terrorizer, god belief, that I truly regained my connected ethical as well as kind humanity.

Cory and I will talk about prehistory and theism, addressing the relevance to atheism, anarchism, and socialism.

At the same time as the rise of the male god, 7,000 years ago, there was also the very time there was the rise of violence, war, and clans to kingdoms, then empires, then states. It is all connected back to 7,000 years ago, and it moved across the world.

Cory Johnston: https://damienmarieathope.com/2021/04/cory-johnston-mind-of-a-skeptical-leftist/?v=32aec8db952d  

The Mind of a Skeptical Leftist (YouTube)

Cory Johnston: Mind of a Skeptical Leftist @Skepticallefty

The Mind of a Skeptical Leftist By Cory Johnston: “Promoting critical thinking, social justice, and left-wing politics by covering current events and talking to a variety of people. Cory Johnston has been thoughtfully talking to people and attempting to promote critical thinking, social justice, and left-wing politics.” http://anchor.fm/skepticalleft

Cory needs our support. We rise by helping each other.

Cory Johnston ☭ Ⓐ @Skepticallefty Evidence-based atheist leftist (he/him) Producer, host, and co-host of 4 podcasts @skeptarchy @skpoliticspod and @AthopeMarie

Damien Marie AtHope (“At Hope”) Axiological Atheist, Anti-theist, Anti-religionist, Secular Humanist. Rationalist, Writer, Artist, Poet, Philosopher, Advocate, Activist, Psychology, and Armchair Archaeology/Anthropology/Historian.

Damien is interested in: Freedom, Liberty, Justice, Equality, Ethics, Humanism, Science, Atheism, Antiteism, Antireligionism, Ignosticism, Left-Libertarianism, Anarchism, Socialism, Mutualism, Axiology, Metaphysics, LGBTQI, Philosophy, Advocacy, Activism, Mental Health, Psychology, Archaeology, Social Work, Sexual Rights, Marriage Rights, Woman’s Rights, Gender Rights, Child Rights, Secular Rights, Race Equality, Ageism/Disability Equality, Etc. And a far-leftist, “Anarcho-Humanist.”

With religion, it is like your brain is in a noose, squeezing out any hope of critical thinking about religious beliefs. Leaving the victim faith-drunk as if all the oxygen of their mental freedom is cut off and hope for self-mastery is but some far away fantasy out of reach.

My Thought on the Evolution of Gods?

Animal protector deities from old totems/spirit animal beliefs come first to me, 13,000/12,000 years ago, then women as deities 11,000/10,000 years ago, then male gods around 7,000/8,000 years ago. Moralistic gods around 5,000/4,000 years ago, and monotheistic gods around 4,000/3,000 years ago. 

Damien Marie AtHope’s Art

Damien Marie AtHope’s Art

Damien Marie AtHope (Said as “At” “Hope”)/(Autodidact Polymath but not good at math):

Axiological Atheist, Anti-theist, Anti-religionist, Secular Humanist, Rationalist, Writer, Artist, Jeweler, Poet, “autodidact” Philosopher, schooled in Psychology, and “autodidact” Armchair Archaeology/Anthropology/Pre-Historian (Knowledgeable in the range of: 1 million to 5,000/4,000 years ago). I am an anarchist socialist politically. Reasons for or Types of Atheism

My Website, My Blog,  & Short-writing or Quotes, My YouTube, Twitter: @AthopeMarie, and My Email: damien.marie.athope@gmail.com

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This