Hello everybody, welcome to The Godless Paladin. This blog is the digital embodiment of my thoughts. As such it focuses on the two topics I’m usually always thinking about: religion and politics. When I’m not writing on those topics I’m writing on the other areas I’m interested in: feminism, gaming, and history, though my history posts have dropped off considerably as my interests have expanded. Mixed in among those topics are diary posts where I write about the more personal aspects of my life.
A little about who I am: I’m a male in his 20’s with a Bachelor’s degree in European history and a minor in Medieval Studies. I studied to become an archaeologist, but decided my senior year that I was not going to pursue that immediately. I currently reside in South Carolina where I work full time and plan to escape to better political/religious climates in a few years. I was raised a Methodist Christian, but became an atheist my freshman year of college. Politically I’m very lite libertarian. As a general rule I like government to stay out of the lives of its citizens, but I recognize that there are times when it’s necessary for the health of the community. Socially I’ve very liberal. Growing up I was very active in politics, volunteering and going door to door before I could even vote. Subsequently I’ve grown extremely cynical about the whole thing.
My interests outside of religion and politics are primarily art. I run a sister site The Shattered Lance where I blog about my adventures in making art. Go check it out! Since I was a kid I loved making things with my hands. Whenever I’m not working or blogging I’m usually experimenting with some art project or another. Growing up my major hobby was medieval living history. (Like re-enactments, but we weren’t re-enacting a specific event) I’ve never been a LARPer or in the SCA. My group was small, independent, and very focused on historical accuracy in all aspects. I’ve since taken a break from that stuff, but I still have my suit of armor and accouterments.
So yeah, this is who I am; love it or hate it. Thanks for stopping by. If you want to contact me, my e-mail is thegodlesspaladin@gmail.com
*A note on older posts. This blog is somewhat a timecapsule of my thoughts so I try not to delete posts I’ve made in the past even when my position has changed. While I’d love if you read my older posts, if a newer one contradicts a position I’ve taken in the past, please assume I’ve changed my position in light of new evidence and no longer hold the views expressed in the older post.
The Godless Paladin 
I’m really glad to see someone out there who actually does medieval *reenacting*, rather than folks in the SCA who claim to be “reenactors”.
Hell Yeah!
Hi,
Just a note to say that I came across your site completely by chance and I’m greatly impressed.
Love your writing style.
Am suffering mightily out here in northeast Wisconsin for being what I am. Doesn’t bother me enough to kowtow to the Holier than Thous that run the county, though.
Did a piece on Obama’s acknowledgement of we atheists as well as one titled “The Atheist and the Good Christian” you might find worth reading. Did what I think is a pretty decent piece on Epicurus as well (at least for *me*).
Now that I’m aware of you, I need to check out your blogroll and see who else is out there that I need to be aware of.
Finally, I am a dyed-in-the-wool atheist whose been told, “You’re a Christian, it’s just that you don’t know it.” and “You’re a professional atheist.” by theists. Both assessments make me grin.
Nice site. Top flight writing!
“Greywolf”
A site after my own heart! Keep up the great work. E.J.
Hey, thanks E.J. 🙂
I happenned across this website completely by chance. I agree with you on all of the topics discussed here. I’m so glad to see that there is finaly someone who sees the truth about religion. keep up the awesome work!!!!!!!!!
Hey,
Fellow re-enactor, I do 20th century stuff but I stumbled onto your blog and lo and behold, you hit MTA as well, I thought I recognized some pictures… Anyway, nice job and the insight into living history is great; a lot of material I think we’ve all thought about but perhaps don’t come out and discuss like we should. See you at MTA probably!
-Christian
1re REP FFL
(formerly with the now hibernating 10th Para Recce Pln.)
Hey Christian, thanks for the comment. Yeah, MTA is pretty much the only event I can make it out to. 😦 I’m going again this year, you?
While we have our differences GP, I find your blog quite interesting and insightful, particularly on the topic of medieval reenactment.
GP, are you attending MTA 2010 as a participant or as a guest?
As a participant. At least that’s what I plan on doing right now.
Good, I am hoping to be proficient on crutches by then, and I hope to go as a guest. If so, I will look for you.
I’ve always wanted to meet the “friendly neighborhood atheist.” Albeit, an atheist that loves history can’t be all bad. 🙂
You’ve probably already met a bunch of “friendly neighborhood atheists”, you just wouldn’t know it since they’re still in the closet for fear of the stigmas associated with being “out”. :-p (We make up about 16% of the US population)
I have met a number of atheists who are quite friendly. Since I have interacted very graciously with a number of atheists (and they have treated me likewise) I do not understand the level of antipathy that is evident so often. I am enjoying the conversation.
You’ll often find the antipathy in non-believers who feel degraded or persecuted. You’ll find some of that in my posts here, since as stated above, this blog is a pressure release valve for me. Being non-religious in an extremely religious country is hard, especially since Atheists are effectively barred from holding public office. Many of us feel liked demonized 2nd class citizens in a country that’s supposed to have a separation of church and state. Once you start looking for it, you’ll find religion permeates everything in this country. Just like when you give up chocolate for lent, you start to see chocolate everywhere. :-p
Not only are atheists effectively barred from holding public office, but elected officials fully aware of atheists being subjected to the most egregious mistreatment imaginable will, in my experience, turn a blind-eye to it for fear of possibly being percived an “atheist lover”. How sad – and deplorable.
Hi there. Fellow atheist from South Africa here. Stumbled upon your blog by accident a couple minutes ago and I think it’s awesome. SA is 79% Christian, 8% ‘non-religious.’ So ja, luckily my boyfriend and brother are both atheists (to counteract the effects of some creationists and Christians in the family) otherwise I’d have lost my mind by now.
Keep up the awesomeness.
Stumbled on your site today and thouroughly enjoyed myself.
Cool, glad you liked it Kenny 🙂
I found your website because somehow it was swept up on my “Power Balance” google alert. I am a member of the Independent Investigations Group in Los Angeles, CA
https://www.iigwest.org
I just submitted a comment on your blog post about The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
I’ll check in from time to time.
Now we know who the seilnbse one is here. Great post!
Hi Ms Hughes, thanks for the comments. I’m a big fan of CFI and IIG looks really interesting. Wish there was something like that here in SC.
Well done website … talented. I think your claim that all the Founding Fathers were deist is far from accurate. Here’s a chart that shows the religious affiliation of the Founding Fathers, Signers of the Constitution, First Congress, etc. There are far more Christians than Deists or other beliefs.
Regards,
https://www.adherents.com/gov/Founding_Fathers_Religion.html
In terms of attendance, yes, christians outweighed deists, but the primary authors tended to be more deistic than christian, and they most certainly wouldn’t consider themselves anything like the revisionist fundamentalist strain of christianity that is currently bending over backwards to try and fudge, distort, and cherry pick facts to make it look like the country was founded by evangelicals. I would like to know who compiled this list, it seems they got their facts wrong. I tried going to the main adherent’s webpage it the whole thing looks like someone in their basement put it together.
Good blog! Short but sums it up. Keep on fightin’ the good fight.
Cheers,
Extro
Hey, thanks Extro, subscribed to your blog.
I know this is totally off-topic, but could you tell me where you get those awesome pics from you use in your banner?