Evolution never happened

I posted this on a comment thread a few posts back, but I realized that it needs its own post if it will ever get a chance to be heard:

- Rant Alert -

With the entire fossil record and a mountain of evidence before us in the 21st century, I don’t see how any intelligent, educated person can deny that evolution happened

Angry at God

Believers have asked me before if I am angry at God. “No,” I said, “not any angrier than I am at Santa for not existing and not bringing me presents.” The belief that God is real is so ingrained in the minds of some believers that they can’t imagine a world without him. Either you’re on God’s side or you’re against him. Or you’re just plain lost.

Evolution & Creationism at War in the Mind of a Scientist

“A mind like that…is a disgrace to the human species.” I agree.

Purity Cards

I recently found these small, sparkle-silver plastic cards with the slightly raised (low-relief), black and red font — not to mention the heart-shaped bullet points (red for Christ’s love, lust’s first blood, or the blood of sacrifice He spilt for you, you wicked, wanton sinner?!). I am of the opinion that if people were to actually believe and follow the regulations argued for in these cards they would be the most miserable human beings in existence. Christians sure know how to have fun! Some of the more puritanical evangelicals also believe some really weird stuff about what sex does to people. Take a look at some the assumptions behind the statements on these cards:

Okay, I admit it: these cards were in my house when I was growing up.

Is Bad Christianity Automatically Not Christianity?

Here is an interesting story from the Associated Press about a movement of several churches in Nigeria who are accusing little children of witchcraft: African Children Denounced As “Witches” By Christian Pastors.

The article interested me, because I have noticed the following heavily-relied-upon strategy of Christians whenever you point to the negative results of their belief system: they reply with, “Well, that person isn’t a true Christian,” or, “Well, that’s not what I think the Bible teaches.”

Bill O’Reilly’s Arrogant Ignorance & the Many Faces of Richard Dawkins

Richard Dawkins has been doing the media rounds to promote his new book The Greatest Show on Earth. Below, you will see his appearance on Bill O’Reilly’s show on the FoxNews propaganda channel. O’Reilly makes use of the standard argument fallacies we all know (i.e. the Bandwagon fallacy, the God of the Gaps argument, etc.) Although Dawkins has encountered these arguments on more occasions than he can probably count, his constantly morphing facial expressions seem to indicate that he cannot believe he is STILL hearing the same arguments. I feel his pain.

Sarah Silverman Preaches Christian Charity

Empathy, a perspective

Empathy is basically defined as being able to see life from someone else’s perspective. On an individual level, empathy is present when one person learns to let go of ideas about what’s “positive” for another person, and allows for self-direction by the other person.

For instance, in substance abuse counseling, I think my clients have to want to make a change, to stop shooting heroin for instance, to start working toward that goal.

The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.

1. The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
2. The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.
3. They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

Psalm 14:1-3

Because I don’t believe in God, I am a fool, corrupt, filthy, and no good, eh?

What if You’re Wrong?

I’m fairly certain I understand what the Liberty University student was really trying to ask Richard Dawkins when she said, “What if you’re wrong?” Here’s that link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mmskXXetcg. I may be wrong, of course, but as a former fundamentalist, that question is just code for, “You’d better repent and get some faith because you’re going to hell.” Dawkins’s answer was actually pretty debilitating to Christians.

“Why Do You Need to Prove God Doesn’t Exist?”

“I’m just exposing your flawed reasoning.”

They Might Be Giants – “Science Is Real”

They Might Be Giants like stories, but when they’re seeking knowledge…

Stephen Lynch’s Songs

This song by Stephen Lynch reveals a side of Satan I was previously unaware of:

A song about Craig Christ, the little-known brother of Jesus:

It’s Called Apathy

Once, about three years ago, I allowed myself to be dragged to church while visiting family. As far as I was concerned, my attendance was uneventful, but not to a female churchgoer who felt inspired enough to write down and illustrate her vision from God:

Here is her description of the vision:

Can I Be Better Than You, Please?

Reading at Santa Clara, Panama

Brandt’s post inspired me to write a little about my own experience. I think for some MKs it can be a struggle to feel superior.  It took me a while after I left my fundamentalist Christian family to develop a strong sense of self worth.