Archive for December, 2008
Posted by Reason on December 31st, 2008
Michael Newdow, a physician & attorney from California, has joined a legal fight to remove God ‘n’ the Bible from Obama’s inauguration. He and 17 other people, atheist and humanists orgs want to see “so help me God” and Rick Warren’s invocation removed.
Newdow already has a lawsuit cooking to remove “under God” from the pledge of allegiance, and previously sued to deChristianize the 2001 and 2005 inaugurations.
I hope Mr. Newdow is being considered for Humanist of the Year.
Tags: atheist, inauguration, Michael Newdow, Obama
Category: Atheism & Agnosticism, Christianity, Politics & Law, Seperation of Church & State
Posted by Magdalene on December 30th, 2008
Anonymous are freaking out the Holmes-Cruises! Protesting Katie’s big Broadway play and Tom’s Valkyrie opening, the group has been making public life unpleasant for the Dianetics Duo all year, driving home the actors’ association with the cult of Scientology.
Apparently, since the Valkyrie thing in mid-December, Tom’s terrified and has called in the FBI. A source says “He doesn’t feel safe anywhere”.
Cruise has spent £5 million on an underground bunker in the grounds of his estate in Colorado. In August, threats were made to place anthrax in the air vents of his Los Angeles office.
Now we feel bad for pointing out that Katie looks like crap of late! Biological threats must be very stressful 
Reports don’t specify that Anonymous was responsible for the anthrax threats; it could have been any number of people who hope to see Katie & Suri escape from Witch Mountain.
Tags: Anonymous, Katie Holmes, Scientology, Tom Cruise
Category: Conspiracy Theories & Wild Rumors, Cults, Scientology
Posted by Magdalene on December 30th, 2008
Tony Alamo, the cult leader arrested in September following a two-year child porn investigation, is now facing civil charges as well from two former cult followers. Among their charges are “scarring/disfigurement”. Cripes.
Lawyers for the evangelst are busy doing their thing, including seeking the removal of “impertinent or scandalous language” in the charges—such as the possibly pertinent info that the Southern Poverty Law Center has named Alamo’s ministry a hate group.
Alamo’s lawyers have also been busy on Topic Agnostic’s Flickr page, resulting in this notice from the Yahoo Copyright Team:
We have received a Notice of Infringement from Tony Alamo Christian Ministries via the Yahoo! Copyright Team and have removed the photo “Alamo Child Molester” from your photostream.
Tags: lawsuit, Tony Alamo
Category: Cults, Politics & Law
Posted by Reason on December 29th, 2008
Andrew Brown gives you the chance to quiz yourself to find out if you’re a new atheist! Asserting that ‘new atheism’ (what I’m pretty sure was a handy marketing phrase developed by the book industry a few years ago, and not a movement) is political as opposed to intellectual, the Guardian blogger raises a few hackles both on his own blog and on Richard Dawkin’s.
Commenter Steve Mading on Dawkins points out:
He’s right that “New Atheists” are primarily about social and political concerns, rather than the philosophical argument. He just fails to see why that’s the case. It’s because philosophers in the past have already won that argument If he wants to talk about that sort of argument - go check the philosphers of the 1700s, 1800s, and early 1900s. We won that argument already in the philosophy world - it’s just that the world is full of dishonest people who don’t admit it. The point of the “new” atheists is - what are we going to DO about it now?
The newness surrounding atheism is surely the internet, which spreads ideas at a pace unimagined in Inquisition days. We now know that the world is explainable; dedicated scientists are working on those explanations daily. We also suspect, if we don’t already know, that religions were made up by people (and awfully ignorant people, at that); as such we are realizing aloud more and more that the special dispensations we’ve granted them aren’t deserved and should be revoked. That’s all.
Tags: Andrew Brown, atheism, Richard Dawkins
Category: Atheism & Agnosticism, Authors/Books, Critical Thinking
Posted by Reason on December 29th, 2008
A few days ago we were chatting about worldview, and mentioned the conversation going on over at Friendly Atheist concerning whether or not to fill children’s heads with religious nonsense.
Here’s a response to that conversation from orDover, a former Evangelical Christian turned atheist.
I’d add to this that besides lies not helping children or anyone else deal with death, they also belittle the experience of living. If this is all the time I have with any person, place or thing that I love, then every moment is precious and should be savoured, in case it’s my last.
Tags: atheism, children, death, God
Category: Atheism & Agnosticism, Superstition
Posted by Magdalene on December 27th, 2008
This fuzzy yule buddy came to our attention too late to make the Topic Agnostic Last-Minute Top 5 Atheist Xmas Gifts Guide, but I don’t think it’d be appreciated by the Christian giftee contigent anyway.
Hand crafted with both wet and needle felting techniques, Spags boasts a healthy set of meatballs and is available on Nifnaks for a mere $33. Ramen!
Tags: Christmas, Flying Spaghetti Monster, ornament
Category: Humor
Posted by Formo-Mormo on December 26th, 2008
Barak Ombama, like many other president elects before him, has chosen to be inaugurated by placing his hand on the Bible, the same one used by Abraham Lincoln in 1861.
I find it somewhat ironic that he would choose the Bible used by Lincoln, who many credit as helping abolish slavery in the Unites States, when the Bible itself tacitly condones slavery.
There is some question about which Bible verse should be opened up, as the president gets to pick. Might I make a suggestion?
Leviticus 25:44
As for your male and your female slaves, whom you may have; of the nations that are around you, from them you may buy male and female slaves.
Yep, the good old Bible, used for generations to justify slavery, will be used in the inauguration of the first Black President of the United States.
If God really were the author of the Bible, do you think he might have had the gumption to say “Hey folks, quit that slavery shit”.
Tags: barak obama, Bible, slavery
Category: Christianity
Posted by Magdalene on December 24th, 2008
Whether it’s a grumpy atheist or a gullible Christian who’s stocking you need to stuff, we’re hear to help! You’ll find it doesn’t matter whether your giftee is atheist or xian, the same gifts will work. They’re just appreciated on different levels.
1. Sexual Skills for the Christian Husband
If Timothy 2:22’s admonishment to flee youthful lusts is cramping your style, heat up your holy union with this saucy cookbook of love! 100% refund if not completely satisfied, thankfully with no quesitons asked.
Get yours, if you know what I mean, for only $27, for a limited time only!
2. Jesus x Santa Light Sabre Battle T
Jesus is ripped, and using the force to punish that fat present-proffering bastard, Santa!
Get dressed for only $18, free shipping in the US!
3. Blasphemous Bedroom Bonanza
You’re going to Hell, obviously. WIth a range including the Diving Nun, Judas, the not-so-Virgin Mary, and Jackhammer Jesus, Divine Interventions hand crafts each of these sacrilicious silicon beauties for your pious pleasure. There is a Buddha model for those of an enlightened mindset.
Get it on for only $66, and they glow in the dark!
4. Bible Confetti
This would be fun to throw around while you’re using the divine dildos in suggestion #3.
Get festive for only $12.50 a pound!
5. Chocolate Jesus on a Stick
Lick the Lord in a frenzy of sinning guaranteed to be tough to explain when you reach the pearly gates.
Get 3oz of God for only $5!
Tags: Christmas, gift-giving guide, presents, top 5
Category: Catholicism, Christianity, Humor
Posted by Magdalene on December 24th, 2008
I recently got Fox News; call it a hate hobby. I had it on for not 5 minutes when I learned this penetrating piece of news…an angel has been spotted outside the hospital room of teenage Chelsea Banton in North Carolina. The angel healed Chelsea (who was this close to getting taken off life support!) thanks to the vast quantity of praying the family was up to.
Chelsea’s mom had the good sense to snap a photo of the monitor on which the angel made its appearance. She also noted the light appeared at the one time on this rainy day when the sun made an appearance.
Chelsea will celebrate her 15th birthday tomorrow, which is Christmas. Coincidence? I think not!
No word on whether the doctors and nurses of the pediatric intensive care unit mind sharing the credit for Chelsea’s survival with the Heavenly Host.
Tags: angel, Chelsea Banton, miracle
Category: Christianity, Critical Thinking, Superstition
Posted by Reason on December 23rd, 2008
What is wrong with the Pope? Doesn’t he realize the influence he has over people?
In an idiotic statement made at the Vatican yesterday, el Inquistor Grande said that “saving humanity from homosexual or transsexual behavior was just as important as saving the rainforest from destruction.”
Reverend Sharon Ferguson, chief executive of the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement, called the comments “totally irresponsible and unacceptable.”
“When you have religious leaders like that making that sort of statement, then followers feel they are justified in behaving in an aggressive and violent way because they feel that they are doing God’s work in ridding the world of these people,” she said.
No kidding. As we reported earlier this month, the Papacy refused to back a UN resolution to end the death penalty for homosexuality worldwide. Yes, Catholics are against killing people—you know, good ole’ Deuteronomy 5:17, the 6th commandment, for Pete’s sake, Thou shalt not kill—but it’s more important to prevent gay marriage. Pope Benedict picked “it’s still ok to kill gay people”.
Gay groups are pissed. And they should be. He basically equated being gay with being a scourge on the earth equal to deforestation.
Irresponsible hardly describes it. As if the church’s position isn’t going to be used to justify homophobia and discrimination. And why? Because the Bible predates science.
When Leviticus 20:13 was penned in the ancient desert, knowledge of human gestation was pretty spotty. Psalm 130 guesses that Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created, and that’s about all the Bible authors had on where babies came from. They certainly weren’t clear on the actions of androgen, the hormone that controls masculine characteristics in primates, too much of which science now implicates in the prenatal development of homosexuals.
Persecuting people for their very nature (sexuality, skin colour, you name it) is absurdly, hopelessly archaic. A world leader with influence over a billion people should be repudiated for canonizing hate and ignorance.
Jesus, Jesus mind you, said in Matthew 22:39 You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
And damnit, I know the editorial illustration for this post is childish, but I just wanted there to be something out there to find when people google “Benedict gay penises”.
Category: Catholicism, Intolerance, Sex
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