Interested in Writing for B.A.B.S.?
I’ve been doing some thinking (Yeah, scares me too) and I want to know what you people think. I’m looking to expand the Blessed Atheist Bible study. Though I still feel that the job I’m doing is an important one, that is fighting the idiocy of a literal view of the Bible, I also think that a fresh voice or two would benefit the cause. My solo rant in the wilderness is going to pall after a some time. Fresh voices, funny voices throwing out a different point of view could be a great help not just in our battle against Young Earth Creationism and its hillbilly kin, Biblical literalism, but against all superstition and foolishness. There have been some great comments on various post here, so I am sure the writing ability is out there.
I think the Skepchick site is a great example. Multiple authors, funny posts, it’s entertaining and educational. I’m not saying copying that just that it is a great example of the possibilities.
I think that more posts, well written and on a mostly skeptical tilt, would aid in this site’s evolution, and I want it to evolve. There is so much material that I haven’t even touched on yet, stuff that need’s to be brought to people’s attention more, stuff I don’t have time to cover. Homeopathy, astrology, lunatic conspiracies, the list is endless. I’d continue the Biblical analysis, but having another direction or two would be great. Or if someone else wanted to throw in their Biblical viewpoints, I’d be interested.
I’d like to hear what all of you have to say. Is there anyone interested? Is this a good idea? Let me know what you think.
P.S. The beautiful galaxy photo has nothing to do with the post. I just love galaxies.
There’s a site – exChristian – that is very good when the blogger himself writes but is not so good when the readers contribute articles. This is not always true but mostly the readers contributions are muddled in many ways and not very interesting. I keep thinking that I should unsubscribe but then there will be a piece worth reading and I put it off.
Your contribution to bible study has been good (think hilarious) but you’re right that you need a wider range of subjects. The bible, after all, is an easy target.
I like what you do here. I can’t imagine how you could make it better, except more posts. Guest contributers might be a reasonable alternative to never sleeping or ruining your marriage for my sake. I concur with Prospero, finding the right contributers that share your voice or complement it may be difficult. In the end this is your blog. I like the personal touch you add to your subject and would continue reading just for that.
I love what you do here, I think guest posts would be cool, so long as they were approved from you, and I’d be happy to contribute…
Sounds like a reasonable idea. As Ashley says, it might good if you kept some sort of editorial control over the guest posts, though. Also like Ashley, I’d be happy to give it a go.
(You own a telescope! Pah!)
“…might **be** good if …”
Thus I show my ability to write even one short post …
An occassional guest post on this topic (the absurdity of a literal view of the bible) might be interesting. Please retain editorial rights.
Other topics are covered by multiple other blogs. I would say best not to dilute your blog with other subjects. But, that’s just my opinion. ~wjs
P.S. On the other hand, I do enjoy your occassional personal entries.
I think it is important to find your voice, your message(s) and your explorations. Then share that. There are lots of sites out there talking about skepticism. Best wishes on your thinking.
Agreed that KK’s voice is truly hilarious and the reason I check so often to see if there’s a new post (in spite of knowing about the hefty hours at work and all)…
But…still…I blog, but the topic of my blog is not religion or atheism , even though I think and read voraciously about those topics. Are you taking submissions, KK? (How about a post on apoptosis disproving that the wages of sin are death?:))
Sorry for the double posting–just remembered commenting with Daz and KK about Dawkins’ latest (Greatest Show on Earth–finished! Fantastic! Mine is already coming apart because my kids love the photo sections! Ahhh!). KK mentioned that he’d like to (or had thought about) including book reviews on the site, but time constraints…. of *course* we understand:) But maybe a poll here to find books readers would like to see reviewed? Maybe frequent commenters could submit reviews of books they’ve found interesting, outstanding, helpful (insert criteria) and KK could put up reviews he likes?
‘Ello Amy, I was just reading your blog. Everything’s reminding me of books lately, and that reminded me of ‘My Family And Other Animals’ — another one for the nostalgia-reading list. I’ve not started the Dawkins book yet. Real life intruded, and I really want to read it in long sittings, not in dribs and drabs. And my Sister just bought the new Bill Bryson too…
Re: the book poll. Cosmos, for sure. Coming Of Age In the Milky Way by Tim Ferris. Measuring The Universe by Kitty Ferguson. I’ll shut up now!
@daz–thanks for stopping by to read! I’m off to Tucson with the kids to visit Nana and Grandpa on Wednesday, and I plan on doing some serious book shopping while there (which I do every year & can’t make the pile last till March…). Tim Ferris’ book is already on my list (which is unreasonably long:(( And I need Tooby &Cosmides The Adapted Mind, and Scott Atran’s book, and Jon Haidt’s book…. I’ll shut up now, too! I do enjoy seeing what everybody else is reading–maybe a quarterly or trianual “what’s everybody reading/recommend” poll type of post?
(Ditto Bill Bryson–I’ve read everything of his I can get my hands on. The Mother Tongue & his book on Austrailia are my favorites–serious belly laughs!:))
Oh god, Down Under. The bit where he describes falling asleep in the car while being driven around Sydney (or was it Melbourne?)… I cried laughing. I was in my Mum’s guest bedroom at the time and I had to stop reading as I was scared I’d wake the house up.
Have a good holiday!
OMG–that’s exactly the part that came to mind when I was typing!! I think I pulled a muscle laughing at that part! I also loved the science he sprinkled throughout that book–gave me a reason to suddenly want desperately to go there.
Oh man. Don’t leave me.
On bad days, your blog is like a star beckoning, a ray of sunshine, a nebula of hope waiting for me on the computer after being out in the black hole of ignorance and superstition.
I don’t think random anybodys posting different stuff could match what you’ve been doing. Maybe you could have “guest” writers, writers that you choose that do a post here and there, like the guests that tv shows have when the host goes on vacation.
But I think you’re in a unique position, and there is no other blog like this. You’ve studied the bible formally, and read it several times. You also have writing skills and a sense of humor. The way you tear up the bible stories like an English major isn’t a “solo rant in the wilderness.” It’s rare and courageous, like a prophet spreading the word, slowly gathering followers.
To explain exactly how important is the work you do: I’ve always known that Noah’s ark was fiction, but I always thought it was a cute story. You know, an old man saving animals. It wasn’t until I read your blog that I saw the other point of view – the christian god *killing* all the animals. I love animals, but I needed someone to show me the other side, because in our society in the US we are so brainwashed, so indoctrinated – christianity has so subtly infected our society – that I never saw the story that way.
Please keep doing what you do. I know you’re busy, and I wish I could help, but you have something that can make the world a better place, and there are many that need you.