Buffalo Boy's Blog
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Recently in religion Category
"Godless" Ain't Gonna Cut It
Elizabeth Dole, the incumbent republican US senator in North Carolina is running against State Senator Kay Hagan. A recent ad called Hagan godless. So what if she is? Hagan I think is going too far the other way in suing to have the ad pulled. She should let it play and ask the people the same question I just did. So what if I was "godless"? Religion should play no part in the peoples choice in any political race. Dole going to that trouble to come up with an ad like that must really be struggling in this race because obviously if you can't win on the issues, try to smear your opponent on something that truly doesn't matter. Kay's husband just so happens to serve on the board of the Godless Americans political action committee. Hagan herself though is a Christian. The PAC that her husband works with works to promote secular ideas. In one ad, they claim that the group that her husband works for wants to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance, which I am all for. It really shouldn't be in there, but thats a whole other topic.Whats wrong with that? Nothing. Religion should have no place in politics to begin with and I would love to see Hagan defeat Dole as much because it would give another democrat a seat in the senate for as much as what Dole is attacking her for and the fact that the argument has no place in political venues.
I'm telling you my friends, the day is coming, we are going to have our first African American in the White House and soon, we will have our first Politician who doesn't use the word God in every speech.
Faith and Medicine
Here is another two that simply should never mix. Apparently there are pharmacies now that are pushing their religious beliefs on consumers. A pharmacy in Virginia known as the Divine Mercy Care Pharmacy is pushing their religious beliefs on those coming in with legitimate scripts for contraceptives and other drugs.
Basically, if they don't believe in the drug based on their religious beliefs, they will not fill it. Should that not be totally illegal? If I walk into a pharmacy for a drug from a doctor, be it a contraceptive or otherwise, that pharmacist by law should have to fill that prescription. God should have nothing to do with what drugs they dispense. Its a dangerous mix. More dangerous than religion and politics, this kind of thing can get someone killed. No medical facility should have religious beliefs affecting the decisions made by the medical practitioners. Nor should they affect whether or not the pharmacy provides the treatment prescribed. I hope they don't expect many customers because I think that those who believe the way they do are few and far inbetween. Whats next? Oh we are a pharmacy but we don't give out drugs, we give out prayers instead. Here is a prayer for your disease, good luck! Not the pharmacy people would want to attend I would think.Category: healthcare | religion
Religion To The Extremes
The main focus of Religulous wasn't that religion is bad but that religion to the extremes is bad. When you take the Bible literally as does the creators of the Creationist Museum.
This museum teaches the history of Earth literally through the eyes of the Bible ignoring all science. Children and followers are encouraged to ignore science for what the Bible says about the scientific history of the Earth. 99.9% of all scientists believe in the theory of evolution which can be documented through thousands of peer reviewed scientific papers, journals and textbooks. It is also proven through these pieces of hard evidence called fossils. Yet, these "creationists" literally believe that the Earth was created 5000 years ago and humans walked with dinosaurs. They even have a Triceratops with a saddle on it. Its these kind of beliefs that are inherently dangerous and teaching a whole generation of kids to ignore science which is evidence based, backed up by data. There are other examples of these extremes and in the end it boils down to the question, where did this idea of God come from? Did humans create God or did God create us? I think the Greeks have it right. They have many gods who are mythological gods, yet all tell a story with a moral to it. What is wrong with that? Why do we have to be so taken in by our respective religions that we can't separate ourselves from the fairy tale like stuff and say okay, there wasn't a giant ark that held two of every single species, its a story that is told to teach us to be good to other animals? Whats wrong with having some humility and saying that we just don't know and instead of saying this one book, the Bible is the truth and everything else is bullshit? Whats wrong with acknowledging that evidence based science is ultimately where we will have to trust in for society to make progress and solve issues we have facing the world we live in? Religion is philosopy, its not any different from Aristotle or Henry David Thorreau. The only difference is no one has build temples to Aristotle or Thorreau, but maybe we should. They at least were logical philosophers and spoke in rational terms using realistic examples.Category: religion
Tax His Church First
Pat Robertson is a prime example of a religious whack job that needs to stay the hell out of the business of politics and stick to what he does best, brain washing those that choose to believe his load of crap. He is also a prime example why Bill Maher made his documentary.
He recently predicted that between Election Day and Inauguration Day US coastal cities would be struck by nukes due to escalating violence against Israel. The fact that he is even going to this place is just mind boggling. He did this two years ago and again during the 2004 election.
Sooner or later you would have to believe that his followers would have to wake up and say gee, maybe this guy doesn't have the answers, hes wrong time and time again. The guy is a nut job and when we start taxing churches for getting involved in politics we should start with his. His little enterprise makes a fortune through the 700 Club Im sure, we might take a huge chunk out of our national debt by collecting 30% from Pat Robertson's place of worship.
Religulous is a Must See For All Faiths
I went tonight to see Religulous, the new documentary by Real Time host Bill Maher. As most of you know he is no supporter of religion and spends portions of his show and his comedy bits tearing holes in religion, not just Christianity, all religions.
I left the movie, and I mean this in the most positive way, being even more assured of my Atheist self. I would be considered a non-practicing Catholic, but how can you be considered non-practicing when you don't believe in the whole thing to begin with. So, that leaves me with atheism, which I don't just leave that out there for everyone to know but after seeing the movie, I don't mind saying it as much because really, I think that when it comes to most, not all who are highly religious, I am of the rationale minority who don't believe in any religion.
Did you know that Atheists represent 16% of the population of this country, more than African-Americans, Jews and the NRA yet don't get represented at the political level? That point is made in the movie too, name one politician that doesn't parade the fact that they are religious or a believer in God, 99.9% of the time if not 100% of the time in some form of Christianity or Catholic faith. Would anyone reading this website vote for an openly Atheist president? Would that mean that in your eyes that person would not be morally responsible enough to run our country?
Bill spends much of the first half the documentary on Christianity and Catholicism because, at least in this country thats where most of us identify with. Even to me, I can at least be familiar with the names that are tossed around in those religions just from being around those who believe in it.
After the first half, all religions are fair game to the scrutiny. At times Bill comes off as stand offish, but its more him asking tough questions of those who are closest to their faiths. As you know when you get people who are highly immersed in their faiths to the point of believing their specific books or religions literally, things can get heated.
He talks to those from Mormonism including being kicked off the front lawn of the Mormon Temple in Salt Lake City, Utah just for being there doing the documentary. He does get to talk to two former Mormons who left their faith and talked of their issues with the faith including being literally isolated from friends and family because of their withdrawal from their religion.
There are several holes that were punched into Christianity, Catholicisims, Muslims, Islam, Scientology, Judiaism and Mormonism that left you with the feeling that if you were Atheist going in, your not wrong about not believing and I truly believe that if one of faith goes in, no matter how immersed in your religion that you are, if you watch with an open mind, you will leave with a new outlook, that maybe religion isn't as important as some of us make it out to be.
Our leaders, our elected leaders and other leaders from around the world, including George W. Bush believe that the end of the world is coming in our times. The point that Maher makes is that we actually have the capacity as humans to see it to the end if we chose whether its nuclear, pollution or otherwise. We have that power, more so than anyother species that lived before us. All religions preach some end to our time here on this planet in some round about way.
Its comedy with serious overtones and serious questions. It brings up legitimate questions, all the while making light of the seriousness of what is being discussed.
Its a bold movie and covers things that some in the Muslim and Islamic world like Solomon Rushdie would have been killed over not more than 20 years ago. It covers topics and asks questions that get some pissed off and others answer him but with reluctance.
One thing it does do though is brings to light the "moral" fairy tales that represent what is written in our respecitve religious books and how dangerous it is to take them literally and in some cases how silly it is to believe in them at all. Its definitely worth a trip to see this daring documentary Bill Maher who is in my mind one of the great intellectual comedians of our time.
Total Brainwash
Check out these pathetic excuses for human beings, these are the people who should have their right to vote taken away this election for being exactly what Sarah Palin is, a racist. She has been promoting this by using Barack Obama's middle name and stating a totally false and outright lie that he has been buddies with terrorists.
Look, when Ayers was doing what he was doing Obama was 8. 8 Years old. I don't think so folks. So what, even if he was Muslim, what in our consitution denies a Muslim the right to run for and win the presidency of the United States? What says that our president has to be A) Christian and B) white?
These people are exactly the reason why I support no religion nor do I worship any god, because these people have been brainwashed. Totally and utterly brainwashed and its dangerous. Its no better than belonging to the KKK or the Nazi's.
Should Not Have Happened
Evangelical minister Rick Warren and his Saddleback Church or what ever the hell they call it was the place for the big first time on stage together for Barack Obama and John McCain for this presidential campaign. Does anyone see anything remotely wrong with this?
An evangelical minister gets to interview these guys one on one and people were watching this live on national television for it to influence their opinion on who they vote for. A church and its respective minister has a chance influence the outcome of this election?
Separation of church and state folks has obviously been thrown out the window. I don't care what kind of questions he asked or which candidate he asked them to, he had an agenda from and he pursued his agenda in the questions he asked.
So, if this is going to be the benchmark for these types of "debates" or "interviews" then why not have a Rabbi or Muslim or for that matter an Atheist interview them on live national television? How do the evangelicals get this thing and not some other faith?
Why does it matter who these guys worship if at all? Its a joke and a blunder in the political process to allow religion to have such an impact. John McCain and Barack Obama are not trying to become ministers, they are trying to become leaders of what is supposed to be the most powerful country on earth. I think its sad that religion has come to play an increasingly large part in the process.
Religious Whack Jobs, STAY OUT OF POLITICS!
Another religious reference to Barack Obama. Enough is enough. This time its and Evangelical wacko, (they all are wackos in the Evangelical world, each and every one of them) James Dobson saying that Barack Obama distorted the Bible.
Who cares? Obviously 90% of America. That story came out today that 90% of US citizens believe in God. Come on, you have to be kidding me on that one. 90%? Not all of those 90% believe in the same God or the same religion so how can you make that blanket statement? Thats besides the point.
All these religious attacks on Obama for his religion, his church, his pastor (who by the way last I checked he cannot speak for or control what comes out of his mouth) are nonsense. They HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH POLITICS OR THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE.
Don't even get me going on the likes that McCain associates himself or has in the past. Who is Dobson to say anyway whether Obama distorted the Bible or not? There is probably millions of different interpretations of the book depending on who reads it. Dobson and his Evangelical followings take it way to seriously and literally making him a dangerous man, Obama can and has every right to interpret the damn thing any way he please just like anyone else who is religious has a right to their own interpretation.
Chalk another religious leader who proves my ongoing point that if religion is not going to stay out of politics and trying to influence political races, then we should start taxing churchs. Think of the revenue that would bring in and what programs that could go to......say,,,,universal health care.
Absolutely Disgusting
I was driving down Elmwood Ave. to do groceries and the Gay Pride Parade was concluding. I saw the most dispicable sight I think you could ask to see up close and in person. People who say they are doing God's work by holding signs like this.
Yes these racist, overly religious assholes were hanging out by the Gay Pride events. I felt like rolling down my window and telling them off, but some people having a good time in front of a home on Elmwood were already giving them a piece of their mind. Add to the fact that it wasn't just adults holding up these signs, it was children too.
Do they really have nothing better to do with their pathetic lives than to use God as a front for what their real problem is? These people are sick. I had a chance to run them over, which is probably what they deserve and I didn't take it. They crossed right in front of my car at an intersection and my stomach churned with every step they took. I wanted to run them down and I didn't, for that I am sorry. I thought about it, and thought for as much as I might be doing the world a favor, this is not what this day is about for people who are gay.
Its about love and freedom. So as much as this message is wrong, they have the freedom to be psychos. Though as much as I support free speech and our constitution, this kind of free speech should be eliminated, its a hate crime and their signs say as much. God doesn't hate fags, the people holding the signs do. They are not doing gods work and gays are not going to hell, you are for being racist, backwards slugs. They are no better than the sickos who stand out in front of abortion clinics. They are wack jobs.
You can't defend what they are doing and if you try to get into a battle, without even knowing you they say you are going to hell for supporting gay rights or for not being on their side. They can't defend it except for repeating what their signs say, which actually, the mentality and education these people have, Im surprised they can even read to make these signs. They are the most ignorant of all ignorant people.
The religion that they say they are from features a God if you believe in that sort of stuff who would love all, no matter what they are or what walk of life they come from. But seeing this is why I am glad I don't follow any religion and don't believe in God. Because people like that exist and believe me, they are in every church. They are the ones who take the Bible and interpret it literally or in the case of these people, misinterpret it, and that folks, is dangerous.
Category: religion
Brazil Is Officially Smarter Than The US
I am officially declaring our country and its leaders a bunch of morons. I have been saying it, scientists have been saying it can be done and now Brazil is all but laughing at us.
While the doubters are slamming the use of ethanol in this country Brazil is prospering because they know how to do it. Are we in the US too proud to take ideas from other countries and apply them here? Even when it will save us money and make us energy independent or create a better healthcare system.
Brazil is defending its use of ethanol and if done right like they are doing, shouldn't put a dent in food prices or supply. So instead of bitching about it, its time for the US to take the example and do something.
Brazil uses sugar cane. They use it because there is tons of it and in fact, they will be growing more of it and using more of it in fuel production. In the next three to four years they will also be using switch grass and bio waste such as citrus peels, hmmmm save up those orange peels and maybe they could power our cars.
What is even more interesting and though provoking is that Brazil started this back in the 1970's. Gee I can't think of anything that happened back then that would have prompted anyone to develop new fuels, OH WAIT, THE OIL CRISIS! Gee 30+ years ago we could have started thinking about that here. Guess what folks, Brazil is 30 years ahead of where we are today!
So while they are basking in their accomplishments we are slaves to $120+ oil and $4 gas and waiting for either the American Public to get their heads out of their ass or our elected officials to take action, we will be waiting for the latter until a Democrat is in the White House.
So if they can do it and are doing it why doesn't the rest of the world and the US follow suit? My response is that we are ignorant and too stupid to follow suit. We are also led by a president and administration that are oil barons who won't go against their oil roots until every last drop of that black sludge is used up.
We the American public need to cry out and should be outraged that more isn't being done like what Brazil is doing here. If anyone has a good reason why Brazil and Iceland for that matter, have figured it out and we can't Im open to your thoughts. Otherwise, you have to agree that the leader we thought our country was, is no longer.
Our politicians, auto industry and energy industry in this country have failed us and have basically ignored the needs of the American public in favor of huge profits on a dying fuel and we should demand better, not in 10 or 20 years, immediately.
Maybe instead of praying at the pump like these freaks are doing, we should start taking responsibility and demanding more of our leaders and throwing fits at the pumps and demonstrating at gas stations to force change.
Thinking instead of praying. god isn't going to change the fuel we use and he certainly isn't going to lower the price of oil. Right now the oil companies are playing god and it should be insulting. After reading the article about Brazil, which is no surprise to me because I read this stuff all the time, we should be ashamed that the richest, supposedly most powerful country in the world can not do something as simple as what a third world country has been able to do. Get ourselves off oil.
Who knows maybe if we use sugar for something other than to feed our fat, capitalistic faces maybe we could solve our fuel crisis in this country and our obesity/health problems.
