Courageous Oklahoma Atheist has over $50,000 raised for her by grateful fellow atheists.

Courtesy of HuffPo: 

After a vicious tornado ripped through her Moore, Okla. home on Tuesday, Rebecca Vitsmun was lucky to be alive. After graciously handling an awkward moment while discussing the aftermath on national television, more good fortune is headed her way. 

In a Tuesday interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer, Vitsmun was asked if she was thanking "the Lord" for deciding to escape home with her 19-month-old son. She hesitated for a moment, before telling Blitzer that she was actually an atheist. 

"You are. All right. But you made the right call," Blitzer said, prompting Vitsmun to add: "We are here, and I don't blame anyone for thanking the Lord." 

An Indiegogo community called Atheists Unite has responded resoundingly in support of Vitsmun's poise. Over just a few hours from late Thursday into early Friday, 250-plus funders had raised more than $7,000 for her. According to the page, a fundraising goal of $50,000 in assistance has been set. (Since HuffPo posted this article the amount raised has gone up dramatically and they have now met their $50,000 goal and then some!)


"It's important that our community shows that we have your back when you come out publicly as an atheist," the campaign page wrote. "Let's show the world that you dont need to believe in a god to have human compassion nor does all charity fall under the banner of religion. Let's get this courageous woman and her family back in their own home."

I have to say that as an atheist myself I was REALLY impressed with Ms. Vitsmum's ability to stay true to her beliefs (Or lack of beliefs if you prefer) while being questioned on national television. 

Just like lowering our heads during unexpected requests for prayer, it is sometimes just easier to play along rather than to stand out, but this brave young mother seemed to have no problem. And for that she has earned the respect and admiration of many people, both religious, and nonreligious.

P.S. By the way the most humorous response from the religious right to this rather embarrassing incident for CNN was from Glenn Beck, who seems to believe that it was the result of sabotage from the "forces of spiritual darkness:"  

“I think he was fed some information about the guest he had on beforehand — that’s what producers do — given some questions that he should ask, etc., etc.,” Beck explained. “Some producer, who is sympathetic to the atheist plight or just doesn’t like Christians or whatever it is, thought it was important to point out that, in the middle of the heartland in American where most people are God fearing, there are atheists there too.” 

“It’s important because it informs others what they are being taught about atheists from atheism and the bully pulpit and other sources of bias that is not a correct reflection of reality in plain view,” he continued. “We are not fighting against flesh and bone, we are fighting the forces of spiritual darkness. And it doesn’t matter what people’s intent are, but I will tell you that, that was there for a reason.”

Oh yeah, if there is an atheist showing up on national television in the wake of a catastrophe  like that they MUST be a plant. After all in the face of such devastation wouldn't that frighten ANYBODY into clinging to superstition and their faith in a bronze age god?

Actually, not so much.