2000 Years of Deception

Baaaah!

2011-12-18T10:19:00.002+01:00

Prayer: pointless or a fallible God?

2011-09-09T13:59:00.003+02:00

From Qwantz comics

Today in History....

2011-08-24T17:39:00.003+02:00

The 24th August 1572.

St Bartholomew's day massacre, in France, estimates vary between 5000 and 30000 Huguneots slaughtered by Catholics in Paris and elsewhere.

Mithra Witnesses...

2011-08-22T12:18:00.004+02:00

From webcomic Far Left Side

Pakistani Atheists & Agnostics

2011-08-15T17:08:00.005+02:00

Pakistani Atheists & Agnostics have launched their webpage.

Show your support, visit them, link to them, write articles for them, donate to them.

You think you got it bad as an atheist? Imagine pulling that shit in Pakistan...

(edited, because I couldn't spell Pakistan)

Christians: Y U no at least original?

2011-08-10T16:20:00.004+02:00

found on Reddit and as pointed out there:

Krishna - Wrong was actually one of many sons
Dioynsus - Wrong about the Holy Child crap
Mithra - Being born of a rock is hardly similar to virgin birth
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.

come on guys this is obviously wrong can this please stop resurfacing

Still made me laugh though...

Biblical Morality

2011-08-10T00:09:00.003+02:00

2011-08-09T14:22:00.003+02:00

Christian chemists 'will be forced out' under morning-after pill rules

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.
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.

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?

Unbridled lust, hopelessness and dispair

2011-08-08T18:31:00.002+02:00

If there was no God I would probably be having sex with a puppy...

Matthew 7:3 a "tu quoque" fallacy

2011-08-08T10:52:00.002+02:00

Discussing the topic of eviction of gypsies in the UK, my opponent cited Matthew 7:3 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.

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.

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.

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.

Knowledge is power

2011-08-01T17:53:00.002+02:00

Good without God, from USA Today

2011-08-01T12:31:00.004+02:00

Nice to see this calm and well argued article in USA Today, by Jerry Coyne titled "As atheists know, you can be good without God"

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.

Having shown that we don't get our moral guidelines from the Bible, where have they come from?

So where does morality come from, if not from God? Two places: evolution and secular reasoning.

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?

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.

Clearly, you can be good without God.

Pharyngula's new address

2011-08-01T10:30:00.003+02:00

http://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/

This is the new wordpress blog for unadulterated Pharyngula, including anti-theist posts.

The existing Scienceblogs/National Geographic blog at Pharyngula will only have scientific and anti creationist posts.

PZ explains all on his Google+ account which can be seen here PZMyers - Google+ even if, like me, you don't have a Google+ account.

Teleportation in the New Testament

2011-07-31T21:13:00.003+02:00

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.

Teleportation, zombies, is there any craziness the Bible hasn't covered?

John 6:16-21
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.

John 20:19-20
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.

Acts 8:38-40
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.

Magic!

2009-05-15T15:57:00.003+02:00

Space shuttle Atlantis in silhouette, or in transit, against the sun.

Beautiful

Spritual Attack

2009-05-12T17:03:00.002+02:00

For most of us, shit happens.
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.
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.

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.
(It needs mentioning that back in the day, I was a bozo too)

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!

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!
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.
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.

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.

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.

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?
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.

I'm not sure what to think, I feel weird about the World every single day.
Just hang in there, things are heating up! This IS the Last Generation.
Can't be too long.

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!

Ye oŋe and oŋley wordde of God

2009-05-11T19:15:00.003+02:00

A 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.
It is called the King James Only movement and is yet another source of schism amongst the myriad Christian sects.

Try this web page for example: Why Do We Only Support The King James Version Of The Holy Bible?

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.

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.

Well that's OK then. The whole thing was God inspired and controlled except for the typos. God can't proof read.

FABLE: The modern translations are more accurate because they have been translated from older and better manuscripts.

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?"

Older doesn't mean better. Unless it's the KJV in which case older is better.

FABLE: New translations are needed to correct the errors and contradictions in the King James Bible.

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.

Well there's a few problems here, not least of which is that all the newer translations are full of contradictions too.

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.

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.
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!

Can't argue with that. If English was good enough for Jesus, then it's good enough for me too.

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.

FACT: If this is true, then even the ORIGINAL AUTOGRAPHS in Hebrew and Greek were not infallible, because they too were penned by men!

Exactly. Do these people have no sense of irony?

FABLE: The King James translators added to the word of God, because the italicized words in the KJV were not in the originals.

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.
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?

Because the guys who wrote the gospels were making shit up?

FABLE: The original King James Bible included the Apocrypha in the Old Testament.

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.

Ohhh, OK. So why have the Apocrypha been dropped from the KJV again?

Here we have the crazy Faithful Word Baptist church burning the Satanic NIV. A bit of web research will show that the wife of pastor Steven L. Anderson, Zsuzsanna has a particularly hateful blog, 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

A French nutter

2009-05-10T17:14:00.003+02:00

Sometimes my blogospheres overlap. As in this case, a tale of Christian wickedness from my adopted France. I'm surprised Mojoey hasn't got here first!

The daring prison break of Juliano Verbard, 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.

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.

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.

Shurley some mistake...

2009-05-10T10:27:00.003+02:00

As they say in Private Eye

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.

http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSL852380020090509

I prefer to turn that phrase around.

It seems to me we need to defend politics from religious manipulation. Political manipulation is the Catholic church's no. 1 job.

As for Islam ... how can anyone, especially the Pope keep a straight face while saying Islam needs to be defended from politcal manipulation?

Good luck girls

2009-05-08T17:24:00.002+02:00

Irina Fyet and her partner will try to become Russia's first lesbian married couple on Tuesday May 12.

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.

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%)

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.

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."

Can't fool Google

2009-05-08T17:06:00.001+02:00

Have you ever lied?

2009-03-15T19:10:00.004+01:00

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.

It starts with asking the punter "Have you ever lied?" When the reply is "Yes" They then ask "What does that make you?".
"A liar" is the logical response.
"Have you ever stolen anything?"
"Yes"
"What does that make you?"
"A thief"

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.

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.

I much prefer this excellent response from Over at the Richard Dawkins Net Forum by Sevlevboss:

I'll answer your questions if you answer mine.

1) Have you ever worn a diaper?
2) Have you ever drooled?
3) Were you breast fed?

OK, I may be a blasphemous liar, but you are a drooling, pants shitter who sucks his mom's tits!

Pure gravy.

Bloody savages

2009-03-06T12:27:00.002+01:00

Here's a story of mixed messages.

Ameneh Bahrami was terribly scarred and blinded in 2004 when a spurned suiter poured sulphuric acid over her.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/13/AR2008121302147.html

In the weird and barbaric world of Sharia law, the condemned man was originally sentenced to be blinded in one eye, because one man is worth two women, thus two female eyes equal one male.

Bahrami appealled and the sentence was changed so that the attacker will now be blinded in both eyes, under anaesthetic via 5 drops of sulphuric acid in each eye.

Bahrami feels that she has not asked for more than her due, given the suffering, pain, disfigurement and blindness she has endured.

Today, International Womens Day, it is good to know that female eyes have the same worth as mens' in Iran.

Manic Street Preacher #2

2009-03-04T19:06:00.000+01:00

So, Tony "The Lawman" carries a handgun when he's out preaching on the streets.

How do we know this?

Because he blogged about it. He later deleted the blog entry, but thanks to the vigilance of SMRT Jill D the blog post was saved. Below is thiat blog post, followed by a revealing exchange between Tony "PhD" Miano and a young Christian.

The Story of how I earned my 'Ph.D"

(Picture of handgun)

Don't freak. There's a good reason why there is a picture of a gun on my blog. :-)

I closed my last post with the following:

"One of the highlights of the afternoon was when Ray conferred upon me my first Ph.D. That's right. It's now "Dr. Lawman," thank you very much. To be continued....."

So, please, extend grace and patience to me while I digress from the usual evangelistic post and share with you, my friends and readers (not always one in the same), how I earned my first Ph.D.

As most of you already know, I spent twenty years of my adult life serving as a deputy sheriff with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. When I joined the Living Waters team at the beginning of the year, we all agreed that my presence would provide some additional security at headquarters, during film shoots (no pun intended), and whenever the need may arise.

From time to time, Ray will playfully ask, "Tony, are you packin' heat?"

Sometimes I answer. And sometimes, with a twinkle in my eye, I just give Ray a smile.

Well, for my birthday this year, I decided to treat myself to a new gun. When I retired from the Sheriff's Department, I had to turn in the firearm I carried for twenty years. And the other weapons I have are neither practical enough or tactical enough for life as a retired deputy sheriff. I needed something I could discreetly carry on my person that met my needs. So, I purchased the weapon pictured above: a Smith & Wesson M&P 9mm Compact. Ain't she a beaut! (Okay. We law enforcement types get unusual birthday presents.)

Yesterday, as Ray, Mark, and I made our way to Hollywood Boulevard, Ray asked, "Tony, are you packin heat?"

"Yes, Ray." I answered with a smile.

"Does it have a name?"

"No, Ray, I don't name my guns. Some people do; but I just never thought of my guns that way."

"Well, we should come up with a code word, just in case we need it."

"Need what?"

"Your gun!"

"Ah, let's hope that never happens." I said. "Well you're always asking me if I'm packin' heat.

Why don't we use 'Paul Henry' -- 'P' for 'Paul,' and 'H' for 'Henry'. 'Packin' heat,' 'Paul Henry.'

How does that sound?

Ray thought for a moment. Ray is not only a master of analogies, but he is also a master of acronyms. "How about 'Ph.D.!'"

"Ph.D.?"

"Yeah. 'Ph.D.' 'Packin' Heat Dude!'"

We all laughed, and the acronym stuck. And that's how Ray Comfort conferred upon me my first (and likely only) Ph.D.

So, in the words of the radio legend, Paul Harvey, now you've heard the rest of the story. :-)

How weird is Ray Comfort?

This, the is an exchange of posts between Tony and a young believer.

Tony Miano,

I believe you misplaced this. No matter, that’s only part of why I’m emailing you. Rather, [and unfortunately] I find occasion to call account of a deed of your’s which I do not see as at all Biblical (quite the opposite, as I hope to convince you). Namely, your carrying of a gun.

First of all, please understand where I’m coming from. As something like a red-neck myself, I completely empathize with you for carrying a gun. I simply don’t believe you have the right. Did the Apostle Paul make any effort to defend himself? Or what of Steven? Or any of the other apostles? Yet their scenarios were far worse then your own, my friend. Rest assured you have the law on your side. Paul didn’t, but he by no means undertook to defend himself.

You talk enough about hell and judgment –you ought to be more practical about it. Could you honestly and deliberately take the life of an unbeliever, knowing very well where that person was going? Might I ask, whatever happened to turning the other cheek? Or is, perhaps, your ministry truly only about yourselves?

Provers 9:8 says “Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you. Rebuke a fool, and he will hate you.” I think you get the point.

Sincerly, your brother in Christ,
Jonathan Brennecke

The Lawman replies:

Jonathan,

You close your e-mail with “Sincerely, your brother in Christ.” Yet the tone of your e-mail, young man, is anything but brotherly or Christian. While you ask some legitimate questions, the manner in which you ask them smack of sarcasm. If you are looking for a rational and respectful conversation, then I welcome it. But I don’t abide the disrespect of my children (some who are older than you), so why would I accept it from you?

So, if you are a Christian, then approach me the way a young Christian man would approach an older Christian man. Change your attitude and maybe we will have a conversation. “Do not sharply rebuke an older man, but rather appeal to him as a father” (1 Timothy 5:1a).

One of the reasons I removed the article you referenced is because I came to realize that it might be a cause of stumbling for some. You validated this by the tone and content of your e-mail.

Again, I welcome your questions, so long as you can behave in a respectful manner.

I am in the middle of a conference, at the moment. So, if you do decide to change the tone of your rhetoric, we may be able to continue the conversation in a few days.

So, the question not addressed, Just a slapdown for not showing enough respect.

Jonathan replies:

Tony Miano,

I’ll be the first to admit that my tone was rash –is rash– but love is rash. Love is audacious. Love is uncompromsing. If you must glean nothing more from my words than that, so be it.

I will tell you what love is not. Love is not patronizing, not derisive, not condemning.

I may be young enough to be your son, but I am not your son –don’t patronize me. The future belongs to the young, Tony. Get off your high horse already and recall that Jesus said to come to him like a child.

Jon,
Pesharim

Tony responds with:

I may answer your questions in a future blog post. But until your attitude changes, this will end our conversation.

In the first reply Miano said one of the reasons he removed the post was:

I came to realize that it might be a cause of stumbling for some.

and he accusses Jon of having done exactly that.
"Causing someone to stumble" is a Christian euphamism for "I can do this thing because I have rationalised it to myself, but if you try and do it, you are not sufficiently spiritually mature and it will lead you into sin".
They tend to use it with regard to things that are not explicitly forbidden in the Bible, like smoking, for example, or heavy metal, or big fat mustaches.

Manic Street Preacher #1

2009-03-02T04:34:00.002+01:00

Over at the SMRT forums someone posted a link to this video of Tony "The Lawman" Miano.

Tony "The Lawman" Miano is a colleague of Ray "Bananaman Comfort" at Living Waters. When I watched this video I was appalled by the hypocricy and the cowardice.

The video is hosted on YouTube channel called "TheLawman104". It's a bit strange because it looks like it's his channel, it says "Tony" next to the name field, but in all the video descriptions he talks about himself in the third person. Very Odd. Ray Comfort's been known to speak of himself in the third person too. It must be some Living Waters delusion of grandeur thing.

He calls himself "The Lawman" because he's ex-cop, and he's big on preaching "The Law" of the Bible. He's also big on mustache, and reminds me of the cop from Village People. Or the leather man.

He also carries a gun.

That's right. Watch the video. Hear how he refers to the crowds as "rabid". He says "The most loving thing you can do for a homosexual . . . is to lovingly share the Law and the Gospel with them" I don't think Biblical law is filled with love for homosexuality. And if it's all done so lovingly, why carry a gun?

On the other hand, he also believes that homosexuals are an abomination to his god. That makes his gun even more worrying.

I will shortly publish the post he deleted from his blog, where he tells of why he carries the gun, and how Ray Comfort came up with the nick-name/codeword "PhD" for Tony's gun. I will also post the discussion between Tony and a young Christian who contacted him asking about the morality of an armed evangalist.

Atheists don't do charity, apparantly

2009-02-22T11:53:00.003+01:00

How volunteering can stave off depression

Don't waste money on expensive therapy, give up your time for someone else

Julie Burchill reckons that athesists are too busy being intellectual to help anyone.

Those wonderful atheists are obviously too busy doing something intellectual to be bothered with helping others.

She also believes that depression is on the rise because:
a. People are less religious than before
b. People do less voluntary work than before

the Christian presence has stayed constant as middle-aged women have been tempted into more self-regarding activities. And as this has happened, their levels of depression have risen, because religious faith and voluntary work are the twin tried-and-tested pillars of happiness.

If you feel the self absorbed La Burchill needs correcting you might leave a comment on the article at the Times website, linked above.

A psychic gets one right!

2008-12-07T13:19:00.003+01:00

Here's a turn up for the books.

From Charente Libre, our local paper, Saturday 6th December.

Original text below, my translatioàn is as follows:

Police dogs, helicopter, divers from La Rochelle ... For a week, they pulled out all the stops to try to find Jeanne Brault, a deaf and mute woman, 82 years old, who had left the hospital in Loudun Renaudot, Saturday 22 November. Just until last Saturday when the lifeless body of the octogenarian was eventually found by family members in the park of the hospital Loudun "thanks to a valuable visionary," according to one brother of the victim, Henri Brault. "My brother and my sister went to see a psychic last Saturday near Saumur. This psychic, without going to the scene, told them where she was. The police returned to Loudun that afternoon and found our sister about 17.30 where the psychic had told them. The doctor did not want to believe it. It is true that it is unbelievable, but it's like that! "

This psychic is Jacqueline Vitré (photo CL), a resident of Villebernier aged 65. Thirty-eight years of dowsing behind her. She says: "The family gave me the dressing gown of this lady and her picture. I set my pendulum above the dressing gown and I felt that person could be at this place. I have even made a little drawing on which I stated that it was in a wood at the foot of quite a large tree, near the hospital. I advised family members to search in this direction. I also made it understood that for me, she had died. I saw her sitting at the foot of the tree. However, she was found lying down."

That is the only error for the visionary, as for the rest, her visions have proved correct. So much so that the gendarmes of Loudun, surprised at this "paranormal aid", called the psychic into the station. "They wanted details. I can not explain it. It's just a matter of feeling."

An autopsy on the body of the octogenarian revealed that "the cause of death was natural." The prosecutor further states that "any suspicious circumstances have been ruled out. The only question left is to establish the time of death to within 48 hours."

One of the brothers of the victim is struggling to explain how his sister had not been found by police during the week of their search as the place where her body was found had been searched by them. "The day before her death, I saw her," says Henri Brault. "She wasn't well. She had problems. We do not know how she left the hospital." For the visionary, Jeanne Brault wandered away from the hospital during the searchh conducted by police and then retraced her steps toward the park of the hospital where she would be be found.

I suppose sooner or later psychics get lucky. I have to consider some alternatives other than psychic phenomenon, because that would be a real challenge to my world view.
Logically of course the psychic new that the lady was old, sick and frail and couldn't have gone far. She is a local woman so she probably knows the hosptal and its grounds. I certainly know the hospital at Girac very well now. She would have deduced that if the woman was in the open she would have been found. That leaves either an abduction if she had reached the roads around the hospital, or she was still within the grounds but in a place with cover, like woods.

Brigade cynophile, hélicoptère, plongeurs de La Rochelle... Pendant une semaine, de très gros moyens de recherches ont été déployés pour tenter de retrouver Jeanne Brault, une femme de 82 ans sourde et muette qui avait quitté l'hôpital Renaudot à Loudun le samedi 22 novembre. Jusqu'à samedi dernier. Le corps sans vie de l'octogénaire a finalement été retrouvé par des membres de la famille dans le parc de l'hôpital de Loudun «grâce aux précieuses indications d'une voyante», d'après l'un des frères de la victime, Henri Brault. «Mon frère et mes sœurs sont allés voir samedi dernier une voyante du côté de Saumur. Cette voyante, sans se déplacer sur les lieux, leur a dit où elle se trouvait. Ils sont revenus à Loudun l'après-midi même et ils ont retrouvé notre sœur vers 17h30 là où la voyante leur avait dit. Le médecin ne voulait pas y croire. C'est vrai que c'est incroyable, mais c'est comme ça!»

Cette voyante, c'est Jacqueline Vitré (• photo CL), une habitante de Villebernier âgé de 65 ans. Trente-huit ans de radiesthésiste derrière elle. Elle témoigne: «La famille m'a apporté la robe de chambre de cette dame ainsi que sa photo. J'ai mis mon pendule au-dessus de la robe de chambre et j'ai ressenti que la personne disparue pouvait se trouver à tel endroit. Je leur ai même fait un petit dessin sur lequel je leur précisais qu'elle se trouvait dans un bois au pied d'un arbre assez gros, près de l'hôpital. J'ai conseillé aux membres de la famille de faire les recherches en ce sens. Je leur ai également fait comprendre que pour moi, elle était décédée. Je la voyais assise au pied de l'arbre. Or, elle a été retrouvée allongée.»

C'est là la seule erreur de la voyante car pour le reste, ses visions se sont avérées justes. Au point que les gendarmes de Loudun, surpris de cette «aide paranormale», ont convoqué la voyante dans leurs locaux. «Ils voulaient avoir des détails. Je ne saurais pas l'expliquer. C'est juste une question de ressenti.»

Une autopsie pratiquée sur le corps de l'octogénaire a révélé que «la cause de la mort était naturelle». Le procureur de la République précise en outre que «toute forme d'intervention extérieure est exclue. Le seul doute réside dans la fixation exacte de l'horaire du décès à 48 heures près».

L'un des frères de la victime a du mal à s'expliquer comment sa sœur n'avait pu être retrouvée par les gendarmes pendant la semaine de leurs recherches alors que l'endroit où son corps a été découvert avait déjà été fouillé par les fonctionnaires. «La veille de sa disparition, je l'avais vue, raconte Henri Brault. Elle n'allait pas bien. Elle avait des ennuis. On ne sait pas comment elle a quitté l'hôpital.» Pour la voyante, Jeanne Brault se serait éloignée de l'hôpital lors des recherches menées par les gendarmes et serait revenue ensuite sur ses pas en direction du parc de l'hôpital où elle devait être retrouvée.

Obama shits in Jesus' manger

2008-12-04T16:55:00.002+01:00

Do what?
In Catalonia (Spain) it is traditional to make little nativity scenes with figurines.

And you can buy the figurines of shepherds, sheep, Mary, Joseph et al at Christmas markets there.

And to add to these, little figurines of famous people having a crap.

At this link there is a slide show of the kind of stuff they do, including Obama, Merkel, Sarkozy and Brown all with their pants down

Witchcraft in the 21st cnetury

2008-11-10T09:39:00.003+01:00

Here is a terrible story about child withches in Nigeria.

Fundie Chfristianity, merged with traditional beliefs has caused a plague of evangelical churches springing up who have wich hunt services. Children are accused and tortured until the confess. Then they are ostracised or killed.

In the midst of this horrifying tale, living proof of how religion ruins everything is this statement from Sam Itauma, a Nigerian who is helping these children, currently caring for 150 homeless outcasts.

"Christianity in the Niger Delta is seriously questionable, putting a traditional religion together with Christian religion - and it makes nonsense out of it,"

No, Sam, it is a nonsense already. I am fairly certain that everything these evil people do can be backed up by Bible verses.

Child Abuse?

2008-11-07T14:27:00.002+01:00

This lady and I grew up in the same country, Zimbabwe. We both left that country to find better lives elsewhere. That's where the similarity ends. For she is a fundimental born again Christian. And she believes her 4 year old daughter is a wretched sinner.

Sometimes during the day or before bed, she always asks me if she has been good, and I always try to be as honest as I can with her, and I will tell her what she has done wrong if I can remember. If she has been better than usual I will praise her and tell her. I have never said to her she has been a perfect little girl who has done nothing wrong all day, If I say that to her then I am a liar and I will be doing her more harm than good. I do not believe in teaching children self esteem or that they should feel good about themselves, because they should not. My daughter is a normal 4 year old who loves to play with her dolls and dress up, but everyday she finds that she is doing things that are wrong like doing something to upset her baby brother or not doing what she is told by her mum. So we have a problem, and this is an everyday battle. The problem is sin. I never taught my daughter to sin. This is because she, and as well as the rest of the human race have inherited a sinful nature from Adam. From the moment we are conceived we are sinners, Pslam 57:5. We are born with a desire to sin. We are all born God hating and evil.

The poor wee mite then told her mother that although she tries to be good, she can't and that she knew that only Jesus could help her to be good.
Jean thinks that she has left no imprint on this child and so it must be the Holy Spirit that has revealed this to the poor tortured girl.

This is bordering on child abuse, and I told her that in the comments.

I don't know if she will delete it, probably not because she is not scared of confrontation on her blog. She took a lot of flak for a previous post on her support for slavery.

Oh Jean, I am disappointed.

That is only a step away from child abuse.

4 years old and wracked with guilt daily.

"I do not believe in teaching children self esteem"

Oh dear. Oh dear, oh dear.

"So we have a problem, and this is an everyday battle"

Oh my word.

"She is a wretched little girl, who knows she is a wretched sinner who needs only a good saviour to help her."

Jean, that is terrible. Terrible. It amazes me that you and I who have some things in common can be so polarised, so far apart.

This post is one of the most shocking things I have ever read. And to think that you are pleased about it and want to share it, and to think that other people have written to say they admire you for it. Your poor little girl. If I was the praying kind I'd be praying for her right now.

Atheist Muslims

2008-11-06T18:38:00.002+01:00

More power to them.

It was bound to happen, and I hope it continues.

Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain

They have taken their lead from the Central Council of Ex-Muslims in Germany

I am not sure, but I suspect that the state of athesim in the muslim community might be where atheism in christian societies was 50 years ago.

Please encourage these bright and brave people and help reach other muslim doubters by linking to them.

The manifest is solid:

01 Universal rights and equal citizenship for all. We are opposed to cultural relativism and the tolerance of inhuman beliefs, discrimination and abuse in the name of respecting religion or culture.
02 Freedom to criticise religion. Prohibition of restrictions on unconditional freedom of criticism and expression using so-called religious 'sanctities'.
03 Freedom of religion and atheism.
04 Separation of religion from the state and legal and educational system.
05 Prohibition of religious customs, rules, ceremonies or activities that are incompatible with or infringe people's rights and freedoms.
06 Abolition of all restrictive and repressive cultural and religious customs which hinder and contradict woman's independence, free will and equality. Prohibition of segregation of sexes.
07 Prohibition of interference by any authority, family members or relatives, or official authorities in the private lives of women and men and their personal, emotional and sexual relationships and sexuality.
08 Protection of children from manipulation and abuse by religion and religious institutions.
09 Prohibition of any kind of financial, material or moral support by the state or state institutions to religion and religious activities and institutions.
10 Prohibition of all forms of religious intimidation and threats.

Stop Sylvia Browne

2008-11-02T12:17:00.000+01:00

I've made a few posts in the past about this nasty woman, and the stirling work done by Rob Lancaster at his Stop Sylia Browne website.

It seems that while Rob has been ill, the domain for his original website had expired and GoDaddy sold it on without giving him the opportunity to renew.

Some slime bought the domain and has modified it to be full of woo and priase of the witch.

So I've updated all my links and this post is to inform and also to give Google more hits on the good address. So forgive this opportunity to use Sylvia Browne's name a few times with links to the correct domain.

Sylvia Browne is a nasty predatory woman who makes a lot of money by lying to emtionally vulnerable people. It is a shame there are no legal means of stoppping Sylvia Browne from doing this

Muslim Atheists

2008-10-28T17:18:00.003+01:00

This story doesn't seem to have hit the mainstream media yet.

From Der Speigel in September

A number of Islamic associations have put a quick end to their collaboration with a professor -- and trainer of people who are supposed to teach Islam in German high schools -- who has expressed his doubt that Muhammad ever lived.

But now the shit is really starting to hit the fan. You know the moslem punishment for apostacy?

The university he is at is likely to cave in to the demands of the faithful.

My friend and co-conspitator germanmike has made things a bit clearer with this post at The Raytractors

A man is only a man if he pisses standing up

2008-10-23T11:16:00.004+02:00

1 Kings 14:10 "Therefore, behold, I will bring evil upon the house of Jeroboam, and will cut off from Jeroboam him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel, and will take away the remnant of the house of Jeroboam, as a man taketh away dung, till it be all gone."

Atheists often challenge fundie christians that they don't take the Bible literally because it's full of crazy stuff like stoning your children for disrespect.

Well some people DO take the Bible literally.

Pastor Steven Anderson of Faithful Word Baptist Church believes that ONLY the King James version of the Bible is divine, and that Jesus is the Bible, they are the same thing, and that men must piss standing up.*

This man is the brother of Raani Starnes, the lady I blogged abou in the previous post.
No, I'm not stalking the family! She has him as a guest blogger on her blog, in place of the post she had about bombing gay friendly schools.
Madder than a box of fish that family.

Here is a christian blogger criticisng his style of preaching and his theology.

Hate Speech

2008-10-21T21:36:00.002+02:00

With any luck, some radical will blow up the gay school. No, I'm not condoning vigilantism--I'm merely saying that it would be poetic justice.

Such are the thoughts of Raani Starnes on her blog about homeschooling.

She also says:

Yes, I've seen the previews for Will and Grace where they're lying next to each other in bed platonically. Isn't that cute? The homosexual agenda wants people to think that homosexual men are safe for women to hang around and even be alone with. Nothing could be further from the truth. The stories about Sodomites in the Bible teach us that they do violate women as well as men. I've also known of people personally over the years who were known as gay yet "experimented" with the opposite sex. The term bisexual is an unnecessary distinction, because a faggot wants to defile anyone or anything he can get his hands on.

This lady is the mother of five children who she schools at home. I presume she teaches them this hate too.

from the comments to the blog post she states that

I believe that a homosexual can no longer get saved. They weren't born gay and God wanted them to get saved at some point. The reason they are that way is that they have pushed God too far and he has given up on them.

and

When someone seems questionable in that area, I would be polite in a group setting if necessary, but never leave my kids alone with that person for safety reasons. The person I am referring to has also abused children. When someone is a known pedophile or homosexual they should be completely cut off.

If you are as appalled by this woman's hatred as I am, can I suggest you go to her blog and use the "flag blog" option at the top of the google screento alert google. With a bit of luck they'll pull the plug.

The Mark of the Beast - tamed

2008-10-15T17:46:00.005+02:00

The planet is a big place. And most of it is not the USA. Most of it is not Europe.
This is something that SciFi films and End Times believers always forget.

I was watching an episode of Farscape the other day. It was episode 6, Series 1 "Thank God It's Friday, Again" The Peacekeepers had drugged up an entire planet and had them growing the druggy root, which the Peacekeepers used in weaponry. Luckily the Farscape crew landed at the one town where the sole representative of the entire planet happened to be.
Which was lucky.

The program would have us believe that all the people on the planet grew the same crop. That all the people on the planet were under the control and reach of the Peacekeepers. It's not very likely is it?

And this is what SciFi has in common with End Time prophesy, the inability to grasp global scale.

Because with the current financial crisis, various christian knobs are getting excited and claiming it is a sign of the end. And when it is pointed out that the crisis will not last I read one person claiming that the solution to the crisis was
"International Socialism. The progression to worldwide totalitarian socialism is what is prophesied."
They go on about only being able to buy and sell if you have some kind of mark. And this is where I get global. Across the whole planet? So, while folks in USA and across Europe have some kind of mark/tattoo/chip that enables them to shop, peasant farmers in the Congo have them too? And fishermen in Bangladesh will have this chip? And trappers in Mongolia? They don't even have shops for chrissake! In Zimbabwe the official inflation rate is in the trillions percent and things are done by barter. Do you think Zimbabweans are going to get uptight about a tattoo? The shops are empty. So if the R
rapture and tribulations starts tomorrow, Zimbabwe will be exempt?

It's stupid. This antichrist, one-world government thing is so small minded. For the same reasons that the authors of Ezekiel, Isaiah, Daniel and Revelations were incapable of percieving a world beyond their horizons, so we tend to think that what effects us and our countries can have planet-wide applications. Small mindedness, lack of imagination.
The Left Behind series tried to make a nod towards the effect of the rapture in other countries, but in the same way that Independence Day did, by showing an alien craft crashing near the pyramids. A token effort.
The reality is, that christians in America think that God is uniquely concerned with America, just like christians in Britain think about the tribulation causing problems shopping at Boots.
But the reality is that the world is a big, big place, and the mark of the beast is simply a logistical impossibility.

Satire, not very well done then

2008-10-13T13:04:00.003+02:00

While reading one of my favorite blogs, barry beelzebub, I discovered that a Catholic priest, Peter Mullen is in hot water over offensive remarks he made about homosexuals in his blog. He has claimed he was being satirical. I wanted to see the original article to decide for myself whether it was offensive or not.

I couldn't find the blog, it has been taken down. But thanks to the wonders of internet caching it has left its traces. So I'm reposting it here to save it for others who may want to judge for themselves.

Everything in the blockquote is from Peter Mullen BA PhD, rector of St Michael’s Cornhill and St Sepulchre without Newgate in the City of London, and London's Stock Exchange. he has apologised repeatedly for the remarks.

Matthew Parris is wilfully refusing to give his readers his opinion about the recent "gay wedding" and about relationships between the church and homosexuals generally. He says, "When it comes to the church, synagogue or mosque, if you think the whole thing ridiculous, its hard to get excited about the ridiculousness of a subset of it. I should feel the same if morris dancers or the British Astrological Society tried to exclude gays."

So, for Parris, the views of billions of Christians, Jews and Muslims worldwide are of no more consequence than a couple of obscure sectional interests. From what point of privileged judgement does he thus discount 4000 years of civilisation? The great world religions have survived the criticisms of far more intelligent and better informed opponents than the ignorant upstart Parris. There is a whole history and literature of distinguished apologetics for religious belief, but Parris will attend to none of it - sufficient only to attract his disdain is mainstream religion's disapproval of homosexual acts.

Since Parris will not dirty his hands by entering theological discussions with his readers, perhaps I might answer for religious believers in the purely utilitarian terms which even the lofty Parris is bound to engage with. We disapprove of homosexuality because it is clearly unnatural, a perversion and corruption of natural instincts and affections, and because it is a cause of fatal disease. The AIDS pandemic was originally caused by promiscuous homosexual behaviour. Such promiscuity is itself an evil because its perpetrators merely use others indiscriminately for their own gratification, treating their fellows as sex objects and as means to an end rather than as ends in themselves. I should have thought that Parris, having rejected religious belief, might want to construct his moral beliefs on this Kantian humanistic imperative. But I suspect he is not really interested in morality of any kind - except as a special plea to excuse his lust for gratification at whatever cost to human dignity and the sanctity of human life.

It is time that religious believers began to recommend specific utilitarian discouragements of homosexual practices after the style of warnings on cigarette packets: Let us make it obligatory for homosexuals to have their backsides tattooed with the slogan SODOMY CAN SERIOUSLY DAMAGE YOUR HEALTH and their chins with FELLATIO KILLS. In addition the obscene "gay pride" parades and carnivals should be banned for they give rise to passive corruption, comparable to passive smoking. Young people forced to witness these excrescences are corrupted by them.

Let me continue the comparison with smoking which is banned in most public places. Those committing homosexual acts in public places - such behaviour being a crime in any case under the Homosexual Reform Act of 1967 - should be arrested, tried and punished. Parks, open spaces and public lavatories would at once become more wholesome places. There ought to be teaching films shown in sex education classes in all our schools. These would portray acts of sodomy and the soundtrack would reinforce the message that it is a filthy practice ending with the admonition: "We do, after all, know the importance of washing our hands after going to the lavatory."

But I should like to turn Parris' disdain for religion back on to him. If I consider that homosexual practices are vile, why should I concern myself with subsets of their aspects? I might as well concern myself with other minor irrelevancies such as the Doris Day fanclub and polo-neck sweaters

The Holy Spirit is the DubMeister

2008-10-12T14:51:00.001+02:00

A bunch of guys have posted YouTube vids where they have overlaid drumm&bass tracks to clips of people freaking out and dancing in church.

I laughed a lot.

If you double click the vid to launch YouTube you will find many more.

End Times?

2008-10-10T20:46:00.004+02:00

Ray Comfort reckons that the current financial crisis was predicted in the Bible and is a sign that the end is nigh.

Those of you who are regular atheists must be getting worried. Not about the future, but about the fact that you know what the Bible had to say about the future.

What exactly is a 'regular' atheist Ray? An atheist whos is an OK, regular person, or someone who is 'regularly atheist? I hate those atheists that keep chopping and changing, one week they believe, the next week they're agnostic...

I watched CBS news this morning. This is how it began:
"Breaking News. Global market’s plummet this morning after Wall Street’s nearly 900 billion dollar loss on Thursday. Credit markets around the world are seized up in a manner no one has ever seen before."
We are seeing Bible prophecy being fulfilled before our very eyes.

Ah yes, I remember the verse well - Jeremiah 47:89 "And lo! The the voice procalimed 'verily the Nasdaq shall plummet like the stars from the sky'"

Experts have long predicted that we would see a world-wide economic collapse,

Which experts? For how long?

a one-world government, and the raising up of a charismatic world leader that will bring peace and stability and will not let people buy and sell without a mark...

Still waiting on these....

As this unfolds, it is slowly dawning on you that the Bible is right

As what unfolds? A financial crisis I'll grant you, but I've seen hide nor hair of the one world govt, nor the antichrist nor the mark of the beast.

and that all those "mistakes" you found in the Bible were actually your mistakes.

Ok, right. It's my mistake that the geneolgies for Jesus don't match, that you can't ride an ass and a foal at the sime time, that bats are birds and that rabbits chew their cud. It was me that put in prophesies about being a 'Nazarine' that don't exist in the OT, and it was me that wrote about Joshua destroying cities that didn't exist at the time. It was my hand that wrote about Simon btraying Jesus as the cock crowed/after the cock crowed/once/twice/three times.
I'm terribly sorry, I didn't realise before that the Bible's mistakes were mine.

And that leads to a sobering revelation. It means that Hell is real.

Wrong. As already mentioned. A financial crisis is not fulfillment of prophesy. And even if it were, the Bible doesn't describe Hell the way I know you, Ray Comfort, believe it does. Hell is not proven by a Wall Street crash.

So, what are you going to do? I have a suggestion. Humble yourself, then admit you were wrong, and get right with God through repentance and faith in Jesus. Then begin to reach out to the lost with the same zeal you had as an atheist.

I have a proposition for you instead Ray. I predict that within a month, the markets will be back to normal. When my prophesy comes true I'd like you to admit that you are using your usual scare tactics. Taking advantage of today's uncertainty to put the fear of hell into people. I'd like you to admit that you were wrong and that this crisis is just one of those cyclic economic things that come around, and nothing to do with end times.

I won't be holding my breath. Ray Comfort, you utterly worthless human being.

Dear reader, should you wish to read Ray Comfort's blog it is at raycomfortfood dot blogspot dot com. I can't bear to link to the man. Or you can read the livlier Raytractors blog

Prayer, What's it all about?

2008-10-08T17:51:00.003+02:00

Jesus said "If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." (Matthew 21:22) and it is repeated in the Gospel of Mark "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." (Mark 11:24)

This kind of prayer is obviously intercessionary prayer, praying on behalf of other people, praying for a change of events, praying for an outcome of some sort.

the difficulty is, as we all know, believers and heathen alike, prayers do not always get answered. Christians will often explain that God answers prayers in one of three ways: Yes, No, and Later.

Well, the "No" option is a direct contradiction of Jesus' promise. So Christians who are not getting their prayers answered will have to assume that either "Later" is in play, or, they did not have enough faith.

Others will explain that prayers will be answered, providing what is being asked for is in God's will. Well, if it is in His will, His plan, then it will come about anyway. It's His will. So there's no need to bother asking. And if it's not in His will, well again, no need to bother asking. Either way, no need to bother God.

Any ideas on how to resolve the many Biblical contradictions about prayer? Jesus tells us tio pray in private and secret so as not to be like the hypocrites, and yet in Paul's letter to Timothy, Chapter 2 entitled "Instructions on Worship" we are instructed: "I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer"

Paul also wants us to bother God in 1 Timothy 2:1 "I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior" Wouldn't have done anyone any good in the Holocaust would it? Or perhaps not a single person in the world prayed during 1939-1945 with enough belief.

Biblical Nonsense

2008-10-07T12:13:00.002+02:00

A Review of the Bible For Doubting Christians
Dr Jason Long

I ordered this book, along with 50 Reasons People Give For Believeing in A God because they are on the list for the book club on Adrian Hayter's Atheist Blogger site.

Biblical Nonsense arrived first so it got read.

On the plus side it was an easy read, for me that was also its downfall. I felt that often Dr long is talking down to his reader. There wasn't much that I didn't know already, but I found his chapters on Prophesy Slavery and Women most interesting.

The book is subtitled - "A Review of the Bible For Doubting Christians" but I doubt very much if doubting Christians would enjoy it. In the chapters on the flood, logical fallacies and science he uses disparaging language to describe the mindsets of believers and apologists. Perhaps such language is justified, but I'm not convinced it will help to persuade.

I felt another weakness of his argument for the scientific weaknesses of the Bible is to criticise the science of events that are obviously miraculous. For example, he states that it neither logical nor scientific that God created light before he created the sun and the stars. Sure it's illogical, but he's God, by the Christian definition he is entirely capable of anything. he can have plants groing before the sun's creation, sure, why not? he's God.

I felt the book did a very good job of illustrating that the Bible cannot be divinely inspired because of the errors and contradicitions contained. And importantly for me were the errors of edition. A book authored under the direct guideance of Holy God had a crap proof reader.

Dr Long explains that the book grew out of a series of essays and unfortunately, in this respect it is a lot like the Bible it criticises: A collection of disparate works that don't hold together well. With more time and effort, Dr Long could have re-worked some of the chapters to homogonise the writing style across the whole book. A stricter editor would have insisted on it. I've never written a book, and I acknowledge it must be pain in the arse to rework and re-write material.

I spent my church time in a Baptist Church and was led to believe that the NIV translation was super accurate and tip top. I was amazed to discover via this book of some of the liberties the NIV has taken in its translation.

I'd recommend the book, not as an in-depth study, it doesn't claim to be that, but as a great primer into the failings, errors, fallacies, and lies contained in The Holy Bible. It is certainly a stimumus to further study.
The end of the book gave a list of further reading of on-line sources which I am going to find very useful.

Paradox

2008-10-06T09:52:00.004+02:00

About the year 600BC the Cretan philosopher Epimenides of Knossos said "All Cretans are liars" and thus stated one of the oldest and best known self-referntial paradoxes.

If the statement is true, the nall Cretans ARE liars, but Epimenides himself was Cretan so he must have been lying when he said it. But if he was lying then ... and so on.

Now, I never knew that this paradox is quoted in the Bible. At least I did know because I have read the verse as part of the Letter to Titus but didn't know what it referred to. Reading the book "Aha! Gotcha: Paradoxes to Puzzle and Delight" by Martin Gardner taught me lots, but then I still didn't realise the reference in Titus. (Can't find that book, I must have lent it to someone)

The author of the letter (it is disputed as to whether or not it is Paul) says in Titus 1:12-13 - "Even one of their own prophets has said, "Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons." This testimony is true."

Bloody typical. Not only does the author miss the point completely, taking it to be an actual observation about Cretans and not as an exercise in logic, he further misquotes and attributes evil, laziness and gluttony to them. see my edit below.

And then to cap it off, in perfect irony, he adds "This testimony is true"
But, if it's true, then the guy who said it ('one of their own prophets') must be a liar so it's not true etc etc.

The author of the letter to Titus shows exactly the same mentality and ignorance that we see in today's popular christian apologists. If you spend any time reading Ray Comfort's blog you'll see what I mean.

I recommend you reach Ray Comfort's blog via the clever and sexy Raytractors. That way you can be vaccinated against the stupid before you inflict it on yourself.

edited to acknowledge my own ignorance, after further research:
The author of Titus is not misquoting, he is working from a stanza in the poem Cretica by Epimenides:

They fashioned a tomb for thee, O holy and high one—
The Cretans, always liars, evil beasts, idle bellies!
But thou art not dead: thou livest and abidest forever,
For in thee we live and move and have our being.

Minos is talking to Zeus, so the Cretan "lie" is that Zeus is dead. Which is yet further irony given that the Cretans seem to have been early atheists, or at least aZeusists.

This poem by Epimenides is also quoted in Acts 17:28

I know who God is.

2008-09-07T19:18:00.003+02:00

With acknowledgements to Hemant Mehta at Friendly Atheist

Faith ≠ Doubt

2008-08-01T15:00:00.001+02:00

From an Another Voice in The Spectator by Matthew Parris

Some apologists are argueing that doubt strengthens faith. That it is natural to doubt, especially in the face of claims made by religions, but that faith is a step beyond doubt.

Parris doesn't buy it.

Because of increasing skepticism and secularism, many apologists attempt to redifine "faith". They want to apply the word faith to the kind of belief that we have about things which are firly certain. Like faith that the sun will rise in the morning. But that goes against the traditional and biblical sense of the word. "Real faith involves not a calculated risk, but an abandonment of human doubt."

Parris gives some examples of why, outside of religion faith is an estemed quality. Especially in the realms of having faith, as in putting your trust, in other people. "An ability, once committed, to commit absolutely even if the decision to commit was only taken on the balance of probabilities."

But the leap having been taken, all doubt must fly. And here progressive theology confounds the foundations of its own logic. You who have faith may show sympathy and understanding towards me, who doubts. But you should not share my doubt. Not if you have faith.

If you are wondering, as I am, what Parris' beliefs are, is he atheist, is he agnostic or theist,the final paragraph of this article seems to sum it up.

You are living, dear reader, at a watershed in human history. This is the century during which, after 2,000 years of what has been a pretty bloody marriage, faith and reason must agree to part, citing irreconcilable differences. So block your ears to the cooing voices on Thought for the Day, and choose your side.
“But how can you be sure?” Oh boy, am I sure. Oh great quivering mountains of pious mumbo-jumbo, am I sure. Oh fathomless oceans of sanctified babble, am I sure. Words cannot express my confidence in the answer to the question whether God cured a nun because she wrote a Pope’s name down. He didn’t. Mere language does no justice to my certainty about whether God might be waiting for the return to their Biblical lands of the Israelites, before arranging the Second Coming. He isn’t.
Shout it from the rooftops. Write it on walls. Carve it into rock. He didn’t. He isn’t. He won’t.

The blogosphere to be policed - UK

2008-07-31T14:41:00.003+02:00

From the Telegraph

Under the proposals, the new internet watchdog would operate in a similar way to other industry bodies such as the Press Complaints Commission, which enforces a code of practice for the UK newspaper and magazine industry, covering accuracy, discrimination and intrusion.
The watchdog would not have any statutory powers to impose fines but would investigate complaints and most likely publish its decisions in instances when its guidelines have been breached.
It is understood that it would also be able to order bloggers and social networking sites such as Bebo and MySpace to take down offensive messages or photographs.

Oh my aching nerves.

It's quite simple. If you find a blog offensive, don't read it, and don't visit it again. What if there were proposals to police offensive books? If someone writes a crap book, it doesn't sell.

A source who has seen the report said that the committee wanted to give the public "a form of redress" "At the moment consumers don't know where to go if they want to complaint about something they have seen on the internet," the source said. "The absence of any industry body is leading to a great deal of confusion and to widely differing practices.

To use the book analogy again, if a book is published and it contains information that is libelous, incorrect or offensive, there are a few options. Revisionist history for example, critics and other historians publish books that debunk the errors. Authors get taken to court for libel or hate crime. And guess what? Similar laws already exist as a "form of redress" because the article goes on to state:

A British businessman was last week awarded £22,000 libel damages from a school friend who made false accusations against him on a fake Facebook profile.
Mathew Firscht launched the High Court action after inaccurate claims about his sexuality and political viewers were posted on the site.

So it seems there are adequate forms redress already.

As the Devil said in his Kitchen:

Blogs are governed by the same libel laws that newspapers are: that is a form of regulation. As for the idea that "internet users will be protected from abusive bloggers" it's a great pile of shit: internet users get protected from abusive bloggers by not reading the fucking blog. You don't like abuse? Fine, fuck off.
And if you find this blog offensive... well... that's free speech for you. You do not have the right not to be offended, OK?

and

Make no mistake, this is about sparing the blushes of our government; not only that, it's about blogs doing the media's job and actually finding out facts and throwing them back in the government's face. It is about stifling dissent.

Not all recession is bad: baptisms down

2008-07-30T13:19:00.003+02:00

Baptisms in the Southern Baptist Convention have fallen to a 20-year low, a trend that is setting off alarm bells in America's largest evangelical denomination.
From Reuters

I was a Baptist, and our church put a lot of emphasis on full-immersion, adult baptism. We believed that salvation was thru faith in christ, and not by works, but that a truly born-again person would want to follow the commands of jesus, hence baptism, communion etc.

The article discusses the unease felt by Southern Baptists over the decline in baptisms, as it is an indicator of church growth, but as it interviews some of the nuttier delegates, some choice quotes result.

Evangelist Jim McNiel of St. Louis, the drop in baptism numbers was a sign that the biblical "end times" described in the Book of Revelation were drawing near.
"I see two factions. You have one for believers but you also have a faction from Satan and there is a strong battle looming," he said.

Yes, it's the Satan faction. They are a bit like lobbyists, but have more integrity.

Appeal to Authority

2008-07-08T12:10:00.004+02:00

It only just occurred to me, this comic being from 1969, that the Mr Wilson they are referring to is Harold Wilson, the British Prime Minister of the time.

Another Perishers cartoon.

Click on the comic to enlarge it.

Click on Perishers category to see all the Perishers posts.

Worshipping God is like...

2008-07-07T23:27:00.001+02:00

... fellating someone who intermittently stubs fags out on your head for no good reason. And we all know how unsatisfying that can be." - Charlie Brooker

I liked this quote so much I made a motivational poster for it. And since images of fellatio and cigarette burns were hard to find on the net, I got Fiona to take a pic of me in action.

Works well, I think.

Germs - it's just a theory

2008-07-07T19:23:00.001+02:00

Wellington continues to harass Maisie with logic.

Another Perishers cartoon.

Click on the comic to enlarge it.

Click on Perishers category to see all the Perishers posts.

Seeing is Believing

2008-07-06T21:58:00.001+02:00

The continuing saga of the existance of Father Christmas & Mr Wilson

Click on the comic to enlarge it.

Perishing skepticism

2008-07-05T11:38:00.003+02:00

I have a little series of of eight Perishers cartoons on the theme of skepticism and belief.
To kick things off here are two for today.
I'll post the rest over the next week.
These are from "The Perishers Pop Up Again" Hamlyn Press 1969

Click on the comic to enlarge it.

Should Darwin be the icon of atheism?

2008-06-30T15:20:00.004+02:00

Tomorrow, 150 years to the day, Darwin unveiled his theory of Evolution by Natural Selection.

In a nice bit of serendipity, since I am currently reading about The History of Atheism, a leader in the Telegraph says:

We should be careful about pigeon-holing the man who wouldn't pigeon-hole pigeons.
Wasn't Darwin also a man of God, who wrestled with some form of faith throughout his life? Was he not intensely respectful of the relationships between science and faith? Should atheists, such as Dawkins, really adopt Darwin as their champion?

Atheism, of course goes back at least to the 4th Century BC, and probably further.

One of the commenters on the article (Chris) noted:
"Of course Darwin isn't the father of atheism. Atheists have been around a lot longer that that - it just hasn't been terribly safe to admit to being one for most of history!"

So, in celebration of Darwin's work I give you the links to:
On the Origin of Species By Means of Natural Selection, or, the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life
The Voyage of the Beagle
From The Gutenberg Project. You can download Darwin's work as text files and read at your leisure.

Why atheism is wrong

2008-06-21T13:14:00.003+02:00

A commenter on a post sent me a link to a poem "Why Atheism is Wrong?"

Some examples around us given to prove that there is God.
Answering is simple,
Here's the first example,
Will a baby learn to walk?
If he didn't try to crawl,
Here's the second example,
Will a student pass the exam?
If he didn't study at all
Here's the third example,
Will you see your wife beside you?
If you did not marry anyone
Here's the fourth example,
Will you get money?
If you didn't work for it
Focusing to the point,
Will you see the building?
If there is no developer
Will you see the car on the road?
If no one is making the car
Have you ever try to plant a tree?
And are we growing the tree?
No, it's not us.
It's God
Will you ever see this poetry?
If no one is writing it
The answer remains,
There is force behind it
Wonder who creates us,
And you will know,
God do exist

Very weak. The logic behind it is basically: these things have a cause. I don't understand the cause, therefore God did it.

Babies crawl before they walk. Amazing. God must exist.
You have to study to learn something. Incredible. God must exist.
If you don't get married, you won't have a wife. Zounds. God must exist.
Buildings need architects. So God exists.
Cars need manufacturers. So God exists.
Plants grow. So God exists.

See hundreds of Proofs of God
Proof number 98:
ARGUMENT FROM DESIGN (II), a.k.a. GOD OF THE GAPS, a.k.a. ARGUMENT FROM PERSONAL INCREDULITY (II), a.k.a. DESIGN/TELEOLOGICAL ARGUMENT (IV)
(1) Isn't X amazing!
(2) I don't understand how X could be, without something else (that I don't really understand either) making or doing X.
(3) This something else must be God because I can't come up with a better explanation.
(4) Therefore, God exists.

Even If I granted the existance of a Designer, where did the Designer come from?

I leave you with a poem of my own, just knocked out in a few minutes. If it seems similar to the one you linked to, it's because it is.
Answering is simple,
Here's the first example
Does a baby have to die
From a terrible disease?
Here's the second example,
Will a person do the right thing
If there wasn't a God to please?
Here's the third example,
If I thought of a paradox
Would you give up all your logic?
Here's the fourth example,
Do things ever happen to you
That seem to have no purpose?
Focusing to the point,
Do you see the painting
And praise someone else for painting it?
Do you see the technology
And all the advances we have made
And think it has come from the sky?
We are alone. We triumph, we fail.
There is no God to fear or blame.
I hope you will see this poem
And think deeper than bumper sticker philosophy
The answer remains,
Think of the contradictions
found in ALL religions
Look for solid proof
And ask if God exists.

Because they don't believe.

2008-06-20T18:45:00.002+02:00

I'm fed up, maisie, why do I have to get up early and go to church, maisie, what about all these other people, maisie, why are they still in bed, maisie, why don't they get up an' go to church, maisie, why do i have to...

Another Perishers comic

Click the image to enlarge

Beyond Disgusting

2008-06-20T12:46:00.002+02:00

Beyond words. I don't know what to say. It's a nightmare come true.

'Cannibal relatives ate boy alive'

It will chill you to the core.

Ondrej and his nine-year-old brother Jakub were locked and chained in the cellar for months by their mother Klara, 31 – a member of a group called the Grail Movement.
He was caged, beaten and gagged to stop him screaming, according to reports.
Mauerova had the monitor installed so that she could watch the abuse from her kitchen but the images were picked up by a neighbour who used an identical system to monitor a newborn baby, the regional court in Brno has heard.

A History of Atheism

2008-06-19T16:00:00.000+02:00

I borrowed this book from the library the other day. A History of Atheism by Georges Minois. It's in French (because it's a french library. In France)
My previous reading in french started with adventure stories for teens and has progressed to whodunnits and all the novels by Robert Crais.
So it's time to try something heavy.

The cover photo shows: Epicurus, Rabelais, Hobbes, marquis de Sade, Nietsche and Sartre. Who the hell are they? Well, OK, I've heard of them, and come across quotes, but I have no idea of how they fit in with each other.

The cover blurb talks about someone called Theodore l'Athée (Theodorus the Atheist) who declared in the 4th Century BC that God didn't exist.

That's just the back cover and I've learnt something new!

To keep myself motivated I'd like to blog my progress through the book.

I'd like you to meet Death

2008-06-18T18:12:00.000+02:00

"Death is a test of one’s maturity. Everyone has got to get through it on their own. I want very much to die. I want to become part of that vast extraordinary light. But dying is hard work. Death is in control of the process, I cannot influence its course. All I can do is wait. I was given my life, I had to live it, and now I am giving it back"

A German photographer, Walter Schels, took a series of portraits of terminal cancer patients. One a few weeks before their death and another after they had died.
There are 11 patients here, 22 photos.

I encourage you to click through them, reading the comments and quotes from the patients on the side bar.

It is very powerful.

God Helps those...

2008-06-18T13:47:00.000+02:00

...who help themselves.

Another Perishers comic. Baby Grumpling on the ball as usual

Click on the comic to enlarge it.

ask an' thou shalt receive

2008-06-17T17:50:00.000+02:00

Baby Grumpling is right. What's this "within reason" lark?

Another Perishers comic.

Click on the comic to enlarge it.

Man 'kidnapped ex-girlfriend to do ironing'

2008-06-17T15:57:00.000+02:00

A man has been arrested over the kidnap of his ex-girlfriend after he allegedly forced her into his home - and ordered her to do the ironing.
The 43-year-old Italian apparently dragged the woman out of a bar in the port city of Genoa in the north of the country and pushed her into his car, before taking her back to his house.

Once there, he threatened to hurt her before making her iron his clothes and do the washing up, police said.

My apologies to all womankind, but I find it very amusing.

Book Burning

2008-06-11T14:23:00.000+02:00

From the Shreveport Times

About 30 people gathered for a regional revival Friday night that included a book burning as a statement to reach out to local residents.

"It is allowed for Harry Potter to be taught in our schools, but not the Bible," International House of Prayer pastor James Crawford said during the Shreveport Regional Unity of Faith Revival.

James Crawford is the crazy on the right doing the arm thing.
He is very pleased with himself.
He has posted in the comments section of the news story:

I am James Crawford the director of this prayer movement.
We are going to see the city established in the word of the Lord.
We will not tolerate this perversion anymore. We are the watchmen of the Lord and He is the only Lord worthy to reign in this city. Why, because he said so and He is God!!!

He would like other "watchmen" to call him on his cell phone: (318) 218-9836
or mail him at james@ihop-shreveport.com

Perhaps we can drop him a line too. Something along the lines of the arm-thing he's doing in the picture and some other famous book burners in the 1930's and 40's.

World's 'oldest Christian church' discovered in Jordan

2008-06-11T13:49:00.000+02:00

From The Telegraph
If this story pans out it'll be fascinating. Imagine - conclusive proof of the historicity of Jesus.

Archaeologists claim to have found the world's oldest church dating from shortly after Christ's crucifixion.
According to a report in the Jordan Times newspaper, a very early underground church was found beneath the ancient Saint Georgeous Church, which itself dates back to 230 AD, in Rihab, northern Jordan near the Syrian border.
"We have uncovered what we believe to be the first church in the world, dating from 33 AD to 70 AD," Abdul Qader al-Husan, head of Jordan's Rihab Centre for Archaeological Studies, said.
We have evidence to believe this church sheltered the early Christians – the 70 disciples of Jesus Christ."
A mosaic found in the church describes these Christians as "the 70 beloved by God and Divine". Mr Husan said they believed to have fled persecution in Jerusalem and founded churches in northern Jordan.
He cited historical sources which suggest they both lived and practised religious rituals in the underground church and only left it after Christianity was embraced by Roman rulers in the fourth century AD.

Oh dear. My skepticism kicks in. Phrases like "claim to have found" and "evidence to believe" and "sources which suggest" set my bullshit alarms off.

Researchers recovered pottery dating back to between the 3rd and 7th centuries, which they say suggests these first Christians and their followers lived in the area until late Roman rule.

Unless I've misread the article, this would suggest that the users of the church from "33 AD to 70 AD" always cleaned up after themselves and were a remarkably tidy lot, until those careless plate-smashers from the 3rd century took over.

Either that, or Jesus' disciples were eating of plates that weren't yet made.

We have no historical or archeological evidence for the existance of Jesus but for gospels and churches that date from a couple of hundred years after he was supposed to be around. Now, some archeologists reckon that because a mosaic mentions "70 disciples" that dates it to "33 AD to 70 AD"?

The claim was treated with some disdain in online chatrooms focusing on biblical knowledge with most contributors suggesting the claim was made up to boost Rihab's tourist status.

No! Who could imagine such a thing? That would be like suggesting that James Cameron making a documentary about finding the tomb of Jesus based on some names that sound a bit like some of his contemporaries was made just for self-promotion and publicity. That could never happen.

Believe me, I would like for this to be true, I love history, and a church dating within the first century would be a real find.

But I call bullshit.

Who does God pray to?

2008-06-08T14:17:00.000+02:00

Indeed. Many people have questioned why a supreme being has any needs at all. Why did he create the universe and everything? Was he lonely? Are we his fishtank?

Another Perishers comic. Baby grumpling asks the big questions.

Click on the comic to enlarge it.

Mark Twain

2008-06-07T18:25:00.000+02:00

Has some damn fine quotes. Sharp fella.

Here's my motivational poster based on one of his quotes on the Bible.

Wants and Needs

2008-06-07T11:15:00.000+02:00

Another copyright violation and a scanned Perishers comic.
I like the way baby grumplin cuts to the chase.

Click the strip to view it full size.
All praise to Morris Dodd & Dennis Collins.
The Perishers were drawn for the Daily Mirror newspaper (In the UK) in the 1970's. These are from collection No. 22 1979 which contains the cartoons that appeared in the Scottish editions of the Sunday Mirror.

You Bastards

2008-06-06T11:27:00.000+02:00

Physicists have 'solved' mystery of levitation says the headline.
And look at the picture that goes with the story.

I was really excited. And it IS an exciting story. But why do newspapers have to dumb down the thing by showing pictures of 'levitating' objects that have nothing to do with the physics involved.

You can click my pic to enlarge it or follow the link above.

The article is about manipulating the Casimir force on the nano level to possibly create frictionless nano machines.
The picture has no caption, but a mouse over caption reveals 'Beijing saleswoman demonstrates toy which levitates by magnetic force'
I hate shit like that.

God doesn't deal in great hairy feet

2008-05-30T19:19:00.000+02:00

When I was young, at my parents house there were some collections of 'The Perishers' cartoons. My father had bought them because, as an illustrator he admired the work of Dennis Collins, the artist. The gags were scripted by Maurice Dodd.

In a fit of nostalgia I've bought a few of the albums on eBay. Many of the strips I remember, but I had completely forgotten the strips that concern religious matters, as maisie and her brother Baby Grumpling discuss church and God.

So, violating all manner of copyright, I'm scanning them and putting some of them up here. Click on the image to view it full size.

Prince Charles makes a correct decision

2008-05-25T15:55:00.000+02:00

From CNN news.

LONDON, England (AP) -- A royal spokesman says Britain's Prince Charles has had a small non-cancerous growth removed from his face.
A spokesman at Charles' official residence, Clarence House, said Friday that the operation was a minor and routine procedure. Charles had the growth removed from the side of his nose late Thursday afternoon.
He had covered up the scar with small white bandage on the bridge of his nose during a tree-planting ceremony Friday at his country home in Highgrove.

Evidently it was because the growth was non-cancerous that Charles stooped to nasty old "western" medicine.
because if it had been cancerous I'm sure he would have stuck by his principles (geddit?) and used Gerson Therapy, which eschews chemotherapy in favour of 13 fruit juices a day, coffee enemas and weekly injections of vitamins. (The Guardian)
Mind you, even though it wasn't cancerous, I'm surprised he submitted himself to invasive surgery given his enthusiasm for alternate therapies. Surely he would have entrusted the removal of facial growths to acupuncture, or homeopathy?
I'm not anti-royal, or even particularly anti-Charles. I'm anti people who are in positions of influence being hypocritical and promoting all manner of woo and ant- scientific bullshit, and then taking refuge in tried and tested scientific treatment when the crunch comes.

Jesus' less famous brother, Charles

2008-05-17T14:05:00.000+02:00

Legend has it that Joseph of Aramathea took the Holy Grail and Mary Magdalene to France. The Magdalene was said to have been married to the Christ, and the Holy Grail is said to symbolise their blood line, rather than being a physical object.
I now have firm evidence that members of Jesus' family did indeed make it to France, in order to found a cornichon preserving business.

Charles Christ, part of the SOCIETE CHRIST (web address www.christ.fr) is a family business. The business motto is "de père en fils" or "from father to son". I rest my case.

Anne Frank burns for eternity

2008-04-24T21:52:00.000+02:00

Christian theology regarding judgement goes like this:
God is perfect.
When we violate His standard imparted to us through the 10 commandments, our offence is infinite because it is against in infinite God
Therefore infinite suffering is a just punishment.

I have paraphrased the wise "truthwar" who has a blog at The Truth War.

He has made this post on Anne Frank because the topic of the merits of Anne Frank and Hitler, and their eternal suffering has been recently discussed in the comments section on Ray Comfort's weird little blog. The synchronicity of subject matter and shared theology is too strong. Read his blog and Comforts and you'll see the same phraseology. For example they share this odd concept of "false converts".

They, and their supporters believe that, since what we do in life, ie our "works" count for nothing in the eyes of perfect Yahweh, they are both, Anne frank and Hitler, probably suffering eternally in hell.

And they think this is a good thing. Well, it must be a good thing mustn't it? It's Yahweh's plan, and Yahweh's justice.

Credit where credit's due, to both truthwar & Comfort - they do allow comment on their blogs. A rare thing amongst their kind.

Genesis busted by a spruce

2008-04-13T20:25:00.000+02:00

Scientists have found a cluster of spruces in the mountains in western Sweden which, at an age of 8,000 years, may be the world's oldest living trees.

Reuters

"These were the first woods that grew after the Ice Age," said Lars Hedlund, responsible for environmental surveys in the county of Dalarna and collaborator in climate studies there.

"That means that when you speak of climate change today, you can in these (trees) see pretty much every single climate change that has occurred."

So, some trees that are 2000 years older than the age of the Earth (If you are a young earth creationist). I'm sure this won't be a problem for them because they'll claim that God created these trees "pre-aged" in the same way he made the stars with their light already reaching us.
But, hang on, what about the flood? A global flood of such catastrophic proportions that it was responsible for the Grand Canyon would have destroyed these trees.

These hardy little bushes are living proof that the Bible can not be taken as literal truth.

Religions can build peace

2008-04-11T18:37:00.000+02:00

Well, it would be nice wouldn't it?

Yesterday, 10th April 2008, at the Montserrat Monastery near Barcelona, The Foundation for a Culture of Peace organised an international meeting on the role of religions in the building of peace.
Pictured here speaking is Former Iranian President and President of the Foundation for Dialogue Among Civilisations Mohammad Khatami. He is next to Federico Mayor Zaragoza from Spain, who is president of the Foundation for a Culture of Peace and former director-general of UNESCO, and next to him is the Abbot of Montserrat Josep Maria Soler.

Colour me cynical, but I'm not holding my breath.

The walking snake

2008-04-10T13:30:00.000+02:00

So the LORD God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, "Cursed are you above all the livestock and all the wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life"

This curse is only a hardship if the snake had the ability to walk. If the snake was already crawling then it's hardly a curse.

But look! What's this? A fossil of a 2 legged snake. Only one leg was visible on the fossil, but an amazing scanning instrument that can "see" into the rock, confirmed the presence of the second leg.

Would it seem that the bible has been proved correct by fossil evidense? It would, if we could account for the discrepency between Eupodophis descouensi living in the Late Cretaceous - 92 million years ago, and Wile. E. Snake from Genesis making his appearance some 6 thousand years ago.

We won't mention the fact that snakes don't eat dust.

A test.

2008-04-09T19:29:00.000+02:00

Thousands of miles away, someone makes a film that you disagree with and upsets you.

What is your response?
a. Ignore it, it's just a film, these things come and go, it'll all be forgotten by the end of the year.
b. Write a letter your your local newspaper expressing your indignation.
c. Boycott the products and services of that country
or
d. Go trash a local cinema. One that isn't even showing the movie. And probably never will, chances are this kind of film wouldn't ever be aired anywhere in your country. Beat up some of the people in the cinema. Even though they may well agree with you. Vandalise the cars outside the cinema.

Did you pick d? Well done, that is the correct response for any self-respecting muslim to take over the film Fitna.

Baby is born with two faces

2008-04-09T18:43:00.000+02:00

A baby born with two faces in an Indian village is being worshipped as the reincarnation of a Hindu goddess.
She apparently has a very rare condition known as craniofacial duplication, with two noses, two pairs of lips and two pairs of eyes. She is said to be doing well.

MSNBC

Is there anything more screwed up than religion?

Catholic Church uses drug money

2008-04-09T13:47:00.000+02:00

Mexico drug gangs building churches: bishop
Reuters

Violent drug gangs in Mexico, which kill thousands of people a year, fund the building of churches in impoverished villages to try to win over locals, a senior Catholic bishop said.

"They are very generous," Bishop Carlos Aguiar told a press conference, Reforma newspaper reported on Saturday.

Aguiar did not say if the drug gangs directly gave money to the Church to use for building places of worship or if they supported the construction works in other ways. Church officials could not be reached for comment on Aguiar's statements, made on Friday and published in several newspapers

"I'm not justifying it, I'm just saying how it is," he said.

Well that's alright then

Know-it-all Douche

2008-04-08T20:07:00.000+02:00

L. Ron Brown of The Frame Problem is a Know-it-all Douche.

And I hereby give him this award.

Well, he asked for it. But he's really a smart cooky who's blogging a storm on Scientology.

Religion of Peace

2008-04-08T19:14:00.000+02:00

"Islam is a religion of peace in the same way that North Korea is a people's democratic republic."

Wise and witty words from Pat Condell.

"No shortage of politicians lining up to accuse the film (Fitna) with falsely equating Islam with violence, which is a bit like falsley equating Walt Disney with Micky Mouse."

"I'm sure anyone who follows the news would also equate Islam with violence, I know I certainly do, because anytime anybody criticises Islam, they are usually threatened with violence."

"But wer're not allowed to say that, because if we do.... we'll be threatened with violence."

"Well here we are (in the 21st Century). And what have we got? We've got Islam. A violent, 7th Century desert dogma that wants to take over the world, remove our freedom, subjugate women, brainwash children, persecute Jews and homosexuals and drag us all back 1000 years, and all we can do is make excuses for it, for fear of causing offence."

This video embedded below, but I strongly recommend visiting his YouTube Channel. Pat Condell is just as savage on Christianity as he is Islam.

So if you HAVE to be religious . . .

2008-04-07T12:51:00.000+02:00

. . . why not worship an enormous penis?

Many people talk about the human need for 'sprituality' or the need for a spiritual dimension in life.

George Carlin recommends becoming a sun worshipper and praying to Joe Pesci.

I offer you Phallus Worship.

Sunday 6th April was the the Kanamara festival, an annual celebration of the phallus, always held on the first Sunday in April in Kawasaki.
Celebrated for the last 300 years, it is based around a shrine, once popular with prostitutes seeking protection from syphilis.
A steel phallus, housed in the shrine, was constructed, according to the myth by a blacksmith, to break the teeth of a demon that was hiding inside the vagina of a young girl and biting the penises of her suiters.

Well, it makes as much sense as anything the bible has come up with.

During the festival "Huge pink and black phalluses were paraded down the streets of this Japanese town in an annual fertility festival, as some 30,000 worshippers asked for blessings and protection from sexually transmitted diseases."

I do hope that condoms and antibiotics where also promoted.

What's with the "ah-theist" thing?

2008-04-06T14:33:00.000+02:00

I've noticed in the comments sections of Ray Comfort's terrible blog that many of his defenders and apologists refer to atheists as "ah-theists" and I can't figure out why.

Search the comments here and here and also on this forum

I've tried googling it and it does crop up elsewhere, but no valid explainations.

It doesn't bug me or insult me, I'm just curious. If it turns out to be a meaningful insult I'll probably adopt it as a badge of pride.

Any calrification would be welcome

And the proof for a real exorcism would be . . . ?

2008-04-05T16:52:00.001+02:00

Priest 'made £3m from fake exorcisms'

So this priest in Italy is being investigated for fraud because he has amassed a personal fortune as a result of the healings and exorcisms conducted in front of audiences of 400.

Father Francesco Saverio Bazzoffi's defence is that because his organisation - the House of the Sainted Archangels - is not a business, it does not have a bank account, so he opened one in his own name. The money is destined for charities in India and the Philippines.

Here are the things that surprised me from the article.
1. The Catholic Church only permits licensed exorcists to practice. ie: The church issues exorcist licenses.
2. Other rites, such as laying on of hands are also proscribed by the church.

and (most importantly)

3. The church is not under investigation for fraud for its exorcisms and related money gathering

For how do the investigators differentiate between the bogus exorcisms of Bazzoffi, and the bogus exorcisms of a licensed Catholic exorcist. Or is it just paperwork, to quote Johnny Knoxville.

Creationists 'peddle lies about fossil record'

2008-03-03T16:50:00.000+01:00

So goes the headline of the artile in the Daily Telegraph
It's nice to see mainstream newspapers printing articles like this.

A leading scientist accuses creationists of peddling the lie that there is no fossil evidence of evolution.
Genetics professor Steve Jones on creationism
Ceri Radford: Essential reading for creationists
Apes and humans split from a common ancestor seven million years ago and both lineages are still around
Some Christians claim there is a lack of "missing link" fossils, halfway between two major groups of creatures.
They say this proves Charles Darwin's theory of evolution is a fallacy and that God created each living species from nothing.
But, in an essay published in the magazine New Scientist today, geologist Donald Prothero claims that reports of "huge gaps" in the fossil records have been greatly exaggerated.
Dr Prothero, a professor of geology at Occidental College in Los Angeles, said: "Life does not progress up a hierarchical ladder from 'low' to 'high' but is a branching bush with numerous lineages splitting apart and coexisting simultaneously.
"For example, apes and humans split from a common ancestor seven million years ago and both lineages are still around.
"For this reason the concept of 'missing link' is a misleading one. A transitional form does not need to be a perfect halfway house directly linking one group of organisms to another.
"It merely needs to record aspects of evolutionary change that occurred as one lineage split from another."
When Darwin first proposed the idea of evolution by natural selection in 1859, the fossil record offered little support. He even devoted two entire chapters of the Origin of Species to the imperfection of the geological record, but predicted that it would eventually support his theories.
Dr Prothero said the creationists are ignoring a wealth of transitional fossils found since Darwin's era which provide proof of the evolutionary process.
He said: "The idea still persists that the fossil record is too patchy to provide good evidence of evolution. One reason for this is the influence of creationism.
"Foremost among their tactics is to distort or ignore the evidence for evolution; a favourite lie is 'there are no transitional fossils'.
"This is manifestly untrue. We now have abundant evidence for how all the major groups of animals are related, much of it in the form of excellent transitional fossils."
Randall Hardy, the head of the British branch of Creation Research, said last night: "Any attempt to impose evolution stories onto these fossils is just speculation.
"It's all because of the mindset of these people [scientists], which is pre-disposed towards evolution."

Deluded fools or genius scam artists?

2008-02-07T18:14:00.000+01:00

Whenever I read Orac's posts about woomeisters I'm consumed with envy that I can't think of such brilliant scams and make my fortune.

And then I find there are other "holistic", New Age, "spiritual" types that aren' machiavellian at all. Just deluded and a bit sad. (Still making money tho')

Take these poor devils at One Heart Resource Center. I found their site while following a lead on the fantastic full-colour photograph of Jesus story. Yes, a photograph of Jesus.

I found a link to a page on their site where they have been completely taken in by an Indian magician and con-man called Sai Baba. Sai Baba has miraculous powers. He can manifest small objects and ash. By the same token, my uncle George was also an avatar because he could make coins appear from behind my ear. And our fireplace should be a place of worship given the amount of ash it produces. The gods are odd aren't they? Do they bless their chosen ones with the power to heal cancer and restore missing limbs? No, they grant the ability to make rings appear.
Anyway, this Sai Baba produced some glossy phot paper, and a colour picture of Jesus miraculously appeared on it. This miracle photo, given to an Australian dupe whose name has been hidden to protect her gullibility found its way to Ramala Center in Glastonbury, England. Oh, no, sorry, I misunderstood. A COPY of the photo found its way to the Ramala Center in Glastonbury, England. Our intrepid founders of the One Heart Resource Center took a copy of this copy back to the States from where they sell copies of it for $10 a pop.
Mind you this was back in about 1997 as far as I can make from the web page, because the page is no longer linked to from their site, but it is still on their server, and I found it thanks to Google indexing all their pages.
Their current site has this page regarding the Jesus photo. They state thqt the photo is now available free as a pdf. The reason for this seems to be that this same photo has cropped up in the past in other miraculous ways. So probably not worth the $10 then.

The level of these people's self delusion can be seen on their home page. One of the founders, Ruth Hanna died in January 2007. (or passed over to a higher plane, as they put it) Reading through the site it becomes clear she died of cancer.
She had dedicated her life to holistic and alternate methods of heqling and self awareness, and yet was powerless in the face of her own illness. The web page describing her illness tells how she fell for a quack cancer therapy called Insulin Potentiation Therapy (IPT). Quackwatch descibes why this therapy is quackery.

Sometimes the woomeisters are downright bad. Other times I think the honestly feel they are trying to help. They are wrong. One Heart seems to be an example of lives wasted.

A thief is a thief

2008-02-05T14:20:00.000+01:00

Scandal gnaws at Buddha's holy tree in India
Religion and gods are created by people.
People can be (amongst other things) dishonest and selfish.
Religious people can be (amongst other things) dishonest and selfish.

There's a temple in the Bihars state of India, in the town of Bodh Gaya. The Mahabodhi Temple is where for three days and three nights, Siddhartha Gautama sat under a fig tree, in the sixth century BC. He then gained enlightenment and became the Buddha

Picture slide show here

100,000 tourists and pilgrims visit every year. Temple donations means lots of money. And here comes the problem. Money is unaccounted for. The fig tree at the back of the temple has had a thick branch cut off and sold, and statuettes of the Buddha have gone missing.

The temple is run by Hindus who see Buddha as an incarnation of Vishnu. Buddhists, on the other hand see Buddha as, err, Buddha. Buddhists claim that they should be responsible for the temple, and not the Hindus.

District magistrate Jitendra Srivastava has been running the temple committee since the scandal surfaced and the last committee's term expired. On the handover of temple supervision to Buddhists he said:
"A thief can be a Hindu or a Buddhist," he said. "A thief is a thief, he has no religion."

Nearly right.

I thought support might be difficult...

2008-02-02T15:37:00.000+01:00

Thank-you to Blognor Regis for this clip.

It is from The Rise & Fall of Reginald Perrin. Reggie, played by the superb Leonard Rossiter is listening to his ex-army brother-in-law Jimmy (Geoffrey Palmer) about the targets for his secret army.

Atheists are included.

Crucifiction? No Big Deal

2008-02-02T12:25:00.000+01:00

from The Telegraph
A series of six programs commissioned by the BBC in the run up to Easter includes one by Terry Eagleton, Professor of Cultural Theory at the University of Manchester. A professed Marxist, Eagleton claims that the crucifiction of Christ has been overplayed as he only took three hours to die, probably as a result of his scourging, which was thus "a blessing in disguise".
Shock and horror and indignation all round.
Tony Kilmister, a vice-president of the Prayer Book Society, said: "Terry Eagleton is totally belittling of Christianity. How would he like it if he was strung up and scourged, let alone nailed to a cross?
That's one of ny favorite bits of logic that. It's commonly used by Animal Rights loonies: "How would you like a hook through your lip?" err... I'm not a fish.
"How would you like it if you were strung up and scourged, let alone nailed to a cross?" err... I'm not Jesus.

But, IF, IF I believed that as a result of 6 hours of pain, ALL MANKIND would be saved FOR ETERNITY, and I'd come back to life and sit on God's right hand in Heaven forever, I'd give it some serious thought.
Hundreds, no, probqbly millions of people throughout history have suffered terribly, suffered for a long time, for no reason whatsoever, other than the whim of some other bastards.
I agree with the lefty prof. I find Jesus' sacrifice underwhelming.

The Seduction of Science

2008-01-29T17:27:00.000+01:00

Following on from yesterday's post on the Pope's comments on Science and morality. He said: "In an age when scientific developments attract and seduce with the possibilities they offer, it's more important than ever to educate our contemporaries' consciences so that science does not become the criteria for goodness."
I've been thinking about this all day and more things have occured to me.
First, while I don't think "seductive" is the right word for it, I definitely think science is cool. Whenever I read news reports on the latest technologies I always go "wow! cool!" For example: The latest stuff on artificial limbs, like this, this and this. How about the story this week about the girl whose body changed blood group after a liver transplant?
And that's just medicine technology. Googled in 2 minutes. It is very, VERY cool. But seductive? No. I just can't get horny over science, the lab coats and goggles just don't do it for me! (Yes I know that's not what the Pope meant)
It's not the science that does the seducing. Science doesn't give a monkey's butt. Science is amoral. I don't think scientists leap about rubbing their hands in glee at each brakthrough, celebrating yet another pull on societies moral compass.
It's marketing that does the seducing. the technology that has driven the miniturisation of circuits and the whole mp3 thing, touch sensitive screens and stuff is not seductive, but the iPhone is.

From Filibuster Cartoons
He also said "no science can say who man is, where he comes from or where he is going" And that has been bugging me too, because science does say those things. Abiogenesis, The Big Bang, Evolution. All theories that propose sensible solutions for who, why and where and how.
If the Pope is bitching because science doesn't address moral or spiritual issues then he has a serious misunderstanding of what sciense is and what it does.
If he is worried about the misapplication of scientific discoveries: Nuclear weapons, chemical contraception, Zylon-B etc well, that's a different debate.

Science not the criteria for goodness

2008-01-28T20:57:00.000+01:00

He really does have some balls doesn't he? Joseph Ratzinger aka Pope Benedict.
He said in a speech today "In an age when scientific developments attract and seduce with the possibilities they offer, it's more important than ever to educate our contemporaries' consciences so that science does not become the criteria for goodness."
Science is "seductive". Seductive means something that lures you towards sin.
"Educate our contemporaries consciences". This from the leader of the cathoolic church.
"Science does not become the criteria for goodness." And he is offering what, as the criteria for goodness?
He also said "no science can say who man is, where he comes from or where he is going". Great. So, because science doesn't have the answers to the meaning of life, therefore the church does?
"Man is not the fruit of chance or a bundle of convergences, determinisms or physical and chemical reactions" He should team up with Ray Comfort. He uses bigger words than Ray does but it's the same misunderstanding of human origin and the same misrepresentations of scinetific theories.
This is a m an who is apposed to stem cell research, abortion, and thinks that magic words will be more magic if they are said in Latin.

Darwin Day = Satan Day

2008-01-27T12:53:00.000+01:00

My favorite site for fundamental christian looniness is Rapture Ready

Someone posted a thread on Darwin Day. "This'll be interesting", I thought.

The original post was a op-ed piece from a crazy lady called Sharon Hughes. Read that link, it's crazy enough in its own right.

Here are some of the responses to the notion of Darwin Day:
"That is disgusting.
Oh well,that is just fulfilling prophecy more. oh my goodness.
that is my birthday, how disgusting. And it is Abraham Lincoln's birthday, too. That makes it more disgusting." - BlessedinHim

"If my children's school sets aside this day to celebrate Darwin, my kids will not be in school that day. Christian's should keep their kids home in protest. Pray for our young people, they really are being raised in a generation of Godlessness. (The One and Only God, I don't mean the other "gods".)" BibleNuggetLady

"Richard Dawkins wrote the book "The God Delusion". When I've read blurbs about him, it sounds as if he has quite a bit of hatred toward Christianity, and those who embrace it.
Well, I don't mind if he refers to me as ignorant or stupid; after all, God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise.
But wicked? Give me a break. I guess this is what atheists do to get a rise out of Christians, for whatever reason." Mountain_Girl

"They say this because they hate us. They hate us because we make them very uncomfortable by our very presence - it reminds them that there is a God." Anddrai

"I hope they will ask this holiday off ... then we wouldn't have to "celebrate" it" CD4U (OP)

"Not heard one word about this in my district. I'm sure it's not wide-spread." Lisa

"Darwin Day"...oh brother! Yeah, let's pay homage to one of the most ignorant people to ever have existed...LOL. Darwin doesn't believe in evolution now - guaranteed.
I don't foresee this coming to the public schools where I live, but if it ever does, not only will my kids not be participating, but the powers that be will vocally hear my staunch opposition to such nonsense. I can't imagine many parents in these parts advocating this.
Richard Dawkins came to our community not too long ago for a speaking engagement. He's a self-absorbed, foolish man. Praying that he sees the error of his ways before it's too late. Don't let people like him get to you; remember, their knees will bow and their tongues will confess that Jesus is Lord one day." BrideOfChrist

"Dawkins has also said that any parent teaching their own child about God is guilty of child abuse by brain washing and should have the children removed from them permanently.
The guy is employed by Oxford as a professor. Is it any wonder the colleges are turning out more and more graduates that have rejected the faith of their youth?
Just saying" funmudder

"he is just as guilty for brainwashing kids to hate Christians.
And there are people who brainwash their kids that nudist is good, there are people who brainwash their kids to be vegetarian, there are people who brainwash their kids to think aliens created them, etc. So he does he think everyone should have freedom to brainwash their kids except Christians?
There are people who were raised in a Christian home who reject Christ, and there are people who were raised in a atheist home who accept Christ. So I wouldn't call it brainwashing, it is the decision that people make for themselves and it doesn't matter how they were raised." CD4U (OP)

"Darwin Day = Satan Day Just another sign of the times." 1angel4u

"'evenin' all!
I've just joined these boards and this OP caught my eye!
I think the previous poster was right. It is only one day after all but you'll have to brace yourselves because next year is the 150th anniversary." Flavell

"Although it doesn't really matter in the grand scheme of things, for the sake of precision it should be noted that Darwin was trained in the divinities and prepared for the Anglican priesthood. It was his scientific observations which made him first reject the idea of a benevolent creator (asking what kind of god would create parasitic wasps was one of his famous questions), and following the death of his daughter, he separated entirely from theological pursuits and despite the fact that he still participated in the social events of his family's church, personally didn't attend services and remained agnostic until his death.
As I mentioned, it doesn't change anything, but no sense feeling bad for the man for the wrong reasons. His departure from faith was weakened by pressure to reconcile his faith with his observations, and finished off by a personal tragedy in his family." Queue

"Actually Darwins observations do nothing to counter God's word. I'm not sure why so many Christians oppose him so vehemently. Who are we to say God didn't use evolution to form our world?" Wavering_Walk

"Don't insult God WW!
Darwin made interpretations based upon his belief system not "scientific observations"." Alhere

"It does not agree with scripture. the order Darwin says things appeared is different than what Genesis teaches." BlessedinHim

Seeing the thread on site has maximum impact for xian smilies, icons, avatars and sigs.
To coin a phrase: Fundies say the darndest things

Well, thanks for the heads up on next year being the 150th anniversary.

Italians support silenced Pope.

2008-01-20T23:50:00.000+01:00

Bligbi blogged on the 18th the story of the Pope cancelling his visit to a Rome university following protests by secular professors and students.
Today "Tens of thousands of students, politicians and ordinary Romans thronged the Vatican on Sunday in a major show of sympathy for Pope Benedict after protests led him to cancel a speech at Rome's top university this week."
"Some waved banners denouncing the "censorship" imposed by members of La Sapienza university."
"Since his election in 2005, the conservative Pontiff has fought what he sees as efforts to restrict the voice of the Church in the public sphere, particularly in Europe. But his stand on issues like abortion, gay marriage and euthanasia has led critics in Italy to accuse him of meddling in politics."
"The protesters at La Sapienza criticized his views on science, saying a speech in 1990 showed he would have favored the Church's 17th century heresy trial against Galileo."
"Fabrizio Cicchitto, a senior member of conservative opposition leader Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italia party, called the rally a "testimony against the barbarians" who silenced the Pope."
"But leftist member of parliament Franco Grillini, a gay rights activist, said "politicians kissing the shoes of the Pontiff" showed "a painful lack of political autonomy"."
Source: Reuters

An opportunity missed

2008-01-19T20:17:00.000+01:00

Germany named its latest furry superstar "Flocke", or "Snowflake" on Friday, sending the media into a frenzy which echoed "Knut-mania" in Berlin last year.
A naming competition for the nearly six-week-old polar bear cub launched by the city of Nuremberg received 50,000 emails, causing a server meltdown at the zoo as entries flooded in from around the globe.
from Reuters
The Germans don't have the same sense of humopur as the British:
They should have called the damn bear Mohammed

"YET NOT all members of the Great British Public have had their brains dissolved by too much exposure to the Guardian and a diet of low fat tofu. When viewers of local TV news programme London Tonight viewers were asked to name a new-born lamb that featured on the show, 95 per cent all plumped for the same name.
Can you guess what it was? Yep, Mohammed. Predictably, the producers inadvertently muddled up the results and went for the name just five per cent of viewers wanted – Mistletoe."
from Barry Beelzebub

The 21st Century will be religious

2008-01-18T23:02:00.000+01:00

Will France lose its secularism? Will its secularism change?
Yes it will, according to our President, Nicolas Sarkozy. In a speech to foreign diplomats in Paris today, he outlined his plans on climate change, diplomacy, defence, the Middle East, Iran, yaddah yaddah yaddah. And religion.
Taking a quote from the French writer, activist & politician André Malraux, Sarkozy said "the 21st Century will be religious or it won't be".
"One of the challenges is that of the conditions for the return of religion in most of our societies," he said. "It's an inescapable reality. Only the sectarians cannot see it."
The difficulty, he said, was ensuring that a religious revival did not come in the form of fundamentalist, closed and exclusive faiths.
"In my speech at Saint John Lateran, I explained my idea of a secularism which the place of religion would be defined in more positive terms. In front of the Consultative Council of Saudi Arabia, in Riyadh this week, I echoed the words of the wise King Abdullah, and advocated the idea of an open tolerance of religion"
Sarkozy triggered a political furore in France this week when he suggested on a visit to Saudi Arabia that religion should hold a bigger place in the social and political life of his own, officially secular country.
In a speech in Riyadh, he mentioned God 21 times, and on a visit to the Vatican last month he celebrated France’s “essentially Christian” roots. Mr Sarkozy’s declaration prompted his political opponents to accuse the president of failing to respect the constitution, which prohibits public displays of religious affiliation.
Mr Sarkozy, an occasionally practising Catholic, later insisted he was not proselytising, discriminating against France’s 5m Muslims or attacking its secular tradition, but advocating a more tolerant “positive” secularism at home.
Promoting tolerance abroad would also become a priority of his foreign policy, he said. “Perhaps more than the struggle for democracy, it is the struggle for diversity, for openness and tolerance, for the acceptance of difference, which seems to me fundamental,” he said.
Mr Sarkozy said his drive for mutual religious tolerance was one of four new approaches shaping his foreign policy.
Sources:
Financial Times
le Figaro
Le Monde

Apologies

2008-01-18T15:16:00.000+01:00

My apologies to people who have commented in this new blog. I didn't realise I had comment moderation turned on.
I've always been keen on letting all comments appear and stand (except spam).

Bob Dylan sold his soul to the devil

2008-01-18T14:56:00.000+01:00

The other night at the tile factory, I had a sudden urge to listen to old Bob Dylan songs. In particular, Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands, Visions of Johanna, and Leopard-Skin Pill-box Hat. All songs from Blonde on Blonde

So here I am, right now, listening to them, reminiscing and thinking "What damn fine songs"

And I remembered that just when I first discovered Bob Dylan he went all Christian on me. and by co-incidence, I went all Christian on me too, so I bought his album Slow Train Coming (1979). It's OK. Got a few good tracks.

Now I've come to my senses and it seems Bob has too. Because quite frankly, his albums from his Christion period (Shot of Love, Saved and Slow Train Coming) were shit.

And as was sitting here listening, I wondered how Bob got out of Christianity. So, like you do, I googled it. And found that Bob had sold his soul to the devil and was never truly saved. He experienced a false conversion.

The evidence is damning.

He introduced the Beatles to marijuana, his band The Band (we miss you Rick Danko) were bad boys, his album covers had tarot & eastern mysticism, and, his marriage broke down. Clear signs of demonic possesion.

Then, during his "conversion" he showed signs of being influenced by false Vineyard theology, and his church attendance stuttered and then stopped.

He said in an interview “Whoever said I was Christian? Like Gandhi, I’m Christian, I’m Jewish, I’m a Moslem, I’m a Hindu. I am a humanist.” (San Luis Obispo (California) Register for March 16, 1983).

Here's the money-shot. I quote from the web site linked above.
In a rare interview with Ed Bradley, aired on the 60 Minutes program, June 26, 2005, the 63-year-old rock singer said that his early songs were “almost magically written … kind of a penetrating magic.”

He also said that he made a bargain with the devil.

Question: Why do you still do it? Why are you still out here?
Dylan: It goes back to that destiny thing. I made a bargain with it a long time ago, and I’m holding up my end.
Q: What was your bargain?
Dylan: To get where I am now.
Q: Should I ask whom you made the bargain with?
Dylan: With the chief commander.
Q: On this earth?
Dylan: (laughing) On this earth and the world we can’t see.

It could be argued that Dylan was referring to a bargain he made with God, but that makes no sense. As Brian Snider wrote to me on this matter: “Who makes a bargain with God to be a rock star? Everyone knows you make that deal with the devil. Down at the crossroads.” This refers to the old Blues concept of selling one’s soul to the devil. Bluesman Robert Johnson and others have sung about it.

I know it's a bit late, but, welcome back, Bob

Hinduism

2008-01-16T16:00:00.000+01:00

I saw a news report yesterday about a division amongst Hindus over the appointment of a new head for a temple.
In the pilgrim town of Udipi, there is a temple dedicated to Krishna. A monk called Sugunendra Teertha is due to be appointed as the new head of this temple. Many Brahmins, however are opposed to his posting because they feel he is not worthy because he has been rendered permanently impure by a sin.

What is this terrible unforgivable sin?

He has travelled overseas.
No. That's it.

He has committed "sagarollanghana", the Sanskrit term for crossing the seas, an act that they said defied a centuries-old tradition and left him impure.
Although hardly practiced now, some conservative Hindu religious orders frown upon overseas travel because they claim religious scriptures make "crossing the seas" a sin.
Even Mahatma Gandhi, the leader of India's freedom movement, was excommunicated by conservative Hindu members of his Bania trading caste when he went to Britain to study law.

So my first take on reading the story was "Hinduism - just as screwed-up as all the other religions" My scant knowledge of Hinduism certainly made me think it was more ludicrous than others, with its many gods, gods with lots of arms and gods with elephant heads. I thought the caste system alone was enough to condemn it as an oppressive theology.

But reading a bit about it in wikipedia it seems Hinduism is pretty complex. Still deluded and false, mind you, but there are aspects of Hinduism I knew nothing about.
The reasons for Hinduisms complexity are its great age. It's been going for so damn long that it has split into a myriad of denominations. It has a host of different scriptures. Some Hindus hold Vishnu
as the supreme being. Others go with Shiva or Shakti.

Hindus and scholars argue over whether the caste system is an integral part of the religion or just an outdated social custom.
On its positive side, Hinduism promotes the practice of ahimsa (non-violence) and respect for all life because divinity is believed to permeate all beings, including plants and non-human animals. In accordance with ahimsa, many Hindus embrace vegetarianism to respect higher forms of life.
Of course this respect for all life didn't prevent bloodshed between Muslims & Hindus during the separation of Pakistan from India!

Hinduism is also particularly interesting in the figure of Krishna, an avatar of Vishnu, or Vishnu come to earth in human form. There are many parallels between Vishnu and Christ, and people who argue that Jesus Christ never existed will cite Krishna as one of the sources for Christ. The Hindu pantheon is too confusing for me, I can't seperate the Devas from the Avatars from the Gods (supreme, greater or lesser)
And then there is Karma, and Samsara - the circle of life. The wiki article says "Thus, the concept of a universal, neutral and never-failing karma intrinsically relates to reincarnation as well as one's personality, characteristics and family. Karma threads together the notions of free will and destiny."
Aaaargh! How does it do that?
It will take me months of study to get my head round this religion. And frankly, I can't be bothered. Because while the circle of life thing sounds cosy and warm, it is utterly unverifiable, and if it goes along with the multiple arms, elephant heads, the eighth incarnation of Vishnu, temple & pilgrimages, they can keep it.

Every day is April Fool's at Rapture Ready

2008-01-14T21:14:00.000+01:00

I'm a glutton for punishment, and I've been reading the threads at the Rapture Ready forums.
Rapture Ready. Now there's a whacky world of weirdness. Just read their posting rules to see how uptight and twisted they are. I love rule 30. "No liberal agendas". Rule 16 states "We believe that the Holy Bible (old and new testaments, 66 books) is the only true Word of God in its entirety and fullness, is perfect without error and not open to private interpretations." But then in rules 11, 15, 26, 28 and 29 they ban any speculations on interpreting the scriptures. If I was god, passing my ideas to mankind via a book I'd make sure the meaning was unambiguous.

Anyway . . .

There was a joke posted about atheists, and it irritated me a lot, because the joke was stupid, rather than funny, and posted in an area where non-believers aren't allowed to post.
Here's the joke:
I have no idea if this actually happened, probably not, but thought it was good enough to share anyway.

(Some judges do have a sense of humour)
Have you heard about this case? Great answer from The Judge!

In Florida , an atheist bece incensed over the preparation of Easter and Passover holidays. He decided to contact his lawyer about the discrimination inflicted on atheists by the constant celebrations afforded to Christians and Jews with all their holidays while atheists had no holiday to celebrate.

The case was brought before a judge. After listening to the long passionate presentation by the lawyer, the Judge banged his gavel and declared,

"Case Dismissed!"

The lawyer immediately stood and objected to the ruling and said, 'Your honor, how can you possibly dismiss this case? The Christians have Christmas, Easter and many other observances. Jews have Passover, Yom Kippur and Hanukkah...yet my client and all other atheists have no such holiday!'

The judge leaned forward in his chair and simply said, 'Obviously your client is too confused to even know about, much less celebrate his own atheists' holiday!'

The lawyer pompously said, 'Your Honor, we are unaware of any such holiday for atheists. Just when might that holiday be, your Honor?'

The judge said, 'Well it comes every year on exactly the same date---April 1st! Since our calendar sets April 1st as 'April Fools Day,' consider that Psalm 14:1 states, 'The fool says in his heart, there is no God.' Thus, in my opinion, if your client says there is no God, then by scripture , he is a fool, and April 1st is his holiday! Now have a good day and get out of my courtroom!!

Way to go, Judge!
The particularly irritating thing was the way the numbnuts on the board presume it's a real story and not a joke:
"That is priceless!! I can just imagine the apoplectic looks on the faces of that lawyer and his atheist client!!
That judge deserves a medal!"
and
"I have seen the coming of this type of Holiday idea. I am very glad that the judge did have a great way of putting things. Unfortunately many other judges will not do this. We are in tough times. Buz and Moderators, your stuff was good. Check your pm. I love having the opportunity to share a truthful opinion, and even though I disagree with one of the posters, I would only gently tell them that Atheists have no love for our faith. God does not believe in Atheists. That is even more interesting.
Stand for what is righteous, true, perfect, praiseworthy, and even focus upon these things. I search for all the truth, and this situation is actually funny at the moment, but it may not do so well in the 9th circuit court CA."
If the story is true, where is the date, the names? What court was this? What courts have the rights to set holidays?
And the judge is talking bollcks anyway, because April Fool is not a public holiday. It's just a date with associated traditions, like Halloween or Valentine's day.
And there already are nonreligious holidays. Most countries have national day like July 4th or July 14th in France. In France we also have May 1st as a holiday (Labour Day)
I can't imagine any atheist pleading for a special holiday. I like the ones we already have just fine. Easter and Christmas fall so close to Spring Equinox and Winter Solstice that they make ideal times for a break and a celebration.
So, here's the joke re-hashed.
A christian & an atheist were talking at work.
"It's not fair that there are so many religious holidays and no special days for atheists"
"But you do have a special day" replied the christian
"I suppose you mean Haloween" said the atheist, because the christian might think all atheists were evil
"No, April Fool's day"
"What's April Fools got to do with atheism"
"Psalm 14:1 states, 'The fool says in his heart, there is no God.'"
Voila - same idea, same triumphant christian at the end, a mini-joke midway with the haloween thing and no bullshit about courts, judges or "pompous lawyers"

Amongst the many things banned under Islam . . .

2008-01-13T13:59:00.000+01:00

This is to be filed with the story of the moslim man who wouldn't let a male obstetrician near his wife when she was giving birth . . .

Male tailors in an Afghan province have been barred from measuring female clients for fittings following a new local ruling that resembles the restrictions the ultra-conservative Taliban imposed on the country when in power.

The decision was made by a council of Islamic clergymen in northeastern Takhar province recently, governor Abdul Latif Ibrahimi said.
Ibrahimi did not say what would happen to anyone failing to comply with the new ruling.

Come on, how hard must it be to run up a burkha on a sewing machine?
Islam - makes Christianity look rational.

Woo Hoo! The Saviour of the sharks is born

2008-01-12T16:20:00.000+01:00

Shark virgin birth celebrated in Hungary

As it was foretold in ancient times, a saviour will be born to a virgin and she will be named "Jaws"

The white-tipped reef shark, named Ibolya by staff, has been on her own at the Nyiregyhaza Centre since she was born seven years ago.
The pup is being protected by its mother
"When I saw the baby shark lying on the bottom of the tank I thought it was a joke," said Attila Varga, the centre’s director.
"I was amazed when I realised it was a real shark. The mother is very protective of her pup, but as soon as we can, marine biologists want to get a DNA sample from both."
Parthenogenesis, where an egg starts to divide without being fertilised, occurs in a number of lower animals such as bees and ants but, it was thought, not in higher animals including cartilaginous fish such as a shark.
But the new arrival, while boosting visitor numbers, has caused problems for the marina because its shark tank is not big enough for two - and the managers do not want to give up the baby.
What? No room at the inn?
"We are planning to build her a bigger tank, find her a male and then hopefully next time round she can have a baby properly," said Mr Varga.
Marine expert Chris Brown from Weymouth Sea Life Centre said the birth suggested that parthenogenesis was more common than previously thought.
"Of course it will have implications for shark conservation as the species has come under threat through over fishing," he said.
But he also sounded a note of caution. "Although parthenogenesis may help females who cannot find mates, it does reduce genetic diversity and leaves a weaker animal which has a lower chance of survival," he said.

Not only that matey, but females can only give birth, via parhtenogenesis to females. So it's hardly going to be a viable solution to depopulation.

And sadly, for christers who are going "Yes! Bible verified by science once again" Jesus was male, so parthenogenesis is ruled out.

Bush calls Islam "Great"

2008-01-12T15:21:00.000+01:00

From Reuters

"Turkey sets a fantastic example for nations around the world to see where it's possible to have a democracy that co-exists with a great religion like Islam," Bush said at a White House meeting with Turkish President Abdullah Gul.

What a pile of shite. Firstly, under what context can Islam be described as "great" other than in the sense that it is big, ie: has many followers.
Secondly, Turkey is not a fantastic example of a democracy. see Human Rights Watch. Turkey is the ONLY democratic Muslim country. Why? Because since the founding of its republic in 1923 it has maintained secularism. A separation of religion and state. A democracy cannot co-exist with Islam, it has to keep it apart. Islam certainly has no desire to co-exist with democracy.

And we all thought GW was a fundie christian? He's not, he's just a politician who'll say whatever his speechwriters tell him to.

Coz I'm a voodoo child . . . .

2008-01-11T17:34:00.000+01:00

National Voodoo Day
I once made the terrible mistake of flying Air Bulgaria. In very tired Russian Tupolev 154s. I was trying to get from London to Harare (Zimbabwe) for Christmas and all other flights were fully booked. The trip to Zimbabwe was OK, but the return trip which should have been Zimbabwe, Lagos, Malta, Sophia, Amsterdam, London, was diverted to Cotonou in Benin, because of bad weather over Lagos, Nigeria.

Cotonou. What a hell-hole. We were transported from the plane to a hotel in three clapped-out minibuses, one of which caught fire on the way. When I decided to take a walk on the beach, armed guards escorted me back to the hotel becuase the beaches were not safe from bandits.
So I am not suprised to learn that today, January 10th is national Voodo Day in Benin.
And as they are having an outbreak of HN51 Bird flu there, it seems a bit risky to be sacrificing chickens and spraying checken blood about the place. Especially since the favoured method of voodoo priests is to tear the birds throat open with their teeth and drink the blood.
But, using perfect religious zealot logic, Aligbonon, a Voodoo priest from Abomey said "If you buy a chicken to sacrifice it to your God, he will not let you buy an infected bird," Can't argue with that. "We don't fear infection from bird flu ... because there is a divine power that accompanies our sacrifice," Infallible.