Clipmarks | lifecyce1898's 'religion' clips

lewis black explains religion

Sun, 07 Sep 2008 15:09:10 GMT

clipped by: lifecyce1898

Clip Source: www.youtube.com

[Video]

Did evolution produce religion?

Thu, 29 May 2008 00:53:04 GMT

clipped by: lifecyce1898

Clip Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Will and Testament

William Crawley's broadcasting diary

Here's a fascinating proposal. The evolutionary anthropologist James Dow argues in a new paper that religious belief is a product of evolution. Nothing new there: a number of scientists have explained the rise of religion as an aid to the flourishing of social groups. But this proposal is different. Dow has developed computer software that predicts the rise of religious belief under evolutionary hypotheses. It's a complex proposal, and you may prefer to trust the New Scientist summary; but some of Will & Testament's hardcore bloggers will wish to take a look at the full paper.

Is religion a "social evil"?

Sat, 26 Apr 2008 12:59:58 GMT

clipped by: lifecyce1898

Clip Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Will and Testament

William Crawley's broadcasting diary

What are the worst blights facing our society today? A version of that question was asked 104 years ago by Joseph Rowntree, one of Britain's most famous Quakers. Rowntree thought the "scourges of humanity" facing his world were poverty, war, slavery, intemperance, the opium trade, impurity and gambling. A new poll commissioned by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation asks a similar question of the UK population today, and the results could have Mr Rowntree turning in his grave. The "dominant opinion", according to researchers, is that religion is a "social evil" which leads to intolerance and ignorance.

What the World needs Now!

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 19:52:23 GMT

clipped by: lifecyce1898

Clip Source: en.wikipedia.org

Mettā meditation: the practice of loving-kindness

Mettā signifies friendship and non-violence as well as "a strong wish for the happiness of others", but also less obvious or direct qualities such as showing patience, receptivity, and appreciation. Though it refers to many seemingly disparate ideas, Mettā is in fact a very specific form of love – a caring for another independent of all self-interest – and thus is likened to one's love for one's child or parent. Understandably, this energy is often difficult to describe in words; however, in the practice of Mettā meditation, one recites specific words and phrases in order to evoke this "boundless warm-hearted feeling." The strength of this feeling is not limited to or by family, religion, or social class. Indeed, Mettā is a tool that permits one's generosity and kindness to be applied to all beings and, as a consequence, one finds true happiness in another person's happiness, no matter who the individual is.

Imagine John Lennon

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 20:04:32 GMT

clipped by: lifecyce1898

Clip Source: www.lyrics007.com

Imagine there's no Heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people

Living for today

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people

Living life in peace

You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us

And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people

Sharing all the world

You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us

And the world will live as one

debate forums

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 23:42:21 GMT

clipped by: lifecyce1898
clipper's remarks: wonder if theres ever been a mind changed

Clip Source: www.volconvo.com

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Introduction to Religion

Sat, 01 Mar 2008 02:50:02 GMT

clipped by: lifecyce1898

Clip Source: www.freedomainradio.com

My shows on the nature of religion seek to establish several claims that are often upsetting to people. I don't expect you to accept these assertions at first glance, of course. In a series of podcasts on superstition, I use reason and evidence to establish, prove and back up each one of these claims.

Religion is no different from any other superstition.

Religion is as destructive as any other child-indoctrinating cult.

Telling children that sky-ghosts exist, are always watching and judging them, and will send them to hell for disobedience, is child abuse.

There is no more chance that God exists than “square circles” or leprechauns exist.

By any objective moral standard, the fictional deity of the Old Testament is stone evil - genocidal, vain, vindictive and vengeful.

The Bible approves the following actions as the highest moral values:

Genocide
Slavery
Rape
Child rape/abuse
Ritual human sacrifice
The murder of innocents
The killing of “false prophets” and unbelievers
...and so on.

THE WORLD'S MOST DANGEROUS BOOK

Sun, 17 Feb 2008 14:55:45 GMT

clipped by: lifecyce1898
clipper's remarks: by Alan Watts

Clip Source: www.katinkahesselink.net

Such superstition would have been relatively harmless if the religion had been something tolerant and pacific, such as Taoism or Buddhism. But the religion of the literally understood Bible is chauvinistic and militant. It is on the march to conquer the world and to establish itself as the one and only true belief. Among its most popular hymns are such battle songs as "Mine eyes have seen the glory" and Onward, Christian Soldiers. The God of the Hebrews, the Arabs and the Christians is a mental idol fashioned in the image of the great monarchs of Egypt, Chaldea and Persia.

Thus, the political pattern of tyranny, beneficent or otherwise, of rule by violence, whether physical or moral, stands firmly behind the Biblical idea of Jehovah.

and so be a loyal citizen of the United States? It is thus that fundamentalists veer to the extreme right wing in politics, being of the personality type that demands strong external and paternalistic authority.

confusion-republican in politics and monarchist in religion

Sun, 17 Feb 2008 14:47:38 GMT

clipped by: lifecyce1898
clipper's remarks: Alan Watts-the word republican not used in terms of party but as system of govenment

Clip Source: www.druglibrary.org

The Republic is founded on the marvelously sane principle that a human community can exist and prosper only on a basis of mutual trust. Metaphysically, the American Revolution was a rejection of the dogma of Original Sin, which is the notion that because you cannot trust yourself or other people, there must be some Superior Authority to keep us all in order. The dogma was rejected because, if it is true that we cannot trust ourselves and others, it follows that we cannot trust the Superior Authority which we ourselves conceive and obey, and that the very idea of our own untrustworthiness is unreliable!
Citizens of the United States believe, or are supposed to believe, that a republic is the best form of government. Yet vast confusion arises from trying to be republican in politics and monarchist in religion.

Top 50 Atheism Quotes

Sat, 09 Feb 2008 01:48:57 GMT

clipped by: lifecyce1898
clipper's remarks: Site is well worth a look

Clip Source: leftofzen.com

1. Religion easily has the best bullshit story of all time.

6. Convictions are more dangerous enemies of truth than lies.

9. If people are good only because they fear punishment, and hope for reward, then we are a sorry lot indeed.

10. The most henious and the must cruel crimes of which history has record have been committed under the cover of religion or equally noble motives.

12. “It ain’t those parts of the Bible that I can’t understand that bother me, it is the parts that I do understand.”
Mark Twain

17. Shake off all fears of servile prejudices, under which weak minds are servilely crouched.

19. The way to see by faith is to shut the eye of reason: The Morning Daylight appears plainer when you put out your Candle.
Benjamin Franklin, the incompatibility of faith and reason, Poor Richard’s Almanack (1758)

21. If God has made us in his image, we have returned him the favor.
Voltaire

26. The constant assertion of belief is an indication of fear.
Jiddu Krishnamurti

How To Be Patient

Tue, 11 Dec 2007 13:43:23 GMT

clipped by: weirdguy
clipper's remarks: Hmmm, easy for you to say....

Clip Source: www.wikihow.com

Try to figure out why you're in such a hurry.

Pinpoint the triggers that often make you lose your patience.

Overcome bouts of impatience.

Look for patterns.

Let go if you can't do anything about the impatience trigger.

Remind yourself that things take time.

Expect the unexpected.

Give yourself a break.

Remember what matters.

Once you are able to change your attitude so that you are a patient person, you will find that patience can help you endure any tribulation, no matter how long-lasting or difficult. More importantly, perhaps, patience can help you achieve your goals.

Many people find that spirituality helps develop patience. Nearly every religion places value on patience, and indeed, having a belief system and embracing your spirituality can help you let go of things you cannot change and can comfort you when you are waiting.

Being patient with others is a form of respect for them.

Developing patience is not easy, and you've got to be motivated to become more patient.

Tags: personal, personality, spirituality, people, anger, help, howto

George Carlin on MAD TV - Touched by an Atheist

Mon, 15 Oct 2007 14:23:58 GMT

clipped by: lifecyce1898

Clip Source: www.youtube.com

[Video]

Tags: religion

Bush’s Homophobic Surgeon General Nominee Charged With Conflicts Of Interest - Funnels Millions From

Sat, 01 Sep 2007 19:07:28 GMT

clipped by: lifecyce1898

Clip Source: www.crooksandliars.com

George Bush’s nominee for Surgeon General has drawn a lot of heat for among other things, his crack-pot anti-gay views as a leader in the United Methodist affiliate of the Institute on Religion and Democracy. But a new report may finally sink his already controversial nomination in a sea of conflicts of interest that have marked his career.

Now, an investigation Rev. Andrew J. Weaver, Ph.D. and Lawrence H. McGaughey, Esq., and published at Media Transparency, shows that Holsinger used the sale of a United Methodist Church-owned hospital in Kentucky, as a cash cow for his personal ambitions. It took years of litigation by the church to find out what had happened to its money, only to learn that Holsinger had diverted millions to endow professorships at the Chandler Medical Center at the University of Kentucky where he served as Chancellor and fundraiser-in-chief. Read more…

Tags: neocons

Rise & Fall of America's Political Right

Mon, 27 Aug 2007 00:50:06 GMT

clipped by: lifecyce1898

Clip Source: www.chronogram.com

The Rise & Fall of America's Political Right

It is made up of three main parts.

Corporatism, which is based on the belief that whatever makes money is good—and should not be restrained.
Neo-con megalomania, which is the belief that American power is absolute, irresistible, and always good, and should therefore be used—without restraint.

And right-wing religion, which is the certainty that this movement’s form of Christianity is God-commanded; therefore it should rule America and, through America, the world—and any restraint against it is opposition to God.

People with theological beliefs don’t mind lying. It’s for the greater good.

People with theological beliefs routinely lie to themselves.

In their theological minds, the theory is always true. Only reality is flawed.

Listening to Bush—and Cheney and their supporters—is exactly like listening to a Marxist explaining away Stalin. And Mao, and the gulags, and the East German secret police, and the madness of Ceausescu.

Tags: rightwing, republican, religion, neocon, fascist, lies, war, theology

Neocons plagiarize Italian Fascists

Mon, 27 Aug 2007 00:21:46 GMT

clipped by: lifecyce1898

Clip Source: www.dailykos.com

Neocons plagiarize Italian Fascists

As a graduate student instructor charged with the task of grading undergraduate papers, I am not easily shocked by plagiarism.

I was amazed to find a quote by the neoconservative Michael Leeden which seemed to be plagiarizing the work of the Italian Fascist F.T. Marinetti

Creative destruction is our middle name, both within our society and abroad.
We tear down the old order every day, from business to science, literature,
art, architecture, and cinema to politics and the law. Our enemies have
always hated this whirlwind of energy and creativity which menaces their
traditions (whatever they may be) and shames them for their inability to keep
pace ... [W]e must destroy them to advance our historic mission.

What makes this instance frightening are two things, the sector of fascist ideology being recycled and the recycler, a man with a great deal of influence in American foreign policy.

Leeden believes that only through violent action can society progress

Tags: neocon, fascist, republican, bush, war, religion