A few quotes...

"The church of this country is not only indifferent to the wrongs of the slave, it actually takes sides with the oppressors.... For my part, I would say, welcome infidelity! Welcome atheism! Welcome anything! in preference to the gospel, as preached by these Divines! They convert the very name of religion into an engine of tyranny and barbarous cruelty, and serve to confirm more infidels, in this age, than all the infidel writings of Thomas Paine, Voltaire, and Bolingbroke put together have done!"

-Frederick Douglas

"I do not feel obligated to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reasons, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use."

-Gallileo

"In religion and politics people's beliefs and convictions are in almost every case gotten at second-hand, and without examination, from authorities who have not themselves examined the questions at issueOne man's religion is another man's belly laugh. but have taken them at second-hand from other non-examiners, whose opinions about them were not worth a brass farthing."

-Mark Twain

"One man's religion is another man's belly laugh."

-Robert Heinlein

"Few nations have been so poor as to have but one god. Gods were made so easily, and the raw material cost so little, that generally the god market was fairly glutted and heaven crammed with these phantoms."

-Robert Green Ingersoll

"The day will come when the mystical generation of Jesus by the Supreme Being in the womb of a virgin, will be classed with the fable of the generation of Minerva in the brain of Jupiter."

-Thomas Jefferson

Gorrillas

This does not have anything to do with religion, but interesting nonetheless...

Researchers have discovered an estimated 125,000 lowland gorillas living in a swamp in equatorial Africa. That is double the number of the endangered species thought to survive worldwide. The swamp is about eighty miles from the nearest road.

I'm all for more monkeys.

All Roads Lead To Hitler and Kaiser Soze

I have determined that any religious discussion will inevitibly turn to Adolf Hitler. As far as that goes, just about any other subject will eventually get there also. I will have to come up with some type of Hitler Law for that.

Oh...here's something interesting...

While looking up a pronuciation for the latin term "hoc est enim corpus meum", I ran across the latin pronunciation for Caesar, which is pronounced kaizer. I then decided to look up the meaning for soze. In Turkish, it means "verbalization".
That then got me thinking about Verbal Kint, so I looked up Kint, which in Turkish means King...so Verbal Kint (Verbal King ) is Keyser Soze (Caesar Verbalization). Those "Usual Suspects" dudes were very tricky.

PZ Meyers and the Body of Christ

Listen to this....here.

Excommunicated

I think I am going to attempt to get excommunicated by the Catholic Church-

here's how you can too-

The Roman Catholic church apparently does not excommunicate its members easily. They say that the reason for this is to leave the way open for reconciliation. However, their thinking is based on irrational belief and is motivated by fear, and they assume that you are the same. They believe that you will react as they do to the fear of death, and wish to deny reality and embrace an illusion. Even more importantly, by never giving up a member, the church is able to claim millions as members, who do not accept its doctrines, who never attend, who never contribute money or time and who are, in fact, opposed to what it stands for. This greatly enhances its power. If you were ever baptized a Roman Catholic, and have not been excommunicated, you are still being counted. If you do not wish to contribute to the power of the Roman Catholic church, you may want to get yourself excommunicated.

Why should I get excommunicated? Three good reasons.

The Roman Catholic church is misogynistic.

Although they may talk about 'cherishing' or 'adoring' womanhood, they mean a master's appreciation of an obedient and docile servant. They do not believe that women are the equals of men. The church funds and works for anti-woman legislation around the world. The Roman Catholics and the Mormons were the primary sources of the funds and lobbying which helped defeat the Equal Rights Amendment in the United States. The church has crippled international development, especially in the neediest countries, by refusing to allow any form of birth control to be discussed. Ireland and other Catholic countries have done the church's dirty work by blocking international meetings unless all countries submit to Catholic doctrine in matters of birth control.

Historically, the church has fostered wife abuse by promoting cultures where any marriage, no matter how bad, was better for a woman than living alone. The Pope has just issued a statement that the Church will never ordain women as priests.

The Roman Catholic church is homophobic.

In fact, it's worse than that, the proper description of its position is 'pro-natalist'. Any form of sexual behavior that doesn't raise the birth rate is forbidden. Sex as an expression of love and sexual activity for simple pleasure are prohibited or subordinated to the production of little Catholics. Even within marriage the loving exchange of pleasure is a sin. The church will also refuse to marry couples if the union cannot be fertile, which has caused untold anguish to couples wherein one partner was handicapped or otherwise infertile. Through the ages, of course, men have had little trouble getting their pleasure from sex. The burden of this policy falls on women, whose bodies and health are destroyed by endless childbearing. Homosexuality is completely prohibited and is condemned with unusually intense loathing and disgust. (Although priestly pedophilia was very lightly punished, if at all, until recently.) The church has never objected to any punishments, up to and including death, which a society has wished to impose on homosexuals, quite the opposite. the Church is lobbying against civil rights legislation for homosexuals, and is attempting to influence its congregations to deny homosexuals equal human rights with other citizens.

The Roman Catholic Church is antidemocratic, authoritarian and intolerant.

Americans may refuse to believe this. However, like every religion, the Catholic church, when it is in a minority position, is all in favor of tolerance and democracy. However, when it is in control, as in Ireland or Poland, it shows its true colors. The church is much more comfortable with authoritarian right-wing governments and has historically allied itself with them. If the people in so-called 'Catholic' countries who do not accept the homophobic, misogynistic and intolerant doctrines of Catholicism would take the step of leaving the church, especially in a positive direction towards humanism, the church's power to do harm would be greatly lessened. Historically, the church saw Mussolini and Hitler as bulwarks against atheistic communism and actively supported the fascist Spanish dictator Franco against the democratic republic. Hitler, although a Catholic, never committed a grave enough sin to merit excommunication. Such an action on the church's part might have saved millions of lives (I said might).

I don't accept the church's position on birth control, or on abortion, I don't believe in the prayers, the miracles or the theology, and I haven't been to church in ages except for weddings and funerals. I am no longer a Roman Catholic. I don't want to be counted as a Catholic. How do I get excommunicated?

As of 1983 there are nine canons under which excommunication can take place. Five of them only apply to priests or bishops. One of the others is physically attacking the pope, and criminal acts can hardly be recommended. Another is 'violation of sacred species', normally called desecrating a consecrated host. It would certainly offend almost everybody (good!). Next to last is 'procuring of abortion'. Excommunication for this is supposed to be automatic, but it only applies to the doctor and the woman involved. I am told the church does not seek out such cases. In any case one would hardly choose an abortion solely for the sake of excommunication. It may pay to mention any active work you have done on behalf of making access to abortion safe and legal, and any work you have done help women procure abortions. Recently, the church mentioned that it does consider such work to be and excommunicatable offense, but that it will not seek offenders out. Thus, by contributing a small amount to an organization, like Planned Parenthood, or Global Population Concern, or helping out at any women's medical clinic which offers contraceptive and abortion services, you can easily make yourself eligible for excommunication. Otherwise, there is canon 1364, ©1 Apostasy, heresy, or schism. This involves automatic excommunication, if you can convince the church that it applies to you. The most common usage of this canon is when a former Catholic embraces another religion. Obviously, if you are now a Muslim, a Mormon or a Jehovah's Witness, you are automatically no longer a Catholic. It is your task to convince the church that you, as an atheistic secular humanist, (or whatever) are in the same 'non-Catholic' category as a Muslim or Buddhist. In your favor is a nineteenth century ruling which stated that ":those who make a public renunciation of all religion may be subsumed under this category [apostates]." You will need to write a letter to your current parish. It should include the necessary information to meet all of the criteria for deserving to be excommunicated. You may also present this to your birth parish, if this is convenient.

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The church is patronizing to atheists. They can easily recognize another superstition, but, being unfamiliar with rationality, they have difficulty accepting the decision to renounce all mumbo jumbo. They have, however, officially established these criteria for judging all cases of excommunication: You must ACT. Mere thought is not enough. You should be able to cite memberships in freethought and humanist groups. You should be able to cite actions you have taken, such as, letters written, demonstrations attended, meetings attended, magazine subscriptions, etc. As well as negative actions, like not attending church, not giving them any money, time or thought for years. You must be PERSISTENT. This must take place over a long period of time. If at first you don't succeed...Cite long commitment, and keep trying and keep writing. You must be CONTUMACIOUS. As in: I am firm, you are contumacious, he is pig-headed. Do not waver or indicate any hesitation. It is not necessary to be impolite, but do not be unclear in your condemnation of Catholicism in order to avoid offence. You must be AWARE that this involves excommunication. For them, ignorance of canon law is an excuse. State in your letter that you are aware of this, that you know what the consequences are and that this is what you wish to happen. You have to be a Roman Catholic. Obviously. In your letter, make them aware of this by telling them the parish where you were baptised and the date. Many people, hoping for some kind of heresy cachet, have inquired about getting excommunciated, even though they are not currently memebers of a church. No, you can't.

Your mental state is something that no one knows except you. You are the only expert on your own non-religious status. They have a duty to inform other Roman Catholics about this change in you so that they do not mishandle their dealings with you. In terms of marriage, communion, death and so on, you should be treated as a non-Catholic. If they fail to do this, they are not dealing fairly with the Catholics in their charge. So far, most cases have gone smoothly. Using the citations in this article seems to impress them with the idea that you are serious, you know what you are talking about, and that this is not a "spur or the moment" whim. If, however, you meet resistance, there is some heavier ammunition below. Fill out the handy form below and send it in to your local priest. This may only get things started. Be prepared to continue for a long time. Remember: each person who does this makes it easier for the next person.

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I am an atheist.

I hereby renounce all the trappings of religion.

I renounce all blessings, benefits, graces, sanctifications, and advantages supposedly conferred on me by any religion or by any religious act done by me or on my behalf in the past, present or future.

I condemn as monstrous the idea of original sin, and renounce any baptism done on my behalf to wash it away.

I reject as ridiculous the idea of an atoning sacrifice and spurn its presumed benefits.

I do not believe that any god, supernatural realm or afterlife exists, and will not act as if they did.

I do not believe that any book, building, place, person, thing or action is holy and will not pretend that they are.

I do not think that praying is anything more than talking to oneself and will not make believe that it is.

I do not believe that any person is more sanctified than any other, or that any human being should be elevated above another in any way, due to ancestry, race, gender, occupation, belief or for any other reason and will not feign that I do.

As a principled and rational person, it pains me that someone, somewhere may be counting me as an adherent of an irrational superstition which has done and is doing irreparable harm to humanity and with which I profoundly disagree. Please remove my name from the records of the church, and record that I am no longer a Roman Catholic. Please send me confirmation of this action. Please do this as soon as possible.


Signature___________________________

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The Body of Christ

It is permissible in the Catholic Church to take communion twice in one day, thereby enabling you to make a sandwich.

The penalty for desecration of the host?- here.

The penalty for raping young boys? Apparently if you are a priest...you get a pass.

Our Christian Military

Read this Federal Lawsuit....here.

It's a fucking cracker, for christsakes....

The Eucharist Story....here

Religious Test

Take my religious test...here.

Watch Christopher Hitchins Get Waterboarded

George Carlin

George Carlin, fellow Atheist, died of a heart attack on Sunday. Oddly, Fitz and I saw him last weekend at The Orleans in Las Vegas, which, as it turned out was his last performance. His show was very good, much better than the last time I saw him at MGM. Of course, he said a lot of funny things, but much of the show was George pointing out the unreasonable nature of religion. He did a bit on hats that showed how silly religions can be. I admired him very much.

My Op-Ed

My op-ed piece in the Peoria Journal Star...here.

Who do you trust?

Scenario...
Tomorrow, several top scientists inform the world that a 60 mile long meteor is headed straight for the earth. It will be here in 7 days. There is no defense against it, as it is large enough to completely wipe out everything on the face of the earth.

OR

Tomorrow, several top religious leaders inform the world that God is going to destroy the earth in 7 days, because of the rampant homosexuality and prolific abortions that are occurring. he is going to destroy the earth by releasing a gigantic seven headed monster that breathes fire.

Who would you believe?

Latest Letter-to-the-Editor

In response to all the letters about God and prayer that I read in the Journal Star:

I read these impassioned letters from the religious, trying to convince us through faulty circular logic, and despite the evidence, that prayer does indeed work. Instead of convincing me of anything, they only show me a startling portrait of self-contradiction.

Prayers of Petition contradict the very idea of an omniscient god. The “free will” argument that the religious then invoke in defense of prayer, further contradicts their very own description of God. No being can be omniscient and omnipotent at the same time.

As we now know about Mother Theresa, whose deeds seemed inextricably linked to her closeness to God, she was actually living her life in the absence of belief. In a letter to a spiritual confidant, she remarked, “the tongue moves in prayer, but does not speak.”

We know that the multitudes of pedophile priests, being protected by the Catholic Church as they raped our children, could not possibly believe in the god of the Bible and still perform the deeds that they did.

The books of the Bible are themselves walking and talking self-contradictions. It is not possible for God to give Moses the Sixth Commandment- “Thou shalt not kill”, and then continue to order genocide, murder, a scorched earth policy, ethnic cleansing, rape, and slavery on all his enemies, all with his blessing.

Self-contradictions seem to be the hallmark of religious belief.

Illudium Q-36 Explosive Space Modulator

After watching the Phoenix land on mars, I watched this.

Very entertaining.

Thanks God

"I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things." (Isaiah 45:7)

The Ten Commandments

The Biblical account of the Ten Commandments:

1) The first time Moses came down from Mount Sinai with commandments, he merely recited a list (Exodus 20:2-17), which is the version most churches today erroneously call the "Ten Commandments," although they were not engraved on stone tablets and not called "the ten commandments."

2) The first set of stone tablets was given to Moses at a subsequent trip up the mountain (Exodus 31:18). In this farcical story, Moses petulantly destroyed those tablets when he saw the people worshipping the golden calf (Exodus 32:19).

3) So he went back for a replacement. God told Moses: "Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first: and I will write upon these tables the words that were in the first tables, which thou brakest." (Exodus 34:1) Here is what was on the replacement tablets (from Exodus 34:14-26):

1) Thou shalt worship no other God. 2) Thou shalt make thee no molten gods. 3) The feast of unleavened bread shalt thou keep. 4) Six days thou shalt work, but on the seventh day thou shalt rest. 5) Thou shalt observe the feast of weeks. 6) Thrice in the year shall all your menchildren appear before the Lord God. 7) Thou shalt not offer the blood of my sacrifice with leaven. 8) Neither shall the sacrifice of the feast of the passover be left until the morning. 9) The first of the firstfruits of thy land shalt thou bring unto the house of the Lord thy God. 10) Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother's milk.

Keep this in mind next time you are tempted to boil a goat. This list differs, obviously, from the one in Exodus 20 (was God's memory faulty?), but it is only this list that is called the "Ten Commandments": "And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments." (Exodus 34:28)

Stuff God Hates

Here is a link to The Stuff God Hates

American Atheists

American Atheists (the organization) seems to be lost right now. The Board of Directors fired Ellen Johnson because they think she has gotten too big for her britches. Apparently she doesn't really listen to them, as shown by her "Freedom Walk" which was not sanctioned by the Board. I'm finding that as far as the organization goes, I don't really care. There are quite a few other Atheist organizations doing good work. I am becoming more impressed with The Atheist Alliance.

Pity

Right now I'm feeling sad and lonely (feeling sorry for myself).
It's always upsetting to lose a friend. But, I am reminded of theTom Hank's movie, Castaway. There is a poignant scene where he's talking to his buddy, and he says he is so grateful that he had his girlfriend on that island with him. He says he’s so sad that shegot married while he was gone, and that he’s lost her all over again.

But, he says he knows what he has to do...keep on breathing. You never know what tomorrow will bring.