At first, I didn't believe it when I heard this mentioned. But after following the story, it really is true. Conservative Christians are praying for a torrential downpour on top of Mile High Stadium when Barack Obama gives his acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention next month.
And not just any rain. No, they want a rain of "biblical proportions", one that will trigger flood advisories, "swamp the intersections", make conference attendees "want hip-waders", and prohibit the news cameras from seeing Obama on the podium.
Upon thinking about it, this actually is pretty consistent for conservative Christians. Instead of compassionately letting people express their views, they want to convince God to destroy the competition. As if he wouldn't have thought about it on his own.
If you want, you can watch the video here.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Angels and Demons and Nothing, Part 1
I have decided to write down an account of my various and sundry adventures in the religious/spiritual realm, in order to make my present opinions more clear to myself and others.
This will be done in a series of posts, updated whenever.
Some readers may find some of my experiences surprising. Undoubtedly it will lead to questions on the part of anyone who is not me. Feel free to ask questions. I will do my best to answer them, either as a response, or in future chapters of the story.
I will write more-or-less in chronological order, mixed in with other topics as the need arises. At this time I do not know how many installments there will be, nor how long it will take.
-----------------------
It was the summer of my 13th year when I began having religious visions.
I had always been a religious kid, growing up in a hyper-Catholic family, going to Catholic school. But I also always have had a strong imagination, and when I was bored sitting in Church, I would imagine various monsters or demons destroying the church and killing people until I used my divine powers to save everyone.
There were times, receiving Communion in late grade school and into middle school, when I would experience a type of ecstasy. I would reflect on the idea that I had literally brought Jesus into me, and I felt a type of Greater Bond, an excited, awe-inspiring happiness. I told one of my nun teachers about it, and she considered that to be a very good thing. The parish priest suggested I think about becoming a priest. But the only reason I would have considered being a priest was if they let me perform exorcisms.
By 5th grade I had developed the habit of listening to music with my eyes closed, letting the sounds influence my daydreams. It was one of my favorite things to do - constructing my own surreal musical worlds.
When I was 13 years old, I was, like many American boys, trying to earn money by mowing lawns. One hot day I had just come back from mowing the lawn of my neighbors, two pretty college girls. I collapsed on my bed in my basement, and put on my newly favorite record (yes, record) - the soundtrack to Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Closing my eyes, I submitted myself to the flow of the music, constructing and conducting soundscapes.
Towards the end of the record, however, I lost control of my daydream. It took over, and I was just along for the ride. The music led me through fantastical visions, both terrifying and exciting. The record ended and I was feeling very small and awestruck. There was an image similar to the space baby at the end of 2001: A Space Odyssey. I opened my eyes and found myself curled up in the fetal position.
Once I pulled myself together, my fear at what happened was small compared to the fascination of it. I did not feel threatened in the slightest - I felt fresh, reborn, different. Though I can't remember for sure, I'm sure I took it as a sign from God. Doors had been opened to me.
I was going to start experiencing the world in a whole new way.
This will be done in a series of posts, updated whenever.
Some readers may find some of my experiences surprising. Undoubtedly it will lead to questions on the part of anyone who is not me. Feel free to ask questions. I will do my best to answer them, either as a response, or in future chapters of the story.
I will write more-or-less in chronological order, mixed in with other topics as the need arises. At this time I do not know how many installments there will be, nor how long it will take.
-----------------------
It was the summer of my 13th year when I began having religious visions.
I had always been a religious kid, growing up in a hyper-Catholic family, going to Catholic school. But I also always have had a strong imagination, and when I was bored sitting in Church, I would imagine various monsters or demons destroying the church and killing people until I used my divine powers to save everyone.
There were times, receiving Communion in late grade school and into middle school, when I would experience a type of ecstasy. I would reflect on the idea that I had literally brought Jesus into me, and I felt a type of Greater Bond, an excited, awe-inspiring happiness. I told one of my nun teachers about it, and she considered that to be a very good thing. The parish priest suggested I think about becoming a priest. But the only reason I would have considered being a priest was if they let me perform exorcisms.
By 5th grade I had developed the habit of listening to music with my eyes closed, letting the sounds influence my daydreams. It was one of my favorite things to do - constructing my own surreal musical worlds.
When I was 13 years old, I was, like many American boys, trying to earn money by mowing lawns. One hot day I had just come back from mowing the lawn of my neighbors, two pretty college girls. I collapsed on my bed in my basement, and put on my newly favorite record (yes, record) - the soundtrack to Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Closing my eyes, I submitted myself to the flow of the music, constructing and conducting soundscapes.
Towards the end of the record, however, I lost control of my daydream. It took over, and I was just along for the ride. The music led me through fantastical visions, both terrifying and exciting. The record ended and I was feeling very small and awestruck. There was an image similar to the space baby at the end of 2001: A Space Odyssey. I opened my eyes and found myself curled up in the fetal position.
Once I pulled myself together, my fear at what happened was small compared to the fascination of it. I did not feel threatened in the slightest - I felt fresh, reborn, different. Though I can't remember for sure, I'm sure I took it as a sign from God. Doors had been opened to me.
I was going to start experiencing the world in a whole new way.
Saturday, July 26, 2008
I've been added to the Atheist Blogroll!
Happily Godless has been added to The Atheist Blogroll. You can see the blogroll in my sidebar. The Atheist blogroll is a community building service provided free of charge to Atheist bloggers from around the world. If you would like to join, visit Mojoey at Deep Thoughts for more information.
Holy War Heats up in Florida
A couple of weeks ago, I told you about Webster Cook, a Florida college student who went to Communion at a Catholic mass, but didn't eat the communion wafer; he stuck it in his pocket. He was later physically harassed and Catholic officials want to charge him with a hate crime.
Here's an update: Cook, who is a member of the student Senate, is being impeached. The vote was 35-2 in favor of impeachment after 15 minutes of discussion. This starts an official investigation about whether Cook violated Senate ethics rules, which is based on allegations that he represented himself as a student government official at the religious service when it happened.
If that's not bad enough, his friend Benjamin Collard, is in trouble too, just for being at the service with Cook.
Collard says that he was trying to look at his class schedule and found out that a hold had been put on his account, and he couldn't sign up for classes. When he went to find out what was wrong, he discovered that Catholic Campus Ministries had filed charges against him - the exact same charges as against Cook.
These are the charges filed against both young men:
1) misconduct
2) disruptive conduct
3) giving false identification
Collard says he never talked to anyone during the whole controversy. He didn't participate in the "wafer-napping", never lied about who he was, never talked to a university official.
If the charges stick to the two men, they can be expelled from the university.
Now, I wasn't there. I didn't witness the godnapping. I don't know if there was a big disruption or not. But come on. This modern-day witch hunt, a Christian jihad, against two college students? One just for being friends with the "criminal"?
I'm not saying Catholics shouldn't be offended. I understand their feelings towards their holy bread. But they're making themselves look like sadistic idiots. And it actually kind of scares me.
Here's an update: Cook, who is a member of the student Senate, is being impeached. The vote was 35-2 in favor of impeachment after 15 minutes of discussion. This starts an official investigation about whether Cook violated Senate ethics rules, which is based on allegations that he represented himself as a student government official at the religious service when it happened.
If that's not bad enough, his friend Benjamin Collard, is in trouble too, just for being at the service with Cook.
Collard says that he was trying to look at his class schedule and found out that a hold had been put on his account, and he couldn't sign up for classes. When he went to find out what was wrong, he discovered that Catholic Campus Ministries had filed charges against him - the exact same charges as against Cook.
These are the charges filed against both young men:
1) misconduct
2) disruptive conduct
3) giving false identification
Collard says he never talked to anyone during the whole controversy. He didn't participate in the "wafer-napping", never lied about who he was, never talked to a university official.
If the charges stick to the two men, they can be expelled from the university.
Now, I wasn't there. I didn't witness the godnapping. I don't know if there was a big disruption or not. But come on. This modern-day witch hunt, a Christian jihad, against two college students? One just for being friends with the "criminal"?
I'm not saying Catholics shouldn't be offended. I understand their feelings towards their holy bread. But they're making themselves look like sadistic idiots. And it actually kind of scares me.
Friday, July 25, 2008
In a godless world...
What happens when an armless lady and a legless man dance together?
Pure art is made.
Pure art is made.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Blowing for Jesus
Do you know what a shofar is? I learned today that it is a horn made from a ram and used as a trumpet for religious purposes, traditionally Jewish.
I also learned of Pastor Mark Biltz, who runs a Christian church in the Hebraic roots movement (which basically means taking Christianity and mixing it with Jewish traditions).
And I learned that Sept. 29 is known as a biblical holiday, the Feast of Trumpets.
What do those three things have in common with a large sporting event? Well, let me Pastor Biltz explain his global "Day of Shouting":
You know how at sporting events they have "the wave" where one group starts it and then it cycles all the way around back to the beginning? Do you remember how at the year 2000 they showed on television all the New Year celebrations going on around the world as the new millennium began? ...
Let's have an around the world shofar assembly in every time zone on the Feast of Trumpets at sunset announcing to Messiah we are awake and anxiously anticipating His return. What a dress rehearsal! Won't that stir His heart?
What this means is that he's organizing a world-wide "wave" of shofar trumpets. People and organizations are going to his website and committing to blow a shofar at the time of their sunset and then shout some version of God's name. This is done to let God know that they are ready for Jesus to return to earth.
Biltz asks everyone, "Will we show Abba a Tsunami or a Splash?"
You can see the list of people around the world who have committed to doing this here. Maybe you can find the people in your state doing it, and go ask them what the hell they're doing.
My biggest question is, if God can see into people's hearts, why is this even necessary? Does God need people blowing into animal horns and shouting to get His attention? This is such a literal interpretation of a supernatural deity, almost like the "primitive" gods that lived on mountains and stuff.
I also learned of Pastor Mark Biltz, who runs a Christian church in the Hebraic roots movement (which basically means taking Christianity and mixing it with Jewish traditions).
And I learned that Sept. 29 is known as a biblical holiday, the Feast of Trumpets.
What do those three things have in common with a large sporting event? Well, let me Pastor Biltz explain his global "Day of Shouting":
You know how at sporting events they have "the wave" where one group starts it and then it cycles all the way around back to the beginning? Do you remember how at the year 2000 they showed on television all the New Year celebrations going on around the world as the new millennium began? ...
Let's have an around the world shofar assembly in every time zone on the Feast of Trumpets at sunset announcing to Messiah we are awake and anxiously anticipating His return. What a dress rehearsal! Won't that stir His heart?
What this means is that he's organizing a world-wide "wave" of shofar trumpets. People and organizations are going to his website and committing to blow a shofar at the time of their sunset and then shout some version of God's name. This is done to let God know that they are ready for Jesus to return to earth.
Biltz asks everyone, "Will we show Abba a Tsunami or a Splash?"
You can see the list of people around the world who have committed to doing this here. Maybe you can find the people in your state doing it, and go ask them what the hell they're doing.
My biggest question is, if God can see into people's hearts, why is this even necessary? Does God need people blowing into animal horns and shouting to get His attention? This is such a literal interpretation of a supernatural deity, almost like the "primitive" gods that lived on mountains and stuff.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Why would God...
... come up with Harlequin Ichthyosis?
It's been awhile since I did a post like this. I stumbled upon this stunningly cruel birth defect by accident through YouTube (more on that in a minute). You can read the Wikipedia entry, but here is a general description of the condition:
Babies born with this condition have skin that basically consists of large reddish scales, diamond shaped. The skin doesn't bend or fold, it cracks. The eyelids are turned inside out. Ears, nose, and mouth and genitals may be malformed.
This was almost always fatal within a few days, either due to infection of the skin, overheating because the thick skin prevents heat loss, or breathing failure due to the skin restricting the chest from expanding enough to draw air. In recent years, some success has been had in helping the afflicted child live longer.
Here is a drawing of a fetus with the condition.
Normally, I include actual photos or videos of the topics I'm talking about. However, the drawing above is as far as I'm comfortable going with this topic on this page. For those who want to see more of the disease in real life, I offer the following two links.
PLEASE, BEFORE YOU CLICK ON THE LINKS, be certain you want to see them. These images are distressing beyond what you are probably imagining. I myself was not prepared for them when I saw them, and I can handle a lot. People who know me know I don't exaggerate things like this.
You don't have to see the images to understand the rest of the post.
Here's a link to a single photo: PHOTO
Here's a link to a YouTube video: VIDEO. It's heartbreaking and extremely difficult to watch all 3 minutes of it.
It's the video I want to discuss for a minute. For those who have decided not to watch the video, it is filmed by what I'm assuming are the parents of a child with this condition in the hospital. A man (the father?) is holding the child and singing a prayer to Allah while someone (I think the mother) is moving the camera all around the child's body.
I understand the man's prayer. However, what kind of god would create a situation like this? It's helpful to no-one, child or parents. A comment on the video says the man is saying that Allah is merciful and that everything has a reason. But possible reason could torturing a baby and its parents like this have?
Theists often report visceral reasons to believe in God - rainbows, beauty, etc.
For me, this is another visceral reason to say God couldn't exist - it's a product of blind genetic malfunction.
It's been awhile since I did a post like this. I stumbled upon this stunningly cruel birth defect by accident through YouTube (more on that in a minute). You can read the Wikipedia entry, but here is a general description of the condition:
Babies born with this condition have skin that basically consists of large reddish scales, diamond shaped. The skin doesn't bend or fold, it cracks. The eyelids are turned inside out. Ears, nose, and mouth and genitals may be malformed.
This was almost always fatal within a few days, either due to infection of the skin, overheating because the thick skin prevents heat loss, or breathing failure due to the skin restricting the chest from expanding enough to draw air. In recent years, some success has been had in helping the afflicted child live longer.
Here is a drawing of a fetus with the condition.
Normally, I include actual photos or videos of the topics I'm talking about. However, the drawing above is as far as I'm comfortable going with this topic on this page. For those who want to see more of the disease in real life, I offer the following two links.
PLEASE, BEFORE YOU CLICK ON THE LINKS, be certain you want to see them. These images are distressing beyond what you are probably imagining. I myself was not prepared for them when I saw them, and I can handle a lot. People who know me know I don't exaggerate things like this.
You don't have to see the images to understand the rest of the post.
Here's a link to a single photo: PHOTO
Here's a link to a YouTube video: VIDEO. It's heartbreaking and extremely difficult to watch all 3 minutes of it.
It's the video I want to discuss for a minute. For those who have decided not to watch the video, it is filmed by what I'm assuming are the parents of a child with this condition in the hospital. A man (the father?) is holding the child and singing a prayer to Allah while someone (I think the mother) is moving the camera all around the child's body.
I understand the man's prayer. However, what kind of god would create a situation like this? It's helpful to no-one, child or parents. A comment on the video says the man is saying that Allah is merciful and that everything has a reason. But possible reason could torturing a baby and its parents like this have?
Theists often report visceral reasons to believe in God - rainbows, beauty, etc.
For me, this is another visceral reason to say God couldn't exist - it's a product of blind genetic malfunction.
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