Christians who understand their own religion understand that prayer isn’t supposed to work like that. Jesus urged his followers not pray loudly in public, seeking to gain attention for themselves, but to keep it private. Rick Perry’s prayer rally made Christianity into a caricature.

You know better than to fall for the profane shenanigans of the latest Texas Governor. Join Christian Voters Against Rick Perry.

Some people think that’s a problem. Me, I think it’s great that we in the USA have the freedom to come to our own conclusions about religion. We don’t have religion crammed down our throats, like people have in too many other other countries.

Sadly, new U.S. Representative Billy Long doesn’t see things that way. Congressman Long has declared that he thinks that our government ought to have the power to force us into religious worship.

We don’t have freedom from religion, he says, even when our personal morals disagree with the religion that Long’s big government would choose for us.

That’s not the kind of leadership we need in Congress. It would be wrong to re-elect Billy Long.

Jesus Would Heal the Sick Bumper Sticker

Frederick Douglass Quote on Children and Men Bumper Stickers

Obama 2012 Bumper Sticker

Older White Catholic Woman for Obama Bumper Sticker

Yes We Can Bumper Sticker

Frederick Douglass on Injustice and Silence Bumper Sticker

Trust No Man … John Adams Quotation Sticker Bumper Stickers

No We Can’t Re-elect Obama Rainbow Bumpersticker

Yes We Did Bumper Sticker

I Love Jesus More Than You Do! bumper sticker

These words reflect the delicate position that progressives take when it comes to Islam, Muslims, and peace. Progressives, if they are intellectually consistent, are skeptical, not just of political leaders but of religious leaders as well. They’re not in any sort of mood to accept Islam, with its absolutist positions.

However, when the hard right advocates American war against Islam, alarm bells go off for us progressives as well. We value the separation of church and state, for one thing, and aren’t inclined to go along with wars against entire religions.

Besides that, progressives recognize diversity within cultural groups as well as between cultural groups. For that reason, we just don’t buy the warmongers’ propaganda that Muslims are all foaming at the mouth for war. We recognize the reality of Muslims for Peace.

The bumper sticker you see here recognizes that reality as well. Word to you Muslims out there: It’s a great tool for countering the stereotype of Muslims as nasty, universally violent people.

It features the Islamic symbol of the crescent and star, but with another symbol behind it: The peace sign. Together, they make the sign of Muslims for Peace.

Michael Stopa has attempted to promote his congressional campaign by making the wild assertion that Barack Obama is an atheist. “I actually don’t think Barack Obama is a Muslim. I think he is a nonbeliever,” Stopa says.

So, where is scientist Stopa’s evidence for Obama’s atheism? “I have no specific evidence,” Stopa admits. Stopa merely believes that President Obama must be an atheist, because Obama doesn’t agree with Stopa’s right wing ideology.

Thinking Massachusetts voters are slapping their foreheads. With his fringe Cold Earther rejections of climate science and his politico-religious conspiracy theories, it’s clear that Michael Stopa is a raving lunatic.

This video asks the bumper sticker designer that question, and also – “Do you really hate Islam?”

The current anti-mosque crusade is just the newest part in Evangelical Christianity’s agenda of intolerance. The Christian Right may have a smile on its face, but its message is pure hate. This bumper sticker represents that attitude pretty well, with an evangelist who stands before you, with a happy face, holding a crucifix, asking, You don’t mind if I cram this down your throat a little bit, do you?

Do you mind? Golly, but I sure do.

If you support Free Speech, let the mosque be. You don’t have to like it. You don’t have to approve of it. In fact, it’s not your job to approve the mosque or not. It’s your job and my job as American citizens to support one another’s freedom.

Just let the mosque be. Is that too much to ask?

If your answer is “yes,” then I’d like to gently suggest that you have a fundamental problem with the idea of America.

It is much more rare for people to be skeptical of religion categorically. Yet, the Irregular Heresies collection comes close to this skeptical idea. They’re not out merely to promote their own gods over someone else’s. They’re skeptical and satirical of all divine beings and theologies – and skewer faith of all varieties, with verbal violence only, on a collection of heretical bumper stickers.

They’re mocking Jesus – Jesus, Schmeesus.

They’re profane for the Hindus and Buddhists too, singing Brahma Lama Ding Dong and declaring that Ganesha works for peanuts. Be Here Now, Bucko is the closest they get to Enlightenment.

They are infidels to Islam’s self-seriousness as well, challenging, Fatwa This!

My favorite strikes at the root of monotheism: Zoroaster Was A Disaster.

One bumper sticker sums up this perspective: Your sacred cow is my hamburger. No one entitled to expect that everyone else will show reverence for their supernatural beliefs. People will disagree with you. Pray on that for a while.

His opponents will get some mileage from the Republican’s answer to question about “creationism” in a debate.

He did not propose this as a vital educational reform. He did not advocate removing evolution from the curriculum. He merely said that he would not oppose a local school board including such a component.

It’s never safe to trust the truth value of a politician’s defense of someone else in his own party. Let’s fact-check John Frary’s claim about Paul LePage. What did Paul LePage actually say?

Debate transcript, May 27, 2010:

Full text of question posed by Maine Public Radio’s Jennifer Rooks: “Do you believe in creationism, and do you think it should be taught in Maine public schools?”

Full text of answer by Paul LePage: “I would say intelligence, uh, the more education you have the more knowledge you have the better person you are and I believe yes and yes.”

John Frary Claim #1: “He did not propose this as a vital educational reform.”
Verdict: FALSE. In a gubernatorial debate, candidates speak about what they would do as governor. When asked “Do you believe in creationism, and do you think it should be taught in Maine public schools?”, Paul LePage unequivocally declared “I believe yes and yes.” Yes, Paul LePage thinks creationism should be taught in Maine public schools. It was a reform proposal made specifically and voluntarily by Paul LePage.

John Frary Claim #2: “He did not advocate removing evolution from the curriculum.”
Verdict: TRUE. But nobody claims that Paul LePage is advocating this. Run a google search for “Paul LePage” and “remove evolution” and you’ll get… nothing at all. Tomorrow, you’ll get nothing. John Frary is engaged in an attempt to change the subject from creationism, a subject Paul LePage declares he thinks should be taught in Maine public schools.

John Frary Claim #3: “He merely said that he would not oppose a local school board including such a component.”
Verdict: FALSE. Paul LePage did not equivocate. He did not couch his support for creationism in public schools in terms of “local school boards” or “components.” Paul LePage made the broad declaration, “Yes,” he thinks creationism should be taught in public schools.

If you live in Maine and you think creationism is for Sunday School and science is for public school, now is the time to come out and say so. After Paul LePage is elected governor, it will be too late.