I have been tweeting with Joe over twitter for a little while now using @pinkheretic and a previous alias. Joe’s dogmatic creationist and heavily right wing views can be hard to take and I need regular breaks from him. Yesterday I yet again came to such a time where the frustration of dealing with him brought me to the point I needed a break for my own sanity. Joe is a young earth creationist. They a rare breed. Oh wait, no it appears they are not as rare as I once thought in my sheltered upbringing without religion. My parents were atheist and the only contact I had with religious views was though religious friends and occasional Sunday school or ‘religion class’ at primary school run by volunteers here in Australia. (I know, a whole other topic I need to do)
My thoughts on religion were that it was fiction, such as the stories of Noah’s ark and Baby Jesus. That is all they were, just stories that for some reason, some people believed. I had no idea that people were so dogmatically religious that they would absurdly deny known science. After all, science has been well known as the method for discovering technology and the understanding of things as well known as the theory of gravity. Funnily enough creationists tend to accept the theory of gravity, but not the theory of evolution, which has as much if not more evidence. Science methods are rigorous and structured to ensure accuracy and truth, however many creationists still find reason to ignore the science that applies to evolution.
Neil deGrasse Tyson (astrophysicist, cosmologist, author, and science communicator) gives a wonderful explanation of scientific process for those who want to know more about it.
Hanging out on twitter and following atheists has given me a whole new perspective on religion. Joe has been a large part of that because he is so vocal and so many atheists seem to know of him due to his long, repetitive and stubborn participation as a creationist. He is somewhat of a pariah with his very extreme religious views and the arrogant and condescending way he portrays them.
One of the first times I came in contact with Joe on twitter he assured me he knew and loved science. It didn’t take me long to discover the extent of his delusion. Joe portrays himself (or attempts to) as a steadfast and loyal christian. Someone who lives by the word of God. He claims to have found God after listening to Ken Ham in prison. At first being Australian I had not heard of Ken Ham, or Joe’s other favourite, Kent Hovind.
I have since come to get to know Joe somewhat due to some rather colourful interactions. One thing that is obvious, is that Joe is incapable of learning new things. He has been told for YEARS that atheism isn’t a religion and that it’s definition is lack of belief in a god or gods.
This is his first tweet on twitter, advertising his book. Yes, he is trying to follow in the footsteps of Ken Ham and Kent Hovind to make money from creationism and selling books. Hilarious if only for his deplorable grammar. (more on that later)
PERFECT EASTER BOOK 'Jesus Christ is God'.- proves the resurrection the greatest historical fact www.sonofmanministries.org Come visit us
— Joe Cienkowski (@JoeCienkowski) February 27, 2010
His book description is an absolute hoot if you care to look it up on amazon along with his other books, all with equally amusing comments. It is even made obvious when Joe has written his own comment by his child like grammar something which is often also evident on twitter. I recommend listening to movingtomontana YouTube videos for some book reviews on his book Atheism is a Religion. They are absolutely hilarious. His books are self published by the way and if the book Atheism is a Religion is anything to go by (also self published), has not been proof read AT ALL.
Now as you see in the above tweet, in February of 2010, Joe starts out on twitter, to advertise his book. Not so long after, another tweet advertising his latest book. Atheism is a Religion.
Atheism is a religion. Evolution is their "creation story". Atheism has tenets, dogma, beliefs, command, and church www.joecienkowski.com
— Joe Cienkowski (@JoeCienkowski) April 18, 2010
Notice a whole bunch of false claims in this tweet alone, let alone whatever must be in his book. He has made many tweets about atheism over the years since then. here are just a few examples.
@JoeCienkowski I don't know how many fatuous claims I've seen that evolution is a religion (all by people who don't understand evolution)
— scott_hurst (@scott_hurst) May 7, 2010
@scott_hurst I reject evolution as science, plain and simple. I love science. Evolution is religion. Evolution is religion. Evolution is rel
— Joe Cienkowski (@JoeCienkowski) May 16, 2010
He never did lose that repetition by the way!
@CuddlyAutomoton 1000 times I've corrected atheists and said "don't say that evolution is science" Evolution is a religious worldview
— Joe Cienkowski (@JoeCienkowski) July 16, 2010
@pinkearmuffs I love science, and show true science. You mistaken believe evolution is science, when it's a religious belief
— Joe Cienkowski (@JoeCienkowski) August 4, 2010
Yes, he was claiming he loved science in 2010, just as he is now. Just as he claims evolution isn’t science still, and that atheism is a religious belief.
@Tefisheep the reason I came to Christ fully is because I was scientifically understood evolution is religion
— Joe Cienkowski (@JoeCienkowski) August 9, 2010
A wonderful example of his A+ grammar skills.
RT @JoeCienkowski: Creation is science and evolution is religion. // Yeah, and freedom is slavery and war is peace, blah blah blah
— Good Reason News (@GoodReasonNews) November 20, 2010
Grand claim here and it is now 2015 and he still hasn’t ‘turned scientific community upside’. (despite his books!)
@joecienkowski @Gilgameshismist Well there's a problem ~ because evolution is science, not religion ~ so there you go mixing them up.
— Alexander Allan (@CapnAlex) January 9, 2011
Do you think he might be a bit confused?
Evolution is not scientifically possible. I don't care how big a book is justifying its foolishness. It's religious viewpoint not scientific
— Joe Cienkowski (@JoeCienkowski) May 17, 2011
‘a book’? Try hundreds of thousands, if not more. It isn’t like the bible Joe.
@classicmalice Evolution is religious dogma. Abiogenesis is religious dogma. "there is no God" is a dogmatic belief of atheism. See?
— Joe Cienkowski (@JoeCienkowski) February 28, 2012
Except for the fact evolution isn’t religion, it is scientific fact.
It has always been a false dichotomy to say 'creation vs evolution' is religion vs science, unless you mean creation being the science part.
— Joe Cienkowski (@JoeCienkowski) January 2, 2012
As you see he hasn’t learnt anything yet. Big words though, he must have gotten out his dictionary.
@classicmalice Evolution is religious dogma. Abiogenesis is religious dogma. "there is no God" is a dogmatic belief of atheism. See?
— Joe Cienkowski (@JoeCienkowski) February 28, 2012
Atheism is lack of belief in God/Gods Joe, by definition, not a religion.
Creationism is actually true. This would make it real science. Evolution is a 'fig newton' of your imagination, making it real religion.
— Joe Cienkowski (@JoeCienkowski) August 28, 2012
Yes, he really said ‘fig newton’.
@CarnunMP @Dragonblaze @TheRejected2011 @ElbowsMcGee Macro evolution is religion. Micro evolution is science. You make a leap of faith, Bud!
— Joe Cienkowski (@JoeCienkowski) May 6, 2013
Oooh, a small triumph. I have never seen him admit ANY evolution in my more recent conversations with Joe!
@Grim_Atheist @LibAtheist actually, you are forcing atheism in people's lives, your religion. Evolution, something from nothing, is atheism.
— Joe Cienkowski (@JoeCienkowski) March 13, 2013
How exactly do you ‘force’ atheism? You can’t make someone think something they don’t want to, as Joe is a perfect testament to. Ha!
@JoeCienkowski @IRaiseUFacts @GodFreeWorld evolution is unproved and unprovable but we are 2 buy the fantastical claims of religion? #okthen
— Mwene WaZvo (@fariethefirst) July 28, 2013
He seems to think only atheists believe science about evolution. The strange is strong in this one!
@CallamThompson Once you say, "we evolved" you are saying "nothing created me". 'Nothing' is your god. Every religion has a god(s)
— Joe Cienkowski (@JoeCienkowski) October 15, 2013
Did that word salad make sense? No? Didn’t think so!
@Im_Atheist @Liberty_2112 @LogicBobomb @themadjw I have and use 6 Bibles and American Heritage Dictionary (3rd) & http://t.co/X4a1Z4K9jq
— Joe Cienkowski (@JoeCienkowski) December 27, 2013
He may have 6 Bibles and a dictionary, but he is clearly incapable of using them as he still has no idea what the definition of atheism is. That post is now 2013. He has learn’t nothing in 3yrs.
@Im_Atheist @Liberty_2112 @LogicBobomb @themadjw I'm a word fanatic & how I'll win with Creationism being science, atheism being a religion
— Joe Cienkowski (@JoeCienkowski) December 27, 2013
He still hasn’t won…
.@JoeCienkowski @Liberty_2112 1. #atheism is not a #religion, it's a lack of belief in gods 2. It has nothing to do w #evolution. Try agn
— Dean Martin (@DeanoMartino1) December 28, 2013
Nice one Dean, that was pretty clear right?
@lillai23 @IntuitiveGal1 @OBJC123 @SunbeamTiger66 @perth_atheist I love science and "Creation vs. science" is a false dichotomy; always has
— Joe Cienkowski (@JoeCienkowski) February 16, 2014
Hmm, I don’t think that sentence meant what he thought it meant. Grammar OUCH too!
@JoeCienkowski Do you ever tire of being wrong? @TakeThatDarwin @StacySkipper
— Robert Caplette (@TattooedEnigma) March 22, 2014
Apparently not!
Evolution is satan's religion. It's not science. Evolution, which you didn't think about, goes back to life & universe from nothing= atheism
— Joe Cienkowski (@JoeCienkowski) April 12, 2014
Ahh, evolution isn’t religion, or origin of life, or atheism!
@Danskil you have been lied to think that there is any scientific logical or sensible reason to believe in evolution. it's a complete hoax
— Joe Cienkowski (@JoeCienkowski) June 23, 2014
Irony alert! Note it is now 2014. Nope, still hasn’t learnt definition of evolution, atheism or religion despite many people providing same.
@CubanAtheist @AtomicD_ @grant_hood believing in evolution is supporting atheism, as evolution is an atheistic tenet of their religion.
— Joe Cienkowski (@JoeCienkowski) July 4, 2014
Evolution has nothing to do with atheism Joe. Atheism is JUST a lack of belief in a God. I have lost count of how many times he has been told this. He is incapable of learning it seems!
@JoeCienkowski @Young_Tinworth there is no religion! Just a rejection of yours! We can reject both evolution AND god, should we chose to
— Paul (@bevan1987) July 26, 2014
Paul says it nicely!
@ElNuevoOtroMio2 @Ozymandias0_1 @AtomicD_ @aigkenham Pushing evolution in museums is forcing your religion. Just show things in a museum.
— Joe Cienkowski (@JoeCienkowski) October 1, 2014
Just show things in a museum? What things? Any things? Scientific things? Or maybe fossils, evidence type things, kind of like they already do.
@ElNuevoOtroMio2 @AtomicD_ Evolution museums are your church, promoting atheism, via evolution, as absurdly biased determination @aigkenham
— Joe Cienkowski (@JoeCienkowski) October 1, 2014
Oh now if I Hadn’t been researching Joe I would never have come across this gem! He can occasionally be amusing.
@DenizSayak I love science, as Christians have been the best scientists. I think you just want validation for 'evolution', which is religion
— Joe Cienkowski (@JoeCienkowski) October 14, 2014
Yes, we all know Joe loves science, he just doesn’t believe that filthy evolution stuff, or astrophysics, or geology, or paleontology or…
@donald_g @LogicBobomb @PraiseHisName50 @Jonestheatheist @Stehlo_Gaming Evolution is biologically impossible, but part of atheism's religion
— Joe Cienkowski (@JoeCienkowski) October 29, 2014
Oh biology! I knew I had forgotten one!
@JoeCienkowski @JosephOMorrow1 this statement is opposite of atheism, science, evolution. religion is the one that has these emotional ties
— captain caveman (@anonoMAN42) December 5, 2014
Word Captain Caveman! Who said cavemen were primitive?
@TasteTheScience Atheism dominated the scientific community when they decided by groupthink that there is no God, then make a conclusion.
— Joe Cienkowski (@JoeCienkowski) December 24, 2014
Except for the fact that Darwin was a Christian. His discoveries leading to the Theory of Evolution convinced him there was no need for a God. Darwin was the author of the book On the Origin of the Species in 1859.
@kettlekat Evolution is atheism. You are pushing your religion onto others. There's no proof or reason to believe life could do as you say.
— Joe Cienkowski (@JoeCienkowski) April 13, 2015
2015 and he still doesn’t understand definitions of evolution, atheism or religion. Nor does he understand just how much evidence there is for evolution.
@LogicBobomb No. Evolution is atheism's creation story the way Gen 1 is a Christians. You need evolution or atheism dies with it, you know.
— Joe Cienkowski (@JoeCienkowski) July 15, 2015
He still doesn’t understand that evolution has nothing to do with origins of life. He still doesn’t realise that atheists are atheists in spite of evolution. Atheism is the default position Joe. Babies are born atheists.
@JoeCienkowski @TakeThatDarwin @clikchic @Mogleeone @hellboy2112 @JFMeC I don't for a second believe there's any lights on in your head
— Ego Sum Fortis (@HatedbyMorons) October 24, 2015
He is referring to listening to Ken Ham when he was in prison here. Notice he says the light went off? I agree with Ego here, I don’t think the light was ever on in the first place.
@JoeCienkowski so your strategy is to say evolution is just as bad as your religion?@TakeThatDarwin @clikchic @Mogleeone @hellboy2112
— Superbink (@superbinko) October 24, 2015
Yes, yes it is Superbink, over and over again!
@JoeCienkowski @robburdack @DuncanWeston @Mogleeone @hi_hat_truth @irolands 'evolution is religion'
— Pink Heretic (@pinkheretic) November 15, 2015
Given all that history, this one was pretty darn easy! I have many more, some of which I will share as well.
@pinkheretic You're atheistic religious belief goes against science, which is the problem. You shouldn't mix your religion into science.
— Joe Cienkowski (@JoeCienkowski) November 17, 2015
I am pretty willing to bet that these are lies too. I think science is the bane of his existence.
His belief that he knows my beliefs better than I know them myself is typical also. No Joe, I have been atheist all my life. Atheism is NOT a religion. I don’t attend church, worship or follow doctrine. I follow evidence, like most rational people.
He really didn’t like me pointing out he didn’t understand the definition of average.
@JoeCienkowski @robburdack @DuncanWeston @hi_hat_truth @irolands No Joe, the average 'longest' is 85. 120 isn't average it is maximum
— Pink Heretic (@pinkheretic) November 18, 2015
@JoeCienkowski @robburdack @DuncanWeston @hi_hat_truth & you still don't understand average! Average is NOT oldest!! pic.twitter.com/0G8DyBGq5M
— Pink Heretic (@pinkheretic) November 18, 2015
This argument went on for some time. He was convinced he was correct, despite the fact I gave him the definition several times.
@JoeCienkowski I didn't deny that statement. I denied oldest average. I only EVER denied 'oldest average' and 'longest average'.
— Pink Heretic (@pinkheretic) November 19, 2015
@pinkheretic @DrJ_WasTaken @marsdaddy I'm seeing you say 'average oldest' in place of 'avg life expectancy'. I show they're 2 different nos.
— Joe Cienkowski (@JoeCienkowski) November 18, 2015
@JoeCienkowski @robburdack @DuncanWeston @hi_hat_truth No Joe it is NOT. AGAIN! Oldest and average are two very different things!
— Pink Heretic (@pinkheretic) November 18, 2015
He insisted my pride was the issue, not that he was wrong. Eventually I think it may have sunk in a little because he changed his terminology, but still refused to admit he was wrong. He insisted I had been wrong all along.
@JoeCienkowski I didn't deny that statement. I denied oldest average. I only EVER denied 'oldest average' and 'longest average'.
— Pink Heretic (@pinkheretic) November 19, 2015
At this point he started getting nasty. He started getting insulting and making crude statements about me so I muted him. I reported the following post (not safe for work), but I did save the worst one for evidence of his lack of respect.
While I made it clear to him that I had muted him, he kept on making responses trying to get a rise out of me. On occasion I would see his posts through other people responding.
@pinkheretic @DrJ_WasTaken @PBDerby69 @thomperUK @marsdaddy Is this a joke? You're the one who is too dim to understand last oldest people.
— Joe Cienkowski (@JoeCienkowski) November 23, 2015
Now I am trying really hard to ignore his posts, but it is not easy! He likes to say he is capable of admitting when he is wrong, as he mentions in this tweet. I will give him props for admitting he is both a drug dealer and an adulterer, which he is quite open about.
@pinkheretic @TripleMinority @john19071969 @AgnosticBomber @g1rad I'm not perfect. I admit when I do wrong, and know 'wrong' is objective.
— Joe Cienkowski (@JoeCienkowski) October 31, 2015
On matters related to faith however he refuses to admit ever being wrong. If you follow the thread of the last tweet, you will find some rather amusing wrongs of his. (just click on the date at the bottom of the post)
Joe is steadfast in his beliefs and will not sway no matter how strong an argument. I guess when you can deny evidence you can’t persuade someone. He has also written a book reasons to not vote for Obama which he wholeheartedly believes as true. I have heard he went on quite a rant when he got voted in for a second term. His timeline is full of conspiracy theories about Obama. I swears Obama is muslim and believes the faked birth certificate that has circulated all over the web. To his ridiculous claim about Obama being muslim I point out this favourite meme of mine.
Oops forgot about the swearage. My bad! Probably the most hateful tweet I have ever seen by Joe is this one.
@Hovask God bless Israel. They are a good decent country, while Palestine is a fraud of violent radical nomads, who need to be exterminated.
— Joe Cienkowski (@JoeCienkowski) July 11, 2014
It makes me sad that a supposed Christian think this type of comment is acceptable. What’s worse is that he actually believes it. He has not even removed the post from twitter. How is it that me and many other ‘evil’ atheists can find such a comment abhorrent, and Joe be apparently proud of it? He has made similar comments to this one, so it isn’t the only time he has made a comment such as this about Palestine.
When I started this post, I had not intended to make it quite this long. So if you have made it this far, please do go have a coffee!
If however you want to hear more of Joe’s interesting past. There is a podcast interview of his ex wife Brandy Cienkowski that provides a rather interesting insight into Joe. I am glad that she has managed to move on and start a happier life without Joe. If you google search him, that also brings up a large amount of interesting information about him. I don’t believe he works, and from the amount of stuff you can find when you google him, he hasn’t a hope of getting a job ever again. His drug crimes certainly wouldn’t help!
As hateful as he can be, there are times I do feel sorry for him, as I feel as if he does have some serious problems. Sadly those times never last long because it doesn’t take long for Joe to switch from being reasonably polite, to outright hateful and then you remember why he gets on your nerves so much once again.
Sometimes you just HAVE to mute him for your own sanity!