Upcoming topics

I'm looking at doing some posts on Atheism and the GLBT community from my perspective. What I'd like to know, is if there are any questions regarding either bisexualism or transgenderism that people would like to ask for me to incorporate into the posts.

Please either leave a comment or if you don't feel comfortable leaving a public comment, you can leave me a formspring.me comment (if questions are sent from here, the question will be listed on my blog as "Anonymous"): http://www.formspring.me/Yamipirogoeth

Draw Muhammad Day...

First and foremost I'd like to share a link to a blog post from Greg Epstein: http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2010/05/20/my-take-everyone-chalk-mohammed/

I think Greg makes some rather important points in his post. Mostly "Could you do it legally? Of course. Should you?" The way people have responded (Comedy Central, the website threatening Matt and Trey's life, people participating in the the day and people opposed to it regardless of religious affilation) has been, at best, childish in my opinion. There are MANY ways that the censoring could have been dealt with as well as the ensuing backlash. Now, I believe in respect for all peoples, however, trying to prevent a religious authority figure (who is a pedophile by reading the Quran among other things which are just as horrendous as Jebus) from being mocked in the regard that South Park was doing is rather stupid.

I honestly think that if the episode had aired untouched, there wouldn't have been as many issues occurring as there are now...most of which is just a backlash fueled by emotions. While there were the death threats, that's something that could be easily handled...the backlash that's occurring however is going to take more time to mull over.

This is a comment that I posted to Greg's article (for those that don't want to go looking through all the comments...half of which are rather disgusting in a childish way):

I am an atheist and a humanist, and while I agree that freedom of speech has definitely been tainted in the situation with South Park, I don't agree with the childish way that other atheists and humanists have responded with the Draw Muhammad Day. Now, it's perfectly within their right to do so, but a MUCH more constructive way could have been done.

Also, with the Muslim students drawing on boxing gloves and adding "Ali" after the name is equally childish in that it goes to the level of the original artwork. A much better way of dealing with the drawings could have been found.

Now, I personally (this is just me and nothing to do with atheism or humanism) found the event to be tasteless and as such did not participate in it, mostly because this will be more an incite to retaliation and not necessarily by the "militant" individuals either. I would rather, again personally, see religion...ALL religion be turned into the equivalent of Greek mythology so that the entire human race could just progress forward and not having anything at all that could hold it back, a la religion.

To finish this off...I would hope everyone who's participated in the event today by drawing Muhammad (be it chalk or pencil or pen or any other means) takes one gigantic step back and ask if this is any better than the religion apologists who take childish positions like this on a daily basis...then ask themselves if they are any better for doing so. In the end, freedom of speech shouldn't be censored for any reason, but that's absolutely NO reason to do something stupid in return.

Glenn Beck's tourettes

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-may-12-2010/back-in-black---glenn-beck-s-nazi-tourette-s

First you need to watch this video of Lewis Black TOTALLY trashing Glenn.

Now, the reason that I'm including this. For anyone who didn't know, Glenn Beck is a mormon. Yes, he bows down to the horny sky pixie.

Though, I don't get the correlation between calling anything that goes against your beliefs a nazi...but it's just ridiculous.

I wonder how Whiney Beck would respond if someone posted a video trashing him and his nazi tourettes (Lewis Black doesn't count as he's already famous). Would he act like any other mormon pussy and just bitch whine and moan that he's being persecuted? Or would he actually stand up and give some factual information to back up his claims.

My money's on the former as that's the easy route and it doesn't require any critical thinking on Glenn's side...though, if that douche could actually critically think, I'd be totally dumbfounded.

Well, this is always a fun video, and I think I'm gonna rip it and put it on my phone XD

Thanks to Julie over at Attempts at Rational Behavior for the link.

W...T...F...seriously =_=

Yeah, same person that I've bitched about before. This time it's something he posted on my mom's wall on Facebook (names have been changed):

"My mom, I know this is kinda late saying, but Happy Birthday! I hope you had lots of fun. :-) I have some good news, Friend's wife and I are going through the Temple this Saturday the 8th and getting sealed the 12th. I have never been so excited like this befor. I know this Church is true and have a testimony.

I wish myself will find his some time soon. i know it will bless his life and he will find true happyness. I wish you and all your Family the best of luck. Any thing I can do for any of you, let me know. You have a good son, and he is a true friend. Never give up on him. Or you. :-)"

=_= Ok...really...posting shit like that on my mom's wall. I'm reminded of a recent family guy ep (It's season 7 ep 11 if anyone wants to look it up or this link doesn't work http://familyguy.watchfullepisodesonline.com/family_guy_season_7_episode_11_not_all_dogs_go_to_heaven.html ) where Meg turns on Brian for being an atheist. That's almost how this feels he's doing. Depending on how my mom responds determines if I completely bitch him out. Cause it's none of his fucking business to tell my parents about my decisions.

Next, unlike him, I do have true happiness...but it's shit like this that changes that -_- Besides, I don't have to bow down to some invisible sky tyrant with the threat of eternal hell to live happy...unlike him apparently.

Oh, and I should add, I know several people in the neighborhood (as well as my parents) who have told me or I've heard them say a prayer for me to get a job. Let's see...I was let go March 26th and have been applying for jobs that I'm fully qualified for...and here it is May 3rd (for like 15 more minutes) and I haven't even gotten any company to call me back. Yeah, prayer is OBVIOUSLY working for me to get a job here. =_= Damn deluded christards.

That "friend" of mine...again

Lately he's been pissing me off...mostly cause he has to be all "god is true and YOU are wrong"

for example, I recently posted an article from the Courage Campaign about how sexual preference shouldn't be a factor in choosing the new supreme court justice http://www.couragecampaign.org/page/s/NotAFactor

About 2.5 hours after I posted this, I get this message from him:

If God says homosexual behavior is a sin, it's a sin. Why question what God says or thinks? 

 

=_= Ok...this is a no brainer obviously, so to that I responded: Because this country was built upon the basis of equality as it states in the Declaration of Independence "that all men are created equal" and denying anyone for any reason is obviously not equality

 

No response, but he did start up a chat and asked me about an app about "bible verses your preacher won't tell you" and outright stated it's wrong. I told him that it's a different version of the bible as mormons only believe that the King James version is the truest one (what a laugh, they're all just stories). After that he asked how many versions of the bible I've read, and I've currently read 3, the King James, the American Standard and the Websters Translated Bible. I also included that they contradict each other all the time.

 

It was that point he asked me what I thought about the book of mormon. I had one word to reply with "fanfiction". He, of course, replied that I was wrong and that the book of mormon is the true word of god.

 

This is when he started to piss me off. I have yet to tell him one thing about his beliefs and how ridiculous they are. Yet he can tell me that I'm wrong, god's real and the bible and book of mormon are really the words of god. =_=* Stupid fucking christian principles that they can say whatever they want but you can't criticize them at all.

Then today I see him make a post....which I can tell is probably directed at me:

"To say that God doesn’t exist, you might as well go up to your parents, friends, relatives, or anyone close too you, and with a strait face say “You don’t exist, you aren’t real. You’re just a made up imagination, a fairy tail.” and actually believe it, could you do it? Could you say such a thing? NO! You could not. How would they feel if you did such a thing?"

Then he commented on it saying:

"If this offends anyone, I am sorry. I'm not trying to offend anyone. I'm just stating a fact. After going in the Temple this morning with my family, I have a better understanding of what our Father in Heaven has and wants for us, His children. Just like any Parent who wants the best for there Son/s or Daughter/s, if you are a parent, how would you feel if anyone of your children didn't or don't want anything to do with you? Can you see what I mean?"

...how...fucking...stupid. Yeah, I'm gonna walk up to my parents, friends, relatives or anyone close to me and say they're an imagination. Well...maybe if I was a solipsist, but, seeing that I'm not, how fucking stupid. Let's see...hmm...I can actually walk up to these people, talk to them and they will talk back to me, hug them and they hug me back, ask them for something and they may be able to provide me with it. And honestly, if someone walked up to me and said that, I would laugh like crazy, and then walk off saying "see you later".

To sum it all up: christians are fucking retarded!!!

10 Items to consider Pt. 9

Live the Lord's Standard of Worthiness - The Lord has one standard of worthiness (a temple recommend). When we honor that standard, blessings and doors of opportunity will remain open throughout our lives. the Lord's standard will not change.

-_- Oh look...another crock of shit...and cherry picking...and while we're at it, we'll also include elitism as well.

Now, if this "standard of worthiness" is the temple recommend, then NO ONE who has one is properly worthy by their standards.

This is from a blog on lds-mormon.org written in 2000 that bishops ask the members to gauge their worthiness:

"The First Presidency issued some new questions last Spring. It's so hard to keep up with knowing what God wants us to know in order to attend his temple. Here they are. I should know since I have been through them approx 100 times this past year:

1 Do you have faith in and a testimony of God the Eternal Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost?

2 Do you have a testimony of the Atonement of Christ and of His role as Savior and Redeemer?

3 Do you have a testimony of the restoration of the gospel in these the latter days?

4 Do you sustain the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as the Prophet, Seer, and Revelator and as the only person on the earth who possesses and is authorized to exercise all priesthood keys? Do you sustain members of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles as prophets, seers, and revelators? Do you sustain the other General Authorities and local authorities of the Church?

5 Do you live the law of chastity?

6 Is there anything in your conduct relating to members of your family that is not in harmony with the teachings of the Church?

7 Do you support, affiliate with, or agree with any group or individual whose teachings or practices are contrary to or oppose those accepted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?

8 Do you strive to keep the covenants you have made, to attend your sacrament and other meetings, and to keep your life in harmony with the laws and commandments of the gospel?

9 Are you honest in your dealings with your fellowmen?

10 Are you a full-tithe payer?

11 Do your keep the Word of Wisdom?

12 Do you have financial or other oblgations to a former spouse or children? If yes, are you current in meeting those obligations?

13 If you have previously received your temple endowment:

Do you keep the covenants that you made in the temple?
Do you wear the garment both night and day as instructed in the endowment and in accordance with the covenant you made in the temple?

14 Have there been any sins or misdeeds in your life that should have been resolved with priesthood authorities but have not been?

15 Do you consider yourself worthy to enter the Lord's house and participate in temple ordinances? "

So, it's obvious that these "standards" (IF you want to call such base examples of medieval thinking standards) are designed to only promote the hate that all christians exude. In particular number 7...if I had a gay friend and thought he was ok, now I'm no longer eligible for the temple because it's not right because of bunch of shepherds wanted to hide they had hard-ons for the boys who helped them tend sheep back in the 1200's? Yeah, I call that total unadulterated BULLSHIT!

Also, number 14 seems more like it's trying to be more of an invasion of privacy then deciding if someone is worthy enough for god. Personally, what I do in the bathroom or bedroom is NONE of their damn business...just like how I sure as hell don't want to know what some old fat as hell pompous man is doing either *shudders at the thought*

Blessings and opportunities...sure...sure...what sort of blessings would those be...being told to "fuck off" by god?

Case in point, I was let go from my job on March 26th because the company wasn't getting enough clients so they did a reduction in force (something I saw coming for about 2 weeks). Unfortunately I was cut, but fortunately I'm eligible for unemployment insurance payments. Well, the downside was that on March 16th the hearing in my right ear was maybe 20% of what should be normal. At that time I made an appointment with an ENT to have it looked at. Before I did that, I made an appointment with my PCP on March 26th who said it was infected. I kept my appointment with the ENT (just to be safe) for April 6th and at that one he said it was pretty badly infected (and quite surprised that it didn't hurt as bad as it looked) and prescribed me some antibiotics to kill what was in there.

Well in talking to my friend (who has been mentioned on this blog numerous times), he right out says "Maybe it was a blessing in disguise that you were let go so you had time to rest and get better from what's in my ear." =_= How in the FUCK is losing one's job a blessing in any sense of the word? I saw it as a VERRRRRRY bad thing cause my normal insurance was termed on March 31st and COBRA starting on April 1st. COBRA (for those that have never dealt with it), is SUPER expensive as you now have to pay for the coverage yourself entirely.

I just looked at him all O_o and wanted to just slap him, because that is NO blessing....as far as an opportunity...I guess just being able to sleep like 7-8 hours every day of the week is the ONLY opportunity that I've had from that.

That's all for this topic and as a side note, if anyone's wondering about my most recently added quote, read this post over on Hemant Mehta's blog: http://friendlyatheist.com/2010/04/15/an-atheists-memorial-service/

10 Items to consider Pt. 8

Understand the Reality of Temptation - Satan's greatest attempt to destroy us today is surrounded by temptations related to immorality. Satan will fail, but there will be casualties. We need to avoid pornography. Bishops can provide help.

Immorality...what a load of bullshit. Besides, why should I believe that a religion which condemns sex but is obsessed with having it as having high moral standards. That makes about as much sense as cutting yourself and jumping into a tank of sharks with the intention or living.

No...not the porno, their heaven forbid that I should see another woman or man naked O_O *gasps* Oh...wait...there's more porn and even child pornography looked at in Utah than most states (don't remember the report but it said something like that). And I'm sorry, but anyone who says they've NEVER looked at porno is full of shit, everyone's looked at least once.

As far as the big bad boogieman Satan goes...how is some fictional character going to corrupt people....though, I guess he's nowhere as bad as either jebus or god. I mean, by a christians standard satan would want people to believe in science, math, archaeology and so forth instead of bowing down to the sky tyrant.

Overall, the only REAL temptation is to actually believe in the tripe that religion feeds the sheeple.

Baaaa

Baaaaaaa

Ooop, someone left open the gate open to the religion pen....and it's about damn time!!!

Now, off to find me some porno!!!