12.27.2008

Pope, Church Pretend that Religion & Science Compliment Eachother

Pope Benedict XVI, the "holy" man formerly known as Joseph Alois Ratzinger (Prince reference anybody?), used Winter Solstice as an opportunity to continue a lie.

Ratzinger proclaimed that by comprehending the laws of nature we can somehow grow in our understanding and appreciation of "the Lord's" works.

In truth, there is a HUGE disconnect between religious "faith" and scientific fact.

One must either fully believe in what their holy book says, or one must concede that the holy book is flawed, and thus not "God inspired," but rather the written musings of man.

It's all or nothing people. God either meant it, or he didn't. And choosing for conveniece is the same as acknowledging the falsity and numerous inconvenient flaws.

Science has shown us that the earth is much older than holy texts suggest. Religion has made up excuses to try to incorporate this. They either conveniently make up something called "God's time" or they disregard science and radiocarbon dating all together.

Science has also shown us that the earth was not created in a matter of days, and that humans, and every organism we see on this planet, did not exist when the earth originally began to develop.

(Many religious leaders would have us believe that the earth is not BILLIONS of years old, but rather, only a few thousand.)

In other words, the creation story, which is how the holy book says everything came to be (THIS IS A BIG DEAL HERE) is a myth that is in direct conflict with science.

Science has shown us that, contrary to what religious leaders may tell us, humans are the result of evolution: we were not simply placed here on earth by some deity who made us "in his image." We evolved, this is a fact.

Religion and science have been battling eachother for as long as wishful thinking (rather than truth and logic) has been used to give peace of mind.

At first religion rejected evolution, and now, with the overwhelming amount of evidence, it is trying to accept it by calling it part of "God's plan." Labeling it "creationism."

I call it a sad attempt to remain relevant via slight of hand. Religious leaders are picking and choosing from the bible and cherry picking data from science. Then they mold them together as much as possible and sweep any disconect under the rug.

This is nothing new for religion.

As noted by Fox News today:

"The Catholic Church condemned Galileo in the 17th century for supporting Nicholas Copernicus' discovery that the Earth revolved around the sun; church teaching at the time placed Earth at the center of the universe. In 1992, Pope John Paul II apologized, saying that the denuncuation was a tragic error." (took long enough?)

Nothing like being condemned for using your brain and scientific fact.

Just as the church found it insulting to think that we weren't the center of "God's" universe: His CHOSEN creations. They still find it troubling to realize that their teachings are being unvelied as false by science.

"I am against religion because it teaches us to be satisfied with not understanding the world." ~ Richard Dawkins.

12.24.2008

Dressing Up Like Idiots & Being Fired For Being One


Two INSANE Topics Here:
Misguided People are Dressing Up Like Jesus at their jobs and in public to "fight the secularization of Christmas" which doesn't allow them to say "Merry Christmas" to customers that come in. Customers who they do not know.

AND

A woman in Florida claims she was fired for refusing to stop saying "Merry Christmas" to customers. Once again, customers who she doesn't know. Oh, and she's suing!

Okay, let's just stop and take a second to analyze these things LOGICALLY.

People were told by their pastor in Kansas City, Kansas to dress up like Jesus and "at least" wear a crown of thorns and a sash or robe.

They are doing this at their places of work, especially in malls and restaurants because they think it will help fight the "secularization of Christmas" because they aren't allowed to say "Merry Christmas" in the work place to the customers that come in. CUSTOMERS THAT THEY DO NOT EVEN KNOW.

I will ask this: WHY in the world do people feel that they must say "Merry Christmas" to people who they do not even know. To people who may be Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist, Atheist, or what ever else.

Why does it offend certain Christians to not ASSUME that someone who they do not know is Christian like them?

Additionally, as you can see from the photo link below, these people are making themselves look ridiculous and one individual is claiming to have lost her job because of her unwillingness to use logic when dealing with her company's customers and refraining from using the religion-specific greeting.


P.S. What's the deal with nut-job church ideas coming out of Kansas? (Like Westboro Church in Topeka).


Story Links:
Fired for Idiocracy
Dressing Like Jesus
Pictures: HERE

12.23.2008

Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays

So as trivial as this may seem, the debate rages on over whether or not to say "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays" to people who you do not even know.

Isn't it simple to find the answer?

If you don't know someone, why assume they are Christian?

What's offensive or less meaningful about saying "Happy Holidays?"
What is the built-in or inherent superiority in saying "Merry Christmas" ?

Working at a store in a strip mall I see this little battle raging everyday.

I TRY to avoid the issue all together by saying, "Have a nice day," or "Have a good night," maybe "Have a great weekend!"

Other employees at the store sometimes do say "Happy Holidays," which is fine, if you are willing to deal with the more than occasional proclamation-esque response of "Merry Christmas!" Which normally might not pass through your ears causing any stir of emotion, but these people say it like they are proving a point.

Then they follow it up with a look in their eyes as if to say, "Yah, that's right I SAID IT!"

I even get this holier-than-thou, that's right I DARE to assume you are Christian - Because I am one and I'm a rebel who is doing something NOBLE!!! - Response after saying "have a good day!"

What's the deal with people?

12.19.2008

Dehumanization: It's a Problem

Overall, I truly feel that this description applies to how homosexuals are being treated today:

"At the core of evil is the process of dehumanization by which certain other people or collectives of them, are depicted as less than human, as non comparable in humanity or personal dignity to those who do the labeling. Prejudice employs negative stereotypes in images or verbally abusive terms to demean and degrade the objects of its narrow view of superiority over these allegedly inferior persons. Discrimination involves the actions taken against those others based on the beliefs and emotions generated by prejudiced perspectives..."

"...Dehumanization is one of the central processes in the transformation of ordinary, normal people into indifferent or even wanton perpetrators of evil. Dehumanization is like a “cortical cataract” that clouds one’s thinking and fosters the perception that other people are less than human. It makes some people come to see those others as enemies deserving of torment, torture, and even annihilation."

Taken from The Lucifer Effect, by Philip Zimbardo

I firmly believe that religion is the root of the problem. If we based our judgments on scientific process, observation of nature, biology, and psychology ... rather than old books written by men... there would be less of a problem here.

12.17.2008

Prop 8 - The Musical" starring Jack Black, John C. Reilly, and many more...

WOW! A lot of stars seem to be more educated on the bible and the constitution than you might think...



located at funny or die.com: http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/c0cf508ff8/prop-8-the-musical-starring-jack-black-john-c-reilly-and-many-more-from-fod-team-jack-black-craig-robinson-john-c-reilly-and-rashida-jones

12.16.2008

Happy "Everything's Offensive" Holidays!!!

Every year we hear the same story: There's a war on Christmas.

Why?

Because some people say "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas."

Yah, that's pretty offensive to not ASSUME that the person you are talking to is Christian...

What do you mean we can't put up signs and displays on government or public property without other religions or ideas being allowed for too?

Other religions don't count. And as long as my religious beliefs are being allowed for, I don't see why we should allow for free speech!

Atheists and agnostics should not be allowed to make displays about their beliefs, it's different from what I believe and it's OFFENDING my beliefs.

Yah, sounds like a huge war on Christmas again this year.

cough cough...

12.08.2008

Three SUVs Parked on Church Altar

The Greater Grace Temple, A Detroit Mega-Christian-church which has thousands of followers, prayed with 3 sport utility vehicles on their center stage/altar this past Sunday.

Why?

Because they wanted "God" to influence Congress to pass the car-maker bailout this week.

They put three brand-spankin'-new SUVs on the altar: a Ford Escape, a Chevy Tahoe from GM, and a Chrysler Aspen.

Logically, if they really wanted to make a difference, they could have sent a petition to Congress or something like that. But praying to their god with huge expensive SUVs on the altar apparently made more sense to them...

At least they got the press to cover the ridiculous event so that congress would see it. But, in my opinion, it was at the expense of looking crazy.

Since they are willing to pray with 3 SUVs on their center stage altar, I'm sure that they wouldn't mind helping any of you out with any prayer you have. No matter how ridiculous it might be. GIVE IT A SHOT (CLICK ME)

12.07.2008

Morals: Not derived from Religion

(Central Arkansas Pastafarians Protesting Westboro Baptist...notice the green sign)

Read on...



For those of you who claim to be believers in Christianity - to some degree - and firmly believe that moral values have to come from religion, I must point out that you are probably flawed in your logic:

Have you read the Bible? I mean, ACTUALLY read it?

There are horrific rules and "moral" lessons throughout the book.

So it is obvious that you pick and choose which moral values to follow from the Bible and which ones to ignore.

- You do not stone people to death for working on Sundays (Exodus 31:12-15... and a few others)

- You do not condemn one another for wearing clothing made of more than one kind of thread, or for eating shrimp, or the bunch of other nonsense found in Deuteronomy 22:11... which, by the way, is also one of the main verses used to condemn homosexuality.

- You (hopefully) do not treat women as being inferior, and women are allowed to speak and ask questions in the church (Ephesians 5:22-24.... and about 30 others).

These are just a few examples from both the Old AND New Testaments.



If we as human beings have realized that many of the teachings in the Bible are simply wrong, offensive, and immoral... then clearly we have based these decisions off of something other than the holy text that Christianity is based off of.

So let's be honest: You can be a good person without following a religion.


OH! And P.S. that Westboro church has the following on their website (godhatesfags.com):


"Obama is the Antichrist Bible preachers have a duty to discern the signs of the times as they are displayed before them in their day (Matt 16:3). Westboro Baptist Church believes, based upon the signs of these times, that Barack Obama is the Antichrist, also referred to as the Beast, and we are here to deliver that message in a plain, unambiguous fashion. Antichrist Obama's end is well described and sure, per Rev. 19:20 "And the beast (Antichrist Obama) was taken, and with him the false prophet (the Pope) ...These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone."

12.03.2008

Church Breaks Apart After Hitting Fictional Moral Iceberg

Schism Over Proven Facts and Unprovable Guesses

The Episcopal Church is splitting into two groups.

Essentially, the more "conservative Episcopalians" are leaving the church and starting their own because they feel that the leadership of the current church is too "liberal."

Two main gripes that the conservative Episcopal members have involve a disagreement on "salvation" and their strong refusal to accept homosexuality.

Arguments began breaking out in 2003 when Episcopalians consecrated the first homosexual bishop... well... the first openly gay bishop...

This newly formed group of conservative Episcopalians claim that they "represent true Anglican beliefs."

Two points

ONE: How can you have a disagreement on "salvation"... let's be honest, nobody KNOWS what happens after we die.

TWO: If the American Psychological Association (APA), the largest and most prestigious association of its kind in the world, says that homosexuality is not a choice, not a disease, and not changeable... then what's the deal?

Looks like science and logic have run into a stubborn iceberg of conservative Episcopalians.

Expect to see the new sect's constitution released in the upcoming weeks... I know I'm excited... cough cough.

12.02.2008

Hunting season with the Hines!!

Hunting - A real sport.

For those of you who are not familiar with the tradition of hunting, more specifically whitetail deer hunting, this post might be very interesting or possibly disturbing to you.

I come from the state of Pennsylvania where there are around 1,000,000 (one million) registered hunters (that number is a the best estimate, next survey is in 2010). And there were plenty of reports of the numbers going up this year because of it being a relatively cheap way to fill the freezer with meat for the winter during these tough economic times.

According to that number, if all of the PA hunters were to assemble in an organized "military" unit, versus the active personnel numbers on Wikipedia, it would be the 4th or 5th largest military in the world. Intense.

So needless to say, its a strong tradition for suburban to rural families in the state of PA. Including mine!

The hunting (whitetail deer) season starts on the Monday after Thanksgiving every year and lasts for two weeks. That day is basically a state holiday, kids off school, and lots of people off work.

This year dad, brother, and sister went out on my uncle's farm, about 300 acres, in Susquehanna county (Northeast PA or NEPA).

Kevin got a spike (allowed on a junior license) at around 6:45 AM. He said it looked like a tree at first, granted it was still semi-dark at the time. He was using a 30-30 with a mounted scope, I think. (Ignore the date on the picture, and let that be a reminder to never buy a Kodak digital camera, they're terrible)

Dad got his sometime mid-morning with his .270 I assume, the same gun I shot my first deer with. It's a very nice 9-pointer (would have been a 10 but one was broken off), he said it had ~19-20 inch spread. Of course this one is getting mounted on the living room wall next to his other "big one." That's how we do it in PA. (Pardon the goofy expression....haha)

Hopefully Meg can get one when she goes out again on Friday like she plans. Dad and Kevin can each tag a doe too since they all got doe tags this year. Essentially my family can harvest 6 deer this year. I wish I could contribute to that but some people feel grad school is more important to attend....pshh. Its been 5 years since I went out in the woods to hunt....I'm going through some serious withdrawal. I can't wait to go home for winter break to some deer meat!!

Since this blog tends to lean towards the controversial side let this post be an opening to some hunting/anti-hunting discussion. Fair warning, if you defend PETA in anyway you automatically lose.

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Now playing: Safetysuit - The Moment
via FoxyTunes

12.01.2008

Bible Lessons with David

If this really "grinds your gears" then leave a comment. You don't even have to read the whole post!

Although... it is recommended!

Should you be dead yet?

Leviticus 20:9
If anyone curses his father or mother, he must be put to death.

20:10
If a man commits adultery with another man’s wife—with the wife of his neighbor—both the adulterer and the adulteress must be put to death.

This one would kill a lot of us:

Exodus 35:2
For six days, work is to be done, but the seventh day shall be your holy day, a Sabbath of rest to the LORD. Whoever does any work on it must be put to death.

"Omnipotence, gotta get me some of that!" ~ Stewie, Family Guy


Deuteronomy 7:1-2
When the Lord your God brings you into the land you are entering to possess and drives out before you many nations . . . then you must destroy them totally. Make no treaty with them, and show them no mercy.
...LATER IN THE SAME PASSAGES...
However, in the cities of the nations the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance, do not leave alive anything that breathes. Completely destroy them—the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites—as the Lord your God has commanded you.

Full Stewie Quote: "Yes, I rather like this God fellow. He's very theatrical, you know, a pestilence here, a plague there. Omnipotence. Gotta get me some of that."

God sounds kind of cuddly in this one:

Ezekiel 20:25-26 I also gave them over to statutes that were not good and laws they could not live by; I let them become defiled through their gifts—the sacrifice of every firstborn—that I might fill them with horror so they would know that I am the LORD.

Kinda sounds like a power hungry drag queen actually... just kidding... but seriously people, are you reading this stuff?

Women, pray that your men do not read the bible, because... well...Check this out :(

Ephesians 5:22-24
Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

Slavery is totally cool with God... the South shall rise again?!?!

Exodus 21:20-21
If a man beats his male or female slave with a rod and the slave dies as a direct result, he must be punished, but he is not to be punished if the slave gets up after a day or two, since the slave is his property.

1 Peter 2:13
Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men.

2:18
Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh.

SCIENCE... TOTALLY OVERRATED!

There are not any FOUR legged insects... and still...

Leviticus 11:20-22
All flying insects that walk on all fours are to be detestable to you. There are, however, some winged creatures that walk on all fours that you may eat: those that have jointed legs for hopping on the ground. Of these you may eat any kind of locust, katydid, cricket or grasshopper.

Hmmm... the earth must be flat still?

Matthew 4:8
The devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor.

MATH PROBLEMS = Not the Bible's strong point

1 Kings 7:23
He made the Sea of cast metal, circular in shape, measuring ten cubits from rim to rim . . . It took a line of thirty cubits to measure around it.

Actually...Pi (3.14) ... not 3


Psalms 104:5
He set the earth on its foundations; it can never be moved.

...hmmm it rotates and revolves around the sun...

Some Selected Contradictions from: http://home.earthlink.net/~owl233/biblequotes.htm

2 Kings 2:11
As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.

John 3:13
No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man.
---
Numbers 23:19 God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind.
Exodus 32:14 Then the Lord relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened.
---
Ephesians 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith . . . not by works.
James 2:14-17 What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? . . . Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
Revelation 22:12 Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.
---
(Jesus speaking)
Matthew 5:16 Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your father in heaven.
Matthew 6:1 Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them.
---
(Jesus speaking)
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.
Matthew 10:34 Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.
---
Genesis 32:30 So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and my life was preserved.”
Exodus 33:11 The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend.
John 1:18 No one has ever seen God.
---
(Jesus speaking)
John 5:31 If I testify about myself, my testimony is not valid.
John 8:14 Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid.

COMMENTS WELCOME!!!

Quick Survey for My Boyfriend's Class

Hey guys and gals, if you could take this quick survey it would really help out Kyle!

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