Tuesday, December 30, 2014

When Xtians reject the “magic and myth” of Jesus, but accepting reality is too hard: What’s a believer to do?



”Virgin Birth, etc.  is part of the "magic" part of Christianity. I used to accept all that … but now, with a lot more thought and study, I clearly understand all that as myth. And now I'm on my journey in search for the true, true understanding of God.  I think it is okay to acknowledge that I may be right. Don't you?”


The above is an extraction of a statement from a believer responding to an article that places doubt on the miracles attributed to and surrounding the story of Jesus.  Ostensibly what this disillusioned ex-Christian is saying is “I was fooled once and I reject THOSE magical things; now I’ll seek the Ultimate Magical Thing.” 

My reply to this confused fellow follows:


I am always open to the possibility of the virtually impossible.  Give me objective evidence of Bigfoot, I'll buy in. Show me scientific proof of faeries, and I'll accept it as real. Demonstrate the evidence for a God or gods that is objective, observable, and repeatable under controlled conditions, and I'll drop to my knees and render oral gratification to It ... if that's what It wants. 

Until then I don’t need to seek anything magical. Why you feel the need to, as opposed to simply acknowledging reality, is your own bugaboo to cope with - don’t ask for my approval or reinforcement, there is none forthcoming.

Believers in all make believe things - the products of man's boundless & wondrous imagination - are simply mimicking their culture's prevailing concept of supernaturalism. That many still credit all the marvels of the universe, our planet, human life, medical advancements and technological discoveries, et al... to a benevolent boogie man who always existed; and all disease and war, and all the evils of civilization to a Satanic being of one variety or another - is owed nothing but ridicule and disdain, as it impedes human advancement and knowledge. Even those who hold "belief" to a much lesser degree are simply enablers of those believers who are so far gone.


The fact is for tens of thousands of years man has invented and worshiped or feared imaginary beings. Not one of them has ever materialized. They've sacrificed to them, prayed to them, implored them to end wars/ give victory, vanquish foes; to destroy or resurrect; to heal or cause pain; to rain and grow crops. They’ve used these gods to justify their tribe’s horrendous genocides of other tribes.  But not one of these beings has ever showed itself, demonstrated the efficacy of its powers, or yielded evidence of existence.

Thousands of gods are on the trash heap of man's imaginary friends. The current God version is simply a few steps from being disposed of itself, thanks to the modern age of communication and growing acceptance of science and the scientific method to explain what was once attributed to the divine (well, at least in First World Nations - excluding the US South).


As for your question, once again: No! For the reasons I just explained I cannot acknowledge you may be right. But I will offer you this : if there is any truth to the old saying that doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result is the definition of insanity,  then I'd proffer you and your fellow "God searchers" over the past few thousand years are closer to insane than you are to "right."

Friday, December 19, 2014

I'M PISSED... AND FOR ONCE IT'S NOT A RELIGIOUS ISSUE.


The obscenity that is the surrender of free speech by SONY Pictures to a little fat bastard in North Korea has my hump in a twist. So, I am departing from my usual religious themed rant to just clear the air...especially for anyone who doesn't see this issue as particularly troubling.

People are reminding me that Sony is a Japanese held company, and thus has political concerns relative to Korea, a centuries old enemy, vis-a-vis the potential of starting a hot war over this idiotic movie. Or they  cite the financial exposure in the event of a terrorist attack at a theater as the over riding concern to the Japanese. 

To both of those things I say: Bullshit!

Look ... it's very simple: If you want to play in America, reap the benefits of the American
consumer's dollar, then you play by American values. And one of those values is:
WE DO NOT TRUNCATE THE HARD WON FREEDOM OF SPEECH BECAUSE WE ARE COWED BY THREATS FROM SOME TWO BIT 3RD WORLD DICTATOR'S HACKERS.


The ability for a company within our borders to produce and present the ideas words and pictures they want to should not be truncated either by OUR government, or by threat of another government, or by religious fanatics. To bow to that pressure, to let that happen, is counter to American values.

If a foreign company wants to play the American capitalism game then that is the price a foreign company should pay to do business here.  If that runs counter to their business philosophy, their cultural imperative, or offends their sensibilities, then sell that segment of your business to a US concern, or just get the hell out.


Okay... I feel better now.

Monday, December 8, 2014

PERSECUTION!!! The annual sob of the Christian majority.






Well, it’s that time again when Christians don their gay apparel…oh, wait...they don’t like gays.  Right… when Christians don their holiday finery.


Too soon for the finery you say ... Christmas is still over two weeks away?  Nope…not this finery.  This attire includes a the figurative hair shirt, upon which they will figuratively flagellate themselves as the devout Christian martyrs of another age were famous for.Yes, tis the season to bemoan the annual persecution of the Christians.


 

If  you’re asking wtf  I’m talking about then you just haven’t been paying attention …or mercifully are too smart to watch FOX News.  Here, the Christian martyr himself, Bill O’Reilly, will ‘splain it to you with his annual rant:  
 
 

Yes, that’s right … we, the evil hell bound godless heretics, are out to destroy Christmas.  We’re out to demean, deny, and otherwise dis Christians, Christmas and their imaginary man-god himself. They are being persecuted every bit as much as the fabled Xtian lion food of old. How so?  Because stores are saying “Happy Holidays” instead of Merry Christmas, and schools are giving kids a “Winter (or holiday) Break” instead of Christmas Break. What’s more, atheist scum are demanding equal space on town property to put up secular displays alongside Christian nativity scenes … as is required by the law. Even the Satanists are getting in on the equal space requirement, demanding their fallen angel displays get equal consideration (see below).





So, Christians ...  here are a couple of news flashes for you, the 76% majority, who wring their hands over their persecution by the 8-10% of this nation’s freethinkers - brace yourselves: 
1.
CHRISTIANS DO NOT OWN THE MONTH OF DECEMBER  
2. CHRISTMAS IS NOT THE ONLY OBSERVED DECEMBER HOLIDAY

Shocking I know. The other December holiday observances include: Hanukkah, Kwanza, The Winter Solstice, and New Years Eve.  Thus, when someone wishes one “Happy Holidays”, they aren’t dising your celebration, they simply aren’t making an assumption by singling out any one particular holiday.  They are covering the gamut with no preconceived notion as to what holiday the recipient of their well wishes observes, if any.  Simple as that.  Too reasonable for you?  Too rationale? Too radical?  Too bad!

If still confused this simple chart may be helpful.




Now, do I care if I am wished a Merry Christmas?  No, I do not.  I will neither be offended nor hostile.  I simply chalk it up to that person making the erroneous assumption that I am one of this nation’s majority religion. After all, the odds favor it.  No harm no foul.  I may reply in kind.  But if I should respond with “and  Happy Holidays to you”  let it be received with nothing other than a smile and graciousness.

In short, Christians, your pretend baby man-god’s birthday celebration is safe.  It will still go on unencumbered by raging atheists in jack boots wielding truncheons, defiling your displays, burning your Churches, or hunting you down and dragging you out into the street to be shipped off to some torture chamber or death camp.

So, my dear readers, when you hear a Christian sobbing about attempts to destroy Christmas and persecute them, show them this article.  You can also reassure them that even when we become the majority, we’ll treat them with a kindness they never afforded us.  

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES