An atheist group says a secular concert planned in response to a Christian event is scheduled to occur on Fort Bragg.
Rock Beyond Belief, featuring evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins, is scheduled for March 31 at Fort Bragg.
It’s being hailed as a big deal for atheists. I actually thought atheists already had a music-fest. It was called Woodstock but I guess I’m confused about that.
Well, how much you wanna’ bet that this devolves into the biggest anti-Christian event since the last taping of the Bill Maher show? But I’m not too concerned.
In fact, I’m feeling pretty Christian today and I’m feeling a little bad that Christians have the greatest art and music in the history of mankind. Atheists don’t really have much. In fact, here’s Steve Martin singing a bluegrass song called “Atheists don’t have no songs.”
So considering the dearth of atheistic contributions to music, let’s put together this party mix for atheists for their little music fest to help them forget the meaninglessness and hopelessness they trudge around with all day and night.
1) Only the Good Die Young (Billy Joel)
2) The Chinese National Anthem.
3) Losing my Religion (REM)
4) Lake of Fire (Nirvana) What? I’m not making a judgment. It’s just a song.
5) Imagine (John Lennon) Come on. Isn’t that like the atheist anthem? It’s like “Daddy’s Little Girl” at a wedding. It has to be played or someone gets fired.
6) Barack Hussein Obama Mmmm-mmmm-Mmm.
And if things start to get a little boring just play Luciano Pavarotti singing “Ave Maria.” That’ll get ’em going. That’ll get ’em going real good.
So if you could help out with any suggestions for an atheist party mix for their concert feel free to leave your suggestions in the combox. Oh and remember, don’t take the brown acid, man.
August 10, 2011 at 12:53 pm
Lake of Fire is the Meat Puppets, but whatever…
My suggestion: "I Missed the Bus" by Kris Kross
August 10, 2011 at 12:58 pm
"I Can't Help Falling in Hate With You"
"Blazing Saddles" (really, really, really blazing)
"(Don't) Look to the Rainbow"
"Vale Maria"
"How Great I Art"
"Your Father"
"A Mighty Fortress is My Facebook"
"You'll Always Walk Alone"
"I'll Walk With Me"
"Sing of Anyone but Maria"
"Rock of Now"
August 10, 2011 at 1:25 pm
Impressive list, Mack.
August 10, 2011 at 1:50 pm
Dear God by XTC
God Isn't Real by Robbie Fulks
Man in a Purple Dress by (what's left of) The Who
Oy, atheist hymns by bands I like always depress me. I've been a pagan but never an atheist–do songs like these make atheists feel warm and fuzzy?
August 10, 2011 at 2:11 pm
An organization of those who *don't believe* is organizing a congregation of their *don't believe* believers.
August 10, 2011 at 3:07 pm
My dear and loving atheist,
Permit me to correct the spelling of the atheists’ hurrah. The atheists’ hurrah is correctly spelled HALLELUJIA.
AN American
The fool disenfranchises himself while disenfranchising all others and now, it is not possible to be an atheist and an American citizen in a court of law.
The Stars Bangled Banner. Let them eat flag.
Mary De Voe
August 10, 2011 at 3:57 pm
"… dearth of atheistic contributions to music…???"
What do the following pieces of music all have in common?
Brahms' "Lullaby"
"Moonlight Sonata"
"Somewhere, Over the Rainbow"
"Pomp and Circumstances"
"Do, Re, Mi"
"Over the River and Through the Woods"
"It's Only a Paper Moon"
"Rhapsody in Blue"
"Lark Ascending"
"Maple Leaf Rag"
"My Old Kentucky Home"
Ravel's "Bolero"
"The Barber of Seville"
"Blue Moon"
"Symphonie Fantastique"
"Appalachian Spring"
"God Bless America" [!]
"There's No Business Like Show Business"
Shostakovich's "Eighth Symphony"
"Summertime"
"Old Man River"
"The Way You Look Tonight"
"Peter and the Wolf"
"Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?"
"Send in the Clowns"
"Night and Day"
"Anything Goes"
"Also Sprach Zarathrustra"
Bizet's "Carmen"
These were all composed by (or had the lyrics written by) atheists and agnostics.
August 10, 2011 at 4:05 pm
So Richard Dawkins is coming to Fort Bragg to make a statement about being atheist. Fort Bragg is the home of the 101 Airborne, Screaming Eagles, Devils in Baggy Pants. Using the legacy of brave men who parachuted into Hitler’s Germany to be labeled Devils in Baggy Pants, is indeed ingenious. Does Richard Dawkins have the courage and trust in God to don a parachute and jump into a warzone like the Navy Seals who have perished because of treason? I think not. And I think he ought not be plagiarizing their patriotism, heroism and plain common decency. Atheists sow despair and hopelessness among our men turning them into cowards. Denying our armed military men unalienable rights and freedom for religion, Richard Dawkins needs to return to Britain where his like has brought about riots in the public streets.
Mary De Voe
August 10, 2011 at 4:10 pm
@ludovico:
How sad
August 10, 2011 at 4:32 pm
I did it my way!
August 10, 2011 at 4:36 pm
@ludovico, I don't know all of those songs; are any of them written about atheism? No one said that atheists can't write songs… God gives gifts such as being able to write songs even to those who reject Him in this life.
August 10, 2011 at 4:47 pm
Brahms' religious beliefs are murky, so claiming him as an agnostic or atheist is as dubious as claiming him to be a devout Lutheran.
Beethoven was a Catholic, born, raised, died, and buried. So knock Moonlight Sonata off that list.
Prokofiev was a Christian Scientist from the early 30s on, and wrote Peter and the Wolf after that time. So strike that one as well.
Edward Elgar was a Roman Catholic. Remove Pomp and Circumstance Military Marches.
The Gershwins were Jewish, although I can't really say how closely they followed Judaism.
Shall I continue?
August 10, 2011 at 5:12 pm
#1 Hit song for Atheists
"I did it MY way!"
August 10, 2011 at 5:42 pm
I shoulda' thought of that one. Shame on me.
August 10, 2011 at 7:58 pm
Shame on you indeed Mat;) I'd add: Boulevard of broken dreams & Me myself and I
August 10, 2011 at 9:21 pm
Mary de Voe– Ft. Bragg is the home of the 82nd Airborne Division and Special Operations (think SF and Delta guys).
It'll be interesting to say the least. There won't be that big of a crowd and the beautiful parade field will be trashed, and I'm betting the really pretty (yet simple) Main Post Chapel right next to the parade field will be hissed at or disrespected. I don't have much hope that this will be a respectful event.
August 10, 2011 at 11:47 pm
@Dirtdartwife: Thank you. I dated an 82nd Airborne guy stationed at Fort Bragg (a long time ago) who jumped from planes.He told me about Devils in Baggy Pants and the Screaming Eagles. He also wryly said that a man has to be crazy to jump from an airplane. I dated a submariner who said that a man has to be crazy to go under the sea in a small metal vessel. Crazy enough to lay down his life for a friend. I am so angry tears are falling from my face. The Response, Rick Perry's call to prayer for the nation was held in Reliance Stadium and probably had a price tag. Why are atheists on military bases and who needs to be impeached for their being there? Would any one of those lily livered yellow eyed cowards admit to being a citizen with the compunction to stand up for our country?? for our unalienable rights? for our life? Get the atheist off my dime and my tax dollar especially that Richard Dawkins. Look what the atheists did to England. Riots in the streets, looters, vandals, no love of neighbor.
Mary De Voe
August 11, 2011 at 8:50 am
Oh good, if Prof. Dawkins is coing, he can do his famous rap: "Beware of Believers."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaGgpGLxLQw
August 11, 2011 at 3:48 pm
"Losing My Religion" is not about leaving faith behind. To lose one's religion is a Southern expression that means to lose your temper or civility (HT to Wikipedia for help explaining). However, I don't know REM's members' beliefs, and I don't know their aim in writing the song… but I do know that secularists, agnostics, and atheists love to twist things to mean what they think they should mean, so I guess it belongs on the list after all.
August 11, 2011 at 11:36 pm
The paradox, the irony that AC/DC's HIGHWAY TO HELL technically couldn't qualify for the atheist playlist! But, it wouldn't kill Dawkins if some wistful soldiers at Ft. Bragg would regale him with an impromptu chorus from it. I get misty just thinking about that….