LA Lawmakers = Ridiculous

This is ridiculous and probably unconstitutional.

In the News: Jesus on Fire

Jesus catches fire

So he didn't rise corporeally into heaven?

In the News

Traffic Stop in France: of Veils and Unease


Baptists in the Military and the Repealing of DADT

Kagan and her past opinions

Suspension of Muslim Group at UC Irvine

In the News: Church Abuse

The LA Times ran a story on Pope Benedict refusing to end the vow of celibacy for priests.  It includes this gem:

At an outdoor vigil in St. Peter's Square that veered between moments of deep reverence and outbursts of enthusiasm more characteristic of a soccer game, the pope told the gathering of priests, believed to be the largest in history, that celibacy "is made possible by the grace of God … who asks us to transcend ourselves." Celibacy would be a "scandal," he said, only in "a world in which God is not there."

In the News: Pot

Of course the Catholics are growing it and not using it.  Always finding another way to deny oneself.  God would like that.

In the News: Church Abuse

CNN had a piece today entitled "Pope addresses priest abuse scandal."

One thing not mentioned is how the notion of priesthood allows for such abuses.  Here we have a large organization with tentacles reaching out all over the world.  They place men who have taken vows of poverty and chastity to lead groups of believers, acting as their walkie talkie to the big guy.  For people who believe and wish to be in God's good graces, that is giving someone a lot power.  Now imagine that a believer's mental capacity is diminished even more- because they're a child.  That's dangerous.  Parents teach their children to trust Priests as God's instrument.  Sunday school reiterates the message and trains children to divulge their secrets (reconciliation) to these "enlightened" men.   There is no simple fix.  The answer isn't reform, it's deconstruction.

Prayer- The Panacea of the Masses

The Times-Picayune has a piece on Louisianians praying for the oil spill.  There is even a website set up: http://www.prayforourcoast.org/. 

One might think that with so many vigilant people praying some measurable difference might be felt.  There hasn't been any.  BP is still failing.  Animals are still dying.  People along the coast are hitting hard times.  The coasts themselves are being damaged. 

No worry, however.  If God isn't answering, it must be that he has another plan.  Or he is punishing us.  Or teaching us.  There are a thousand ways a religious apologist could excuse the inaction of their beloved deity.  Unfortunately, non-existence is not among them. 

One of the comments on the piece struck me as pretty funny.  The person "Keith" stated that God was showing us to value the Earth.  Was that what he was doing when he supposedly  flooded the world as well?  Religion enjoys disaster.  For every disaster at least one religious leader takes to his high and mighty pulpit to let the plebeians know why God has found it fit to unleash his wrath upon us. 

In the News

Some quick links to share:

Russian Church is attempting to bring "other theories" into schools to rival Darwin

Christopher Hitchens will be penning a new book about the 10 Commandments

Christians spreading their hatred- blamed for anti-gay hatred in Uganda


An Anti-Abortion ad put out by the protestants in the UK
  Click here to see the actual ad


What happens when medical, religious ethics clash?