Exerpt from"Black and Atheist Too: My Journey Living Through Discovery of the Non-existence of God" by Dr. Arthur R Byrd

During the one year I underwent chemotherapy, I faced the issue of whether I would die from the cancer.  At no time did I consider God as an answer.  I am reminded of Christopher Hitchens, who said as he was approaching death.  In his fragmentary jottings, published in the Daily Telegraph, he wrote: ‘I am not fighting or battling cancer, it is fighting me. My two assets were my pen and my voice.’…

Hitchens knew he was dying but saw the funny side of all the glowing praise for his literary work. “Now so many tributes that it also seems that rumors of my LIFE have also been greatly exaggerated.”

Lived to see most of what’s going to be written about me: this too is exhilarating, but hits diminishing returns when I realize how soon it, too will be “background.

He wrote: ‘Those who say I am being punished are saying that god can’t think of anything more vengeful than cancer for a heavy smoker.’

…

He maintained his devout atheism after being diagnosed with cancer, telling one interviewer: ‘No evidence or argument has yet been presented which would change my mind. But I like surprises.

The above information was taken from the following website. http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2012/08/19/christopher-hitchens-last-words/

Excerpt from Black and Atheist Too: My Journey Living Through Discovery of the Non-existence of God, by Dr. Arthur R. Byrd

An excerpt from Black and Atheist Too: My Journey Living Through the Discovery of the Non-existence of God, by Dr. Arthur R. Byrd.  (Chapter 3, Humor)

What’s in the Name Jesus and Christianity

Not only his image, but the very name of “Jesus” is a substitute (interpretation). Many people are transfixed by the mere sound of the name, “JESUS.  This name Jesus is relatively new.  The name Jesus did not appear in the Bible until 1630, with the second printing of the Kings James Version of the Bible.  The original name of Jesus was Yeshua or Yahshua.  The Old Testament was first written in Hebrew.  At that time there was no “J” in the Hebrew alphabet. Jesus was originally written Yeshua in Hebrew and later written as “Iesous” in Greek.  This fact in itself does not disprove the existence of God or Jesus as the savior, but points out the irony of how people react to the very sound of the name without knowing the true history of how the name came to be accepted and used.  Another good example is the term Christian.   William Dwight McKissic, Sr. refers to Christian as the Forgotten “N” (nigger) Word.  The followers of Jesus or Christ never referred to themselves as Christians.  To the Romans the word Christ and/or Christian was a derogatory word used to refer to a Jewish religious sect who followed the teachings of Jesus.   The word Christ comes from the Greek work Christos, meaning anointed, or the word Messiah or Mashiah (Hebrew).  So the word that so many people hold sacred is really not so sacred at all, but translations of other terms used to label people.  In the mind of many Romans, the word Christian or the followers of Jesus was much the same as “nigger” to African Americans.  I guest this says something for the current use of the word, primarily by young Blacks, especially rappers and other popular culture devotees.  Of course, probably representative of my generation I view the “N” word with abhorrence, and stand by my convictions that it has no place in the lexicon of world language, unless you wish to insult someone.  Followers of Christ never referred to themselves as Christians.  Christians is only written in the New Testament a few times.  But sometimes names stick and become part of the normal language.

For more details go to:  Black and Atheist Too      

Dr. Byrd Releases New Book

Black and Atheist Too: My Journey Living Through Discovery of the Non-existence of God by Dr. Arthur R. Byrd.

Books are available now. To order your copy, go to:    

Dr. Arthur R. Byrd is a retired community college Vice President.  He worked 37 years in community colleges in the states of Washington, Oregon, California, and Nevada; 24 years as a vice president for student services. Dr. Byrd was awarded a doctorate degree from the University of Washington. In addition, he served as adjunct faculty in six universities in both undergraduate and graduate studies for Portland State University, Portland OR; Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, CA; Chapman University, Orange, CA; CSU, Long Beach, Long Beach, CA; University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV, and Alliant International University – Online. His disciplines include Ethnic Studies, Communications, and Education.  Dr. Byrd grew up in a small rural community of 500 people called Nigton, Texas, located in the piney woods of east Texas, during the Jim Crow segregation era. The community’s social and cultural life focused on three Churches, three juke joints, plus a school. Growing up Dr. Byrd focused on the religious aspects of his community, but at the age of 19, while in the United States Air Force, he had an intellectual epiphany and transitioned into becoming an atheist.  He has been an outspoken atheist since that time.  Since his retirement from higher education in 2011, Dr. Byrd has dedicated himself to the study of the history and philosophy of religion, culminating in the writing of a book that chronicles his transition to atheism, and the various stages of atheist he has experienced up until the present time. 

BLACK AND ATHEIST TOO: MY JOURNEY LIVING THROUGH DISCOVERY OF THE NON-EXISTENCE OF GOD, by Dr. Arthur R. Byrd.

Black and Atheist Too

A new and exciting book.  Available now.  You will follow Dr. Byrd from his

humble Christian upbringing in the small rural community of Nigton, Texas, through his 

transition to atheism while in the Air Force in the sixties.  In this book you will gain insight 

on what it means to be Black and Atheist.  After his conversion to atheism, Dr. Byrd takes 

you on a journey in his life through his academic and intellectual development on atheism; 

the humor of the Bible and many religious practices; dealing with tragedy and death without 

God; an exploration of the Gods of many lands, superstitions, and the miss-application of 

knowledge; and finally a critique of the comparative morality of believers versus non-

believers.  You will also understand the anguish one endures as a Black who questions the 

existence of God; the sense of isolation, the sense of frustration, and being labeled a 

“Doubting Thomas”.  The book is also documented with historical and statistical references 

on the development of religion and its resulting practices.  A must read for religious and non-

religious people alike.

Copies are available now. 

Go to my blog at  Black and Atheist Too to order your copy.