I think the pictures speak for themselves, my two favorite things. Curves and football, not necessarily in that order!
Showing posts with label Religion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Religion. Show all posts
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Thursday, April 19, 2012
America, a Nation of Heretics?
I recently read a review by author Ross Douthat regarding his new book "Bad Religion: How we became a nation of heretics"
The interview was an interesting read, I do take issue with a few of his points as he is obviously pushing to get back to a more "institutional religion" for Americans.
You can read the entire interview here:
"Institutional religion in the United States — institutional Christianity in particular — is much, much weaker today than it was 40 years ago. But religion itself is as strong as ever. ... But the eclipse of institutional faith, and the eclipse of what I would say was a kind of a Christian center that the country used to have, has created a landscape where religion divides us much more than it used to." Exactly, that is why religion especially institutional religion is NOT a good thing.
Overall, not a bad interview, I don't buy his conclusions. I do find his arguments interesting.
Is America falling apart? No, I don't think it is.
Do we need more institutional Christianity. NO. We need, free thinking people that decide for themselves what is good and believable. We do NOT need someone telling us what to believe.
The interview was an interesting read, I do take issue with a few of his points as he is obviously pushing to get back to a more "institutional religion" for Americans.
You can read the entire interview here:
"Institutional religion in the United States — institutional Christianity in particular — is much, much weaker today than it was 40 years ago. But religion itself is as strong as ever. ... But the eclipse of institutional faith, and the eclipse of what I would say was a kind of a Christian center that the country used to have, has created a landscape where religion divides us much more than it used to." Exactly, that is why religion especially institutional religion is NOT a good thing.
Overall, not a bad interview, I don't buy his conclusions. I do find his arguments interesting.
Is America falling apart? No, I don't think it is.
Do we need more institutional Christianity. NO. We need, free thinking people that decide for themselves what is good and believable. We do NOT need someone telling us what to believe.
Friday, November 4, 2011
Michigans new "Anti-Bullying" Law
So the "Social Conservatives" in Michigan decided it would be a good idea to pass an Anti-Bullying law. They even named it: "Matt's Safe School Law" after Matt Epling a student that killed himself after enduring years of bullying. On it's face this sounds great right? Michigan is finally catching up with the rest of the country and looking to stop bullying in it's schools and institutions right?
--Wrong--
Michigan is ONLY looking to stop bullying if you happen to bully someone of Christian belief. Yes, that's right. I was baffled when I read this. This law actually PROTECTS bullies from prosecution if they are bullying someone out of a "sincerely held religious belief or moral conviction". No that isn't a typo, if you feel that you are morally justified in bullying someone, you WILL NOT be held accountable for those actions in Michigan.
This law also has the following provisions; it does NOT require School Districts to report incidents of bullying, no provisions for enforcement of the law, no teacher training and it does NOT hold adminstrators of the schools accountable if the fail to act on any reports of bullying. It does NOT list any groups as protected OTHER THAN Christians, whose "personally held religious beliefs protect them". -- The Republicans logic for this is this "Religious Freedom".
On the Senate floor, this was ACTUALLY STATED on the record: "bullying kids is okay if a student, parent, teacher or school employee can come up with a moral or religious reason for doing it.” Then these same politicians go on to say: "The special protections for gay and transgendered teachers will make it extremely difficult for [public school] districts that might want to remove them from the classroom."
In other words, these religious right nut-jobs believe that efforts to protect gays, atheists, and non-christians from assault and discrimination and bullying impinge on their "religious freedoms" to express and act on their belief that the beliefs of others (orientation or otherwise) is an abomination. --SICK.
This belief relies on a twisted sense of religious liberty. Freedom of religious expression does NOT extend to kicking the crap out of someone because their beliefs or orientation do not happen to agree with YOUR religious beliefs. It does not give someone the right to fire an employee because they don't share your views on religion or sexuality.
I wonder, would these same people trumpeting the banner of "religious freedom" would feel the same way about their rhetoric if a muslim student beat the crap out of a christian student because he felt that the christian student were an Infidel? I doubt it, they would be APALLED!
Makes me want to be a Christian, I can bully people, discriminate at will and have NO consequence whatsoever as long as I "claim" that it's a religious reason. No, I can't do that. There is NEVER a good reason to do those things based on someones beliefs, orientation, skin color etc.
If there was a Jesus I would guess based on the philosophies espoused in the Bible, he would have been disgusted by the whole idea of protecting one group of people from accountability based solely on Religion.
--Wrong--
Michigan is ONLY looking to stop bullying if you happen to bully someone of Christian belief. Yes, that's right. I was baffled when I read this. This law actually PROTECTS bullies from prosecution if they are bullying someone out of a "sincerely held religious belief or moral conviction". No that isn't a typo, if you feel that you are morally justified in bullying someone, you WILL NOT be held accountable for those actions in Michigan.
This law also has the following provisions; it does NOT require School Districts to report incidents of bullying, no provisions for enforcement of the law, no teacher training and it does NOT hold adminstrators of the schools accountable if the fail to act on any reports of bullying. It does NOT list any groups as protected OTHER THAN Christians, whose "personally held religious beliefs protect them". -- The Republicans logic for this is this "Religious Freedom".
On the Senate floor, this was ACTUALLY STATED on the record: "bullying kids is okay if a student, parent, teacher or school employee can come up with a moral or religious reason for doing it.” Then these same politicians go on to say: "The special protections for gay and transgendered teachers will make it extremely difficult for [public school] districts that might want to remove them from the classroom."
In other words, these religious right nut-jobs believe that efforts to protect gays, atheists, and non-christians from assault and discrimination and bullying impinge on their "religious freedoms" to express and act on their belief that the beliefs of others (orientation or otherwise) is an abomination. --SICK.
This belief relies on a twisted sense of religious liberty. Freedom of religious expression does NOT extend to kicking the crap out of someone because their beliefs or orientation do not happen to agree with YOUR religious beliefs. It does not give someone the right to fire an employee because they don't share your views on religion or sexuality.
I wonder, would these same people trumpeting the banner of "religious freedom" would feel the same way about their rhetoric if a muslim student beat the crap out of a christian student because he felt that the christian student were an Infidel? I doubt it, they would be APALLED!
Makes me want to be a Christian, I can bully people, discriminate at will and have NO consequence whatsoever as long as I "claim" that it's a religious reason. No, I can't do that. There is NEVER a good reason to do those things based on someones beliefs, orientation, skin color etc.
If there was a Jesus I would guess based on the philosophies espoused in the Bible, he would have been disgusted by the whole idea of protecting one group of people from accountability based solely on Religion.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Why football is better than religion?
Football..... I love Football..... the sounds, the strategy the hitting. All of it. Everything about football is GREAT. Not only do I love watching the game, I love coaching it with my son's little league coach. Helping the kids get a firmer grasp on the game, teaching them team work and life lessons. Football is a great thing.
Football is my 'religion'. It teaches you how to work with others, be a member of a team, work for a common goal and of course to respect authority (when the respect is EARNED). It also teaches you sportsmanship, fair play and all the good principles that go into being a responsible adult/ man. --all the things I work to teach my son every day.
I even attend 'church' with my son. It's called practice and game days. Also, for 5 months out of the year, Sundays we attend the 'Church of the NFL'. (Yes, we watch games on Sunday, I drink a beer and swear at the T.V.) ~~Perish the thought RIGHT?~~ Beer and SWEARING at the T.V. on Sunday's ~~ BLASPHEMY! Am I raising my son poorly? I don't think so. If you were to interview his grandparents (my side of the family) they would tell you he is the kindest, most respectful grandchild they have. Of course, my parents are an anomoly; they are TBM's yes, BUT they accept the FACT that my son is the son of an atheist and is not baptized nor blessed in the 'Church'. They accept and love him ANYWAY. My in-laws on the other hand, see him as 'godless' and keep sending books about the LDS faith and why it is true to our home. They take every opportunity to push faith on him. I understand it's done out of misguided love, it's still annoying. Needless to say, he isn't a fan of them and usually refuses to go to family functions without prodding from his mom and I since he knows it will be all about in his words "Jesus this, god that and why aren't you baptized?" He loves his grandparents, just can't be round them for too terribly long.
Back to football. The simple principles taught in football are more valuable to a young man's development than what he will learn in Sunday School. I know this, I went to Sunday School and didn't get to play football till I was older. My parents thought that it was more important that I participate in "church sports" where I would learn 'good principles' than to play organized football. I think looking back, that they were just doing what they thought was best, in reality I would have learned more about teamwork etc. had I played football at a younger age than I did playing "church sports". All I learned there was "don't swear or you'll have to go see the bishop". Nothing about teamwork etc. In Sunday School all you learned was what the "Mormon Propogana Machine" told the 'teachers' to spit out at you every Sunday from their 'teaching manuals'.
Don't get me wrong; not stealing, not hurting people and respecting your parents are good things to learn. I am not saying that religion didn't have it's place. I am positive though that teaching little kids to give up 10% of their babysitting money to the church or they go to 'outer darkness' is a terror tactic that is better served upon ADULTS. Not kids. --Football doesn't teach that. Football teaches VALUABLE lessons that you carry with you for life.
I grew and walked away (actually sprinted) from religion. I have NEVER left football. Football never lied to me. Football never asked me to spend 10% or they would take away my game. Football never forced me to interview with anyone to get into a 'game'. Football just is. You enjoy it, it entertains and teaches you. You don't have to give up your income and time UNLESS you freely choose to. There is never coercion from football.
Football is better than religion and serves a greater purpose. If you must pray to something, pray to a goal post. It will be just as effective and you won't have to give up your income and life to get into a game. You can watch football for free if you want to, it's on network TV.
Go play, watch and live.
Football is my 'religion'. It teaches you how to work with others, be a member of a team, work for a common goal and of course to respect authority (when the respect is EARNED). It also teaches you sportsmanship, fair play and all the good principles that go into being a responsible adult/ man. --all the things I work to teach my son every day.
I even attend 'church' with my son. It's called practice and game days. Also, for 5 months out of the year, Sundays we attend the 'Church of the NFL'. (Yes, we watch games on Sunday, I drink a beer and swear at the T.V.) ~~Perish the thought RIGHT?~~ Beer and SWEARING at the T.V. on Sunday's ~~ BLASPHEMY! Am I raising my son poorly? I don't think so. If you were to interview his grandparents (my side of the family) they would tell you he is the kindest, most respectful grandchild they have. Of course, my parents are an anomoly; they are TBM's yes, BUT they accept the FACT that my son is the son of an atheist and is not baptized nor blessed in the 'Church'. They accept and love him ANYWAY. My in-laws on the other hand, see him as 'godless' and keep sending books about the LDS faith and why it is true to our home. They take every opportunity to push faith on him. I understand it's done out of misguided love, it's still annoying. Needless to say, he isn't a fan of them and usually refuses to go to family functions without prodding from his mom and I since he knows it will be all about in his words "Jesus this, god that and why aren't you baptized?" He loves his grandparents, just can't be round them for too terribly long.
Back to football. The simple principles taught in football are more valuable to a young man's development than what he will learn in Sunday School. I know this, I went to Sunday School and didn't get to play football till I was older. My parents thought that it was more important that I participate in "church sports" where I would learn 'good principles' than to play organized football. I think looking back, that they were just doing what they thought was best, in reality I would have learned more about teamwork etc. had I played football at a younger age than I did playing "church sports". All I learned there was "don't swear or you'll have to go see the bishop". Nothing about teamwork etc. In Sunday School all you learned was what the "Mormon Propogana Machine" told the 'teachers' to spit out at you every Sunday from their 'teaching manuals'.
Don't get me wrong; not stealing, not hurting people and respecting your parents are good things to learn. I am not saying that religion didn't have it's place. I am positive though that teaching little kids to give up 10% of their babysitting money to the church or they go to 'outer darkness' is a terror tactic that is better served upon ADULTS. Not kids. --Football doesn't teach that. Football teaches VALUABLE lessons that you carry with you for life.
I grew and walked away (actually sprinted) from religion. I have NEVER left football. Football never lied to me. Football never asked me to spend 10% or they would take away my game. Football never forced me to interview with anyone to get into a 'game'. Football just is. You enjoy it, it entertains and teaches you. You don't have to give up your income and time UNLESS you freely choose to. There is never coercion from football.
Football is better than religion and serves a greater purpose. If you must pray to something, pray to a goal post. It will be just as effective and you won't have to give up your income and life to get into a game. You can watch football for free if you want to, it's on network TV.
Go play, watch and live.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Prayer, Huh! Good God Y'all what is it good for?
Yesterday, my wife, son and I had the pleasure of having Sunday dinner with my Mother and Father in-law. As far as dinners go with in-laws it went well I think. No arguments and no 'faith promoting' exercises which actually surprised me.
Of course, before we could eat they had to have the obligatory prayer over the food. Normally, I take this in stride. It's their house and I am all about respecting everyone and their beliefs in their homes. I would never consider being disrespectful of their desire to pray over their food. It is their house after all, and they do respect my wishes to NOT pray in my house.
The prayer itself is what always gets me. In the prayer they took the time to thank God for the food, being healthy etc. What I find odd is this: They didn't thank my wife for cooking it, me for buying it, the farmers for growing it, the truck drivers for transporting it, the processors for canning it etc. None of those people were worth thanking, just God who did NOTHING in preparing it, growing it or bringing it to the table. I am confused by this thought process. The people that ACTUALLY put the EFFORT into it get NO credit while an imaginary friend that does nothing gets ALL THE CREDIT.
Correct me if I'm wrong but this doesn't seem the way things should be. Even Jesus in the Bible thanks the fishermen and farmers for their efforts, but folks can't do that now.
Not sure about that....
Of course, before we could eat they had to have the obligatory prayer over the food. Normally, I take this in stride. It's their house and I am all about respecting everyone and their beliefs in their homes. I would never consider being disrespectful of their desire to pray over their food. It is their house after all, and they do respect my wishes to NOT pray in my house.
The prayer itself is what always gets me. In the prayer they took the time to thank God for the food, being healthy etc. What I find odd is this: They didn't thank my wife for cooking it, me for buying it, the farmers for growing it, the truck drivers for transporting it, the processors for canning it etc. None of those people were worth thanking, just God who did NOTHING in preparing it, growing it or bringing it to the table. I am confused by this thought process. The people that ACTUALLY put the EFFORT into it get NO credit while an imaginary friend that does nothing gets ALL THE CREDIT.
Correct me if I'm wrong but this doesn't seem the way things should be. Even Jesus in the Bible thanks the fishermen and farmers for their efforts, but folks can't do that now.
Not sure about that....
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Religion is an advance fee fraud.
STOP!
Before I get the Christian Coalition out here banging on my door or the Mormon Mafia hunting me down, hear me out. I plan to make some parallels that I think you as a RATIONAL individual should see and understand. This is not to say that all of you that read this will understand or even consider this as possible.
Just hear me out. Once you have read this THINK about it, don't PRAY about it, just think.
What put me in this mode of thought was an email I received from a very wealthy prince in Nigeria that needed my help to get millions of dollars out of the country. In exchange for my help he was willing to give me hundreds of thousands of dollars! Yes, just for me being a good Samaritan and helping him to fraudulently sneak millions out of the country, he was willing to give a stranger a ton of money. I have received hundreds of these emails in the past and have at times even participated in "scam baiting" where I would toy with the scammer, wasting his or her time and resources with the ultimate goal of keeping them busy and away from the uneducated or unsuspecting.
Usually the emails went something like this:
Usually as you can see in this excerpt, they ALWAYS use God and pity/mercy to get you to buy in to their little scheme. Of course, you know how this ends right? You jump in, thinking that you are going to get some large sum of money for doing a "favor" for a poor widow etc. Once they have your information, and have strung you along with some official looking documents, they will hit a "snag", oops! You need to come up with some money to bribe the banker, pay off a Govt. Official, release the funds from the holding house etc... Once you have paid this, they will have something else come up and eventually they bleed you dry, and sadly you NEVER see one penny of the money they promised you.
You would NEVER in a MILLION YEARS do that would you? I didn't think so, you are way to rational to fall for something that obvious and silly right?
Let's look at religion. I am not going to pick on a specific religion per se. I will however use examples from different religions so that you can see the parallels.
First: religion promises all "faithful followers" a place in Heaven. All you have to do is follow all of the rules and regulations set forth in the Bible, Koran, Book of Mormon, Old Testament or whatever religious text a group says is "from God" etc. Of course the rules are convoluted, many times contradictory (See my Taking the Bible Literally post) and not to mention impossible. But, since God is unchanging and perfect, it's the way it has to be.
Second: religion will use hellfire, brimstone and of course good old fashioned guilt to get it's followers to "donate" their time, income, abilities and sometimes lives. Of course, they aren't actually donating it, they are ostensibly exchanging this for a "ticket to Heaven". Some religions even go as far as to mandate a percentage of the followers income that MUST be donated in order to be "worthy" of going to heaven. Of course in the REAL world outside of religion, tactics such as this are commonly known as EXTORTION here in the good ole' US of A the FBI usually puts folks in prison for that kind of behavior.
Third: religion will also mandate to it's followers acceptable modes of dress. The Mormons mandate long underwear for their members, Islam demands women cover themselves from head to toe, except in the presence of their husbands alone, I am not sure but I believe Scientologists are required to wear their tin foil hats to meetings still, the Amish in their hyper conservative dress as well as the Menonites and many others all requiring their members to dress a certain way. This of course is done under the guise of making ones self pleasing to the lord. Really it is about control.
These are just three points to ponder.
Here is the last point. After you donate your time, money and life to the church of your choice. Live the rules as confused as you are to the best of your ability and dress in the acceptable manner prescribed by your leaders, prophets, imams, and priests. What does religion do to you?
They hit you with the WHAMMY!
You have to take it all on FAITH that you will actually get the "reward" promised for doing all this stuff. Now, before you go off and have a tizzy fit and say "It's all based on faith, you have to have faith" etc... then say something about how God will damn you if you are faithless, I want to ask one last question. If you can answer this honestly, I think you will see it my way.
Did the followers of Jim Jones get their reward, and if God really does exist, why can't all religions agree on who and what God is? Since it's supposed to be a Universal Truth that God exists, tell me why can't any religions agree on who or what God is supposed to represent?
Don't give me: "my church is true, others are false" we all know and you know too, that is ridiculous!
Before I get the Christian Coalition out here banging on my door or the Mormon Mafia hunting me down, hear me out. I plan to make some parallels that I think you as a RATIONAL individual should see and understand. This is not to say that all of you that read this will understand or even consider this as possible.
Just hear me out. Once you have read this THINK about it, don't PRAY about it, just think.
What put me in this mode of thought was an email I received from a very wealthy prince in Nigeria that needed my help to get millions of dollars out of the country. In exchange for my help he was willing to give me hundreds of thousands of dollars! Yes, just for me being a good Samaritan and helping him to fraudulently sneak millions out of the country, he was willing to give a stranger a ton of money. I have received hundreds of these emails in the past and have at times even participated in "scam baiting" where I would toy with the scammer, wasting his or her time and resources with the ultimate goal of keeping them busy and away from the uneducated or unsuspecting.
Usually the emails went something like this:
Usually as you can see in this excerpt, they ALWAYS use God and pity/mercy to get you to buy in to their little scheme. Of course, you know how this ends right? You jump in, thinking that you are going to get some large sum of money for doing a "favor" for a poor widow etc. Once they have your information, and have strung you along with some official looking documents, they will hit a "snag", oops! You need to come up with some money to bribe the banker, pay off a Govt. Official, release the funds from the holding house etc... Once you have paid this, they will have something else come up and eventually they bleed you dry, and sadly you NEVER see one penny of the money they promised you.
You would NEVER in a MILLION YEARS do that would you? I didn't think so, you are way to rational to fall for something that obvious and silly right?
Let's look at religion. I am not going to pick on a specific religion per se. I will however use examples from different religions so that you can see the parallels.
First: religion promises all "faithful followers" a place in Heaven. All you have to do is follow all of the rules and regulations set forth in the Bible, Koran, Book of Mormon, Old Testament or whatever religious text a group says is "from God" etc. Of course the rules are convoluted, many times contradictory (See my Taking the Bible Literally post) and not to mention impossible. But, since God is unchanging and perfect, it's the way it has to be.
Second: religion will use hellfire, brimstone and of course good old fashioned guilt to get it's followers to "donate" their time, income, abilities and sometimes lives. Of course, they aren't actually donating it, they are ostensibly exchanging this for a "ticket to Heaven". Some religions even go as far as to mandate a percentage of the followers income that MUST be donated in order to be "worthy" of going to heaven. Of course in the REAL world outside of religion, tactics such as this are commonly known as EXTORTION here in the good ole' US of A the FBI usually puts folks in prison for that kind of behavior.
Third: religion will also mandate to it's followers acceptable modes of dress. The Mormons mandate long underwear for their members, Islam demands women cover themselves from head to toe, except in the presence of their husbands alone, I am not sure but I believe Scientologists are required to wear their tin foil hats to meetings still, the Amish in their hyper conservative dress as well as the Menonites and many others all requiring their members to dress a certain way. This of course is done under the guise of making ones self pleasing to the lord. Really it is about control.
These are just three points to ponder.
Here is the last point. After you donate your time, money and life to the church of your choice. Live the rules as confused as you are to the best of your ability and dress in the acceptable manner prescribed by your leaders, prophets, imams, and priests. What does religion do to you?
They hit you with the WHAMMY!
You have to take it all on FAITH that you will actually get the "reward" promised for doing all this stuff. Now, before you go off and have a tizzy fit and say "It's all based on faith, you have to have faith" etc... then say something about how God will damn you if you are faithless, I want to ask one last question. If you can answer this honestly, I think you will see it my way.
Did the followers of Jim Jones get their reward, and if God really does exist, why can't all religions agree on who and what God is? Since it's supposed to be a Universal Truth that God exists, tell me why can't any religions agree on who or what God is supposed to represent?
Don't give me: "my church is true, others are false" we all know and you know too, that is ridiculous!
Friday, March 26, 2010
Taking the Bible Literally
This isn't my own writing obviously. It's been on the internet for YEARS (since at least 2006) it does raise some valid if not absolutely funny points.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Dear Dr. Laura,
Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God’s Law. I have learned a great deal from your show, and I try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind him that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination. End of debate.
I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some of the specific laws and how to best follow them.
a) When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord (Lev 1:9). The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?
b) I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?
c) I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanliness (Lev 15:19-24). The problem is, how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.
d) Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can’t I own Canadians?
e) I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself?
f) A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an Abomination (Lev 11:10), it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don’t agree. Can you settle this?
g) Lev 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here?
h) Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev 19:27. How should they die?
i) I know from Lev 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?
j) My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev 19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? (Lev 24:10-16) Couldn’t we just burn them to death at a private family affair like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14)
I know you have studied these things extensively, so I am confident you can help.
Thank you again for reminding us that God’s word is eternal and unchanging.
Your devoted disciple and adoring fan.
And to keep the fun going a funny picture you might enjoy....
Peace..EO
I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Dear Dr. Laura,
Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God’s Law. I have learned a great deal from your show, and I try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind him that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination. End of debate.
I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some of the specific laws and how to best follow them.
a) When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord (Lev 1:9). The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?
b) I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?
c) I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanliness (Lev 15:19-24). The problem is, how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.
d) Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can’t I own Canadians?
e) I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself?
f) A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an Abomination (Lev 11:10), it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don’t agree. Can you settle this?
g) Lev 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here?
h) Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev 19:27. How should they die?
i) I know from Lev 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?
j) My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev 19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? (Lev 24:10-16) Couldn’t we just burn them to death at a private family affair like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14)
I know you have studied these things extensively, so I am confident you can help.
Thank you again for reminding us that God’s word is eternal and unchanging.
Your devoted disciple and adoring fan.
And to keep the fun going a funny picture you might enjoy....
Peace..EO
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
If I were a religious man......
Yes, that's right, I am going to poke fun at religion, belief etc. If you think I'm wrong or a blasphemer, feel free to tell me. Matter of fact, I won't censor your posts (Like MORMON sites and many Christian pages do) Say your piece, you have that right here. Nobody gets censored save for pornography. Although it has it's place and I have been known to be a fan of it from time to time, it's place is not here.
So, without further adieu here we go......
Sadly it's not.....
Church/Religious belief actually looks like this:
Tell you what, if you look closely you can see that EVEN TRUE BELIEVERS, DON'T BELIEVE AND ARE ONLY GOOD WHEN SOMEONE IS WATCHING. Check out the pic, it's the perfect example of what I mean.
I remember a time I went to an "Adult Bookstore" to buy some "Adult Magazines", Yes I do occasionally check em out. (My wife bought me a subscription to Playboy). While I was in there perusing the different magazines for sale, I saw a familiar face --- MY BISHOP!! When I said hello, he did the "Whaaaaa!!!! Ummm hello brother..... I was just seeing what was so tempting about this for my talk on Sunday." -- Sure he was, that's why he was playing "pocket pool" and holding the magazine with one hand? Because he was doing research??? I don't think so...
The apologist would say that this van is in the parking lot to hand out brochures and to beg sinners to stop sinning. Maybe they are there witnessing? NO, they are jerking off in the peep-show and causing the scum bucket guy to do some work.
Let's get real.
Peace...
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
My Parents
Both my parents are retired school teachers, they spent 20+ years in the public (read crappy daycare) school system here in Utah. They I think really loved what they did. My mom taught Kindergarten and my dad was a Third Grade Teacher for his entire career. Together they probably educated 1000's of children whose parents couldn't have given a flying crap if their kids learned anything as long as they passed each grade.
I say that to say this. My parents earned their retirements right? I mean, they worked hard took care of myself and my siblings (there were 5 of us total), they should enjoy their retirements right?
The first year they were retired, they did just that! They traveled, when I say that I mean I don't think they were home more than a week at a time that first year. They went everywhere; China, Japan, toured Europe, cruise to Australia, Caribbean vacations, Alaskan get-aways. Really, you name it, they were there. When they were doing this, they were happy. Always smiling and sending post cards from all over the world. It was great for them.
Then..................
Their church came calling for them. That's right, their church asked them to be Ward Missionaries. What this means is they are supposed to spend a few days a week "fellowshipping" people that have 'fallen' away from the church back into the church. Essentially for lack of a better description, they are the equivalent of sales representatives from your local cable company coming around and trying to get you to go back to their service.
At first it was ok I think..
Then, their "Mission Leader" informs them that they can NO LONGER travel. That's right, not only do they have to donate their time (which I think is admirable) they now have to give up their freedom to ENJOY THEIR RETIREMENT. I know they are TBM, I get that, I am just saddened to see them unable to do what they love.
If it was JUST the travel, I would have felt for them, but I would have I guess understood their commitment to their beliefs.
It WASN'T JUST THE TRAVEL......
My son placed second in his school's science fair, and of course he invited his Grandparents to come and see him accept his award at the awards ceremony.
They couldn't make it!! They were too busy with "fellowshipping" to take time to see their grandson be rewarded for his hard work. They are recruiting people into a faith that preaches 'family togetherness' etc. but, when the chips are down.........
Recruiting more people to pay tithing is more important than family......
I know my parents don't feel that way. They told me they tried to reschedule, their "mission president" told them they couldn't reschedule as that might cause the 'prospects' to feel inconvenienced! REALLY???
I love my parents dearly, I just do NOT understand that system of beliefs where you would sacrifice your freedom, and family to recruit people back into something they left, obviously by CHOICE because they weren't happy!
If anyone can please tell me how that works, and how it is justifiable, please I am willing to listen...
I say that to say this. My parents earned their retirements right? I mean, they worked hard took care of myself and my siblings (there were 5 of us total), they should enjoy their retirements right?
The first year they were retired, they did just that! They traveled, when I say that I mean I don't think they were home more than a week at a time that first year. They went everywhere; China, Japan, toured Europe, cruise to Australia, Caribbean vacations, Alaskan get-aways. Really, you name it, they were there. When they were doing this, they were happy. Always smiling and sending post cards from all over the world. It was great for them.
Then..................
Their church came calling for them. That's right, their church asked them to be Ward Missionaries. What this means is they are supposed to spend a few days a week "fellowshipping" people that have 'fallen' away from the church back into the church. Essentially for lack of a better description, they are the equivalent of sales representatives from your local cable company coming around and trying to get you to go back to their service.
At first it was ok I think..
Then, their "Mission Leader" informs them that they can NO LONGER travel. That's right, not only do they have to donate their time (which I think is admirable) they now have to give up their freedom to ENJOY THEIR RETIREMENT. I know they are TBM, I get that, I am just saddened to see them unable to do what they love.
If it was JUST the travel, I would have felt for them, but I would have I guess understood their commitment to their beliefs.
It WASN'T JUST THE TRAVEL......
My son placed second in his school's science fair, and of course he invited his Grandparents to come and see him accept his award at the awards ceremony.
They couldn't make it!! They were too busy with "fellowshipping" to take time to see their grandson be rewarded for his hard work. They are recruiting people into a faith that preaches 'family togetherness' etc. but, when the chips are down.........
Recruiting more people to pay tithing is more important than family......
I know my parents don't feel that way. They told me they tried to reschedule, their "mission president" told them they couldn't reschedule as that might cause the 'prospects' to feel inconvenienced! REALLY???
I love my parents dearly, I just do NOT understand that system of beliefs where you would sacrifice your freedom, and family to recruit people back into something they left, obviously by CHOICE because they weren't happy!
If anyone can please tell me how that works, and how it is justifiable, please I am willing to listen...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)