Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Alien Penis to Planetary Intercourse: Is it Sodomy?
HOW THE TEXAS GOP THINK BLOW J'S ARE DIRTY AND ARE ACTUALLY ALL CLOSET HOMOGAYS SO THEY WANT TO RUIN IT FOR THE REST OF US:
Let me state for the record that sex without sodomy (e.g. oral sex, anal sex, ear or nose sex, basically any non-genital to genital contact) is like fishing… sober. Sex without sodomy is like non-alcoholic beer. Sex without sodomy is like eating a black-bean burger. Sex without sodomy is like baked, not fried Buffalo wings. Actually sex without sodomy is like baked, not fried anything. Sex without sodomy is like being in Wrigley bleachers and not drinking Old Style. Sex without sodomy is like basing your worldview on ancient creation stories purple-monkey-dishwashered down from generation to generation.
The “platform” is outlined with ten main principles that are woven within more hypocrisies and naiveties than bullet points. “We believe in: the sanctity of human life, created in the image of God; having an educated population; a free enterprise society unencumbered by government interference or subsidies,” to quote a few.
I’m not quite sure how having an educated population equates to the abolishment of mandatory schooling for children and not having even a rudimentary understanding of scientific methodology and its inherent motivations – based on historical evidence, it’s not an effective practice to attribute all unknown phenomena to divine intervention.
Without government subsidies, not only would the private Texas farmer go out of business, but without regulation such as Sherman (Anti) Trust, we could all likely work for a handful of giant corporations in what would be the ultimate plutarchy. While at it, why don’t we remove subsidies from gasoline as this is government intervention? I have no problem riding my bike or paying more for gasoline if that means a paradigm shift to a more energy efficient and independent culture. However, it’s highly likely that if this happened, the Texas GOP would somehow use the unsubsidized, higher gas prices to blame the government in its predictable charlatanic fashion.
The points that really grab my attention though are 1) Strict adherence to the Declaration of Independence and U.S. and Texas Constitutions, and 10) Restoring American sovereignty and leadership, and we honor all of those that serve and protect our freedom with peace through strength.
It’s not an accident that strict adherence to the Declaration of Independence (DOI) – a document that has no legal standing – is mentioned before the U.S. Constitution. While the DOI is an honorable mission statement with respect to human rights, the only reason they hold it in such high regard is because it is their only connection – albeit erroneous – between the U.S. and their dogmatic ideology. First, the DOI refers to the “Divine Providence,” “Creator” and “Nature’s God,” all terms that reflect the majority of founders’ deistic views. Again, for the evidence-impaired, objective historical analysis tells us that most founders were at the most, deistic, which is the belief that a supreme being kick-started the universe, but has absolutely no interference therein. While some of the founders attended church as cultural status, a few of the more insignificant founders were Christians, but most were private agnostics and atheists while many were openly critical of theism.
Here are just a few quotes to corroborate my claim:
Thomas Jefferson:
“(the God of Moses is), of terrific character – cruel, vindictive, capricious and unust.”
“Ridicule is the only weapon which can be used against unintelligible propositions. Ideas must be distinct before reason can act upon them; and no man ever had a distinct idea of the trinity.”
“Christianity is the most perverted system ever shone on man.”
“Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason than that of blindfolded fear.”
Benjamin Franklin:
“Lighthouses are more useful than churches.”
James Madison:
“During almost fifteen centuries has the legal establishment of Christianity been on trial. What has been its fruits? More or less, in all places, pride and indolence in clergy; ignorance and servility in the laity; in both, superstition, bigotry and persecution.
Let’s not forget the treaty with Tripoli drafted in 1796 by George Washington and signed by John Adams in 1797 that states, “As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion.”
Even if the term “Creator” was in some sense a literal interpretation, in no way does it specify a “Christian Creator.” In fact, I’d be willing to bet the writers of the DOI were referring to a monstrous extra-terrestrial ejaculation on what we now call Earth that created us in the well-known theory of Panspermia; a cosmic facial of universal proportions, if you will. In fact, the only reason the Texas GOP does not welcome Panspermia with open arms is because it’s considered sodomy – alien penis to planetary intercourse, not alien penis to alien vagina intercourse.
First, let me explain the Texas GOP’s closet gay infatuation with sodomy. It all began with a biblical reference to Sodom and Gomorrah in the book of Genesis and the story of Lot, an upstanding citizen who houses two angels – who have the appearance of men – to protect them against a mob of men. The mob of men want to “know” the two men in the house (i.e. rape them) and Lot in his compassion offers up his two virgin daughters instead, “bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes.” Eventually the mob is blinded and God, in his infinite wisdom and loving kindness, annihilates Sodom along with all innocent bystanders, in a rain of sulfur and fire. From this account, the Texas GOP does not want you to have oral or anal sex. Bummer.
Jude reiterates this account in the New Testament, “just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.” In other words, if you have anal, you’re going to burn, right? Wrong! The phrases in the English version of the bible that use the above terms, “sexual immorality” and “unnatural desire” were incorrect translations that should have read, “strange flesh.” Most biblical scholars believe the story of Sodom was not referring to consensual sex, but either rape or a desire to have sex, possibly with angels.
Let’s review: The Texas GOP is basing public policy on millenia-old, misinterpreted stories about a mob of men who wanted to rape angels. Do we really want to go back to this level of thinking? Or let me rephrase: Can we once and for all divest ourselves of this ignorance? Most people say, “Even though I am a Christian I’m not as radical as the Texas GOP.” Unfortunately, many of my friends and family, people who I love dearly, still think Jesus was born of a virgin. Instead of taking this indoctrination at face value, I have actually done some research and found that the English version of the bible translated “virgin” from the Greek word for virgin, “parthenos,” which was MISTRANSLATED from the Hebrew (first biblical language) word “almah,” meaning YOUNG WOMAN! Even if Jebus existed and divinity aside, he was born of a young woman according to the original version of the Bible.
The Texas GOP also states, “We believe that the practice of homosexuality tears at the fabric of society, contributes to the breakdown of the family unit, and leads to the spread of dangerous, communicable diseases. Homosexual behavior is contrary to the fundamental, unchanging truths that have been ordained by God, recognized by our country’s founders, and shared by the majority of Texans.” Not to mention the over 50% divorce rate in the U.S., which I’m sure they’ll blame on gays; not to mention the reference to “…ordained by God, recognized by our country’s founders,” which was completely and accurately refuted by what little evidence I provided in the above essayic ramblings; not to mention there is not one credible peer-reviewed study showing any evidence connecting the decline of the nuclear family and homosexuality: But we’re still on the gay issue?! I’m getting tired so I am only going to say this, countless studies in The American Psychological Association, American Psychiatric Association, and National Association of Social Workers illustrate that the vast majority of homosexual adults were raised by heterosexual parents and the vast majority of children raised by lesbian and gay parents eventually grow up to be heterosexual. Way to turn your kids gay, supposed straight Texas GOP representatives.
Let me finish by briefly touching on the concept of freedom, which is referenced in bullet point ten. I have two complaints about the people who preach about freedom – or lack thereof – due to government “overreach.”
1) These people preach, “Freedom! Freedom!” unless of course it contradicts their dogmatic, dark-age view of humanity.
2) These people – libertarians, Christian conservatives, etc – don’t understand nonlinear dynamics. They don’t understand that the freedom of an industry in a deregulated market is the oppression of those who get sick or die due to unethical waste disposal practices or work conditions. They don’t understand that the freedom for a multi-national conglomerate monopoly is the oppression of a small business start up as well as the oppression of a consumer due to price-fixing. They don’t understand how the freedom of insurance companies to drop customers to save money is the oppression of the sick who desperately need the health insurance they purchased. They don’t understand that you can’t have an omniscient and omnipotent (pronounced Omni – pÅtent) God and have freewill.
The “platform” is outlined with ten main principles that are woven within more hypocrisies and naiveties than bullet points. “We believe in: the sanctity of human life, created in the image of God; having an educated population; a free enterprise society unencumbered by government interference or subsidies,” to quote a few.
I’m not quite sure how having an educated population equates to the abolishment of mandatory schooling for children and not having even a rudimentary understanding of scientific methodology and its inherent motivations – based on historical evidence, it’s not an effective practice to attribute all unknown phenomena to divine intervention.
Without government subsidies, not only would the private Texas farmer go out of business, but without regulation such as Sherman (Anti) Trust, we could all likely work for a handful of giant corporations in what would be the ultimate plutarchy. While at it, why don’t we remove subsidies from gasoline as this is government intervention? I have no problem riding my bike or paying more for gasoline if that means a paradigm shift to a more energy efficient and independent culture. However, it’s highly likely that if this happened, the Texas GOP would somehow use the unsubsidized, higher gas prices to blame the government in its predictable charlatanic fashion.
The points that really grab my attention though are 1) Strict adherence to the Declaration of Independence and U.S. and Texas Constitutions, and 10) Restoring American sovereignty and leadership, and we honor all of those that serve and protect our freedom with peace through strength.
It’s not an accident that strict adherence to the Declaration of Independence (DOI) – a document that has no legal standing – is mentioned before the U.S. Constitution. While the DOI is an honorable mission statement with respect to human rights, the only reason they hold it in such high regard is because it is their only connection – albeit erroneous – between the U.S. and their dogmatic ideology. First, the DOI refers to the “Divine Providence,” “Creator” and “Nature’s God,” all terms that reflect the majority of founders’ deistic views. Again, for the evidence-impaired, objective historical analysis tells us that most founders were at the most, deistic, which is the belief that a supreme being kick-started the universe, but has absolutely no interference therein. While some of the founders attended church as cultural status, a few of the more insignificant founders were Christians, but most were private agnostics and atheists while many were openly critical of theism.
Here are just a few quotes to corroborate my claim:
Thomas Jefferson:
“(the God of Moses is), of terrific character – cruel, vindictive, capricious and unust.”
“Ridicule is the only weapon which can be used against unintelligible propositions. Ideas must be distinct before reason can act upon them; and no man ever had a distinct idea of the trinity.”
“Christianity is the most perverted system ever shone on man.”
“Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason than that of blindfolded fear.”
Benjamin Franklin:
“Lighthouses are more useful than churches.”
James Madison:
“During almost fifteen centuries has the legal establishment of Christianity been on trial. What has been its fruits? More or less, in all places, pride and indolence in clergy; ignorance and servility in the laity; in both, superstition, bigotry and persecution.
Let’s not forget the treaty with Tripoli drafted in 1796 by George Washington and signed by John Adams in 1797 that states, “As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion.”
Even if the term “Creator” was in some sense a literal interpretation, in no way does it specify a “Christian Creator.” In fact, I’d be willing to bet the writers of the DOI were referring to a monstrous extra-terrestrial ejaculation on what we now call Earth that created us in the well-known theory of Panspermia; a cosmic facial of universal proportions, if you will. In fact, the only reason the Texas GOP does not welcome Panspermia with open arms is because it’s considered sodomy – alien penis to planetary intercourse, not alien penis to alien vagina intercourse.
First, let me explain the Texas GOP’s closet gay infatuation with sodomy. It all began with a biblical reference to Sodom and Gomorrah in the book of Genesis and the story of Lot, an upstanding citizen who houses two angels – who have the appearance of men – to protect them against a mob of men. The mob of men want to “know” the two men in the house (i.e. rape them) and Lot in his compassion offers up his two virgin daughters instead, “bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes.” Eventually the mob is blinded and God, in his infinite wisdom and loving kindness, annihilates Sodom along with all innocent bystanders, in a rain of sulfur and fire. From this account, the Texas GOP does not want you to have oral or anal sex. Bummer.
Jude reiterates this account in the New Testament, “just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.” In other words, if you have anal, you’re going to burn, right? Wrong! The phrases in the English version of the bible that use the above terms, “sexual immorality” and “unnatural desire” were incorrect translations that should have read, “strange flesh.” Most biblical scholars believe the story of Sodom was not referring to consensual sex, but either rape or a desire to have sex, possibly with angels.
Let’s review: The Texas GOP is basing public policy on millenia-old, misinterpreted stories about a mob of men who wanted to rape angels. Do we really want to go back to this level of thinking? Or let me rephrase: Can we once and for all divest ourselves of this ignorance? Most people say, “Even though I am a Christian I’m not as radical as the Texas GOP.” Unfortunately, many of my friends and family, people who I love dearly, still think Jesus was born of a virgin. Instead of taking this indoctrination at face value, I have actually done some research and found that the English version of the bible translated “virgin” from the Greek word for virgin, “parthenos,” which was MISTRANSLATED from the Hebrew (first biblical language) word “almah,” meaning YOUNG WOMAN! Even if Jebus existed and divinity aside, he was born of a young woman according to the original version of the Bible.
The Texas GOP also states, “We believe that the practice of homosexuality tears at the fabric of society, contributes to the breakdown of the family unit, and leads to the spread of dangerous, communicable diseases. Homosexual behavior is contrary to the fundamental, unchanging truths that have been ordained by God, recognized by our country’s founders, and shared by the majority of Texans.” Not to mention the over 50% divorce rate in the U.S., which I’m sure they’ll blame on gays; not to mention the reference to “…ordained by God, recognized by our country’s founders,” which was completely and accurately refuted by what little evidence I provided in the above essayic ramblings; not to mention there is not one credible peer-reviewed study showing any evidence connecting the decline of the nuclear family and homosexuality: But we’re still on the gay issue?! I’m getting tired so I am only going to say this, countless studies in The American Psychological Association, American Psychiatric Association, and National Association of Social Workers illustrate that the vast majority of homosexual adults were raised by heterosexual parents and the vast majority of children raised by lesbian and gay parents eventually grow up to be heterosexual. Way to turn your kids gay, supposed straight Texas GOP representatives.
Let me finish by briefly touching on the concept of freedom, which is referenced in bullet point ten. I have two complaints about the people who preach about freedom – or lack thereof – due to government “overreach.”
1) These people preach, “Freedom! Freedom!” unless of course it contradicts their dogmatic, dark-age view of humanity.
2) These people – libertarians, Christian conservatives, etc – don’t understand nonlinear dynamics. They don’t understand that the freedom of an industry in a deregulated market is the oppression of those who get sick or die due to unethical waste disposal practices or work conditions. They don’t understand that the freedom for a multi-national conglomerate monopoly is the oppression of a small business start up as well as the oppression of a consumer due to price-fixing. They don’t understand how the freedom of insurance companies to drop customers to save money is the oppression of the sick who desperately need the health insurance they purchased. They don’t understand that you can’t have an omniscient and omnipotent (pronounced Omni – pÅtent) God and have freewill.
The Texas GOP and their ilk are unable to comprehend how one person’s freedom is another person’s oppression; their platform is a throwback to an totalitarian dogmatic theocracy and a very slippery-slope to a modern day Inquisition.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
The Barbarians... A Dialogue: Response to Brain
Well it's important to identify the distinct dangers between the two groups. Through empirical evidence we can safely conclude that the group currently containing the most extremists is Islam. (Extremists being those who not only foster fundamental and violent views, but are also willing to bridge the gap between those views and action, as opposed to people who, for example, believe homosexuals should die, but are unwilling to kill them).
I completely agree with you that the acute danger comes from the likely chance - and continual willingness - that Muslim extremists will carry out an extremely destructive, relatively isolated one-off attack. However, for someone like Hedges who has probably been completely desensitized to the violence of war and of terrorist attacks, the fear the rest of us have in the back of our minds no longer lingers in his, which allows him to see perhaps the most destructive danger facing the United States.
Think about it: Chicago gets nuked, the economy crashes, we go Hulk on all countries harboring Muslim extremists, we start back with our lives (well those who weren’t within 100 square miles of the city), the economy comes back up, life goes on and the U.S. survives.
Now what could completely destroy the U.S. as we know it? The danger, as Hedges understands, lies with the connection of Christian iconography with American nationalism; a U.S. Christian Theocracy, or some form thereof. As much grief as Obama gets from both sides* for trying to mitigate multiple cluster fucks, it’s not entirely out of the realm of possibility that someone like Palin or Huckabee get elected in 2012.
[*That’s a big difference between conservatives and progressives, the former, who is pretty use to making decisions based on little evidence, rarely questions or criticizes authority of the same “party,” yet, the latter will shoot themselves in the foot because they are typically of the more rational persuasion and will criticize and hold leaders of their “party” to the fire until Jebus comes back with a bunch on those horses. ]
It’s bad enough that during one of the Republican debates when the panel was asked if they rejected evolution, three of the candidates raised their hands and they all agreed that intelligent design (creationism) should be taught alongside evolution. I listed just two quotes, but there are countless quotes that just reek of ignorance, intolerance and an unwillingness to learn facts.
These are the same people who think that the U.S. was founded as a Christian nation even though there is not a single word of relation in the constitution and while some of the framers were relatively fundamental, most at best were deists and according to historical consensus, the majority were cultural Christians while holding agnostic or atheist views (even though agnosticism is being an atheist). These are the same people who waste more moral time and energy on the rights of a 150-cell blastocyst while refusing to promote technology that could relieve the suffering for billions of actual HUMANS. These are the same people who have been responsible for the very real stagnation of scientific and moral progress as a result of their dogma. These are the people who think the burden of proof is on us and claim WE are the intolerant, dogmatic, arrogant ones even though THEY are the ones that claim their “book” is so profound that it was written under the direction of an omnipotent and omniscient super-being, even though WE are just simply the ones who have considered their claims, have read their books and have made the rational deduction that their claims are absurd.
When you divest yourself of the acute fear Muslim extremism brings, you can clearly see what we should be worried about and continue to fight.
PS: There are 20-500 million sperm cells per milliliter per 2-6 milliliters per ejaculation. Jesus Christ, how many living cells (ie, potential human beings) have I destroyed with just my involuntary ejaculations (ie, nocturnal emissions, monthly through my urine due to natural production and renewal of sperm cells), not to mention my voluntary ejaculations?! The simple answer is trillions and trillions of potential human beings have been put to death through natural processes that I cannot control. Since I am made in God’s image and I have murdered trillions to the power of trillion potential human beings… well… God must be a dick (no pun intended).
I completely agree with you that the acute danger comes from the likely chance - and continual willingness - that Muslim extremists will carry out an extremely destructive, relatively isolated one-off attack. However, for someone like Hedges who has probably been completely desensitized to the violence of war and of terrorist attacks, the fear the rest of us have in the back of our minds no longer lingers in his, which allows him to see perhaps the most destructive danger facing the United States.
Think about it: Chicago gets nuked, the economy crashes, we go Hulk on all countries harboring Muslim extremists, we start back with our lives (well those who weren’t within 100 square miles of the city), the economy comes back up, life goes on and the U.S. survives.
Now what could completely destroy the U.S. as we know it? The danger, as Hedges understands, lies with the connection of Christian iconography with American nationalism; a U.S. Christian Theocracy, or some form thereof. As much grief as Obama gets from both sides* for trying to mitigate multiple cluster fucks, it’s not entirely out of the realm of possibility that someone like Palin or Huckabee get elected in 2012.
[*That’s a big difference between conservatives and progressives, the former, who is pretty use to making decisions based on little evidence, rarely questions or criticizes authority of the same “party,” yet, the latter will shoot themselves in the foot because they are typically of the more rational persuasion and will criticize and hold leaders of their “party” to the fire until Jebus comes back with a bunch on those horses. ]
It’s bad enough that during one of the Republican debates when the panel was asked if they rejected evolution, three of the candidates raised their hands and they all agreed that intelligent design (creationism) should be taught alongside evolution. I listed just two quotes, but there are countless quotes that just reek of ignorance, intolerance and an unwillingness to learn facts.
These are the same people who think that the U.S. was founded as a Christian nation even though there is not a single word of relation in the constitution and while some of the framers were relatively fundamental, most at best were deists and according to historical consensus, the majority were cultural Christians while holding agnostic or atheist views (even though agnosticism is being an atheist). These are the same people who waste more moral time and energy on the rights of a 150-cell blastocyst while refusing to promote technology that could relieve the suffering for billions of actual HUMANS. These are the same people who have been responsible for the very real stagnation of scientific and moral progress as a result of their dogma. These are the people who think the burden of proof is on us and claim WE are the intolerant, dogmatic, arrogant ones even though THEY are the ones that claim their “book” is so profound that it was written under the direction of an omnipotent and omniscient super-being, even though WE are just simply the ones who have considered their claims, have read their books and have made the rational deduction that their claims are absurd.
When you divest yourself of the acute fear Muslim extremism brings, you can clearly see what we should be worried about and continue to fight.
PS: There are 20-500 million sperm cells per milliliter per 2-6 milliliters per ejaculation. Jesus Christ, how many living cells (ie, potential human beings) have I destroyed with just my involuntary ejaculations (ie, nocturnal emissions, monthly through my urine due to natural production and renewal of sperm cells), not to mention my voluntary ejaculations?! The simple answer is trillions and trillions of potential human beings have been put to death through natural processes that I cannot control. Since I am made in God’s image and I have murdered trillions to the power of trillion potential human beings… well… God must be a dick (no pun intended).
Thursday, June 10, 2010
The Barbarians Are Coming!
Chris Hedges - despite his overused pessimism, likely the result of years as a war correspondent in some of the most violent zones in recent history - is one of the most prolific reality clarifying writers of our time. In his article, The Christian Fascists Are Growing Stronger, Hedges quickly states, "...the Christian right, have begun to dismantle the intellectual and scientific rigor of the Enlightenment." Perhaps the most frightening revelation is that Hedges believes the Christian right believe “Global war, even nuclear war, is not to be feared, but welcomed as the harbinger of the Second Coming.”
This is nothing new to people who follow these ignorant ramblings, but it makes it none less inevitably horrifying when potential conservative candidates such as Sarah Palin is quoted as saying, "God made dinosaurs 4,000 years ago as ultimately flawed creatures, lizards of Satan really, so when they died and became petroleum products we, made in his perfect image, could use them in our pickup trucks, snow machines and fishing boats,” and Mike Huckabee is quoted as saying the earth is only 6,000 years old.”
Hedges briefly mentions the “rewriting of textbooks,” referring to recent amendments in Texas social studies curriculum. For those of you who are not privy to this very public information, these changes include, but are not limited to:
-The removal and/or downplay of Thomas Jefferson’s role in our founding due to his secularist philosophies.
-Questioning the separation of church and state.
-Claiming the U.S. was infiltrated by communists during the Cold War and giving credit to Joseph McCarthy for his infamous “witch-hunts.”
He concludes this thought with a spot-on observation that,“Facts and opinions, once they are used “scientifically” to support the irrational, become interchangeable. Reality is no longer based on the gathering of facts and evidence. It is based on ideology. Facts are altered. Lies become true.”
The scientific method, which I would define as developing results (making conclusions) through repeated experimental observation (emprical evidence), reporting methods and conclusions in peer-reviewed journals, allowing other scientists to repeat these methods to come up with new results and if these methods are repeated enough and consistent results are maintained whilst holding to the rigors of peer-review, then a consensus is developed (Long sentence, poor grammar. Get off my back. This is science not english). That is science. There are no absolutes in science, only statistical likelihood. For instance, experiments with gravity have yielded consistent results since Newton’s day that says the statistical likelihood that the gravitational constant is approximately 9.8 m/s^2 are pretty good. However, the beauty of science is that this “theory of gravity” – while the whole of it remains intact – has and will continue change as new empirical evidence is produced through the scientific method. With this we know that gravity is weaker at lower latitudes and higher altitudes and etc, etc, etc.
The theory of evolution is analogous to the above. Through the scientific method we have determined the accuracy of isotopic dating, illustrated the evolution of the eye and have identified natural selection as the primary mechanism of evolution, which is NOT survival of the fittest, but the process by which certain genetic traits that favor survival our passed down through successive generations. Yet as Hedges correctly cites, “The Christian right has, for this reason, its own creationist “scientists” who use the language of science to promote anti-science.” He goes on to say, “Once creationists can argue on the same platform as geologists, asserting that the Grand Canyon was not created 6 billion years ago but 6,000 years ago by the great flood that lifted up Noah’s ark, we have lost. The acceptance of mythology as a legitimate alternative to reality is a body blow to the rational, secular state. The destruction of rational and empirically based belief systems is fundamental to the creation of all totalitarian ideologies.”
I have so many beloved friends, families and professional acquaintances that consider themselves religious moderates. These people typically hold one of three views:
1) I don’t want to get involved. Ignorance is bliss.
2) I don’t have time or don’t want to take the effort to educate myself.
3) Unfortunately I shape my world view around my ideology beginning with conclusions, then searching out evidence, which is the inverse of scientific method.
It is this last world view that is by far the most frustrating, but all three are detrimental to our species. There is a great quote from Boondock Saints where the priest says, “Now, we must all fear evil men. But there is another kind of evil which we must fear most, and that is the indifference of good men.” Most of my friends and family are genuinely good people, but as the priest says, stop being evil, get off your ass and fucking educate yourselves so we don’t get literally and figuratively ass-raped by the impending wave of barbaric theocrats because as Hedges says, “They are coming.”
I do have one criticism of the article, however, which is the false equivalency Hedges draws by grouping Jews and Muslims in what the Christian right is attempting to eradicate, along with the other "social deviants": homosexuals, immigrants, secular humanists and feminists. Obviously Hedges is attempting to provide examples for the intolerance of the Christian right; I just hate to see the "Chosen People" and "a group that calls for the extermination of anyone who does not follow Islam (see the Qur'an)," two groups of people that make conscious decisions to follow immoral, violent Abrahamic doctrines, with people that were born with a sexuality they could not choose, people seeking a $5/day job in order to feed their families, people who refuse to base decisions on ignorance, or faith, and people who attempt to seek equal treatment and opportunities as their male counterpart. (As an aside, there is a very proven inverse relationship with the empowerment of woman and population growth. Hmm... )
Regardless, this is another gift from a man who has devoted his life to intellectual enlightenment, despite his seemingly sexual fetish for war zones.
This is nothing new to people who follow these ignorant ramblings, but it makes it none less inevitably horrifying when potential conservative candidates such as Sarah Palin is quoted as saying, "God made dinosaurs 4,000 years ago as ultimately flawed creatures, lizards of Satan really, so when they died and became petroleum products we, made in his perfect image, could use them in our pickup trucks, snow machines and fishing boats,” and Mike Huckabee is quoted as saying the earth is only 6,000 years old.”
Hedges briefly mentions the “rewriting of textbooks,” referring to recent amendments in Texas social studies curriculum. For those of you who are not privy to this very public information, these changes include, but are not limited to:
-The removal and/or downplay of Thomas Jefferson’s role in our founding due to his secularist philosophies.
-Questioning the separation of church and state.
-Claiming the U.S. was infiltrated by communists during the Cold War and giving credit to Joseph McCarthy for his infamous “witch-hunts.”
He concludes this thought with a spot-on observation that,“Facts and opinions, once they are used “scientifically” to support the irrational, become interchangeable. Reality is no longer based on the gathering of facts and evidence. It is based on ideology. Facts are altered. Lies become true.”
The scientific method, which I would define as developing results (making conclusions) through repeated experimental observation (emprical evidence), reporting methods and conclusions in peer-reviewed journals, allowing other scientists to repeat these methods to come up with new results and if these methods are repeated enough and consistent results are maintained whilst holding to the rigors of peer-review, then a consensus is developed (Long sentence, poor grammar. Get off my back. This is science not english). That is science. There are no absolutes in science, only statistical likelihood. For instance, experiments with gravity have yielded consistent results since Newton’s day that says the statistical likelihood that the gravitational constant is approximately 9.8 m/s^2 are pretty good. However, the beauty of science is that this “theory of gravity” – while the whole of it remains intact – has and will continue change as new empirical evidence is produced through the scientific method. With this we know that gravity is weaker at lower latitudes and higher altitudes and etc, etc, etc.
The theory of evolution is analogous to the above. Through the scientific method we have determined the accuracy of isotopic dating, illustrated the evolution of the eye and have identified natural selection as the primary mechanism of evolution, which is NOT survival of the fittest, but the process by which certain genetic traits that favor survival our passed down through successive generations. Yet as Hedges correctly cites, “The Christian right has, for this reason, its own creationist “scientists” who use the language of science to promote anti-science.” He goes on to say, “Once creationists can argue on the same platform as geologists, asserting that the Grand Canyon was not created 6 billion years ago but 6,000 years ago by the great flood that lifted up Noah’s ark, we have lost. The acceptance of mythology as a legitimate alternative to reality is a body blow to the rational, secular state. The destruction of rational and empirically based belief systems is fundamental to the creation of all totalitarian ideologies.”
I have so many beloved friends, families and professional acquaintances that consider themselves religious moderates. These people typically hold one of three views:
1) I don’t want to get involved. Ignorance is bliss.
2) I don’t have time or don’t want to take the effort to educate myself.
3) Unfortunately I shape my world view around my ideology beginning with conclusions, then searching out evidence, which is the inverse of scientific method.
It is this last world view that is by far the most frustrating, but all three are detrimental to our species. There is a great quote from Boondock Saints where the priest says, “Now, we must all fear evil men. But there is another kind of evil which we must fear most, and that is the indifference of good men.” Most of my friends and family are genuinely good people, but as the priest says, stop being evil, get off your ass and fucking educate yourselves so we don’t get literally and figuratively ass-raped by the impending wave of barbaric theocrats because as Hedges says, “They are coming.”
I do have one criticism of the article, however, which is the false equivalency Hedges draws by grouping Jews and Muslims in what the Christian right is attempting to eradicate, along with the other "social deviants": homosexuals, immigrants, secular humanists and feminists. Obviously Hedges is attempting to provide examples for the intolerance of the Christian right; I just hate to see the "Chosen People" and "a group that calls for the extermination of anyone who does not follow Islam (see the Qur'an)," two groups of people that make conscious decisions to follow immoral, violent Abrahamic doctrines, with people that were born with a sexuality they could not choose, people seeking a $5/day job in order to feed their families, people who refuse to base decisions on ignorance, or faith, and people who attempt to seek equal treatment and opportunities as their male counterpart. (As an aside, there is a very proven inverse relationship with the empowerment of woman and population growth. Hmm... )
Regardless, this is another gift from a man who has devoted his life to intellectual enlightenment, despite his seemingly sexual fetish for war zones.
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