Clipmarks | wiccantexan's 'god' clips

In Ancient Greece, Soil Was Sacred

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 04:44:27 GMT

clipped by: wiccantexan

Greek temples honored specific gods and goddesses, and now new research suggests that even the dirt under such buildings held spiritual significance.

The discovery could help explain why writers like Homer and Plato wrote of "divine soil" and soil that can affect a person's soul. It may also explain how the ancients selected locations for their sacred buildings.

Retallack, a professor of geological sciences at the University of Oregon, took soil samples from 84 Greek temple sites dating to the Classical Age from 480 to 338 B.C. Based on analysis of each sample, he created a profile for the soils naming their characteristics and how they might have been used at the time.

Retallack noticed a pattern: The soil appeared to be directly connected to the mythology surrounding the god or goddess honored by the particular temple. Buildings dedicated to Athena and Zeus, for example, were erected on soils of citadels.

Tags: god, goddess, greece, spirituality, sacred, earth, myth, temple

Fortunetelling Ban Tossed

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 04:41:02 GMT

clipped by: wiccantexan
clipper's remarks: Legally the same as a "message from God"

Clip Source: www.2theadvocate.com

A Livingston Parish Council ordinance outlawing fortunetelling and soothsaying is unconstitutional, a federal judge ruled Tuesday.

A Wiccan minister, Cliff Eakin, sued the parish over the ordinance, asserting inspiration from the divine transmitted by a Wiccan minister should be treated legally the same way as a message from God transmitted to a congregation by a Christian minister.

Under the First Amendment, the government can’t prohibit the expression of an idea just because society finds the idea disagreeable, according to the opinion by U.S. District Judge James J. Brady of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District.

Eakin said that a Wiccan who accepts a donation for telling fortunes, for instance, shouldn’t be treated any differently from ministers or churches accepting tithes for passing on instructions on what they believe is God’s will.

Tags: wicca, faith, legal, first amendment

Spiritual surfers praise God for gnarly waves

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 03:37:30 GMT

clipped by: wiccantexan

Clip Source: www.msnbc.msn.com

So Sunday at dawn, on the white sands of the town where the U.S. Surfing Championships were born nearly a half-century ago, Munoz and some two dozen fellow wave riders paused to thank God for all the joy the oceans have provided them.

Then, after the surfer's ceremonial blowing of a conch shell for good luck, the pastor of Orange County's St. Irenaeus Catholic Church shouted out a hearty, "Let's surf!"

The occasion was the Blessing of the Waves, a spiritual — but at the same time decidedly lighthearted — event organized by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange.

Father Christian Mondor, helped kick off the proceedings by thanking God (or "The Big Kahuna," as he also addressed him) for righteous waves and a killer ride for all the surfer babes and dudes assembled before him.

"May they hang 10 on thy oceanic bounty and, if it be in accordance with thy gnarly plan, may they not wipe out," he concluded, reading from a tongue-in-cheek poem written by Los Angeles Times reporter Dana Parsons.

Tags: god, ocean, surfing, prayer

Afterlife? Pagans Believe In The Here And Now

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 05:36:53 GMT

clipped by: wiccantexan

Clip Source: www.journalgazette.net

I read with great interest Paul Greve’s article, “Non-Christians’ salvation is in God’s hands, not book” (Sept. 20). As one of the non-Christians in question, I hope a non-Christian perspective might be welcome.

Christians focus on the afterlife, while Pagans have had their eyes set on the here and now. For a Christian, this life is only preparation for another. It is unsurprising, then, that they should focus on questions relating to the afterlife, but Christians often forget that this kind of discourse is meaningless to non-Christians.

I suppose I could be flattered that so much concern is given over my soul’s fate, but really it’s insulting to have others talk about you in such a superior fashion, like adults about a child who is still in the room.

What plans the gods of other people have for believers is not my business, and Christians might consider worrying less about my soul, which my gods have well in hand.

Tags: pagan, religion, belief, christian, death, life, afterlife, god

Pirates counter protest Phelps church group

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 05:45:23 GMT

clipped by: tommy2balmy
clipper's remarks: Pastafarians are followers of the Flying Spaghetti Monster who it is believed likes his believers to dress as pirates. They decided to counter protest the Westboro Baptist Church.

Clip Source: blogs.pitch.com

Pirates spread the message that "God Hates Shrimp."

The pirates of Little Rock stole Fred Phelps' Westboro Baptist Church's thunder last Friday. The Topeka church was protesting the National Conference of Editorial Writers because they are "responsible for the satanic milieu in this evil land" and for assisting the "satanic agendas" of "baby-killers and fags."

Swashbuckling Flying Spaghetti Monster worshipping Central Arkansas Pastafarians decided to join the counter protest in full pirate gear.

But in a fortuitous twist, the protest happened to fall on International Talk Like a Pirate Day.

Yep, the cuckoo Phelps hate group walked the plank this morning after a happy bunch dressed like pirates and holding signs saying "God hates shrimp -- Leviticus" and "God hates cotton-polyester blends" stood opposite them at the corner of Markham and Scott streets. The group, made up of Central Arkansas Pastafarians, waved swords and growled "Arrghh!"

"I had a blast that day," says Pasta Pontius Pirate

Tags: religion, extremism, protest, counter protest, flying spaghetti monster, fsm, westboro baptist church, pirates, humor, odd

"God is on our side"

Sat, 20 Sep 2008 17:49:24 GMT

clipped by: wiccantexan

Clip Source: newsweek.washingtonpost.com

Whenever I hear someone say, "God is on my side," I think, "Yep! Just another argument for polytheism." Because, hey, Sarah Palin's God may want her to build the pipeline, but I've had personal communication from Thundering Herds of Reindeer Gods that say, "No way!" Ereshkigal the Goddess of the Mesopotamian underworld is raging mad at the number of innocent children's souls she's had to process since the U.S. started bombing Iraq--she doesn't like that sort of thing. And the great, protective Earth Spirits who sleep in the bottom of oil reserves are roaring in my ear, "Disturb us at your peril!"

You think I'm kidding, perhaps. Think again.

Sure, we could do politics on this level. We all like to believe we're right, and we all like to think our righteousness is shared and affirmed by the very highest authorities. So bring on the Battle of the Gods--how much more dramatic and interesting than the battle of the policy wonks!

Tags: politics, religion, god, palin, goddess

Calif. teacher can pursue free-speech claim against district

Fri, 12 Sep 2008 23:34:26 GMT

clipped by: wiccantexan

Clip Source: www.firstamendmentcenter.org

A federal judge will allow a Christian math teacher to proceed with his free-speech lawsuit against his Southern California school district.

Westview High School teacher Bradley Johnson filed his federal lawsuit against the Poway Unified School District last year after he was told to remove classroom banners that include the words "God" and "Creator.” School officials told Bradley the banners promoted a "Judeo-Christian" viewpoint.

“By squelching Johnson’s Judeo-Christian religious viewpoint while promoting or permitting Buddhist, Islamic, and Tibetan religious viewpoints, Defendants’ acts clearly unjustifiably abridge Johnson’s constitutional free speech rights, ” Benitez wrote in the Sept. 4 ruling.

The seven-foot banners include "In God We Trust" and "All Men Are Created Equal, They Are Endowed By Their Creator."

Benitez refused the district’s request to dismiss the case, saying the banners provide "healthy exposure" to diverse ideas.

Tags: free speech, school, religion, public

Theocrats to Pray for McCain's Death

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 23:55:10 GMT

clipped by: wiccantexan

Clip Source: www.talk2action.org

The more theocratic elements of the Religious Right have a disturbing habit, (more like a practice) of invoking "imprecatory prayer" -- a call for God to literally pour his wrath down on those they consider to be his enemies.

The most recent target of theoractic imprecations is none other than Republican presidential candidate John McCain. They hope that an act of God will make Sarah Palin president.

Well, that is quite a standard, and one that is arguably prone to abuse. That said, at least two people have written in recent days that hope that McCain/Palin are elected so that they can pray for God to crush John McCain and to elevate Sarah Palin to her rendevous with destiny.

Tags: mccain, palin, politics, religion, god

Palin: Soldiers on a "task from God"

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 01:00:30 GMT

clipped by: wiccantexan
clipper's remarks: Crusades, anyone? Bush must be so proud. Oh, I'm sorry, I meant McCain.

Clip Source: firstread.msnbc.msn.com

As questions have been raised over how thoroughly Sen. John McCain's presidential campaign vetted Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin for the V.P. slot, it seems the McCain campaign was unaware of a video -- available online -- in which Palin talks about God's role in U.S. military action overseas, according to a political operative familiar with the situation.

The video, first reported by the liberal blog HuffingtonPost.com, is from a June Palin speech to the graduating class of commission students at Palin's former church in Wasilla, Alaska. While describing her family, Palin told students about her oldest son, 19-year-old Track, who is set to be deployed to Iraq this month with the U.S. Army. She urged students to pray “that our leaders -- that our national leaders -- are sending [soldiers] out on a task that is from God.”

She added, “That's what we have to make sure that we are praying for: that there is a plan and that that plan is God's plan.”

Tags: palin, god, war, religion, military

Controversial U.S. Church Group Stopped At Border

Sat, 09 Aug 2008 02:32:37 GMT

clipped by: wiccantexan

Clip Source: www.nationalpost.com

Residents rallied Thursday to protect the family of a young man murdered on a Greyhound bus last week from a posse of radical religious protesters planning to portray Tim McLean's death as God's wrath.

Earlier this week, the Westboro Baptist Church - an organization branded as a hate group and infamous for protesting the funerals of slain U.S. soldiers - announced they would picket Mr. McLean's funeral to let Canadians know that his decapitation was God's response to Canadian policies enabling abortion, homosexuality and adultery.

But Shirley Phelps-Roper, daughter of church's founder, Fred Phelps, said a small group of protesters was stopped at the Canada-U.S. border on Thursday afternoon.

The resistance to the planned funeral protest started on Facebook yesterday morning when Jim Cotton, a resident of Winnipeg Beach, launched a page asking city residents to help protect Mr. McLean's funeral.

Mr. Taylor's plan worked.

Tags: church, christian, hate, religion, god

Prof, college reach settlement after 'Adam and Eve' incident

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 04:03:57 GMT

clipped by: wiccantexan

Clip Source: www.firstamendmentcenter.org

Southwestern Community College has reached a financial settlement with a professor who was fired after telling students the biblical story of Adam and Eve should not be taken literally.

Steve Bitterman taught world civilization at the Creston school. He was fired last September after students complained. Bitterman later sued for wrongful termination.

Bitterman's lawyer, Brad Schroeder, says academic freedom should have outweighed religious concerns.

"What was for him a purely objective, academic exercise in studying the religious beliefs of different Western civilizations became a group of fundamentalist students taking exception when it came time for their God to be put under the microscope," Schroeder said today.

Tags: college, religion, god, history, belief

World's oldest mom age now 72

Sun, 06 Jul 2008 18:21:15 GMT

clipped by: wiccantexan

Clip Source: abcnews.go.com

A 72-year-old woman who has two children and five grandchildren has given birth to twins, making her the world's oldest mother.

Omkari Panwar delivered twins, a boy and a girl, by Caesarean section last week.

Singh was reluctant to speak because he has received negative publicity for his wife's having children at such an advanced age.

"The desire for a male child has always been there, but God did not bless us with a male child," he said of the son who is a product of in vitro fertilization. "Now, we are very grateful to God, who has answered our prayers."

The septuagenarian couple spent their life savings and took out a loan from the bank for Panwar to undergo in vitro treatments. For the couple, the desire to have a son was most important because they wanted to carry on the family name. They know that their son may never be able to care for them in the traditional way because of the age gap.

Tags: children, elderly, pregnancy, old, woman, twins, medical, health

Apocalypse Now: Floods, Tornadoes, Locusts

Sat, 14 Jun 2008 00:14:44 GMT

clipped by: wiccantexan

Clip Source: abcnews.go.com

In the beginning, God created heaven and Earth, and he saw that it was good. So begins the Book of Genesis, the dramatic opener of the Old Testament.

But things went downhill from there.

By the final Book of Revelation in the New Testament, the Earth suffers "Seven Plagues" -- from disease to "intense heat" and drought, then finally a shower of deadly hailstones.

Biblical imagery is all over the news these days — even including a story last week of a New York baby being enwrapped by a snake in its crib, harking back to evil lurking in the Garden of Eden.

Most theologians and scientists don't take seriously warnings that the end of the world is nigh. But many reputable scholars do lend some credence to the notion that the world is in for some kind of disaster, be it meteorological, ecological or geopolitical.

Tags: bible, belief, nature, god, theology, science

Einstein letter calls Bible ‘pretty childish’

Wed, 14 May 2008 01:06:34 GMT

clipped by: wiccantexan

Clip Source: www.msnbc.msn.com

A letter being auctioned in London this week adds more fuel to the long-simmering debate about the Nobel Prize-winning physicist's religious views. In the note, written the year before his death, Einstein dismissed the idea of God as the product of human weakness and the Bible as "pretty childish."

Einstein, who helped unravel the mysteries of the universe with his theory of relativity, expressed complex and arguably contradictory views on faith, perceiving a universe suffused with spirituality while rejecting organized religion.

In it, Einstein said that "the word God is for me nothing more than the expression and product of human weaknesses, the Bible a collection of honorable but still primitive legends which are nevertheless pretty childish."

"Like many great scientists of the past, he is rather quirky about religion, and not always consistent from one period to another," Brooke said.

Tags: religion, belief, bible, science, god, theology

Vatican astronomer says it's okay to believe in extra-terrestrials

Wed, 14 May 2008 01:03:12 GMT

clipped by: wiccantexan

Clip Source: www.earthtimes.org

Belief in the existence of aliens from outer space is not necessarily at odds with being a Christian, according to the Vatican's top astronomy official. "It is possible to believe in God and in extra-terrestrials," Father Jose Gabriel Funes was quoted as saying in an interview published Tueday in the Vatican's official newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano.

For Christians it is also possible "to admit the existence of other worlds and other forms of life, even those more evolved than ours, without necessarily questioning faith in the Creation, in the incarnation (of God as man through Jesus) and redemption" of mankind, said Funes.

Tags: vatican, catholic, aliens, space, astronomy, god, belief