September 2008

  • In (False) God We Trust: Why has thou forsaken us

    By diosmio on 9/28/08 10:28pm
    Add Comment

    Why has thou forsaken me?
    Well, we trusted you, we worshipped you, and we gave our trust to your priests and prophets, all for nothing.  We put our morals, our good judgement, and our retirement funds in their hands, just to see it gambled away at the temple.  You claimed you would take care of us if we worshipped and devoted ourself to you,  we even tried to spread the word to rest of the world, so they too, could see your magnificent power.  We went to war for you, we've sacrificed children for you, sent old people to the poor house for you, and let the sick die, all for you.  For you, and for the promise of high-yield returns, for the promise of a profit to be made.

    And now, your temple is in shambles, and our pockets are empty.  We hoarded you, we kept you from the undeserving poor, we protected you from those who weren't willing to die for you.  And now in our darkest hour, we are all alone.

    How will we ever believe in you again?  Could we ever trust in your capitalist system again?  God, why has thou forsaken us?

    Check out these articles:

    Read more >

  • When in Rome, don't insult the Pope 'cause you might go to jail

    By beatriz on 9/18/08 5:35am
    Add Comment

    Italian comedian Sabrina Guzzanti learned this lesson the hard way.  The comedian/ actress narrowly escaped prosecution and a five-year prison sentence because of her off-color remarks made at a leftist rally.  Guzzanti was speaking out against the Vatican's global campaign against gay marriage when she said:

    "Within 20 years the Pope will be where he ought to be -- in hell, tormented by great big poofter devils, and very active ones, not passive ones."

    These comments prompted prosecutor Giovanni Ferrara to threaten to prosecute the actress for offending the honor of the sacred and inviolable person of the pope.  In order to move forward with prosecution, Ferrara has to invoke the Lateran Treaty to enforce this law.

    But the treaty, signed by fascist dictator Benito Mussolini, required government approval before the investigation could go forward. Luckily for Guzzanti, Justice Minister Angelino Alfano decided to block it.

    Read more >

  • Can God and Science co-exist

    By beatriz on 9/17/08 4:51am
    1 Comment

    Can God and Science co-exist?  The answer is, maybe.

    The problem with monotheistic religions is that they, traditionally, have been fanatical about their belief in creationism.  The concept of evolution is viewed as an affront to the belief that God Almighty created everything.  This belief, or better put, superstition has been a detriment in our understanding of ourselves as a species, our relationship to the universe and nature, and of our true origins.  The book of Genesis (actaully the whole Bible itself) has been an obstacle to our spiritual and intellectual enlightenment, it has pitted the scientific community against the religious, rather than unifying two very crucial aspects of our society in order to reach a true understanding of where we come from and where we're heading.

    The Catholic Church will be sponsoring a five day event in Rome entitled Biological Evolution, Facts and Theories, which will feature scientists, theologians, and philosophers from around the globe to tackle a subject that has divided western civilization since the

    Read more >

  • A question of belief

    By beatriz on 9/9/08 11:11am
    1 Comment

    Since my last post I still haven't cracked open the book God Is Not Great, but the question of God's greatness has been on my mind. As I've mentioned before I am a non-practicing, non-believing Catholic, and am in no way interested in the worship of God in any way, shape or form. I am however interested in the many ways that this idea of God plays into our lives. And I am interested in the impact God has in people's lives, and humanity as whole. What does our belief in God really say about us? And does God have a place?

    While I was doing research on the matter, I came across a website that is dedicated to the debunking of the God-myth. I was drawn to the site for the 50 simple proofs God doesn't exist. This website is full of facts and references pertaining to theistic religions, of the mono- and poly- variety. It is in-depth to say the least.

    I was especially drawn to the chapters on the Bible.

    Read more >

  • Why do people have to be such haters

    By beatriz on 9/2/08 6:16pm
    2 Comments

    Someone recently brought this book to my attention, it is called God Is Not Great, How Religion Poisons Everything. A little harsh don't you think Christopher Hitchens? A good friend of mine gave it to me because he knew I would be blogging about God and he thought this would give me some ideas. He's right it should provide lots of topics of conversation, but having been raised a good Catholic girl I can't bring myself to even open it's pages. The truth is that I am afraid of reading this book.

    I'm not a practicing Catholic anymore and I don't go to church unless my mom makes me. And I long ago stopped believing in God, almost around the same time I stopped believing in the tooth fairy. But for some unknown reason I don't want to hear what Mr. Hitchens has to say about God. It's not that I would disagree or feel offended since I haven't actually read his book. It's that I don't really want to read about why he doesn't believe in God or religion.

    So Christopher Hitchens hates God, does he have to tell the whole world about it? Has anyone actually read this book? Am I going to burn in hell for eternity if I read it?

  • Billboard provokes questions about religion

    By beatriz on 9/1/08 4:34am
    1 Comment

    A billboard reading Imagine No Religion, sponsored by the Freedom From Religion Foundation, went up in the city of Seattle. The billboard is in a space at the base of the Capitol Hill neighborhood, near downtown. Not exactly the church-going center of the city, but Mike Christensen the man who paid for the ad, doesn't care.

    His idea behind the controversial billboard is not to judge religion or people with religious beliefs, but to provoke people to question religion's role in government. A similar billboard went up near the Democratic Convention that read Keep Religion Out of Politics. The Wisconsin-based foundation has been actively promoting the separation of church and state since 1978.

    In Seattle the billboard has had an overall positive effect, with FFRF gaining new and prospective new members. But in some cities where the billboard has also appeared, the group has received hate mail.

    I've seen the billboard myself, and I found it intriguing enough to find out who and why it was put up. Has anyone else seen this billboard?

    Read more >