Clipmarks | tabsey's 'religion' clips

Pullman on Religion

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 13:56:18 GMT

clipped by: tabsey
clipper's remarks: INTRO; Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy constitutes one of the finest reading experiences for children I’ve ever seen. I read them as an adult, on the advice of a literary colleague, and fell under their spell immediately. They are fantasy books, for sure, but with a strong rational and anti-authority philosophy. And although I don’t think of them as purely anti-religious, if your religion is one with an authoritarian streak then …
Interesting character.

Clip Source: cosmicvariance.com

My basic objection to religion is not that it isn’t true; I like plenty of things that aren’t true. It’s that religion grants its adherents malign, intoxicating and morally corrosive sensations. Destroying intellectual freedom is always evil, but only religion makes doing evil feel quite so good.

In fact, when it comes to banning books, religion is the worst reason of the lot. Religion, uncontaminated by power, can be the source of a great deal of private solace, artistic inspiration, and moral wisdom. But when it gets its hands on the levers of political or social authority, it goes rotten very quickly indeed. The rank stench of oppression wafts from every authoritarian church, chapel, temple, mosque, or synagogue – from every place of worship where the priests have the power to meddle in the social and intellectual lives of their flocks, from every presidential palace or prime ministerial office where civil leaders have to pander to religious ones.

Tags: literature

Pope: Religion has a place in politics

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 11:56:11 GMT

clipped by: tabsey
clipper's remarks: The place is called "No".

Clip Source: www.cnn.com

PARIS, France (AP) -- Pope Benedict XVI urged Christians to make their voices heard in France and other countries that have strong traditions of secularism, saying Friday that politics and religion must be open to each other.

The pope embarked Friday on a four-day trip -- his first to France as pontiff -- that will take him from the presidential Elysee Palace to the Roman Catholic shrine in Lourdes.

Benedict was greeted by President Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, at a Paris airport, where a military band in plumed hats played a fanfare. Later in Paris, the pope was to address a gathering including Muslim leaders on the second anniversary of a speech that heightened tensions with much of the Islamic world.

Traditionally Roman Catholic France is wrestling with its changing religious landscape, and how to reconcile it with the secularism that underpins the modern French Republic. The country has a growing number of Muslims whose visible customs

Tags: religion

Richard Dawkins infected with Satanic 'virus of mind', Christian group claims

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 09:34:42 GMT

clipped by: tabsey
clipper's remarks: An absolute shocker.

Clip Source: richarddawkins.net

It's been an action-packed week for anyone who enjoys a good old row between science and religion, faith and reason, the men in white coats and the ones in dog collars.

First we had physicists flicking a very expensive switch in their hunt for the God particle (although surely this is doomed to failure if they don't believe He exists).

Then Prof Michael Reiss, director of education for the Royal Society, claimed teachers should discuss creationism with pupils and that "banging on about evolution" didn't change the beliefs of the devoutly religious.

Next the Church of England decided to muddy the waters by saying sorry to Charles Darwin for criticising his theory of evolution.

Now Christian Voice, the evangelical group best known for leading opposition to Jerry Springer - The Opera, has tried to get in on the act by issuing a public apology to Britain's best-known atheist, Prof Richard Dawkins.

In a parody of the Church's letter to Darwin, it declares that it has decided to issue a posthumo

Tags: religion

Jewish 'ultras' defend morals with menace

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 09:26:57 GMT

clipped by: tabsey
clipper's remarks: The terrorists within.

Clip Source: www.guardian.co.uk

An Orthodox Jewish woman heckles women defying a law that they should not pray out loud. Photograph: Elizabeth Dalziel/AP

Four months ago in the middle of the night, six men dressed in wide-brimmed black hats, black coats, white shirts and black trousers burst into the Jerusalem apartment of a young Jewish woman and taught her a lesson.

Mikhail, who is reluctant to give her full name, had scandalised members of her ultra-orthodox Jewish community by leaving her husband and embracing a secular lifestyle. The men, all members of the theologically conservative Haredi branch of Judaism, tackled her to the ground, slammed her head against the floor and tied a rag around her mouth. One assailant sat on her head as the others kicked her while demanding to know the names of the men she was seeing.

the orthodox are imposing their rules more forcefully than before and the lives of the city's women are becoming more circumscribed, and sometimes more dangerous, as a result.

Tags: religion

Family care 'tied to sect gag order'sects

Sat, 20 Sep 2008 15:00:05 GMT

clipped by: tabsey
clipper's remarks: This group was sanctioned by the previous Govt (Liberals) after political donations hit the right spot. I think they are treated as a religion, as a result. The sect has had a lot of bad publicity.

Clip Source: www.theage.com.au

THE Exclusive Brethren sect has attempted to prevent a sick 85-year-old former member from revealing her terrible life story by saying that if she remained silent she could be reunited before she dies with the children she was separated from 28 years ago.

Alison Alderton's family was torn apart at the order of the sect's world leader in 1980, and she has barely had contact with her children, who are "in fellowship", since.

Inside the sect, kept apart from Mrs Alderton by the Brethren's founding doctrine of "separation," are three daughters and a son, 18 grandchildren and a number of great-grandchildren she does not know and cannot count.

The Exclusive Brethren teaches its members that they have a privileged place in God's eyes, and must keep spiritually separate from the world, to avoid being "defiled" by it.

But on May 26 this year, as Mrs Alderton lay sick in hospital

her daughter Jeanette Sivewright, and son-in-law Roger, paid her an unannounced visit,

notified of her emergency

Tags: sect, religion, difference, delusional

Robert Winston criticises dangerous 'science delusion'

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 16:50:34 GMT

clipped by: tabsey
clipper's remarks: Bit like the chook and the egg. Scientists have for centuries been questioned closely by religions and many theories went on hold due to church action. Now that the science world is taking the limelight from religions, they want to do some discussing.
The emphasis on trying to prove the big bang theory could be interpreted as a swipe at religion.

Clip Source: richarddawkins.net

Lord Robert Winston has renewed his attack on atheist writers such as Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett and Christopher Hitchens, whose arguments he said were "dangerous", "irresponsible" and "very divisive".

The science populariser and fertility expert said that the more bombastic arguments of atheist scientists were making dialogue between religion and science more difficult.

"I would argue that the 'God Delusion' approach is actually very divisive because it is the one way surely of not winning over opposing views … Religious people can say, 'look these guys just don't understand us'."

"We need to be much more sophisticated in how we handle these problems in our society and I don't think the propositions of Christopher Hitchens, Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett and a number of other writers have really furthered useful healthy debate. I think actually they've limited it – that worries me"

Tags: science, religion

Prayers for pets are taxable business, court rules

Sun, 14 Sep 2008 09:44:20 GMT

clipped by: tabsey

Clip Source: www.abc.net.au

Saying a final goodbye to pets at a funeral is a special moment for owners, but the monks involved must still cough up money in taxes, Japan's top court has ruled.

The Supreme Court ruled against Buddhist monks who argued that Japan's growing trend of pet funerals was a religious activity that should be exempt from taxes, like funerals for humans.

The Jimyoin temple in central Aichi prefecture offers last rites for animals that resemble traditional Buddhist funerals, with bereaved pet owners paying pre-set fees.

"The list of charges spells out prices. By no means does it show the characteristics of religious donations," presiding judge Osamu Tsuno said in his ruling.

"This is a profit making operation that should be regarded as taxable income under the corporate tax law," he said.

In Japan, bereaved families generally offer donations to monks who perform last rites rather than explicitly paying for their services.

The pet business is a growing industry in Japan

Tags: religion, secular; when, taxes, are, involved

Buddha statue find at Afghan site

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 16:33:18 GMT

clipped by: tabsey
clipper's remarks: Conservative religious extremists.

Clip Source: news.bbc.co.uk

A giant statue of a Buddha has been discovered in central Afghanistan, near to the ruins of the world-famous Bamiyan Buddhas.

The Taleban dynamited the Buddha statues in 2001

Archaeologists say the 19m (62ft) statue is in a sleeping position and dates back to the Third Century.

Other relics such as coins and ceramics were also found.

The Taleban blew up two giant standing Buddhas carved into the mountainside at Bamiyan - once a thriving centre of Buddhism - in 2001.

The statues, the tallest such standing Buddhas in the world at the time, were considered by the Taleban to be un-Islamic representations of the human form.

Archaeologists are working on restoring the largest of the two Buddhas in a project that is expected to take a decade.

Tags: religion

Church of Scientology on trial for fraud

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 10:34:16 GMT

clipped by: tabsey

Clip Source: www.brisbanetimes.com.au

PARIS - The Church of Scientology is to be tried for fraud, and seven of its members for illegally prescribing drugs, legal sources said today, in the latest clash between French officials and the controversial religion.

The charges stem from a case taken by a woman who said she paid the church more than 20,000 ($A34,590) for lessons, books, drugs and an "electrometre," a device which the church says can measure a person's mental state.

She allegedly made the payments after being approached by Scientologists in a Paris street in 1998.

The case to be examined at a still-unknown date by a Paris court is also being taken by another plaintiff and by France's professional pharmaceutical association.

Founded in the United States in 1954 by science-fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard, the Church of Scientology, which has attracted Hollywood stars such as Tom Cruise, was officially recognised as a religion there 20 years later.

Tags: cult

The Top 10 Intelligent Designs (or Creation Myths)

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 13:35:32 GMT

clipped by: tabsey
clipper's remarks: This is number 9 of ten myths. Look for the arrow at the site (preamble to the group of creation myths.

Clip Source: www.livescience.com

Zoroastrianism, the Religion of Ancient Persia

The Bundahishn of the Middle Persian era tells of the world created by the deity Ahura Mazda. The great mountain, Alburz, grew for 800 years until it touched the sky. From that point, rain fell, forming the Vourukasha sea and two great rivers. The first animal, the white bull, lived on the bank of the river Veh Rod. However, the evil spirit, Angra Mainyu, killed it. Its seed was carried to the moon and purified, creating many animals and plants. Across the river lived the first man, Gayomard, bright as the sun. Angra Mainyu also killed him. Ouch! The sun purified his seed for forty years, which then sprouted a rhubarb plant. This plant grew into Mashya and Mashyanag, the first mortals. Instead of killing them, Angra Mainyu deceived them into worshipping him. After 50 years they bore twins, but they ate the twins, owing to their sin. After a very long time, two more twins were born, and from them came all humans (but specifically Persians).

Embracing goodness, without God

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 14:48:38 GMT

clipped by: tabsey
clipper's remarks: Some will find this article quite interesting.
"I asked, `What's going to happen to Howie Goldstein when he dies?'"
Told that his friend and his family might go to hell because they were Jewish, diCarlo had his first real crisis of faith.

Clip Source: www.thestar.com

Long before he became Canada's top atheist, Christopher diCarlo was an altar boy.

"I was born and baptized and bred in a pretty staunch Catholic upbringing," the University of Ontario Institute of Technology professor recalls.

Even then, however, the seeds of his eventual disbelief were being planted.

Like any little boy, he asked his mother about right and wrong and the makeup of the world. But it wasn't the questions that made him doubt his family's religion, he says, it was the answers.

"It's when you get into conversations with Mom and you ask, `Why is the sky blue?' and she says, `Well, it's God's favourite colour.'"

Simplistic even to a young boy, the answer seemed increasingly trite as the years passed. More questions and more doubt soon followed. A turning point came regarding a young friend who wasn't Catholic.

"I asked, `What's going to happen to Howie Goldstein when he dies?'"

Tags: growing, up

A Truely Wonderous Idea.

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 17:37:32 GMT

clipped by: tabsey
clipper's remarks: The answer to a neocon's wishes.

Clip Source: chickencrap.com

Tags: no, wonder, religion, is, so, important

Scientology murders: Accused 'mentally ill'

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 03:59:41 GMT

clipped by: tabsey
clipper's remarks: A very sad situation, but I see a little poetic justice somewhere in it.

Clip Source: www.abc.net.au

A Sydney woman charged with the stabbing murder of her father and sister has pleaded not guilty due to mental illness.

The 26-year-old woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is charged with murdering her father and younger sister at their Revesby home in Sydney's south-west in July 2007.

She has also pleaded not guilty to a charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent to murder her mother.

The court previously heard the woman was diagnosed with a mental illness but refused to take medication because of her parents' belief in Scientology.

Justice Grove has ordered the woman be kept in a medium security unit at Long Bay jail.

He will make a judgement on the matter next week.

Tags: religion, kills

Bush Bureaucrats at Dept. of Health and Human Services Redefine Contraception as Abortion

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 14:15:54 GMT

clipped by: tabsey
clipper's remarks: No improvement in child services to go with it were mentioned.

Clip Source: www.buzzflash.com

We're all familiar with the popular chant among conservatives that "life begins at conception." But does that mean our government can say that life ends at contraception?

Apparently, yes, if a proposal from the Department of Health and Human Services that carefully redefines contraception as abortion is adopted.

The religious fervor is carefully hidden in the minutia. The leaked proposal initially reads as a defense of healthcare providers who fear being discriminated against for refusing to provide services that are contrary to their religious beliefs. Basically, just because a clinic or insurance plan receives federal funding "does not authorize any court or any public official or other public authority to require" the entity to provide or pay for services such as sterilization or abortion.

Which seems somewhat harmless, until you change the meaning of abortion to include contraceptive medicines that 40 percent of women in the U.S. use regularly.

Tags: religion, permeates, even, to, churches

Sceptic Pell backs Pope's climate call

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 11:36:33 GMT

clipped by: tabsey
clipper's remarks: Been a bad time for this George too. Caught out protecting paedophiles just before the visit, it seems George forgot to consult the same people as the Pope spoke to.

Clip Source: www.abc.net.au

Sydney Catholic Archbishop George Pell says his scepticism towards climate change is not incompatible with the Pope's decision to set the issue as the theme for his visit to Australia.

Pope Benedict used a press conference on his 20-hour flight to Sydney yesterday to highlight the issue ahead of this week's World Youth Day celebrations.

He told reporters, "We have to give impulse to rediscovering our responsibility and to finding an ethical way to change our way of life."

He said politicians and experts must be "capable of responding to the great ecological challenge and to be up to the task of this challenge".

Cardinal Pell welcomed the Pope's statement this morning.

"We have an obligation to care for our environment, a moral obligation," he said.

"We also very clearly have a moral obligation not to damage or destroy or ruthlessly use the environment at the expense of future generations."

Tags: religion - better, than, british, comedy