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May 22nd, 2013
06:20 PM ET
This Oklahoma atheist isn't thanking the LordBy Jessica Ravitz, CNN (CNN) – Behind her were ruins, a tangled mess where structures once stood. Cradled in her arms, the mother’s 19-month-old son played with a snatched microphone, unfazed by the chaos swirling around him. And in front of Rebecca Vitsmun stood CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, who – after asking her about the decision that saved her and her son's lives – had one more question: “I guess you got to thank the Lord, right?” he asked. “Yeah,” she mumbled, smiling and looking down. “Do you thank the Lord for that split-second decision?” he continued. “I, I, I,” the 30-year-old stay-at-home mom stammered before adding, “I’m actually an atheist.” She laughed, Blitzer laughed, and the moment passed seamlessly on live TV. Except it also became a clip heard across the Internet and social media – one that pointed to a reality about faith in America that exists even where, and when, people might least expect it. Vitsmun, who chronicled her decision to flee her house with her son on CNN iReport, is one of 13 million atheists or agnostics in America, according to a 2012 report by the Pew Research Center's Forum on Religion & Public Life. See Rebecca Vitsmun discuss her decision with CNN's Wolf Blitzer While only 2.4% of Americans are atheists, they fit into a broader category that is on the rise in the United States. Nearly 20% of adults – and a third of those under 30 – are religiously unaffiliated, the Pew report found. This group, which has grown by roughly 5% in five years, is often referred to as the “nones.” It is a term that extends beyond atheists, who believe there is no God, and agnostics, who believe it’s impossible to prove or disprove God’s existence. It includes a greater proportion of people who see themselves as nothing in particular, which means they might be secular, spiritual or believers – but simply don’t identify with an organized religion, said Greg Smith, a senior researcher at the Pew Research Center. “When we ask people questions about their religious identity, when we ask them about their religious beliefs, there are relatively few who are atheists. But I’m speaking in percentage terms,” Smith said. “That doesn’t mean there aren’t lots of them around. And they’re certainly all over.” Oklahoma included. In fact, when the Pew Research Center last drilled down to uncover the religious landscape of affiliations on a state level five years ago, 12% of Oklahomans were religiously unaffiliated. And just as the numbers ticked up nationally since then, it stands to reason that they did the same in Oklahoma. We tried to reach Vitsmun by phone Wednesday but were unable to connect. Her friend Waylon Flinn, however, shed some light on who she is. She and her husband, who Flinn said is also an atheist, aren’t the sorts who advertise their beliefs or throw them in people’s faces. When she agreed to go on camera, it wasn’t for that platform; she didn’t even see the Lord question coming. But that she responded to Blitzer the way she did is no surprise to Flinn, who opened his home in nearby Norman to Vitsmun’s family after theirs was destroyed. “She handled it in her style, which is very honest and true to herself,” he said. soundoff (2,486 Responses)« Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 Next »
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The CNN Belief Blog covers the faith angles of the day's biggest stories, from breaking news to politics to entertainment, fostering a global conversation about the role of religion and belief in readers' lives. It's edited by CNN's Daniel Burke with contributions from Eric Marrapodi and CNN's worldwide news gathering team.  |
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Anyone thanking god for saving their lives should be deeply ashamed. Do you really think you're anymore deserving than the ones who died? Do you really think you're special in the grand scheme of things? No one is.
I’m not sure where you’re getting your info, but good
topic. I needs to spend some time learning much more or
understanding more. Thanks for excellent information
I was looking for this information for my mission.
http://imobilereviews.com/
http://www.adherents.com/Religions_By_Adherents.html
Religion………………………… Adherents
Christianity ……………………..2.1 billion
Islam…………………………… 1.5 billion
Irreligious/agnostic/atheism…… 1.1 billion (look out, here we come)
Hinduism 900 million
Chinese traditional religion 394 million
Buddhism 376 million
Animist religions 300 million
African traditional/diasporic religions 100 million
Sikhism 23 million
Juche 19 million
Spiritism 15 million
Judaism…………………………………….. 14 million
Baha'i 7 million
Jainism 4.2 million
Shinto 4 million
Cao Dai 4 million
Zoroastrianism 2.6 million
Tenrikyo 2 million
Neo-Paganism 1 million
Unitarian Universalism 800,000
Rastafari Movement 600,000
The Apostles'/Agnostics’/Atheists' Creed 2013: (updated by yours truly and based on the studies of historians and theologians of the past 200 years)
Should I believe in a god whose existence cannot be proven
and said god if he/she/it exists resides in an unproven,
human-created, spirit state of bliss called heaven??
I believe there was a 1st century CE, Jewish, simple,
preacher-man who was conceived by a Jewish carpenter
named Joseph living in Nazareth and born of a young Jewish
girl named Mary. (Some say he was a mamzer.)
Jesus was summarily crucified for being a temple rabble-rouser by
the Roman troops in Jerusalem serving under Pontius Pilate,
He was buried in an unmarked grave and still lies
a-mouldering in the ground somewhere outside of
Jerusalem.
Said Jesus' story was embellished and "mythicized" by
many semi-fiction writers. A descent into Hell, a bodily resurrection
and ascension stories were promulgated to compete with the
Caesar myths. Said stories were so popular that they
grew into a religion known today as Catholicism/Christianity
and featuring dark-age, daily wine to blood and bread to body rituals
called the eucharistic sacrifice of the non-atoning Jesus.
Amen
(references used are available upon request)
Blitzer is a moron for presuming in the first place that this lady believes in a mythical being.
I'd like to know if Blitzer himself actually believes in this kind of god or if this was just a condescending talking down to the natives.
Sara: His wiki page claims he is Jewish.
@Truth, Yes, I've seen him listed as Jewish but I know a lot of people who call themselves Jewish who either don't believe in god or don't believe in a personal god. I'd be curious to know what he really believes, but you'd likely get a politicians answer...especially after this embarrassment.
I think Wolf was tired and had been talking to dozens of babbling Christians and assumed he'd be hearing more of same.
That's what it sounds like to me. As for him being Jewish, there's more than one kind of Jewish, so it's hard to talk knowledgeably about his particular take on it, so you guys might as well shut up about it.
Look, I work for the guy so I'm not gonna cast aspersions only to have it come up in my annual review. You must understand,
he runs things, I had nothing to do with the tornado.... that was all him. Dude can't handle his Tequila and the next thing you know kids are being tossed around in a 200 mph wind-blender.. It may be intervention time.... and I sure as hell don't wanna be involved when that time comes..
Hey, you need any muscle? Me and Vinny here do good work. We can take care of your boss for ya. We got a car and stuff.
Everyone does know the only true God is money.
It has brought us the lifestyle that we have today.
All praise the Dollar, Yen and Franc. Let's now not forget the Rupee, Peso and Shilling!
Our dollar, whos' art in pocket, Buffet be thy name!
All praise the 1% !!!
And we need to expand the 1% to 51%:
The latest data show that a big portion of the federal income tax burden is shouldered by a small group of the very richest Americans. The wealthiest 1 percent of the population earn 19 percent of the income but pay 37 percent of the income tax. The top 10 percent pay 68 percent of the tab. Meanwhile, the bottom 50 percent—those below the median income level—now earn 13 percent of the income but pay just 3 percent of the taxes. These are proportions of the income tax alone and don’t include payroll taxes for Social Security and Medicare."
http://www.american.com/archive/2007/november-december-magazine-contents/guess-who-really-pays-the-taxes
Obviously, we need more rich people to reduce my tax burden !!!
And yet Warren Buffett, the billionaire atheist, has pledged to give away approximately 99% of all of his wealth – over 30 Billion – with a B – dollars to charity.
I don't think he's doing that to try to make points with "god".
Reality, what you seem to miss, is that there are vastly more poor people than there are rich. Taking a little from the poor, because of sheer numbers, out weighs any amount the rich 'donates'. Also, $1 form a poor person is equal to $100,00 from a rich guy. Lastly, we live in a democracy, the poor will just out-vote any rich agenda....that is in a fair vote. Hey, does that mean, with all the rich in power, that the vote isn't fair. Does money buy opinion and marketing....no, the founding fathers would never allow that to happen, would they?
At lest this reporter asked. Although annoying and presumptuous I see stories all the time where the reporter inteoduces a segment with lines like "Locals are thanking god for their..." or "one family feels blessed" and then the interviewed people never even mention god and you have to guess the reporter just made it up. I've often wondered how often they do this do kind of misrepresentation to non-theistic families.
Atheist, or Agnostic?
God didn't bring the devastation, weather did. God DID make a difference in her survival (but she writes it off as "her" instincts... like she has practiced being hunted by a major tornado before), yet she is missing the "here's your sign" from Him.
Amazing how all the anti-God kooks come out after a major event, blaming Him (or the lack of Him), and even worse, how the useless press prays on publishing their stories (uh, pun intended)
Sadly, you know what a pun is, yet fail to distinguish fantasy from reality.
The mental illness of delusional thinking knows no specific target.
god doesnt exist. Stop being intentionally stupid. Find a new way to feel good about yourself.
This person wasn't an "anti-God" kook, nor did she blame God or the lack of one. She was confronted with a question which assumed that she must hold some religious belief, and she chose to be honest about it. I'd say that she was quite gracious about it.
So...god doesn't bring weather, he brings salvation for some, and death for others? Who brings the weather?
She was asked a question, answered it honestly and even made reference to the fact that she held no ill-will towards those that do pray...way more tolerant than most christians.
I can never tell whether comments like this are serious or a joke. Dead children=weather (except in the bible). Surviving children=god.
I love that you claim that God didn't cause the weather, but that He did help her get away. Wouldn't it be great to be so blindly and unthinkingly followed?
How does that work? Like, "I can do no wrong! I am all powerful! I can build mountains, move seas, move people from harm–except, you know, when it comes to the weather or in stopping crazies with guns from killing innocent kids, or famine or disease or genocide."
Yepper, makes total sense.
Yours is the argument of the brainwashed, unthinking child.
Pure, utter, nonsensical foolishness.
If "God" sends the tornado, then "He" is JUST as to blame for ALL death and destruction caused. And so "He" decides to SAVE a FEW people? What did those children do?? HOW did they irk your foolish, petty, spiteful, evil "God"?
That's right. All the evil is the devil's fault... but guess who made the devil?
And guess who was brilliant enough to give us choice to weed out the lame in spirit. FYI this is not heaven. Wake up and try to figure out the rules mister I want everything handed to me. You do not get a participation trophy in this league.
"Amazing how all the anti-God kooks come out after a major event, blaming Him (or the lack of Him), and even worse, how the useless press prays on publishing their stories (uh, pun intended)"
the pious kooks do the same, marky-mark
"Wake up and try to figure out the rules mister I want everything handed to me"
Really, marky-mark? Where did you get that this poster wanted anything handed to him?
Are you truly that dense?
@Mark Yes, her instinct did save her – not God. That ancient part of her brain kicked in and alerted her to the fact that something in the elements was not right. She listened to and responded to that instinct. This reaction to the elements and danger have kept the human race alive and growing since well before man had spoken language much less written text such as the bible.
Most of us in the modern age have lost our connection to the earth. We can no longer smell rain on the breeze, or feel the sublet shifts in air current and temperature ahead of a major storm. Without knowing this woman I would wager that she spends time out of doors and is comfortable with nature. That’s a better explanation than God providing her warning.
" God's got nothing to do with it."
Neither does Santa Claus.
They are equally real.
What about the Tooth Fairy? Or Tinkerbell? Who else needs to be thanked?
All the unicorns, leprechauns, dragons, Big Foot, the LochNess Monster...
OMGosh you guys are so funny. Your time is short.
The Tasmanian Devil did it! We have proof in ancient moving picture records called "cartoons", just like the Bible!!!!
A whirlwind of death and destruction! Eats anything! Big nasty sharp pointy teeth! We feel it in our hearts!!
Jimmy you are so clever! Shame you only a year left.
have
marky-mark....jeebus is waiting on you. what are you doing down here? you could be on your knees pleasing the lord in a fortnight....
Raised as a devout Catholic, I heard all the stories of the Old Testament – God condemns all for the sins of Adam and Eve; God demanded sacrifices of the first born; God destroyed not only all people on the earth for their wickedness, but all the animals as well, etc. God is jealous, angry, and vengeful.
Then I think of my mother. She was the most giving soul I ever knew – took the elderly out, cooked meals for them, brought them to our home, loved kids, taught us kindness, how to laugh (and to laugh at everything), worked as much time at the local thrift shop for free as many people work in a week; helped strangers in need. She was a kind, loving, caring, compassionate woman.
How can my mother be more caring and loving, and therefore perfect than the God?
I asked myself that for a number of years...and then I became a atheist, still amazed at the remarkable, caring, loving woman that my mother was – greater than God.
A
And having thought about that for a number of years
Thank GOD who created your mom, perfectly.
If we read the Word of of GOD in the right way, maybe, we too may act, by His Grace, perfectly.
His grandmother and grandfather created his mom, Good News. Bugs Bunny is far more real than your mythical being.
Is that the same GOD who created Hitler and gives babies AIDS in Africa?
Oh, she wasn't perfect, and I have not met anyone who is. So, again, how could my mother (imperfect) be greater than God?
Hmm, that's a new one.
Having a deliberately fucked up god so that anyone would seem like a fucking saint by comparison.
That's a different take than I usually see.
But even with that, I guess some people just don't see the elephant in the room, even when it's their own mother proving there is no god.
Well, lots of clueless people out there. They can't all be street-smart. Sounds like a nice mother, at least.
Congratulations you have a nice mother. It's not proof of a god, though.
Whoops, I read that too fast. Nevermind.
To reject something that you understand but don't agree with is one thing, but to reject something that you simply don't understand is downright sad. I used to think unkind thoughts about God until I read the Old Testament and realized that the problem isn't God, but man: God is better to man than man deserves and man is worse off than he thinks. Man rebels against God and needs redemption. God has graciously redeemed, at great cost to Himself, those who will dare to trust Him. To see Jesus of the New Testament is to see God of the Old Testament.
This is precisely the argument which best goes to prove the non-existence of a specific god. You can debate philosophical points all day long, and to a much, much lesser extent, factual points. But the moral argument against a god is the strongest. All the gods every created by man lack the morals to be justly called 'god' – their actions and thoughts are frequently far from any reasonable ideal, and not surprisingly, very human.
@Kent, I have never seen a definition of gods that required the, to be moral. Sure in recent years such claims have been made for some specific gods, but it is hardly a gerneral trait of godliness.
So why does this poor woman have to have god rammed down her throat by a reporter? This is why athiests are becoming more aggressive in their defense of their right not to believe in someone's fairy tales. It happens to everyday. I attend conferences which are heavily subsidized by the federal government, and have to put up with invocations, prayers at meal times, etc all the time. May the blessings of the tooth fairy be upon you.
Calm down Skippy. She didn't get anything rammed down her throat. She was asked a simple question and gave a great answer.
While rammed down her throat might be a bit strong it was a presumptuous question that put her in an awkward position. She handled it well and tactfully, but for most people stating that you reject the premises of the prevailing religion of your community is awkward to handle tactfully on live television and one should not be put in that position.
Atheists, Agnostics
Time has come for you
thus to really see
and genuinely thank the LORD.
http://www.holy-19-harvest.com
UNIVERSAL MAGNIFICENT MIRACLES
It will be far too much for me to ask you to remove your cranium from your rectal cavity.
Never-the-less, I'd like you to do so.
Its almost sad seeing all these fundies being forced to confront the fact that they arent special,chosen, more moral, or superior to everyone else. Almost.
Shame on Wolf Blitzer fGood for her, and sheme on Mr. Blitzer rfor being so unprofessional! I'm really surprised that he would go there - I guess he wrongly assumed that since he's in Okialhoma, everyone he met would be a Bible thumper!!! Wake up, Wolf - not EVERYONE buys into the big fairy tale -
Yeah, it was cheap and lazy reporting and it bit him on the butt. It would be like going to Indonesia and assuming everyone you interview is a Muslim. Bad reporting with ignorant assumptions.
It is hard to miss God and easy to notice him
Just like Santa Claus is for 5 year olds.
When God writes things down, you know he's there
When God kills a kitten, you know he's bad.
I see that CNN is taking advantage of this catastrophe to continue it's attack on Christianity and God. No surprises there.
I agree with KG. How is this article is news worthy if it wasn't for the agenda behind it?
I'm happy to see atheist and agnostic information in the news. We've been force fed your "thank god" and "prayer" crap in every article, daily, for generations. Time to realize, you arent the only ones on the planet. Other people like to hear reality from time to time.
O...god wrote seomthing down? news to me. That lame book called the bible is nothing more than a bunch of third or fourth hand accounts of things that people think that someone remembers about someone who may or may not have said something. None of the 4 gospels agree on even the most fundamental aspects of the crucifiction. The entire book was heavily edited in the 4th century, and materials that did not agree with what the powerful leaders of the time wanted, was tossed out. THe bible is a farce. Sick of christians ramming their stupid fairy tale down my throat with all of their "have a blessed day", or "Thank god" of "I'll pray for you."
" How is this article is news worthy if it wasn't for the agenda behind it?"
You're reading a belief blog, did you expect to come across stories of cute kittens playing ball?
KG, Mohammed, this story went viral before CNN posted this. The very fact that so many people are interested is news. The fact that you cannot assume that Oklahomans are all fundamentalists is, to many, news. The fact that reporters are getting caught out for their own ignorance and will be. forced to change is news.
KG: Paranoia getting to you?
i see that kg continues to confuse christianity with god
Once again- for the umpteenth time it has been demonstrated that there is no omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient, and beneficent (all at the same time) god. If people can't figure this out, they are just plain stupid or simply ignoring the evidence in favor of dogma. An omnipotent god allowing this storm to happen surely isn't beneficent. If s/he is then s/he is not omnipotent, omniscient (not knowing how to stop the storm) or omnipresent. However, it is not known whether there is a capricious god or one deficient in one or more of these characteristics, and this is where agnosticism makes sense.
No it doesn't. What defines 'god'? Where has a deity been measured or detected to define that term? People invent the term. It's subjective. People are defining characteristics of what they think a god is or should be. They have never detected one to support creating the term in the first place. No different than fiction using imagination. So why should anyone think any type of 'god' a reality at all, capricious, deficient or not?
I submit to this honorable court that the question referred to by the young gentleman has indeed been investigated on an ad hoc basis taking into consideration game theory, probabilities, and other factors with the firm conclusion that there are no gods, capricious or otherwise, large or small, devious or simple that meet any of the definitions of a god and that, therefore, such things as may seem coincidental are found to be essentially random with no patterns suggesting any motivating force whatsoever.
Should this court require further inquiry or investigation into said questions of probability, I cannot promise a timely response and must beg to be excused from the absolute requirement therein. Thank you.
@ROO
That never made much sense to me either....but be careful here in this blog...you ll be accused of having 'preconceived ideas'. Exactly how that works im fuzzy on as well given that an ever increasing amount of solid scientific evidence is backing my atheistic beliefs....preconceived is the last thing they are.
I may not be the best typer or an English professor, but math and physics.... I can do those just well enough to know that the big guns in both fields are on the right track.
Amen!!! 😉
Good thread! Personally I believe that most humans have to put the world around us into categories. What we have been passed down as "God" is simply stories spun around misunderstanding. A lack of knowledge to the energies and elements around us. Today science helps us fully understand these.
For me "God" is Energy – Universal! I am made of star dust from the big bang at the beginning of time. I think that there are people who can feel and alter energy’s current in ways most can't. In this instance I think this woman's instinct saved her. That ancient part of her brain kicked in and alerted her to the fact that something in the elements (energy) was not right. She listened to and responded to that instinct. This reaction to the elements (energy) and danger have kept the human race alive and growing since well before man had spoken language much less written text such as the bible.
Most of us in the modern age have lost our connection to the earth and natural energy. We can no longer smell rain on the breeze, or feel the sublet shifts in air current and temperature ahead of a major storm. The only energy we can feel is when our iPad isn’t charged fully. Without knowing this woman I would wager that she spends time out of doors and is comfortable with nature.
I think it's pretty ironic that people are asked to pray for the victims of an "act of God." Being an atheist, I don't really understand the logic behind prayer during events like this. It's like saying you have to make up for lost prayer, or you didn't pray hard enough before. I was raised southern baptist, so I know what goes into this mentality. However, I still lack the ability to comprehend how anyone could worship a god that feels ok with killing off a few children during a storm...I mean, if it is actually his plan and all. Their god is a giant jerk that shows no compassion and sends people in remote rain forests to hell for an eternity, just because nobody got to them in time. Stupid.
Blitzes stereotyping Oklahomans.
Blitzer. Elfing autocorrect.
Ain't that something...
God should have stopped this monster...unless it was Satan himself so powerful that God couldn't win this time. It seems a constant battle, good and evil. In the end, what really will matter? Will your good deeds mean nothing? Is there nothing after death? Are hell and heaven really the here and now? Life is hell for so many. Ask children with chronic illnesses if life is fair. Ask me, dying of complications from Juvenile Diabetes, if life is fair. Where is God? Why?
Life ain't fair. Stuff happens. God's got nothing to do with it.
Hey, I want some magic underpants!