Respecting the beliefs of others

Mother Teresa was not a saint. She thought people would be brought closer to God through their suffering, so did not allow things like pain killers in her hospices.

She was right...people tend to say "Oh God" when they are in pain...

The CON.
http://beyondallreligion.net/2012/01/21/how-christianity-was-invented/

Missouri bill redefines science, gives equal time to intelligent design

Finally the Church of FSM will get the respect it deserves. Every Missouri child needs to be educated about the promise of stripper factories and beer volcano's in the afterlife. Ramen!

Ohio school board votes to keep Jesus portrait up

Comedic insights from Tim Minchin.
If you can't make it through the whole thing then just listen to that last 1 minute or so, starting at 4:16.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYchB7Kxuvs

I like this guy. Thanks RH.

He is very talented. His play Matilda the Musical is starting on Broadway next month. It has been playing for a while in London.

He played Judas in the UK tour of Jesus Christ Superstar.

Caution! Language! It's ok for Youtube standards but some are more sensitive than others.
I first became aware of him through a friend a few years ago because of The Pope Song.

His songs are always thought provoking.

Lyrics from The Pope Song. He uses language for it's shock value so if you are easily offended then don't listen or read this song.

Ohio school board votes to keep Jesus portrait up

This one is likely to cost the school district a lot of money. Both the ACLU of Ohio and FFRF are suing the school district. The district is being represented by the Liberty Institute. The Liberty Institute provides their services pro bono, but if they lose then the school district is responsible for reimbursing the ACLU and FFRF for their legal fees. Usually hundreds of thousands of dollars.

If on the unlikely chance the district wins then what the win will allow any student who is not Christian to put up his religious figure as well as non-religious figures. So you would end up with a gallery which includes scriptures from the Qur'an (since pictures of Muhammad are forbidden), pictures of Buddha, pictures of the various Hindu gods, etc. Maybe a picture or slogan for atheists. As long as they are put up by students they would have to be allowed.

Finally the Church of FSM will get the respect it deserves. Every Missouri child needs to be educated about the promise of stripper factories and beer volcano's in the afterlife. Ramen!

This is exactly the situation which created the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. If you are allowed to teach one non-scientific theory in science class then all must be taught. I'm sure the kids will prefer stripper factories and beer volcanoes to intelligent design if both are taught side by side. R'amen.

The letter.

The church.

Missouri bill redefines science, gives equal time to intelligent design

Yes. The U.S. is sorely under-educated when it comes to science. Some people in the U.S. think that the bible has useful scientific information. Some still believe the genesis story literally. When it comes to developed western countries, the U.S. ranks next to last when it comes to acceptance of evolution. Just above Turkey. I guess we are in good company.
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/bigphotos/21329204.html

More cut and paste to impress the computer illiterate among us. This has already been decided in the courts. Missouri is only going to spend more money on legal fees.
"U.S. District Judge John E. Jones delivered a stinging attack on the Dover Area School Board, saying its first-in-the-nation decision in October 2004 to insert intelligent design into the science curriculum violates the constitutional separation of church and state."
"In 1987, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that states cannot require public schools to balance evolution lessons by teaching creationism."
http://www.nbcnews.com/id/10545387/
http://www.acluutah.org/divinedesign.htm
http://www.usnews.com/opinion/articles/2009/02/10/creation-science-and-intelligent-design-different-names-for-religious-theory
http://writ.news.findlaw.com/dorf/20041222.html
http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1142625,00.html
http://archive.adl.org/issue_religious_freedom/create/creationism_QA.asp

If you want to teach Intelligent Design then do it in Mythology class, not Biology class.

For those who think that religion makes you happy, check out this recent study. I know, I know, if it's not in the bible then it's not true.

A new study reveals that states whose populations identify as "very religious" are using the most anti-depressants
http://www.salon.com/2013/02/15/nations_most_religious_are_also_the_most_depressed_partner/

http://www.gallup.com/poll/160415/mississippi-maintains-hold-religious-state.aspx?utm_source=google&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=syndication

I don't think that list is correct. Rotoworld has over 300 posts in one thread alone lol

What do we make of this post? Since this is the 139th post in this thread and all of the posts are not mine, what's up?

1) Jamison can not count.

2) He reads and rereads my posts because he likes them so much and counts them multiple times.

3) He was high when he counted and needs to use a calculator.

4) He exaggerates to prove he is pointless.

Ill say RH, while your posts are pointed and well delivered, I do think there is a very important place in society for spirituality, while organized religion is abhorant to me; this fact remains.

So, with one tempered by the other I find myself vehemently agreeing with you, but with pause.

I will say this: it's EXCELENT to see people unafraid to voice thier opinion (ANTI-"PC")

Ill say RH, while your posts are pointed and well delivered, I do think there is a very important place in society for spirituality, while organized religion is abhorant to me; this fact remains.

So, with one tempered by the other I find myself vehemently agreeing with you, but with pause.

I will say this: it's EXCELENT to see people unafraid to voice thier opinion (ANTI-"PC")

Thanks for the kind words. I do wonder what place spirituality has in society and what you mean by spirituality. I believe in reality. I am not aware of any evidence which supports the existence of the supernatural. Are you?

From Wiki:
The term spirituality lacks a definitive definition, although social scientists have defined spirituality as the search or the practice for "the sacred," where "the sacred" is broadly defined as that which is set apart from the ordinary and worthy of veneration.

The notion of "spiritual experience" plays an important role in modern spirituality, but has a relatively recent origin.

Again, a very good clarification raised here.

If one looks hard enough it is undeniable that certain groups worship certain sets of deity, be it the abrahamic judeo-Christian, Islamic or "other" .. And other seems to extend into the realm of the un-tasteful, especially if one analyzes the modern music industry.

So, statistically speaking, even if one does not believe in the supernatural ( I could be considered in this camp) the topic deserves objective consideration at least.

I have personally begun inner-reflection, observing ego in myself and others; a quasi eastern philosophy approach; could this be considered "spirituality",,, I think so.

As spirituality is a loosely defined term (as you pointed out) perhaps I should retract my statement and re-word it to be more accurate.

So, statistically speaking, even if one does not believe in the supernatural ( I could be considered in this camp) the topic deserves objective consideration at least.

I have personally begun inner-reflection, observing ego in myself and others; a quasi eastern philosophy approach; could this be considered "spirituality",,, I think so.

As spirituality is a loosely defined term (as you pointed out) perhaps I should retract my statement and re-word it to be more accurate.

I think meditation and self analysis can be useful, but this in no way involves the supernatural.

There is much to be said for the eastern philosophies, Jainism is the most non-violent of all religions. The problem that I have with it and other forms of Buddhism is the belief in reincarnation. Where is the evidence to support reincarnation?

As I have said, I can be convinced by evidence, real evidence. Not hearsay, not anecdotal evidence, real evidence. Repeatable and verifiable evidence.

Back in the early 70's I became a member of the Powerhouse Church of the Presumptious Assumption. Still am, to some degree. Pastor Rod Flash was cool.

After reading as much of this thread as my tired old eyes could take, I was reminded of that Alka Seltzer commercial (same vintage as the above): "I can't believe I ate/read the whole thing!"

Kinda like the Hatfields and the McCoys, if you ask me, which I'm sure you won't. :}

The Powerhouse Church of the Presumptuous Assumption of the Blinding Light. I love Firesign Theater.
Deacon E.L. Mouse

Is faith healing real or a scam? Has anyone actually witnessed a miracle? A real miracle?
http://whywontgodhealamputees.com/god5.htm

Miraculous cures for cancer and AIDS, people in wheelchairs getting up and dancing. It's business as usual for Benny Hinn, perhaps the world's most famous, successful and controversial televangelist. Hinn is a faith-healer who almost never grants interviews -- until now.
http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/benny-hinn-evangelical-leader-senate-investigation-speaks/story?id=8862027

I forgot the deacon E.L. Mouse bit...

"I'm not talking about hate, I'm talking about Eight! Dinner at Eight! I'm hungry! Let's Eat!!"

And I've never tried those hot, buttered goat custards, either... But I'll bet I could find them on the island, someplace...

A little taste of Firesign! Don't crush that dwarf hand me the pliers. Church starts at about 2:15
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_MEpww2MHA

You'll love this. Don't forget, god loves you and he needs your money!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlcpNg0CPnI
http://www.prayerhour.com/

So now we know, Oklahoma is populated by idiots! As is Missouri, Tennessee, etc. When are they going to get it through their heads, the bible contains no useful scientific information. Genesis is mythology!

Insist That People Coexisted With Dinosaurs…and Get an A in Science Class!
Eric Meikle, education project director at the National Center for Science Education (NCSE) in Oakland, California, says Oklahoma has proposed more anti-evolution legislation than any other state, introducing eight bills with academic freedom language since 2004. (None has passed.) "The problem with these bills is that they're so open-ended; it's a kind of code for people who are opposed to teaching climate change and evolution," Meikle says.
http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2013/02/oklahoma-hr1674-science-evolution-climate-change

well I can agree with opposing climate change... anthropomorphic climate change is a joke, the "proof" that is offered is either doctored or in fact proves that the theory is complete BS...

C02 is good for the planet, the ice core samples prove that the warmer it got, the more CO2 there was, not the more c02 there was, the warmer it got.

not to mention the various scams that have been uncovered concerning carbon tax, scientific cover up etc..

now, anti-evolutionary teaching would be acceptable if there was a logical alternative, currently there are no other THEORIES that can stand up to the evolutionary THEORY.