So on September 8th, Kathy Griffin accepted an Emmy Award with the words, “Suck it, Jesus. This award is my God, now.” (Newsweek Oct. 1, 2007) And that event has caused believers, free speech supporters and atheists alike to respond to each other’s responses. At www.suckitjesus.com [NOTE: no longer active] you can sign a petition in support of Griffin’s right to free speech. But it doesn’t seem like very much is really going on at this website, except a lot of crosstalk.
I appreciate Griffin’s expression as well as her sentiment. I, too, say, “Suck it, Jesus,” although I see the contradiction of being an atheist who’s talking to the god she doesn’t believe exists. Really it’s just my expression of disgust for all religion. Religion causes just as much pain, violence and damage as it does good works and loving acts and I’m better off without it. The balance just doesn’t tilt in the direction of religion, or any kind of spiritual practice, ultimately being a good thing for me. That’s what I believe.