Fundies say the darndest things.
Score another own-goal for Christian love, tolerance and forgiveness. I am reminded of Julian Baggini’s observation that “Morality is more than possible without God. It is entirely independent of him.”
'Luthon64
I found this waiting for me this morning on FB. With this kind of thinking there would be no computers or cell phones to read this “message” on. Not that it would matter, because there would be no electricity or batteries to run said devises on. Not that you would really need electricity because you would spend your whole day looking for food. Come night time you would probably collapse due to malnutrition and tiredness in you cave if you are lucky enough to find one. Not that that would matter to much as your life would be so harsh, short and miserable that death would probably be not too bad an alternative.
I am a bit depressed at the moment, so things tend to look rather black, but still (wtf!!)
Actually, I wonder if a case cannot be made that the Bible DOES tell us to figure it out, e.g. Man is put in control of all creation, and given the task of giving names to millions of species etc. And given dimensions for an ark, but not precise building instructions. And Jesus saying “do unto others,” i.e. “maar dink vir jou fokken self hoe JY fokkenwil sou gevoel het!”
And so on.
Hey, I saw something interesting this morning, on my regular Saturday morning walk (and a special word of thanks to Jesus for briefly clearing the skies so I could enjoy my walk). I have noted here before that the apparently exclusively white Jehovah witnesses mostly ignore me but make a point of trying to convert blacks, probably knowing full well that blacks are more likely to be less educated, and more desperate.
Well, I can report that they have now succeeded: this morning I saw a black family, neatly suited and tied, standing around with pamphlets. And oh the horror: “Sir BRIAN!!!” shouted the one kid ecstatically and came running to me. Turns out he’s a kid at the school where I teach. He promptly gave me a pamphlet that informs me on where to find THE TRUTH.
Boy, is he going to be in for a hard time when he eventually gets to my science class… 
The First Law of Exegesis (and the only one) is adapted from Newton’s Third Law, to wit: “For every verse, there is an equal and opposite reverse.” ;D
As far as the JW’s are concerned, the one story they’ll not tell you on their recruitment missions is about there only being place for 144,000 of the most faithful souls in heaven after the crapture. The more converts they amass, the more faithful they’re reckoned to be.
'Luthon64
Isn’t it infuriating how ready many Christians are to embrace the products of science but not the methods of science? But its hardly a new thing. I am re-watching the original Cosmos at the moment in anticipation of the new series that hits the airwaves tomorrow evening. In one of my favourite episodes, Carl Sagan relates the tale of the Ionians and one Democritus of Abdera, and how their efforts to describe the world as non-magical and understandable were frustrated by the likes of Pythagoras and Plato who saw hidden meanings in all kinds of stuff.
This mysticism took the wheels off proper science for several hundred years, even affecting the brilliant Kepler.
Rigil
According to the fundies, even this law has its opposite: On any particular point, the Bible is completely unambiguous. 
As far as the JW’s are concerned, the one story they’ll not tell you on their recruitment missions is about there only being place for 144,000 of the most faithful souls in heaven after the crapture. The more converts they amass, the more faithful they’re reckoned to be.
Yup, it is quite literally a kind of pyramid scheme: you have to get in early and convert as many people below you as possible to get a place in heaven.
Now I wonder: seeing as pyramid schemes are illegal, may it not be of some use to drag them in front of court on this issue? You’d probably lose the case, but it would generate a lot of negative publicity for them.
In some ways, I am quite tolerant toward the Jehovah Witnesses: they are at least very peaceful. But every time I see kids standing there, on a glorious Saturday morning, when they should be relaxing and having fun, and instead there they are, decked out in uncomfortable suits, handing out pamphlets in the hope of getting one of the very limited seats in the heavenly stadium, I get really worked up about it.
We have a whole bunch of them at the school where I teach, and here too, they are barred from having frickin’ ANY of the fun the other kids are allowed, such as dressing in civvies on your birthday (and having a big deal made about it), participating in school concerts and other, similar events, etc. And heaven helps a Jehovah kid who needs a blood transfusion.
And heaven helps a Jehovah kid who needs a blood transfusion
That’s exactly how they think it works. Great, now I’m upset again too.
In other words, if your boss is a Christian and you’re not: you get to pay more for certain forms of birth control.
I expect many US companies will soon convert to Christianity. Can you say SAVINGS?!
Gives whole new meaning to the phrase “Jesus saves.” They were correct all the time: Jesus does save. He saves you money.
Gaza. Palestine. Iraq. Afghanistan. Iran. Israel.
All with “peaceful” support echoing from every corner of the earth, for both sides … “keep killing” … cheering rivers of blood: ever flowing.
This is why we don’t need religion.
Yup, this is what happens when people in power insist that they’re acting under God’s orders and that He’s on their side. And all three major Abrahamic traditions cast themselves as vehicles of peace and harmony for mankind.
Toxic stuff should you swallow it.
Ridiculous stuff when you’ve seen its manipulative essence.
'Luthon64
If even half of the stories that we hear about what ISIS is doing are true, we are witnessing a major slip back towards the Middle Ages.
On the other hand, they may well be shooting themselves in the foot…
Nigerian pastor declares cure for Ebola [...] Pastor Ighodalo claims that all that is needed to cure those suffering from the disease is "anointing" and the "living words of Jesus." In particular, the Pastor advocates the laying on of hands. He believes that by touching the sick, he could rid them of the disease.
Given that his means of a cure is also the sole means of transmission, this problem should solve itself soon enough.
Slight caution: Could be a bit upsetting.
Parents start verbally and physically attacking their son after he comes out as a homosexual.
Upsetting, indeed. And the gay son’s family will resolutely insist that their god’s word is all about absolute unconditional love, while they all gang up on him and batter him intellectually, emotionally and physically.
What utter, utter ignominious sadism to which religion can reduce people.
ETA: More on this story here and here.
'Luthon64
These same people will presumably all hide behind the “It’s just a belief, what do you care?” mantra we hear so often. It sometimes stuns me how people can go their entire lives without even once contemplating that they may not be 100% correct about everything all the time, and maybe thinking “There’s a slight chance I may be wrong about this, best go easy on the kid”. But no, absolutist stubborn stupid bullshit beliefs hold supreme.
If these people were made in the image of god and that god supposedly loves all his “children” like his own, they amply demonstrate that outside of my cushy existence, that “love” probably doesn’t mean much in the end anyway.
And that’s a very dark thought to integrate into my mental map of the world.
A FB screenshot about the building collapse in Nigeria. Look at the comments, also the “Baal priester se satans kerk”. Loving people!
I would likely celebrate their deaths as well.
I want to respond to this but I am actually struck speechless…