Wishing For Peace In The New Year

Onward Christian Soldiers As To War

Proverbs 21:31

The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the LORD.

2 Samuel 22:38-43 King David's song of praise

I pursued my enemies and crushed them; I did not turn back till they were destroyed. I crushed them completely, and they could not rise; they fell beneath my feet. You armed me with strength for battle; you made my adversaries bow at my feet. You made my enemies turn their backs in flight, and I destroyed my foes. They cried for help, but there was no one to save them—to the LORD, but he did not answer. I beat them as fine as the dust of the earth; I pounded and trampled them like mud in the streets.

Ps 24:8

Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.

Revelation 12:7-9, 12 - thank you Jesus for giving us the problem

And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down, that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short.

Matthew 10:34-39 Jesus said

Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law, a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household. Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Zazzle T-shirt

God Is A Victim

In human psychology a pattern emerges of persons who feel a need to save someone else. For those in addiction, these people are their co-dependents.

SAVIOR -> PERSECUTOR -> VICTIM

At first it looks quite unselfish and we marvel at the sacrifice. But under the covers other patterns are seen. The savior eventually turns into a persecutor. The co-dependent knows what is best for the addicted "sinful" person. It is self-evident what needs to happen, but the sinful person doesn't follow the advice. The savior becomes anger and resentful that the advise is not taken. Then the savior begins to harass and threaten the evil doer with abandonment and/or punishment. Still the evil one keeps doing evil. The savior turned persecutor turns now to be the victim. I have done all I could for them and they still refuse. As you read the Bible that is the Lord Almighty, only He is the one who set it all up. He created Adam and Eve fully knowing Eve would be deceived by Satan as a talking snake who He allowed to be present on the earth and visible to her. Then to His Almighty shock they fell. Then begins the incessant need to save, to persecute (hell good enough for you) and then the victim. It greived him he made man. He takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked.

The God of the Bible - Savior, Persecutor and Victim. Christians try to promote the first one, but then turned to the other two just like the God they worship as soon as they detect any resistance.

Jesus Is Love And One Mean Bastard

Christians apologist attempt to excuse God from any wrong doing but the Bible paints a different picture. These Christians sanitize god as a god of love which is taking one text while ignoring others. The BuyBull is so contradictory it is understandable. You can literally hold opposite views and have text to validate it. This is why there are over 10k Christian denominations. The God of Love is also the God Of Eternal Hell. Ancients didn't have a problem with this because they saw themselves hopelessly dependent on this god, not much different than Egyptian, Greek and Roman gods. These gods are simply a reflection of who they were as humans, sometimes loving and sometimes real bastards.

The ones who accept this Judeo-Christian god of contradictions say he is a mystery, we cannot understand. I think we can. The punishment should fit the crime. Seventy years of just living a decent life but not believing in Jesus gives you billions upon trillions of years of being in total darkness yet burning alive with unbelievable suffering. The early old testament didn't paint this view but the loving Jesus did. In fact there are so many references to Jesus talking about hell, 70 by one count, we can say it was his key message. As a marketer he needed to show your need and of course he is the only solution, the cause of the problem at the same time being the solution. Prime B.S. Marketing duping billions. Kudos.

1 John 4:16

God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.

1 Samuel 2:6

The LORD brings death and makes alive; he brings down to the grave and raises up.

Isaiah 45:7

I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.

Mark 9:47-48 Jesus talking to his disciples

And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.

Hard Believer

So you ask for my opinion
Well what is there to say
To be honest and just foolish
Won't make you wanna stay
You've got to go on and get moving
I can't do that for you
Got so many plans and so much you want to do

Love is tough, time is rough
Love is tough, time is rough
Whoaaaa on me

Well I see you've got your bible
Your delusion imagery
Well I don't need your eternity
Or your meaning to feel free
I just live because I love to
And that's enough you see
So don''t come preach about morality
That's just human sense to me

Love is tough, time is rough
Love is tough, time is rough
Whoaaaa on me
On me-eeee .. on me-eee ...

break

And it's one life and it's this life
And it's beautiful
(repeat)
And it's beau .. beau .. beau ... beautiful

Love is tough, time is rough
Whoaaaa on me

Christmas - The Delusion

When I was being "born again" as a teenager there were things that Christianity did to lead me to believe everything is wonderful, everything is great. Once you give your life to Jesus then all is well. This song captures that feeling. When you are debating a Christian this is at the bottom, an emotion, a feeling, that logic cannot remove or if it is shaken then that is the root of the anger. You are criticizing their imaginary father who is intimately involved with them.

Then life happened and it just didn't fit this delusion. I still enjoy this song by Evie Tornquist. Christians have the best songs for being slap happy. And behind closed doors it all changes. Play it again, Jesus.

Hoping you have a day free of woo-woo

I Believe In Father Christmas

From Emerson, Lake and Palmer



They said there'll be snow at Christmas
They said there'll be peace on Earth
But instead it just kept on raining
A veil of tears for the Virgin's birth
I remember one Christmas morning
A winters light and a distant choir
And the peal of a bell and that Christmas Tree smell
And their eyes full of tinsel and fire

They sold me a dream of Christmas
They sold me a Silent Night
And they told me a fairy story
'Till I believed in the Israelite
And I believed in Father Christmas
And I looked at the sky with excited eyes
'Till I woke with a yawn in the first light of dawn
And I saw him and through his disguise

I wish you a hopeful Christmas
I wish you a brave New Year
All anguish pain and sadness
Leave your heart and let your road be clear
They said there'll be snow at Christmas
They said there'll be peace on Earth
Hallelujah Noel be it Heaven or Hell
The Christmas you get you deserve

Beatles - Merry Christmas 1963

Jesus Is ...

A website, created by the City Church in Kirkland, WA is Jesus' facebook but since he is busy we get to say what he is. I found it entertaining to add a bunch of them as well as read other peoples statements. Here is a sampling.

JESUS IS

• the one who healed me after I got shot by police in a bank robbery
• nailed to a cross. My God has a hammer. Any questions?
• loving the people who are saying mean things on this site
• loving atheist too - mmm, deep fried atheist
• is late (matthew 24:34)
• wondering why you worship him as a caucasian
• so I don't have to think
• the one who loves even the people that post horrible things
• the only reason I am porn and drug free
• letting me "choose" him the way my mugger lets me choose to give him my wallet
• a common side effect of bad parenting
• is an extraordinary claim lacking ordinary evidence
• dead for somebody's sins, but not mine
• not coming back until Favre retires for good
• not real, but his fan club is real and dangerous
• teaching kids that it is okay to benefit from someone's murder
• less effective than planned parenthood when it comes to preventing abortion
• getting all of the credit and none of the blame. It's a pretty sweet deal
• not sure what to do. any suggestions?
• a gardener not allowed to work in Arizona
• wondering why the churches have all your money
• not love...love is love and doesn't need any useless baggage
• not there, but atheist are, and we love you
• what keeps the poor from killing the rich
• at war with Thor
• delayed because of bad weather
• an infection. Reason is the cure
• Mithras for girly men
• rolling over in his grave
• never going to be able to wash the blood from his hands
• proof that Joseph was the most gullible man in history
• "the most scientific man who ever trod the globe" - Mary Baker Eddy
• is very upset that you are an atheist
• blessing the cheesemakers
• Santa Claus for adults
• fighting OCD
• dressing up as Satan for Halloween
• Apollonius of Tyana
• the originator of the Stockholm syndrome
• not the reason for the season, that would be the axial tilt of the earth
• pro global warming
• glad he only had to give up a weekend for you
• going to hunt you down & kill you if you don't believe in him
• the son of two fathers; so why can't my gad Dad's marry?
• someone who cured a leper but couldn't be bothered curing the disease
• whatever your weak mind needs
• the sound Christians start making when they know they've lost the argument
• what I say when I stub my toe
• a cyborg from the 52nd century sent back to cause humanity to destroy itself
• not persecuted. Persecution is being burned alive for not accepting dogma.
• wasting your only life, waiting for another one
• never not enough & always more than enough
• a nice idea, poorly expressed
• thinking it would have been simpler just to forgive people
• the one who will provide me with billions to give!
• my inner abusive parent who loves me

Prophecies About Jesus - Lies (out of Egypt)

Bible prophecies regarding Jesus are pick this, ignore that. If you read the context of the Old Testament reference you will see they are not clear predictions of Jesus. The author was clearly referencing his time, not a distant future time. Matthew, the first book of the New Testament references a text regarding the people of Israel being called out of Egypt at the time of Moses. Additionally, odd how the NT authors didn't pick up on the text by Moses saying that no Jew should ever go back to Egypt. Let's just ignore that. OK?

Deuteronomy 17:14-17

When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you and have taken possession of it and settled in it, and you say, “Let us set a king over us like all the nations around us,” be sure to appoint over you the king the LORD your God chooses. He must be from among your own brothers. Do not place a foreigner over you, one who is not a brother Israelite. The king, moreover, must not acquire great numbers of horses for himself or make the people return to Egypt to get more of them, for the LORD has told you, “You are not to go back that way again.” He must not take many wives, or his heart will be led astray. He must not accumulate large amounts of silver and gold.

Matthew 2:13-15

When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”
So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.” (from Hosea 11:1)

Now here is the context of Hosea 11 which Matthew unequivocally states is a prophecy of Jesus

Hosea 11:1-2

When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. But the more I called Israel, the further they went from me. They sacrificed to the Baals and they burned incense to images.

Did this mean while the baby Jesus was in Egypt he burned incense to false gods and ignored Jehovah? It angers me that Matthew was this deceptive. Illiteracy is one excuse for those believing what they are told, never reading the Bible is another. Many Christians believe the prophecies in the Bible are legitimate. I have yet to see one prophecy not laden down with this and other kinds of B.S.

Merry ChristMithramas.

Jesus Birth Line Is Suspect

Two New Testament authors present the lineage of Jesus. This is all important because the Old Testament has tedious, exhausting genealogies to prove a key point.

The short history of the Jews, they were slaves in Egypt. Moses apparently with God on his side brings them out and then they wander about for 40 years. Then under Joshua they commit mass genocide against the peoples who lived in the land of God's promise. Now this genocide was not a sin because God told them to do it. Well, eventually they stopped believing in God and what they had done to others was now being done to them. Many of them were carried off to Babylon or Assyria and the country was no more. God had punished them enough and again pulled them out of these countries and re-established Israel. With all that going on how could you know you were the seed of Abraham, Isaac (not Ishmael) and Jacob (not Esau)? You had to have your pedigree papers in order. If you could not prove your lineage then you were basically on the out. It was especially important for the priests. You have to be chosen to wait at God's table and provide Him His favorite food, that is blood.

So, we come to the New Testament and you have to prove Jesus is a true blood. Two gospels took a stab at that and apparently didn't compare notes. Immediately they both disagree on who Jesus' grandfather was, one says Jacob the other Heli. Luke, a gentile presents 42 generations from King David to Jesus. Matthew, on the other hand, presents only 27 generations from King David to Jesus. The strict biblical literalist would see that Luke says "the son of" and Matthew going in the opposite order says "the father of".

So how can a fundie resolve this contradiction? They say that Luke being a gentile didn't need to be convinced of the "chosen" lineage didn't mean Joseph but Mary's lineage. So, why does he specifically say Joseph? If Mary was important why is there not even one mention of her in his entire book? But for sake of argument let's say he meant Mary (which is a contradiction), then how could her lineage contain 42 peers to Matthew's 27 generations be right? There would be some really old dudes in Mathew's line to make it work. 15 missing generations would be a flaw. Additionally, Mary does not have a legitimate messianic family because her ancestry is from Nathan and not Solomon (see 2 Sam.7:12-13,1 Chron.17:11-14,22:10,28:4-7).

I have recently argued with a fundie on this topic. I told him he needed to take the Bible literally. Both say Joseph. However to throw him a bone, I pointed out that Jesus was called the son of David when he really wasn't but he was of the lineage. David and Jesus were separated by about 1000 years. I proposed "why couldn't all these generations be like that?". He began to get uncomfortable with taking the Bible literally in this way. And you know why? Because NO WHERE IN THE BIBLE DOES IT SAY HOW OLD THE EARTH IS. The 6000 years is all wrapped up in the biblical genealogies. Some English bishop named James Ussher produces a work based on these genealogies in the 17th century proving the age of the earth was 6000 years old and Christians have been saddled with that ever since. And like the Pope who persecuted Copernicus, rejecting the earth revolved around the sun, we have these Christians still believing in the delusion.

After going back and forth with this fundie I decide I would ask one precise question. I asked him if the heavens and the earth were only 6000 years old and only at that time would sin & destruction enter how can we see exploding stars that are million light years away?

His answer was to change the laws of physics. The speed of light was a gazillion times faster before sin. This is the nature of the myth of religion. If you find anything contrary, you don't take it at face value (literally) but force fit it with the lamest, outlandish argument and go away satisfied. They learned this skill from believing the bible does not contradict itself. So they have spent many years proving that seven equals two.

So the Bible has contradictions and this is a good one. It is easy to see. But to make it fit you have to be willing to believe any kind of crazy thinking. We have Matthew's numerological list and Luke's lengthy list conflicting with each. On one thing they both agree that Jesus' father was Joseph. However, science steps in and says the DNA of Jesus & Joseph don't match. Remember Mary was a virgin. Jesus was his own father. Jesus was the son of Mary and her father (incest). Jesus was only Joseph's father and he defiled his wife. Literally makes sense, right?


Maybe Paul the Apostle was brighter than Matthew and Luke and avoided the problem.

Titus 3:9
But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless.

Still Believing In Creationism - Dec 2010 Gallup Poll

Less education = More Myth Belief

52% of Republicans reject evolution. Quite the mind trust.

Gallup Poll Article

Behold I Give You Tidings Of Great Joy ...

That the God who put you in this mess is gonna save you from it. Wouldn't that be the responsible thing to do? But if you don't happen to believe in Him you will burn in Hell forever. Really, isn't that psychotic? Shouldn't He burn in Hell forever for doing this?

Santa Claus Has Got The Aids

A Classic from Tiny Tim. R.I.P.

You Know It's A Myth

How To Protect Your Boy From Priests

Damaged

Happy birthday Beethoven

Ludwig van Beethoven (16 December 1770 – 26 March 1827) was a shear genius. He was baptized a day after his birthday. He didn't seem to carry religion though, but was inspired by nature. The 6th and 9th symphonies are wonderful examples of that.

Beethoven's 5th and 9th symphonies are deservedly his most well known but I particularly enjoy the subtleties of his 7th. Here conducted by the best Herbert Von Karajan.

Why We Believe In Gods

Entertaining and revealing.

Morality is doing what is right, regardless what we are told.

Religious dogma is doing what we are told, no matter what is right.

Diseases Are Caused By Sin (Not God)

Taking The Bible Out Of Context

The Creationist Method vs Scientific Method

Anger Is Murder. Lust is Adultery.

Was The Earth Designed For Life?

War - Sinead O'Connor

Sinead O'Connor was born December 8, 1996. She was/is a controversial person, but her views on religion are OK by me.

Here is her SNL performance where she rips up the Pope's picture. Fight the real enemy

Her version of Prince's song "Nothing Compares to U" is incredible.

Basics of Evolution and Misconceptions

You Can't Trust Science

Argument From Design

Let's Get Retarded In Here

Quotes from the great reformation church leader, Martin Luther, who was a key player in the Protestant movement protesting against the tyranny of the Catholic Church

"Reason should be destroyed in all Christians"

“Whoever wants to be a Christian should tear the eyes out of his Reason”

"The word and works of God is quite clear, that women were made either to be wives or prostitutes"

Is there really that much difference between the Catholic, the Protestant, the Muslim, well any monotheistic religion.

God Is A Wife Beater

Origins of Life - Cell Biology

Christians Ignorance Of Evolution

Don't Mess With A Missionary Man

Annie Lennox (born 25 December 1954, in Aberdeen, Scotland) is a Scottish musician and recording artist. She began her recording career as a member of the British pop band The Tourists, and subsequently formed the duo Eurythmics with former bandmate David A. Stewart. The duo gained international prominence over the course of the 1980s with singles such as "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" and "Here Comes the Rain Again".

Don't mess with the missionary man. He will fuck up your head.

But its a great song anyway.

Well I was born an original sinner

I was borne from original sin

And if I had a dollar bill

There'd be a mountain of money

Piled up to my chin...

My mother told me good

My mother told me strong

She said "be true to yourself

And you can't go wrong."

"But there's just one thing

That you must understand:

You can fool with your brother

But don't mess with a missionary man."

Don't mess with a missionary man

Don't mess with a missionary man

Well the missionary man

He's got God on his side (a mental condition)

He's got the saints and apostles

Backin' up from behind

Black eyed looks from those Bible books

He's a man with a mission

Got a serious mind

There was a woman in the jungle

And a monkey on a tree

The missionary man he was followin' me

He said "Stop what you're doing

Get down upon your knees

I've a message for you that you better believe."

Evolution Under Attack - futurama

Futurama is a great show. This spoofs the dumb arguments against evolution.

Futurama
Evolution Under Attack
www.comedycentral.com
Ugly Americans Nick Swardson's Pretend Time The Benson Interruption

Futurama
The Elusive Missing Missing Link
www.comedycentral.com
Ugly Americans Nick Swardson's Pretend Time The Benson Interruption

Futurama
Robot Dinosaurs
www.comedycentral.com
Ugly Americans Nick Swardson's Pretend Time The Benson Interruption

Futurama
Farnsworth's Trial
www.comedycentral.com
Ugly Americans Nick Swardson's Pretend Time The Benson Interruption

God's Will To Kill - Eli's a'coming

Eli was the high priest around 11 century B.C. Like most minister's kids Eli's boys were unruly because their father was more interesting in the Lord's work rather than them. His kids were having sex. God saw this as another great opportunity to getting some killing done (like the plot of horror films - have sex, get killed) so He prevented the kids from repenting. It was His Will To Kill.

1 Samuel 2:22:23-25

Now Eli, who was very old, heard about everything his sons were doing to all Israel and how they slept with the women who served at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. So he said to them, “Why do you do such things? I hear from all the people about these wicked deeds of yours. No, my sons; it is not a good report that I hear spreading among the LORD’s people. If a man sins against another man, God may mediate for him; but if a man sins against the LORD, who will intercede for him?” His sons, however, did not listen to their father’s rebuke, for it was the LORD’s will to put them to death.

A Deconversion Story - lovingdoubt

Does God Exist? Hitchen v Turek Debate

Video

Creationism - Still Crazy After All These Years

Eugenie Scott, AAI 2009

The Power Of Prayer - edward current

Does a Good God Exist?

A recent debate with Christopher Hitchens.

Dr. William Dembski and Christopher Hitchens

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Hitchens and Dembski debate

What a brilliant debate. I really enjoy rational men challenging each other. In contrast, politics in America have become so embarrassing with quick jabs and sound-bites. It is quite boorish. It is so nice to see Christopher Hitchens with all his faculties, that his disease has not hampered that.

I am grateful to see the curtain drawn back with Dr Demski in respective to the discussion from 1 hour 45 minutes onward. At mark 1:53:00 he expresses he has issue with some Christian theology, that it is messy. He is not comfortable with hell, the exclusivity of Jesus and that "we are stuck with a package deal". I so identified with that on my path. Dr. Demski may have some regret because this is not the face that Christians are taught to show and that is his expression at 1:54:47 to 1:54:49. Kudos to his honesty which is very refreshing. With my experience as a former believer and minister I expect he will be told never to let that out again. Acknowledging that we are human with doubts and being skeptical is one of our better qualities. Protecting the institution is one of our worst qualities which is readily seen today with Roman Catholic & Jehovah Witness pedophilia coverups. One of St. Paul's more disturbing comments is 1 Corinthians 6:1-7, where church member are to overlook wrongs within the church so the outside cannot see their dirty laundry. I am grateful for honest people who do not tolerate such things.

Grateful to the Prestonwood Christian Academy for making the debate entirely available without edit.

God Is An Abortion Doctor

If you find a pro-life person who believes abortion is not allowed even in the case of rape, pose this question.

Suppose a married woman gets pregnant by a man who is not her husband, can she have an abortion?

No? Well, it is all right by God. In fact that is exactly what he did. King David saw Bathsheba, she was hot, he was horny. Her husband Uriah was off to war for David and Jehovah. Well, she got pregnant. David called Uriah back and wanted him to stup his wife, hoping that would be a good coverup. But Uriah was devoted to his king and refused to do that. Killing good, sex bad. Make War Not Love. David called in his commander and told him to put Uriah out on the front line. When the enemy attacked drop back and let them kill Uriah. And so it was done. God spoke to Nathan, His prophet, about this and told him to tell David of his sin and what David's punishment will be. Does David get the punishment? No, God kills an innocent baby. It was full term. Note God's biggest problem is what others think.

2 Samuel 12:13-14

Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” Nathan replied, “The LORD has taken away your sin. You are not going to die. But because by doing this you have made the enemies of the LORD show utter contempt,the son born to you will die.”

A bit later in the book of Samuel, God aborts seven of King Saul's kids which David, his successor, would have never done (wink, wink). Hmmm... What to do? What to do? God speaks to David telling him the past 3 years of famine were because of what Saul had done to the people of Gibeonites. So they need some kind of restitution. What could they possibly want? They reply they couldn't possibly take gold from Saul's kids because that wouldn't be right. But rahter they want his children dead as if that was a lesser punishment. You know, God could have struck down all these children but instead He (or rather David) used a contorted way to get rid of H(h)is rivals and H(david)e wouldn't do the direct killing. Just an example of an after-birth abortion for unwanted children. Yes, they were adults, but it was done with hate as in thou shalt not murder. Mothers who abort don't do it with hate, but great sadness.

To say that God is against abortion doesn't line up with the "facts" of the BuyBull.

God decides when the earth will end

So great we have idiots like this in congres - Rep. John Shimkus

Where Do Bad Folks Go When They Die

The Meat Puppets are an American rock band formed in January 1980, in Phoenix, Arizona. The group's original lineup was Curt Kirkwood (guitar/vocals), his brother Cris Kirkwood (bass guitar), and Derrick Bostrom (drums).

Where do bad folks go when they die

They don't go to heaven where the angels fly

Go to a lake of fire and fry

Don't see them again 'till the Fourth of July

I knew a lady who came from Duluth

Bitten by a dog with a rabid tooth

She went to her grave just a little too soon

flew away howling on the yellow moon

Where do bad folks go when they die

They don't go to heaven where the angels fly

Go to a lake of fire and fry

Don't see them again 'till the Fourth of July

People cry and people moan

Look for a dry place to call their home

Try to find some place to rest their bones

While the angels and the devils try to make 'em their own

Where do bad folks go when they die

They don't go to heaven where the angels fly

Go to a lake of fire and fry

Don't see them again 'till the Fourth of July

Nirvana's version is quite good. Kurt Cobain was a fan of the Meat Puppets

The Biblical Ouija Board and Magic Eightball

Did you know the righteous cast lots to find out God's will? Is this not unlike consulting a Ouija board? Instead of a Ouija board they used something called an Urim and a Thummin. These are referred to as casting lots or consulting the Lord. This really shows how superstitious based judeo-christian faith is. The priest from the days of Moses carried these divination tools on their sacred breastplate as they went before the Lord in the holy temple. And apparently everyone had a copy.

Leviticus, chapter 18. Moses is getting information from God on what to do for the Day Of Atonement, Yom Kippur. First Aaron is to kill a bull for himself and his family. The he gets two goats (no blemishes please) and cast lots to decide which one is sacrificed and which one is the scapegoat who carries their sins out of the camp to the desert. Killing one ain't enough. So, is God in charge of every roll of the dice?

Proverbs 16:33

The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.

Oh, so He does. Well then why does He alway favor the house?

Joshua, chapter 18. God's chosen people have finally entered the promised land and they need to divide up the land amongst the tribes. Joshua gets a tad irritated because they haven't taken care of it. So he sends out 3 men from each tribe to survey the land. Now this is the promised land and one would expect God to have had specifics where he wanted them to be. He does have His favorites after all. But not a word. Joshua decides "I will cast lots for you in the presence of the LORD our God." A roll of the dice when you cannot wait for God to wake up and talk to you.

1 Samuel, chapter 14 The first king of Israel, Saul, went to war against the Philistines. He told his troops to not eat anything while they were killing. (What the hell was his problem?). However, his son Jonathan didn't hear this and after being a major reason for the winning of the battle found some honey and ate it. A fellow warrior told him at that point of his father's command. This ultimately got back to Saul and he demanded to know who had "sinned". The men didn't want to rat out Jonathan because they liked him. So Saul prayed to the god of the dice (lots) and cast them. It ultimately led to Jonathan. Saul said "May God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if you do not die, Jonathan". Oaths in the OT invariably start with that first phrase. Who knows if God would even care? Fortunately the men spoke up for Jonathan and cooled down Saul from his now worthless oath. Why do we need truth serums and torture, when casting lots is far more effective?

Acts, chapter 1 Judas after betraying Christ either went back to the temple throwing the money back to the priests and hung himself (Matt 27:5-8) or used the money, buying a field and fell to his death there (Acts 1:18-19). But the Bible does not contradict itself, mind you. Anyway either way it left a position opened in the apostleship. There were two applicants, Barsabbas (aka Justus) and Matthias. They prayed to God for help. Seems like another important decision that God could have provided his holy opinion on, but oh well. However, by now we know God controls the flip of every coin, the roll of every dice. It is not like evolution, it is random. The lot fell to Matthias thus leaving Barsabbas as the Pete Best of the apostles.

Ask the Magic EightBall a question for yourself?

I asked this question once and got my answer.

Why Can't We Get Any Straight Answers from Christianity?

I go now and again to the Christian Post to see what the crazies are doing. One recent article was about how hard the Bible is. The author, John Piper, even quotes Peter saying even for Peter it was hard but evil people (like me) twist it to their eternal damnation. But have no fear John Piper will give us the straight poop in upcoming articles.

I posted this comment (currently 13 readers disagree with it):

It is hard because the bible is flawed and has contradictions. Biblical authors had differing viewpoints just as today. You cannot get a Mormon to agree with a Seventh-day Adventist. Knowing that this is a primitive book and differing viewpoints on what life is all about, really clears up any issues. Take what you like and leave the rest.

A reader waltman had to try and save me. I bet if I replied to this and didn't thank him for showing me the light he would tell me I am going to hell. Too bored to do that. But his reply amused me.

Dear exminister, everyone has doubts and our hearts are prone to wander. We are so weak and the evil one is strong but God is far stronger and He can restore your faith. King David, one my heros, struggled with doubts. In Psalm 35:3b he said Say to my soul, "I am your salvation!" David had doubts and he cried out for reassurance. All Christians will go through times when we don’t feel his presence but we are not to be content in them. We are to cry out for God to comfort our souls and He will.

Matthew 7: 7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” That doesn’t mean turn the TV off for 5 seconds and pray. Seek God like you would chase after something that could be the answer to the very innermost longings of your heart.

If you don’t trust in the whole Bible then at least trust in the gospel for that is the key to hope, joy and love. “The gospel is not a complicated message. At its core the gospel is a love story. God loves humanity. Humanity breaks God’s heart. God sacrifices His Son to heal the rift. And, to those humans who respond in faith, they live happily ever after.”

The Bible and other historical texts confirm that Jesus’ enemies and followers believed He died on the cross and many witnesses believed to their very deaths that He rose again. Belief in the gospel is not blind faith but it is rock solid. Don’t bet your eternity that Jesus tricked the Roman soldiers that He was dead or that His early followers hid the body so they could live a life of poverty and persecution.

And if you believe in the gospel and really live it out it changes everything. We know that God loves us unconditionally because He died for us while we were still sinners and His enemies. If you’ve turned your back on Holy God you can know He still loves you and has given everything to get you back. He wants you back.

Rejoice in this good news. Say it out loud: “God loves me. I am the object of His affection. When I sin it grieves His spirit. When I cry He cries with me. When I rejoice it brings Jesus joy.” God gave everything that we might possess all. The whole gospel leads to one place – "that we might forever enjoy the glory of God," said Piper. Enjoy Christ who died for you.

Meditate on the gospel, enjoy the gospel, bathe in the gospel. When you do you will want to know Him more. It’s true that the Bible can be confusing but when you read it as a letter from the one who loves you more than any other so much more is clear. Listen to pastors like John Piper and let them feed you. Pray without ceasing and cry out that God would say to your soul “I am your salvation!”

My heart doesn't wander, it just doesn't buy BS. I don't need to cry out to an all-seeing, all-knowing God. Been there done that, got the t-shirt. Jesus said knock and it will be open to you. He didn't say frantically pound.

Hey check it out I don't have to believe the whole Bible. Maybe it is not perfect - Oh No. LOL.

It is not complicated. Oh course not. Look at how many non-skeptical, unintelligent people believe it. It is not complicated but apparently it is hard. Maybe because they don't accept it is a flawed book. You just cannot get all the parts to agree with each other. It is so much easier accepting the truth than fighting it or twisting it to make it fit.

At least trust the gospel? God created me to die and suffer, but wait, he will kill himself to appease himself so I can be with him. If you saw a human doing that you would call him insane. God loves humanity. HA...HA...HA. If waltman treated his child that way he would get locked up.

I cannot talk to any witnesses who say Jesus rose from the dead. It is blind faith and would not hold up in an honest court of law. He says he know this but he doesn't.

I am not betting my eternity on some made up story. If I do that I will have to start believing every story I read. Pascal's Wager is for idiots, even Paul the Apostle agrees - 1 Corinthians 15:12-19

Meditate, bathe the gospel. Let John Piper feed me. In other words force yourself to believe the bullshit. Pass.

Christian Post article

God Doesn't Give A Shit, But I Do

A Church Without Closets

This is a church sign on one of my recent Sunday rides.

A Church Without Closets

It strikes me very odd because they are they ones who build the closets. Atheist only until modern times weren't even allowed to voice what they believe. They would be persecuted to death and where the Righteous have they power, such as Ghana today, they will do it. The Bible tells them to stone all kinds of people who are different.

Things you can be put to death for (stoning unless noted otherwise)

1. if you are a medium (Lev 20:27)
2. if you blaspheme Jehovah's name (Lev 24:16)
3. if you worship a different god (Deu 13:6-10)
4. if you rebel against your parents (Deu 21:18-21)
5. if you are a drunk (Deu 21:18-21)
6. if you are a woman who is not a virgin when she marries (Deu 22:20,21)
7. if you are gay (Lev 20:13)
8. if you work on the Sabbath (Num 15:32-26)
9. if you are a witch (Lev 20:27)
10. if your father is a priest and you become a prostitute (burned to death) (Lev 21:9)
11. if you are a woman and you didn't scream loud enough when you raped (Deu 22:23-24)

By Jesus' time if you even think something wrong you will burn in hell for ever. Well, you were born in sin so it doesn't matter what you do, say or think you are going to hell. But the punisher is also the deliverer.

So there are tons of reason for people to hide. And don't think that facade of a smile on the church goers is there naturally. They have to paste it on to avoid being hassled or worse. Praise Jesus. If I don't believe in Him I am going to Hell so I better pretend I love the Big Guy who put me in this mess only to save me and I have to ignore the former and give him credit for the latter.

I like to think about what sign I could post right next to the one presented. Here is mine:

Free closet - inquire within.

God Is A Liar (a lying spirit)

Last chapter of 1st Kings is yet another decision by God's chosen on whether to go to war. The God of Abraham is one bloody bastard. The King of Aram has some of God's territory, the biblical lebensraum, called Ramoth Gilead. This irks the king of Israel, Ahab, and so he talks to the king of Judah, Jehoshaphat, about going to war against Aram. Jehoshaphat replies we need to seek the counsel of the Lord before we start our killing. So the king of Israel gets 400 prophets and ask them if they should go to war. In total unity they say yes, the Lord says yes. Jehoshaphat needs more. He wants another prophet of the Lord. The king of Israel say there is one but he always predicts bad shit. His name is Micaiah. But he finally takes a chance. Jehoshaphat asks Micaiah, "Shall we go to war?". Micaiah replies "Attack and be victorious for the Lord will give it into the king's hand."

Jehoshaphat cannot believe his ears and presses him more. You always tell me bad news why the change? How many times must I make you swear this is the truth?

Micaiah then tells him the truth that God will send lying spirits to entice him to war saying it will be good but it will not and will send him to his death and dogs will lick up his blood. Gotta give the Lord Almighty credit for grossing it up (AND HE LOVES YOU).

1 Kings 22:19-23

Micaiah continued, “Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne with all the host of heaven standing around him on his right and on his left. (ed: Ain't that special?) And the LORD said, ‘Who will entice Ahab into attacking Ramoth Gilead and going to his death there?’ “One suggested this, and another that. Finally, a spirit came forward, stood before the LORD and said, ‘I will entice him.’ “‘By what means?’ the LORD asked. “‘I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouths of all his prophets,’ he said. “‘You will succeed in enticing him,’ said the LORD. ‘Go and do it.’ “So now the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouths of all these prophets of yours. The LORD has decreed disaster for you.”

Again God is do as I say, not as I do. Interesting he needs someone to lie for him. There are internal beliefs in churches that it is OK to lie to cover up the churches sins. I did a post about that a few weeks ago regarding a Jehovah Witness "apostasy" Telling The Truth Is Apostasy For Jehovah Witnesses. They used the story of Rehab in the book of Joshua, but this story of Ahab works just as well.

So if God can lie for the sole purpose of causing lots of bloodshed what can we trust in the Bible? How can you trust such a God? Maybe it is entirely a cosmic joke. Or more likely a bunch of witty men who said how much bullshit can we put out and people still believe it. Apparently quite a lot.

God Has No Free Will

Assumptions:

• There is a God who is a personal being and all knowing.
• Humans are personal beings but are limited in our knowledge
• Personal beings have free will

In order to have free will, you must have more than one option, each of which is avoidable. This means that before you make a choice, there must be a state of uncertainty before the decision is final.

A being who knows everything can have no "state of uncertainty". There are no options to weigh. It knows in advance what it will do for all eternity. Since it has no choice it has no free will.

Since a being that lacks free will is not a personal being, a personal being who knows everything cannot exist.

So, we can now logically conclude that omniscience, and free will, are completely incompatible.

To refine the argument :

1. God is defined as a personal being who knows everything.
2. Personal beings have free will.
3. In order to have free will, you must have more than one option, each of which is avoidable. This means that before you make a choice, there must be a state of uncertainty during a period of potential: you cannot know the future. Even if you think you can predict your decision, if you claim to have free will, you must admit the potential (if not the desire) to change your mind before the decision is final.
4. A being who knows everything can have no "state of uncertainty". It knows its choices in advance.
5. A being that knows its choices in advance has no potential to avoid its choices, and therefore lacks free will.
6. Since a being that lacks free will is not a personal being, a personal being who knows everything cannot exist.
7. Therefore, a personal God does not exist.

Occam's Razor

Welfare For Creationists

Proof There Is A God (all hail)

All hail his noodly appendage

FSM website

Together At Twilight Time

A Creationist Nightmare

Looking on the outside of animals you think what a lovely design, but looking inside you are impressed how messy it is and nothing a good, much less a perfect designer would produce. History is written all over animals showing their evolution. The recurrent laryngeal nerve is an excellent example and a creationist nightmare. Why would God make a nerve that aids in swallowing and talking go from the brain, down to the heart, bypassing the larynx, and come back all the way up again to attach to the larynx? It is the same for all mammals including humans. This is why someone can lose their voice with a blow to the chest. The giraffe nerve is extraordinary. This nerve can be 14 feet long and yet a designer could simply have made it just a few inches. Evolution explains this easily. We evolve from a common ancestor which was more fish-like and in a fish it is a simple straight line. There are many imperfections in all modern animals, but they show the glorious signs of history, evolutionary history. This is a wonderful show and it is attended by some brilliant people. The discussion of the laryngeal nerve begins at 7:00 in the 2nd video and continues on the 3rd. Creationist have no explanation for such a poor design.

Condescending Preacher Man

Hopefully this kid didn't buy the BS from preacher man. He points to a building and says who created that? The kid smiles - humans. The preacher man says well look at nature who created that? Somehow we are to assume Jesus. But for me I would take him back to the building and ask what was the name of the guy who built that? Oh, it wasn't a guy, it was a bunch of guys. Oh, preacher man, you are a polytheist. Was it Zeus and Hephaestus who created the trees and birds?

Some great comments on Youtube:

Nothing but an arrogant, sanctimonious asshole pretending he has something intelligent to say while he dares to spew one stupid fallacy after another that have been thoroughly refuted so many times in the past. Characteristically, the ignorant don't know when they are ignorant.

As usual, these Christians are never interested in a debate. They are merely interested in preaching. It's always so. Always. And the bullshit about the Bible prophesying anything is absurd. This guy should read the Bible more carefully.

Just read Ezekiel chapter 37, it doesn't mention any names of any modern countries at all. It mentions 'Gomer', but that could be any central European country, once again a very vague prophecy.