January 5th entry: January 5, 2022

Catholic church would not budge an inch on any ideas that might threaten their tax base. Case in point:

On this date in 1527, Swiss heretic Felix Manz, born c. 1498, was drowned under sentence of the Zurich city council. As an Anabaptist, Manz was killed for opposing infant baptism in favor of baptism for adults, which the council made punishable by death.
source: Freedom From Religion Foundation

The Catholic church opposed adult baptisms for one reason - money. Baptizing an infant guaranteed tax dollars would fill their coffers with a steady flow of funds.
[christianitytoday.com]

Not much of a fan of New Years resolutions. I like to make goals throughout the year, but I’m glad you have a list. There are a lot of folks that can’t even do that.

My goals are less about atheism and more about self improvement and world improvement. I think yours are just fine too.

Many years ago I made a New Year's resolution and being true to my word I have kept it. I resolved never to make another New Year's resolution.

“My own mind is my own church. All national institutions of churches, whether Jewish, Christian or Turkish, appear to me no other than human inventions, set up to terrify and enslave mankind, and monopolize power and profit.”

“The World is my country, all mankind are my brethren, and to do good is my religion.”

Thomas Paine

Here is part of the January 2nd posting:
[ffrf.org]

"If, as the true believers claim, the word 'gospel' means good news, then the good news for me is that there is no gospel, other than what I can define for myself, by observation and conscience. As a freethinking human being, I have come not to favor or fear religion, but to face and fight it as an impediment to civilized advancement.”

—Benson, "From Latter-Day Saint to Latter Day Ain't" (Freethought Today, December 1999)

I lived in Madison, Wisconsin, home of FFRF, for a number of years, and attended the student-run Freethought Festival (held usually in March). They had a very interesting lineup of speakers. It was a good place to meet like-minded people (in pre-pandemic times). The main University of Wisconsin campus is there. The university had an annual Darwin Day event, also with interesting speakers.

[evolution.wisc.edu]

I wish I had access to those kinds of activities where I live now, which is a smaller city with the main University of Illinois campus. There have been a couple local atheist organizations here in the past, I discovered, but they seem to have fizzled out. Maybe it's time to revive a group.

Fairly good, but perhaps a very USA centric list. In Europe where religion is more marginal, and there are stronger and more involved secular institutions generally. I would go for: -

Do more work for your community and secular charities.

I love it. As soon as pandemic is over, I’m in.

How 'bout I just quit smoking?