Clipmarks | AtlLiberal's 'religion' clips

Religion, Caste, and Fear

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 17:53:11 GMT

clipped by: AtlLiberal
clipper's remarks: This has been brewing for some time in India with no coverage to speak of in the US. For a country like India with such a long history it's bewildering that they haven't eliminated such blatant rigid social expressions of division which lead to this bloody encounter.

Clip Source: www.independent.co.uk

Holy war strikes India

As she recalled her awful story, Puspanjali Panda made no attempt to halt the tears flooding down her face.

Holding her daughter close, she told how a baying Hindu mob dragged her husband – a Christian pastor – from his bed, beat him to death with stones and iron rods and then threw him into a river. She found his corpse two days later, washed up on the bank. When she went to the police, they told her to go away.

Mrs Panda and thousands of others like her are victims of the worst communal violence between Hindus and Christians that India has seen for decades.

The Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, called it a "national disgrace".

The journey to the heart of the violence follows a bone-shaking road east from Bhubaneswar to the district capital, Phulbani. It was here in late August that thousands of Hindus armed with swords, sticks and primitive guns began taking matters into their own hands after the murder of an elderly religious leader, Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati.

I'm Going for a PHD in Alchemy

Sat, 04 Oct 2008 18:22:27 GMT

clipped by: AtlLiberal
clipper's remarks: This stupidity is common across the country. A majority of the population is so ignorant that they are incapable of separating superstition from science.

Clip Source: atheism.about.com

North Carolina School Considering Creationism

In Brunswick County, North Carolina, the local school board — and apparently the entire board, not just one or two fringe members — is convinced that public schools need to teach creationism alongside evolution. It's difficult to underestimate not just how bad of an idea this is, but just how poorly this reflects on the school board itself — an institution ostensibly responsible for ensuring the good education of children.

First and most obviously, this demonstrates a complete lack of understanding of basic science on the part of board members. This might not be so bad if it weren't for the fact that instead of admitting ignorance and deferring to scientists, board members want to abuse their power by having schools promote their religion.

Second, this reveals a complete ignorance about or perhaps disregard of the law because every court that has ever ruled on the matter has ruled against teaching creationism, no matter what the circumstances.

Democratic = Atheist?

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 16:23:04 GMT

clipped by: AtlLiberal
clipper's remarks: While there is no reason why an atheist couldn't be a Republican this piece touches on some interesting questions.

Clip Source: atheism.about.com

Should Atheists Vote for the Republican Party?

Why is there a problem for atheists who might be inclined to support the Republican Party? Although it was not inevitable, today Republicans at all levels of government across the country are the primary force behind legislation which would:

Undermine the teaching of evolution and promote the teaching of creationism

Criminalize abortion in as many cases as possible, if not in all cases

Provide funding to religious groups that discriminate on the basis of religion

Provide funding for religious and theological training, as with ministers or priests

Establish prison rehabilitation programs that emphasize fundamentalist Christianity

Have the government endorse the Ten Commandments

Use government power to give a privileged status to Christianity and Christian beliefs

Having Their Cake and Eating It Too

Sun, 28 Sep 2008 15:40:06 GMT

clipped by: AtlLiberal
clipper's remarks: From the article:

"Let's imagine that the Alliance Defense Fund and its clerical clients were to persuade the Supreme Court to overturn the Johnson amendment's ban on political endorsements from the pulpit. At that point, what would prevent wealthy ideologues from making tax-exempt contributions to sympathetic pastors' churches for the express purpose of engaging in partisan electioneering? For that matter, what would prevent ambitious pastors from soliciting just such contributions and then using them to bind like-minded ministers into powerful political machines?"

Clip Source: www.latimes.com

Beware the bully pulpit

Pastors plan to challenge a ban on religious leaders making political endorsements in church. It's a bad idea.

Every act of civil disobedience is, by its very nature, a provocation. The trick is to distinguish between those acts that genuinely express the unjustly ignored conscience of the provocateur and those that merely are provocative.

On Sunday, 33 evangelical Protestant pastors in 22 states will demand that the rest of us do precisely that, when they participate in a "pulpit initiative" conceived by an Arizona-based Christian legal organization -- the Alliance Defense Fund -- which hopes to overturn the Internal Revenue Code's 54-year-old ban on political endorsements by tax-exempt organizations, including churches.

The lawyers and the pastors they've recruited argue that the ban -- originally sponsored by then-Texas Sen. Lyndon Johnson in 1954 -- violates the clergy's 1st Amendment rights to both free speech and free exercise of religion.

Hindu Cooties

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 18:18:58 GMT

clipped by: AtlLiberal
clipper's remarks: Unambiguous religious discrimination against a class of people fuels violent unrest in India. Directed mainly towards Christian, it has been seen that Christian converts are disproportionately found to be from India's lower castes. Thus there appears to be not only a problem with friction between Hindus and Christians but the age old problem of class discrimination to boot.

Clip Source: atheism.about.com

Lowest Hindu Caste Left Behind in Flood?

Discrimination against Dalits — India's lowest caste — is supposed to be over. It was made a crime over 50 years ago and the government has a quota system designed to ensure that Dalits get a fair chance at government jobs and places in government schools. So why are the social and economic circumstances of Dalits still so bad?

Indians from higher castes routinely deny Dalits everything and anything that others take for granted, like electricity and running water.

Although India is a society where separating religion and culture is more difficult than most, it's unambiguous that the plight of the Dalits is ultimately religious in origin. The foundation of the Dalit caste are people whose occupations were believed to make a person "ritually impure" — handling leather, carcasses, human waste, etc.

Contrasts Spirituality vs Religion

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 16:50:12 GMT

clipped by: AtlLiberal

Clip Source: www.youtube.com

The curse of faith

[Video]

Food for Thought

Sun, 21 Sep 2008 18:02:48 GMT

clipped by: AtlLiberal

Clip Source: godbegone.blogspot.com

Evolutionary Origin Of Religion

[Video]

Professor Richard Dawkins takes a question from the audience regarding the evolutionary origin of religion and how religion could have been beneficial, Evolutionary speaking.

His answer is an interesting one and uses the moth as an example of another way detrimental actions could result as a byproduct of otherwise beneficial behavior . He says that like how the moth flies into candle flames as a byproduct of it's evolution produced guidance system, religion in humans could also be a byproduct of an otherwise beneficial trait, Like trusting and believing what we are told as children by grownups. There is no evolutionary benefit to moths flying into flames and killing themselves, Just like there is no evolutionary benefit to believing in invisible dictators, But there is an evolutionary benefit to the programing that produces those particular behaviours.

Another Variety of Insanity

Sun, 21 Sep 2008 17:25:57 GMT

clipped by: AtlLiberal
clipper's remarks: What defines "respectable" religion from a cult. I suspect it's either number of followers or going against the favorite wedge issue of the day. In reality, the differences are very small and often hinge on the number of angels on a pin.

From the article:

"At their Saugus, Calif., church in the 1970s, the Alamos preached that anyone who quit the cult would be killed, driven mad, or changed into a homosexual."

Clip Source: www.splcenter.org

The Ravening Wolf

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Clad in matching T-shirts with bejeweled cross logos, members of Tony Alamo Christian Ministries are once again saving souls on Hollywood Boulevard. Since the late 1960s, followers of notorious cult leader Tony Alamo have recruited and distributed literature on this star-studded sidewalk.

Scattered former acolytes have long accused Alamo of mind control, con artistry, and mental and physical abuse of his followers. Now, momentum to hold accountable the man known as "Papa Tony" is on the rise. In the last two years, former followers have come together on the Internet, establishing online forums where they offer mutual support and document a litany of personal horror stories. Even more importantly, a number of ex-cult members and family members of several of those still inside have reported to law enforcement allegations of serious crimes including physical abuse, statutory rape and polygamy.

"Jesus is living within me."

Sun, 21 Sep 2008 15:14:51 GMT

clipped by: AtlLiberal
clipper's remarks: Possessed Arkansas preacher's church compound looked at for alleged child abuse. Let me see, haven't we heard this song before?

Clip Source: www.cnn.com

Evangelist's compound raided in child abuse case

(CNN) -- Federal and state police raided an evangelist's compound in Arkansas late Saturday to investigate whether any children have been physically or sexually abused, officials said.

The raid is part of a two-year investigation into a compound near Texarkana, Arkansas, owned by Tony Alamo Christian Ministries, said Bill Sadler of the Arkansas State Police. About 100 agents were on the 10- to 15-acre site late Saturday and met with no resistance, he said.

"It's a hoax," Alamo said. "They're just trying to make our church look evil ... by saying I'm a pornographer. Saying that I rape little children. ... I love children. I don't abuse them. Never have. Never will." Watch Alamo deny the allegations »

"Why were they after Jesus?" he asked. "It's the same reason. Jesus is living within me."

Tags: religion

Jesus Horses and Sarah Palin

Sat, 20 Sep 2008 16:29:20 GMT

clipped by: AtlLiberal
clipper's remarks: Sarah "Speaking in Tongues" Palin explains how she believes that dinosaurs and man lived together.

This is precisely why the taboo of not discussing one's religion is wrong. This woman's viewpoint needs to be brought out and examined in the light of day. She holds ideas that have consequences in an increasingly technological world. By her own statements, she clearly doesn't have a clue what's going on.

Clip Source: atheism.about.com

Sarah Palin & Creationism: Sarah Palin Supports Creationism, Intelligent Design

Why Vice-Presidential Nominee Sarah Palin Prefers Superstition Over Science

Can anyone rise to a position of power or influence within the Republican Party without first avowing opposition to basic science in the name of religious ideology and anti-intellectual superstition? That seems unlikely and Sarah Palin, vice-presidential nominee chosen by John McCain, reinforces this impression through her defense of creationism against evolution.

When running for governor of Alaska in 2006, Sarah Palin made it abundantly clear that she supported teaching religious ideology in public schools where they should be teaching science and fact:

"I pushed her on the earth's creation, whether it was really less than 7,000 years old and whether dinosaurs and humans walked the earth at the same time. And she said yes, she'd seen images somewhere of dinosaur fossils with human footprints in them."

Church/State Mythology

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 17:39:36 GMT

clipped by: AtlLiberal
clipper's remarks: From the article:

Christians in America are often told that they are being persecuted, so claims like this fall on already very fertile ground. Despite having their hands on nearly every lever of power throughout American society, many Christians sincerely believe that they and their religion are under siege and suffering from persecution. They certainly don't want to experience even more hardship, so they are responsive to whatever suggestions their leaders offer to stave off the criminalization of their religion.

Unfortunately, these Christians are simply being deceived. There is no logical, necessary, or legal connection between preventing the government from promoting certain religious beliefs and preventing individual citizens from expressing those same religious beliefs on their own.

Clip Source: atheism.about.com

Myth: Church/State Separation is a Means for Making Christianity Illegal

Are Atheists Using Church/State Separation to Criminalize Religious Expression?

Myth:

If expressions of religious belief, like that in our national motto or Pledge of Allegiance, can be declared unconstitutional simply because they reflect basic truths of our religious faith, then any expression of religious faith can also be declared illegal. Our basic freedoms, especially religious freedoms, will crumble.

Response:
One of the most popular means the Christian Right has for scaring people out of supporting church/state separation is to get them to believe that if the government is prohibited from expressing, endorsing, and promoting religious beliefs, then individual Christians will also be prohibited from doing the same. Denying the government authority over religious matters is thus reframed as government suppression of religious expression. How does that work?

What the Hell!

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 22:29:35 GMT

clipped by: AtlLiberal
clipper's remarks: Religion? Sideshow? Child abuse? Psychosis? Ignorance?

Clip Source: www.youtube.com

[Video]

Tags: glossolalia, pentacostal, religion

Oy vey

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 18:27:50 GMT

clipped by: AtlLiberal
clipper's remarks: Intolerance is catching on across religious lines. I say burqas for all!

Clip Source: atheism.about.com

Jewish Taliban: Ultra-Orthodox Vigilantes in Jerusalem

Modesty squads are roaming the streets, attacking and brutally beating people who fail to live up to a narrow religious code defining moral purity. People are afraid, and women are being victimized most of all. Is the Taliban resurgent? Well, yes, but that's not what this story is about; instead, this story is about Orthodox Jews in Jerusalem taking the "law" into their own hands and punishing people for failing to adhere to strict religious standards.

Traditionalist Muslims tend to take first place in the Oppression Olympics, getting high marks for their efforts to stifle free speech and prevent women from achieving real equality in society with conservative Christians working hard to challenge them. Jews, though, tend to be quieter — but maybe some have decided that they can give the other a real run for their money? Even conservative, evangelical Christians haven't thought to create their own Taliban-inspired morality police.

Tags: intolerance, religion

Are You Surprised?

Sun, 14 Sep 2008 15:56:33 GMT

clipped by: AtlLiberal
clipper's remarks: This poll seems to point out the obvious to me. In fact, I'm surprised that more white Southern evangelicals aren't for torture. After all, much of their dogma is based on everlasting torture. A few minutes of it against a fellow human being must seem trifling.

Clip Source: www.ajc.com

The Christian view on torture

In conjunction with what they call a “National Summit on Torture” here in Atlanta, Georgia’s Mercer University and Faith in Public Life have released a fascinating poll of white Southern evangelicals on the topic. (h/t Political Insider).

According to the poll, 20 percent of white Southern evangelicals said that torture can often be justified, while another 38 percent say it can sometimes be justified. That’s a total of 58 percent of white Southern evangelicals saying that torture can often or sometimes by justified.

That’s considerably higher than the 48 percent of Americans overall who in an earlier poll said torture can often or sometimes be justified.

Overall, only 38 percent of white Southern evangelicals said torture could rarely or never be justified.

Tags: religion, torture, evangelical

Religious Divisiveness

Fri, 12 Sep 2008 16:23:07 GMT

clipped by: AtlLiberal
clipper's remarks: Arguably the most divisive dogma of all religions is their claim to be God's chosen ones. This is the linchpin that justifies bloodshed, racism, and genocide. This exceptionalist doctrine is at the root of tension throughout the world.

Clip Source: atheism.about.com

Your Ancient, Illiterate Ancestors weren't God's Chosen People... So There!

Which requires a bigger ego, believing that you personally have been singled out and chosen by God for some special purpose, or believing that your entire ethnic group (race, family, whatever) has been singled out by God for some special purpose? Believing you're chosen by God may be personally fulfilling, but believing you belong to an entire group that's chosen by God means you're part of a larger, divinely-ordained movement and group. Either way, you are raised up out of the masses.

Just how many "chosen people" can there be? Given how mutually incompatible their claims are, they can't all be chosen. Even worse, their basis for claiming to be chosen often rests on ancient documents created by nomads who had barely a fraction of the knowledge of the world we have now. Why are such claims treated as credible, except that they tell people what they want to hear?

Tags: exceptionalism, divisiveness, religion