Good God!

Ha! This is pretty funny: "On average, people who took the survey answered half the questions incorrectly, and many flubbed even questions about their own faith." NYTimes (09.28.10):

"That finding might surprise some, but not Dave Silverman, president of American Atheists, an advocacy group for nonbelievers that was founded by Madalyn Murray O’Hair.

'I have heard many times that atheists know more about religion than religious people,' Mr. Silverman said. 'Atheism is an effect of that knowledge, not a lack of knowledge. I gave a Bible to my daughter. That’s how you make atheists.'"

Atheists Outdo Some Believers in Survey on Religion

Prepare to be smitten, Mr. Silverman.

Seedy Business

Oh that Franklin! CNN (08.19.10), via TPM:

"The seed of Islam is passed through the father like the seed of Judaism is passed through the mother. He was born a Muslim, his father gave him an Islamic name,' Graham told John King."

Franklin Graham: 'President's Problem Is That He Was Born A Muslim'

And to think people actually take superstitious claptrap like this seriously.

Quod erat demonstrandum: black football jerseys.

A Lonely Place Indeed

Bullshit walks. David Boies v. Tony Perkins. Face The Nation (08.08.10):

"'But when they come into court and they have to support those opinions and they have to defend those opinions under oath and cross-examination, those opinions just melt away. And that's what happened here. There simply wasn't any evidence, there weren't any of those studies.'"

Same-Sex Marriage Decision: "Far From Over"

"'There weren't any empirical studies. That's just made up. That's junk science. It's easy to say that on television. But a witness stand is a lonely place to lie. And when you come into court you can't do that.'"

Thus Sayeth The Lord

God has spoken. Maketh not thyself graven images, lest ye too be smitten, you bloody heathens.

Sigh

Stupid is. Texas Tribune (02.17.10), via DailyKos:

"Nearly a third of Texans believe humans and dinosaurs roamed the earth at the same time, and more than half disagree with the theory that humans developed from earlier species of animals, according to the University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll."

The Texas Tribune

Good old Don. How do you spell superstitious? NYTimes (02.11.10):

"(T)he (Texas State Board of Education) meeting was dominated by another member. Don McLeroy, a small, vigorous man with a shiny pate and bristling mustache, proposed amendment after amendment on social issues to the document that teams of professional educators had drawn up over 12 months, in what would have to be described as a single-handed display of archconservative political strong-arming."

How Christian Were the Founders?

Oh and did you know Elvis is dating Marilyn on Atlantis?

We didn't either.

Ha!!

Instead of sheep entrails or tarot cards, Harold uses bible math. SFChronicle (01.01.10), via Huffington:

"(Harold) Camping, 88, has scrutinized the Bible for almost 70 years and says he has developed a mathematical system to interpret prophecies hidden within the Good Book. One night a few years ago, Camping, a civil engineer by trade, crunched the numbers and was stunned at what he'd found: The world will end May 21, 2011."

Biblical scholar's date for rapture: May 21, 2011

Back in 1994, Harold predicted Jesus was going to return on September 6. Believe it or not, it didn't happen. Harold said his math was wrong then, but this time it's right.

Well then. We suppose we could make some crack about superstitious peasants, but that would be rather uncharitable.

No Doubt About It

These people are fucking crazy. Plain and simple.

Monkey See

The Times (10.15.08), via Huffington:

"A long-running row over the rights to a rooftop section of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre could bring the entire structure tumbling down, destroying Christendom’s holiest site."

Warring monks threaten destruction of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre

The gangs of Jerusalem. "The church has been vigilantly managed by six competing and often fractious Christian denominations — Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Armenian Orthodox, Coptic, Syrian Orthodox and Ethiopian — since an agreement reached under Ottoman law in 1757."

"Rival denominations often battle for access or space and the congregation at the annual Easter service sometimes resembles the terraces of a boisterous football match. The keys to the main entrance of the church have been held by a Muslim family since the 12th century because the Christians do not trust one another."

He Who Is Without Sin

Pope Ben casts a stone. AP (11.30.07):

"Pope Benedict XVI strongly criticized modern-day atheism in a major document released Friday, saying it had led to some of the 'greatest forms of cruelty and violations of justice' ever known."

Pope Criticizes Atheism in Encyclical

Good Gawd. Where do you even start with this?

Huh. Wonder what the Jews might say about this.

That's What Friends Are For

What, no Iranians? NYTimes (11.22.07):

"Saudi Arabia and Libya, both considered allies by the United States in its fight against terrorism, were the source of about 60 percent of the foreign fighters who came to Iraq in the past year to serve as suicide bombers or to facilitate other attacks, according to senior American military officials.

The data come largely from a trove of documents and computers discovered in September, when American forces raided a tent camp in the desert near Sinjar, close to the Syrian border."

Foreign Fighters in Iraq Are Tied to Allies of U.S.

They found a bunch of biographies listing "hometowns and other details for more than 700 fighters brought into Iraq since August 2006."

"The records also underscore how the insurgency in Iraq remains both overwhelmingly Iraqi and Sunni."

And pathetically gullible. "'The bad imams tell the young people to go to Iraq and fight the American Army, because if you kill them or they kill you, you will go to paradise,' Sheik Adnan Khames Jamiel, a leader of the Albu Alwan tribe in Ramadi, said in an interview."

That religious fervor can be some nasty stuff, eh?

Let The Caterwauling Commence

AP (11.06.07):

"Acting on tips about preachers who ride in Rolls Royces and have purportedly paid $30,000 for a conference table, the top Republican on the Senate Finance Committee said Tuesday he's investigating the finances of six well-known TV ministers.

Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa said those under scrutiny include faith healer Benny Hinn, Georgia megachurch pastor Creflo Dollar and one of the nation's best known female preachers, Joyce Meyer."

Grassley Probes Televangelists' Finances

"Grassley sent letters to the half-dozen Christian media ministries earlier this week requesting answers by Dec. 6 about their expenses, executive compensation and amenities, including use of fancy cars and private jets."

"In a statement, Grassley said he was acting on complaints from the public and news coverage of the organizations."

"'The allegations involve governing boards that aren't independent and allow generous salaries and housing allowances and amenities such as private jets and Rolls Royces,' Grassley said."

Others receiving letters were Ken Copeland, Eddie Long, and Randy White.

Richard Roberts

Richard, earlier this week. AP (10.17.07):

"'I don't know how long this leave of absence will last, but I fully trust the members of the Board of Regents,' Roberts said in a news release issued by the university. 'I pray and believe that in God's timing, and when the Board feels that it is appropriate, I will be back at my post as president.'"

Richard Roberts Asks ORU Board for Leave

Don't think so, Richard (h/t AmericaBlog).

On Second Thought

Richard was a little more pugnacious a couple of weeks ago. AP (10.17.07):

"Oral Roberts University President Richard Roberts asked for and was granted a leave of absence Wednesday amid accusations of lavish spending at donors' expense and illegal involvement in a political campaign.

The 58-year-old son of the evangelist who founded the school said he would continue in his role as chairman and chief executive of Oral Roberts Ministries, and decried what he said were untrue allegations."

Richard Roberts Asks ORU Board for Leave

"'I don't know how long this leave of absence will last, but I fully trust the members of the Board of Regents,' Roberts said in a news release issued by the university."

"'I pray and believe that in God's timing, and when the Board feels that it is appropriate, I will be back at my post as president.'"

Try never.

Have You Seen The Little Piggies?

Yeah and Richard says God spoke to him and told him to deny everything. We're thinking it wasn't God as much as his lawyers. AP (10.05.07), via FirstDraft:

"Richard Roberts is accused of illegal involvement in a local political campaign and lavish spending at donors' expense, including numerous home remodeling projects, use of the university jet for his daughter's senior trip to the Bahamas, and a red Mercedes convertible and a Lexus SUV for his wife, Lindsay.

She is accused of dropping tens of thousands of dollars on clothes, awarding nonacademic scholarships to friends of her children and sending scores of text messages on university-issued cell phones to people described in the lawsuit as 'underage males.'"

Scandal Brewing at Oral Roberts U.

Get Out The Stakes

Where's the Spanish Inquisition when you need it? LATimes (09.27.07):

"Six Roman Catholic nuns have been excommunicated for heresy after refusing to give up membership in a Canadian sect whose founder claims to be possessed by the Virgin Mary, the Diocese of Little Rock said Wednesday.

Msgr. J. Gaston Hebert, the diocese administrator, said he notified the nuns Tuesday night after they refused to recant the teachings of the Community of the Lady of All Nations, also known as the Army of Mary."

6 Arkansas nuns in sect excommunicated for heresy

The Army believes its founder, Marie Paule Giguere, "was the reincarnation of the Virgin Mary and that God spoke directly through her."

Nice, eh?

Shocking

Profanity on the intertubes? Can you believe it? AP (02.09.07):

"[John] Edwards announced Thursday, after 36 hours of deliberation, that he would keep on his campaign staff two liberal feminist bloggers with long cybertrails of incendiary comments on sex, religion and politics."

Edwards to keep bloggers on staff / Pre-campaign posts attacked religion

"In some of their online writings, [Amanda] Marcotte and [Melissa] McEwan used vulgar language to characterize religious conservatives and Roman Catholic teachings on birth control, homosexuality and Jesus' virgin birth."

"McEwan referred to conservative Christians as 'Christofascists,' and Marcotte said the Catholic Church's prohibition on the use of birth control forced women to bear 'more tithing Catholics.'"

"Both frequently used sexually explicit profanity to describe their ideological opponents."

Ha, ha. Big fucking deal.

Prepare For A Good Smiting, You Heathens!

First, the folks toss the kooks out of office. NYTimes (11.09.05):

"All eight members up for re-election to the Pennsylvania school board that had been sued for introducing the teaching of intelligent design as an alternative to evolution in biology class were swept out of office yesterday by a slate of challengers who campaigned against the intelligent design policy."

Evolution Slate Outpolls Rivals

Then another kook delivers an ecclesiastical warning. People for the American Way (11.10.05), via TheCarpetbagger:

"'I’d like to say to the good citizens of Dover. If there is a disaster in your area, don’t turn to God, you just rejected Him from your city.

And don’t wonder why He hasn’t helped you when problems begin, if they begin. I’m not saying they will, but if they do, just remember, you just voted God out of your city. And if that’s the case, don’t ask for His help because he might not be there.'"

Robertson tells Dover, PA citizens, after the election: "Don’t turn to God if you need help"

Pat. This man wanted to be your President.

You Won't Need All That Money Then, Right?

AFP (10.09.05):

"Prominent US preacher Pat Robertson said that recent natural disasters around the world point to the end of the world and the imminent return of Jesus Christ.

'These things are starting to hit with amazing regularity,' Robertson told CNN, remarking on the coincidence of a major earthquake that killed thousands in Asia Saturday and recent killer hurricanes slamming the United States."

Recent natural disasters point to return of Jesus Christ: US evangelist Robertson

"'What was called the Blessed Hope of the Bible is that one day Jesus Christ would come back again, start a whole new era, that this world order that we know would change into something that would be wonderful that we'd call the millennium,' Robertson said."

So if that happens, would we still have to assassinate Hugo Chavez?

Would we still be able to get "Pat's Age-Defying Shake"?

Would we get our Kalo-Vita money back?

How about what we gave you to invest in the gold and diamond mines?

Does that mean we could forget about the nuking the State Department, and all that feminism stuff encouraging women to kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capitalism and become lesbians?

Pat. Give us some guidance. Please.

Speaking of end times, wonder what Jesus will be saying to old Louis here? Editor & Publisher (10.10.05), via Huffington:

"After news broke that local law enforcement officials were investigating complaints that Louis Beres, longtime chairman of the Christian Coalition of Oregon, had molested three female family members when they were pre-teens, The Oregonian in Portland went out and interviewed Beres' family members.

Two told reporters that Beres, indeed, had molested them. All three said they have been interviewed for several hours by detectives."

Local Christian Coalition Official Did Molest, Family Members Tell 'The Oregonian'

"The coalition led by Beres, 70, champions socially conservative candidates and causes. Its Web site describes the group as 'Oregon's leading grassroots organization defending our Godly heritage.'"

The group "is affiliated with the national Christian Coalition, which was founded in 1989 by television evangelist Pat Robertson."

Louis says he's being attacked by "'personal and political enemies'", and that he's "'never molested anybody.'"

Not that it means much of anything, but it just so happens that Louis is a former chairman of the Multnomah County Republican Party.