Teh End Are Nigh

Well...Butt Juice is outta the race, finally. It was getting kinda scary there for a while (and actually it still is). Lemmie see...first Crazy Eyes popped onto the presidential scene and I cringed for women's rights, even tho I'm not a woman. Then Slick Rick took away her biblical thunder, but then he soon enuff had the approval rating of that pink slime everyone is talking about. Underwear Man has been weakly leading the primary, but in the meantime, Butt Juice got a couple of good ones in there. Yesterday, Butt Juice and his nodding subservient women in the background, finally quit and prog lib atheist across the nation collectively sighed in relief.

It is this and this only. Sex is gonna bring down religion, unless it evolves into a softer socially acceptable liberal religion. Kids nowadays are just too smart to wanna care and/or fight for their parents racist and sexist ways. It just doesn't make sense to them (or us). Why are conservatives wasting time fighting the fights that they already lost like scopes monkey trail, feminism and LGBT. That shit was so three decades ago.

When I was a kid and teen there was this thing called The Young Republicans. Those were the Reagan years. That, yes THAT was an evolution from the previous 1950's form of Republicanism and like it or not, it was quite formidable back in the day (80's). Fast forward to now.

Religion is in the decline and that is any and all religions. Why. Because it doesn't make sense to the modern evolved human brain. Back in Jesus' time, yea I could go for the average peep believing that an all powerful and all knowing God went all miracle upon us mere humans. But we're too smart for that shit now and the voting public, whether conservative, liberal or what, has spoken.

Look conservative, bible thumping, sexist, religious right...you were a formidable opponent at one time, but seriously,  now you sound like the average sandwich-board end of times looney standing on the street corner...as the rest of the world passes you by.

We had some good times, yo.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/guest-voices/post/why-santorum-didnt-sell/2012/04/10/gIQA0Tjv8S_blog.html

* Yes the headline is in LOLCAT speak. Teh funnizies. Meow.

For Christianity Too Be True...

This was on one of my Tweeps Twit Pics earlier and it nails the head with that metaphorical hammer all the cool kids keep talking about. J.L. at Debunking Christianity had a "For Christianity to be true..." series a little while ago and it was natural and spectacular (perhaps I will copy that-it's a good idea).

So Jesus created something from nothing, really. There was nothing, then there was something. Jesus, who is also God can totally defy the second law of thermodynamics, which is not just miraculous...it IS a miracle (if it really did happen like that-not). Forget the order of creation doesn't makes sense (plants before sun) cause Jesus-God doesn't make sense either.

"It's her fault Lord God, err, I mean Jesus"

First a bro-dude was created, mmm, I think one of the versions says, from dust. Then Jesus-God created the super hotties from said dudes rib. From that very small gene pool (allegedly) came all human genetic diversity, with all the mutations throughout time, instead of evolution thru natural selection (which is more likely and makes more sense).

As times passes, Jesus-God knocks up his own mom (yuck), straight up cock blocking his own (earthly) dad so he could be born of human flesh (and I dunno if he was cool with his earthly dad, but really, Joseph manned up and did the correct thingy by raising his God-Son that imprego'd hiiiissssss wife. If that is not nice then I dunno what is).

After a relatively short time here on da erffs, I believe 32 years, right, through his powers that be and with the help of mere humans ranging from politicians, police and his students, he kills himself as a sacrifice to, err, his self, because he wants that to be an example for mere humans (died for our sins).

It's not over yet, you awesome atheists you...Then he gets outta bed, err, raises from the dead after three days (because three is a great number in numerology), hits up the hottie Mary, talks to some peeps (depending on which story you subscribe to), then literally rises into the air (ascension) to go meet his dad, who is really himself. Guess what, it's still not over.

Before he leaves he promises to come back in the lifetime of his students (disciples), but in the meantime they halfta promote his brand-Christianity. I dunno if Jesus-God, even tho dude is ALL powerful-n-stuff, got human and dog years all mixed up, but 2,000 years has passed.

In the meantime many different splinter cells of the Jesus cult have sprung up, died, resurrected or started anew. Forget that there are no original documents of his teaching and the documents that are available are considered corrupt and the authors are anonymous (that's you bible), the preacher man can still decifer the true meaning and intent of his teaching. Which include my two favorites 1) women folk are second class, one step above cattle but certainly below the average bro-dude (in fact a young teen boy, today, in many churches have more authority than their mommies) and 2) my super awesome LGBT friends that love eachother and are good people...cannot get married (there's more but I won't go into that).

Here's the goodie part...when dude comes back (within someone's lifetime) he is gonna take a select few (I've heard that the number is 80,000, really) of the erff peeps to his dads house, which is really his house, called the Kingdom of Heaven. At the pad the select few will enjoy an eternity of...mmm, the pleasure of his company, which is, mmm, heaven (?) for ever and ever and ever. The peeps remaining, which is 99.99999999999999% of the population, will suffer a horrible and painful existence for the same amount of time (eternity) that the elitists enjoy.

I used to love these guys. Soooo good.

But even before that happens, The Chosen People must steal the land from the people that have already been living there for hecka long, thus establishing their homeland (Israel) and when this happens that will be one of the signs that "He" is coming back-which simultaneously means the literal destruction of the entire erffs, including the Chosen People (in this religious version they were not *chosen* to go to heaven, they were chosen to be killed).

Why?

Because "He", Jesus-God, when "he" created this whole system and made us mere humans to be born with (original) sin (1).

That is what one must believe to believe that Christianity is the one    true    religion.

(1) Original sin doesn't really sound original, it sounds like Buddhism (karma). From the skeptic point of view...it don't make no sense.

* Thanks Becs. Follower her @sapient_ape

All Hail The King, Or Not

I'll start off with a joke (and after yesterday, I need it)...What is Bishops Eddie Long's porn name...Eddie Long (rimshot).

"This scroll gives me the power to fuck boys with no recourse-n-shit."

Contrary to simple minded belief, most atheists don't hate religion, in fact we find religion very fascinating, like mythology and folklore, that is one of the reasons why we study it so much. Then again, I guess it depends on what religion we are talking about. If we are talking about do good religion that is unselfish, a religion where some kinda higher power, sumthin' more than humanity, something for mere humans to aspire to for the sake of good and goodness, then I can go for that (I don't believe in that, but it's better than the alternative). If we are talking about the Prosperity Gospel (God wants you to be rich) and the *alleged* boy fucker and abuser of power and trust, the Bishop Eddie Long, then fuck that shit.

I was a gonna take today off, that is until I saw the "promotion" of the Bishop. The Bishop Eddie Long, lawsuits and allegations, divorce and all, has bee promoted to...King. Yes, it's true, the King Eddie Long. I watched the video as long as I could but quite frankly, it was so full of bullshit that my simple atheist/skeptic brain went into overdrive and exploded.

"I out rake you Mr President...I'm the King. Wait hold on..Oh that was Elvis, he said I'm the King, baby."

I've always wonder how one become a pastor, a bishop and now King. Really, these clergy types also have Phd's in front of their names. Did they go to an accredited college and get a Phd. in theology or biblical studies...NO. Someone I know has a Phd. in front of their name (and last time I saw dude, he did not). I suspect that the "degree" was bought, plain and simple. It would be the coolest thing to have a Phd. in science, that would mean that you contributed to the whole of knowledge. You struggled for many years to make a discovery, to uncover something that was unknown at one time and you added to what is known. Phd. in religion...I dunno. To become royalty in religion...deff. not. Any who...

What I did see of the video was that a *scholar* got a 300 y/o scroll and because he presented it to Bishop Long...that makes him King. OoooKkkaaayyyyy. First of all a 300 y/o scroll is not that old considering that Christianity is supposedly 2,000 years old. The presenter make the fallacious pseudoscience claim that "most Jews wouldn't even get this close to an ancient scroll." Ok so what. That doesn't mean squat. He said that usually this (the scroll presentation) is reserved for cities. Dude really made it seem like the promotion of the boy fucker, err, Bishop Eddie Long was ordained by God. WTF. Besides that, it is super super weirdo for four grown men to carry and lift the boy fucker, err, I mean the Bishop, into the air on a thrown with the stupid scroll and a ridiculous hat (what's up with clergy and their super lame hats. yuck).

OK...I'm wandering (my brain power right now is not very powerful). This dude, the King is a multi-millionaire. He has luxury cars, private jets and loads of straight up cash. Look at his suits, they are probably more than a years salary for me. He *settled* with the men that he abused both physically and trust wise, which tells us that he didn't want to go to court for boy fucking. And his wife pretty recently filed for divorce. OK, I do believe in redemption of some sort and forgiveness. I'm not talking about the boy fucker right now...I'm talking about the congregation.

But why would you. You are supposed to be a man of peace. After all, are you not innocent.

Look at how packed his church is. Soooo full of well dressed believers that subscribe to the belief that God wants you to be rich. Have they already forgiven him (because to forgive him is to be closer to God and the closer one is, the more one makes, right). What about the abused men. I have not seen any reports about the well being of the men and in fact the only things that I have read about them is from members of the congregation that claim the men are "gold diggers." Gold diggers, really. I thought they were just people who trusted an authority figure and they were manipulated into having sex from someone they totally trusted...then thrown to the curb.

I wanna say that this is NOT Gods love, but one only hasta study religion for a little bit to admit...This IS Gods love.

Long live the King.

* Article Watch the video and be totally creeped out...I mean totally.

* Prosperity gospel

* tooootally crappy and anxious day yesterday. It has been mostly good as of late, but once in a while one crapola day sneaks in there. doing better today...so far.

Starring....Basement Cat.

This is one of the many many super valid reasons WE become atheists. Father in law of the person that looks like they are going to win the contest in the GOP to be the one to lose to the awesome Black President in the up coming presidential election, was Mormon "baptized"...after his death. Yuck yuck super yucky and fuck-man. Really. Christopher "My Hero" Hitchens always talked in his debates about the "celestial father" that watches over you in life and in death and, this is the worst part atheists,...forever.

I figured to get the original pictures an owner had to hold them, then photoshop it out later.

What they want us to believe is that voodoo like this somehow "protects" us (from what I'm not quite sure) and even "seals" us in a heavenly eternity with the ones we love. I guess it's  quite touching for a grieving person to know that "things get better." The super bad thing about that is there is no proof and it is so highly unlikely that it is childish to think that it is a valid conclusion.

The "ordinances" performed on Mitt's "militant atheist" father inlaw, Edward Davies, include...

"...baptism, confirmation, washings and anointings, ordination into priesthood..."

That's not too bad for a dead atheist.

What can I say about this...IT IS TOTALLY SELFISH. Total 100% shame on the Romney's for doing this to their dead father (in law). The dude was an atheist fer Christ's sake. He didn't want this. You (selfishly) wanted this, not him. And why...

The second part should be socks or underwear..your keys. Tupperware?

When Mitt came a-courting Davies' daughter, Ann, he went all religion and converted the sisters and eventually, the mother (I believe as she was going to die soon.). The "militant atheist" father...no. Davies son, Roderick (where do these white people get these names. sheez) told the Boston Globe in 2007 that Ed thought that the faithful were "weak in the knees." In fact, Ed, even called religion..."hogwash (oh no you didn't Ed, the Hogwash blast...no...you...didn't), so you can imagine the anger he would have felt upon the learning of his conversion...except that he is dead and all that stuff.

If this is not controlling, then I dunno what is. Control is one of the many many reasons we become atheists. Off the top of my head I'll go over weirdo control stories. What about the weirdo family members that insist a baby is baptized. Is it the battle for the nonexistent soul, or the indoctrination into the "club", that is so important to fanatical family members that insist the YOUR baby has a boy fucker priest sprinkle bacteria filled, so called holy water on the poor newborns head (I do recall reading about family members "taking" a newborn to do this without the parents OK.).

This is not the first time Mitt's so called church has done this. What about all those forced memberships for all those holocaust peeps. It was so bad, they were told to stop. I dunno, I'm confused. Should I get mad that Mitt's Team is stealing the souls of deceased people and converting them to Mormonism so they can go to Mormon heaven, or should I just shrug my shoulders and say, "there is no soul." Either way they win.

Look man, I come from a selfish religious family (and they have no idea what I want, because I was never asked) and I fear that this is something that they would do to me. (I told Sue this the other day...) I fear that my religious family that I have not seen in a decade will hijack my dead atheist body and have a religious ceremony in a different city away from my family of friends that I have spent the last two decades with. Why, not for me...for them. That is what they would want. That is what Mitt's family wanted. That is what controlling religion is all about and that is one of the many many reasons people like us become atheists.

I think Sue at Ex Fundamentalist said it best when she said something like...if you do this to me, I'll come back and haunt you (even tho we don't believe in that stuffs).

Awesome

* Talk about control...I'm still Catholic according to the church. There is a process to go thru to leave the church but I have not gone thru it, so technically they still own my soul. Control.

* OK I got my info from Gawker so sue me.

* Ed's (the father in law) Ancestry.Com file.

Message to GOP'ers, Shut Up Your Face

Confession...I Googled "
Rick Santorum anal". I couldn't resist.

Like I said the other day a couple of posts ago...religion doesn't matter in a presidential candidate, until it matters. When does it matter...when they shove it down our throats, err, or when the media ask's questions about religion, which is what happened at the last GOP debate.

"What role would religion play in your presidency?"

We can't expect "honest" answers to this question. Really, what are they supposed to say, "God beams the answers down to me, after I pray, and that invisible laser beam of "answers" that is similar to that other invisible laser beam that beams down ethics-n-morals, understanding and goodness, tells me what to do." Don't hold yer atheist breadth fer that one.

Ron Paul, smartly, said it wouldn't have any affect at all on his presidency. On the other hand, The Newt basically said mere humans are too stupid to make the really important decisions...

"Because these are decisions beyond the ability of mere mortals to truly decide without some sense of what it is that we should be doing...we have a real obligation to recognize that, if your truly faithful, it's not just an hour on Sundays...It's in fact something that should suffuse your life, to be part of who you are. And in that sense, it is inextricably tied in with how you behave."

I Googled "dominionism" and this unholy trinity came up. Go figure.

Wow, thanks Newt thanks for all that fuel to the atheist fire. I couldn't have scripted it better myself. So where to begin...

Not only is it Team Atheist that does NOT want an American Christian dominionist, with their believing fingers near that nuclear button that can destroy the whole world with , well, their finger near the button...it is the whole world. It's so basic.

If a president of the United States does not believe in earthly and human reasoning and critical thinking skills and does believe that a 1/3 man, God, ghost is coming back within "our" lifetime, after the state of Israel is established and that natural disasters which, well, occur naturally and with frequency, IS a sign the prophecy is being fullfilled, which means that the end of the world as we know it is coming soon and that the people that just happened to subscribe to that one correct religion (outta so many, and it's definitely not the Jews. Sorry you guys are just pawns in the American evangelical prophecy) will literally rise up into the air (ascension) to meet their maker while the rest of the world suffers for the rest of eternity...(if a president believes that)...

...then the probability that a delusional human president will in reality destroy the erffs as we know it...increases. And why, because according to The Newt...mere humans are too dumb and cannot make important decisions like that themselves.

"I'm outta here bro'z and bro-neetaz. Hit you up, err, within your  *lifetimes*  (then the angel posse starts to laugh that rich white upper class angel laugh (looking down their noses-n-designer sun-glasses on you) as they frackin' fly away into the sky, leaving most people to die here on the da erffs....Forevah,,,

I'll end by letting The Newt, the man that single handily has destroyed the institution of hetero marriage while at the same time inhibiting the good peeps of the LGBT community (like his sister) from getting even one marriage under their belt...

"One of the reasons I am running is there has been an increasingly aggressive war against religion and in particular against Christianity in this country, largely by largely by a secular elite and the academic news media and judicial areas (RNS)."

Thanks Newt.

* The always really good Religion News Service Blog (whomps all over CNN Belief Blog-I don't know why it's more popular. I bet Gawd is involved.

* When I played Ju-Co tennis back in the day the mens' team often times practiced with he women's team. There were international hotties on the womens team and english wuz there second language. In the heat of the battle when line calls were being made, scores "not recalled correctly", under the hot Sacramento sun they would say, "Shut up your face." So totally hot coming from a 6ft, toned blond tennis player.

The Super Windy Day Roundup

There is just too much epic news to not do a roundup today. So here we go.....

A jailed Afghan rape victim has been released from prison...to marry her attacker (I know, WTF). The altruistic one, Afghan president Hamid Karzai, released a women named Gulnaz. Gulnaz gave birth to her attackers child while locked up. Her lawyer says that if she had a choice in the matter, she would not marry her attacker. Epic humanity fail. So freekin' bad.

University of Columbia psychologists have completed a study confirming what we already know...believers do not trust atheists. After scanning the article and actual survey it seems to me like the girlfriend/boyfriend test. Apparently believers will automatically trust you if they know you have faith. Likewise, if someone is in a relationship, then they must be pretty awesome sauce. And I'll just say it, if you are not in a relationship...then there must be something wrong with you (1). Sorry.

Nothing says Gawds love like "We do not want you here and you can't join our exclusive group because you are....black (gasp!). A small Kentucky church has voted (9-6) that interracial couples cannot participate in church activities or become members. Funerals are the exception.

They say it is just a co-winki-dinki, but the newest Apple iPhone will not direct you to an abortion clinic. I don't have a phone, but I guess there is an application that directs you to anything you want: looking for a place to buy dinner, an umbrella, directions. One critic said the classic and one of my favorites blasts, "There is something rotten in the state of Denmark." Smells like dominionism to me (but ya can't trust me, I'm on Team Atheist.).

Team Skeptic already knows this, but the world will not end in 2012. I believe it was last week that archaeologists found/produced a second stone tablet that went all prophecy-y on the end of the world. Sven Gronemeyer (if that is your real name) said that it is about a new era, not the end of the world and time as we know it. Pretty interesting article and while reading it I couldn't help but think...this shit is as batshit crazy as Scientology. Really, read it, so bizarro good.

This headline says it all..."Four from Amish splinter group held for beard cutting attacks." One of the Golden Rules is....never touch an Amish mans beard, right(?).

Lastly, make yer own Jesus toast.

(1) I've been single for, like, ten years. Is there something wrong with me. Where do I even begin.

Don't Forget The Comics

I dunno no, I thought the cartoon was made 'o funny. Back in the day, before the Jon Stewart Show and the Colbert Report, even before we had the term..."back in the day"comics were the outlet for political/religious/funny funniness and commentary. I think the subtleties of the good 'ol panel cartoon are being looked over and are underrated today.

Don't forget growing up in the 70's and 80's (which is both a long time ago for mere humans, but a short time cosmically-n-such) there was no interbutz and, at least up into the early 80's, there was not even cable (and the cable that existed, was not like it is today. fo sho that). Wasn't there cartoons in everything: magazines, posters, advertisements, the newspaper etc...). I remember looking at a cartoon once in the New Yorker, yes, that New Yorker. I had a copy of one of the magazines that everyone passed around and I had to...had to pass it on to the next peep to continue the buzz and the ado.

I forget exactly what it was about, I just remember  that it was a one panel, black and white and I didn't understand it. I didn't think it was funny or relevant (and again, it's ME that doesn't understand IT). People had raved about it. I guess the cartoonist was famous or particularly good at his/her trade. The way people were talking about this cartoon, the cartoon I didn't understand, was like when people have that buzz when a new Senior Spielbergo  movie comes out, or Harry Pothead, or whatever, something epic...

So I didn't understand the joke. It was over my head, and at the time I lived in the country-I was a hick wishing I lived in the big city...any city)-and something that someone might refer to that person as an intellectual or a scholar or one of those know it all skeptics if they did understand it.. And I held the magazine in my hand and looked at the cartoon and thought, "This is the coolest thing ever ever."

Don't forget the comics, yo.

What Is "Bugnutty" Anyways?

 Bugnut: crazy, insane, flipped out.
Useage: Did you see what happened? Dude went all bugnut/bugnutty.

The Big Guy really fudged up this time. No I'm not talking about Gawd, I'm talking about the big guy part of the comedian duo Penn and Teller (Penn Jillette is the Waaaayyyyyy bigger of the two). What did he do...he wrote an opinion piece in the LA Times. Why is that a big deal-eo, because "they" got mad. Why did "they" get mad, because dude called them "bugnuts" and "bugnutty." So WTF.

In the piece called Politics and the bugnut Christians, the Big Guy talks about how all politicians need to court the whole populations vote. If politicians were to rely on, let's say, only their religions vote, then they would never be elected because no one religion dominates the landscape that much. Pretty decent piece that breaks down some numbers-n-stuff and it is worth a looksie. But in the letters to the editor, the subject, ya know the actual topic of the piece, is not even mentioned.

Some of the Christian readers are all butt-hurt over the Big Guy calling politicians like Perry and Bachmann "bugnutty". They pulled out the "you would never say that about Jews or Muslims" card or the "that is unacceptable" card and even the "hey man, I'm liberal and I'm still butt-hurt" card. I'm gonna pull out the I don't know what they are complaining about card.

 Perry and Bachmann believe in American Exceptionalism and subscribe to that dominionism that even mainstream media has been talking about lately. If those beliefs are not insane, weird and peculiar, then I dunno what "bugnutty" is. The Big Guy didn't say anything like it is totally weirdo to believe that Christians believe that the original hippie, that's Jesus, was 1/3 human, God and ghost (again, if that is not "bugnutty" then I don't know what is. quite bizzare dontcha think). He did mention that he thought is was "bugnutty" for Bachmann to believe that natural disasters are a way that the Great Surveillance Camera in the Sky communicates to his peeps. Again..."bugnutty."

I think it is "bugnutty" for "them" to get all butt-hurt about an opinion piece in a mainstream newspaper. I guess "they" didn't get the memo that the New Atheists have arrived, we are here to stay and we have advanced "the conversation." The free pass for religion has been voided. For centuries religion has enslaved the brown peeps and went all sexism on the ladies. "They" have stifled the advancement of science and are responsible for this thing called the Dark Ages. Wars, both past and present, are fought in the name of God and countless have been straight up murdered in his name. What did the Big Guy funny man do...call them a name. Grow fuckin' up.

Team Atheist ya know what I'm gonna say right...If they don't want to be made fun of for having silly beliefs, then stop having silly beliefs.

* Op-ed article.

* The bugnutty response.

The Battle That Is Not

Vacaville teacher, a 30 veteran of the teaching profession, Steve Cuckovich put his foot down when the kids were purposely...being kids. They were purposely sneezing and then saying "bless you", very loudly. Then the bratty, undisciplined kids would thank each of the kids that "blessed" him/her. Because Cuckivich was, ya know a teacher and trying to teach, he banned the words "bless you" so he could continue with the lesson. Then parents happened.

Parent Alan Johnson thinks that the bratty, undisciplined kids had their constitutional rights violated. He said, "Anytime you hit on those constitutional rights it's going to be bigger than it needs to be." Err, not really bro. Any ways...

The Christian Post chimed in and said "just the latest example of what many in California's evangelical community perceive as growing anti Christian, antireligion bigotry in the states public schools." Me, and you can quote me on this one, "WTF."

The story has grown (thanks interbutz) and taken a life of it's own. But let's review what really happened, ya know, in reality.

The class was getting outta control. (I believe) The kids were sayin' "bless you" and not "God bless you (it doesn't really matter)." The veteran teacher put his foot down. Kids in the class said that those kids were disruptive. An administrator said that the same undisciplined, rowdy kids did the same prank in middle school. A parent that wasn't there stuck his idiot nose into it (and he probably got his info from the super reliable source...a kid). Then it grows on the interbutz and all of a sudden rowdy, undisciplined kids are having there constitutional rights violated.

I'll say it again, and be sure to quote me on this one, "WTF."

Spring in Palestine

Outta habit I when I write about Israel and Palestine I always write it like this "Israel/Palestine". They are connected. When you talk about one, you halfta talk about the other one-even when you write it. Palestinian President Abbas just returned from the historic and epic New York/United Nations trip to 1,000's of supporters, supporters for a Palestinian state. This stuffs is the definition of super heavy and 'lil 'ol me cannot do it justice...but I will say a little something something.

 This is the example someone gave to me the other day. This someone is not, how should I say it, astute and eloquent in understanding and talking about politics (and I'm certainly not an expert, but I know more than dude). Dude said of Israel/Palestine that it is as if a neighbor moved next door and every year he takes more and more of your backyard. Sort of simple, but yea, I can go for that.

Palestinians have been waiting, negotiating and fighting for a Palestinian state for 60 years (and they certainly are not gonna get it anytime soon), and that is why this recent trip is so important. They are the neighbor that was there first. Their backyard is getting smaller and smaller. Why?

The Israelis (Jews) believe that Palestine's backyard really belongs to them and that they were there first. Why, because of their particular bronze age book says that their particular bronze age God, Abraham, said so. So, like, 60-ish years ago they decided to move back. The thing about that is, now there are people living there and they have been living there for a hella long time-Palestinians.

Que the Christian Zionists. For the longest time I didn't understand why American Christians would be interested in the establishing of a Jewish Homeland. The short of it is that in order for the American Christian end of times scenario to happen, that is JC coming back, the Jews need to have an established homeland. This is because in the American Christian bronze age book, the bible, their God says for the prophecy to become true, these things need to happen. That is why American pours hella money into Israel and is going all apartheid-y on the brown Palestine people.

This is all because of predictions in super old books that were written totally a long time ago. Not only are there people that still believe this, they are people in very powerful positions in this country. The dominionist, the American Execptionalist, they are on the side of Israel; but not because they care about the Jewish people, no the opposite in fact. Part of the super stupid prophecy is that for the American God to win over evil, the world gets destroyed and it gets destroyed after and because of the established Jewish homeland (keep in mind I'm going super general on all this). Who is a dominionist, people in politics, including three that are running for president.

Like I said, I dunno too much about it. It seems that the two state solution is THE solution (no one is gonna move out), tho. The Palestinian Spring has started, but will it grow to be bountiful. Will freedom and liberty, and that democracy that peeps keep talking about, blossom in the Palestinian Spring? I guess we will see.

Good luck brown homies (I'm brown also).

I Hope So, I Really Do

I've said it before and I will say it again and again...Religion is the most important topic, it is the most important issue that must be dealt with, like, right now, and the decades to come. Women's issues, GLBT, secular society, the battle for the classrooms (history, science), the economy, anything, absolutely anything can be associated with religion and it's aftermath that permeates the entire society; both public and private.

I have also mentioned that we have to look no further than the local newspaper, or any newspaper for that matter, to see how prevalent and constant religion is in our daily lives, whether we are believer or not. Par example...

Today's Sacramento Bee (certainly not my favorite of all the dailies, but it is my local rag, so there) has so many gems, err, examples. Iranian President, I'm a dinner jacket, said that two planes couldn't possibly bring down the twin towers (WTF). Sounds like he has been watching those self produced online videos. The C.I.A. wants to place ads in Arab newspapers; why I do not know. There were complaints at a prayer rally in a public school (ya think), Suicide, bullying and probably the gayness in NJ, anti-gay group gets a new chairperson, but to them it is a chairman because the bible says so, all those executions-n-stuff, Lady Gaga needs to meet with the awesome black president to talk about bullying, Palestine and that really important statehood thingy, Troy Davis-that is all, fines for full face veils in France, etc...

OK, I think I proved that point. I wasn't even done going thru the paper, there was still sum-mo. It really shows how prevalent religion is in the news, everyday. Hella kids bully the gay kids, whether they are gay or not, how did those kids learn to hate on the gay kids-the bible. Anything to do with the middle east is religious. It is Christian v. Muslim, us v. them. The supposed good guys, v. the evil bad guys (and fo sho they feel that way also), and the very important to me, the battle for secular society (I didn't include the 25ft cross), the religion free public square-schools, government buildings etc...I wrote the other day that many people believe that God controls the economy and what about Israel?Palestine right now. Wow, that is the heaviest of heavy shit.

It doesn't matter if you are religious or not...it effects and affects you. It is a part of your life. You didn't choose it, it was forced upon you-you had no choice in the matter. This is why it is important to question the beliefs of those who are running for president. This is why the battle for the science and the history classroom is so important. More and more we have to compete with the China's, the South America's, the India's, etc...They are getting advanced science degrees and advanced computer information science degrees while we battle to teach creationism as equal to evolution in public schools.  Most people (I'm committing the logical fallacy that I mentioned earlier) who believe have not read the bible (I can't believe I just did that. yuck). A simple and narrow religion is catch phrasing, sound biting and conditioning people to believe talking points like the president is not a Christian, global warming is not proven, evolution is just a theory, God wants you to be rich, etc...

The remedy for all of this is right in front of our eyes in the form of the daily paper. If as a whole society we can acknowledge that religion is a totally important factor in our daily lives and see what an impact it has daily, on everyone, then wouldn't people (finally) question the whole thing, question religion-what it is and what is does and how it does it.

I hope so.

Cats and Dogs, Science and Religion

Why are we still debating this. Ugh and WTF with a head shake. Maybe this is why I don't go to Huff Po Religion and Huff Po in general anymore. Usually this writer has really really good articles, but today I have to disagree with dude. In the article Can Religion and Science Coexist dude concludes (thru a survey) that most scientist have no problem with religion. I forgot what that logical fallacy that is when you say "most people..." but I know one when I see one.

 Here's the short of it...no. Science and religion are not compatible. Science deals with the material, the observable and the measurable. If there is no matter, then it doesn't matter to science (I couldn't resist that one). Science comes to conclusion through super rigorous testing, the scientific method, and more peer review testing. Science changes when the best information becomes available (and that is a good thing). Science is the truth as best as we can know it at the moment.

Religion is none of those things. Religion works because of faith (which, if you had faith in anything, the evolved powerful human brain will make those thingies come true). You cannot measure God or the afterlife. You cannot give your God data to a peer for them to independently test it's validity-it is based on belief and faith. Religion never changes, they are always correct (not). Where the scientific method can predict an outcome, religion is after the fact and fudges the truth to comply with scripture. Science and religion are cats and dogs.

The article claims that the scientists that have the most problem with religion are the scientists that see religion in very narrow terms (often associated with evangelical Christianity). The scientists that have a wider view of religion to include meditation-n-stuffs, the survey concludes, are coolio with religion. I get the feeling that the author is poo poo-ing the scientists for having a narrow view of religion. Well poo poo on him.

They often call us (Team Atheist) out on this one, but they are wrong for doing that. To say, that is not my religion, or we don't do that, is, well...dookie. I guess the simple answer is "then I guess we are not talking about you, so shut up." The reason why scientists and the New Atheist call out believers for having a narrow view of religion is because they practice a narrow religion. What is that great saying, "If you want us to stop making fun of your silly beliefs, then stop having silly beliefs." So what that some Christianities accept evolution, good, they should. But to say that we cannot call out Christians that believe in Genesis over evolution, well, once again...that is dookie.

One good thing in the article that was concluded in the survey is that the majority of scientists, whether they were cool with religion or not, are totally against teaching creationism in the science classroom. Well, I'm glad that we can at least agree on that.

* Article Huff Po Religion.

* Update Sept 25th. the last paragraph is the same logical fallacy that I mentioned earlier (but it's cool when I do it. I didn't create the double standard, I just acknowledge it...now...) Awesomeness.

Old Lady Dobener and Her 25ft Cross

This is a very good example of the "little old lady goes to church on Sunday and does no harm" part of the debate. This time is is an actual honest to God real human hella old lady in Los Angeles.

72 year old Laly Dobener can't understand what all the fuss is about. I mean, gee wiz, all she did was erect a 25ft cross, complete with yucky blood stains (paint) where JC's hands and feet were stapled...on her front yard. One neighbor said something like when you turn onto our block it looks like there is a church there. Old Lady Dobener, she says, is only expressing her religious freedom and is confident that her free speech is protected. So...WTF.

This is the part of the debate that I personally have been thinking about a lot. As all you kind gentle and very good looking readers all know, I've been sitting on the fence as whether to become a full fledged angry atheist, or remain an accommodationalist. This is a litmus test.

So hypothetically there is a little old lady that goes to church on Sunday and she does no harm. Should I hate on her. What can I possible blame her for. The same goes for Old Lady Dobener. What harm is she doing me by erecting a ridicules 25ft cross on her front yard. I don't agree with it, but really...WTF.

I'll tell y'all WTF. As I mentioned before if you had an abusive someone in your life, wouldn't you say or do something before they got hurt or hurt someone else (I would). Well, that is how I see church membership. I could not belong to a community where the leaders were sexist and homophobic. My personal salvation is not more important than members in my group being treated fairly. We all get treated equally and fairly and that is that.

Last year there was a really weirdo dude here in Sac Town that put a Nazi flag in his front window. The flag didn't really harm anyone, but the city made the weird guy take it down (I forgot the reasoning tho). Old Lady Dobener's hideous 25ft cross is not *harming* anyone one, but does she have the right to do that.

I say make her take that ridicules cross down, chop it up into firewood and make her pay for it. There must be some city building code stuffs that she violated (really, you can't erect a 25ft anything on your front lawn). What would happen if we put the Scarlet-A, a 25ft one, on our front lawn, would people get mad and would they make us take it down. I'll quote Sarah Palin...

"You betcha."

* SF Gate

* Sitting on the fence.

Religion News Roundup For...Today

Wow what a kick arse day for religious news. Team Atheist if you do not go to Religion News Service, Religion Dispatches and CNN Belief Blog you are missing out. Check out all the good fun reading I've done so far this morning.

I never really thought that the Foo Fighters were all that (nothing against them, just not one of my favorites), but I sure do like them a lot more now. Apparently they counter protested everyone's least favorite protesters, Westboro Baptist Church. Appropriately, they played a song called "Hot Buns."

After a million gazillion years the super stupid DADT is fin. As of midnite the armed forces just got a lot cuter, cleaner, patriotic and flamboyant at the same time. I would never join the armed forces (to kill brown people for economic interests), but I sure do appreciate those who do. It takes a special kinda person to answer the call of duty. Congrats to all GLBT in the military and...let's see if change really happens.

Rowan says that atheist are the "new cool thing" and I agree with him. Thanks Rowan.

Team Atheist has know this for years, but now we have scientific evidence that Pat "Leave your wife is she has Alzheimer's" Robertson is mentally ill. Robertson's theological counterparts, that do not agree with him, say that he is an embarrassment." We knew that also.

Here is some blatant self promotion and here are real journalists commenting on the same thing (but really, who's better looking. thanks). Those survey's that Team Goober Nerd Geek Atheist and Skeptic like so much have concluded that many Americans believe that God has a special plan for them, God believes in small government and God controls the economy. Oh God.

On that note...awesome sauce, peeps.

Survey God Controls The Ecomony...And I'm Brad Pitt

OooooKkkkaaaaayyyy, this is made of stupid. So I'm getting right down to it. 20% of American believers surveyed believe that the Great Surveillance Camera in the Sky, ya know when he is not starving people in Africa or hurricane-ing and flooding people, cares about the US economy. No shit.

The headline reads Baylor religion survey reveals many see God steering the economy. This is the part where I say...WTF and shake my head. God cares about the economy, oh frackin' pleeeeeeaaasssseee. Alas, it is true. 1 0f 5 believe that the "economy works because God wants it to work." Not surprising, it is conservative religious folk that think big bad government is "working against God's plan (God also wants small government (?))." And as if it couldn't get worse...

Aprox 73% of those surveyed believe that God has a special plan for them. Agh, that is so nice. Africans are totally starving, there are hella wars all over the world-n-natural disasters, but God has a "special plan for them". Arrogant much, sure seems like it.

Ugh, in fact double ugh. The voyeur sky father, the one who watches you when you sleep, he knows your every thought feeling and emotion, even before you do, there is no escaping him-even when you die, he will still be there..he has a fuckin' plan for you (meanwhile, the world is ending). Economics stuffs like supply and demand, imports and exports, the GDP of countries, all matter not. Why, because frackin' God controls the economy. If we worship him the economy will get better, that is in his plan also.

I read an article the other day that said the fear of dominionism and American exceptionalism is fakey fake. Looks like it has permeated deep into American society...and that is something to fear.

* Super shitty day yesterday, but today is another day and I'm feeling pretty good...so far.

* Review: dominionism is the mission evangelical Christians have (some of them) to inflitrate every sector of society. American exceptionalism is the fact that God likes American better than the rest of the world and that he has a special plan for American, but we have to go all dominionist first. People believe this shit (?).