Buddha says, "Eeewww..."
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
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. :)
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.
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?
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.
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?
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
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:
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.
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.
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.
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):
Wow, right?Harold Camping lets out a hearty chuckle when he considers the people who believe the world will end in 2012.Biblical scholar's date for rapture: May 21, 2011
Friday, January 1, 2010
"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."
