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Israeli Women: Accomplished … and Unclean

Generally, I’ve kept my mouth shut about Israel. Honestly, I haven’t taken the time to really delve into the country’s history, or its politics. My hands-off-ness grows out of that – I know I’m not well-enough informed to hold strong opinions about it all. I’m sure there are some larger issues I don’t understand.

Still, there have been news stories over the years that have sometimes made it difficult for me to feel friendly toward the country.

Mostly, I like the joke I heard years ago, that the world would be better off if we’d given the Jews a homeland in New Jersey rather than the middle East. Continue reading “Israeli Women: Accomplished … and Unclean”

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Help Me Pharyngulate (wait, can I say that?) This Poll

The Christian Coalition of America is

… conducting a nationwide survey of America’s politically active Christians so we can show the politicians and the media exactly where we stand on critical issues.

[ In case you have trouble connecting, the URL is http://cc.org/webform/2012_american_values_survey ]

[ Also, see Afternote 2/Warning at the end of this post. ]

And they want to make sure your voice is included.

I say we pitch in. After all, it doesn’t say only Christians, and nobody else.

And it’s not like the questions are politically loaded or anything. They’re all open, honest, think-your-own-well-informed-thoughts-and-answer-according-to-your-independent-conscience questions. No, really. Continue reading “Help Me Pharyngulate (wait, can I say that?) This Poll”

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Puppies or Poison

I found this on Facebook. It was worth a mere chuckle at first, but then I started to really think about it. The more I thought about it, the more telling and terrible it became.

Take two groups …

One with a nightmare vision of the future, a vision of screaming and pain and merciless death, a vision of the end of human life on Earth. A vision that they LOVE, that they ardently WANT TO HAVE HAPPEN …

And the other with a vision of good things, of diseases conquered and lives extended, a vision of human reason and creativity, exploration and prosperity, a vision of learning to live with nature …

Who would you pick to live and work with? Who would you pick to help design YOUR future? The future that stands the better chance of bringing about the most positive experience for everybody and everything? Continue reading “Puppies or Poison”

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Pat Robertson is a Lying Sack of Shit

Praying? Or taking a dump? Nobody knows for sure.

I have a certain amount of sympathy for most Christians. Because I believe that, no matter what they say and do, they aren’t really in full control of their thoughts and actions. Because of this powerful fear they’ve been taught, they’ve given over control of their lives to others, people they hope really understand how to live and act.

In fact, I feel this same way about great numbers of religious ministers. I can barely imagine how torturous it must be to not really know what’s true or not true, and to have to pretend to your flock that you know exactly what you’re doing and that you have every right to be there telling THEM what’s true and not true, what’s good and not good. Continue reading “Pat Robertson is a Lying Sack of Shit”

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What the Hell is Wrong With You Scientists??

Seriously, scientists, what is WRONG with you?? How could you not tell us about THIS??

What Prayer Does to Your Brain

This video reveals how prayer actually changes four distinct areas of the human brain: the frontal lobe, the anterior cingulate, the parietal lobe, and the limbic system.

It also details how a specific amount of prayer time per day can help prevent memory loss, mental decline, and even dementia or Alzheimer’s.

Plus, it covers 47 scientifically proven benefits of prayer, including pain relief, reduced risk of death from heart attack or stroke, lessened anxiety or depression, improved immune function, and more.

All this time, I LAUGHED at people who prayed. And now I find out there is SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE, yes proven scientific evidence, that all those nice Christians are going to live longer, happier lives! While all us atheists will die cold and alone, with depleted anterior cingulates and seriously compromised limbic systems. And probably have Alzheimer’s too!

As you watch the video, bear in mind that it’s totally unbiased.

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Doctors Work Tirelessly, Then God Performs Breathtaking Miracle

“I tell everyone, if they want to call it a modern-day miracle, this is a miracle,” said Regan, 59, and a Catholic. “I have friends who are atheists who have called me and said, ‘I am going back to church.’ “

I know some part of this is the simple desire to express boundless gratitude that a loved one survived. And another part is the ridiculous “drama” writing on the part of the reporter.

But after a while, it just gets tedious. Like the 20th time you’ve seen an “evil twin” episode on a TV series. Or the 10th “hot young vampire” movie. Continue reading “Doctors Work Tirelessly, Then God Performs Breathtaking Miracle”

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Indian, Martyr, Healer, Saint

Reporter Alyssa Newcomb penned a deeply embarrassing bit of silliness at ABCNews.com yesterday.

First American Indian on Track Toward Sainthood

Jake Finkbonner was near death for months with a flesh eating bacteria, but made a miraculous recovery that the Vatican credited to The Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, marking the second miracle for the 17th century Mohawk-Algonquin woman and clearing the way for her to become the first American-Indian saint.

Pope Benedict XVI signed a decree Monday approving the miracle attribute to the intercession of the woman, and she could be canonized as soon as February. The Vatican said it believes that the prayers Finkbonner’s family directed to Tekakwitha were responsible for bringing the boy back from the brink of death. Continue reading “Indian, Martyr, Healer, Saint”