Tag Archives: Atheism

Is Religion Leading America to the Dark Ages (or have we never left)?

12 Dec

“Religion is the opiate of the masses,” Karl Marx said, and how right he was. Studies have shown as income inequality increases, so does the frequency of prayer. The more religious a society, the more accepting of fictional justifications commonly espoused by a particular faith that allow a population to accept unacceptable socioeconomic disparities. The United States, contrary to its status as the pioneers of science, is disproportionately preoccupied with an imaginary friend than its European or Australian colleagues. We are also living with income disparity levels not seen in America since 1774! There is significant evidence this has been detrimental to our development as a nation, our pursuit of happiness as well as perpetuating the culture of constant war and foreign occupation that has irreversibly scarred the USA. We are far too religious for our own good.

20121212-091502.jpg

As prayer becomes more prevalent so does income inequality

I intend to elucidate my hypothesis using three separate spheres of influence of religion on society:
1. Physical and logical brain functions

2. Emotional development and happiness

3. The culture of war fostered by religion and the military.

Physical Impact of Prayer on the Brain
Medical science has shown the hippocampus is the part of the brain involved in memory forming, organizing, and storing. The more one learns about the world, the less mysterious it becomes and one is less likely to accept oversimplified “god did it” type answers. My ability to differentiate between a creationist tale of my world versus the scientific facts of its real age (the biblical 10,000 years over the actual age of 4.6 billion years) may have stifled my scientific potential. I refer to a study of hippocampus atrophy in adults over fifty-eight with a focus on Life Changing Religious Experiences as a variable. With increased religiosity one observes a decrease in the function of the hippocampus. It seems watching the 700 Club can be hazardous to your health.

I am guilty of perpetuating this mythology on my own children, as it is inescapable in our society. My youngest goes to preschool where they learn about Christmas and Santa, which doesn’t bother me one bit. Sadly, I have resorted to using the ‘Santa Claus is watching you’ threat on my toddler to keep him in line, and this is probably not much different than telling a child god or big brother is watching you. It’s as if you are selecting which myths your child should believe and for how long, which is no different than cherry-picking which parts of the bible you feel are veracious. The victims of childhood indoctrination have a hard time knowing which parts of the Bible they should accept as literally true and which are merely allegorical and not to be taken literally. For example, if one rejects the account in Genesis of a six-day creation, and the account of the lives of the descendants of Adam and Eve to Noah and beyond, upon which the claimed young age of earth is based, why does one not also reject the account of original sin, the fall of Man and of the need for forgiveness and redemption upon which the entire Christian faith depends and upon which the entire rationale for Jesus’s sacrifice is supposedly based? What in these stories distinguishes one from the other with sufficient reason to reject one and accept the other? It’s nice to believe in fantasy and to encourage imagination, but living life with the lack of true rationality may just make us less happy. The available rankings of the world’s happiest nations actually strengthens this correlation between a more rational society and a more satisfied populace.

Happiness and Emotional Well-being

If you take a look at the top ten happiest countries you’d notice a disproportionate percentage of the top ten happiest are Scandinavian countries. Also noteworthy is the very same countries which appear on that list are also the least religious. Is there an absolute correlation? No, of course not. But we can learn from the greatest example of historical suffering and stagnation since the Roman Empire, which was known as the Dark Ages. This was an era where superstition reigned supreme and it clearly demonstrated the negative impacts religion can have on a society dominated by its stern enforcement and absolute power over men. The modern day examples of societies becoming more humane, compassionate and progressive are extremely obvious, where the most secular nations enjoy the highest standards of living. I posed the question, ‘do less religious societies have a higher level of morality?’ to author Phil Zuckerman, researcher and professor. He replied:

“Yes, I would argue that most of the least religious nations on earth today are the most moral in terms of having the best health care, elder care, child care, maternity/paternity leave, most humane prisons, no death penalty, lowest murder rates, lowest levels of corruption, lowest levels of police brutality, best care for the physically disabled, most sane environmental policies, women’s rights, gay rights, good educational systems, etc. However, I can’t say with 100% surety that is is because they are strongly secular. Correlation is not causation. But I can say this: many countries have become more humane and moral in the wake of religion weakening. Perfect examples include Japan and Scandinavia.”

When you have a nation who believes that the only way to salvation is for the country to revert back to the teachings of the Old Testament and this must be added to the Constitution, we are indeed in trouble. Too much fear and hate is perpetuated by many of these groups claiming to represent Christ and promoting this kind of nonsense is only detrimental to a society’s progress. Our government’s dominance by the Moral Majority and the Faith Based Initiative have kept our civil rights at levels far less evolved than many other western democracies.

The Culture of Perpetual War Fostered by Religious Fundamentalism

The United States military, the most expensive and largest on earth has an unusually anti-secular attitude. Mikey Weinstein, a graduate of the US Air Force Academy and head of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, says “mandated religion has no place within the technologically most lethal creation of the US government.” A survey commissioned by the Air Force Academy in 2010 showed some improvements in the climate of religious tolerance on campus, but also found that many cadets still felt pressured to take part in religious activities. Nearly half of the non-Christian cadets surveyed, for example, said their fellow students have a “low tolerance” for atheists, a 20 percent jump from a similar 2008 survey. This came on the heels of reports that Air Force missileers were receiving Bible-centered ethics training, with the aim of helping them shake off lingering doubts about firing nuclear weapons. The training – which had been in place for almost two decades and was known jokingly among the airmen as “Jesus loves nukes” – was halted in 2011. God and country is a big part of the military culture, as anytime there’s a ceremony of any type, there’s always prayer.

The most fundamentalist chaplains are often selected to lead prayer with military groups. A motivational pastor from the Central Christian Church in Las Vegas, Raymond Giunta, 47 led a prayer breakfast at the Pentagon in early December. Turns out this is the same Pastor Giunta who was found to have taken more than $10,200 in cemetery trust funds intended for graveyard upkeep while he worked as the director of the California Cemetery Board in the mid-1990’s. Fundamentalist “Pentacostal” religion seems to dominate the military, and it went up all the way to General Petraeus.

General David Petraeus, recently disgraced, is a very “spiritual” military leader. He heavily pushed the concept of Spiritual Fitness Tests, Spiritual Fitness Concerts and Spiritual Fitness Centers and spared no expense attracting Christian Fundamentalist performers. Funny how that whole holier than thou thing worked out for him, isn’t it? I find it rather interesting how the military has perverted the message of Christ to mean we should take over any part of the world we desire, especially those parts that believe in a different god than Jesus. Without the fallacy of this religiosity, the military would probably not be able to sell its barbaric message to so many in the Military Industrial Complex, namely the United States Congress who funds it so very generously.

It’s a personal decision to believe what one chooses to believe. However when that belief is forced upon a society in one way or another, it seems it can only create a culture that mirrors the devolution of Medieval Europe, replete with all the inequality, brutality and intolerance that comes with the mandated belief in the unproven. Constitutionally, we’re a society which allows for religion, not a religion that allows for society. In 1988, America was #1 in “where to be born” list. Now it is joint 16th. It would be nice if religion could be considered a factor in our diminished status.

About these ads

Tags: , , , , , , ,

Dangerous Cult Similarities in the Mormon Church, Branch Davidians and Jonestown

10 Oct

David Koresh

Jim Jones

These cults have some very clear similarities that classify them, by definition, as a cult. One of these is: the group is elitist, claiming a special, exalted status for itself, its leader(s), and members (for example: the leader is considered the Messiah or an avatar; the group and/or the leader has a special mission to save humanity). Joseph Smith, in starting his Mormon Church of Latter Day Saints, proclaimed he was a direct descendant of Jesus and his followers can become gods themselves, replete with their own worlds to rule with a plethora of wives. He urged followers to take up arms against the U.S. militia and died as a “martyr”. Branch Davidian leader David Koresh proclaimed messiah status in 1990 when he changed his name from Timothy Howell and strongly favored polygamy for himself and also dealt in illegal firearms. People’s Temple cult leader James Jones proclaimed exalted status where members even signed over custody of their children to Jones. All three men proclaimed a sense of divinity and demanded allegiance through intimidation and threats towards their followers. All three led their followers to an untimely, violent death in defense of the cult and its leaders.

My primary issue with the Mormon candidate, Mitt Romney is, how can he believe the fallacious assertions made by Joseph Smith as veritable and still be considered a logical human being, let alone a candidate for president if he’s a devout follower of such cultish nonsense? In my opinion, all religions have fantastical notions but usually, have some fairly valid historical premises, based on love and inclusion essentially. The Mormon cult is another case altogether. Everything about the history of this religion has categorically been proven false by scientific evidence. Joseph Smith was a magnanimous megalomaniac with a penchant for drama.  A church without theater wouldn’t last long, Smith believed.   The ritualistic nature of Temple Endowment Ceremonies, for instance, show a unique interpretation of the Masonic rites they were modeled after.   People need the fantasy, the performance and the mystery, which Smith provided in his founding of a new church—rife with rituals, stories of travel from faraway lands and theatrical acts of mystical translations that are at the core of the church’s history.  A new “gospel” is easier to sell with the extravagant pomp, circumstance and surreptitiousness of the Mormon Church.

20121010-083557.jpg

Mormon Cult founder Joseph Smith

The utterly violent and devastating end to both the Branch Davidians and the Guyana Settlement at Jonestown are eerily similar to Brigham Young ordering non-LDS settlers to be slaughtered in the Mountain Meadows Massacre. A cult that will kill with the intention of protecting its interests and the secrecy of its faith should be considered suspect. Moreover, the incident remains buried in political turmoil, even to this day, and was a media sensation for more than 20 years after it happened. Most Mormons know nothing of the original 9/11 and they’d like to keep it that way.

Another technique used by cults is to discourage the acquisition of information and to keep the indoctrinated firmly rooted in the faith.   A recent ploy used by LDS hierarchy to keep its young cult members in the dark is the lowering of the age of missionary service to 18 (from 19). Years of indoctrination and brainwashing could easily be lost with a year spent at a liberal arts college, so LDS President Monson and Company aren’t taking any chances.  They are reluctant to lose any potential tithing members who will perpetually contribute 10% of their net worth to the post mortem afterlife insurance policy.  It is absolutely amazing how many people buy into this fraud, yet it is far more terrifying for our President to subscribe to this nonsense.

End Times predictions abound in cults, the Mormons being no exception. Gun ownership is certainly encouraged. The Mormon Church owns one of the most active and unregulated gun sale portals on the web, according to a national investigation released by the New York City Mayor’s office. The website in question is KSL.com, the online hub for Utah’s NBC affiliate and sister radio station, which are both owned and operated by the for-profit arm of the Mormon Church. In addition to local news, KSL.com produces a popular classifieds section that reaches millions of users well beyond Utah. Jim Jones’ murdering of Congressman Leo Ryan in 1978, the mass suicide and the fiery Branch Davidian siege in 1993 remind us of the drastic measures cult leaders and their followers will resort to if they feel threatened.

Anyone can say that all religions have cultish characteristics, and, to a degree, they’d be right.  But for a religion, in this era of technology and information, to assert such provably false claims as veracious is preposterous.  Jesus Christ was a figure who preached peace, tolerance and acceptance.  The Mormon Church, like others cults, has a history of violence, exclusion and bigotry, no matter how much they try to hide the facts.  It is certainly not a faith which should supercede the United States Constitution by the Leader of the Free World.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The GOP uses Stockholm Syndrome Strategy to Lure Voters

20 Aug

Given today’s extremist right wing ideology flooding the mainstream media, I associated the inexplicable appeal of the GOP to the concept of Stockholm Syndrome, and frankly it chilled me to the bone. Truly, these right wing ideologues have employed the psychological torment in just the right dose to lure voters to do their bidding. Stockholm Syndrome, by definition is: ‘is considered a complex reaction to a frightening situation. Many researchers believe that Stockholm syndrome helps to explain certain behaviors of survivors of World War II concentration camps; members of religious cults (i.e. LDS faithful); battered wives; incest survivors; and physically or emotionally abused children as well as persons taken hostage by criminals or terrorists.’ If you think 9-11 wasn’t used as an instrument of fear and control, you have no idea how powerful and manipulative the Republican party has become.

Hell, they’ve even dragged many Democrats down to their level in pursuit of manufactured conflict with little regard for the cost in blood and treasure, not to mention the financial devastation of much of the globe. One of the consequences, intended or not, was the collapse of the global financial market. When finances are paramount, as Napoleon Bonaparte said so presciently in 1815 ‘…Money has no motherland; financiers are without patriotism and without decency; their sole object is gain.’ That is precisely who this GOP party is today. A group operating under the guise of patriotism while possessing not a single ounce of it.

There are a few psychological manipulations the right wing employs to keep their devoted in line.

1. Religion: the concept of “you are born with original sin” implies a guilt right from the inception of life. This is a general unworthiness most religions employ to keep rank and file in their rightful place: in constant deference and awe of those deemed “rich” or worthy. Look at Willard Romney’s Mormon cult, in which he was a Stake President and Bishop who earned virtual godlike status with the power to excommunicate capriciously. Because he is wealthy and considered successful, regardless of the means employed, he is considered above the fray. Those in lower socioeconomic statuses are convinced they’ve earned their lot in life and should consider the wealthy more virtuous, even if they’ve been unscrupulous con-artists. It is masterful how they dupe poor, ignorant and largely religious folks in to thinking these objectives are in their best interests. Somehow they appeal to people’s fear of the unknown, the concept of eternal damnation (sans any evidence of its existence) and twists the teachings of Jesus (as he was portrayed at least) to worship the almighty dollar. This is also how the fear of negative publicity greatly outweighs the safety of young boys in the Catholic Church (and they’re usually the ones to pay such a dear price.) This is how Republicans keep their supporters in an abusive situation where they feel they are unworthy of a government that actually benefits them. They welcome the abuse. It is a hostage situation where the captured sympathize with their captors.

2.The GOP has become a political party that celebrates ignorance and derides education and relishes in its secrecy. They view government as the enemy, and the hiding of money from the public coffers is now considered a virtue…when you have a group of people that purposely set about to rig the system, they actually take great pride in being able to manipulate and avoid taxes and other patriotic obligations like serving in the military or keeping their vast fortunes in foreign tax shelters and not in American banks. When Reagan expressed his loathing of the concept of a government that actually helps people, which it had done for decades, the trust in the social structure shaped by centuries of political evolution was destroyed within a decade. This is like the hostage-takers being considered more trustworthy (i.e. health insurance companies) than the federal government (i.e. single-payer healthcare). I’m in awe of their resourcefulness in furthering their evil objectives. Simply look how Romney and Ryan are distorting the Medicare benefits and savings contained in the Affordable Care Act to look like they actually care if seniors aren’t truly pushed off a cliff. Make no mistake, these two monsters could care less if we throw grandma from the train.

3. Mind Control through the manipulation of the media and what’s taught or not taught in schools. They’ve even gone so far as to re-segregate schools, especially in the South! They’ve rewritten textbooks to even label the Ku Klux Klan as a positive organization who did more good than harm! They make one feel that anything beneficial to the average voter is considered lustful, forbidden or sinful while policies benefitting the power elite are deemed righteous, chaste and honorable. For example, why should a citizen have the same access to child care, medical care and education as someone who can more easily afford the finest in all these areas? Those at the top convince us they’re better than us, and more deserving of the best that money can buy. If one of us is lucky enough to escape our miserable lot in life, when we make our fortunes, we surely don’t want to have a tax policy that rewards the rest of society who created the means by which we could make our fortune and in return, paying it forward to those on the way up. We should keep it all and other unfortunates should not reap any benefits of MY prosperity. It’s what Jesus or (any of the other deities) would have wanted. They are no more than a means of control, and coming from the party inherently distrustful of authority, it seems almost paradoxical.

When the media is owned by over 90% right wing stations, there’s not much to compete with. We are out gunned by the army of idiots

To these numb nuts, patriotism means screwing the average voter so the plutocrats of this dreadful corporatocracy can grow unfettered. Regulations for the general health and well being of our citizens is very much secondary to profits. Safe working conditions, drinking water, air quality and the environment should never interfere with the bottom line. Any patriotic American knows the price to pay for cheap affordable natural gas obtained from hydraulic fracturing of the earth is worth it, no matter how flammable your tap water may be. Anyway, that’s the price you pay for supporting a gay uncle who insists he wants to get gay married. Your pastors have told you this is wrong, and no matter how much you want him to be happy, it just can’t be because he doesn’t fit under their interpretation of the Bible. You are forced to believe in a lie, and help perpetuate the myth that a few of us must live in shame. With their insane fundamentalist values, we have a self-perpetuating system of failure for the masses with a system that fosters prosperity at obscene levels for the Patrician class.

Millions of Mormons believe in the White Horse Prophecy which states that when the constitution is hanging by a thread, a Mormon on a shining WHITE horse will save us all. Willard has denied this, but it is deep within his self conscious. Sunday school and Mormon consecrations have ingrained this concept far within his “yet to be found” core of principles. Ok, that’s not fair. He has one principle and one only: To further the business of Mormon Inc. and garner as much power for his cronies and the Sheldon Adelsons of the world, first and foremost. This is what god would want. This type of thinking is very apparent in his utter omission of the word Veteran in his 59 page economic plan. I’m sure you’re not worried yet, but know that one simple conveniently staged Persian Gulf Operation could unexpectedly go awry, and will thrust us into another war of preemptive choice. The SNAFU that will be Iran, aka Sheldon’s War, will be far greater than any of our 2 Bush wars combined. Iran is a yak of a different color my friends. Perhaps all the teabaggers assume I R A Q is much like I R A N and it will not prove too difficult for our mighty military. This couldn’t be farther from the truth.

After all, we’ve gotta “fight them over there so we don’t have to fight them over here.’ We have to protect the Tagg Romney’s of the world from serving his country militarily when he had a higher calling to further the business bottom line of the Mormon Cult’s registration numbers. Willard even said, Tagg has a higher calling than country, his calling is to Joseph Smith or Brigham Young or whoever the polygamist de jour is to whom they are shelling out their tithes. They wish to allow Mormon Inc, Christian mega churches, and the Vatican (to name a few) the ability to put asses in the seats to maintain CONTROL over their followers. This is why atheists are so loathed by these people. We are foreign, think differently and represent a curious absence of fear of the unknown. This is troubling to fright-ridden zealots who can’t fathom a world that just “IS” and isn’t manipulated behind the scenes by an all powerful sky-daddy. We are simply not going to be duped in that manner. It’s not in our nature.

Perhaps a strategy yet untapped by us thinking liberals and progressives is the turning of fundamentalists and members of the LDS cult against each other. There is a deep seeded mistrust of the Utah gang and it is reciprocated rather seriously as well in the Beehive state towards those who are not “our kind”. Both religions, especially Mormonism, were very much into gender-based and racial discrimination. In 2012, there are still mass amounts of bigotry in the Mormon and the Christian systems of control. Because we lack a similar system of control and submission, we atheists are perceived to be immoral, yet are far less likely to engage in detrimental behavior to other human beings. We must hold fast in our unity to eventually triumph in the social/religious spectrum. Maybe we can evolve towards a day where an Atheist holds the office of the presidency, like they have in Australia. Wouldn’t that shake things up a bit? Maybe it would force the “pro-lifers” to actually be in favor of those already born!

We seem to hold the elite in the utmost regard, as they are perceived to be the most virtuous and successful in a society which rewards achievement, not the effort put forth my so many hard working Americans. Funny thing is, they convince voters to vote this way by appealing to their basal emotions of fear, suspicion and hate and it works phenomenally. It is our duty as citizens to make sure they don’t get away with stealing another election. It is just too important. I don’t need three more Justice Scalias on the bench. It will bring back the even more United Fascist States of America. After all, his daddy was the head of the Fascist-American Party back in the early 1930′s, so why not? Take a friend and VOTE! It’s our only hope to beat them at their own game. Don’t fall into the Stockholm Syndrome trap.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Prayer Should Really Exit the Political and Medical Arena

23 Jul

Why is it there’s a Prayer Invocation delivered by clergy at every presidential inauguration? In a secular society, where it’s best not to mingle religion and politics, invocations do nothing but cause controversy and disharmony. Who should give the prayer? What should they say? Should any and all religions be invited to give an invocation? And for what purpose?

20120722-200656.jpg

Saddleback Pastor Warren and President Obama 2009

Perhaps I’m overly sensitive to public prayer ceremonies because they stand contrary to my anti-theistic views. I think if one MUST pray, do so in private. Indeed, it is even a matter of scripture that should be honored. Jesus was not a fan of public displays of prayer, as it is written in Matthew, 6:6 – But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. So if we are indeed a Judeo-Christian Nation, why are we publicly mocking Jesus’ teachings by blatantly engaging in very public displays of prayer?

Saddleback Church Pastor Rick Warren delivered the invocation at the very same inauguration of President Obama where Chief Justice Roberts botched the oath of office delivery. However, after Rick Warren’s comments blaming the Aurora massacre on the teaching of evolution, I’d say he was the worst mistake of President Obama’s big day in 2009.

In addition to Warren, we have this delectable creature, Reverend Newcombe. Jerry Newcombe, Evangelical Leader, Says Only Christian Victims Of Colorado Shooting Going To Heaven. He uttered this completely made up nonsense:“If a Christian dies early, if a Christian dies young, it seems tragic, but really it is not tragic because they are going to a wonderful place.. on the other hand, if a person doesn’t know Jesus Christ.. if they knowingly rejected Jesus Christ, then, basically, they are going to a terrible place.” How compassionate you are, Jerry. If someone believes differently than you, they are condemned to eternal suffering, no matter how innocent they are? Nice god you worship! Preachers like these two monsters ought to stay quiet if they feel the need to offend victims and their families. These “preachers” are completely disgraceful!

Our own GOP candidate, Willard Romney offered his condolences by reading straight from some sort of Bible. Perhaps it was the Book of Mormon? Who knows? All I could tell you was he sounded like a religious leader and NOT a presidential candidate of the United States, where we have freedom of and from religion!

Prayer itself is not harmful per se, but using it to supplant science and medicine can be fatal. There was a case in 2009 in Wisconsin where a couple prayed for their undiagnosed diabetic daughter instead of taking her to a much needed hospital. The case will now be heard by the Supreme Court of the United States. I hope they are not let off as easy at the federal level as they were in Wisconsin.

20120723-070450.jpg

The U.S. Supreme Court Justices

Then there’s another sick story out of Texas where a three day-old infant was also prayed over when it fell ill. The infant was dead for fifteen hours before authorities were called. The family members were “church elders” which means they were, I guess, more connected to god?

The massive increases of whooping cough and other previously eradicated diseases has spiked in the last few years because parents cite religious reasons for not vaccinating children, which endangers ALL PEOPLE. There’s got to be a point where we treat prayer and private religious beliefs as private and completely leave them out of public politics and society. When there’s any kind of proof, scientific proof, prayer actually does any good, then we can bring it back on a limited basis. Since that’s not going to happen anytime soon, I say, leave your gods and prayers out of my government! They’re doing anything but helping.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Father’s Day Fun and Atheist Wisdom

17 Jun

Just found a few of these today and had to share.

A card for Father’s Day
20120617-112916.jpg

20120617-113046.jpg

A funny perspective, not too far off the mark!

20120617-113101.jpg

Isn’t the Bible filled with love and tolerance?

20120617-113115.jpg

A good answer to “God loves you”

20120617-113135.jpg

Religious exemptions are pretty ridiculous

20120617-113147.jpg

Doing drugs and religious brainwashing: frightfully similar

Tags: ,

Letting Children Die for Religious Beliefs

14 Jun
20120614-080258.jpg

What science books will look like soon if the Fundamentalists take over

Don’t let the title fool you. I’m not talking about kids in the crossfires of some holy war between Christians and Jews or Shi’ites and Sunnis. I’m talking about American parents letting their child die needlessly because their beliefs prohibit scientific intervention. I’m talking about unfathomable idiocy, by ignominious zealots that have caused avoidable tragedies.

If you knew how to swim and your child did not, and he or she is drowning, you refuse to jump in and easily save the child, should you be charged with manslaughter? As a parent, I’d say unequivocally YES! Read this account of a child with a simple appendicitis who suffered and died because their parents tried to pray it better. The seventeen year old boy had no medical care and died without any painkillers. The parents were ACQUITTED but now must simply call Child Protective Services if another of their children get sick. Way to go prayer! Parents who believe in mythical, fantastical bullshit over science ought to be relieved of their parental duty. There have been many awful accounts of children dying due to non-intervention because of religion and seldom does a parent receive any real punitive repercussions.

20120614-080504.jpg

A controversy brews over vaccinations, proven to save billions of lives

Next we move on to another group of anti-science idiots, the “I won’t vaccinate my kids” imbeciles. Lately we’ve had to endure the faux controversy of vaccines causing autism, which has been proven categorically false. Then there are those that choose not to vaccinate via their religious convictions. A conviction by a court of law is really what they need.

Take Massachusetts for example. Between 1996 and 2006 the rate of those seeking exemptions has more than doubled – from 0.24 percent, or 210, in 1996 to 0.60 percent, or 474, in 2006. Funny, who was governor in 2006, at the height of religious exemptions? Governor LDS Bishop Willard Romney, the man who recently failed to correctly identify a doughnut. Perhaps that was unrelated to my point, but funny nonetheless.

Horrid diseases that were eradicated are making a comeback. There are roughly eight afflictions coming back in alarming numbers, some due to lack of vaccinations en masse and others due to lack of, say sex education. Sex ed, another “taboo” subject for the fundamentalist psychos.

There’s a point where religion should stay the hell out of science and medicine. It is where it prevents the application of tried and true medical practices. Period. Anyone violating scientific law based on their “beliefs” is a detriment to society and their voice and vote should be relinquished.

Tags: , , , , ,

Fallacy Over Fact: The Creationist Museum and Dominionist Fundamentalism

13 Jun

20120613-082225.jpg

It’s truly an embarrassment to my country. Anyone who lives in a country, like Norway for example, who believes largely that religion is pretty much a farce, has to sympathize with me on this one.

Near Petersburg, Kentucky lies the 70,000 square foot Creationist Museum. A building dedicated to preserving the ridiculous notion the Earth is 6,000 years old. Frightening, but it’s doing quite well. Over 1.3 million suckers have visited the museum since its opening four years ago.

20120613-082848.jpg

Jesus Christ. I can only attribute the museum’s success to the rise of the seven mountains prophecy . It states Seven Mountains dominionism seeks to place Christians in control over the seven forces that shape and control our culture: (1) Business; (2) Government; (3) Media; (4) Arts and Entertainment; (5) Education; (6) Family; and (7) Religion. The reason for this, as Lance Wallnau, the leading advocate for Seven Mountains theology, explained is that Jesus “doesn’t come back until He’s accomplished the dominion of nations.” And the way “dominion of nations” is accomplished is by having Christians gain control of these “seven mountains” in order to install a “virtual theocracy” overseen by “true apostles” who will fight Satan and his Antichrist agenda

These psychotic zealots are working their way into the mainstream, not to be overshadowed by Willard Romney’s White Horse Prophecy

20120613-083536.jpg
This is the assertion that Mormons expect the United States to eventually become a theocracy dominated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Joseph Smith prophesied this back in the mid nineteenth century.

Can’t we evolve a little and stop with the fantastical nonsense that is religion mixed with politics? Frankly, the whole thing frightens me to no end. Why must a president believe in the supernatural? I’m a little sick of this fallacious way of thinking dominating the political dialogue. Aren’t you?

Tags: , , , , , , ,

Religion in America: Influencing the Stupid

9 Jun

Here we go again. America preaches hate best through religion thanks to our good with god preachers. Our ever-loving, ever-accepting clergy seems to have a problem following the supposed teachings of Jesus. Here’s Pastor Jones’ latest effigy of our beloved President Obama. It was his classy, fundamentalist inspired response to the President’s endorsement of gay marriage.

20120609-085220.jpg

Obama likeness outside Dove World Outreach Church in Florida

20120609-090040.jpg

Pastor Terry Jones, Quran burner extraordinaire

In another tolerant-filled rant against homosexuality, North Carolina’s Pastor Charles Worley claimed homosexuals should be imprisoned and killed. Said church member Geneva Sims: “He had every right to say what he said about putting them in a pen and giving them food. The Bible says they are worthy of death. He is preaching God’s word.” Crazy much, lady? The fact this woman is allowed to vote is terrifying.

Pastor Charles Worley

Religion is far more influential and predominant in the USA than it is in Europe. Especially as income inequality increases, so does the frequency of prayer. This is exactly the type of trend a presidential candidate, who has proclaimed his own identity is based on Mormonism, would benefit from. Willard Romney hopes as education is less valued (and defunded like crazy) and mystical fantasy becomes more mainstream, people find him more appealing.

20120609-091625.jpg

The Book of Mitt

 

 

If you feel his faith isn’t going to influence his presidential decisions, you’re dead wrong. The Mormon Church has clearly shaped who Willard is, how he will act . Dozens of the candidate’s friends, fellow church members and relatives describe a man whose faith is his design for living. The church is by no means his only influence, and its impact cannot be fully untangled from that of his family, which is also steeped in Mormonism. But being a Latter-day Saint is “at the center of who he really is, if you scrape everything else off,” said Randy Sorensen, who worshiped with Mr. Romney in church.

He also believes (or believed previously) that there is no place in his Cabinet for a Muslim. Who knows if he’ll shake the Etch-a-Sketch on that previous proclamation.

If only a president didn’t have to believe in a sky daddy we could advance this society scientifically and ethically. I’m convinced religion is mainly used as a catalyst for hate and to discourage scientific progress. Perhaps I’m wrong, but looking at small-town American religious fundamentalists fills me with confidence I am right.

Tags: , , , ,

More Fun With Conservative Jesus

6 Jun

After yesterday’s depressing defeat of the middle class and the decimation of unions, I needed to find a pick-me-up that explains it all. There’s got to be a reason so many poor and middle class folks vote completely against their own interests. Don’t get me wrong, there were a bunch of good Christians who voted to recall Scott Walker. But many of those Christians were outnumbered and outspent by a conservative faction of alleged followers of this Jesus guy.

Alas, I found it! It’s right here in the Conservative Bible, also synonymous with the Book of Mormon.

20120606-083529.jpg

No need to worry about anyone else. The Koch brothers and Citizen’s United have taught us all how to value selfishness as a virtue. Basically, we’ve come full circle with Gordon Gekko’s greed is good philosophy and we can thank our Supreme Court for reaffirming this fallacy. As a Christian nation, we must justify not caring one iota about our neighbors in need. Just look to the GOP “good book” for answers. How else can we rationalize cutting WIC and SNAP?

I wonder what Joseph Smith really thought about ethics, as he is, after all, Mitt Romney’s prophet. Many have claimed he was a swindler and a charlatan, so an absence of ethics are of no consequence. Willard and the GOP are simply faux followers of Christ’s teachings, which are possibly fabricated.

Two thousand years was a long time ago. Impossible to unequivocally prove he said anything. We have holes in our knowledge of something as recent as Colonial American history, so why is this Aramaic account considered infallible and unimpeachable? Not to me. Especially if we base our characterization of his ancient followers on who loudly and proudly claim allegiance to him today. It’s a way to get folks to follow with blind allegiance and donate money. That’s really what this Christian faction is all about. A perfect front for the GOP.

special thanks to my friend @BlueSaloon on Twitter

Tags: , , , , ,

No One Preaches Hate Better Than America’s Christian Right

1 Jun

20120601-065204.jpg

Ku Klux Klan kids

There are good people in every walk of life. Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus and any other mono or polytheistic group has their share of good people. But there are so many hate groups in this country which teach children to discriminate, ridicule and hate good and young. Christians, including Mormons, have taught their children they are superior to minorities and gays for ages. Obviously, the slavery and Jim Crow laws in our nation’s sordid past have shown our proclivity towards institutionalized discrimination and hate. The KKK has experienced an increase in membership since Obama was elected.

20120601-065403.jpg

Christian Terrorist Groups like the KKK compare themselves to Jesus. The goals of the KKK included, from an early time on, an intent to “reestablish Protestant Christian values in America by any means possible,” and believe that “Jesus was the first Klansman. They used horrible violent techniques like lynching, tar and feathering and public hangings to further their barbaric evil objectives of white domination. Of course the Old Testament is filled with hateful Klan-like tenets such as slavery ownership, mass genocide (Deuteronomy 7:1-2), and death for homosexuality. However Jesus preached none of these things, allegedly (sorry, I’m a skeptic heathen).

20120601-070550.jpg

Watch as this FOUR year old addresses his congregation. He sings ain’t no homo gonna get into heaven. Notice the thunderous cheers and applause? He has no idea what a homo is, but now he knows he’s supposed to hate them. We’ve all seen the Mormon Church’s position on the issue of homosexuality too.

Boyd Packer, LDS Preacher speaks of the evil espoused in the good book towards homosexuals. However, if their goal in life is to become more
like Christ, why, then, do we fixate so much of our attention on
condemning homosexuality, a subject that Christ did not address a single
time in his earthly ministry?. Obviously the millions of dollars Willard Romney and his Mormon Church spent on passing Proposition 8 in California shows their utter disdain for homosexuals and their damned “rights.”

20120601-072215.jpg

Another group, Focus on the Family, seems utterly obsessed with teaching their kids and teens to hate gays. The Day of Dialogue is a day where it’s ok for GLBT teens to be teased and taunted. It’s the answer to the teenagers’ noble desire to address gay awareness and tolerance with the National Day of Silence. Coincidentally, on April 19th (same day as the OKC terrorist attacks…) Focus on the (hateful) Family simultaneously planned their event. Their plan was to intimidate and harrass gay and lesbian youth. Is this what Jesus would do? Apparently many children are raised to think this way. Thankfully there are some good ones out there who recognize this as wrong. However, with the continued rise of the TeaParty and the religious right, it’s not likely hateful parents will stop teaching their kids to hate too, all in the name of Jesus.

Tags: , , , , , ,

← Older Entries

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 109 other followers

%d bloggers like this: