It struck me recently that conservatives who claim they are "Christian" but are basically racists and believe in rightwing lies all the time either don't know it--because it is so ingrained in their subconscious or unconscious or whatever we may want to call it or blatantly do know it and just lie about it or they are part of a "team" and their "team" needs to win at all costs.
It is the last point I want to address here because I think this one has a lot of validity and these alleged "Christian conservatives" will "take one for the team" (lie, cheat, steal and vote Republican) even when they realize that the people they are voting for are destroying their lives, too (but for them on the "plus" side, they know this will destroy your life, too. So, they have this messed up idea that by bringing others down to their level, somehow it is OK.) They do this because they don't want to admit that the "cause" they have supported or the candidates they support are just a bunch of liars who are using them. Not only are they being manipulated (and in many cases, loving it!), but their jobs are being outsourced or their wages and benefits are being cut, they are being told to hate the minorities, while the ones telling them this are getting richer and richer off of their paranoia and hatred. So, they are not in any way, shape or form being a Christian.
When I mention that they love being manipulated--they do. Any new conspiracy theory or old one that has been debunked, these conservative "Christians" will be on the front lines parroting the new lies and attacking you for asking questions about them. If you don't automatically believe in the latest rightwing lie or retooled debunked lie, you are not a "Christian". Yes, something is wrong with you! Not with the True Believers! Because if the "True Believing Christians" start to question rightwing Republican lies, their world will begin to fall apart and if that happens, then they believe they may "lose their faith". Actually, I think at that point, that is where they may actually begin to be redeemed and will be able to have faith--because certainly they do not have any kind of faith in God now. Their only faith is to the almighty Republican lie machine and dollar which they support and protect.
I watched a movie called "The Chamber" recently. It really wasn't a good movie but it did point out some realities. It was about a racist (inferred that he was a member of the Klan) and he was involved in bombings and blowing up a law office in which two young children were killed. He was on death row and his grandson was trying to save him from execution. What the movie showed is this character knew his bomb didn't blow up the office and kill the boys, it was someone else. But, since the organizational ties were so strong, he would not "rat" on his people that set him up as a fall guy. He would rather be executed, go to his death, then tell the truth and he believed he was a "Christian".
This is similar to the modern conservative or Republican. They won't admit that they agreed to invade a country that didn't have "weapons of mass destruction" which killed thousands of American soldiers and hundreds of thousands of Iraqi citizens. They will lie and argue with you about how it was the right thing to do to stop terrorism (Iraq had nothing to do with 9-11, but our friend, Saudi Arabia did and Bush's family friend the Sultan of Saudi Arabia's family did). These people would rather die, than admit to the truth. Believing in blatant lies is one thing, promoting them as the truth is taking it to another level. And, if you are reading, there is nothing Christian about that.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Saturday, July 28, 2012
God given rights to own guns?
While driving today, I heard some moron call a radio show and claim that owning guns is a God given right? Really, in what Bible or religion? Perhaps this person got their information from this site--
http://www.garymcleod.org/guns.htm
I find it interesting that this site uses Luke 11:21 and takes it out of context (of course) instead of the entire parable that Jesus was teaching which was about Jesus and Satan and from Luke 11:14-28. The parable means that if you are not strong in Christ, Satan can overpower you. But, this clown misinterprets it to claim God approves gun ownership.
And this person also takes the Luke 22:36 verse out of context (of course) because it has to do with the Last Supper and Jesus protection (not going to war). Jesus explains that since they have two swords, that is enough. Luke 22:36 He said to them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one. 37 It is written: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors’[b]; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment.” 38 The disciples said, “See, Lord, here are two swords.” “That’s enough!” he replied.
This blogger also forgets to mention that when Peter attacked the guard, Jesus told him to stop and actually healed the guard. Which is just a little farther down in Luke 22--49 When Jesus’ followers saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?” 50 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. 51 But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him. Do you notice that Jesus didn't say, "Go get me the biggest army you possibly can and we are gonna kick some ass!" Or, "Get my Uzi, it is behind the Temple along with some Rocket Launchers and AK-47's". I think sometimes when these rightwing gun nuts start claiming God wants them to be heavily armed and it is their "God given right", they must have the Smith & Wesson Bible.
Also, this guy uses a fake Hitler quote to prove his point about "gun control". This has been debunked by rightwing sites--including this one--
http://saf.org/pub/rkba/general/BogusAntiGunQuotes.htm
Biblically, there are areas in which it is clear that God wants people to have armies or little bands of people armed to protect their work. Nehemiah being an example because the Israelites were doing God's work of rebuilding the Wall in Jerusalem and rebuilding the Temple. I haven't found anything Biblically that allows anyone to purchase weapons of mass killing for that reason only. I would like someone to point that one out to me.
There was another site I was going to link to, but this guy seems like a survivalist with a lot of time on his hands. Oh yep, just checked, the guy was in the rightwing Minutemen organization. Wow, talk about someone who needs some counseling! BTW, there were a lot of weapons and judgement in the Old Testament. Jesus death on the Cross was supposed to end that type of mentality. To use the OT (usually out of context or misinterpreted) to claim you should own a gun is not only wrong, but heresy. The OT is a historical document that we gain history and perspective from, quite often it meshes well with the New Testament and there are many personal applications from the Old Testament that we can use today. But, I submit, if these rightwing "Christian" nutters can claim to use the OT for their "gun rights", then we should be able to claim it for society in all aspects--including stoning wife cheaters. So, I expect all you Red State wife cheaters--which there is a lot, to start lining up to get stoned (and I don't mean high, either). Or else you can't claim God wants you to own a gun.
http://www.garymcleod.org/guns.htm
I find it interesting that this site uses Luke 11:21 and takes it out of context (of course) instead of the entire parable that Jesus was teaching which was about Jesus and Satan and from Luke 11:14-28. The parable means that if you are not strong in Christ, Satan can overpower you. But, this clown misinterprets it to claim God approves gun ownership.
And this person also takes the Luke 22:36 verse out of context (of course) because it has to do with the Last Supper and Jesus protection (not going to war). Jesus explains that since they have two swords, that is enough. Luke 22:36 He said to them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one. 37 It is written: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors’[b]; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment.” 38 The disciples said, “See, Lord, here are two swords.” “That’s enough!” he replied.
This blogger also forgets to mention that when Peter attacked the guard, Jesus told him to stop and actually healed the guard. Which is just a little farther down in Luke 22--49 When Jesus’ followers saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?” 50 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. 51 But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him. Do you notice that Jesus didn't say, "Go get me the biggest army you possibly can and we are gonna kick some ass!" Or, "Get my Uzi, it is behind the Temple along with some Rocket Launchers and AK-47's". I think sometimes when these rightwing gun nuts start claiming God wants them to be heavily armed and it is their "God given right", they must have the Smith & Wesson Bible.
Also, this guy uses a fake Hitler quote to prove his point about "gun control". This has been debunked by rightwing sites--including this one--
http://saf.org/pub/rkba/general/BogusAntiGunQuotes.htm
Biblically, there are areas in which it is clear that God wants people to have armies or little bands of people armed to protect their work. Nehemiah being an example because the Israelites were doing God's work of rebuilding the Wall in Jerusalem and rebuilding the Temple. I haven't found anything Biblically that allows anyone to purchase weapons of mass killing for that reason only. I would like someone to point that one out to me.
There was another site I was going to link to, but this guy seems like a survivalist with a lot of time on his hands. Oh yep, just checked, the guy was in the rightwing Minutemen organization. Wow, talk about someone who needs some counseling! BTW, there were a lot of weapons and judgement in the Old Testament. Jesus death on the Cross was supposed to end that type of mentality. To use the OT (usually out of context or misinterpreted) to claim you should own a gun is not only wrong, but heresy. The OT is a historical document that we gain history and perspective from, quite often it meshes well with the New Testament and there are many personal applications from the Old Testament that we can use today. But, I submit, if these rightwing "Christian" nutters can claim to use the OT for their "gun rights", then we should be able to claim it for society in all aspects--including stoning wife cheaters. So, I expect all you Red State wife cheaters--which there is a lot, to start lining up to get stoned (and I don't mean high, either). Or else you can't claim God wants you to own a gun.
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Racist Conservative "Christians"
I find it will be truly difficult for those in America who claim they are conservatives (and yes I am talking about modern day Republicans) to go to heaven. They are racists who deny they are racists and hate President Obama, not because of his policies--because Obama's policies are actually, for the most part, Republican policies of the 1970's, 1980's and 1990's and Obama models Republican Uber Conservative Icon, Ronald Reagan, than most any Democratic President.
Obama improved the economy, has not raised taxes and actually has lowered them for everybody, has kept us safer than every Republican President since? Eisonhower, maybe? Nope, even safer than that. So, the conservative and Republicans big items are taxes and national security. Yep, Obama ranks higher than most Republicans in history in those areas. So, why do these conservatives hate Obama? Because President Obama is BLACK! They have no valid reason, the real reason is they are racist bastards. The conservatives and Republicans hate Obama because of the color of his skin. Something, Jesus would not approve. Jesus wouldn't tell white conservatives that it was OK to hate their black President or neighbor because of their skin color. Actually, Jesus told us to love one another and if someone was abusing you, to turn the other cheek. You know who is turning the other cheek in America today? Barack Obama towards the racist conservatives! Yes, Obama is being Christian, not the white haters of Obama who claim they are "Christian".
Obama improved the economy, has not raised taxes and actually has lowered them for everybody, has kept us safer than every Republican President since? Eisonhower, maybe? Nope, even safer than that. So, the conservative and Republicans big items are taxes and national security. Yep, Obama ranks higher than most Republicans in history in those areas. So, why do these conservatives hate Obama? Because President Obama is BLACK! They have no valid reason, the real reason is they are racist bastards. The conservatives and Republicans hate Obama because of the color of his skin. Something, Jesus would not approve. Jesus wouldn't tell white conservatives that it was OK to hate their black President or neighbor because of their skin color. Actually, Jesus told us to love one another and if someone was abusing you, to turn the other cheek. You know who is turning the other cheek in America today? Barack Obama towards the racist conservatives! Yes, Obama is being Christian, not the white haters of Obama who claim they are "Christian".
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Opening Old Wounds
The latest information on the perversion from Penn State opened some old wounds. Or wounds I was covering up since 1981. It's kind of strange that even with all the Catholic Priest perverts that the Catholic church backed and covered up and the original discussion of Jerry Sandusky taking advantage of boys, I still didn't open up to what happened to me. Perhaps because there seems to be some form of justice in the Sandusky/Paterno/Penn State crimes maybe is the reason I feel able to open up on this.
In the summer of 1981 I was 18 going on 19. Something important was going to happen in that one of my brothers was going to get married and I was supposed to be in the wedding party. For some reason, the Catholic church or maybe this Catholic priest (and if I remembered the bastards name I would put it all over this blog) wanted to have meetings with the wedding party--regularly. I didn't think anything of it until he grabbed my crotch and squeezed my ass and told me he "couldn't wait to get me alone". I wasn't a hulk of a teenager and told the priest to back off. But, he didn't. At any chance this pervert tried to put his hand on my private areas if he felt he could get away with it. He would make "big shows" in public on how he "loved everyone so much" that he had to hug them and when he "hugged me" he always had to try to squeeze something and tell me how much "I wanted it". Now, I would look like a big ass if I refused to "hug" the priest that "everybody loved".
Well, you know what. After a few times, I did refuse to hug this perverted bastard and he suggested to my brothers future in-laws that I needed personal counseling with him, privately. That is how evil these predators are. They know all the games and tricks. They know what kind of power they have and they realize that they are mostly untouchable and they will get what they want and if they don't at least they will get away with their crimes. But, those who are victimized are treated as outcasts and criminals.
When I was asked about not "hugging" the predator priest, I told my brother's future in-laws how their "loveable" pastor was groping me. The future in-laws response was that I really was sick and did need the pastors help (the in-laws were "good Catholics" by the way). Pretty slick of the sociopathic priest in an attempt to get me into his one-on-one "counseling sessions".
Now, one thing I didn't do right away is let my brother know what this perverted priest was doing. Why? Because my brother probably would have killed this fucker and I didn't want my brother going to jail. But after witnessing this priest "work his magic" to make me look like some sick teenager who needed his counseling and getting my brothers future in-laws to believe in it, I went to my brother and told him what happened. My brother was pissed off, but we agreed he would first warn and then, if it continued, go further. (BTW--I knew my brothers future in-laws for at least two years before all this occurred. So, they really had to block out who I was to believe I was lying to them). My brother talked to the priest once and he stayed away from me the rest of the time we had to be in a room together. Although, the priest would stare at me throughout the following meetings and if I looked up, he would wink at me.
Well, the wedding date came and went and I haven't seen or thought of that evil fucker since, until this past week. This past week I wondered how many other boys and teenagers did this sociopathic predator victimize. I felt really guilty (which the Catholics make you feel really guilty about almost anything) because maybe I could have prevented this sick bastard from victimizing anyone else. And the answer is I truly don't know and I truly doubt in 1981 that the Catholic Church or the local police would have done anything to this sick fucker or all the other sick Catholic priests that we found out were abusing boys and teenagers for years. They probably would have put me into one-on-one counseling with the guy.
When you have people in positions of power and privilege abusing those who don't, that is sick and should be stopped at all costs. When a system is created to support and protect those in power and privilege at all costs, you have a sick system. Either you need to change the system or you end up with a lot of victims or you wait until it's too late and the system collapses. I hope that system collapses, they don't deserve to survive. That's how I feel about it.
In the summer of 1981 I was 18 going on 19. Something important was going to happen in that one of my brothers was going to get married and I was supposed to be in the wedding party. For some reason, the Catholic church or maybe this Catholic priest (and if I remembered the bastards name I would put it all over this blog) wanted to have meetings with the wedding party--regularly. I didn't think anything of it until he grabbed my crotch and squeezed my ass and told me he "couldn't wait to get me alone". I wasn't a hulk of a teenager and told the priest to back off. But, he didn't. At any chance this pervert tried to put his hand on my private areas if he felt he could get away with it. He would make "big shows" in public on how he "loved everyone so much" that he had to hug them and when he "hugged me" he always had to try to squeeze something and tell me how much "I wanted it". Now, I would look like a big ass if I refused to "hug" the priest that "everybody loved".
Well, you know what. After a few times, I did refuse to hug this perverted bastard and he suggested to my brothers future in-laws that I needed personal counseling with him, privately. That is how evil these predators are. They know all the games and tricks. They know what kind of power they have and they realize that they are mostly untouchable and they will get what they want and if they don't at least they will get away with their crimes. But, those who are victimized are treated as outcasts and criminals.
When I was asked about not "hugging" the predator priest, I told my brother's future in-laws how their "loveable" pastor was groping me. The future in-laws response was that I really was sick and did need the pastors help (the in-laws were "good Catholics" by the way). Pretty slick of the sociopathic priest in an attempt to get me into his one-on-one "counseling sessions".
Now, one thing I didn't do right away is let my brother know what this perverted priest was doing. Why? Because my brother probably would have killed this fucker and I didn't want my brother going to jail. But after witnessing this priest "work his magic" to make me look like some sick teenager who needed his counseling and getting my brothers future in-laws to believe in it, I went to my brother and told him what happened. My brother was pissed off, but we agreed he would first warn and then, if it continued, go further. (BTW--I knew my brothers future in-laws for at least two years before all this occurred. So, they really had to block out who I was to believe I was lying to them). My brother talked to the priest once and he stayed away from me the rest of the time we had to be in a room together. Although, the priest would stare at me throughout the following meetings and if I looked up, he would wink at me.
Well, the wedding date came and went and I haven't seen or thought of that evil fucker since, until this past week. This past week I wondered how many other boys and teenagers did this sociopathic predator victimize. I felt really guilty (which the Catholics make you feel really guilty about almost anything) because maybe I could have prevented this sick bastard from victimizing anyone else. And the answer is I truly don't know and I truly doubt in 1981 that the Catholic Church or the local police would have done anything to this sick fucker or all the other sick Catholic priests that we found out were abusing boys and teenagers for years. They probably would have put me into one-on-one counseling with the guy.
When you have people in positions of power and privilege abusing those who don't, that is sick and should be stopped at all costs. When a system is created to support and protect those in power and privilege at all costs, you have a sick system. Either you need to change the system or you end up with a lot of victims or you wait until it's too late and the system collapses. I hope that system collapses, they don't deserve to survive. That's how I feel about it.
Friday, July 13, 2012
JoePa, Football Idolatry and Abusing Children
Let me first start with this--I never liked Joe Paterno. Even when I was a kid growing up in New Jersey and we saw him on TV, there was something strange and creepy about him. I think some kids do know when there is a creeper around, even if you see them on TV.
We all are probably familiar with Jerry Sandusky by now. The serial pedophile who for years and with knowledge of Joe Paterno and Penn State leadership knew Sandusky was raping and sexually abusing young boys. They knew and allowed a sick, demented pervert to continue abusing young boys. For example, Paterno knew this from Sports Illustrated--
"Paterno received particular scorn in the report, which alleges that he actively discouraged Penn State officials from reporting Sandusky to law enforcement. Freeh's report also implies that Paterno perjured himself while testifying before the Sandusky grand jury. In his testimony, Paterno claimed to only know about the 2001 shower incident purportedly witnessed by graduate assistant Mike McQueary. Freeh's report says that Paterno also knew about the 1998 investigation." Read entire article here--
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/michael_mccann/07/12/freeh-report-penn-state-reaction/index.html
Paterno lied to the grand jury. But Paterno, even with his lies, admitted that he knew it was going on since 2001. Since 2001 and didn't do a damn thing about it! Why would Paterno lie and allow someone to continually abuse children? There are a few "reasons" which I don't agree with. One is Paterno is Roman Catholic. Have you seen what some Roman Catholic priests have been doing to young boys over the years? It is a crime, a travesty and all these perverts should be put away. These cases are numerous and chilling at how an organization over a period of decades (and I would suspect centuries) allowed those in postions of power to abuse the powerless. Link here on their crimes against humanity--
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_sex_abuse_cases
The Catholic leadership knew about the abuse and covered it up. Just like JoePa and Penn State leadership knew about the abuse and covered it up. So, I do think there is some kind of twisted logic there. (A note--if anyone is Catholic and is offended, I am sorry. You may be a great person who truly believes in God but you have to look at what your organization has done and allowed. You need to come to grips with that. I am not sorry if you like JoePa or the Catholic church hierarchy for they have allowed some evil things to occur when they are claiming the mantle of God--and if you support them you are also culpable).
There are other "reasons" that they allowed Sandusky to destroy numerous lives. Probably the biggest is the reputation of Penn State and its football program. And the protection of football "god" JoePa himself. Americans do have a god or many gods in form of idols. A big one for many, especially men, is sports with football being one of America's biggest idols. I bet most men could tell you who won the Superbowl last year or World Series, many could quote stats and even know who the MVP was and be correct. These same people couldn't give you a valid reason why they like or dislike the Affordable Care Act or know any kind of Biblical scripture. So, JoePa was a god within an American idolized sport. If you don't think so, check out his story on Wikipedia--
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Paterno
Paterno was a "football god" and along with that Paterno brought in recruits and money to Penn State. He was a commodity and money maker at the football altar. So, what was protecting one pervert in the scheme of things? To Paterno and Penn State hierarchy, it was nothing really. They had no moral compass. Yet, Paterno was allegedly a "good Roman Catholic". With the scandals, I'd hate to see a "bad Roman Catholic". Paterno accumulated numerous awards and honors and you know what else, Paterno was a "good Republican". From Wikipedia--
"Paterno was a political conservative and a personal friend of former President George H. W. Bush, endorsing the then-candidate in a speech at the 1988 Republican National Convention. Paterno was also a close personal friend of President Gerald R. Ford. In 2004, his son Scott Paterno, an attorney, won the Republican primary for Pennsylvania's 17th congressional district but lost in the November general election to Democratic incumbent Tim Holden."
Could you imagine how much more of a cover-up it would have been if Paterno's son won his election? Boy, this probably would have been buried even further. Especially since Paterno's kid is Republican, Paterno was Republican and Penn State was a sacred institution. We would have seen the Karl Rove Satanic Squad blame all the former children for causing Sandusky to "sin" against them. That these kids plotted some major conspiracy against JoePa and Penn State. No shit, that is how evil these people are--the Rovian Republicans, I mean. And you know what else? The Republicans, Penn State supporters and many football fans would agree with these evil bastards. Because it is all about PR and winning with these people. God and morality have nothing to do with it at the end of the day. All they care about is winning and the box score. That's it.
We all are probably familiar with Jerry Sandusky by now. The serial pedophile who for years and with knowledge of Joe Paterno and Penn State leadership knew Sandusky was raping and sexually abusing young boys. They knew and allowed a sick, demented pervert to continue abusing young boys. For example, Paterno knew this from Sports Illustrated--
"Paterno received particular scorn in the report, which alleges that he actively discouraged Penn State officials from reporting Sandusky to law enforcement. Freeh's report also implies that Paterno perjured himself while testifying before the Sandusky grand jury. In his testimony, Paterno claimed to only know about the 2001 shower incident purportedly witnessed by graduate assistant Mike McQueary. Freeh's report says that Paterno also knew about the 1998 investigation." Read entire article here--
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/michael_mccann/07/12/freeh-report-penn-state-reaction/index.html
Paterno lied to the grand jury. But Paterno, even with his lies, admitted that he knew it was going on since 2001. Since 2001 and didn't do a damn thing about it! Why would Paterno lie and allow someone to continually abuse children? There are a few "reasons" which I don't agree with. One is Paterno is Roman Catholic. Have you seen what some Roman Catholic priests have been doing to young boys over the years? It is a crime, a travesty and all these perverts should be put away. These cases are numerous and chilling at how an organization over a period of decades (and I would suspect centuries) allowed those in postions of power to abuse the powerless. Link here on their crimes against humanity--
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_sex_abuse_cases
The Catholic leadership knew about the abuse and covered it up. Just like JoePa and Penn State leadership knew about the abuse and covered it up. So, I do think there is some kind of twisted logic there. (A note--if anyone is Catholic and is offended, I am sorry. You may be a great person who truly believes in God but you have to look at what your organization has done and allowed. You need to come to grips with that. I am not sorry if you like JoePa or the Catholic church hierarchy for they have allowed some evil things to occur when they are claiming the mantle of God--and if you support them you are also culpable).
There are other "reasons" that they allowed Sandusky to destroy numerous lives. Probably the biggest is the reputation of Penn State and its football program. And the protection of football "god" JoePa himself. Americans do have a god or many gods in form of idols. A big one for many, especially men, is sports with football being one of America's biggest idols. I bet most men could tell you who won the Superbowl last year or World Series, many could quote stats and even know who the MVP was and be correct. These same people couldn't give you a valid reason why they like or dislike the Affordable Care Act or know any kind of Biblical scripture. So, JoePa was a god within an American idolized sport. If you don't think so, check out his story on Wikipedia--
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Paterno
Paterno was a "football god" and along with that Paterno brought in recruits and money to Penn State. He was a commodity and money maker at the football altar. So, what was protecting one pervert in the scheme of things? To Paterno and Penn State hierarchy, it was nothing really. They had no moral compass. Yet, Paterno was allegedly a "good Roman Catholic". With the scandals, I'd hate to see a "bad Roman Catholic". Paterno accumulated numerous awards and honors and you know what else, Paterno was a "good Republican". From Wikipedia--
"Paterno was a political conservative and a personal friend of former President George H. W. Bush, endorsing the then-candidate in a speech at the 1988 Republican National Convention. Paterno was also a close personal friend of President Gerald R. Ford. In 2004, his son Scott Paterno, an attorney, won the Republican primary for Pennsylvania's 17th congressional district but lost in the November general election to Democratic incumbent Tim Holden."
Could you imagine how much more of a cover-up it would have been if Paterno's son won his election? Boy, this probably would have been buried even further. Especially since Paterno's kid is Republican, Paterno was Republican and Penn State was a sacred institution. We would have seen the Karl Rove Satanic Squad blame all the former children for causing Sandusky to "sin" against them. That these kids plotted some major conspiracy against JoePa and Penn State. No shit, that is how evil these people are--the Rovian Republicans, I mean. And you know what else? The Republicans, Penn State supporters and many football fans would agree with these evil bastards. Because it is all about PR and winning with these people. God and morality have nothing to do with it at the end of the day. All they care about is winning and the box score. That's it.
Saturday, July 7, 2012
Sen. James Inhofe, Judas follower
Senator James Inhofe, R--Oklahoma, is a climate denier and liar. He has been the shill for energy companies since climate change became a popular topic. Inhofe's major donors are from the oil and energy industries--From Wikipedia--
"In the 2008 election cycle, Inhofe’s largest campaign donors represented the oil and gas ($446,900 in donations), leadership PACs ($316,720) and electric utilities ($221,654) industries/categories.[21][22] In 2010, his largest donors represented the oil and gas ($429,950) and electric utilities ($206,654).[23]" Full link here--http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Inhofe
If you read it, you will see Inhofe is the perfect shill for those who don't want anything done regarding climate change. Inhofe acts like a Gestapo agent using his senatorial authority, but he calls the EPA "the Gestapo". Projection much, Mr. Inhofe? That does bother me a lot, but what bothers me the most is he claims he is a Christian while he gets paid by oil and gas and the Koch Brothers to lie about climate change. Inhofe did say something truthful about climate change on Rachel Maddow once--This is what Inhofe said to Rachel Maddow on her show earlier this year--
“I was actually on your side of this issue when I was chairing that committee and I first heard about this. I thought it must be true until I found out what it cost.” Full link here--http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2012/03/16/446008/inhofe-maddow-global-warming/
So, Inhofe isn't derailing climate change legislation because it's not true, he is derailing it because the people who pay for him and who own him, the oil and gas industry have him doing a lot of their dirty work. But, Inhofe did something that God doesn't like and that is to misquote Scripture to promote the interests of Inhofe's buddies who are paying him off. Inhofe quoted Genesis 8:22 to claim that God will always have our back and if you believe in climate change, you just aren't a believer. Let's give some background--God promised Noah that He would never destroy the earth, God didn't promise Noah that humans would never destroy the earth. And humans are destroying the earth. Just like Judas got paid to betray Jesus, Inhofe gets paid to betray the earth's environment health along with other rightwing issues.
Genesis 8:15 Then God said to Noah, 16 “Come out of the ark, you and your wife and your sons and their wives. 17 Bring out every kind of living creature that is with you—the birds, the animals, and all the creatures that move along the ground—so they can multiply on the earth and be fruitful and increase in number on it.” 18 So Noah came out, together with his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives. 19 All the animals and all the creatures that move along the ground and all the birds—everything that moves on land—came out of the ark, one kind after another. 20 Then Noah built an altar to the Lord and, taking some of all the clean animals and clean birds, he sacrificed burnt offerings on it. 21 The Lord smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: “Never again will I curse the ground because of humans, even though[a] every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done. 22 “As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.”
Yet, there are other Scripture verses that Inhofe didn't state such as--
Jer. 2:7. I brought you into a fertile land to eat its fruit and rich produce. But you came and defiled my land and you made my inheritance detestable.
Luke 16:2,10,13. And He called him and said to him, "What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward. He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous in much. You cannot serve both God and mammon.
James 5:5. You have lived luxuriously on the earth and led a life of wanton pleasure; you have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter.
Mark 4:19. ...and the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word and it becomes unfruitful.
97% of climate scientists believe and have proof that the earth is warming. The other 3%, mostly who are ideological and corporate shills. Yet, that is who Inhofe supports. But Inhofe is doing other things to harm the environment and Americans. He wants to allow mercury to be spewed into the atmosphere.
"The Mercury and Air Toxics Standard, a rule finalized by the Environmental Protection Agency in December 2011, would require steep reductions of mercury, lead, arsenic, and other toxic pollutants from coal-fired power plants, the largest human-caused source of mercury emissions in the United States. These contaminants are linked to birth defects, brain damage, learning disabilities, cancer and other serious ailments. EPA predicts that mercury and air toxics reductions will save 11,000 lives annually and prevent more than 100,000 asthma and heart attacks yearly, resulting in net economic benefits of up to $80 billion annually. On top of these benefits, investments in the manufacturing, installation, and operation of pollution-control equipment to clean up these pollutants will create jobs.
Mayors, public health groups and small business recognize the overwhelming benefits from reducing mercury pollution. Some 91 mayors across the country, including New York City’s Michael Bloomberg, Los Angeles’ Antonio Villaraigosa, and Chicago’s Rahm Emanuel, sent a letter to the EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, stressing that “this long overdue safeguard will reap tremendous benefits for our communities.”
A broad coalition of public health and civic organizations oppose the Inhofe CRA and support the mercury regulations, including the American Lung Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Small Business Majority and the Natural Resources Defense Council. The Small Business Majority – representing more than 28 million small businesses in the U.S. – also opposes Inhofe’s CRA, acknowledging the job-creating potential of EPA regulations.
And yesterday, Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN) stood up for the health of Tennesseans, saying “the rule will pretty much finish the job of implementing national clean air rules that will greatly improve the health of Tennesseans…. We don’t want to permanently have three of the top five asthma cities in the U.S.” He also acknowledged that utility companies have known that the standard was coming since 1990.
Meanwhile, Republican-backed political action committees (super PACs) are aggressively in favor of the Inhofe resolution. The Koch-backed Americans for Prosperity and its new sister super PAC, American Commitment announced a similar multimillion-dollar campaign to push the CRA through state office visits, phone calls, and television ads targeting specific senators. The Chamber of Commerce released a ridiculous ad earlier this week asking, “will the EPA turn off your air conditioner?” The ad ignores all credible assessments of the impact of the rules, including one from the North American Electric Reliability Corporation showing these regulations will not jeopardize reliability." Full link here--http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2012/06/15/500452/inhofes-irrational-attack-on-clean-air/
So, if most people in the know think and say that your idea is a bad idea, yet your political donors want you to derail it even though it is a bad idea, Sen. Inhofe does what his donors want regardless of how many people die or have ill health effects. He does it because his donors want him to do it and he is getting paid to do it. Inhofe doesn't sound like someone following Jesus, but he does sound like someone following Judas.
"In the 2008 election cycle, Inhofe’s largest campaign donors represented the oil and gas ($446,900 in donations), leadership PACs ($316,720) and electric utilities ($221,654) industries/categories.[21][22] In 2010, his largest donors represented the oil and gas ($429,950) and electric utilities ($206,654).[23]" Full link here--http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Inhofe
If you read it, you will see Inhofe is the perfect shill for those who don't want anything done regarding climate change. Inhofe acts like a Gestapo agent using his senatorial authority, but he calls the EPA "the Gestapo". Projection much, Mr. Inhofe? That does bother me a lot, but what bothers me the most is he claims he is a Christian while he gets paid by oil and gas and the Koch Brothers to lie about climate change. Inhofe did say something truthful about climate change on Rachel Maddow once--This is what Inhofe said to Rachel Maddow on her show earlier this year--
“I was actually on your side of this issue when I was chairing that committee and I first heard about this. I thought it must be true until I found out what it cost.” Full link here--http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2012/03/16/446008/inhofe-maddow-global-warming/
So, Inhofe isn't derailing climate change legislation because it's not true, he is derailing it because the people who pay for him and who own him, the oil and gas industry have him doing a lot of their dirty work. But, Inhofe did something that God doesn't like and that is to misquote Scripture to promote the interests of Inhofe's buddies who are paying him off. Inhofe quoted Genesis 8:22 to claim that God will always have our back and if you believe in climate change, you just aren't a believer. Let's give some background--God promised Noah that He would never destroy the earth, God didn't promise Noah that humans would never destroy the earth. And humans are destroying the earth. Just like Judas got paid to betray Jesus, Inhofe gets paid to betray the earth's environment health along with other rightwing issues.
Genesis 8:15 Then God said to Noah, 16 “Come out of the ark, you and your wife and your sons and their wives. 17 Bring out every kind of living creature that is with you—the birds, the animals, and all the creatures that move along the ground—so they can multiply on the earth and be fruitful and increase in number on it.” 18 So Noah came out, together with his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives. 19 All the animals and all the creatures that move along the ground and all the birds—everything that moves on land—came out of the ark, one kind after another. 20 Then Noah built an altar to the Lord and, taking some of all the clean animals and clean birds, he sacrificed burnt offerings on it. 21 The Lord smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: “Never again will I curse the ground because of humans, even though[a] every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done. 22 “As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.”
Yet, there are other Scripture verses that Inhofe didn't state such as--
Jer. 2:7. I brought you into a fertile land to eat its fruit and rich produce. But you came and defiled my land and you made my inheritance detestable.
Luke 16:2,10,13. And He called him and said to him, "What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward. He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous in much. You cannot serve both God and mammon.
James 5:5. You have lived luxuriously on the earth and led a life of wanton pleasure; you have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter.
Mark 4:19. ...and the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word and it becomes unfruitful.
97% of climate scientists believe and have proof that the earth is warming. The other 3%, mostly who are ideological and corporate shills. Yet, that is who Inhofe supports. But Inhofe is doing other things to harm the environment and Americans. He wants to allow mercury to be spewed into the atmosphere.
"The Mercury and Air Toxics Standard, a rule finalized by the Environmental Protection Agency in December 2011, would require steep reductions of mercury, lead, arsenic, and other toxic pollutants from coal-fired power plants, the largest human-caused source of mercury emissions in the United States. These contaminants are linked to birth defects, brain damage, learning disabilities, cancer and other serious ailments. EPA predicts that mercury and air toxics reductions will save 11,000 lives annually and prevent more than 100,000 asthma and heart attacks yearly, resulting in net economic benefits of up to $80 billion annually. On top of these benefits, investments in the manufacturing, installation, and operation of pollution-control equipment to clean up these pollutants will create jobs.
Mayors, public health groups and small business recognize the overwhelming benefits from reducing mercury pollution. Some 91 mayors across the country, including New York City’s Michael Bloomberg, Los Angeles’ Antonio Villaraigosa, and Chicago’s Rahm Emanuel, sent a letter to the EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, stressing that “this long overdue safeguard will reap tremendous benefits for our communities.”
A broad coalition of public health and civic organizations oppose the Inhofe CRA and support the mercury regulations, including the American Lung Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Small Business Majority and the Natural Resources Defense Council. The Small Business Majority – representing more than 28 million small businesses in the U.S. – also opposes Inhofe’s CRA, acknowledging the job-creating potential of EPA regulations.
And yesterday, Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN) stood up for the health of Tennesseans, saying “the rule will pretty much finish the job of implementing national clean air rules that will greatly improve the health of Tennesseans…. We don’t want to permanently have three of the top five asthma cities in the U.S.” He also acknowledged that utility companies have known that the standard was coming since 1990.
Meanwhile, Republican-backed political action committees (super PACs) are aggressively in favor of the Inhofe resolution. The Koch-backed Americans for Prosperity and its new sister super PAC, American Commitment announced a similar multimillion-dollar campaign to push the CRA through state office visits, phone calls, and television ads targeting specific senators. The Chamber of Commerce released a ridiculous ad earlier this week asking, “will the EPA turn off your air conditioner?” The ad ignores all credible assessments of the impact of the rules, including one from the North American Electric Reliability Corporation showing these regulations will not jeopardize reliability." Full link here--http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2012/06/15/500452/inhofes-irrational-attack-on-clean-air/
So, if most people in the know think and say that your idea is a bad idea, yet your political donors want you to derail it even though it is a bad idea, Sen. Inhofe does what his donors want regardless of how many people die or have ill health effects. He does it because his donors want him to do it and he is getting paid to do it. Inhofe doesn't sound like someone following Jesus, but he does sound like someone following Judas.
Jimmy Carter, a Good Christian
Yes, I am talking about THAT Jimmy Carter. James Earl Carter, the 39th President of the United States of America. People who believe he was a failed President and make fun of him. I don't believe Carter was a failed President, he did some great things. He spoke the truth, which is very hard for any Republican to do and many Democrats, for that matter.
Jimmy Carter spoke to us honestly about our energy dependence and how we needed to get off of it back in the 1970's. Carter gave a speech calling the energy crisis the "moral equivalent of war" and we needed to start conserving energy and finding alternative renewal energy sources. He even had solar panels put on the White House to create and save energy. These panels were immediately taken down by the oil industry supported Reagan Administration. Just think were we would be today if we continued following Carter's lead in energy independence. We probably would be energy independent and converted to renewable sources in such a manner that Global Warming and Global Climate events weren't so severe. I don't know about you, but two weeks straight of record breaking hot temperatures tells me that there is definitely something wrong with our weather. And yes, it is a direct result of man made problems and it has a lot to do with greed.
When Carter was President he tried to help other nations resolve conflict such as the Camp David Peace Accord's with Egypt and Israel and the SALT II Nuclear reduction treaty with the Soviet Union. Both actions helped make the world safer. But Carter did other things, noble things, Christian things.
One of the best was his foreign policy of Human Rights and Democratization. What that meant was no longer was the USA going to give money to dictators we helped to install (or installed) who terrorized and killed their populace because they wanted democracy, a decent job, health care or a decent standard of living amongst other things. Carter cut off funding to Argentina and Uruguay, two military juntas that terrorized and murdered significant parts of their populations. Argentina was infamous for stealing children of those they didn't like politically. He also cut off military assistance to Argentina, Brazil, El Salvador and Guatemala--all brutal to their populace at the time. Carter took to heart Jesus teaching of loving one another and extended it to other countries. He didn't just leave it to the United States of America and in America, that microcosm of middle class and wealthy white people. Carter's act of showing humane treatment to "colored" people of Third World Nations was revolutionary and hated by the Republicans, conservatives and rightwingers in the USA who love their ideology. Idolatry of ideology as Bruce Cockburn sang. Here is a link to Carter's foreign policy ideas--
http://teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=727
Carter response to the Nicaraguan Revolution was the following--
"When the American military forces left Nicaragua for the last time, in 1933, they left behind a souvenir by which the Nicaraguan people could remember them: the National Guard, placed under the direction of one Anastasio Somoza ... Three years later, Somoza took over the presidency and with the indispensable help of the National Guard established a family dynasty which would rule over Nicaragua, much like a private estate, for the next 43 years. While the Guardsmen, consistently maintained by the United States, passed their time on martial law, rape, torture, murder of the opposition, and massacres of peasants, as well as less violent pursuits such as robbery, extortion, contraband, running brothels and other government functions, the Somoza clan laid claim to the lion's share of Nicaragua's land and businesses. When Anastasio Somoza II was overthrown by the Sandinistas in July 1979, he fled into exile leaving behind a country in which two-thirds of the population earned less than $300 a year. Upon his arrival in Miami, Somoza admitted to being worth $100 million. A US intelligence report, however, placed it at $900 million. It was fortunate for the new Nicaraguan leaders that they came to power while Jimmy Carter sat in the White House. It gave them a year and a half of relative breathing space to take the first steps in their planned reconstruction of an impoverished society before the relentless hostility of the Reagan administration descended upon them; which is not to say that Carter welcomed the Sandinista victory." Full link here--
http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Blum/Nicaragua_KH.html
If you read it carefully, the USA left Nicaragua leaving the country in charge by Anastasio Somoza and the National Guard which went on to terrorize the country for 43 years. Carter didn't welcome the Sandinista victory, but he didn't actively get involved to overthrow them and re-install a terroristic government. Ronald Reagan attempted that and did a great job of destroying that countries path towards democracy by his foreign policy. Reagan also did an about face on all the countries that Carter prohibited funding. Reagan opened the door for rightwing fascist countries and organizations to murder and terrorize significant parts of their populations. Aren't these people, God's children, too? Why is it so easy for America to allow this to happen and act as if it has nothing to do with them or their relationship with God? I guess it is part of the delusion known as "motivated reasoning". I don't think Jesus will let us use that as an excuse. He won't even let us think it was a good try.
I don't want to get bogged down in what Jimmy Carter did or didn't do as President, but want to move along onto what he did afterward. You can find what he has been doing since 1982 here--
http://www.cartercenter.org/about/index.html
Part of what the Carter Center does was to fight Guinea worm disease and to prevent blindness in Africa and has been successful in basically eradicating the disease. The Center strives to give millions of the world’s poorest people access to skills and knowledge they can use to identify solutions that will improve their own lives. Since its founding, the Center achieved a number of milestones, including: Strengthening international standards for human rights and the voices of individuals defending those rights. Advancing efforts to improve mental health care. Being a mediator in certain disputes.
So, Jimmy Carter has been using his position to make the world a better place. A better place for those who need our help the most and don't fit into the category of having a natural resource that we can exploit for gain. Other former presidents make speeches for profit or sit on their money. I wonder "What Would Jesus Do?" Jimmy Carter is following Jesus' example. Jesus would be healing and helping the unfortunate, that's what Jesus would do.
Jimmy Carter spoke to us honestly about our energy dependence and how we needed to get off of it back in the 1970's. Carter gave a speech calling the energy crisis the "moral equivalent of war" and we needed to start conserving energy and finding alternative renewal energy sources. He even had solar panels put on the White House to create and save energy. These panels were immediately taken down by the oil industry supported Reagan Administration. Just think were we would be today if we continued following Carter's lead in energy independence. We probably would be energy independent and converted to renewable sources in such a manner that Global Warming and Global Climate events weren't so severe. I don't know about you, but two weeks straight of record breaking hot temperatures tells me that there is definitely something wrong with our weather. And yes, it is a direct result of man made problems and it has a lot to do with greed.
When Carter was President he tried to help other nations resolve conflict such as the Camp David Peace Accord's with Egypt and Israel and the SALT II Nuclear reduction treaty with the Soviet Union. Both actions helped make the world safer. But Carter did other things, noble things, Christian things.
One of the best was his foreign policy of Human Rights and Democratization. What that meant was no longer was the USA going to give money to dictators we helped to install (or installed) who terrorized and killed their populace because they wanted democracy, a decent job, health care or a decent standard of living amongst other things. Carter cut off funding to Argentina and Uruguay, two military juntas that terrorized and murdered significant parts of their populations. Argentina was infamous for stealing children of those they didn't like politically. He also cut off military assistance to Argentina, Brazil, El Salvador and Guatemala--all brutal to their populace at the time. Carter took to heart Jesus teaching of loving one another and extended it to other countries. He didn't just leave it to the United States of America and in America, that microcosm of middle class and wealthy white people. Carter's act of showing humane treatment to "colored" people of Third World Nations was revolutionary and hated by the Republicans, conservatives and rightwingers in the USA who love their ideology. Idolatry of ideology as Bruce Cockburn sang. Here is a link to Carter's foreign policy ideas--
http://teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=727
Carter response to the Nicaraguan Revolution was the following--
"When the American military forces left Nicaragua for the last time, in 1933, they left behind a souvenir by which the Nicaraguan people could remember them: the National Guard, placed under the direction of one Anastasio Somoza ... Three years later, Somoza took over the presidency and with the indispensable help of the National Guard established a family dynasty which would rule over Nicaragua, much like a private estate, for the next 43 years. While the Guardsmen, consistently maintained by the United States, passed their time on martial law, rape, torture, murder of the opposition, and massacres of peasants, as well as less violent pursuits such as robbery, extortion, contraband, running brothels and other government functions, the Somoza clan laid claim to the lion's share of Nicaragua's land and businesses. When Anastasio Somoza II was overthrown by the Sandinistas in July 1979, he fled into exile leaving behind a country in which two-thirds of the population earned less than $300 a year. Upon his arrival in Miami, Somoza admitted to being worth $100 million. A US intelligence report, however, placed it at $900 million. It was fortunate for the new Nicaraguan leaders that they came to power while Jimmy Carter sat in the White House. It gave them a year and a half of relative breathing space to take the first steps in their planned reconstruction of an impoverished society before the relentless hostility of the Reagan administration descended upon them; which is not to say that Carter welcomed the Sandinista victory." Full link here--
http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Blum/Nicaragua_KH.html
If you read it carefully, the USA left Nicaragua leaving the country in charge by Anastasio Somoza and the National Guard which went on to terrorize the country for 43 years. Carter didn't welcome the Sandinista victory, but he didn't actively get involved to overthrow them and re-install a terroristic government. Ronald Reagan attempted that and did a great job of destroying that countries path towards democracy by his foreign policy. Reagan also did an about face on all the countries that Carter prohibited funding. Reagan opened the door for rightwing fascist countries and organizations to murder and terrorize significant parts of their populations. Aren't these people, God's children, too? Why is it so easy for America to allow this to happen and act as if it has nothing to do with them or their relationship with God? I guess it is part of the delusion known as "motivated reasoning". I don't think Jesus will let us use that as an excuse. He won't even let us think it was a good try.
I don't want to get bogged down in what Jimmy Carter did or didn't do as President, but want to move along onto what he did afterward. You can find what he has been doing since 1982 here--
http://www.cartercenter.org/about/index.html
Part of what the Carter Center does was to fight Guinea worm disease and to prevent blindness in Africa and has been successful in basically eradicating the disease. The Center strives to give millions of the world’s poorest people access to skills and knowledge they can use to identify solutions that will improve their own lives. Since its founding, the Center achieved a number of milestones, including: Strengthening international standards for human rights and the voices of individuals defending those rights. Advancing efforts to improve mental health care. Being a mediator in certain disputes.
So, Jimmy Carter has been using his position to make the world a better place. A better place for those who need our help the most and don't fit into the category of having a natural resource that we can exploit for gain. Other former presidents make speeches for profit or sit on their money. I wonder "What Would Jesus Do?" Jimmy Carter is following Jesus' example. Jesus would be healing and helping the unfortunate, that's what Jesus would do.
Thursday, July 5, 2012
The "God Particle"
A particle theorized by Peter Higgs in 1964. There is a good explanation of the theory here-- http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/evolution/161429225.html and specifically from this article--
"The Higgs is named after the English physicist Peter Higgs, who proposed a theory in 1964 to explain a mystery: why the constituents of matter have mass but the light particle, or photon, is massless. Scientists had gotten used to the idea that electric and magnetic fields could pervade space, and Higgs proposed another field, bearing his name, through which particles could acquire mass. Physicists say Higgs particles can be thought of as waves or ripples in the Higgs field. The particle is the manifestation of the Higgs theory that's potentially testable. In the 1970s, the Higgs field was incorporated into a Nobel-winning theory that united electromagnetism with one of the forces involved in nuclear reactions. Now the Higgs idea is woven into the so-called Standard Model, which describes the constituents of matter and the forces that act on them."
To me this is interesting because the aforementioned material was written by an atheist. It is obvious when you click on the link. However, I like the explanation once you get past the standard atheistic god doesn't exist dribble. I always find it interesting in that atheists believe in a form of religion, it just doesn't have anything to do with God. The religion of the Big Bang Theory, for example.
If you believe in God, you can easily understand that God can create all types of particles and mass. Since God created the heavens and the earth, why couldn't God create subatomic photon particles? Because He can. In Genesis, Chapter 1 verse 3 God creates light. It is instantaneous. Yet, it took human scientists 50 years and millions to billions of dollars to create this particle. And that is not a bad thing and it also doesn't prove that God doesn't exist. To me, it proves more that God does exist.
I just don't understand people who use scientific discoveries as a means to prove an end. Their end typically is to say "God doesn't exist" because they proved a scientific theory. But, so what? What does proving a scientific theory have to do with the non-existence of God? Nothing. Quite often the anti-God zealots automatically believe that science can have nothing to do with God. Yet, I think science has everything to do with God and am glad when a "new discovery" is made. There have been those who believed in God and also were scientists since the persecution of Christians officially ended in 313 A.D. Here is a list--
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Christian_thinkers_in_science
I think atheists may be confused in that there are many religionists who are anti-science. But they are not representing God. They are usually representing themselves or an organization that is using God to get power, money or fame. So, if you are an atheist, you need to distinguish between God and the anti-science religionists. God isn't the one perverting and denying scientific discovery, the anti-science religionists are and in my opinion, they are a bigger problem for Christianity and science than you.
"The Higgs is named after the English physicist Peter Higgs, who proposed a theory in 1964 to explain a mystery: why the constituents of matter have mass but the light particle, or photon, is massless. Scientists had gotten used to the idea that electric and magnetic fields could pervade space, and Higgs proposed another field, bearing his name, through which particles could acquire mass. Physicists say Higgs particles can be thought of as waves or ripples in the Higgs field. The particle is the manifestation of the Higgs theory that's potentially testable. In the 1970s, the Higgs field was incorporated into a Nobel-winning theory that united electromagnetism with one of the forces involved in nuclear reactions. Now the Higgs idea is woven into the so-called Standard Model, which describes the constituents of matter and the forces that act on them."
To me this is interesting because the aforementioned material was written by an atheist. It is obvious when you click on the link. However, I like the explanation once you get past the standard atheistic god doesn't exist dribble. I always find it interesting in that atheists believe in a form of religion, it just doesn't have anything to do with God. The religion of the Big Bang Theory, for example.
If you believe in God, you can easily understand that God can create all types of particles and mass. Since God created the heavens and the earth, why couldn't God create subatomic photon particles? Because He can. In Genesis, Chapter 1 verse 3 God creates light. It is instantaneous. Yet, it took human scientists 50 years and millions to billions of dollars to create this particle. And that is not a bad thing and it also doesn't prove that God doesn't exist. To me, it proves more that God does exist.
I just don't understand people who use scientific discoveries as a means to prove an end. Their end typically is to say "God doesn't exist" because they proved a scientific theory. But, so what? What does proving a scientific theory have to do with the non-existence of God? Nothing. Quite often the anti-God zealots automatically believe that science can have nothing to do with God. Yet, I think science has everything to do with God and am glad when a "new discovery" is made. There have been those who believed in God and also were scientists since the persecution of Christians officially ended in 313 A.D. Here is a list--
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Christian_thinkers_in_science
I think atheists may be confused in that there are many religionists who are anti-science. But they are not representing God. They are usually representing themselves or an organization that is using God to get power, money or fame. So, if you are an atheist, you need to distinguish between God and the anti-science religionists. God isn't the one perverting and denying scientific discovery, the anti-science religionists are and in my opinion, they are a bigger problem for Christianity and science than you.
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Motivated Reasoning is a nice way to say You're Delusional
Motivated reasoning is common amongst conservatives and rightwingers in America today. What is motivated reasoning? It is believing in your position regardless of what the facts are. For a more descriptive explanation is from http://www.skepdic.com/motivatedreasoning.html and states:
"Motivated reasoning is confirmation bias taken to the next level. Motivated reasoning leads people to confirm what they already believe, while ignoring contrary data. But it also drives people to develop elaborate rationalizations to justify holding beliefs that logic and evidence have shown to be wrong. Motivated reasoning responds defensively to contrary evidence, actively discrediting such evidence or its source without logical or evidentiary justification. Clearly, motivated reasoning is emotion driven. It seems to be assumed by social scientists that motivated reasoning is driven by a desire to avoid cognitive dissonance. Self-delusion, in other words, feels good, and that's what motivates people to vehemently defend obvious falsehoods."
People on the right are self-delusional regarding President Barack Obama (to them he is an illegitimate Kenyan Socialist who has plotted to become President of the USA since birth); Climate Change is a hoax (even though evidence is to the contrary) and Saddam Hussein was involved in 9/11 (he wasn't). But, I think it is time we go further and call "motivated reasoning" a mental illness.
Many, many who have motivated reasoning are Church goers. Actually, they are the ones typically believing and promoting the lies most often and most vociferously (OK, many Libertarians fit into this category, too) . And they are the ones telling you how right they are and how wrong you are. You know who I'm talking about. They believe if they yell the loudest, they win. Facts don't matter to them because they usually have none.
Anyway, going back to how Republicans, conservatives and rightwingers will say they believe in God and attend Church, etc. Yet, how can they deny reality of what is going on in God's world around them and claim to be with God? OK, motivated reasoning, I get it. Did I mention it should be called a mental illness?
Unfortunately, these people remind me of those that Timothy wrote about in 2 Timothy 3:1-9 which he wrote:
3:1 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.
6 They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over gullible women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, 7 always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth. 8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these teachers oppose the truth. They are men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected. 9 But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone.
I know many of them and many of them fit Timothy's description. Their minds have been transformed continually by Fox, Rush and rightwing radio and Internet, not God. They do deny truths and appear stupid to many because they promote stupid, selfish ideas and are filled with hate towards others. They are modern day Scribes and Pharisees acting as if they are God's chosen when they are actual an abomination in God's eyes. What does God view as an abomination? From Proverbs 6:16-19--
16 There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: 17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, 18 a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, 19 a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.
Rightwingers, conservatives and Republicans, lets take an inventory--
Haughty Eyes--arrogant superiority to others (check)
Lying Tongue--Fox, Rush, rightwing radio and internet (check)
Hands that shed innocent blood--is there a war they don't like (check)
Heart devising wicked schemes--you see how many voters Republicans are trying to purge from voting?--In every Republican controlled state they are trying to commit Election Fraud and are worried about non-existent Voter Fraud. (check)
Feet that are quick to rush into evil--See the first four, the Koch Brothers Tea Party minions (check)
A false witness (6:19)--CHECK! See Tea Partiers, Karl Rove, Republican Party in general.
We have those who are abominations in God's eyes pretending to be the moral Christian standard bearers in today's world. Boy are they going to be surprised when Jesus returns! They have a lot of explaining to do. Unfortunately, Jesus won't want to hear it. You are lucky, there still is time to repent!
"Motivated reasoning is confirmation bias taken to the next level. Motivated reasoning leads people to confirm what they already believe, while ignoring contrary data. But it also drives people to develop elaborate rationalizations to justify holding beliefs that logic and evidence have shown to be wrong. Motivated reasoning responds defensively to contrary evidence, actively discrediting such evidence or its source without logical or evidentiary justification. Clearly, motivated reasoning is emotion driven. It seems to be assumed by social scientists that motivated reasoning is driven by a desire to avoid cognitive dissonance. Self-delusion, in other words, feels good, and that's what motivates people to vehemently defend obvious falsehoods."
People on the right are self-delusional regarding President Barack Obama (to them he is an illegitimate Kenyan Socialist who has plotted to become President of the USA since birth); Climate Change is a hoax (even though evidence is to the contrary) and Saddam Hussein was involved in 9/11 (he wasn't). But, I think it is time we go further and call "motivated reasoning" a mental illness.
Many, many who have motivated reasoning are Church goers. Actually, they are the ones typically believing and promoting the lies most often and most vociferously (OK, many Libertarians fit into this category, too) . And they are the ones telling you how right they are and how wrong you are. You know who I'm talking about. They believe if they yell the loudest, they win. Facts don't matter to them because they usually have none.
Anyway, going back to how Republicans, conservatives and rightwingers will say they believe in God and attend Church, etc. Yet, how can they deny reality of what is going on in God's world around them and claim to be with God? OK, motivated reasoning, I get it. Did I mention it should be called a mental illness?
Unfortunately, these people remind me of those that Timothy wrote about in 2 Timothy 3:1-9 which he wrote:
3:1 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.
6 They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over gullible women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, 7 always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth. 8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these teachers oppose the truth. They are men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected. 9 But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone.
I know many of them and many of them fit Timothy's description. Their minds have been transformed continually by Fox, Rush and rightwing radio and Internet, not God. They do deny truths and appear stupid to many because they promote stupid, selfish ideas and are filled with hate towards others. They are modern day Scribes and Pharisees acting as if they are God's chosen when they are actual an abomination in God's eyes. What does God view as an abomination? From Proverbs 6:16-19--
16 There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: 17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, 18 a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, 19 a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.
Rightwingers, conservatives and Republicans, lets take an inventory--
Haughty Eyes--arrogant superiority to others (check)
Lying Tongue--Fox, Rush, rightwing radio and internet (check)
Hands that shed innocent blood--is there a war they don't like (check)
Heart devising wicked schemes--you see how many voters Republicans are trying to purge from voting?--In every Republican controlled state they are trying to commit Election Fraud and are worried about non-existent Voter Fraud. (check)
Feet that are quick to rush into evil--See the first four, the Koch Brothers Tea Party minions (check)
A false witness (6:19)--CHECK! See Tea Partiers, Karl Rove, Republican Party in general.
We have those who are abominations in God's eyes pretending to be the moral Christian standard bearers in today's world. Boy are they going to be surprised when Jesus returns! They have a lot of explaining to do. Unfortunately, Jesus won't want to hear it. You are lucky, there still is time to repent!
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