Saturday, February 28, 2009
thought of the day.227
To presume the existence of a “Perfect God” is the pinnacle of presumptuousness; to think this God made us in his image, made the universe for us, died for us, not only loves us but desperately desires a relationship with us, talks to us, listens to us, is saddened by us, made glad by us, and suspends the laws of nature for us while intervening in the world at our request, is the very height of egotism; and to suggest all those not accepting these fanciful notions will be eternally tortured in hell is the very depth of depravity.
Friday, February 27, 2009
thought of the day.226
On Intercessory Prayer
Walking through the woods, a father comes upon his child caught in a thorny thicket. The child is frightened, covered in blood and wincing in obvious pain but cheered by the sight of her father. The father, a gardener, has his trusty shears with him but aside from offering a few comforting words, he inexpicably does nothing more than watch her futile struggling and listen to her increasingly anguished cries for help.
Family and friends begin to worry about the missing child. They organize a search party and eventually the child is found by a young girl. Unable to free her trapped friend herself, she pleads with the father to assist her. But the father does nothing. Exasperated, the girl runs to town to get help. Many people come but no one has the proper tools. They beg the father to use his shears to free his daughter, but the father just watches the growing spectacle. Some friends keep vigil through the night and all the while beg the father to help. Others rally people from neighboring towns to talk to the father.
Finally, having listened to much heartfelt pleading, the father cuts his way through the thorns and upon reaching the now completely exhausted, whimpering child, he plunges his shears into her heart killing her. Everyone is grief stricken! But as they gather themselves they acknowledge that the father has his own plans for his daughter and they have no right to question him. The father picks up the lifeless body and carries it away to bury in the yard. Everyone rejoices! The child has gone home to be with her father, and the father, they say, is a good father.
Walking through the woods, a father comes upon his child caught in a thorny thicket. The child is frightened, covered in blood and wincing in obvious pain but cheered by the sight of her father. The father, a gardener, has his trusty shears with him but aside from offering a few comforting words, he inexpicably does nothing more than watch her futile struggling and listen to her increasingly anguished cries for help.
Family and friends begin to worry about the missing child. They organize a search party and eventually the child is found by a young girl. Unable to free her trapped friend herself, she pleads with the father to assist her. But the father does nothing. Exasperated, the girl runs to town to get help. Many people come but no one has the proper tools. They beg the father to use his shears to free his daughter, but the father just watches the growing spectacle. Some friends keep vigil through the night and all the while beg the father to help. Others rally people from neighboring towns to talk to the father.
Finally, having listened to much heartfelt pleading, the father cuts his way through the thorns and upon reaching the now completely exhausted, whimpering child, he plunges his shears into her heart killing her. Everyone is grief stricken! But as they gather themselves they acknowledge that the father has his own plans for his daughter and they have no right to question him. The father picks up the lifeless body and carries it away to bury in the yard. Everyone rejoices! The child has gone home to be with her father, and the father, they say, is a good father.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
thought of the day.225
Test of Faith.Exodus
God is a
A. man of peace
B. man of war
God says daughters
A. are to be loved and respected
B. may be sold as slaves
Moses commanded his followers to
A. teach the world of God’s grace and mercy
B. kill family, friends, and neighbors
Ex 15:3, 21:7, 32:27-29
God is a
A. man of peace
B. man of war
God says daughters
A. are to be loved and respected
B. may be sold as slaves
Moses commanded his followers to
A. teach the world of God’s grace and mercy
B. kill family, friends, and neighbors
Ex 15:3, 21:7, 32:27-29
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
thought of the day.224
The Jescebo Effect
Christians often claim that Jesus is responsible for helping save a crumbling marriage, get control of a drug or alcohol addiction, or maybe reach some goal. But what’s happening in these cases isn’t supernatural but natural. It’s not “Jesus” but the “belief” in Jesus that has power. I would call this the “Jescebo Effect ” which describes the positive feelings and results derived from the belief in Jesus or other supernatural being or religious idol.
The bible actually acknowledges this truth in Isaiah 57:10 as the LORD says, “You think your obscene idols give you strength, and so you never grow weak” demonstrating it’s not the object of belief but the belief itself that is empowering, just as it’s not the placebo pill itself but the belief in the pill’s curative powers that can trigger healing.
My friend “Janet” astutely notes, “Some people may argue that if this is the case, maybe it's a good thing. If "Jesus" can help people kick alcohol addiction, for example, isn't this constructive? I would disagree. Coming from a christian family, I have seen faith in god replace the real work of growing as a person. I had bulimia as a teenager; instead of taking me to counseling, they prayed for me. I did stop, and their "prayers were answered". However, I did not get to the root of the problem - why was I addicted in the first place. That took another 20 years, and in the meantime I succumbed to more addictions and many other problems that could have been avoided if superstitious belief in god & jesus had been replaced by scientific knowledge and common sense. I am not the only victim of this - this happens all the time.”
Christians often claim that Jesus is responsible for helping save a crumbling marriage, get control of a drug or alcohol addiction, or maybe reach some goal. But what’s happening in these cases isn’t supernatural but natural. It’s not “Jesus” but the “belief” in Jesus that has power. I would call this the “Jescebo Effect ” which describes the positive feelings and results derived from the belief in Jesus or other supernatural being or religious idol.
The bible actually acknowledges this truth in Isaiah 57:10 as the LORD says, “You think your obscene idols give you strength, and so you never grow weak” demonstrating it’s not the object of belief but the belief itself that is empowering, just as it’s not the placebo pill itself but the belief in the pill’s curative powers that can trigger healing.
My friend “Janet” astutely notes, “Some people may argue that if this is the case, maybe it's a good thing. If "Jesus" can help people kick alcohol addiction, for example, isn't this constructive? I would disagree. Coming from a christian family, I have seen faith in god replace the real work of growing as a person. I had bulimia as a teenager; instead of taking me to counseling, they prayed for me. I did stop, and their "prayers were answered". However, I did not get to the root of the problem - why was I addicted in the first place. That took another 20 years, and in the meantime I succumbed to more addictions and many other problems that could have been avoided if superstitious belief in god & jesus had been replaced by scientific knowledge and common sense. I am not the only victim of this - this happens all the time.”
thought of the day.223
Jesus vs Schweitzer
Nobel Peace Prize recipient, Albert Schweitzer, gives us a framework for understanding evil that is so beautiful in its simplicity that even a small child can grasp it: “Reverence for life affords me my fundamental principle of morality, namely that good consists in maintaining, assisting, and enhancing life, and that to destroy, to harm, or to hinder life is evil.”
In contrast, Jesus gives us the following thought on evil: “When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first.”
(Lk 11:24-26)
Whereas Schweitzer provides a clear, practical basis on which to live our daily lives, Jesus gives us confusing and superstitious ideas about evil spirits that are not only completely unhelpful but can be quite harmful as believers blame all manner of destructive behavior, sickness, or whatever, on supernatural “demons” rather than pinpointing natural causes.
Nobel Peace Prize recipient, Albert Schweitzer, gives us a framework for understanding evil that is so beautiful in its simplicity that even a small child can grasp it: “Reverence for life affords me my fundamental principle of morality, namely that good consists in maintaining, assisting, and enhancing life, and that to destroy, to harm, or to hinder life is evil.”
In contrast, Jesus gives us the following thought on evil: “When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first.”
(Lk 11:24-26)
Whereas Schweitzer provides a clear, practical basis on which to live our daily lives, Jesus gives us confusing and superstitious ideas about evil spirits that are not only completely unhelpful but can be quite harmful as believers blame all manner of destructive behavior, sickness, or whatever, on supernatural “demons” rather than pinpointing natural causes.
Monday, February 23, 2009
thought of the day.222
Biblical Inequality
Of all the sexist biblical passages elevating men above women, one of the most absurd denigrates child birth as “impure” then adds insult to injury by proclaiming that giving birth to a female is twice as impure as giving birth to a male. The good book degrades women further with the mandate that the “unclean” mother can only be cleansed by bringing offerings (lunch) to the priest (male of course).
It boggles the mind that any self-respecting woman or half-enlightened man could claim such nonsense to be the wisdom of a perfect being rather than the misogynistic madness it is.
Lv 12:1-8
Of all the sexist biblical passages elevating men above women, one of the most absurd denigrates child birth as “impure” then adds insult to injury by proclaiming that giving birth to a female is twice as impure as giving birth to a male. The good book degrades women further with the mandate that the “unclean” mother can only be cleansed by bringing offerings (lunch) to the priest (male of course).
It boggles the mind that any self-respecting woman or half-enlightened man could claim such nonsense to be the wisdom of a perfect being rather than the misogynistic madness it is.
Lv 12:1-8
Sunday, February 22, 2009
thought of the day.221
Though many claim the bible is the Word of God, there is in fact not a single sentence that rings of truth, goodness or insight into the workings of the universe that can only be explained as divine inspiration. Instead, we find nothing more than what one would expect from the minds of primitive men living several thousand years ago.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
thought of the day.220
Rainbow Post-it Notes
Science tells us that rainbows are a natural phenomenon resulting from the refraction of sunlight through water droplets, whereas the bible tells us they are a supernatural sign reminding God of his promise not to drown every child in the world—again, showing the bible to be not only incompatible with science, but incompatible with commonsense and common decency.
Gn 9:8-17
Science tells us that rainbows are a natural phenomenon resulting from the refraction of sunlight through water droplets, whereas the bible tells us they are a supernatural sign reminding God of his promise not to drown every child in the world—again, showing the bible to be not only incompatible with science, but incompatible with commonsense and common decency.
Gn 9:8-17
Friday, February 20, 2009
thought of the day.219
Christian Hate Speech
Woven throughout the bible are strands of unabashed intolerance and hate. Yet we are so conditioned to accept it we rarely notice it as such. For example, a verse spouted from church pulpits and broadcast over television and radio everyday is this:
“The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, they have committed abominable deeds; There is no one who does good.”
And Christian listeners everywhere smile smugly and nod in agreement over this hateful notion that is both irresponsible and erroneous.
Imagine if we just changed a few words and broadcast this message: “Christians are fools, they are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.” Or what if we said, “African Americans are fools, they are corrupt...” or maybe, “...there are no women that doeth good.” Oh, the outcry that would ensue! But unbelievers remain fair game for the “godly” to demonize with their hate-filled scriptures.
Ps 14:1
Woven throughout the bible are strands of unabashed intolerance and hate. Yet we are so conditioned to accept it we rarely notice it as such. For example, a verse spouted from church pulpits and broadcast over television and radio everyday is this:
“The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, they have committed abominable deeds; There is no one who does good.”
And Christian listeners everywhere smile smugly and nod in agreement over this hateful notion that is both irresponsible and erroneous.
Imagine if we just changed a few words and broadcast this message: “Christians are fools, they are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.” Or what if we said, “African Americans are fools, they are corrupt...” or maybe, “...there are no women that doeth good.” Oh, the outcry that would ensue! But unbelievers remain fair game for the “godly” to demonize with their hate-filled scriptures.
Ps 14:1
Thursday, February 19, 2009
thought of the day.218
Test of Faith.Mark
Jesus reminded people about the command to
A. love and protect children
B. kill children who curse their parents
Jesus referred to a mother and her sick child as
A. his precious sheep
B. dogs
Fathers who leave their children for Jesus’ sake will be
A. cursed for abandoning their families
B. rewarded with 100 times more children
Mark 7:10, 24-28, 10:29-30
Jesus reminded people about the command to
A. love and protect children
B. kill children who curse their parents
Jesus referred to a mother and her sick child as
A. his precious sheep
B. dogs
Fathers who leave their children for Jesus’ sake will be
A. cursed for abandoning their families
B. rewarded with 100 times more children
Mark 7:10, 24-28, 10:29-30
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
thought of the day.216
Cowardly Christ
Any average parent would lay down their life for their child. Yet when it was time for Jesus to “save” humanity from the hell of his own making via the plan of his own concocting, he prayed “fervently” to be excused, saying, “if you will, take this cup of suffering away from me. Not my will, however, but your will be done.” What a cowardly character! Jesus only “saves” us because his Father wills it. If it were left to him, we’d all go to hell.
Jesus had no problem asking his followers to suffer and die for him. He had no trouble designing fiendish ways to cause ETERNAL suffering for humankind. But he did not want to be bothered with a little temporary suffering himself. Is there a greater hypocrite in all of literature? He did not go to the cross willingly and triumphantly but merely obediently... like an abused child obeying his abusive father.
Luke 22:41-44 Matthew 10:16-23, 24:9 Mark 9:48
Any average parent would lay down their life for their child. Yet when it was time for Jesus to “save” humanity from the hell of his own making via the plan of his own concocting, he prayed “fervently” to be excused, saying, “if you will, take this cup of suffering away from me. Not my will, however, but your will be done.” What a cowardly character! Jesus only “saves” us because his Father wills it. If it were left to him, we’d all go to hell.
Jesus had no problem asking his followers to suffer and die for him. He had no trouble designing fiendish ways to cause ETERNAL suffering for humankind. But he did not want to be bothered with a little temporary suffering himself. Is there a greater hypocrite in all of literature? He did not go to the cross willingly and triumphantly but merely obediently... like an abused child obeying his abusive father.
Luke 22:41-44 Matthew 10:16-23, 24:9 Mark 9:48
Monday, February 16, 2009
thought of the day.215
Happy President’s Day!
In honor of our recently retired Commander in Chief, here are a few gems of wisdom from George W. himself:
1. “The vast majority of our imports come from outside the country.”
2. “If we don't succeed, we run the risk of failure.”
3. “Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we.”
4. “No senior citizen should ever have to choose between prescription drugs and medicine.”
5. “I believe we are on an irreversible trend toward more freedom and democracy - but that could change.”
6. “One word sums up probably the responsibility of any Governor, and that one word is ‘to be prepared’.”
7. “I trust God speaks through me. Without that, I couldn't do my job.”
8. “I have made good judgments in the past. I have made good judgments in the future.”
9. “Rarely is the questioned asked: Is our children learning?"
10. “I’ll be long gone before some smart person ever figures out what happened inside this Oval Office."
—Washington, D.C., May 12, 2008
In honor of our recently retired Commander in Chief, here are a few gems of wisdom from George W. himself:
1. “The vast majority of our imports come from outside the country.”
2. “If we don't succeed, we run the risk of failure.”
3. “Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we.”
4. “No senior citizen should ever have to choose between prescription drugs and medicine.”
5. “I believe we are on an irreversible trend toward more freedom and democracy - but that could change.”
6. “One word sums up probably the responsibility of any Governor, and that one word is ‘to be prepared’.”
7. “I trust God speaks through me. Without that, I couldn't do my job.”
8. “I have made good judgments in the past. I have made good judgments in the future.”
9. “Rarely is the questioned asked: Is our children learning?"
10. “I’ll be long gone before some smart person ever figures out what happened inside this Oval Office."
—Washington, D.C., May 12, 2008
Sunday, February 15, 2009
thought of the day.214
Down is Up & Wrong is Right
Jesus is a master of double talk of the most harmful kind. He discounts people’s real emotions and replaces them with fantasy. The hungry and the weeping are not miserable he says, but “happy!” The rejected, demonized, insulted and hated are not distraught but “happy!” Such ill treatment is not cause for tears but “joy!”
And those who have enjoyed their life are to be pitied—how “terrible” for them! How “terrible” for those with food in their bellies says Jesus, for they will go hungry! And how “terrible” for those full of life and laughter, for Jesus promises their dancing will be replaced with mourning! Praise God!
These words were put in the mouth of the Jesus character for one purpose—to keep the downtrodden down. To keep the poor and oppressed from rising up and changing their circumstances. As Napoleon Bonaparte said, “Religion is excellent stuff for keeping common people quiet."
Luke 6:20-26
Jesus is a master of double talk of the most harmful kind. He discounts people’s real emotions and replaces them with fantasy. The hungry and the weeping are not miserable he says, but “happy!” The rejected, demonized, insulted and hated are not distraught but “happy!” Such ill treatment is not cause for tears but “joy!”
And those who have enjoyed their life are to be pitied—how “terrible” for them! How “terrible” for those with food in their bellies says Jesus, for they will go hungry! And how “terrible” for those full of life and laughter, for Jesus promises their dancing will be replaced with mourning! Praise God!
These words were put in the mouth of the Jesus character for one purpose—to keep the downtrodden down. To keep the poor and oppressed from rising up and changing their circumstances. As Napoleon Bonaparte said, “Religion is excellent stuff for keeping common people quiet."
Luke 6:20-26
Saturday, February 14, 2009
thought of the day.213
Happy Lupercalia Day!
Like Christmas, Easter, and Halloween, the origins of Valentine’s Day can be traced back to our pagan past. From February 13-15, the ancient Romans honored the gods Lupercus and Faunus, as well as the legendary founders of Rome, Romulus and Remus, in a celebration called Lupercalia. In addition to great feasts, the festivities included the coupling of young women with men who would draw women’s names from a box, pairing them up until the next year’s celebration.
One legend has it that a priest named Valentine disobeyed Emperor Claudius II’s decree that soldiers remain bachelors (Claudius thought the soldiers would be more focused on killing if not distracted by wives) by secretly performing marriage ceremonies. Valentine was imprisoned where he fell in love with his jailor’s daughter. Before being executed (beheaded) on February 14, 269, he wrote a letter to his new love which he signed ‘From your Valentine’. He was later named a saint.
Seizing the opportunity to establish yet another Christian holiday while destroying a pagan one, Pope Gelasius declared Lupercalia immoral and renamed the holiday St. Valentine’s Day. And the tradition of picking a sex partner out of a box was replaced with picking the name of a saint. Oh, fun.
Did you know? There are over 10,000 saints and Valentine is the patron saint of not only love, but bee keepers, epilepsy, fainting, and plague. Ah plague, now that’s romantic!
Friday, February 13, 2009
thought of the day.212
Is God Love?
Christians— at least the kinder, gentler ones—will often say “God is love.” Like a good corporate slogan, this phrase is short and sweet and warms the heart. But as nice as it sounds, it’s untrue.
Here are a few fundamental differences between the bibleGod’s “love” and Real Love:
God places conditions on his favor, demanding submission and obedience; Real Love is unconditional, desiring equality and mutual respect.
God is fearsome, threatening physical abuse in this life and beyond the grave; Real Love is the antithesis of fear, wishing only the very best for another.
God merely promises heaven; Real Love IS heaven, here and now.
Lv 26:14-39, Mk 16:16, 9:47-48
Christians— at least the kinder, gentler ones—will often say “God is love.” Like a good corporate slogan, this phrase is short and sweet and warms the heart. But as nice as it sounds, it’s untrue.
Here are a few fundamental differences between the bibleGod’s “love” and Real Love:
God places conditions on his favor, demanding submission and obedience; Real Love is unconditional, desiring equality and mutual respect.
God is fearsome, threatening physical abuse in this life and beyond the grave; Real Love is the antithesis of fear, wishing only the very best for another.
God merely promises heaven; Real Love IS heaven, here and now.
Lv 26:14-39, Mk 16:16, 9:47-48
Thursday, February 12, 2009
thought of the day.211
Happy Birthday to Charles Darwin and Abraham Lincoln! Both born on this date in 1809
“I can indeed hardly see how anyone ought to wish Christianity to be true; for if so the plain language of the text seems to show that the men who do not believe, and this would include my Father, Brother, and almost all my best friends, will be everlastingly punished. And this is a damnable doctrine.”
~ Charles Darwin
“Mr. Lincoln was never a member of any Church, nor did he believe in the divinity of Christ, or the inspiration of the Scriptures in the sense understood by evangelical Christians.
When a boy, he showed no sign of that piety which his many biographers ascribe to his manhood. When he went to church at all, he went to mock, and came away to mimic.
When he came to New Salem, he consorted with Freethinkers, joined with them in deriding the gospel story of Jesus, read Volney and Paine, and then wrote a deliberate and labored essay, wherein he reached conclusions similar to theirs.”
~ Colonel Ward H. Lamon (a religionist and Lincoln’s longtime friend)
“I can indeed hardly see how anyone ought to wish Christianity to be true; for if so the plain language of the text seems to show that the men who do not believe, and this would include my Father, Brother, and almost all my best friends, will be everlastingly punished. And this is a damnable doctrine.”
~ Charles Darwin
“Mr. Lincoln was never a member of any Church, nor did he believe in the divinity of Christ, or the inspiration of the Scriptures in the sense understood by evangelical Christians.
When a boy, he showed no sign of that piety which his many biographers ascribe to his manhood. When he went to church at all, he went to mock, and came away to mimic.
When he came to New Salem, he consorted with Freethinkers, joined with them in deriding the gospel story of Jesus, read Volney and Paine, and then wrote a deliberate and labored essay, wherein he reached conclusions similar to theirs.”
~ Colonel Ward H. Lamon (a religionist and Lincoln’s longtime friend)
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
thought of the day.210
The LORD of Hypocrisy
Common sense says murdering and stealing from our neighbors is seriously detrimental to the stability of society. But as Christians are apt to say, “the LORD’s ways are not our ways” and this is evident in the following instructions:
“As you approach a town to attack it, first offer its people terms for peace. If they accept your terms and open the gates to you, then all the people inside will serve you in forced labor. But if they refuse to make peace and prepare to fight, you must attack the town. When the LORD your God hands it over to you, kill every man in the town. But you may keep for yourselves all the women, children, livestock, and other plunder. You may enjoy the spoils of your enemies that the LORD your God has given you.”
Following these instructions, the Israelites, with the help of the LORD who fought beside them, crushed the Hagrites and they took 2,000 donkeys, 50,000 camels, 250,000 sheep and 100,000 people for themselves. When the LORD had his people slaughter the Midianites they made off with 61,000 donkeys, 72,000 cattle, 675,000 sheep and goats, and 32,000 virgins (one is left to imagine how the faithful determined virginity). And then there was the 200,000 women and children taken from the people of Judea along with large amounts of loot. These are but three of dozens of such holy crime sprees boasted of in the good book.
If we tally the carnage from just these, we have a staggering sum of over a million animals pillaged, over a quarter of a million people enslaved and countless more butchered. Only the LORD knows how many young girls had their innocence stolen by “godly” men with blood-stained hands. And all this thievery and murder was commanded and aided by the LORD of Hypocrisy who so famously said, “Do not steal” and “Do not commit murder.”
Dt 20:10-14, 1 Ch 5:21, Nu 31:32-35, 2 Ch 28:8
Common sense says murdering and stealing from our neighbors is seriously detrimental to the stability of society. But as Christians are apt to say, “the LORD’s ways are not our ways” and this is evident in the following instructions:
“As you approach a town to attack it, first offer its people terms for peace. If they accept your terms and open the gates to you, then all the people inside will serve you in forced labor. But if they refuse to make peace and prepare to fight, you must attack the town. When the LORD your God hands it over to you, kill every man in the town. But you may keep for yourselves all the women, children, livestock, and other plunder. You may enjoy the spoils of your enemies that the LORD your God has given you.”
Following these instructions, the Israelites, with the help of the LORD who fought beside them, crushed the Hagrites and they took 2,000 donkeys, 50,000 camels, 250,000 sheep and 100,000 people for themselves. When the LORD had his people slaughter the Midianites they made off with 61,000 donkeys, 72,000 cattle, 675,000 sheep and goats, and 32,000 virgins (one is left to imagine how the faithful determined virginity). And then there was the 200,000 women and children taken from the people of Judea along with large amounts of loot. These are but three of dozens of such holy crime sprees boasted of in the good book.
If we tally the carnage from just these, we have a staggering sum of over a million animals pillaged, over a quarter of a million people enslaved and countless more butchered. Only the LORD knows how many young girls had their innocence stolen by “godly” men with blood-stained hands. And all this thievery and murder was commanded and aided by the LORD of Hypocrisy who so famously said, “Do not steal” and “Do not commit murder.”
Dt 20:10-14, 1 Ch 5:21, Nu 31:32-35, 2 Ch 28:8
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
thought of the day.209
“I quit [going to church] because I came to believe that what is preached in the churches is mainly untrue and unimportant, tiresome, hostile to genuine progress, and in general not worth while. As for the necessity of paying homage to the deity, I began to feel that I did not know enough about God to pay him set compliments on set days. As for the God who is preached in the churches, I ceased to worship him because I could no longer believe in him or respect what is alleged of him. I cannot respect a deity who would want or even endure the hideous monotony and mechanism of most of the worship paid him by hired men, hired prayer-makers and their supporters.”
“As for those who protest that I am robbing people of the great comfort and consolation they gain from Christianity, I can only say that Christianity includes hell, eternal torture for the vast majority of humanity, for most of your relatives and friends. Christianity includes a devil who is really more powerful than God, and who keeps gathering into his furnaces most of the creatures whom God turns out and for whom he sent his son to the cross in vain. If I could feel that I had robbed anybody of his faith in hell, I should not be ashamed or regretful.”
~ Rupert Hughes, “Why I Quit Going to Church,” 1924
“As for those who protest that I am robbing people of the great comfort and consolation they gain from Christianity, I can only say that Christianity includes hell, eternal torture for the vast majority of humanity, for most of your relatives and friends. Christianity includes a devil who is really more powerful than God, and who keeps gathering into his furnaces most of the creatures whom God turns out and for whom he sent his son to the cross in vain. If I could feel that I had robbed anybody of his faith in hell, I should not be ashamed or regretful.”
~ Rupert Hughes, “Why I Quit Going to Church,” 1924
Monday, February 9, 2009
thought of the day.208
Christianity & Cannibalism
The Eucharist, or Holy Communion, is deeply rooted in cannibalism. Not only did our ancestors consume the bodies of vanquished enemies and the deceased members of their own community in the hope of gaining their power, in a practice called theophagy, they consumed the body and blood of their god (sometimes in the form of a human proxy).
The notion of a sacred meal shared by a god and his followers (such as found with the Christian Last Supper) was a concept prevalent throughout the ancient world. The Catholic Encyclopedia says this about the Mystery religions: “There was usually the meal of mystic foods— grains of all sorts at Eleusis, bread and water in the cult of Mithra, wine (Dionysus), milk and honey (Attis), raw bull’s flesh in the Orphic Dionysus-Zagreus cult.” Christian father Firmicus Maternus wrote that the followers of Liber (aka Dionysus, or Bacchus) believe “he was intercepted and killed,” and his murderers, “chopped his members up into pieces and...devoured them.” An event which his worshipers celebrate in “recurring sacred rites celebrated every two years,” in which, “They tear a live bull with their teeth, representing the cruel banquet [ at which the God was eaten.]”
The gospel writers simply borrowed these ideas and had Jesus say, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him.” ( Jn 6:53-56)
It came to dawn on the Catholic Church that this passage posed a difficult problem. Here we have Jesus himself proclaiming eternal life came only by consuming his flesh and blood—not bread and wine. So how to resolve this dilemma? Magic of course!
On October 11, 1551, the Council of Trent, decreed “By the consecration of the bread and of the wine a conversion is made of the whole substance of the bread into the substance of the Body of Christ our Lord, and of the whole substance of the wine into the substance of His Blood; which conversion is by the holy Catholic Church suitably and properly called transubstantiation.”
Shazam! Transubstantiation! Problem solved. What looked, smelled and tasted like ordinary bread and wine was now the real flesh and blood of God himself. And not just a portion of flesh— not just a thigh or finger but everything—liver, spleen, heart, bowels, testes, eyes, hair. It was nothing short of Holy Jesus Sausage. And Catholics seemingly swallowed this idea as easily as they did the immaculate conception (another borrowed idea). However, Frederick the Great was one who found the idea a “repulsive and blasphemous absurdity” and in a letter to Voltaire said, “This is the most disgusting dogma of Christian religion, the greatest insult to the Highest Being, the climax of madness and insanity.”
For hundreds of millions of people to think a cracker is the flesh of an invisible mangod and to happily wash this down with what is believed to be blood can only be understood as mass insanity—at least temporary insanity. And though Protestants may see the holy sacrament as merely symbolic, it nonetheless symbolizes a repulsive cannibalistic act.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
thought of the day.207
Test of Faith. Joshua
Upon entering the city of Jericho, God’s people
A. shared a message of hope and forgiveness
B. killed everyone, men and women, young and old
God made the sun stand still while his people
A. distributed food and clothing
B. committed genocide
Needing a place to live, God’s people
A. searched for uninhabited land flowing with milk and honey
B. attacked a city, killed its people, and claimed it for themselves
Joshua 6:20-21, 10:12-14, 19:47
Upon entering the city of Jericho, God’s people
A. shared a message of hope and forgiveness
B. killed everyone, men and women, young and old
God made the sun stand still while his people
A. distributed food and clothing
B. committed genocide
Needing a place to live, God’s people
A. searched for uninhabited land flowing with milk and honey
B. attacked a city, killed its people, and claimed it for themselves
Joshua 6:20-21, 10:12-14, 19:47
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Friday, February 6, 2009
Thought of the day.205
The Image of God
The bible says man was made in the image of God. Or does it?
“Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness...”
That’s an “us” and two “ours” clearly written by men still holding to polytheistic notions. But what’s troubling isn’t the number but the nature of this God(s). This is a character who’s very name is “Jealous.” What an unflattering image! So jealous is this character it demands the killing of family and friend for praying to a different god. And this character isn’t a Peacemaker but a “man of war.” Is there a more ugly image than war? Well yes, torture is an even uglier image than war, and Jesus himself gives us this despicable image:
“... In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you...”
Maniacally Jealous, a Man of War, a Cruel Jailer. Is it wise to teach children they are made in the image of such a fiend?
Gn 1:26, Ex 15:3, 34:14, Mt 18:33-35
The bible says man was made in the image of God. Or does it?
“Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness...”
That’s an “us” and two “ours” clearly written by men still holding to polytheistic notions. But what’s troubling isn’t the number but the nature of this God(s). This is a character who’s very name is “Jealous.” What an unflattering image! So jealous is this character it demands the killing of family and friend for praying to a different god. And this character isn’t a Peacemaker but a “man of war.” Is there a more ugly image than war? Well yes, torture is an even uglier image than war, and Jesus himself gives us this despicable image:
“... In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you...”
Maniacally Jealous, a Man of War, a Cruel Jailer. Is it wise to teach children they are made in the image of such a fiend?
Gn 1:26, Ex 15:3, 34:14, Mt 18:33-35
Thursday, February 5, 2009
thought of the day.204
Christianity and Human Sacrifice
There are few things more objectionable to modern sensibilities than human sacrifice. Yet the ritualistic slaying of humans in honor of a deity was not just an ancient “pagan” practice but that of the Israelites as well. Like many of the more unsavory parts of the bible, the story of Jepthah’s daughter is not often preached to congregations on sunny Sunday mornings so I have included it here for those unfamiliar with it:
“Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah....And Jephthah made a vow to the LORD : "If you give the Ammonites into my hands, whatever comes out of the door of my house to meet me when I return in triumph from the Ammonites will be the LORD's, and I will sacrifice it as a burnt offering." ...and the LORD gave [the Ammonites] into his hands. ... When Jephthah returned to his home in Mizpah, who should come out to meet him but his daughter, dancing to the sound of tambourines! She was an only child. Except for her he had neither son nor daughter. When he saw her, he tore his clothes and cried, "Oh! My daughter! You have made me miserable and wretched, because I have made a vow to the LORD that I cannot break." "My father," she replied, "you have given your word to the LORD. Do to me just as you promised, now that the LORD has avenged you of your enemies, the Ammonites. But grant me this one request," she said. "Give me two months to roam the hills and weep with my friends, because I will never marry." "You may go," he said. And he let her go for two months. She and the girls went into the hills and wept because she would never marry. After the two months, she returned to her father and he did to her as he had vowed. And she was a virgin.” (Judges 11:29-39)
Carol A. Valentine comments on the brutality of the story: “In payment for victory, Jephthah promises LORD God he will sacrifice the first ‘whatsoever’ that comes from his house to greet him upon his return. Unless Jephthah keeps oxen, sheep, goats, or chickens in his living room, he must expect the promised victim will be a human being. …We suspect Jephthah plans to sacrifice one of his servants. But when the ‘whatsoever’ turned out to be Jephthah’s daughter, Jephthah is surprised. Notice his daughter’s reaction: She expresses no surprise that LORD God would accept a human sacrifice, nor does she protest; …The Old Testament does not specify how Jephthah sacrifices his daughter, but following the correct methods for animal sacrifice, he would slit her throat first and drain her blood into a Temple service vessel; cut off her arms, legs, and head; cut the torso in sections, remove her entrails and wash them; pour, sprinkle, and smear her blood at prescribed points around the altar; and burn the flesh. Or of course, a priest might do this for him.”
There are numerous other texts supporting the fact the Christian God enjoyed a good human sacrifice. He tests Abraham who, like Jepthah’s daughter, is unsurprised by the request that he sacrifice a human. In a bizarre passage, God admits to making bad commands that “do not bring life” and shows his people he is LORD by letting them sacrifice their children (Ez 20:26). Yeah, that will show them! And there is what could be called the Human Sacrifice Law that actually commands that any human unconditionally dedicated to him must be put to death (Lv 27:28-29).
The sacrifice of Jesus is but the evolution of the ridiculous superstition that a “scape goat” could take away the sins of the people (Lv 16:20-22). And though few Christians see it as such, the crucifix is a symbol of the ugly ritual of human sacrifice that reaches back into our darkest days.
There are few things more objectionable to modern sensibilities than human sacrifice. Yet the ritualistic slaying of humans in honor of a deity was not just an ancient “pagan” practice but that of the Israelites as well. Like many of the more unsavory parts of the bible, the story of Jepthah’s daughter is not often preached to congregations on sunny Sunday mornings so I have included it here for those unfamiliar with it:
“Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah....And Jephthah made a vow to the LORD : "If you give the Ammonites into my hands, whatever comes out of the door of my house to meet me when I return in triumph from the Ammonites will be the LORD's, and I will sacrifice it as a burnt offering." ...and the LORD gave [the Ammonites] into his hands. ... When Jephthah returned to his home in Mizpah, who should come out to meet him but his daughter, dancing to the sound of tambourines! She was an only child. Except for her he had neither son nor daughter. When he saw her, he tore his clothes and cried, "Oh! My daughter! You have made me miserable and wretched, because I have made a vow to the LORD that I cannot break." "My father," she replied, "you have given your word to the LORD. Do to me just as you promised, now that the LORD has avenged you of your enemies, the Ammonites. But grant me this one request," she said. "Give me two months to roam the hills and weep with my friends, because I will never marry." "You may go," he said. And he let her go for two months. She and the girls went into the hills and wept because she would never marry. After the two months, she returned to her father and he did to her as he had vowed. And she was a virgin.” (Judges 11:29-39)
Carol A. Valentine comments on the brutality of the story: “In payment for victory, Jephthah promises LORD God he will sacrifice the first ‘whatsoever’ that comes from his house to greet him upon his return. Unless Jephthah keeps oxen, sheep, goats, or chickens in his living room, he must expect the promised victim will be a human being. …We suspect Jephthah plans to sacrifice one of his servants. But when the ‘whatsoever’ turned out to be Jephthah’s daughter, Jephthah is surprised. Notice his daughter’s reaction: She expresses no surprise that LORD God would accept a human sacrifice, nor does she protest; …The Old Testament does not specify how Jephthah sacrifices his daughter, but following the correct methods for animal sacrifice, he would slit her throat first and drain her blood into a Temple service vessel; cut off her arms, legs, and head; cut the torso in sections, remove her entrails and wash them; pour, sprinkle, and smear her blood at prescribed points around the altar; and burn the flesh. Or of course, a priest might do this for him.”
There are numerous other texts supporting the fact the Christian God enjoyed a good human sacrifice. He tests Abraham who, like Jepthah’s daughter, is unsurprised by the request that he sacrifice a human. In a bizarre passage, God admits to making bad commands that “do not bring life” and shows his people he is LORD by letting them sacrifice their children (Ez 20:26). Yeah, that will show them! And there is what could be called the Human Sacrifice Law that actually commands that any human unconditionally dedicated to him must be put to death (Lv 27:28-29).
The sacrifice of Jesus is but the evolution of the ridiculous superstition that a “scape goat” could take away the sins of the people (Lv 16:20-22). And though few Christians see it as such, the crucifix is a symbol of the ugly ritual of human sacrifice that reaches back into our darkest days.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
thought of the day.203
Lord of Violence
The bible is not a book overflowing with love and kindness but a book dripping with blood. In fact, there are accounts of well over a million people being slain in the Old Testament alone. Blood is spilled by knife, sword, spear and stone. It’s spilled by beheading, eye gouging, gang rape, dismemberment, mutilation, cannibalism, animal sacrifice, human sacrifice, mass execution, and holy war after bloody holy war. To list every perpetrator and victim of murder and mayhem from A-Z would be overkill so I will spare you the gore beyond A:
Abel was murdered by Cain.
Abihu and his brother were burned up by the LORD.
Abijah and his army slaughtered five hundred thousand people.
Abimelech slew his 70 brothers on top of a stone and burned 1,000 men and women alive.
Abinadab was killed along with his brothers and father and their bodies were nailed to a wall.
Abiram died “according to the message from the LORD.”
Abishai became famous for spearing three hundred men.
Abner was murdered by Joab.
Abram (Abraham) armed hundreds of his servants and attacked his enemy at night “and smote them.”
Absalom had three spears thrust through his heart.
Achan and his children were stoned and burned as the LORD brought trouble upon them.
Adalia, Aridai, Aridatha, Aspatha and the rest of Haman’s sons were among over 75,000 people killed during several days of slaughter by the Jews who “struck down all their enemies with the sword, killing and destroying them,” and their bodies were hung from the gallows for public display.
Adonijah was murdered by Benaiah on the orders of Solomon.
Adoni-Bezek had his thumbs and big toes cut off after being captured during the slaughter of 10,000 men by the people of Judah when “the LORD gave the Canaanites and Perizzites into their hands.”
Adonizedek and his fellow Amorite kings were killed and hung from trees after the LORD had their people slaughtered by the sword and beaten to death by holy hailstones. So hated were these people that the LORD is said to have “obeyed” Joshua and stopped the sun in the sky to shed more light on the carnage.
Adrammelech murdered his own father “with the sword” for worshipping the wrong god.
Agag was executed by Samuel, who cut him into pieces “before the LORD.”
Ahab was killed with an arrow and dogs licked his blood out of the floor of his chariot, “just as the LORD had promised.”
Ahaz was handed over to the king of Aram by the LORD who defeated him and took many of his people as prisoners.
Ahaziah was told by the LORD: “You will not leave the bed you are lying on. You will certainly die!”
Ahijah had a message for Jeroboam that the LORD would bring disaster on his dynasty and “kill all your sons, slave or free alike.”
Ahimelech was among 85 priests murdered after Saul shouted, "You will surely die...along with your entire family!”
Ahithophel comitted suicide by hanging himself.
The entire population of Ai was chased down and butchered as the “LORD” gave the city to Joshua. Over 12,000 men and women perished and the king of Ai was hung from a tree as his city was burned to the ground.
The Amalekites were slaughtered when the LORD gave instructions to attack them and “totally destroy everything that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.”
Amasa was murdered when a dagger was “plunged it into his belly, and his intestines spilled out on the ground.”
Amaziah killed ten thousand Edomite troops and threw another 10,000 captured men off a cliff, “dashing them to pieces on the rocks below.”
Ammiel’s life was snuffed out by the LORD with a plague.
Amnon raped his virgin sister, Tamar, then was killed by Absalom’s men.
Amon was murdered by his own servants.
The Anakim were a race of giants apparently too tall to live and were slaughtered in the name of the LORD.
Arad, Achshaph, Adullam and Aphek all had their kingdoms crushed and their people slaughtered by invading Israelites.
Armoni was executed when David handed him over to the people of Gibeon and they hanged him “in the mountain before the LORD.”
Asa and his army crushed the Cushite’s before the LORD, destroying all the villages around Gerar and plundering all the villages.
Asahel was killed when the butt of a spear was thrust into his stomach and came out through his back.
And finally, Athaliah was brutally murdered when Jehoiada the priest gave the orders to ‘Take her out of the Temple, and kill anyone who tries to rescue her.”
Biblical stories of heavenly angels, divinely appointed kings, God’s chosen ones and God himself all solving conflict through deadly force has profoundly poisoned our thinking by legitimizing our acceptance of violence. This will remain so until the Bible is seen for what it is—not the Word of God but merely the words of violent men claiming to speak for said God.
The bible is not a book overflowing with love and kindness but a book dripping with blood. In fact, there are accounts of well over a million people being slain in the Old Testament alone. Blood is spilled by knife, sword, spear and stone. It’s spilled by beheading, eye gouging, gang rape, dismemberment, mutilation, cannibalism, animal sacrifice, human sacrifice, mass execution, and holy war after bloody holy war. To list every perpetrator and victim of murder and mayhem from A-Z would be overkill so I will spare you the gore beyond A:
Abel was murdered by Cain.
Abihu and his brother were burned up by the LORD.
Abijah and his army slaughtered five hundred thousand people.
Abimelech slew his 70 brothers on top of a stone and burned 1,000 men and women alive.
Abinadab was killed along with his brothers and father and their bodies were nailed to a wall.
Abiram died “according to the message from the LORD.”
Abishai became famous for spearing three hundred men.
Abner was murdered by Joab.
Abram (Abraham) armed hundreds of his servants and attacked his enemy at night “and smote them.”
Absalom had three spears thrust through his heart.
Achan and his children were stoned and burned as the LORD brought trouble upon them.
Adalia, Aridai, Aridatha, Aspatha and the rest of Haman’s sons were among over 75,000 people killed during several days of slaughter by the Jews who “struck down all their enemies with the sword, killing and destroying them,” and their bodies were hung from the gallows for public display.
Adonijah was murdered by Benaiah on the orders of Solomon.
Adoni-Bezek had his thumbs and big toes cut off after being captured during the slaughter of 10,000 men by the people of Judah when “the LORD gave the Canaanites and Perizzites into their hands.”
Adonizedek and his fellow Amorite kings were killed and hung from trees after the LORD had their people slaughtered by the sword and beaten to death by holy hailstones. So hated were these people that the LORD is said to have “obeyed” Joshua and stopped the sun in the sky to shed more light on the carnage.
Adrammelech murdered his own father “with the sword” for worshipping the wrong god.
Agag was executed by Samuel, who cut him into pieces “before the LORD.”
Ahab was killed with an arrow and dogs licked his blood out of the floor of his chariot, “just as the LORD had promised.”
Ahaz was handed over to the king of Aram by the LORD who defeated him and took many of his people as prisoners.
Ahaziah was told by the LORD: “You will not leave the bed you are lying on. You will certainly die!”
Ahijah had a message for Jeroboam that the LORD would bring disaster on his dynasty and “kill all your sons, slave or free alike.”
Ahimelech was among 85 priests murdered after Saul shouted, "You will surely die...along with your entire family!”
Ahithophel comitted suicide by hanging himself.
The entire population of Ai was chased down and butchered as the “LORD” gave the city to Joshua. Over 12,000 men and women perished and the king of Ai was hung from a tree as his city was burned to the ground.
The Amalekites were slaughtered when the LORD gave instructions to attack them and “totally destroy everything that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.”
Amasa was murdered when a dagger was “plunged it into his belly, and his intestines spilled out on the ground.”
Amaziah killed ten thousand Edomite troops and threw another 10,000 captured men off a cliff, “dashing them to pieces on the rocks below.”
Ammiel’s life was snuffed out by the LORD with a plague.
Amnon raped his virgin sister, Tamar, then was killed by Absalom’s men.
Amon was murdered by his own servants.
The Anakim were a race of giants apparently too tall to live and were slaughtered in the name of the LORD.
Arad, Achshaph, Adullam and Aphek all had their kingdoms crushed and their people slaughtered by invading Israelites.
Armoni was executed when David handed him over to the people of Gibeon and they hanged him “in the mountain before the LORD.”
Asa and his army crushed the Cushite’s before the LORD, destroying all the villages around Gerar and plundering all the villages.
Asahel was killed when the butt of a spear was thrust into his stomach and came out through his back.
And finally, Athaliah was brutally murdered when Jehoiada the priest gave the orders to ‘Take her out of the Temple, and kill anyone who tries to rescue her.”
Biblical stories of heavenly angels, divinely appointed kings, God’s chosen ones and God himself all solving conflict through deadly force has profoundly poisoned our thinking by legitimizing our acceptance of violence. This will remain so until the Bible is seen for what it is—not the Word of God but merely the words of violent men claiming to speak for said God.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Monday, February 2, 2009
thought of the day.201
Forget everything I have ever said about there not being a God.
There is in fact a God. Miracles do indeed happen.
And God’s name is Big Ben and his miracle worker is Santonio Holmes.
Steelers win! Steelers win! Steelers win!
:):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)
There is in fact a God. Miracles do indeed happen.
And God’s name is Big Ben and his miracle worker is Santonio Holmes.
Steelers win! Steelers win! Steelers win!
:):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)
Sunday, February 1, 2009
thought of the day.200
Super Bowl Sunday!
Big Ben, Willie, Heath, Hines, and Santonio will be ringing up the points and that number one ranked D led by my boy Troy Polamalu, the most beastly safety ever to play the game (despite his neurotically incessant Catholic crossing of himself) will be punishing the Cardinals all over the field. The Steelers are clearly the superior and more deserving team, so if they somehow lose it will be irrefutable proof that there is no God. So I win either way.
Prediction: Steelers 31, Cardinals 20.
More importantly, Steelers 6 Super Bowl Trophies, Dallas 5.
Big Ben, Willie, Heath, Hines, and Santonio will be ringing up the points and that number one ranked D led by my boy Troy Polamalu, the most beastly safety ever to play the game (despite his neurotically incessant Catholic crossing of himself) will be punishing the Cardinals all over the field. The Steelers are clearly the superior and more deserving team, so if they somehow lose it will be irrefutable proof that there is no God. So I win either way.
Prediction: Steelers 31, Cardinals 20.
More importantly, Steelers 6 Super Bowl Trophies, Dallas 5.
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