tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50143949606503617222024-02-07T02:58:01.231+01:002000 Years of DeceptionI'm not keen on god.Stewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13584058723818113125noreply@blogger.comBlogger106125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014394960650361722.post-90895210629272011262012-11-23T18:40:00.001+01:002012-11-23T18:40:57.681+01:00Kurt Vonnegut podcastKurt Vonnegut's daughter Nanette talks about <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/audio/2012/nov/23/humour-vonnegut-bleak-expectations-books-podcast">rediscovering </a>her father's funny side.Stewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13584058723818113125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014394960650361722.post-41136811808774221602012-11-22T17:11:00.004+01:002012-11-22T17:31:45.753+01:00God has become an unnecessary hypothesisI found it far easier to account for good in the world without God than
to account for bad in the world with God. Thus, I am no longer a
Christian, or even a theist: God has become an unnecessary hypothesis.<br />
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<a href="http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/testimonials/hobbs.html">Kendal Hobbs</a> Stewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13584058723818113125noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014394960650361722.post-53243546372267548652012-11-22T08:57:00.004+01:002012-11-22T11:06:43.467+01:00Divine Women<div>
<b>Historian <a href="http://www.bettanyhughes.co.uk/">Bettany Hughes</a> reveals the<a href="http://www.bettanyhughes.co.uk/divine-women"> hidden history of women in religion</a>, from dominatrix goddesses to feisty political operators and
warrior empresses.</b></div>
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</div>
<div>
In
this provocative upcoming series, Bettany tells the stories of the
extraordinary women whose legends and lives cast new light on some of
the hottest arguments about the role of women in religion today.</div>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>Drawing
on cutting edge scholarship and archaeological evidence, she reveals
what her favourite women in religion tell us about the lives of the real
flesh and blood women of their day.<br />
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<a href="http://www.bettanyhughes.co.uk/_/rsrc/1346592413344/divine-women/dw.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://www.bettanyhughes.co.uk/_/rsrc/1346592413344/divine-women/dw.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />Stewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13584058723818113125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014394960650361722.post-63757039298833513042011-12-18T10:19:00.002+01:002011-12-18T10:20:36.102+01:00Baaaah!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i.imgur.com/oWQ5d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="339" width="525" src="http://i.imgur.com/oWQ5d.jpg" /></a></div>Stewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13584058723818113125noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014394960650361722.post-24081730934537307942011-09-09T13:59:00.003+02:002011-09-09T14:05:11.546+02:00Prayer: pointless or a fallible God?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.qwantz.com/comics/comic2-2049.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="500" width="735" src="http://www.qwantz.com/comics/comic2-2049.png" /></a></div>
From <a href="http://www.qwantz.com/index.php?comic=2038">Qwantz</a> comicsStewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13584058723818113125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014394960650361722.post-59842351702238268092011-08-24T17:39:00.003+02:002011-08-24T20:01:24.114+02:00Today in History....The 24th August 1572.
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<br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Bartholomew%27s_Day_massacre">St Bartholomew's day massacre</a>, in France, estimates vary between 5000 and 30000 Huguneots slaughtered by Catholics in Paris and elsewhere.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/52/Francois_Dubois_001.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 556px; height: 336px;" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/52/Francois_Dubois_001.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>Stewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13584058723818113125noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014394960650361722.post-20909136691106096572011-08-22T12:18:00.004+02:002011-08-22T18:49:57.532+02:00Mithra Witnesses...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farleftside.com/2011/8-17-2011.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 365px; height: 450px;" src="http://farleftside.com/2011/8-17-2011.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a>
<br />From webcomic <a href="http://farleftside.com/2011/8-17-2011.html">Far Left Side
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<br />Stewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13584058723818113125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014394960650361722.post-45282877973940010732011-08-15T17:08:00.005+02:002011-08-15T18:32:49.969+02:00Pakistani Atheists & AgnosticsPakistani Atheists & Agnostics have launched their <a href="http://www.e-paa.org/">webpage.</a>
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<br />Show your support, visit them, link to them, write articles for them, donate to them.
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<br />You think you got it bad as an atheist? Imagine pulling that shit in Pakistan...
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<br />(edited, because I couldn't spell Pakistan)Stewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13584058723818113125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014394960650361722.post-27098016283491278632011-08-10T16:20:00.004+02:002011-08-10T19:35:43.833+02:00Christians: Y U no at least original?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i.imgur.com/z5lde.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 640px; height: 1440px;" src="http://i.imgur.com/z5lde.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>
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<br />found on <a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/atheism/comments/je9u7/copyright_3000bc_ra6theism10/">Reddit</a> and as pointed out there:
<br /><blockquote>Krishna - Wrong was actually one of many sons
<br />Dioynsus - Wrong about the Holy Child crap
<br />Mithra - Being born of a rock is hardly similar to virgin birth
<br />Horus - Was not born of a virgin birth was infact born of his mother using Osiris's dead member to felate herself, was not crucified had head choped off.
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<br />come on guys this is obviously wrong can this please stop resurfacing
<br /></blockquote>
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<br />Still made me laugh though...Stewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13584058723818113125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014394960650361722.post-66835339047873127222011-08-10T00:09:00.003+02:002011-08-10T00:18:19.158+02:00Biblical Morality<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i.imgur.com/SJXqZ.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 511px; height: 420px;" src="http://i.imgur.com/SJXqZ.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>
<br />Stewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13584058723818113125noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014394960650361722.post-78323016312083220282011-08-09T14:22:00.003+02:002011-08-09T14:45:34.775+02:00<a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/688899/Christian-chemists-will-be-forced-out-under-morning-after-pill-rules.html">Christian chemists 'will be forced out' under morning-after pill rules
<br /></a>
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<br />Christian pharmacists fear they could face the sack if they refuse to hand out morning-after pills, under new guidelines issued by a medical regulator.
<br />Many pharmacists have conscientious moral objections to dispensing emergency contraception and have in the past refused to do so because the drugs work by preventing a fertilised egg from implanting in the womb.
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<br />I have a solution, since as pharmacists it is their job to provide the legally approved medicines required by their clientele, be it prescription or over-the-counter: Why don't they pray over the pills asking God to render them inneffective? Prayer works, right? This would line up with God's wishes, right?Stewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13584058723818113125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014394960650361722.post-23797307872194799962011-08-08T18:31:00.002+02:002011-08-08T20:06:24.525+02:00Unbridled lust, hopelessness and dispairIf there was no God I would probably be having sex with a puppy...
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<br /><iframe width="480" height="295" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/pkCuc34hvD4?fs=1" frameborder="0" allowFullScreen=""></iframe>
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<br />Stewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13584058723818113125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014394960650361722.post-36832575387021035892011-08-08T10:52:00.002+02:002011-08-08T11:00:36.867+02:00Matthew 7:3 a "tu quoque" fallacyDiscussing the topic of <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/8688076/Eviction-of-travellers-defies-human-rights-says-UN-official.html">eviction of gypsies in the UK</a>, my opponent cited <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%207:3&version=NIV">Matthew 7:3</a> because a certain Racquel Rolnik, a UN "Special rapporteur" on Human Rights has criticised the eviction, and Prof Rolnik is from Sao Paulo where there have been many instances of human rights abuse.<br /><br /><blockquote>Prof Rolnik, a professor at the faculty of architecture and urbanism of the University of Sao Paulo, has been a UN special rapporteur on adequate housing since 2008. She is an independent unpaid expert appointed by the Human Rights Council and it is believed she was asked to intervene by campaign groups.<br /><br />Human rights is a pressing issue in her home country. Police killed 1,195 people in 2007 in the state of Rio de Janeiro alone, while Sao Paulo state officers killed 340 civilians in nine months in the same year. Another 1,940 vanished. Child labour is commonplace and torture has been widely reported in detention centres and prisons. </blockquote><br /><br />Matthew 7:3 "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?" is classic Tu Quoque.Stewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13584058723818113125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014394960650361722.post-61203995364707765752011-08-01T17:53:00.002+02:002011-08-01T17:57:04.613+02:00Knowledge is power<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkceRDKU1_s8AzwlDCYKYXyGmOLfC-nm6V7sjlpqidOe201T4KXauaK9cG0tfOPG-GyOPsb-3bQ183KJzFWbG0_8T-GAIUKc1yenTuGyJXgDnxVFwyvvzux05UapbBiVwNpBVH2zj9Yxs/s748/knowledge-is-power.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 675px; height: 545px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkceRDKU1_s8AzwlDCYKYXyGmOLfC-nm6V7sjlpqidOe201T4KXauaK9cG0tfOPG-GyOPsb-3bQ183KJzFWbG0_8T-GAIUKc1yenTuGyJXgDnxVFwyvvzux05UapbBiVwNpBVH2zj9Yxs/s748/knowledge-is-power.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a>Stewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13584058723818113125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014394960650361722.post-14409294259018775192011-08-01T12:31:00.004+02:002011-08-01T12:43:34.503+02:00Good without God, from USA Today<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://blog.seattlepi.com/hottopics/files/library/withoutgod.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 450px; height: 273px;" src="http://blog.seattlepi.com/hottopics/files/library/withoutgod.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><br />Nice to see this calm and well argued article in <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/forum/2011-07-31-atheism-morality-evolution-religion_n.htm">USA Today</a>, by Jerry Coyne titled "As atheists know, you can be good without God"<br /><br />He gives examples of immoral teachings in the Old and New Testaments and points out how believers choose to ignore and not act upon these immoral guidelines.<br /><br />Having shown that we don't get our moral guidelines from the Bible, where have they come from?<br /><blockquote>So where does morality come from, if not from God? Two places: evolution and secular reasoning.<br /><br />Should we be afraid that a morality based on our genes and our brains is somehow inferior to one handed down from above? Not at all. In fact, it's far better, because secular morality has a flexibility and responsiveness to social change that no God-given morality could ever have. Secular morality is what pushes religion to improve its own dogma on issues such as slavery and the treatment of women. Secular morality is what prevents ethically irrelevant matters — what we eat, read or wear, when we work, or whom we have sex with — from being grouped with matters of genuine moral concern — rape and child abuse. And really, isn't it better to be moral because you've worked out for yourself — in conjunction with your group — the right thing to do, rather than because you want to propitiate a god or avoid punishment in the hereafter?<br /><br />Nor should we worry that a society based on secular morality will degenerate into lawlessness. That experiment has already been done — in countries such as Sweden and Denmark that are largely filled with non-believers and atheists. I can vouch from experience that secular European nations are full of well-behaved and well-meaning citizens, not criminals and sociopaths running amok. In fact, you can make a good case that those countries, with their liberal social views and extensive aid for the sick, old and disadvantaged, are even more moral than America.<br /><br />Clearly, you can be good without God.</blockquote>Stewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13584058723818113125noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014394960650361722.post-18325713991720859272011-08-01T10:30:00.003+02:002011-08-01T10:38:08.982+02:00Pharyngula's new address<a href="http://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/">http://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/</a><br /><br />This is the new wordpress blog for unadulterated Pharyngula, including anti-theist posts.<br /><br />The existing Scienceblogs/National Geographic blog at <a href="http://Pharyngula.org">Pharyngula</a> will only have scientific and anti creationist posts.<br /><br />PZ explains all on his Google+ account which can be seen here <a href="https://plus.google.com/102600088268197126924/posts/WMHhpTAkr41?hl=en#102600088268197126924/posts/WMHhpTAkr41">PZMyers - Google+</a> even if, like me, you don't have a Google+ account.Stewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13584058723818113125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014394960650361722.post-31731906761352915882011-07-31T21:13:00.003+02:002011-07-31T21:29:51.063+02:00Teleportation in the New Testament<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3CPwVC7dUL98IeL5r-8mNnWYwGMuIJoOIPrfKKufi3g6bXZ0VC3fUAq37kLhzwJ0JzS2lnIgLIzX3b7Xf43J6GIYCrhp3FlCAffWYg1W3kZim0mk8lLVfQSN00a5Ln8lXAa34IbbZEwY/s1600/teleport.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 373px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3CPwVC7dUL98IeL5r-8mNnWYwGMuIJoOIPrfKKufi3g6bXZ0VC3fUAq37kLhzwJ0JzS2lnIgLIzX3b7Xf43J6GIYCrhp3FlCAffWYg1W3kZim0mk8lLVfQSN00a5Ln8lXAa34IbbZEwY/s400/teleport.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635597215541683746" /></a><br /><br />So not only could Jesus teleport himself, but he could also teleport his mates and their boat. Later on in Acts, Philip teleported from the lake to Azotus.<br /><br />Teleportation, zombies, is there any craziness the Bible hasn't covered?<br /><blockquote><span style="font-weight:bold;">John 6:16-21</span><br />16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, 17 where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them. 18 A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. 19 When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were frightened. 20 But he said to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid.” 21 Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading. <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">John 20:19-20</span><br />19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Acts 8:38-40</span><br />8 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. 40 Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea. </blockquote>Stewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13584058723818113125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014394960650361722.post-33987366768371458082009-05-15T15:57:00.003+02:002009-05-15T15:59:44.585+02:00Magic!Space shuttle Atlantis in silhouette, or in transit, against the sun.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/multimedia/archive/01403/space-shuttle-Atla_1403934i.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 620px; height: 400px;" src="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/multimedia/archive/01403/space-shuttle-Atla_1403934i.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />BeautifulStewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13584058723818113125noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014394960650361722.post-75897879182005468372009-05-12T17:03:00.002+02:002009-05-12T17:46:43.342+02:00Spritual AttackFor most of us, shit happens.<br />Your car breaks down on the way to work, the biro leaks in your shirt pocket, and the goon at work is giving you a hard time. Shit happens.<br />But if you're a fundie Christian it's all the fault of Satan and it's a spiritual attack, for the express purpose of making you lose your faith in God.<br /><br />There are several ongoing threads at Rapture Ready on spritual attacks. because these bozos believe the end is nigh, they are also convinced that spritual attacks are on the increase as Satan, in his last gasp attempts to forestall the inevitable final triumph of jesus lashes out at the faithful. All the following quotes have come from the last three days.<br />(It needs mentioning that back in the day, I was a bozo too)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_zK-U-w-i3fvtM-Z5pygGtYS79R2cT4suJQj7t_ToqeautaDuMQf9Y1qUmdi5bL02kWINVnu3trJE5hS6KSE6qoqe5PAfwUK88GbNcw_vC6y_R5ubnR6s7r8dMEiqA67lnOSra0DImrI/s1600-h/shithappens.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 260px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_zK-U-w-i3fvtM-Z5pygGtYS79R2cT4suJQj7t_ToqeautaDuMQf9Y1qUmdi5bL02kWINVnu3trJE5hS6KSE6qoqe5PAfwUK88GbNcw_vC6y_R5ubnR6s7r8dMEiqA67lnOSra0DImrI/s320/shithappens.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334964308384564786" /></a><br /><br /><blockquote>I am just completely exausted. I sometimes feel like one more day will be to much! I think of all that is going on in the world is just amazing...I am just so heartbroken that our country is being sold out. And it seems nobody has a clue about what is happening. Everybody is walking around as if it's business as usual. We are a matter of months to a year away from Iran getting nukes....I just dont know. People its time to wake up!</blockquote><br /><br /><blockquote>Yes, there's been weird things going on in my corner too. Mostly things happening to people close to me (alcoholic brother relapsing, etc.), things not working out much more so than usual, yet it seems God causes other doors to open. Usually I would be a bit more negatively affected, but I've just put these things in God's hands and I feel at peace. Praise God!<br />Lately I've been led to pray for God's supernatural hedge of protection around my family, friends, neighbors and brothers and sisters in Christ (around the world and of course here at RR). I really think that we are in a time where we will survive only through God's constant supernatural guidance.<br />All week last week I couldn't find my Sunday School material for teaching kindergartners at church. I was kind of stumped as to where in the world it went, I'm pretty good about making sure the material is in a safe spot in the house.</blockquote><br /><br /><blockquote>I, too have felt the 'heaviness' upon my heart in the past 2 weeks. I know I am getting closer to the Lord, yet I still have a long way to go. My heart is unsettled and I know it shouldn't be. I've made it a habit to take some quiet time daily and pray (I also talk to the Lord during the day) and I am reading my bible on a fairly daily basis. It does help me, but I am still struggling.</blockquote><br /><br /><blockquote>I have had attacks that lasted for years and I wanted to kill myself because of them. God provided me a way to stand against the hurricaine that had invaded my life. I seem to be in a resting period right now. All I can say is that nothing lasts forever in this life. Nothing good and nothing bad. Just think that we could be living in the millenium kingdom 10 years from now and forget everything about this time that we live in. It's very possible.</blockquote><br /><br /><blockquote>One of the most upsetting things that I've seen lately is the amount of attacks from other self-called "Christians." Has anybody else been experiencing this?<br />One of Satan's ploys, apparently, it to attack from directions that are almost unimaginable. It's expected to be hurt by non-believers. However, my family, recently, has been attacked by some who proclaim to be Christians. These attacks are more shocking because they are so unexpected. So many are being led down that wide path, and they don't even realize it.</blockquote><br /><br /><blockquote>I'm not sure what to think, I feel weird about the World every single day.<br />Just hang in there, things are heating up! This IS the Last Generation.<br />Can't be too long. </blockquote><br /><br /><blockquote>The same here also, the days go by and I feel well different, going throw the motion's of life, but at the same time feeling I guess a big sense of change coming are way.....I also feel the sense of urgency to leave tracts everywhere especially the last couple of days, one day it was late and I couldn't get it off my mind so I left and just went around leaving tracts everywhere... about 30 to 45 minutes later I came back feeling much better, the same thing yesterday.....but I also have the sense of peace that the Lord has it under control....and I really believe that there is a spirtural battle going on right now, the devil knows his time is really short....but pray and stay close to God......For Jesus is coming back!</blockquote>Stewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13584058723818113125noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014394960650361722.post-65859534925333708172009-05-11T19:15:00.003+02:002009-05-11T19:19:30.748+02:00Ye oŋe and oŋley wordde of GodA particular brand of wingnuttery I've come across lately is the belief that the King James version of the Bible is the one and only Word of God and all other translations are at least substandard, and at worst, works of the devil.<br />It is called the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King-James-Only_Movement">King James Only movement</a> and is yet another source of schism amongst the myriad Christian sects.<br /><br />Try this web page for example: <a href="http://www.thelionofjudah.org/whydowesupportkjv.htm">Why Do We Only Support The King James Version Of The Holy Bible?</a><br /><br /><blockquote>FABLE: The King James Bible was revised several times before 1800, so modern translations are just additional revisions of the original King James Bible of 1611.<br /><br />FACT: The so-called "revisions" of the King James Bible prior to 1800 were to correct typographical errors, add notes, and omit the Apocrypha from between the Testaments. There were no changes in the actual TEXT of the King James Bible. The REAL changes (over 36,000 of them) didn't start until the modern revisionists came on the scene.</blockquote><br />Well that's OK then. The whole thing was God inspired and controlled except for the typos. God can't proof read.<br /><br /><blockquote>FABLE: The modern translations are more accurate because they have been translated from older and better manuscripts.<br /><br />FACT: It is truly amazing how so many Christians have bought into this lie without ever checking to see WHAT these manuscripts are, WHERE they came from, and WHO wrote them. Its also strange that no one seems to be asking the question, "Has God honored these 'older' and 'better' manuscripts throughout Church History?"</blockquote><br />Older doesn't mean better. Unless it's the KJV in which case older is better.<br /><br /><blockquote>FABLE: New translations are needed to correct the errors and contradictions in the King James Bible.<br /><br />FACT: No one has ever proven that there are errors and contradictions in the KJV. Many "Christian" colleges and preachers have a nasty habit of pointing out APPARENT contradictions to their people, but these arguments have been disproven so many times that it is nothing less than disgusting to hear them still being used.</blockquote><br />Well there's a few problems here, not least of which is that all the newer translations are full of contradictions too.<br /><br /><blockquote>FABLE: New Translations are needed to bring the archaic Old English language up to date. People have trouble understanding the language of the King James Bible.<br /><br />FACT: The King James language is NOT hard to understand. Most of the so-called "archaic" words are explained by the context of the passage or by comparing the passage with other passages in the Bible where the same word is used. Heady and high-minded people resent the King James language because it is plain and simple, and it isn't in tune with their high-minded vocabulary. In fact, the Grade Level Indicator of the Flesch-Kincaid research company says the King James language is EASIER to understand than the new versions.<br />We certainly agree that the language of the King James Bible is a unique language, but why shouldn't it be? It's the WORD OF GOD!</blockquote><br />Can't argue with that. If English was good enough for Jesus, then it's good enough for me too.<br /><br /><blockquote>FABLE: The King James Bible cannot be infallible because the translators were only men, and all men are sinners. The human element prevents the KJV from being infallible.<br /><br />FACT: If this is true, then even the ORIGINAL AUTOGRAPHS in Hebrew and Greek were not infallible, because they too were penned by men!</blockquote><br />Exactly. Do these people have no sense of irony?<br /><br /><blockquote>FABLE: The King James translators added to the word of God, because the italicized words in the KJV were not in the originals.<br /><br />FACT: The Italics in the KJV prove that the translators were HONEST in their work. They set the words in italics so we'd know they were not in the manuscripts they were using.<br />Besides, no one has a copy of the original manuscripts today, so no one knows for certain that the italicized words aren't in them. In fact, there are many cases where we know that the italicized words are justified. For example, notice in Deuteronomy 8:3 that the word "word" is in Italics. However, when Jesus quotes this verse in Matthew 4:4 he INCLUDES the italicized word! If the italicized word does not belong in the Bible, why did the Lord Jesus quote it?</blockquote><br />Because the guys who wrote the gospels were making shit up?<br /><br /><blockquote>FABLE: The original King James Bible included the Apocrypha in the Old Testament.<br /><br />FACT: The King James translators knew the Apocrypha was not scripture, so they placed it BETWEEN the Old and New Testament as a HISTORICAL DOCUMENT, not as scripture.</blockquote><br />Ohhh, OK. So why have the Apocrypha been dropped from the KJV again?<br /><br />Here we have the crazy <a href="http://www.faithfulwordbaptist.org/">Faithful Word Baptist</a> church burning the Satanic NIV. A bit of web research will show that the wife of pastor Steven L. Anderson, Zsuzsanna has a <a href="http://www.stevenandersonfamily.blogspot.com/">particularly hateful blog</a>, and do yourself a big favour and watch the YouTube vid of pastor Anderson very upset after a border cop beat him up. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUzd7G875Hc They are also Quiverful crazies and antivaccine crazies<br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/8ABDM9xneqo&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/8ABDM9xneqo&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Stewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13584058723818113125noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014394960650361722.post-37984501455897396982009-05-10T17:14:00.003+02:002009-05-10T17:20:59.308+02:00A French nutterSometimes my blogospheres overlap. As in this case, a tale of Christian wickedness from my adopted France. I'm surprised <a href="http://mojoey.blogspot.com/search/label/Hypocrisy%20Watch">Mojoey</a> hasn't got here first!<br /><br /><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8037082.stm">The daring prison break of Juliano Verbard</a>, who was serving 15 years, and two other men 10 days ago was the stuff of TV drama as accomplices flew over the Reunion prison in a helicopter and hoisted them aboard.<br /><br />Police said the fugitives were hiding in a house when arrested. Juliano Verbard and seven others were caught in a building in the island's capital, Saint-Denis. Police said 50 officers were involved in the operation, AFP news agency reported.<br /><br />Here's the kicker: Verbard, the leader of the pseudo-religious cult, the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, was jailed in 2008 for rape and sex attacks on children, and the other two for their roles in a kidnap.Stewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13584058723818113125noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014394960650361722.post-9794828668570983522009-05-10T10:27:00.003+02:002009-05-10T16:45:21.304+02:00Shurley some mistake...As they say in Private Eye<br /><br />Speaking at the modern King Hussein bin Talal Mosque in Amman, he (the Pope) struck a note of harmony and shared purpose between the world's two largest faith groups, urging Christians and Muslims to jointly defend religion from political manipulation.<br /><br />http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSL852380020090509<br /><br />I prefer to turn that phrase around.<br /><br />It seems to me we need to defend politics from religious manipulation. Political manipulation is the Catholic church's no. 1 job.<br /><br />As for Islam ... how can anyone, especially the Pope keep a straight face while saying Islam needs to be defended from politcal manipulation?Stewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13584058723818113125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014394960650361722.post-82540818367241539242009-05-08T17:24:00.002+02:002009-05-08T17:32:08.649+02:00Good luck girlsIrina Fyet and her partner will try to become <a href="http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gayrussia.ru%2F&sl=ru&tl=en&hl=en&ie=UTF-8">Russia's first lesbian married couple</a> on Tuesday May 12.<br /><br />Given Russia's deep rooted homophobia, I doubt they'll succeed. They have a back up plan, which is to get married in Canada, or Norway, where you don't have to be a citizen to get married, and then return to Russia and try and get the marriage recognised.<br /><br />Three years ago, Russian Police, militant Orthodox Christians and neo fascists violently broke up the first gay rights march in Moscow. (I'd love to see a Venn diagram depiction of those 3 groups, I suspect they all overlap 100%)<br /><br />Next week will also see Russia's gay pride marchwhich willpurposely coincide with Moscow's hosting of the Eurovision Song Contest and competitors will be asked to back homosexual rights on stage.<br /><br />The Russian Orthodox Church, resurgent since the fall of the Soviet Union, has helped turn public sentiment against gay pride events, which the then head of the church, Patriarch Alexey II, has called "propaganda for homosexuality."Stewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13584058723818113125noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014394960650361722.post-17597801353186442052009-05-08T17:06:00.001+02:002009-05-08T17:08:17.442+02:00Can't fool Google<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiyfbAzzROzTh13vhAKN76mIL6babF9z4dYkEYK9DU5LZJinylap9LSdMncMdGmNf88wlrQJT-yfvroxky5rlrUfgFhxaEfk7wqzzCUdBVX5m-DdHRXCa3kyDr77UqMcHETpyuOaAflc4/s1600-h/comfortgoogle.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 186px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiyfbAzzROzTh13vhAKN76mIL6babF9z4dYkEYK9DU5LZJinylap9LSdMncMdGmNf88wlrQJT-yfvroxky5rlrUfgFhxaEfk7wqzzCUdBVX5m-DdHRXCa3kyDr77UqMcHETpyuOaAflc4/s320/comfortgoogle.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333470125227270594" /></a>Stewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13584058723818113125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014394960650361722.post-40387014092831858702009-03-15T19:10:00.004+01:002009-03-15T19:24:31.106+01:00Have you ever lied?Ray Comfort and his Way of The Master ministries have a favoured style of street preaching and evangalism. You can find examples on YouTube if you care to search. I wouldn't dignify anything to do with WOM with a link.<br /><br />It starts with asking the punter "Have you ever lied?" When the reply is "Yes" They then ask "What does that make you?".<br />"A liar" is the logical response.<br />"Have you ever stolen anything?"<br />"Yes"<br />"What does that make you?"<br />"A thief"<br /><br />Having put the mark on the defensive and made the mark admit his own"sin", the WOM evangalists then give chapter adn verse on how the reward for sin is hell, but you can be saved through the sacrifice of Jesus.<br /><br />I had always thought a valid riposte would be to ask the evangalist if he had ever been kind, or helped anyone, or loved anyone, because by their own logic that would make him a kind, helpful, loving person, but of course they would then quote the Bible to show that our good works count for nothing before god.<br /><br />I much prefer <a href="http://richarddawkins.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=75550#p1818531">this excellent response</a> from Over at the <a href="http://richarddawkins.net/forum">Richard Dawkins Net Forum</a> by <a href="http://richarddawkins.net/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=62881&sid=319dc8dd3f3a52020616767718fc6794">Sevlevboss</a>:<br /><blockquote>I'll answer your questions if you answer mine.<br /><br />1) Have you ever worn a diaper?<br />2) Have you ever drooled?<br />3) Were you breast fed?<br /><br />OK, I may be a blasphemous liar, but you are a drooling, pants shitter who sucks his mom's tits!</blockquote><br /><br />Pure gravy.Stewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13584058723818113125noreply@blogger.com5