Windy Sydney

What The Missionaries Won't Tell You

2010-05-02T19:29:00.002-06:00

Here are a few of my favorite examples of how missionaries use "milk before meat" to keep members and investigators away from anything that might keep them from the church. This is far from honest, in my humble opinion.

For the complete list that Richard Packham wrote, complete with notes, please click here.

Contemporaries of Smith consistently described him as something of a confidence man, whose chief source of income was hiring out to local farmers to help them find buried treasure by the use of folk magic and "seer stones." Smith was actually tried in 1826 on a charge of moneydigging. It is interesting that none of his critics seemed to be aware of his claim to have been visited by God in 1820, even though in his 1838 account he claimed that he had suffered "great persecution" for telling people of his vision.

The only persons who claimed to have actually seen the gold plates were eleven close friends of Smith (many of them related to each other). Their testimonies are printed in the front of every copy of the Book of Mormon. No disinterested third party was ever allowed to examine them. They were retrieved by the angel at some unrecorded point. Most of the witnesses later abandoned Smith and left his movement. Smith then called them "liars."

Smith produced most of the "translation" not by reading the plates through the Urim and Thummim (described as a pair of sacred spectacles), but by gazing at the same "seer stone" he had used for treasure hunting. He would place the stone into his hat, and then cover his face with it. For much of the time he was dictating, the gold plates were not even present, but in a hiding place.

Many of the basic historical notions found in the Book of Mormon had appeared in print already in 1825, just two years before Smith began producing the Book of Mormon, in a book called View of the Hebrews, by Ethan Smith (no relation) and published just a few miles from where Joseph Smith lived. A careful study of this obscure book led one LDS church official (the historian B. H. Roberts, 1857-1933) to confess that the evidence tended to show that the Book of Mormon was not an ancient record, but concocted by Joseph Smith himself, based on ideas he had read in the earlier book.

The secret temple ritual (the "endowment") was introduced by Smith in May, 1842, just two months after he had been initiated into Freemasonry. The LDS temple ritual closely resembles the Masonic ritual of that day. Smith explained that the Masons had corrupted the ancient (God-given) ritual by changing it and removing parts of it, and that he was restoring it to its "pure" and "original" (and complete) form, as revealed to him by God. In the years since, the LDS church has made many fundamental changes in the "pure and original" ritual as "restored" by Smith, mostly by removing major parts of it.

Many doctrines which were once taught by the LDS church, and held to be fundamental, essential and "eternal", have been abandoned. Whether we feel that the church was correct in abandoning them is not the point; rather, the point is that a church claiming to be the church of God takes one "everlasting" position at one time and the opposite position at another, all the time claiming to be proclaiming the word of God. Some examples are:

The Adam-God doctrine (Adam is God the Father)
The United Order (all property of church members is to be held in common, with title in the church)
Plural Marriage (polygamy; a man must have more than one wife to attain the highest degree of heaven)
the Curse of Cain (the black race is not entitled to hold God's priesthood because it is cursed; this doctrine was not abandoned until 1978)
Blood Atonement (some sins - apostasy, adultery, murder, interracial marriage - must be atoned for by the shedding of the sinner's blood, preferably by someone appointed to do so by church authorities)

All of these doctrines were proclaimed by the reigning prophet to be the Word of God, "eternal," "everlasting," to govern the church "forevermore." All have been abandoned by the present church.

Joseph Smith claimed to be a "translator" by the power of God. In addition to the Book of Mormon, he made several other "translations":

The Book of Abraham, from Egyptian papyrus scrolls which came into his possession in 1835. He stated that the scrolls were written by the biblical Abraham "by his own hand." Smith's translation is now accepted as scripture by the LDS church, as part of its Pearl of Great Price. Smith also produced an "Egyptian Grammar" based on his translation. Modern scholars of ancient Egyptian agree that the scrolls are common Egyptian funeral scrolls, entirely pagan in nature, having nothing to do with Abraham, and from a period 2000 years later than Abraham. The "Grammar" has been said by Egyptologists to prove that Smith had no notion of the Egyptian language. It is pure fantasy: he made it up.
The "Inspired Revision" of the King James Bible. Smith was commanded by God to retranslate the Bible because the existing translations contained errors. He completed his translation in 1833, but the church still uses the King James Version.
The "Kinderhook Plates," a group of six metal plates with strange engraved characters, unearthed in 1843 near Kinderhook, Illinois, and examined by Smith, who began a "translation" of them. He never completed the translation, but he identified the plates as an "ancient record," and translated enough to identify the author as a descendant of Pharaoh. Local farmers later confessed that they had manufactured, engraved and buried the plates themselves as a hoax. They had apparently copied the characters from a Chinese tea box.

Mormonism includes many other unusual teachings which you will probably not be told about until you have been in the church for a long time. These teachings are not revealed to investigators or new converts because those people are not yet considered ready to have more than "milk" as doctrine. The Mormons also probably realize that if investigators knew of these unusual teachings they would not join the church. In addition to those mentioned elsewhere in this article, the following are noteworthy:

God was once a man like us.
God has a tangible body of flesh and bone.
God lives on a planet near the star Kolob.
God ("Heavenly Father") has at least one wife, our "Mother in Heaven," but she is so holy that we are not to discuss her nor pray to her.
Jesus was married.
We can become like God and rule over our own universe.
There are many gods, ruling over their own worlds.
Jesus and Satan ("Lucifer") are brothers, and they are our brothers - we are all spirit children of Heavenly Father
Jesus Christ was conceived by God the Father by having sex with Mary, who was temporarily his wife.
We should not pray to Jesus, nor try to feel a personal relationship with him.
The "Lord" ("Jehovah") in the Old Testament is the being named Jesus in the New Testament, but different from "God the Father" ("Elohim").
In the highest degree of the celestial kingdom some men will have more than one wife.
Before coming to this earth we lived as spirits in a "pre-existence", during which we were tested; our position in this life (whether born to Mormons or savages, or in America or Africa) is our reward or punishment for our obedience in that life.
Dark skin is a curse from God, the result of our sin, or the sin of our ancestors. If sufficiently righteous, a dark-skinned person will become light-skinned.
The Garden of Eden was in Missouri. All humanity before the Great Flood lived in the western hemisphere. The Ark transported Noah and the other survivors to the eastern hemisphere.
Not only will human beings be resurrected to eternal life, but also all animals - everything that has ever lived on earth - will be resurrected and dwell in heaven.
Christ will not return to earth in any year that has seen a rainbow.
Mormons should avoid traveling on water, since Satan rules the waters.
The sun receives its light from the star Kolob.
If a Gentile becomes Mormon, the Holy Ghost actually purges his Gentile blood and replaces it with Israelite blood.
A righteous Mormon will actually see the face of God in the Mormon temple.
You can identify a false angel by the color of his hair, or by offering to shake his hand.

The Cutest Thing EVAR!!

2010-04-24T18:26:00.002-06:00

I can't post the video for some reason, but this is the link.

You won't regret it.

Promise.

Wanna Be Pissed Off In Under 5 Seconds? Watch This...

2010-04-24T18:09:00.002-06:00

I have no words.

None.

Just pure, venomous hatred.

Pope Falls Asleep During Mass

2010-04-19T19:33:00.002-06:00

Manupulation

2010-04-18T09:43:00.004-06:00

Those who leave the Mormon church and have huge families within it have usually dealt with manipulation by leaders, friends and family members. Sometimes these people don't even realize they are using manipulation techniques to get their sinful, evil, non-tithing paying people back into the church, they are only focused on the end result... making sure everyone is on the straight and narrow.

Some stories of manipulation are kind of funny... take my case in high school for instance...

I had stopped attending church because I thought it was sexist. I couldn't take anymore girl's activities that included quilting, baking, sewing and crafting while the guys got to do things like repelling and playing ball. It was more that that, though. Our lessons consisted of telling us that we should marry a return missionary in the temple, have tons of babies and be faithful our entire lives. When I asked about a career (wanted to be a doctor at the time) I was told to pray about it, and if God wanted me to be a doctor, I shouldn't wait to get married and have kids... because yeah... med school is so easy with a newborn and toddler in the house?

Anyway, when I stopped attending I had a YW leader that took me on as a personal project. I wasn't exactly little miss popular in my tiny school, but I had tons of friends... most of them were non-Mormons. Suddenly, a couple really popular Mormon girls kept asking me to hang out with them... they acted as if we were best buddies and they couldn't wait to get together for this or that. I usually politely declined because I saw it for what it was... they really didn't care about *me* they just wanted my happy ass back in church every Sunday to hear their message.

Now, whats so bad about that? Right? A couple kids pretending to give a shit about your life and constantly (and I mean CONSTANTLY) requesting your presence in church activities and Sunday school?

It wasn't genuine.

I wanted a genuine life and genuine friends... not people who would like me as long as I did what they wanted me to do. A lifetime of fakery? No thanks.

It could have been much worse.

The other half of the manipulation stories are sometimes incredibly hard to read. Some faithful Mormons will do anything -ANYTHING- to keep their friends and family right where they want them. Regardless of that person's beliefs, thoughts, dreams and goals in life.

Some of these examples I found online in various ex-Mormon forums. I took out the names and usernames of the people who listed them, in case they don't want their information on my blog.

I just talked to my TBM Dad. He and my Mom are visiting next weekend for the first time in three years. They live 8 hours away. We've visited them several times since then and bought a new house last year. They didn't visit us then either. My Mom is retired and my Dad has 5 weeks of vacation plus government holidays. They aren't bedridden or in jail either.

Recently, they started making rumblings that they actually might visit us. My wife made the prediction that they would come late on a Saturday night so they can stay with us for free on the way to something else, go to church here, and leave immediately after Sacrament meeting.

Well, give the lady a prize! This morning, my Dad IM'd me and said that they are driving out to "Firth," Idaho (wherever in God's creation that is) to pick up an old truck that he bought off the Internet. They'll be here Saturday night, stay the night, and then leave immediately after Sacrament meeting. And he wants me to call around and find out when the earliest service is, so they can be on their way as soon as possible. Apparently because his fingers are broken and he can't look it up on mormon.org himself.

I was SO offended! They go to church every week, and they can't miss even this one time to spend 70 minutes with us. It's nice knowing where you fit in the overall scheme of things with your own parents. (1. Cult, 2. Kids.) I called [her] and told her about it, and she absolutely blew her top. She said that they should not even bother stopping by. And if they do, they can pay a normal motel rate.

You see... the church means more to these parents than their family does. The church claims to be family first -unless that family isn't what you are- a faithful member of the LDS Church.

The reason I believe this is manipulation is because the parents have been manipulated into thinking they are doing the right thing by putting the church first. Is this fair to them? The actual members of the church who pay their dues and attend the millions of meetings every month? Is it fair to their grandkids who will only know that the church meant more to their grandpa and grandma than they did?

I particularly loathe the "hey buddy" shoulder/back affection, where the garment inspector pats you on the shoulder, or goes for an arm-over-the-shoulder manuever to see if he can feel garment seams. It's spooky, and just plain *wrong*.

Is this manipulation?

Yes!

You see, the member that checks for garments isn't only doing just that... nope. He's keeping the other person in check. He's basically saying, "Gee, you don't have garments on... hmmm... what kind of sin have you committed? Why aren't you wearing them? I'll pray for you and tell everyone I know to do the same."

In my humble opinion, they are trying to use guilt and shame to get the ex-member back into a church pew on Sunday.

I will leave you with this list of quotes that TBM friends and family members said to one couple as they were leaving the church. It's amazing.

Mother1: "I can't believe how bad you turned out."

Mother2: "Shame on you! You should know better than that!"

Brother: "Don't try explaining, there's no excuse for leaving and you'll never convince me."

Brother in Law1: "You bastard. You've deceived our sister with your anti-mormon lies."

Brother in Law2: "I can't believe how stupid you are."

Sister in Law1: "I pray you come back before God punishes you."

Sister in Law2: "How can you betray your family like this?"

Father in Law: "Well, I don't know if the church is true or not, but I have a lot of friends there."

Mother in Law: "So what commandment couldn't you live?"

Missionary after I closed the door: "You still know it's true!"

TBM Friend: "I'm so dissapointed in you. What's wrong with you?"

TBM Friend: "I don't believe any of those anti-mormon lies. The Book of Mormon is true and that makes the church true - don't make excuses."

TBM Friend: "Well, I've had too many spiritual experiences with the Book of Mormon to ever deny it."

TBM Friend: "When things get really hard in your life, you'll come back. I hope it doesn't take a tragedy to get you to repent."

When I originally posted this message, I got a lot of responses. Here's a collection of what other people heard from their TBM friends and relatives:

"I have heard you criticize and find fault with the Church so you can justify your decision to leave and this makes me very sad."

"What happened? I am disappointed in you!!"

"I hoped that by experiencing other Christian beliefs you would seek to gain a stronger testimony of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ like I had done."

"My testimony of the Gospel has been challenged more than you will ever know, and I have stayed true to faith."

"I am deeply saddened that you have caved to the beliefs of man."

"You can go to some feel good Christian church as long as you want, but this church will never provide you with blessings of the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ"

"You have no clue how much you have hurt mom/dad with your decision to leave the Church. How can you throw away everything she/he taught you like this?"

"Did you ever think just once what impact your decision would have upon ______?"

"I do not know about you, but I am choosing to Honor My Parents by staying true to the principles of Gospel Of Jesus Christ that we were taught as youth."

"How can you throw your missions away like this?"

"You may betray the truth but I will not."

"I hope you get your act together before your youngest child turns 8, as it would be a real shame for your children to grow up without the light of the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ in their lives."

"I would gladly come and baptize ______ if _______ was given the opportunity to learn about the Church. I have seen a change for the worse in _____ countenance and this is really upsetting to me."

"It is clear that you blame the Church for much of your problems and you figure that by running away from the Church your problems will go away!! They may go away for a little while but they will be back. The easy way out is just that - the easy way out."

"I was pretty shocked when we visited you and when we said we were going to the Temple and I asked if you had seen it yet you said no."

"You now know how I feel. I will not say what I have just said again. You will be very upset with me with for the things I have just said! They are the truth and sometimes the truth hurts."

"You will probably find fault with me for telling you how it is."

"Those Mormons really attack you when you leave the church..etc...etc....blah, blah, blah." Get over it."

"Please do not try to explain to me why you left the Church, because there is no good reason to leave."

"You can call it the "Mormon Belief System," "Mormonism," or whatever you like. I will tell you what it is: It is The Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ!"

"You used to have such a SWEET spirit."

"How can you forget all the Lord has blessed you with?"

"You know what I pray for? That you'll come back to the Church."

"Your leaving the church has strenghthened our testimonies."

"If you don't have what it takes to live the Gospel, you should at least take your daughter to Church so that she can know the truth. She shouldn't suffer for your sake."

"Have your husband reread section 88 of the Doctrine and Covenants, because the sin on his head for leaving the Church as a priesthood holder is greater."

"Can we still send the HT and VT to your home?"

"What are you going to do someday when you are dead and standing before the Lord and he asks: "Why did you persecute my Church?""

"This is the worst possible thing you could have done."

"But, if it weren't for the church, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN BORN!"

"I read all the anti-mormon literature too, and came to the opposite conclusion as you. I know obedience to authority is a key part of God's plan."

"That's not what the Church teaches!"

Stake President: (Hand raised to the square) "I declare in the name of Jesus Christ that this church is true."

Bishop: "When I find myself out of synch with the prophet, it means I have to change."

"Remember the warning, "Why do the women have to veil their faces during the "true order" of prayer, while the men do not? Aren't the symbolic and theological implications of this huge -- suggesting that women have a less direct link to the Mormon god than men do?'God will NOT be mocked'?"

"Your (deceased) mother/father would be so dissappointed that you are not raising your children in the church."

"You'll come back after you know what it feels like without the spirit"

"You knew it was true! You said it many times, so don't deny your testimony now."

"I have seen a decline in your general character."

"You've lost the light of Christ"

"You're so much angrier now that you want to leave the church"

"You're going to perdition because you had a full knowledge of the gospel and you're rejecting it."

"I hope I'll be allowed to come down and see you after we die."

"We believe in eternal families...that is what grandpa taught."

"I hope you rot in your lonely miserable apartment!"

"You know what you are doing is wrong!"

"But you've been through the temple!"

"So, are you going to start drinking?"

"If you don't believe it anymore then you have no business talking about it."

"I'll pray for you and hope you'll do the same for me."

"You're just pretending not to believe so that you can sin."

"Look in the mirror - can't you see how ugly you are?"

"Something terrible must have happened on your mission."

"You're like a fish in the ocean who sticks his head up and say "Where's all the water?" You've been surrounded by the Spirit your whole life. You just don't recognize it."

"You were a valiant spirit in the pre-existence. Satan knows that. So he's fighting especially hard to get your soul.

"It's so sad to see your children growing up without the Church."

"I wish I cold come back when I die and tell you the truth, but I don't think it works that way."

"You realize of course that there won't be a place for you at Jesus' table?"

"There won't be any oil in YOUR lamp, when the time comes!"

"I'm sure that those who leave the church won't become sons of perdition because they didn't really understand the gospel. Anyone who really understood would never deny it."

Andee

Teabonics

2010-04-17T11:46:00.005-06:00

I was alerted to this wonderful collection of photos on Facebook and I had to share a couple of my favorites. They are hilarious. I hope the owner of the shots doesn't mind... :>

These are signs seen primarily at Tea Party Protests.

They all feature "creative" spelling or grammar.

This new dialect of the English language shall be known as "Teabonics."

BYU student arrested for attempted kidnapping, assault

2010-04-17T11:17:00.005-06:00

All emphasis is mine...

Janice Peterson - Daily Herald

PROVO -- A Brigham Young University student was arrested on attempted kidnapping and assault charges Thursday after he allegedly used a stun gun on a woman and tried to handcuff her.

Police say Stetson Hallam, 20, was the 19-year-old woman's home teacher in their LDS ward, and the two lived in the same apartment complex south of BYU. Provo police Sgt. Mark Crosby said Hallam had pursued the woman romantically, but she did not have any interest in him. He was persistent in trying to date her, Crosby said, to the point where she felt "creeped out" by Hallam.

Look at this sleeze-ball! He was called to be a home teacher by his bishop and fell in love with a woman. He probably felt the spirit telling him that they were destined to be together for eternity. What do you want to bet? After all, he's a priesthood holder and he can get promptings from God, right?

Where was the spirit warning this woman that she needed to GTF away from this weirdo? Where was the spirit when he was "called by God" to be her home teacher? What kind of promptings did this asshole's bishop get when he called this guy for this position, and who did he get these promptings from??

According to a police affidavit, Hallam repeatedly contacted the woman, telling her he had a gift for her. She put off meeting with Hallam until she could have a roommate present, police say, and she was successful until Tuesday.

Around 3 p.m. that day, Hallam contacted the woman and asked to meet with her, according to the affidavit. She reportedly told him she could not because she would be working until 9:30 p.m., and she said he could leave the gift at her apartment. However, when she arrived at her apartment complex, she saw Hallam standing outside and felt he was waiting for her, according to the affidavit. She went to her apartment through a side entrance, but allegedly found Hallam waiting for her at her door.

Hallam allegedly convinced the woman to come with him to a common laundry room in the basement of the complex, where he told her one of his roommates had helped him set up a scavenger hunt for the woman's gift. The woman reportedly told police she could see no signs of other people present and became suspicious.

Gifts from home teachers are nothing new. They are usually little cards or photos of Jesus with candy attached, or bags of candy with scripture verses from the Book of Mormon... even the scavenger hunt thing is believable. When I was in young womens, this was promoted as just a good time with a healthy interaction between the young men and women. However, these are grown ass adults. A scavenger hunt? This is BYU for you... stunting the ability for these people to grow up!

I have had home teachers and even an over zealous young women's leader wait for me at my place until I got home from work back in the day. It was creepy.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not blaming Mormonism for this guy's behavior... but I do think that the woman was too lenient on the man because of their religion. You will see why in a minute...

According to the affidavit, Hallam told the woman the gift was "junk art" and was located in a bin underneath a table in the room. The woman reportedly described the bin to police as five feet long by two feet wide and three feet tall, with a lockable lid and handles. Hallam reportedly told the woman some of her gift was Easter candy, which he had left in his car. He then allegedly left the room, during which time the woman did not approach the bin, believing it may be part of a practical joke, according to police.

When Hallam returned, he allegedly encouraged the woman to open the bin and pulled it out from under the table to alleviate her fear, according to the affidavit. The woman then reportedly opened the bin and found it to be empty.

At this point, Hallam allegedly produced a stun gun, a handheld rectangular device with two metal prongs on the end. He allegedly pressed the device against the woman's arm and she felt a surge pass through her body, according to the affidavit. Police say the surge incapacitated the woman and caused her to collapse to the floor, at which point Hallam pinned her to the ground.

Hmmm.... interesting, isn't it?

Seriously... my intuition would have been screaming at me to get the fuck out of there and she let him in? She went to the laundry room? She opened the box?

I'm not trying to poke fun at her or even claim that she was stupid... I can't imagine the terror she was going through at the moment. Please don't think I'm trying to be cold and mean. I'm just trying to make the point that the spirit wasn't really protecting her that day... was it?

The woman reportedly became frightened for her life and did not know what Hallam's true intentions were, according to the affidavit. She allegedly began screaming and fighting Hallam, who police say placed his hand over her mouth. He also allegedly produced a pair of handcuffs and put one of the rings on the woman's left hand. While he was applying the handcuffs, police say, Hallam's hand slipped and his finger went into the woman's mouth. She allegedly bit down on his finger until he let her go and apologized, claiming it was all an April Fool's joke.

The woman was able to get away and reported the incident to police April 8, according to police. Crosby said he did not know why the report was delayed, but a delay is common with this type of allegations. When she reported the incident, burn marks were still visible on her arm, as was bruising on her wrist, Crosby said.

"Several days later, we're still able to have signs," he said.

Police conducted a search on Hallam's room and car late Thursday night, but Crosby said he does not know what was found. Crosby said police were interested in finding the bin the girl described, which was not an item usually found in the laundry room. Although Crosby said Hallam never tried to force the woman into the bin or trick her into getting inside, he said it is still an important piece of evidence given the circumstances.

I would love to know why she didn't report the incident when it happened... did she go to her bishop first? Did she talk about it with friends or other leaders at either church or BYU? Did they ask her to delay the reporting?

I could be wrong here... but they have done this sort of thing in regards to other criminal behavior before. Especially when it includes sexual crimes and priesthood holders. Scout leaders, bishops, and others were given a "repent and all is well," free pass. Were they trying to help this guy?

"His whole premise was wanting her to open that box," he said.

Hallam was arrested Thursday night and booked into the Utah County Jail, where he is being held on a $5,000 bond on third-degree felony charges of aggravated assault and attempted kidnapping. According to the affidavit, police found a bite mark on the middle finger of Hallam's left hand.

Crosby said police are interviewing Hallam's roommates, but are uncertain which roommate he may have been referring to with the scavenger hunt because Hallam would not speak with police.

"He's not cooperating with us," Crosby said.

Crosby said Hallam does not appear to have any criminal history, and police have found no evidence so far of any history of mental illness.

"That's something that we're going to follow up on," he said.

Carri Jenkins, spokeswoman for BYU, said she had little information about the incident Friday. However, she confirmed that Hallam is a sophomore at the university. She said the university's Honor Code Office will now begin its own review of the incident to determine what actions should be taken. If it is determined that a person is a danger to the community, he or she may be banned from campus, but Jenkins said she does not know what decision will be made in this case.

"Every case is handled on an individual basis," she said.

He was arrested for aggrivated assault and attempted kidnapping. If the police have grounds to arrest him and hold him on bond, what other kinds of evidence do you need to know he broke the fucking honor code?

Come on!

The guy is a menace who was probably planning on kidnapping that woman and taking her away in that ridiculous box of his!

Yes, lets pray on it and make sure we are making the right decision. We need to make sure he's a real danger to the Lord's University before booting his ass off campus... after all, he's a priesthood holder, right?

Personally, I'd like to find him and wipe that smug look off his face... unfortunately for me, I have too much self control for that kind of thing... something he might want to google and do research on: self control.

What a mess.

How Did So Many Republicans End Up Believing Falsehoods About Obama?

2010-04-09T18:05:00.001-06:00

He Has Raisin

2010-04-04T18:51:00.002-06:00

Happy Easter everyone...

Andee

Temple Weddings

2010-04-01T19:10:00.002-06:00

Cheryl Evans/The Arizona Republic

You Should Read This...

Temple Wedding Off Limits to Non-Mormon Family

This perfectly illustrates the pain that families go through when it comes to temple weddings. The belief that a loving God would ask true believers to do this to their families? I won't ever understand it... and I had a problem with it even in my most believing of days.

I hope this petition grows. I'm gonna sign it.

Young Woman's Personal Progress

2010-03-31T11:51:00.004-06:00

The Church has unveiled a new video on lds.org telling the Young Women about the brand new Personal Progress books and website... and they are PINK! Ooooh, that will get girls to pay attention. Pink! Please watch the video. Please. You won't be disappointed.

Okay, see what I mean about the word Pink? Hilarious, isn't it? It's PINK!

Anyway, I would love to go into detail about this video and how disturbingly bad and wrong it is, and so I'm going to do it. You have been warned.

First of all, what ever happened to people being real? The women in this video are in la-la land, smiling that spirit-driven smile, glancing at one another as if they are in the Brady Bunch opening. Look how proud they are of their new pink handbook! The one they had nothing to do with! The one men wrote and gave to them!

They look like they are so drugged up on Prozac that they can't even focus on the camera. They are so sweet... but not a good sweet. Too sweet. So sweet that the sugar in my bloodstream as caused me to go into church-shock. Give me a break ladies... be who you are. Not who the church wants you to be.

But that is the main problem with the whole personal progress thing anyway...

It teaches young women who the church wants them to be, and doesn't give them any room to be themselves. It's a shame really.

The personal progress book taught me that God wanted me to be feminine, a mother, a wife, a temple-attending-tithing-paying robot like the rest of my Mormon friends... but I knew that wouldn't make me happy. I knew it in my head and in my heart... and when I told my leaders about this, I was told to pray more. To fast... and then I wasn't being sincere with my prayers because their advice didn't work. I didn't fit their mold and it was because I wasn't good enough.

There was a lot of talk about my "divine role" when I was a teenager. They make it sound so wonderful, don't they? A role that God himself wanted me to fulfill?

Why do this to young women?

I'll tell you why.

To keep the machine moving.

I have read on forums that baptisms are down, people are leaving the church and taking their entire families with them. The internet has made it difficult to keep the hard-to-believe doctrine away from potential converts and interested members.

The main way to keep the church growing is to tell the young men and women at an early age that they must follow God's plan to marry in the temple, have lots of babies, and raise them in the church. That way, there are tons of small children ready for their brainwashing as soon as they can say "Jesus Wants Me For A Sunbeam."

Let's get back to the review...

Look! There is a picture of the temple on the front of the progress book. Wow, thats something. Isn't it? I mean, heaven knows a young woman can't have enough pictures of the temple, right? You see, that is to remind them, as often as possible, what their goals SHOULD be. Temple marriage and children.

They promise that there are plenty of blessings that come with getting married in the temple, or just attending the temple in general... but everyone I have ever talked to about this can't really say they were more blessed than someone else. It's just a promise that can't be delivered.

Parents who were married in the temple have just as many problems, accidents, sicknesses, and random acts of anything than the rest of us.

What blessings are they talking about? The afterlife? Thats funny... because no one knows what happens in the afterlife, and they are drilling these things into the heads of young ladies that the only way they will be happy is following their directions. It makes me sick to my stomach.

Now, they tell the young women that they will learn new things, study the scriptures and pray every single day. These are things the young women are probably already doing in most TBM households. The new things they learn? How to sew, cook, clean and organize a home, how to care for babies and children, how to be a helpmeet to your priesthood holding husband who is the head of the family... you get the idea.

They offer pretty ribbons and necklaces as gifts for completing the lessons. This is amazing when you see it from the other side. What young woman doesn't want to earn those pretty ribbons? Those necklaces? What young woman (especially in a Mormon Community) doesn't want to show her friends how well she's doing and how many ribbons she has earned?

A tip for young women seeking truth? Go to JoAnn's and buy some ribbons. Give me a break.

Oh, yes... the young women are going through so many changes in their lives. Of course people notice. Especially the church. The church wont let them forget. The separate them from the boys, and constantly feed them "girl stuff" (for lack of a better explanation). What harm could come from teaching men and women the same thing about scriptures and church doctrine in the same class?

The entire video is just... fake. It's sad how they talk to the young women as though they are 5 years old and can't possibly comprehend anything without the super-sweet baby talk.

I'm so glad I'm out.

Andee

It' just a book... sit down.

2010-03-28T11:35:00.001-06:00

Epic Win! Student uses Westboro Baptist Church visit as Fundraiser!

2010-03-26T22:48:00.000-06:00

Left Behind

2010-03-26T22:19:00.004-06:00

Okay, I have to admit that I have read the first three books of the Left Behind series. I actually really enjoyed them, and their... well, their imagination.

Anyway, the whole "Left Behind" thing plus the television show "Punked" have inspired a group of Christians to create "Prank 3:16." Thanks to Christian Nightmares for this link!

Apparently, the show producers go out of their way to convince a random fellow Christian that the rapture has taken place, and scare her into thinking she has been left behind by the Lord.

This really bothers me for some reason, and I can't really put my finger on it.

I just think that it's pretty sad to do this to someone who has devoted their life to living their religion. Yeah, I know it's a prank... I just think it's a pretty mean prank.

Kind of like those fake lottery tickets? I think thats pretty damned mean. Not funny at all. Think of the relief those people feel thinking they have won millions, and then the heartbreak that it wasn't real? That their money problems were not suddenly solved?

Next, this girl isn't a very good actress... and the host isn't that much better. I don't buy for one second that her reaction was real. The whole thing was planned ahead of time... including her. Maybe it's me.

What do you think?

What would you think if this was a REAL show?

Now, I have written about this before, but I feel the need to share the story one more time.

When I was in girls camp, we were asked out of our sleeping bags in the middle of the night one night, blindfolded, and told to follow a trail and hold onto a rope and not let go... no matter what. There were older girls from the staff trying to trick us into letting go of this rope, but I just wanted the exercise to be over with, so I held on. When I got to the end of the rope, there was a huge tree covered in white Christmas lights and the adults were all dressed in white.

I had followed the plan and held onto the rope and therefore I had made it to heaven. Lucky me. What happened to the other girls who let go? They were taken to a clearing and given a lecture about holding onto the gospel and following the Lord's plan no matter what... and how people will try to trick them into letting go of their "rope."

These girls were then given a second chance to follow the trail and join the rest of us in heaven, but when they got there they were crying and sad. They felt they were not good enough and even the older girls who had tricked them into letting go were sad... sad that they had been the ones to lead the younger girls "astray."

The next morning, at the sunrise testimony meeting, many of these girls who let go bore their testimony-tearfully mind you- that they had learned a valuable lesson. That they never knew when their time would be up, and that they had to hold onto the church and it's teachings at all time, or risk everything.

I think tricks and pranks like these are manipulative and really creepy. The experience I went through is burned into my mind forever... kind of like a movie. It was one of my very first WTF moments.

Andee

FreeThunk

2010-03-22T11:29:00.011-06:00

Was The Mormon Church lying over Proposition 8 expenses?

2010-03-22T09:12:00.001-06:00

This is old, and I have posted it before... but I would like to remember it.

Atheist Cartoons

2010-03-20T15:32:00.009-06:00

AtheistCartoons.com

Glenn Beck Back To The Nuthouse

2010-03-19T16:18:00.000-06:00

YouTube Conversation

2010-03-18T21:22:00.003-06:00

I made a YouTube video a long time ago listing my favorite atheist quotes and cartoons, and an LDS gentleman started leaving me comments. I thought you guys would like to read the comments, so here they are. I changed the guy's name (YouTube username) because I thought I should keep him as anonymous as possible... well, as anonymous as you can get online nowadays...

I will highlight his annoying arrogance (according to me).

Mormon Gentleman:

You did in a sense misquote Einstein. He was not against religion and a general belief in a God or higher being. However in general, your video was fine (for atheists, I'm LDS, and was quite offended by it). The only thing I hate about some atheists (and I mean no offence), is they consider them selves high and mighty to say a person who believes in a God is dumb and can't make decisions without advice. If you do make another video, it would be nice if you left that out. :)

Me:

So sorry you were offended by my video, or the quotes in it, but let me be the first to say that there are MANY beliefs in the LDS faith that are MORE than offensive to me.

Racism
Sexism
Polygamy
Milk Before Meat
Baptism for the Dead

Guess we will just have to keep on offending each other. As for the quotes, I got them from a quote website and copied them as is. Even if they are misquotes or incomplete, I agree with the message they give... therefore they stay.

Mormon Gentleman:

Im just opinionating what I think you should change.Hell, one thing I cant understand about some atheists is they think we dont make our own choices. Same thing goes for the government then!Once you become military you basically sign over your rights. If you want to get a point through to the people you are trying to "help", act humble and give credit and discredit to both sides.

Well listen, Ive said what Ove said, and I don't intend my channel to be used for this. Even though you and I could argue forever about what's right and wrong, you stop a fight by not participating anymore. I do not intend to offend you, niether. That's another thing. Atheists say history proves religion is evil while they continue to fight and offend us while most of us don't fight back! And what does that prove? You're literally doing what religion did in the middle ages!

Me:

Why would I take offense to someone claiming that some atheists consider themselves high and mighty when SO MANY religious people act the exact same way?

Funny how that works, isn't it?

I will keep what I think I should keep. You might think it would be nice for me to check in with people before I make my videos, but that's not really something I'm interested in.

Thanks for watching.

Mormon Gentleman:

Its also sad how it works too, and I hope you keep yourself humble.

In my opinion, it's only the leader of a religion that acts high and mighty, while members of said religion will act more humble towards others

Heck, I don't agree or disagree with you. As far as Im concerned, where there is good, there is evil, and even a completely Atheistic world would have both, but we don't know how much.

I hope you know Einstein wasn't atheist. That is just assumed, since most atheists believe (in my opinion) that they are the only ones who make any scientific progress. He was very active and believed in a God.

I hope you have found great peace in your choice friend even though I dont agree completely with you :)

I don't think my church is perfect, and Im not in 100% in agreement with entire religious doctrine, but I do think there is a reason behind this universe, and that reason was not empty space with millions of molecules coming together in an explosion, something made that happen.

Me:

If you don't think your church is perfect, why do you believe in it?

Just curious.

I mean, take it from a girl who grew up in the church, then seriously studied church history and doctrine only to be blindsided by things the church kept from me:

There is more evidence that the LDS church isn't what it claims to be than evidence for the belief in it's doctrine. What is it that makes you so sure the LDS faith is correct... and the feeling you get when you pray doesn't count.

Real evidence.

If a church who claims to have a prophet of God has such serious problems, what would it take to convince you that the prophet isn't a prophet at all?

I'm not trying to say that you have to believe in evolution or even answer my questions.. I'm just curious about the answers.

Wouldn't God go to his prophet and say, "Monson... this isn't right. You need to do this, say this, put money where it should go, apologize for this old doctrine." Yet none of that happens... Why?

Let's take just one example of the thousands that I could choose:

God: Monson, we need to go to the people of the world and tell them I never once said black skin was a curse from me. I never once said that black skin on the earth was because the devil needed representation on the earth (as a prophet once stated).

We need to apologize for the racist statements and admit our past prophets were wrong. We need to make public amends.

Wouldn't a kind God do/say this? Would a kind and loving God have ANYTHING to do with the racism that came out of the church in its early days?

Doesn't the belief that God actually DID say these things scream "God's a racist" to you?" I know the answer to that question is probably "no," because I was trained to think the same thing... but it IS racist.

According to the church, God has a mouthpiece on the earth. If He wants us to join the true church, why doesn't he utilize that mouthpiece and clear things up?

You think members of the LDS faith, including the leaders of the church are humble? Really?

Is being totally convinced that they are right and everyone else is wrong... to the point that they take dead people and baptize them after they die without permission of family of said deceased person humble?

That is the opposite of humble.

A man claiming to be a prophet of God, without any proof of his being a prophet of God, and telling his church members to do as he says isn't humble either.

Religion can be evil.

The crusades
Waco
COUNTLESS other examples...

"Atheists say history proves religion is evil," isn't a true statement. We claim religion can be evil. There is historical evidence to this. Religion molds the minds of the believers, to the point that they are willing to do anything their leaders say.

If Monson asked you to do something, would you do it? I mean, he's a prophet of God to you, right? Why would or wouldn't you?

If you don't want to continue the discussion, thats fine. I just don't think you understand where atheists are coming from. You lump us all in together, much like you think we lump all religious people together.

The complaints most people have about atheists can be said about the people complaining. Just saying.

Members of a religion do as their leader instructs, sometimes without thought.

Are you saying that your church leaders are not humble? I would agree with you, but I'm just curious.

I think that I dodged his arrogance pretty well... he had no idea how condescending he was... it was hilarious to me... then again, I might come off the same way, at least I recognize that.

Yum

2010-03-16T17:31:00.013-06:00

I love food.

Here are a few of my favorite recipes from food bloggers. Just lick the photos for the link to the recipe! I'll even include some chicken recipes for you meat eaters out there...

Hayworth uses horses in gay-marriage argument

2010-03-16T14:41:00.002-06:00

Check out this complete dumbass:

Former Rep. J.D. Hayworth (R-Ariz.) said Sunday that the expansion of state laws allowing gay marriage could lead to people marrying horses.

"You see, the Massachusetts Supreme Court, when it started this move toward same-sex marriage, actually defined marriage - now get this - it defined marriage as simply, 'the establishment of intimacy.'"
"Now how dangerous is that?" asked Hayworth, who is challenging Sen. John McCain from the right in Arizona's GOP Senate primary.

"I mean, I don't mean to be absurd about it, but I guess I can make the point of absurdity with an absurd point," he continued. "I guess that would mean if you really had affection for your horse, I guess you could marry your horse."

Yeah, marrying an animal who has no ability to give consent to a marriage is the exact same thing as two adults joining in a union together.

Yep.

Exactly the same.

What the Hell is wrong with these people?

Student Forced Out Of School Over Gay Parents

2010-03-16T10:38:00.002-06:00

I am so glad that the other parents in the school stood up for the lesbian couple and did the right thing. The world is slowly waking up to equality... slowly, but surely.

I applaud those who did the right thing, and mentally kick those who didn't.

Andee

Seal Photo Bomb

2010-03-16T10:25:00.001-06:00

From Neatorama

Street Preachers Against Mormonism

2010-03-15T19:43:00.003-06:00

The Official Street Preacher Website has an entire page detailing what is wrong about Mormonism, mentioning (among others):

MORMON THEOLOGY CONCERNING NEGROS

JOSEPH SMITH AND THE MAGIC SEER STONES!

JOSEPH SMITH'S LUST FILLED LIFE, HE HAD ALMOST 3 DOZEN WIVES!!!

Let me be honest, the Official Street Preacher website could easily be satire, and my exhausted human brain is unable to pick up on the sarcasm (I'm 90% sure it's sarcasm, but we all know there are people who are mentally ill enough to mean everything this guy says on the page... It's kind of like someone watching or reading the Onion News Network for the first time thinking, "Wait... that ain't right!"). Hopefully one of my wonderful, smart, beautiful readers will know more about this website and fill me in on the over-the-top insaneness that is Official Street Preacher.

That being said, it's funny to me how easy it is for religions to poke at each other...

"Mormonism is ridiculous for this reason!"

Um... yeah, but your religion is just as fucking ridiculous, you just fail to look at your faith with the same skeptical eyes you view others.

Don't get me wrong. Mormonism *is* bat-shit crazy. I would know. I just find this amusing.

Ha!

2010-03-15T08:28:00.001-06:00

Via I-Am-Bored

I'm Alive

2010-03-13T11:11:00.002-07:00

Just letting you all know that I am back online. It's been a while... sorry!

I published all the backlogged comments, but haven't read them yet. I am on my brother's laptop, and just hanging out right now. Hopefully I will be hooked up myself soon and I will have the opportunity to really make a long post.

Love you all!

Not forgetting you or abandoning the website, you have my word!

Andee

Up off your knees!

2010-01-24T16:24:00.002-07:00

One of my favorite YouTube Subscriptions, ProfMTH, posted this video today about Haiti and the millions of people all over the world praying in support:

I couldn't have said it better if I tried.

People are the ones helping others in Haiti, I have seen no acts of this supposed God that exists, no spiritual awakening in hearts and souls of others, no sign of Satan confirming his pact with the Haitians years and years ago (Pat Robertsons evil comment).

If you want to help someone, prayer is just a waste of time.

Get off your knees!!

Prayer is as good as wishing it were so.

Wishing on a star doesn't work. Crossing your fingers doesn't work. Avoiding cracks on the sidewalk won't save your mother from back problems later in life. Superstition has too much power in our society, in our world, and we need to wake up and start acting instead of praying.

Andee

Selah Sue

2010-01-23T10:37:00.003-07:00

Perez Hilton just shared this video of Selah Sue singing at the Haiti Benefit Show. I stopped in my tracks and my jaw dropped to the floor.

AMAZING.

Watch this!!

Yessss!!!

Brainwashing

2010-01-22T13:23:00.000-07:00

We all know that if we were not raised in whatever religion we happen to have been born into, we probably wouldn't believe in things like Jesus, large arks containing two of every animal, talking bushes, and the rapture.

I would have never believed... EVER... that a man named Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. I wouldn't have been duped into feeling guilty that I didn't want to marry at 19 and have tons of babies with a return missionary, I wouldn't have gone through one of the hardest times I have ever had in my life. Realizing that Mormonism, and then God, were not really true.

After coming to the realization, I had to mourn my deceased loved ones all over again. Of course I was sad when they passed away, but in my heart I felt I would see them again, and that made me feel better. Now, understanding and taking into account all of the information at my fingertips, I have to realize that there might not be anything after we die, and that they really might be gone. Forever. It's not a good feeling, as a matter of fact, the first time I thought about this I cried for hours.

I was brainwashed into thinking these things. I didn't CHOOSE to believe in them, they were taught to me. By my parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends, neighbors, schoolteachers, and almost everyone I came into contact with in my hometown in Utah. Of course I believed them, why would they lie to me?

They didn't know they were lying to me.

Thats the thing.

They believed because they were taught to believe... just like I was.

I thought I would share some videos that really depict how kids are brainwashed into believing religious dogma. They are worth watching, and they really make you think... they might make you angry as well. :\

This kid reminds me of Lurch from the Adam's family:

Sounds like Lurch, too... doesn't he?

What is crazier than getting a group of teenagers together and having them make a video expressing the thought that everyone was going to die in the near distant future? Seriously... what the fuck?? Christians don't even think twice about this because they are so convinced the end of days in near, that we will all face judgment before a God, and that it is their duty to convince everyone else to subscribe to the same beliefs.

How would they feel if a Voodoo Priestess made a similar video, expressing the idea that all kids were going to die in the near distant future and she was the only one who could cast a spell and help them live for eternity? Is that really any different? Both sides are convinced they are correct, and both sides are mistaken IMO.

In this next video we see another approach to getting your kids to believe dogma:

Oh, that will teach him to be an atheist! Take away Christmas! No presents for the kid unless he agrees that Jesus Christ is his savior!

Again, WTF is this woman thinking? Is she taking into account that her Christian beliefs are not in harmony with her behavior to her son? Did she just walk up to him, threaten him, tell him to give her a "fucking break Michael," and get in his face like that?

Hypocrite much?

This lady is a well-known wack-job who was the main focus of the documentary "Jesus Camp."

She had these kids crying, singing, speaking in tongues, convulsing on the floor, and promising to devote themselves to the "War" against the devil.

One of her comments in this video gives me the chills...

"I believe this so much, that I have given my whole life to see to it that you get there."

She is a gifted speaker. She has the kids right in the palm of her hand. Making the kids feel like they are really important to her, to God, to the supposed war that is taking place. Telling them Harry Potter is evil, challenging them that they are one person at church and another at home or with their friends, telling them that they do things they shouldn't do (HOW WOULD SHE KNOW???) talk dirty (HUH?) and the kids look at her with awe and tears in their eyes.

She has CONVINCED these kids that they are bad, sinners, that they don't deserve the things they have, that they are selfish in their lives. Why is this so important to religious groups? Guilty people want to feel better.

What does this do to a kids self-esteem, though?

Personally, I would constantly question myself and my actions as a child. Would God be okay with what I was doing? Was I trying hard enough? Was I good enough?

I had nothing to feel guilty about. I was a good kid. I was on the honor roll, I had friends that I loved dearly, I didn't lie, cheat, or steal... yet I was made to feel like I was scum, and the only thing that could make me better was Jesus, God, Joe Smith, the Mormon Prophet and of course the religious dogma that caused the guilt in the first place.

This goes on and on in a person's life. I was 28 years old when I stopped believing in Mormonism. I was a grown woman with a full time job, I volunteered, I was kind to EVERYONE, yet I felt I wasn't good enough. I wasn't good enough because I wasn't following God's plan for me. Marriage, children, temple, church attendance, tithing, and guilt.

This is so unfair.

Looking back at the people who shaped my religious experiences, I find myself wondering where they are now. I know my Mom is out of the church, and that she is happy. I know my brothers are okay and not really subscribing to any particular belief system, my cousins are somewhat believers but not active, and the rest of my relatives are pretty much the same as they were when I was a kid. Mostly on my Dad's side of the family. Very, very, very Mormon.

This is an example of Mormon videos meant to teach members of the church how to introduce their children to the doctrine and help them develop their own testimonies:

This is a perfect example of how over-produced and fake religious videos can be. The lack of sincerity, lets face it... not everyone is an actor... The cheesy music, the young boy sitting in the back of the car sad because he wasn't sure if he had a testimony, the father getting a serious look on his face as he comes to terms with the fact that his son is questioning the church and his lack of a testimony, the mother sitting there... silent... letting the penishood holder do all the talking. She is, after all, just a woman.

Then things get serious. Mom looks at Dad again, gives him an encouraging, adoring smile, and keeps her mouth shut. Dad shuts off the radio, because this is serious... we are talking about Mormon testimonies here...

Then Dad starts reminding his son about the warm fuzzies. How they are proof that God listens to our prayers. They aren't just "feelings." They are special feelings. Put there by the Holy Ghost! Then, 2:14 into the video, the actress playing the mother finally gets a line!

Mom: Remember the other day when we were reading the Book of Mormon and you wanted to keep reading? Why didn't you want to stop? Son: I got this tingly feeling inside... that's the Holy Ghost? Dad: That's right son! That's how a testimony FEELS.

Um... sorry. Don't buy it. Nope. No little kid is going to sit down with his parents, read the Book of Mormon and enjoy it to the point that they don't want to stop. They would jump off the couch, run to the door and say, "Gonna go to Jack's house! Toodles!"

This video was made to tear at the emotions of Mormon parents. Making them connect with this man's parents who are probably long dead. That is another way the church tries to keep people in the fold. Reminding them of the sacrifices their ancestors made when they came across the plains to Utah for the church, the fact that they suffered for their faith, how many of them died and how hard it was. This was used on me countless times by MANY people. My ancestors came from Sweden, by boat, only to discover the saints had left for Utah. They were tired, hungry, and they had very little... but they made the decision to keep going and join the Saints in Utah.

I was told that if I left the church, I would be pretty much slapping them in the face and telling them that their sacrifices meant nothing to me. That I was telling them I didn't want to be with them for eternity.

Now look at this man's parents, how they helped him when he was a child realize that he had a testimony, and had they not helped him, where would he be?

Of course, any faithful Mormon thinks that nothing good happens to people who leave the church. Where would he be? Probably addicted to meth, in prison for rape and murder, and *gasp* drinking coffee on a regular basis.

Brainwashing puts irrational fears in your mind, consequences you will face if you don't do what the group wants you to do. It's actually quite scary how often they do this... and how MANY of them do it.

This next video is something I have shared before, but she says what I think so well that I want to share it again. She really takes the words out of my mouth:

I always had a problem with what she was describing, and I, too, never got up to share my testimony with the congregation on fast Sunday.

The paragraph repeated over and over to these young kids, and then they are encouraged to repeat it to everyone else, is a form of brainwashing. Let's also remember that everyone also fasts on this day, making the brain a little more easy to be manipulated. A child sits there, with their family, listens to the people they know and trust promise the church is true with tears in their eyes, and they believe them. Why shouldn't they? These are the people that love and take care of them.

It's sick. It's wrong. I hope it stops one day. I really do!

Andee

The Truth

2010-01-21T12:24:00.009-07:00

I had a dream last night that I was walking around temple square in Salt Lake City with my Dad (who passed away from cancer in 1998). Dad wasn't religious at all, and that is what made the whole dream even weirder... I guess it was just one of those things. I have always had dreams with my loved ones who have passed away.

A couple years ago, if I had this same dream, I would be jumping up and down because my Dad came to visit me in a dream. I used to think that they were really reaching out to me and trying to communicate with me or give me a message. Now? Not so much.

Church dreams usually piss me off. Probably because I never remember the whole dream and I start obsessing about what happened. This leads to more thinking about the church, it's doctrines and how much it really fucked with my head.

Sometimes I feel like I have been able to put the church thing behind me, other times I get just as angry as I did when I found out the truth for the first time. Is it something I can get over? Maybe. I think it would be easier if my family members didn't assume the worst of me all the time, dropping not-so-subtle hints about going to church or saying a prayer, giving me the evil eye every time they see a coffee mug in my hand... you get the idea.

When I started learning the truth, I was really mad. I was mad that I was lied to. I wanted to drive to Salt Lake City and demand answers from the men in white shirts. I wanted to scream from the balcony of a hotel...

"They are lying!!! Lying!!"

Of course that would have been counterproductive and I would have ended up in jail :) So, I started WindySydney instead, starting out as an anonymous person questioning Mormonism in the heart of LDS Country. I am glad I did. It's great therapy.

The truth.

The church taught me to tell the truth since the time I was a sunbeam. Tell the truth, kiddos! God is always watching you. The Deity won't hesitate to put down marks on your permanent record! Lies only get bigger and bigger until they explode and ruin your life!

Why can't they take their own advice?

Why is it that they are not completely truthful to the members of their church? To the people who are considering getting baptized?

Oh, I know... there are many Mormons who will claim they know everything about church history and they still "know" the church is true. They claim that the lack of information or lack of complete information isn't important at all, and that we shouldn't worry about it. Seth, the Mormon commenter I finally started ignoring due to his arrogance and condescending attitude, would always make these points.

If it's not important, then why bother hiding it? Why go out of your way to tell the people in the church that they can't trust information from anyone else? Why edit the Book of Mormon and change things? Why don't they discuss certain aspects of church history and really get into the heart of the matter?

My Mom and I were talking a long time ago, and she told me she wanted nothing more than to go to Relief Society and have a lengthy conversation about polygamy, both in this life and the afterlife. That would never happen, though. It's not talked about because they would rather not talk about it and live in denial.

People are afraid of the truth.

How is it that certain people automatically get believed when they spout off nonsense? Pat Robertson is a good example, Thomas S. Monson is another. Regardless of what these two people say or do (among others) their followers will believe them. No questions asked. None.

Anyone who sets him or herself up as God's infallible wing-man on earth should be looked at from every angle. Instead, the sheeple nod their heads, say their prayers and thank their God that they belong to the right church.

What has Thomas S. Monson done to prove he is a prophet? What kind of prophecy has he given that has come true? Has he ever made comments about meeting with Jesus and God in the temple? Having conversations with them about things? Has he ever even attempted to show the people on earth that he really is a prophet?

I think it comes down to one very important decision everyone has to make at one point or another...

Do I want to go along with the flow, or do I want to find the truth about things?

Is the truth more important than the warm fuzzies?

Is the truth worth alienating friends and family members?

Is the truth worth the constant comments and aggravation from members of the church who are convinced I am being misled?

The answer to those questions is a big, fat YES.

I want to know things, to understand them, to embrace what we have in the moment. I don't want to cross my fingers that I choose the right religion, waste time in hundreds of meetings, pray to a God that will ignore you, give up 10% of my money, or belong to a corporation that doesn't think twice about trying to limit the rights of people who are different than they are.

It wasn't easy to learn the truth and have to make big decisions about who I should tell or shouldn't tell. I knew first hand what the church tells members about apostates. I knew what I was up against... and until Mormons go through that themselves they have no idea just how huge and life-changing that can be.

The church was a part of my very existence. It was something I thought about constantly. It's hard to walk away from the normalcy, the comfortable bubble.

I still find myself humming church hymns. I will be walking over to my Mom's house and I will find myself singing Nearer My God to Thee, Choose the Right, Teach Me To Walk in the Light, Count Your Blessings, and I am a Child of God. Those melodies will be in my head forever... and they are catchy, too. Especially after singing them every Sunday (sometimes more) in a boring, slow paced, nearly monotone, funeral death march beat.

So, I have a question for you guys...

Why is it that certain topics are taboo? Not discussed? Why doesn't the church address these things head-on instead of pretending they are not there?

Why are there historically incorrect pictures shown to members of the church that conveniently leave out things like seer stones?

Why doesn't the church recognize that the Book of Abraham isn't even close to being what Joseph Smith said it was?

Why do they tell the members of the church that they shouldn't go on the internet for information about church history and instead only trust info that comes directly from the men in white shirts?

I think I will always be angry about this. Not because I have a dark, Godless heart... but because I went through so much guilt and drama. My anger isn't directed at the members of the church, it's directed to the leaders who have the information at their fingertips and continue to make excuses for the actions of prior leaders.

If you aren't angry, you aren't paying attention.

It's not even close to being a moral thing to do... picking and choosing what information to give. It's so underhanded and sly that it makes me shake my head in disgust.

How do they get away with it?

Shouldn't people all over the world hold religious organizations accountable for the outright lies they tell on a daily basis? Why aren't there more people willing to stand up and demand answers from these people?

I do take comfort in knowing that there are more and more people coming to their senses about Mormonism. That goes for other religions as well. The age of information is upon us, and those who take advantage of the wealth of information learn and grow. Atheism is getting more and more common, and while I don't really care what people believe (as long as they don't make me live by their religious rules: UTAH) I think it's good that people are looking at things in a logical and careful manner.

Blind faith gets you nowhere. You just spin your wheels, devoting time and energy to a belief system that just isn't right. You feel guilt for normal things, you give money to an already wealthy church, and you beat yourself up for not being who the "Lord" wants you to be.

I love truth.

Andee

Things I Hate

2010-01-19T12:11:00.005-07:00

Know what I hate?

Computer viruses.

Last night I was making a window's movie and some stupid program installed itself on my computer. I was so freaking mad! It kept telling me I had spyware on my computer and telling me I had to purchase some program for sixty bucks to get rid of it. I knew it was fishy so I did a search for it online (it's called AntiVirus Live... stay far away from it) and found a way to get rid of it. It took me a while though... I had to find a free one, start my computer in safe mode, and blah blah blah...

People say that they have fallen victim of this little spyware scam and actually gone through paypal and charged the fake software on their credit cards. I'm glad I didn't do anything like that. I don't have the money to do anything like that... hahaha...

Anyway, I am back and it looks like the computer is back to normal.

Ahh, how I love the websites of internet computer geeks! Without them, I would be slitting my wrists by now. Believe me. I use the work geek with love, because I am one also. I would have lost my mind without a computer.

Since I am on a hating spree... here is a list of more things I hate:

Tomatoes
When you can't find a pen
WhEn PeoPle TyPe LikE ThIs
Cheaters
Liars
Religion
Being Broke
Bill O'Reilly
Sarah Palin
Glenn Beck
Bigots
People constantly popping their knuckles
Animal Abusers =The sorry excuses for human beings that hurt Abbey Road and Spooky Bear before I adopted them into my home.
Violence
Homophobia
Black Licorice
When people won't answer a direct question.
Kent Hovind
Kirk Cameron
Ray Comfort
Loud Neighbors
People who lack empathy
Football (It's just men running into each other to me)
Internet Trolls
Brooks and Dunn
Tea Baggers (not the gay sex act, the large group of people who want to complain about everything Obama does just because they can).
Birthers (not expectant mothers, people who are convinced Obama is not an American citizen and should be kicked out of office).
The fact that I am a vegetarian that constantly craves meat. It's hard to stop myself from having a hamburger or a hot dog at times. Really, really hard. I know I would regret it, though. Probably cry myself to sleep.
Donald Trump
Cell Phones
People who can't think for themselves
People who tell me I left Mormonism so I could sin, drink coffee, have sex without guilt and be a crazy person.
Meeting people who think they know everything
Being sick to my stomach
People who throw litter on the ground. How hard is it to hold onto it until you find a trash can?
When the battery in my camera dies and I see something beautiful I want to capture.
Ann Coulter
Wal-Mart
Parents who have no control over their children, nor do they seem to care
People who think they are too special to follow the rules everyone else follows
People who complain about using self-checkout while going out of their way to use self-checkouts. If you don't like them, don't use them.
Bugs
Being an insomniac
People who think praying for someone will actually do any good.
When people don't dim their headlights
When people see you in what is clearly a uniform of some kind and ask, "Do you work here?"
When I find a vegetarian frozen dinner I really like and they discontinue it immediately.
80% of the comments on YouTube
The wackjob who created Antivirus Live and made me waste so much time getting rid of the damn software.

Andee

Funnies

2010-01-18T17:08:00.001-07:00

Out Of His Mind

2010-01-17T12:30:00.003-07:00

More evidence that Pat Robertson is out of his mind:

Inhaling Demon Spirits

Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson on 9/11

Pat Robertson Figures Out How To Deal With Your Gay Son

Katrina=God's Wrath

Robertson Claims He Predicted 9/11

Pat Robertson Hates Yoga

Pat Robertson Rare Footage (camera continued filming him off air)

Rescued Girl, 11, Fies After Bid to Save Her

2010-01-15T22:06:00.002-07:00

As a follow up to my post about Pat Robertson and his hateful and ridiculous comments about the earthquake in Haiti being punishment from God because they made a pact with the devil, I would like to share this sad news from CNN.

How DARE Pat Robertson make comments that God was responsible for the events that took this child's life. How FUCKING dare him!

He sincerely believes that this child went through that much agony, pain, stress, fear and ultimately died because of a God we are supposed to WORSHIP?

This little girl didn't deserve what happened to her. She did nothing. She was living her life, growing, learning and he has the guts to say that she or people in her country were responsible for this?

How do people look at the words of Mr. Robertson and sit back and agree with him? How do people justify the cruel and sick things he said and still consider him a preacher who knows about God? Why are there people sending him money?

That being said, even *IF* Pat Robertson's statement was true (and we ALL know it's not... but for the sake of argument) why would we, as a people, need to worship and praise a God that could do this to innocent people?

Where was their God when this happened?

Was God with this child? No.

Did God hear the prayers of the people who watched her story unfold on television? He supposedly hears all prayers, right?

So God hears the prayers, and does nothing? Nothing at all? Why? Even if this creator wanted her to die as a part of some sick master plan, why didn't he ease her pain or comfort her when she needed it?

Instead, she laid there at the mercy of rescue workers. Crying in agony and struggling to survive. She suffered.

Yeah, "God" is great.

Andee

Scare Tactics

2010-01-15T10:05:00.005-07:00

I came across a few of these videos on Christian Nightmares. I have blogged about them before, and the website is AWESOME. I also added more videos from YouTube to show how religion wants to scare you into believing the end of times is near and the only way to get to an imaginary place called Heaven you need to do what they say.

End of World

I love how this video is made to look like a freaking disaster movie.

The lack of compassion and love this video talks about is what I see in most religious groups. Intolerance for those who have different belief systems, those who don't believe in God at all, homosexuals, women, and lets not forget that racism is still alive and well in many places.

Do they need to look forward to the end of times so much? Are they that convinced that it's going to happen? It's almost like they love thinking about how God is going to destroy everyone but them and they dream about watching all the "sinners" be punished. They are, after all, the chosen people. It's ridiculous.

The Truth

Yet another example of making the end of the world look like a feature film trailer.

It's not a movie peeps, and if the world ends at some point it's because dimwits decided to stop taking care of the Earth and ignoring global warming. I don't think for one second that religious people worry about the state of the Earth (well, most of them). They think God is going to come and save them and it won't matter what happens to our planet. After all, the Bible gave us dominion over the Earth, and we can do what we want with it... no biggie.

Another thing I wanted to mention was that when Christians post these vids on YouTube they usually turn off comments and ratings. They want to get their message out there, but they also want to ignore all differing opinions about the videos and what they represent.

Are they afraid of someone challenging their beliefs?

Yes, I think so.

Do they know deep down that they might not win the debate with people educated in science and history?

Yes, I think so.

This is War - Paul Washer

I have a really bad reaction when I hear preachers use the word "War." I have an even worse reaction when that sermon is put to music and put on the internet to reach more people and make them feel as if the preacher himself is all knowing. The preacher doesn't know anything more about the end of the world, life after death, or the meaning of life than you do. He just wants you to think he does.

They stand before their congregations as men who supposedly have the answers from God and tell them passionately that they should believe they are at war.

War with who?

War with Satan? War with other religions? War with against Darth Vader? Are we being invaded by aliens who want to kidnap us and eat our brains (why not, most of don't use them!)?

No, we are not at war.

Instead of preaching using the word "war" I wish they would use these words:

Love
Compassion
Understanding
Acceptance
Empathy

But no... the word war means more to them. Why?

Using the word war immediately makes people feel that they have enemies. That people are against them. Brigham Young once said (paraphrasing):

You are either with us or you are against us.

This is flawed thinking. No one cares if you want to believe in God or believe the end of the world is near, but I have a problem with your preacher trying to convince you that I am at war with you because I don't agree with the conclusions you have drawn from the Bible.

War is bad. All war is bad. All. Of. It. People die in wars. People become separated from those they love, they become filled with hate for those who are viewed as being on the other side.

Believe what you want, kind religious folk, just don't pass laws saying I can't drink on Sunday, make my future children pray in school, or teach my kids that we all came from Adam and Eve. Your answers are not my answers. That doesn't mean we can't be friends. That doesn't mean we are at war. That means we can disagree and still find ways to connect to each other as members of society.

Scare tactics suck.

Andee

Flights From Hell

2010-01-15T00:09:00.002-07:00

This is one of those completely random links to a website I find funny/interesting.

Flights From Hell is a blog dedicated to voicing outrageous stories that happen to people on airplanes. There are stories from pilots, passengers, stories about crazy luggage mishaps... you name it.

I have a Flight from Hell story, but I will leave that for another day.

Andee

Here are a couple airplane vids that I entertain me in one way or another to ad more pizazz to this otherwise bland post. ;)

Scratching My Head

2010-01-14T23:35:00.004-07:00

I just approved two comments that made me stop in my tracks and scratch my head in thought. I love it when that happens. Even though I am trying my hardest to let my brain wind down long enough for me to catch a couple hours of sleep (impossible lately... I have always suffered from insomnia, but it's been really bad the last couple months) I had to make a post and respond to them.

So, first, we have a comment from Dan who says:

God says, "The FOOL has said in his HEART there is no God."

It means the FOOL REBEL says, "NO, God!"

Hmmm... maybe it's the fact that I might actually be getting sleepy, but it seems as though you are trying to say something without actually saying it. What is it, Dan, that you are trying to say?

Don't give silly quotes that some religious guy made to back up his/her belief in God. Just say it.

I am sincere in my question because if you know what God says, I would like to let you know that you can seek help for the voices you might be hearing in your head.

Did God say that to you?

How do you know God said that?

Are you saying I am a fool because I question the existence of God? Call me crazy (you can, because I technically just called you crazy a few sentences back) but aren't fools people who believe everything they are told and refuse to ask challenging questions only to be taken advantage of in some way?

How do you know God is really there? By just believing it? By not asking questions and plugging along in your prescribed belief system? Why would God give you a brain and the ability to think critically if he didn't want you to use those wonderful gifts?

Your blog is quite interesting, too (it's called "The Appointment" for those interested just click on Dan's name above).

Only one post that says:

God says, "it is appointed until men ONCE to die but after this the judment."

I do realize that you just created your blog and that might not be a full example of what your blog is about so it's probably not fair to form an opinion on your thoughts ideas from this alone... but again you feel the need to tell everyone what God says.

Again... how do you know God said that? Because someone told you God said that? I mean, I could tell you that I have magical powers that allow me to magically cook spaghetti and meatballs in 3 seconds... would you believe me if I said that? Nope. So why would you believe someone when they say they know what God himself says?

God came to me in a vision last night and told me to tell the readers of this blog to go to the animal shelters and adopt or foster animals in need of good homes.

I am stating that God told me this personally, and that we need to reach out and assist living creatures who deserve love and compassion... but would you really believe me that God came to me in a vision?

Nope.

Interested in your reply. :)

Now, this is a quote from Rachel who agrees with me about Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin:

In one of the questions that Glenn Beck asked her (it took her awhile to come up with a coherent answer) she said that George Washington was her favorite founding father. Because he was the first president. Little does she know... (I mean that quite literally, too)

Yes, it is true that the first settlers of this nation were very religious, true believers. Until we kicked them off their own land. :) The second were also very pious, religious, the ones that came over here on the Mayflower. However, they were not the drafters of the constitution. Those men were all secularists. Some may have been religious, most were Diests, not Christians, but all were against allowing religion to play ANY part in law-making. Kind of gives you the warm and fuzzies. ;)

I wish people would start looking this stuff up, instead of believing talking heads on Fox news to tell them what people believed almost 250 years ago. Especially since it is such a bald faced lie most of the time.

Rachel, as I stated in my reply in the comment section, I think I might have just fallen madly in love with you.

You had me at:

(it took her awhile to come up with a coherent answer)

Fox news and the morons who watch that channel faithfully are prime examples of people not asking questions and just going along with the flow.

The Native American reference was spectacular.

I applaud you.

Mean it.

Is it just me, or does Fox news seem to be getting more and more conservative and more and more religious oriented every single day? It's almost like they are putting on some kind of God show. It's not news, it's insanity.

When will people learn?

Question everything.

Andee

Beck and Palin on God

2010-01-14T15:31:00.003-07:00

It didn't long, did it?

I knew Palin and Beck were going to piss me off, and I wasn't wrong. Does this mean I have the gift of prophecy? Am I wrong in not believing in God? Maybe God speaks to me directly through thoughts, feelings, and maybe God is what makes my cat's meow?

Check this out:

Yes, lets get the Mormon and the woman who believes in witchcraft and demons to discuss how important religion is to American society.

Where would we be without religion? Would we care at all about each other? Would killing a neighbor over a small dispute be commonplace? Would people not call 911 when someone needs help? Wait... those things already happen... don't they?

Where is this God they say watches over us?

Did he help the people in the city of New Orleans during hurricane Katrina?

Did he help people avoid the world trade centers on September 11th?

Does he help the millions of abused and starving children all over the world? If he does, how? Because the way I see it... it's *people* who are helping the starving children.

Something I learned the other day which I found fascinating was that Seth Macfarlane, the hottie, the comedic genius behind the Family Guy, the dreamboat (and an outspoken atheist) had a ticket for one of those ill-fated planes on September 11, 2001. Did I mention how good looking he was? I should mention that... ;)

If God was looking out for people on September 11th, why did he help someone who was an outspoken atheist? Why didn't God save someone with a husband, a wife, a family? Instead he saves the millionaire who is part of the "Hollywood Elite?" What was God thinking?

Was it Satan?

Yes, that must be it.

Seth Macfarlane, my future husband and father of my children (I can dream) must have made a pact with Satan himself! This led him to create a series of hit television shows, become wealthy beyond his imagination, and miss his flight on 9/11! Does Pat Robertson know about this guy? Maybe Seth Macfarlane is the cause of the earthquake in Haiti?!?!

But, where was God?

Where is this loving creator when there is so much pain and suffering going on throughout the world?

Why doesn't he help?

He just chooses not to? How do you get to be one of the lucky people God helps? Do you have to just be lucky? Be in the right place at the right time?

Palin says she prays to God for guidance, grace and strength. I wonder if she has tried praying to a can of Spam? I bet she would get the same results.

She goes on to say that she would never tell someone else how to live.

Really Sarah? Really? You sure about that? How about this little gem?

Call me crazy, Sarah... I call you crazy all the time, but it seems to me that you just told reporters that marriage should be between a man and a woman only. Hmmm... that doesn't constitute as telling someone else how to live? Is the sky bubble gum pink in your little world, too?

She wants to see more American's "Give It A Try."

Yes, what we need is more religious fundamentalism brainwashing in our lives. More irrational fears, more hypocritical assholes telling people that they are sinning and going to burn in Hell if they don't do exactly what they tell them to do.

Yeah, we need more of that.

She goes on to say that she wants more of us to seek out God like our founding fathers did. They way they sought out God to help with creating the documents that let America become the strong country it is today.

I will leave you with this video that shows how crazy fundamentalists can be in regards to this country...

What If You Were God?

2010-01-14T12:42:00.003-07:00

First, thank you to everyone who wished me a happy birthday :) I had a good one. I spent the entire day eating junk food, walking around in flannel pajamas and plotting enemies' demise.

One of my favorite YouTube pals made this video titled, "If You Were God." If you have the time, check it out!

NoTrueScotsman also shared the text for the video, and I hope he doesn't mind me passing it along on my blog. I just want to make it clear that I didn't write or gather this... all credit goes to him. If you check out more of his videos, you will love them as much as I do, I'm sure.

Let's say that you're an omniscient, omnipotent deity who created the universe, the cosmos, life, and humanity.

Let's also say that the foremost concern in your all-knowing mind was to be believed in by your human creations.

In fact, whether someone believed in you or not was so important that not to believe in you would condemn any such unfortunate soul to an eternity of punishment after death.

For instance, a mass murderer who had a deathbed conversion to believing in you stood a better chance of a happy afterlife than a moral, charitable person who did NOT believe in you. This is how important belief in you would be.

If belief in you were so crucial, if so much hung in the balance on this one issue alone, wouldn't you want to make your presence known to everyone in an obvious way? Wouldn't you want to make it clear to all humanity, with no room for doubt, that you existed? Maybe you'd give every human an innate knowledge of the reality of your being.

Or would you make it a game? Would you manifest yourself in no obvious way so that believers would need to take your existence as an article of faith? Would you leave so much room for doubt that many would believe in another god, or no god at all?

So, if they failed to win the game, if they died unconvinced of your existence, you would then condemn these unwilling players to an eternity of torment.

Does that sound reasonable to you?

Let's say at some point in time, you wanted to make your inconspicuous existence more conspicuous to lots of people. What would you do?

Maybe you'd announce your existence to every man, woman, and child on earth, so it would be impossible to doubt that you are who you are. Or if that's too showy for you, maybe you'd make your presence known by sending a messenger, an entity unmistakably from somewhere other than earth.

Or, again, would you make it a game?

Would you have this messenger take human form, going so far as to have him born from a flesh-and-blood woman, a human intermediary? Maybe this messenger-in-human-form would do a few things that ordinary humans couldn't, but his form would still be human — it would be human enough for many people to doubt that you sent him, and sent him specifically to confirm your existence and your power.

Does THAT sound reasonable to you?

If it does, I'd have to question if believing in you was really so important to you after all. Maybe you were just looking for an excuse to send hapless souls to an unpleasant afterlife.

Now, lets take another hypothetical.

Let's say its 2,000 years ago, and you're a human being living in an obscure corner of the Roman Empire. You come across this preacher — there are a lot of them there at the time — and he says some really profound things, profound things like:

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled."

And its no real surprise that he says such wise things because he grew up near a cosmopolitan Roman port city, and was probably influenced by the culture there.

In fact, what he says is so radical, and he shakes up the establishment so much, you have a hard time believing you have the same religion. So, you reach the conclusion that he is the messenger that your god has been promising you for a long time.

But for one reason or another, he gets into deep political danger, and the local leaders talk the Roman authorities into executing him — giving him the worst of all deaths under Roman law: the humiliating death of a common criminal — crucifixion.

You say to yourself: This isn't right! He was such a wise teacher! He was Gods chosen messenger, or could have been! He shouldn't have been struck down like a petty thief, a petty murderer!

So, you tell yourself that you must turn his humiliating death into a glorious one. You must make his degrading death an important and necessary part of what it means to be your gods messenger.

I'm sure that there are alternate hypotheticals that we could explore. But of the two that I just gave you, which one sounds like it has the greatest potential to be true?

Pat Robertson = Evil

2010-01-14T08:53:00.002-07:00

Pat Robertson.

Just hearing that name makes my blood pressure rise. He is one of the biggest douchebags in religious history. Don't take my word for it, let the Amazing Atheist give you the real scoop:

Yeah, so Pat Robertson says Haiti was hit by an earthquake and thousands of people will die because of lack of supplies, because the people there made a pact with the devil?

What the flying fuck is wrong with this guy?

He is so full of shit that I can't even stand looking at his ugly mug for longer than 4 minutes. He makes me sick.

How is it that people look to him as a religious leader? People actually listen to him, ask his spiritual advice, give him money, and look up to him as something they should aspire to be like. All he has to do, as the Amazing Atheist said, is put the "God" band-aid on it.

Pat Robertson and Jerry Fallwell didn't hate anyone... God did.

So, let me add to the growing number of people asking Robertson and his followers this question:

"If God is sick enough to wipe out an entire group of people in Haiti, including children, infants, toddlers, and unborn fetuses, because of some pact with Satan the kids had nothing to do with, why should we worship this God?"

Letting Go Of God

2010-01-13T20:09:00.002-07:00

I posted a clip of this amazing piece of art by Julia Sweeney a long time ago, but today I had the opportunity to watch the entire performance. If you haven't seen this, you are REALLY missing out.

It's smart, funny, and she has the ability to take you on the journey of having faith to coming to the realization that maybe...

Just maybe...

The fairy tales we were all taught as children are just that... fairy tales.

If you have the time, you should check it out.

Faux News

2010-01-12T19:45:00.002-07:00

Go. Away.

2010-01-12T12:08:00.006-07:00

Sarah Palin has just signed a multi-year deal with Faux-News.

Former Alaska governor Sarah Palin will appear on Fox News as a contributor, The New York Times' Jim Rutenberg reports here.

Palin, the GOP's 2008 vice presidential nominee, has penned a multi-year deal with the network, but will not have her own program, Rutenberg said.

Are you kidding me? As if I needed yet another reason to hate this so-called "news" station? I wonder how long thing deal has been in the works, and I wonder how much she is going to get paid.

Fox News executives and Palin have confirmed the news in a statement:

Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin has signed a multi-year deal with FOX News to serve as a contributor across all FOX News platforms, announced Bill Shine, Executive Vice President of Programming.

In making the announcement, Shine said, “Governor Palin has captivated everyone on both sides of the political spectrum and we are excited to add her dynamic voice to the FOX News lineup.” As a contributor, Palin will provide political commentary and analysis for FOX News Channel (FNC), FOX Business Network (FBN), FOXNews.com, and FOX News-produced special event political programming for FOX Broadcasting.

In addition, she will host periodic episodes of FNC’s “Real American Stories,” a series exploring inspirational real-life tales of overcoming adversity throughout the American landscape that will debut in 2010.
Palin added, “I am thrilled to be joining the great talent and management team at FOX News. It’s wonderful to be part of a place that so values fair and balanced news.”

Fair and balanced my ass.

Oh, and it looks like she is going to be buddied up with Bill O-Reilly.

Palin will make her first appearance as a Fox pundit Tuesday night on The O'Reilly Factor. That news was first reported by The Los Angeles Times.

If I believed in God or the end of the world, I might be a little worried about the Apocalypse. This has got to be one of the scariest things I have read in a looooong time.

She will put her foot in her mouth at some point and remind everyone how lucky the US was that Obama won the election. She sucks. She sucks bad.

One of the things that scares me the most about this woman is that she believes the Bible should be taken literally. She has also stated that she believes that Jesus will return to earth during her lifetime.

The people in her church believe in demons, witchcraft, speaking in tongues, Holy War, and once asked questions about how to go about banning books.

A video about Sarah's church:

Andee

God's Divine Plan

2010-01-11T17:09:00.001-07:00

Prop H8 Vote Corrupted??

2010-01-10T09:42:00.004-07:00

Watchdog Group Says Prop. 8 Vote 'Probably Corrupted'
By Patrick Range McDonald

A new study by the Election Defense Alliance, a national, non-profit election watchdog group, reports that the November, 2008, vote to take away the existing right of gays and lesbians to legally marry in California through Proposition 8 was "probably corrupted."

EDA co-founders Sally Castleman and Jonathan Simon write that the watchdog group conducted exit polling at 19 precincts on Election Day, 2008, in Los Angeles County, the major swing county in California that supposedly voted in favor of the gay marriage ban.

EDA then found a huge disparity between the exit polling numbers and the official vote count, with more L.A. County residents actually voting against Proposition 8.

"It is beyond the scope of this study to know if any corruption was due to honest error or intentional fraud," Castleman and Simon write. "Further investigation is warranted."

EDA released its findings on its Web site.

"Deviations between exit polls and official results far outside margins of error cannot be explained away by demographics or polling factors," EDA writes. "The facts established in these reports cannot responsibly be dismissed or evaded."

Wow, wish I could say that I was shocked by this study, but I'm not. Not surprised at all.

It seems to be that the people who love to claim that they are more righteous than everyone else are usually the same people who end up acting so wrong.

I still don't understand how the Mormon Church got away with what they did during that election. Asking it's members to donate time, money, to call people in California on the phone encouraging them to vote for the ban. What killed me was the amount of people in Utah involved in volunteering to help the church. The vote had nothing to do with Utah, yet people all over the Beehive State were freaking out and acting as if their children would turn gay if the proposition didn't pass.

I remember getting emails from my Mormon family members giving false information about gay marriage, asking me to donate money to help fight against the "evil" of gay marriage.

"Evil?" I asked. "How is it evil?"

"It just is. It just is."

People went on and on about "protecting" marriage! Protecting it from WHAT???

You certainly are not protecting marriage from the millions of divorces that take place in the United States of America. I mean, if you want to protect something, why do you make it so easy to divorce?

It's such a blatant slap in the face to the basic civil rights of a group of people that I can't see how Mormons don't see it!!

I guess the Church, as well as other religions, only change when they are forced to. When they are called out and given an ultimatum. We have seen this will polygamy, with blacks receiving the priesthood... you name it.

How does gay marriage hurt straight marriage?

How???

Please believing Mormons who read this blog... please answer that question for me!

Is it because you think that allowing gay marriage will somehow make your children gay? Are you so worried that your own children will be attracted to the same sex that you think hiding the idea that many gay and lesbian families are living happily in the world today will push them into a gay or lesbian relationship?

People don't "turn" gay. You are or you aren't.

Think about it for a second.

All of the gay people I know grew up in traditional homes with a mother and a father. Most of them were Mormon, too. They didn't wake up one morning and decide to be gay, they didn't go out of their way to make their lives harder, it's just who they are. Just like some people have blue eyes, some have dark skin, and some lack the ability to use common sense and reason.

Would you love your children any less if they were gay? Would you? Would you tell them that they had to leave the house if they came out to you? Would you treat them differently? Would you turn the unconditional love you once had for your child into hate? Do you realize how many people out there kill themselves because they feel there is something wrong with them because they are attracted to the same sex?

Why should straight couples have rights that gay couples don't?

Should Catholics have rights that Mormons don't?

Should Atheists have rights that Christians don't?

Why should people think they have the right to decide what others can or cannot do?

I mean, if anything gay marriage will help the economy! There is no reason whatsoever that this ban on gay marriage should have passed, and yet it did?

I wont get married until everyone has the right. If the Mormon Church or any other church wants to not perform gay marriages, I don't care. But you shouldn't take that away from everyone because *you* have a problem with it.

This is crazy, it's 2010 and we are still talking about basic civil rights in the United States of America?

If you want a "traditional" marriage. Have one. I won't stop you, and I wouldn't want to. However, when you tell me or anyone else what kind of marriage we should have, you are crossing the line.

My Birthday

2010-01-09T18:26:00.003-07:00

Yesterday was my birthday.

Another year older and another year wiser?

My ordered this little cake for me as a surprise :) It was dark chocolate cake with a raspberry filling in the middle and buttercream frosting. Absolutely delicious!!

I don't know about you guys, but I am a frosting lover and always ask for a corner piece when I can. Lucky for me this is just a little cake and it's ALL MINE!!! *Insert picture of Andee walking around her apartment in flannel pajamas with a happy birthday tiara and eating cake here*

*Hugs* to all my internet buddies out there. I will be updating the blog more after I come down from my sugar high :)

Andee

Tiger Needs Jesus

2010-01-07T13:30:00.003-07:00

For the record, I haven't really read much on the whole Tiger Woods mess. I did get to see Tiger a couple times in Orlando during events when I worked at the theme parks, and he always seemed like a nice enough guy.

So, apparently, he has had countless affairs and cheated on his wife more times than he can count. There are still mistresses coming out of the woodwork for their 15 minutes of fame and attention.

To be honest, I don't really think it's anyone's business. This is between Tiger and his family.

That certainly doesn't stop Brit Hume from FauxNews from telling the world that Tiger needs a little Jesus.

Here is what Keith Olbermann had to say on his show about Hume's comments:

I hate fauxNews as much as I hate religion.

Andee

U.S. Military Trying To Convert Muslims to Christianity

2010-01-07T13:03:00.002-07:00

I have mentioned this story before, but I came across an article Christopher Hitchens wrote about the topic. It was linked in Christian Nightmares, be sure to check out that website if you haven't already. It's amazing. For the entire article in Vanity Fair, click here.

Some of the things that made me cringe?

...Lieutenant Colonel Gary Hensley, chief of the United States’ military chaplains in Afghanistan. He was telling his evangelical audience, all of them wearing uniforms supplied by the taxpayer, that as followers of Jesus Christ they had a collective responsibility “to be witnesses for him.” Heating up this theme, Lieutenant Colonel Hensley went on: “The Special Forces guys, they hunt men, basically. We do the same things, as Christians. We hunt people for Jesus. We do, we hunt them down. Get the hound of heaven after them, so we get them in the kingdom. Right? That’s what we do, that’s our business.”

Holy Shit, right?

No, Hensley, your job is to fight the war on terror and come home safely to your family and friends. You job is to protect America from those who want to do harm to it.

It is *not* your job to go to other countries and "witness" to people who are already devoutly religious. Do you not see how fucking arrogant that is?

I would like to know this Chaplain's thoughts if a large group of Muslims came to the Unites States and started sharing their word with American children.

No wonder so much of the world thinks our heads are up our asses.

A certain Sergeant James Watt, a candidate for a military chaplaincy, is shown giving thanks for the work of his back-home church, which subscribed the dough. “I also want to praise God because my church collected some money to get Bibles for Afghanistan. They came and sent the money out,” he beamingly tells his Bible-study class. In another segment, those present show quite clearly that they understand they are in danger of violating General Order Number One of the U.S. Central Command, which explicitly prohibits “proselytizing of any religion, faith, or practice.” A gathering of chaplains, all of them fed from the public trough, is addressed by Captain Emmit Furner, a military cleric who seems half in love with his own light-footed moral dexterity. “Do we know what it means to proselytize?” he asks his audience. A voice from the audience is heard to say, “It is General Order Number One.” To this Sergeant Watt replies: “You can’t proselytize but you can give gifts.… I bought a carpet and then I gave the guy a Bible after I conducted my business.”

Again, it shows that they know what they are doing is wrong according to the instructions given to them by the US Military. They just weasel their way around it.

...A Pentecostal chaplain warned cadets that they should accept Christ or “burn in hell.” About the latter incident, the air-force investigative panel decided to be lenient, on the perfectly good grounds that such language is “not uncommon” in this denomination.

I hate religion.

I hate it sooooo much.

Eeeew...

2010-01-07T12:52:00.003-07:00

Buddha says, "Eeewww..."

I was just looking at the traffic info on my blog, and someone did a google search on "incest stories" and ended up on my Grandpa Heston article.

Ewww.

No. No. No.

Damn there are some weird people out there. I'll bet you money that the person who did it is a Christian ;)

Another Thought...

2010-01-06T21:48:00.002-07:00

Grandpa Heston really got me all worked up with his comments.

Now I find myself wondering if people like that purposefully antagonize ex-Mormons.

I know some probably do it because they like to argue or debate the topics at hand, but the more I think about it, the more I think Grandpa Heston wanted me freak out. Again, not all apologists do this, I am not making a blanket statement about all religious people.

Not all Mormons want to poke at you or make snide comments designed to grab the other persons emotions. Believe it or not, it was the freaking coffee comment he made. It's no secret that Mormons are taught to assume people leave the church because they want to sin, they are possessed by Satan himself, or do things like drink coffee. I remember a lesson about apostacy. My leader was very clear to us (I think I must have been 9 or 10) that we should never "harden our hearts." That phrase is used so often that it has lost all meaning).

It's funny how most of the arguments are just automatic responses. Kind of like how cult leaders make "thought stopping" phrases. I bet you that Gramps didn't even read the entire article he commented on, he just went into autopilot and repeated what he has heard. Did he take the time to think about his response first? Consider that my points are valid? Don't think so. He chose to make digs at my character instead of focusing facts and having what could have been an interesting conversation with a believer.

Heston, people are not going to listen to your arguments if you come across as an egotistical know-it-all douche. You can do better.

He bugged me because he was commenting like an arrogant jerk. The snide comments about coffee and not posting the Brigham Young quotes he would have wanted (seriously, what am I supposed to do? Call this asshole up on the phone and ask his permission to say what is on my mind? Yeah, he would have to be my publisher/editor. Ridiculous much?

Kind of rambled, but oh well... hahaha...

Andee

Man Stroke Woman

2010-01-06T21:31:00.003-07:00

Kick ass clips from the UK television show, "Man Stroke Woman."

I love these guys. Especially Ricky Gervais (didn't even come close to spelling that correctly, did I? Anyway, check these out if you want a quick laugh. :)

Grandpa Heston, A Reply

2010-01-06T14:19:00.006-07:00

Time for another trip into the WindySydney mail bag!

A man by the username Grandpa Heston left me a couple comments that I want to reply to. Grandpa Heston's comments will be in quote blocks and italicized and my responses will be in bold letters to help keep things easier to read/understand.

Lets get started...

Your comments are interesting to me. Being obedient means that we subject our will to the Father in Heaven. No one should blindly follow the prophet or anyone else in the flesh. As for me I pray (as you said the only way that you would be obedient is if God told you himself)for an answer from God. He either confirms to me or not that what is said by anyone is from Him. So far the score is: 100% right for the prophets teaching me. For others that I trust enough to pray about the record is less favorable. YOu ought to try it with a sincere heart and see what you find.

Your comments are interesting to me, as well. I am especially interested in the comment you made about being obedient to our father in heaven and not blindly follow the prophet. First of all, there is zero proof there is a father in heaven, a space-daddy, a super fantastic club we get to hang out in after we die.

Who is it you want me to be obedient to? Because here is the thing... all scriptures are man made. The bible says shellfish is an abomination, sell your daughters into slavery... the list is endless. Should I be obedient to that God? Why or why not?

Have you ever played the telephone game? Someone whispers something in a friends ear and they keep passing the same message around the room? This is kind of how I see the bible and other religious texts. These are not God's words. These are words that men claim are God's words. So, if I am to be obedient to the God of the bible, I need to do some of these things:

-Abandon boys who are uncircumcised. Genesis 17:14

-Incest is best. Moses was the product of an incestuous marriage. Exodus 6:20

-God says it's okay for slave owners to split up slave families. Exodus 21:4

-If you "entice" an "unmarried maid" to "lie" with you, then you must marry her, unless the father refuses to give her to you, in which case you must pay him the going price for virgins. Exodus 21:16-17

-God orders Saul to kill all of the Amalekites: men, women, infants, sucklings, ox, sheep, camels, and asses. 1 Samuel 15:2-3

Believe me when I say I could go on and on. I have before. Many times. I need to obey a God that would do those horrific things? Interesting. Sorry, can't do it.

If there is a God, and He wants me to be obedient to him, then He needs to make his presence known. Mormons believe the prophets are communicating with God, and therefore they have more answers to things than other regular church members. The only way I would know what God wants from me is to what? Read scriptures that can't be trusted completely, and ...listen to and obey the prophet.

I didn't necessarily appreciate the Brigham quote. He had a great many things that he said. This is one small one that detractors use. How about quoting the rest that read a more favorably?

Oh, what quotes would thou like me to share?

There are great things?

Really?

How about his teachings that Adam was God, that there were Quaker-like men living on the moon, that anyone bearing children with someone with dark skin should be put to death immediately to save his soul?

Brigham Young had an ego the size of Texas, and by reading my copy of the Journal of Discourses I learned a lot about him. He treated women like property, he took anything he wanted, and he would publicly chastise people who openly challenged anything he said or did.

Next time I will check with you before quoting something a pretend prophet said as to not upset you. I am oh, so sorry.

Do you really think a true prophet would do the things he did?

Don't you think that if Brigham was really speaking and communicating with the Lord that God wouldn't have a few things to say about his sermons that the church now pretends don't exist? How about the Mountain Meadows Massacre? That was God's will?

Love you. Enjoy your coffee. I prayed about that too. Prophets were right. Coffee Bad! All it does is give you headaches when you don't have it and a lot of other little maladies like bad belly, the jitters etc. etc. Prayer is the soul's sincere desire. You enter Heaven through prayer.

Oh, I love the coffee dig.

Yes, I stopped going to church because I wanted to drink coffee.

That has got to be one of the stupidest arguments ever proposed to me on this blog, and I have had some doozies.

You love me? Want to get married and have babies? I can cook. Only vegetarian, though... and I would like to get to know you a little better before agree to return to the church as one of your many polygamous wives that are promised to you in the afterlife. The Celestial Kingdom always sounded kind of moronic to me, as if women would be jumping at the chance to share a husband with other women and populate their own worlds with spirit children they had to carry. Sounds like hell, not heaven.

Your comment makes you seem arrogant and sarcastic. Very bad way to get people to listen to the points you are trying to make.

If prayer is the soul's sincere desire, then lets take a look at that...

How do you know anyone hears your prayers? How about instead of praying to your heavenly father for a week, you pray to a can of Spam:

The results would be the same. They would.

I forgot. I always ask this of those that have left the church. Why do you never comment on the things that you know that the church (its people) and their leaders do right? If you are truly the free thinker that you purport you are, why not put the good things that you left to balance out some of the junk that you feel is so wrong? But alas. that would require you to be honest wouldn't it?

There are many ex-Mormons reading this last paragraph, and I can garruntee that they are laughing as hard as I am.

What should I praise the church for?

I should praise the church because they go out of their way to limit the equal rights of fellow human beings who don't even belong to their church?

I should praise the church for not allowing blacks to hold the priesthood until they were forced to change that rule to keep their tax-exempt status?

I should praise the church for not giving equal rights to women?

I should praise the church for telling women that they needed to be in polygamous marriages in order to reach the celestial kingdom?

I should praise them for their dishonesty?

I should praise the church who spends millions and millions of dollars on temples, church buildings, and expensive high-rise condo complexes instead of putting that money to use in a more helpful way... like feeding the hungry... that sort of thing.

I should praise the church for not being honest to me when they taught me the stories about church history? The translation of the Book of Mormon is my favorite example...

I should praise them for these things?

I know that most of the people in the church are good people, and if you had taken any time whatsoever to read more than one article on this blog you would know that. My entire family is Mormon. I love them no matter what, even if they act like you and assume I left because I crave Starbucks.

What you don't seem to understand is that my points and concerns with the church are valid.

As for the last sentence you wrote, you are implying that I am being dishonest. If you want to make that claim, please be prepared to show evidence to prove I am lying or being dishonest in any way.

I take that for what it is, a dig, a jab, an internet "F-you!"

What you have done is use every single apologist tactic out there. Trivializing my concerns, claiming I am dishonest, and being an all-around jerk. If you want to really communicate with people honestly about their concerns over your church, try being a little more kind and understanding. You sure came off as a egotistical jerk who thinks he knows everything.

If I had a dollar for every time some jerk-wad called me a liar without offering any kind of example or evidence I would be living in my dream home, attending college full time, traveling the world, and donating to charities that show where their money goes. I would be wealthy beyond imagination, almost as wealthy as the Mormon church!

If you had read more than one lonely article on this blog, you would know that my concerns are not just with the Mormon Church. That just happens to be the religion I was born into. I believe all religion is more negative than positive. Look at what it has done to you!! I am sure that without religion you wouldn't be so quick to judge others.

If you excuse me, I have to go to the store and stock up on coffee beans.

Andee

Bob Millet and Lying For The Lord

2010-01-04T20:49:00.003-07:00

You guys know by now that I spend a decent amount of time watching video clips and reading about religion and atheism. I love to learn and laugh and THINK (yes, LDS pals... THINK).

Well, I found this clip of Bill Millet giving a talk about how to address the skeptical and challenging questions people ask church members. The clip on YouTube was taken down for one reason or another at some point and this is a re-upload of the same clip. The video will probably be removed again at some point, so sorry if you didn't catch the movie in time. Why would they take down this video? I don't really know. Some Mormon probably flagged the video and went off on a bitch-fest that people were bashing Mormons and their leaders. Waaa Waaa they are so picked on. :(

This asswad is giving people in the audience instructions on how to lie...

"Don't answer the question they asked... answer they question they should have asked."

How arrogant, deceitful, and crazy is that?

The sheeple don't see it this way, though. Any religious Mormon would tell you that anything coming from the mouths of leaders in the church is inspired by the magical undies and male priesthood superpowers.

The people in this guy's audience were probably told that they were honored to have this man speak to them. They probably heard stories about Millet and what a good man he is. They probably overheard one Mormon saying to another, "You can tell he is a good and honest man. He has a spiritual glow." I'm not sure if others have heard the "spiritual glow" thing, it might just be me. A Mormon figurehead of one kind or another is right because God would never allow the church to be led astray.

"Don't pay attention to what is behind that curtain, kids. We will tell you what you need to know."

This very topic is why people exiting the church are so angry. We were not given the truth, the complete story, the good AND the bad. Nope. God is pleased with their ways of manipulating people into believing the BS spewed from the church over the years. It's okay to lie or omit information because it's God's will.

*puke*

The milk before meat talk angers the hell out of me. Don't tell me what questions people should ask the church, answer the questions we have.

It's so boldly arrogant that it makes me want to take the *puke* a couple paragraphs back and throw that puke on his spiritual white dress shirt. The fact that ANYONE feels they have the right to pick and choose what information to give to potential converts is nuts.

It's dishonest.

I hope I am around the day that the church finally has to answer for this bullshit. If that ever happens... but it might. More and more people are waking up to the hypocrisy and mind games and making the decision to leave the church. This also goes for many other religions as well. They feel they have the right to share "milk" only until that person is invested in the church.

Andee

Whose Line Is It, Anyway?

2010-01-03T19:24:00.002-07:00

I was a HUGE drama geek in high school. I admit it. I was also a band geek, choir nerd, honor society weirdo and in the student council. You can't get any nerdier than me. I promise.

When I was in a play in high school I took part in a couple workshops that help you improvise. The games were very much like what you would see on "Whose Line Is It, Anyway?" an old television show. Well, not that old... I wish it was still on, though.

We would laugh and laugh... keeping each other on our toes. Making jokes and doing unexpected things to throw the other actors off. It was soooo fun.

Anyway, I was browsing the net and I came across these fantastic clips of Whose Line that made me chuckle and wish I could take more of these workshops I miss so much. Watch them, you won't regret it :) Promise.

Andee

The 6:50 mark is hilarious....

Colin and Ryan at their best:

Jeff's Christopher Walken impression is hilarious:

Awards Show for the Most Bitter Divorce:

When Drew joins in on the games he always loses it. The three-headed-Broadway-Star clip is really funny:

If you don't laugh at this one there is something wrong with you:

Do it like you are Elvis:

4 Year-Old Killed By Stray Bullett at Church

2010-01-03T12:52:00.003-07:00

ATLANTA - A stray bullet killed a 4-year-old child early Friday while he was sitting in a Decatur church with his family.

The pastor of the Church of God of Prophecy said they were between late night Thursday services when the shooting occurred. Marquel Peters and his family were sitting in a smaller sanctuary with about 150 other people.

Some of the people at the church reported hearing a popping sound and debris started falling from the ceiling. The boy was struck in the head by the stray bullet, said DeKalb police.

The mother of the 4-year-old Marquel Peters held the victim in her arms until paramedics arrived. The boy was rushed to an area hospital where he later died.

DeKalb police said they do not know where the shot came from.

If anyone has any information on the shooting they are urged to call police.

Let me begin by saying that my heart goes out to this kid's family. This is tragic and it should have never happened. I hope that the people responsible for his death are caught and tossed in prison for the rest of their sorry lives. It's horrible. It's not my intention to make light of the situation in any way.

It just struck me because this was an innocent 4 year old boy. A beautiful kid with his whole life ahead of him. He was going to church with his family, and learning about God.

Why in the world wouldn't a loving God save this child from this horrible fate?

Is it supposed to be some kind of sick test? To find out how faithful his family and friends are? Is their God testing their faith?

Did their God have a master plan at work when he allowed this horrible thing to happen? God is supposedly all knowing and powerful, he has the ability to save people and give miracles... but he just didn't want to?

Did their God just not care?

If their God does perform these miracles, how does he pick and choose who receives them? Why would a pedophile survive a horrific car accident and his family members claim it was a miracle, and the little boy die in the arms of his family in a church?

Not sure where I am going with this... I just wanted to vent I guess.

This poor kid, I hope they catch the assholes who were responsible and punish them severely.

Video Time!!

2010-01-02T18:37:00.002-07:00

Sorry I haven't been updating as much the past few days. I haven't been feeling well. Kind of shaky and wobbly... its hard to explain. I think I am getting better though. I need to watch my sugar I think. It's strange.

Anyhow...

Here are some of the videos that I have decided to add to the blog. Hope you all enjoy them :)

Andee

This next one is really sickening. I would love to believe he is really good at satire, but unfortunately I think he is the real deal. Be sure to check out his other video telling everyone why women should never be allowed to be president. He is a nutcase.

Here is another of his videos on how Barak Obama is talked about in the Bible. I love how he says that the only reason Obama won was because the American people didn't pray and fast enough. He even goes as far as to say that the Lord gave him pain in his shoulder because he didn't do everything he could in regards to the presidential election.

Again... I would love to think this is satire. Please, tell me this is satire. Pretty Please. With a cherry and sprinkles on top.

This guy is out of his mind!

Christian Side Hug

2010-01-02T18:22:00.003-07:00

Christian Side Hug.

Remember that video I posted ages ago?

If not, here it is:

Yes, those silly christians think that giving a hug the "normal" way is too dangerous and will lead to things like becoming sexually attracted to the person you are touching. This is bad. Sex is bad. Don't do it. Just say no.

Well, I found this well-made response to Christian Side Hug and I wanted to share it. These guys are awesome. I laughed out loud.

Andee

P.S. It's satire. I guess some people don't get that.

I also love that the guy on the left has underwear on his head.

The End Of The World

2010-01-02T14:47:00.006-07:00

I have had it with the Mayan doomsday people trying to convince me the world is going to end in two years. Please people, stop with the urgent emails begging me to look closer at the end of the world.

The only way this world is going to end is if the human race doesn't wake up and start taking care of the Earth. We are killing the environment, but many religious people don't care about that. Why? Because the Earth is ours to do with as we please... just read the Bible!!!

Check out this guy and his end of the world prophecy (all emphasis is mine):

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

Justin Berton, Chronicle Staff Writer

Friday, January 1, 2010

Harold Camping lets out a hearty chuckle when he considers the people who believe the world will end in 2012.
"That date has not one stitch of biblical authority," Camping says from the Oakland office where he runs Family Radio, an evangelical station that reaches listeners around the world. "It's like a fairy tale."

The real date for the end of times, he says, is in 2011.

The Mayans and the recent Hollywood movie "2012" have put the apocalypse in the popular mind this year, but Camping has been at this business for a long time. And while Armageddon is pop science or big-screen entertainment to many, Camping has followers from the Bay Area to China.
Camping, 88, has scrutinized the Bible for almost 70 years and says he has developed a mathematical system to interpret prophecies hidden within the Good Book. One night a few years ago, Camping, a civil engineer by trade, crunched the numbers and was stunned at what he'd found: The world will end May 21, 2011.

This is not the first time Camping has made a bold prediction about Judgment Day.

On Sept. 6, 1994, dozens of Camping's believers gathered inside Alameda's Veterans Memorial Building to await the return of Christ, an event Camping had promised for two years. Followers dressed children in their Sunday best and held Bibles open-faced toward heaven.

But the world did not end. Camping allowed that he may have made a mathematical error. He spent the next decade running new calculations, as well as overseeing a media company that has grown significantly in size and reach.

"We are now translated into 48 languages and have been transmitting into China on an AM station without getting jammed once," Camping said. "How can that happen without God's mercy?"

His office is flanked by satellite dishes in the parking lot that transmit his talk show, "Open Forum." In the Bay Area, he's heard on 610 AM, KEAR. Camping says his company owns about 55 stations in the United States alone, and that his message arrives on every continent.

'I'm looking forward to it'

Employees at the Oakland office run printing presses that publish Camping's pamphlets and books, and some wear T-shirts that read, "May 21, 2011." They're happy to talk about the day they believe their souls will be retrieved by Christ.

"I'm looking forward to it," said Ted Solomon, 60, who started listening to Camping in 1997. He's worked at Family Radio since 2004, making sure international translators properly dictate Camping's sermons.

"This world may have had an attraction to me at one time," Solomon said. "But now it's definitely lost its appeal."

Camping is a frail-looking man, and his voice is low and deep, but it can rise to dramatic peaks with a preacher's flair.

As a young man, he owned an East Bay construction business but longed to work as a servant of God. So he hit the books.

"Because I was an engineer, I was very interested in the numbers," he said. "I'd wonder, 'Why did God put this number in, or that number in?' It was not a question of unbelief, it was a question of, 'There must be a reason for it.' "

Code-breaking phenomenon

Camping is not the only man to see truths in the Bible hidden in the numbers. In the late 1990s, a code-breaking phenomenon took off, led by "The Bible Code," written by former Washington Post journalist Michael Drosnin.

Drosnin developed a technique that revealed prophecies within the Bible's text. A handful of biblical scholars have supported Drosnin's theory, lending it an air of legitimacy, and just as many scholars have decried it as farce.

One of Drosnin's more well-known findings is that a meteor will strike Earth in 2012, the same year some people believe the Mayan calendar marks the end of times, and the same year the "2012" action movie surmised the Earth's crust will destabilize and kill most humans.

Meaning in numbers

By Camping's understanding, the Bible was dictated by God and every word and number carries a spiritual significance. He noticed that particular numbers appeared in the Bible at the same time particular themes are discussed.

The number 5, Camping concluded, equals "atonement." Ten is "completeness." Seventeen means "heaven." Camping patiently explained how he reached his conclusion for May 21, 2011.

"Christ hung on the cross April 1, 33 A.D.," he began. "Now go to April 1 of 2011 A.D., and that's 1,978 years."

Camping then multiplied 1,978 by 365.2422 days - the number of days in each solar year, not to be confused with a calendar year.

Next, Camping noted that April 1 to May 21 encompasses 51 days. Add 51 to the sum of previous multiplication total, and it equals 722,500.

Camping realized that (5 x 10 x 17) x (5 x 10 x 17) = 722,500.

Or put into words: (Atonement x Completeness x Heaven), squared.

"Five times 10 times 17 is telling you a story," Camping said. "It's the story from the time Christ made payment for your sins until you're completely saved.

"I tell ya, I just about fell off my chair when I realized that," Camping said.

James Kreuger, author of "Secrets of the Apocalypse - Revealed," has been studying the end of times for 40 years and is familiar with Camping's work. While Kreuger agrees that the rapture is indeed coming, he disputes Camping's method.

"For all his learning, Camping makes a classic beginner's mistake when he sets a date for Christ's return," Kreuger wrote in an e-mail. "Jesus himself said in Matthew 24:36, 'Of that day and hour knows no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my father only.' "

'It is going to happen'

Camping's believers will have none of it.

Rick LaCasse, who attended the September 1994 service in Alameda, said that 15 years later, his faith in Camping has only strengthened.

"Evidently, he was wrong," LaCasse allowed, "but this time it is going to happen. There was some doubt last time, but we didn't have any proofs. This time we do."

Would his opinion of Camping change if May 21, 2011, ended without incident?

"I can't even think like that," LaCasse said. "Everything is too positive right now. There's too little time to think like that."

Wow, right?

His followers got together to wait for the end of the world back in '94, nothing happened, and they still believe this guy?

This is a perfect example of people putting their faith into ideas that are laughable at best just because someone is charming enough to make them believe it.

Reminds me of Joseph Smith. How many lies and wrongdoings was he involved in? Yet people are still willing to ignore the facts and focus on a warm feeling.

I can't wait to hear about these people on May 22, 2011.

Andee

Seeing What We Want To See

2009-12-28T11:30:00.002-07:00

I have made fun of various Jesus and Virgin Mary sightings in the past... Anything from Jesus appearing on a slice of toast or the Virgin Mary showing up in a Dorito. It's pretty damned funny if you ask me...

Well, check out this clip about a woman who claims a rock was painted by God...

She lost her son, and the rock really meant something to her. I get that. I even kind of see why they thought it looks like Jesus... but couldn't the face on that rock be a fluke? Doesn't the human brain automatically put order in things that seem random?

Here is a personal example:

The ceiling in my bedroom is textured to look like stucco. Sometimes when I have trouble sleeping, I stare at the ceiling in frustration and start to "see" things like penguins, bears, water bottles and tennis shoes in the patterns. Are these things real? No. Did God perform a miracle by making a penguin appear on my ceiling? Did I think this was a sign that I should go to the zoo today? Absolutely not. Even religious people would laugh at that idea... but they don't laugh when it happens to be an image of a face, do they?

On one of my many youtube video sprees I came across this clip from Bill Maher's Real Time. Most of you know I am one of his biggest fans :) Anyway, he pretty much explains my thoughts on the matter...

People see what they want to see.

I have shared this story before, but it kind of ties the whole thought process together...

My Dad died in January of 1998. My Mom and Dad's anniversary is in February. My Mom was cleaning up the bedroom on that particular day and she found the receipt of the gift my Dad bought her the year before lying in a dish on the bedside table.

At the time, I thought my Dad was trying to reach out to my Mom on that difficult day. I was convinced that he somehow made sure to connect with my Mom on their anniversary.

But that is what I WANTED to see.

Is there a logical explanation to how the receipt ended up where it did?

Probably.

Heck, it could have been there the whole time and no one noticed. My brother could have been looking for something in the drawer and put the receipt in the dish, then forgetting to put it back.

Same goes with God in general.

People want to see God. They want to believe more than anything that there is something that continues after we die. They want to believe that they will see their loved ones again. They want to believe prayer works and that God works in mysterious ways. They want to believe that miracles happen.

I just want to see the truth now. No more fairy tales, no more lies and rules to follow (like no coffee/tea just because God said so). No more paying 10% of my money to an organization that refuses to share it's financial records with anyone.

It's weird how much I have changed. For the better, I think.

Andee

High School Student Forced To Read The Bible

2009-12-23T10:46:00.004-07:00

Let me begin by posting the news article:

A student at Newton South High School is upset when he is forced to read from the Bible.

Sophomore Jack Summers is an atheist and was unfomfortable reading text from the Bible in an english class. The boy's parents were concerned that his grades could be effected, so the school came up with a compromise. Jack would be exempt from taking two quizzes and writing a paper, but he still had to read from the Bible.
Jack's mother, Majorie Summers is now concerned about repurcussions, especially after an editorial in the Newton Tab that criticised her son saying that students "should not decide what they will and will not read for an english class."

She is worried about the list of issues that are brought up including; the separation of church and state, the right of individual belief, and the realities of a classroom. It sounds like, in many ways, young jack summers is getting quite an education.

What the hell is wrong with these people?

If you go to the news article, you will see some of the comments left by other parents in the school. Most of them don't see what the big deal is, and they think it's silly the boy was making such a big deal out of reading the bible as required reading in his English class. One of the comments even said that students shouldn't get to pick out what is required reading in school.

The argument that the teacher was just trying to teach literature makes me laugh. How many more books are there out there that would give the students a better example than the bible??

Why in the world should the bible be required reading in any public state-funded school?

Would these bible supporters feel the same way if the kids were told to read the Satanic bible? The Koran? The Torah? The *gasp* Book of Mormon? Of course not. They would be pitching a fit and we all know it.

The United States of America was founded with a separation of church and state. This line wasn't just crossed... it was jumped over, danced on and pointed at.

This kid was brave. He wasn't trying to get out of doing his homework, he wasn't trying to bring attention to himself. He was simply standing up for his rights as an American citizen to not have religion crammed down his throat in public school.

There is a theory that this school was trying to have kids read the bible in English class because they were told they couldn't teach intelligent design in science class. If this is true, the school policy makers should be held accountable for the poor decisions they made.

As Bill Maher once said, "Why is this country becoming UTAH????"

Andee

Praise The Lord!

2009-12-22T11:41:00.000-07:00

The Bible Is True!

2009-12-22T11:36:00.001-07:00

Glenn Beck Showing His True Colors

2009-12-22T09:53:00.001-07:00

Yeah, Glenn...

Just because the guy is a Muslim you have to make him prove that he isn't working with terrorists?

"Prove to me you are not working with the enemy?"

This guy is the biggest douche bag in the history of man.

WHY do people like him? -Because dumb people like other dumb people.

WHY do they watch his show? -Because they are as stupid as he is.

WHY are my relatives like zombies as they sit in front of their television screens absorbing everything he says? -Because they get into some idiot trance every time a Mormon becomes successful. He is successful because the Church is true, you know! We have to support fellow Mormons, and look how the Lord has blessed him!

WHY do they have every book he has ever written? -Because He's a Mormon and successful, therefore full of the spirit.

How does he not get fired for this bullshit? -Because Faux News doesn't care about what he says/does as long as he has the ratings.

The name Glenn Beck sends shivers down my spine, and not in a good way. In the way that makes me cringe turn my head away in horror. Rush Limbaugh and Bill O'Reilly are also in that category. Hypocritical assholes.

Ugh.

Just a Theory

2009-12-20T13:20:00.000-07:00

Gold... Pray On It, Like They Are Preying On You

2009-12-20T11:05:00.002-07:00

via videosift.com

The Known Universe

2009-12-20T10:36:00.002-07:00

If you can, click the video and watch it on YouTube high definition... it's amazing.

Cool, eh?

Some Grey Bloke

2009-12-19T16:45:00.004-07:00

I love these... check out his YouTube Channel...

Edited to add this one... it's good.

Random Image Fun

2009-12-19T15:47:00.016-07:00

o_O

2009-12-19T09:17:00.003-07:00

Sorry I can't make that any larger... for the original, go here...

They swear that it's real. If that's true... then I have lost a lot of hope for mankind. Wow, people can be stupid.

Sylvia Browne

2009-12-18T10:07:00.002-07:00

I can't believe I ever believed this woman. I watched her on Montel, I bought her books, and I daydreamed about being able to pay the $700 for a 20 minute psychic reading so I could hear from my Dad on the other side.

I believed because I wanted to.

It's the same with religion. I believed because I wanted to.

The world is full of people who are jumping at the chance to convince you of things in order to gain control over your actions and to get your money. There are not enough skeptics.

Notice how Montel sticks up for her and offers explanations of how Sylvia might be correct? This is what I equate to apologetics.

Parent: "She wasn't shot."
Sylvia: "Something hit the chest."
Montel: "Here... let me offer a way that makes Sylvia right... maybe... it's a possibility..."

Skeptic: "Joseph Smith was marrying women in secret!"
Church: "Joseph Smith was a wonderful prophet and restored the gospel."
Apologist: "He only married those women because God wanted him to!"

Ugh.

Telling people that their missing loved one is alive when in fact they are not is pure fucking evil. To tell them that she was in a mental hospital somewhere in Orlando when in fact the woman was murdered? These are peoples lives she is messing with here! All for the almighty dollar.

Look at this woman. She is broken hearted about her son. Who wouldn't be? But to lie to her her face for publicity or money? Lower than low.

Many of her fans say that she doesn't charge for the readings on the Montel show, but that doesn't mean she doesn't get paid. By going on national television and convincing people that she knows how to communicate with the dead she is creating an audience of people who can't wait to buy her latest book, join her "church" or pay for a $700 reading. The argument that she volunteers to do readings like this doesn't hold much water when you look at it from all angles.

Sylvia's fans will believe that she is a psychic until they open their eyes and pay attention. Members of the Mormon church will remain members until they open their eyes and pay attention. To most of the faithful, there is never enough evidence to convince them they are wrong.

ROFLMAO!

2009-12-17T21:53:00.001-07:00

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

Faith Healers

2009-12-17T15:34:00.003-07:00

This is fucked up.

It's one thing for an adult to go to Benny Hinn and take part in his fraudulent, money making crap, but to put a little boy on the stage like this pisses me off. This kid is too young to know what the hell is going on.

I love how the person who hosts the video on YouTube has the comments disabled. I think they are pretty aware that a good portion of the population would have something to say about this crap. This little boy was hypnotized at best, doing what he saw the grown-ups do is another possibility. You don't do this to kids. You just don't.

Snake. He's a snake.

5 Questions Every Intelligent Atheist Must Answer

2009-12-17T11:10:00.003-07:00

I thought I would take some time to answer some of this guy's questions...

1. Aren't you using chance in the exact same way in which you accuse Christians of using "God of the Gaps?"

No, I don't believe we are.

I think we are using our common sense and reason and looking at all of the evidence to see if something is logical before we believe it.

Is it likely that a being (don't know what created God, do we?) came out of nowhere and for some strange reason decided to create life, the earth, the universe? Or is it more likely that science and something natural made these things happen?

Most Christians think that Atheists believe that the earth was made out of nothing, or made out of "green goo." They are wrong. Believers are the ones who assume that God created the earth out of nothing but magic and pixie dust. Atheists are usually very clear when they say they don't have all the answers... they are just unwilling to place a God in the gaps that you speak of. We don't have the answers now, but if we continue to study and actively research we might come up with answers they don't involve magic and a God.

If an airplane were to crash into my apartment building right now, should I assume it happened because God does exist and God wanted me to die in a fiery blaze because I dare question his existence? Or, should we look at all available evidence and come to the conclusion that it was something like pilot error or mechanical problems?

This guy mentions that Darwinism makes chance in the form of random variation a creative force in biology, and then says that isn't very intelligent in his opinion. This made me giggle.

Mutations happen. All the time. In animals, in plants, in human beings. In some of these cases, the mutations actually assist the specific species and therefore make that species stronger and less likely to fall prey to something else. If animals with the mutation survive longer, they have more opportunity to breed and therefore pass the mutation on to their offspring. The mutation then becomes somewhat normal... It's survival of the fittest.

Would giraffes with short necks survive a long time? No, they would probably have a hard time finding and gathering food to keep them alive (this is a very simplistic example). Therefore they wouldn't have the same opportunity to pass their specific genetic makeup to potential offspring.

God isn't automatically the answer. Hope that makes sense.

2. Why should there be something instead of nothing?

Why should the answer automatically be God?

Again, this man is assuming that human beings are here because something put us here. It is quite possible that the Earth was created by a series of random events. It is quite possible that there is no deep meaning to life, no giant lessons we are supposed to learn, no tests to pass... nothing.

It's not a comfortable feeling, is it?

Thinking that we don't have a purpose and that when we die we just cease to exist completely?

But it's possible. It is. We don't know it for fact, because there is no way to study people who have died and ask them questions, is there?

I suppose most Christians would say that a God is just as possible, but I have to disagree. Especially the God of the Bible. The God that says slavery is okay, the God that asks for sacrifices, the God that drowned everything on the earth except for Noah and the ark in a giant flood, the God that doesn't step in when innocent children are dying from one thing or another. Is the God I just described a loving God? Far from it. Would I worship someone or something that could sit by and do nothing while there is so much suffering in the world?

Absolutely not.

Again, atheists don't automatically put God in the gaps... if we don't have the answers, we seek the answers. If we find evidence of a just and loving God, most Atheists will be more than willing to look at that evidence and decide for themselves what conclusions to draw. We just don't automatically draw the conclusions. That doesn't make us stupid or silly. It makes us careful.

The guy in the video says that everything must have come into existence at some point and time. Yes, this is true. But again, the answer isn't automatically God... is it? If it was God, who created God? Who created the thing that invented/created God? How did that happen? Instead of seeking answers to these questions before drawing the God conclusion most Christians assume this is all here due to some supernatural event.

He says the world was "fixed" to make life possible. I don't really agree with that. I think that it is much more likely that natural events took place that created the perfect conditions for life to evolve. He says that the biological life itself bears the marks of intelligent design. How is this? What are these marks that prove we came from Adam and Eve instead of evolution? His argument on this is very weak and he gives no examples as to what he is trying to say.

Hell, we might never know what started all this... life... but that doesn't mean I should assume it was a God and stop looking for actual evidence! That would be pretty silly in my opinion.

3. The world has something called "moral order." Where do you get your morals from?

Are you kidding me dude?

Really?

I have morals, I know right from wrong, therefore God exists?

No.

I get my morals from the wonderful parents who raised me. The ones who taught me that I should treat those as I want to be treated. Not out of fear of being punished by them, or by God... but because it's just the right thing to do.

I don't understand why so many religious people out there assume people who don't believe in God are automatically baby-eating, drug-taking, car-stealing, maniacs who look for any opportunity to hurt their fellow man! Come on now!

This argument also brings up another point. How many so-called Christians with a deep belief in a God commit heinous crimes on a daily basis? How is it that the God they believe in doesn't keep them from hurting their fellow man? This leads me to believe that morals have nothing to do with a deity at all... instead, you either have empathy for your fellow man or you don't. You are selfish or you are good. You care or you don't.

The "moral order" of the world is another shocking statement to me.

Where in the world is this moral order?

I read about wars, killing, starving children, rapes, murders... you name it. Are all of the people committing these acts atheists? Nope. In fact, most of the wars are started because of one groups' belief in God or some holy turf war. They don't care who they have to kill to get what God wants them to have. They are right. They are justified because God is on their side.

This is some insanely twisted logic.

He brings up the fact that believers in God look to the future about how we "ought" to behave. He says that evolution has something to do with morals. I disagree. Evolution biology, morals and ethics are something different. A form of philosophy (I guess).

Most of the atheists I know are active in their communities. Doing things to clean up the planet, helping animals, fighting like HELL for equal rights (because God doesn't hate anyone... he doesn't exist), trying to make sure that the entire Earth doesn't go to shit so our children and grandchildren will have a place to exist.

The Bible says that God gave humans dominion over the earth, and to quote my favorite comedian Bill Maher, "It is if God said, 'Take this [the earth] and beatith the shit out of it. For it does not matter. It is a rental.'" If we don't do something about the environment our entire future is at risk. Most Christians believe God is going to come to earth and save the good people during the rapture. Do they not care because they won't have to worry about living on the earth? They will be saved so who gives a shit, right? Do they not realize that they could be very wrong? Where is there sense of morality when it comes to this kind of thing?

Morality needs to be explained, he says.

Let me give it a shot... Morality is caring about your fellow man. Not because of a fear of punishment from God, or even a punishment from law enforcement/prison... but because we, as humans (most of us, anyway), empathize with others. God has nothing to do with this. Sorry.

So, if God=Morals, then why are there so many lying, cheating, abusing believers out there? Why didn't I go out last night and rob a bank for more Christmas money? No God to punish me, so why not??? This is soooo stupid. It's a bad argument. Really bad. Frankly, I think he is pretty damned ignorant for assuming these things about atheists. What is he making his generalizations on? Why does he assume atheists are people with dark hearts and no morals? It's somewhat insulting to tell you the truth. He doesn't have a clue.

4. How did morals evolve?

Hmmm... lets see here.

Killing is bad because you are forcing your will upon another living creature. You are taking something that doesn't belong to you (their life) and therefore you have no right to do it.

Do I need a God to tell me that murder is bad? That I shouldn't eat babies for breakfast? That I shouldn't rob the bank at the end of my street because I need more money for Christmas presents? No. I know the difference between right and wrong. I wouldn't want someone to murder me or one of my family members, so I treat them as I want to be treated.

This isn't a question about God/religion at all. This is a question about empathy. It's a question about those who care about their fellow man and those who don't. If you were to do a study on this, I would be willing to bet that there are just as many Christians out there committing horrible acts as atheists. As a matter of fact, there are so many more Christians than atheists that there are probably more Christians committing these crimes than atheists. Does that mean God doesn't exist?

His caveman story made me chuckle.

Atheists are not moral because we want our species to survive. I mean, of course we want our species (and planet) to survive, but that isn't what we base our morals on. If I killed someone in cold blood, I would feel guilty. Not because I had done something to make it harder for the species to survive, but because I took the life of someone else. I took them away from their family, friends and loved ones, and I had no right to do so.

Again, this guy is pretty convinced that our conscience (something that everyone has unless they are suffering from one mental illness or another... sociopaths come to mind) is in fact the voice of God telling us right from wrong. Mormons believe this is the Holy Ghost. I believe this is something that ALL people have, and some people choose not to listen to it. Some people don't give a shit about anyone but them... and all of those people are not atheists, are they?

This argument is flawed. Just because he doesn't understand it, doesn't make him right... haha..

5. Can nature generate complex organisms, in the sense of originating it, when previously there was none?

Again, we don't know what created the Earth... but the answer isn't automatically supernatural. Why draw that conclusion immediately? Study it, look at it from all angles, come up with theories of how this could have happened. Which of the theories is most likely? Do some experiments, study more. Keep looking. Keep learning.

Scientists believe in evolution because it is the most logical explanation. There are fossils that prove species evolve.

But the question is, basically, what starts life? Moreover, what is the meaning of life?

We don't know. Not yet. We might never know... but that doesn't mean that I should live my life according to an ancient book with more holes in it than swiss cheese. That doesn't mean I should believe in and worship a deity that has the ability to watch, observe and stop suffering but chooses not to. That doesn't mean the answer is God.

Instead of drawing that conclusion, I plan on keeping an open mind and looking for real evidence. Not warm fuzzies that have been known to lie, not people who try to scare me into conforming to their beliefs even though they are sexist and homophobic.

This guy's video is full of eye-roll inducing moments, and it gave me a good laugh. I love the way he looked into the camera as if he were trying to show you God's love through the pleading in his eyes. His arguments are not logical, though. As a matter of fact, they are kind of funny (to me, anyway).

Andee

Jesus and Me

2009-12-16T19:46:00.000-07:00

This says it all.

Alice In Wonderland

2009-12-16T18:42:00.001-07:00

I can't wait for this.

New Rules

2009-12-16T17:03:00.003-07:00

I love Bill Maher.

Really.

I want to have his babies.

I might have posted a couple of these before, but they rock. I can't remember which ones and I don't feel like checking right now. I'm being lazy.

FreeThunk Cartoons

2009-12-16T14:43:00.009-07:00

If you want more cartoons... go here! FreeThunk rocks.

Noah's Ark

2009-12-16T13:45:00.004-07:00

I have Maelstrom to thank for this clip of Joe Rogan and his thoughts on the story of Noah's Ark.

I thought it was awesome. Thank you!

While looking for more info on Noah's ark I found this series of videos called "Messed-up Bible Stories." These are great. Check them out!

8-year-old Draws Jesus on the Cross, Gets Sent Home For Mental Evaluation

2009-12-15T16:36:00.003-07:00

By Laura Crimaldi and Laurel J. Sweet

Taunton Mayor Charles Crowley called School Superintendent Julie Hackett from his vacation today and asked her to apologize both privately and publicly to the family of an 8-year-old special needs student sent home from school and ordered to undergo psychological testing after drawing a stick-figure picture of Jesus Christ nailed to the cross.
“Mayor Crowley’s sentiments were that he would hope Dr. Hackett would meet with the family today, apologize, make a public apology on behalf of the school department, pay for the psychiatrist and come up with a policy to make sure this never happens in our school system again,” said Crowley’s assistant Todd Castro.

...
The Lowell M. Maxham Elementary School second-grader was booted from the school on Dec. 2 when school officials feared his artwork - drawn to depict what he did on his Thanksgiving break - might be exposing violent tendencies. The child was allowed to return on Dec. 7 after a two-day risk assessment by psychiatrist Helene Titelbaum determined there was nothing wrong with him.
“(The boy) does not appear to be a threat to himself or others at this time. Therefore, I recommend that he return to school as soon as possible,” Titelbaum concluded in her report, a copy of which was obtained by the Herald.

The boy’s father, Chester Johnson, 40, a part-time maintenance worker for the Taunton School Department, told the Herald his son drew Jesus after visiting the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette in Attelboro to see its Christmas display. He then put his own name on the cross instead of Jesus.

...

“My intention is to shed light on what is happening to children in schools because of zero tolerance,” she said. “I’m sure they expected Santa Claus or a reindeer, but that’s not where this child’s mind was.”

Johnson, she said, ”just wants to get his son out of the school. His son is really traumatized from this event.

“This is one of those ‘How is this possible?’ scenarios,” she said. “We live in a society where we’re supposed to honor children and their imagination.”

In June 2008, a Taunton fifth-grade student was suspended for a day for a stick figure drawing that appeared to depict him shooting his teacher and a classmate.

Okay, so it shouldn't surprise anyone that I have something to say about this...

This little boy was drawing a photo about what he did over the Thanksgiving holiday? I am guessing (and hoping) that his family didn't go out and crucify one of their atheist neighbors as a human sacrifice to Jesus. This is clearly someone freaking out over something silly. The kid went to church, saw Jesus on the cross at some point, and then drew the damn picture. I don't see how it got to the point that he was removed from the school and asked to have a mental evaluation.

The school handled this poorly, to say the least.

Now, onto the bigger issue.

Religion and kids.

Is it fair to raise your child telling them that they already belong to the right religion and that everyone else is wrong?

Do kids really need to walk into a church and see a statue of a man being crucified? It's kind of sadistic if you ask me. Something I wouldn't really want young kids to see...

If a Catholic took their son to a movie where there was a bloody violent scene of a man being killed and left to die while people were cheering and chanting, they would be upset that their child was subjected to that. Wouldn't they? Yet they don't see the same thing in their churches. I am not trying to pick on Catholics, I think all religions are crap.

This is a big issue to me, because if there was one thing I hated about being a Mormon, it was when the mothers would escort their three, four or five year olds to the microphone on fast Sunday and whisper into their ears what to say.

Ever really listen to the words people say? It's the same thing. Verbatim.

I would like to bear my testimony and I know this church is true. I love my mother and father and my sisters and brothers. I know the Book of Mormon is the word of God. I know that Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God and that Thomas Monson is our living prophet today. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

These are little kids. They don't know what a testimony is. They don't understand the concept of God, heaven, hell and all the severe punishments for not doing what the church tells them. They can't read the Book of Mormon to know that it's true. They are only doing what they are told to do, instructed to do.

It's really unfair to do this to kids. It limits them and closes them off to other possibilities. If their religion is all they know, do they really have the chance to make their own religious choices?

When I was a kid, everyone in my life told me Joseph Smith was a prophet. The Book of Mormon was true, and that I must have been a wonderful spirit in the pre-existance because I was lucky enough to be born into the one true church. When I made friends with people in other religions as a child, I was sad that they wouldn't be going to heaven like I was. Isn't that sad? Should little kids have to worry and think about stuff like that?

I just wish religion was something you could pick up when you become a certain age (if you want to). Kind of like cigarettes. If you are old enough to smoke and make an unhealthy decision for your body, you are old enough to go into a religion and make an unhealthy decision for your mental and emotional well being.

Most of the people born into a religion stay there for the rest of their lives. It's pretty rare for people to convert from one religion to another. It's even more rare for someone to do it and not have it be because they want to marry a person of another faith.

Yeah, the school failed here. The little boy didn't do anything wrong. I just think it's a sad display when kids are filled with religion so early... before they can really grasp what people are talking about.

The God Simulator

2009-12-15T12:10:00.002-07:00

Holy Fucking Shit what a gross photo I took down. Good lord. I mean, wow. I'm gonna have nightmares. To soothe those who had to look at that gross display, here is a picture of a cute little kitten.

The God Simulator

By Chad Docterman

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be God? Here’s your chance to find out.

This simulation puts you in the place of God. As God, you are both omnipotent and omniscient. You have the power to do or create anything. No problem is insurmountable for you.

Let’s begin…

Quotes From Religious Leaders

2009-12-15T11:59:00.003-07:00

"If you go all the way back to the days just following creation, men lived nine hundred years or more."
[Pat Robertson, Answers to 200 of Life's most Probing Questions, Bantom Books, 1984]

"Feminism encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capitalism and become lesbians."
[Pat Robertson]

"Many of those people involved with Adolph Hitler were Satanists, many of them were homosexuals--the two things seem to go together."
[Pat Robertson, "The 700 Club," 1/21/93, ADL report on Religious Right, page 131]

"AIDS is the wrath of a just God against homosexuals. To oppose it would be like an Israelite jumping in the Red Sea to save one of Pharaoh's chariotters".

"The idea that religion and politics don't mix was invented by the Devil to keep Christians from running their own country."
Jerry Falwell Sermon, July 4, 1976

"No, I don't know that atheists should be considered as citizens, nor should they be considered as patriots. This is one nation under God."
[George H.W. Bush, President of the United States in response to a reporters question]

"Evolution is a bankrupt speculative philosophy, not a scientific fact. Only a spiritually bankrupt society could ever believe it. ... Only atheists could accept this Satanic theory."
[Rev. Jimmy Swaggart]

"To assert that the earth revolves around the sun is as erroneous as to claim that Jesus was not born of a virgin."
[Cardinal Bellarmine, 1615, during the trial of Galileo]

The Littlest Atheist

2009-12-15T11:15:00.006-07:00

Check out some of these cartoons... awesome stuff...

So Hungry!

2009-12-15T10:51:00.004-07:00

Know something that has always made me chuckle?

Fasting.

Does your God hear prayers better when people pray on an empty stomach?

Do tummy rumblings make your God smile?

Does your God sit back and say, "Well, I will grant you this prayer... you *are* hungry."

When I would ask my grandpa why he was fasting he would tell me that the money he would have used for food on that specific day would be given as an offering to the church for people in the ward. I asked him many times why he needed to starve himself and donate the money, and to be honest I don't recall what his reply was.

I mean, if you want to donate even more money to the church (besides tithing) then go for it. Whatever. They don't need it, but whatever floats your boat... My point is that there is no need to starve yourself on top of making that donation. What is the purpose? To suffer a little?

Personally, I don't think it's by chance that testimony meetings take place at times when you are fasting. When you are without food, your body isn't functioning normally. You become more emotional, and it's easy for people to get you to agree with the words coming out of their mouths.

Religious cults use fasting all the time. It's a common way for the leaders to gain more mental control over the people in the group.

I remember sitting in testimony meetings. I was starving. You know when you are so hungry that you feel a little sick to your stomach? Thats how I would feel. Icky. One minute I would be daydreaming about a cheese-lover's pizza hut pizza and the next the thought of eating something grossed me out completely. It can't be healthy.

Person after person would get up to share their testimony that Joe was a good guy and that they would be lost without the gospel and I wanted to scream, "Shut up! I need food! Let's end this nightmare!"

It makes no sense at all.

If you want to make your God happy, wouldn't He be happier if you spent more time volunteering than spending so many hours on a church pew? Couldn't you approach this in a way that actually makes a difference to someone?

What good does fasting do?

Andee