The end?
Nope. Even though the end of the world has been prophesied since Daniel was
first penned, and later given illustrative reality by the Mad Monk John's ranting polemic against the Roman Empire. For some reason, that book is some great revelation? By the way, isn't funny that many, many Christians pray for the mother-of-all holocausts? Unfortunately, for the eschatologist in our midsts – the world has not ended.
In the meantime, there is news in the world that is hopeful, ridiculous, and some that is just plain 'ole despair that makes this rationalist laugh, cringe, and cry.
An Atheist President? A British PM?
Sometimes
its damn, right hard to be an atheist in a society of
hyper-religiosity. When your not being called a liar to your face,
snickered behind your back as arrogant, damned to hell, or discriminated from office... your still one of the most despised minorities in the country. Gays are just as likely to despise you as much as Fred Phelps!
However, every so often this atheist will read
something that just makes my day. In light of the debate whether or not
to disestablish the Anglican Church, AC Grayling points out several
advantages of an atheist PM over a Christian – like Tony Blair.
Any of his observations equally apply to the United States.
- Atheist leaders are not going to think they are getting messages from Beyond telling them to go to war.
- Atheist
leaders will be sceptical about the claims of religious groups to be
more important than other civil society organisations in doing good...
- Atheist
leaders are going to be more sceptical about inculcating sectarian
beliefs into small children ghettoised into publicly funded faith-based
schools...
- Atheist
leaders will, by definition, be neutral between the different religious
pressure groups in society, and will have no temptation not to be
even-handed because of an allegiance to the outlook of just one of
those groups
- Atheist
leaders are more likely to take a literally down-to-earth view of the
needs, interests and circumstances of people in the here and now, and
will not be influenced by the belief that present sufferings and
inequalities will be compensated in some posthumous dispensation.
- Atheist
leaders will not be tempted to think they are the messenger of any good
news from above, or the agent of any higher purpose on earth.
Imagine
electing a President who was not a Christian, who did not
bend-over-backwards to satiate those that ground their politics in the
oracle of their religious beliefs? Perhaps, we could then approach
matters with more temporal urgency.
File this one under hopeful.
What's in the Water Joe?
This video has made the rounds on the skeptical blogs for the last couple of weeks.
It's still just too good to pass up.
- Watch more free videos
This gal is the mother-of-all conspiracy theorists. Ever argue against a conspiracy theorist? Frankly, you can not win. Evidence against the conspiracy, in the mind of the person, is also positive evidence of the conspiracy. This goes for every media, 911, global warming, moon-landing, anti-vaccination nut out there.
And
you wonder why there is concern by educators and in the business
community over the U.S.A not being a leader in math and sciences, while
Jesusland relentlessly grips our country in its faith-based pseudoscience?
That
aside, I think this video demonstrates the appalling lack of scientific
education in our country. Or national priorities have us more invested
in the question of whether or not the Decalogue states murder or kill.
(Actually its both - depending on what sect's interpretation.)
File this one under ridiculous.
Ask a Sociologist, or a Catholic Priest?
Remember the spinning head of little girl in the Exorcist? My head spins when I read this stuff.
Are we to take this Priest seriously? Basically, every social ill is
positioned as a repudiation of secularity. Satan, apparently, has dug his cloven heels into modernity, according to this Priest.
"Even
heterosexual promiscuity is a perversion; and intercourse, which
belongs in the sanctuary of married love, can become a pathway not only
for disease but also for evil spirits."
What I love the most about this article, which spun-up my irony alarm:
"Fr.
Davies also warns in his book against so-called New Age and occult
practices, as well as trendy exercise and "spiritual healing" regimens
derived from eastern religions."
Uh, yeah. Which religion
believes that when you mumble magic words, bread and wine automagically
becomes someone's flesh and blood...that you eat? (See 1215 Latren Council) Which sectarian
variety of that same religion allows it's children to die because of
the doctrine of faith healing? Trendy exercise? Yeah, Satan figured out
that Yoga is a great way to turn the pious Christian away from Jesus.
Such is the unintelligibility of faith.
File this one under ridiculous.
What doesn't offend Islam?
Apparently, everything. Birthdays, anniversary's and mother's day. They offend Islam's
'righteousness' according to a Saudi Arabian top cleric, rebuffing the statement made earlier by a lesser religious official.
How righteous can a religion be if it is offended by a Hallmark holiday?
File this one too under ridiculous and despair.