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Monthly Archive for December, 2008Page 5 of 7
***
A very long time ago Judaism was explained to me this way:
Jews are not evil people, but they do not believe in heaven or hell so they make every attempt to hoard all the money while they are here.Naturally, this made some sort of sense to my young mind and for years I actually believed Jews had all the money. Now as an adult, I find this explanation humorous to the point that I make a running joke of it. My jokes are not intended to insult Jews, rather the thinking behind the explanation...
[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
***
A very long time ago Judaism was explained to me this way:
Jews are not evil people, but they do not believe in heaven or hell so they make every attempt to hoard all the money while they are here.Naturally, this made some sort of sense to my young mind and for years I actually believed Jews had all the money. Now as an adult, I find this explanation humorous to the point that I make a running joke of it. My jokes are not intended to insult Jews, rather the thinking behind the explanation...
[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
So I guess I get migraines now!
I've often wondered if I've had them in the past because I've had some doozy headaches, but yesterday I saw these pretty spinning sparkly circles about 15 mins before my headache started which I guess pretty much means they are migraines.
I think I'm fortunate as far as migraine sufferers go, I just need to drink a bunch of water and sleep for a few hours to get rid of the headache. And I'm blessed with the ability to fall asleep anytime anywhere. Plus those auras are kinda cool to watch once you know they will go away.
I found this website where people have posted animations of what their auras look like. I think its an interesting connection to art. Mine are kinda like the video below but are sparkly, like the sun shining through thin shards of ice, and are snow-flake shaped.
Lots of people are blogging and commenting that these occur when they are dehydrated - that coincides with my experience. I got my headache last night immediately after an intense yoga class in a HOT room where I was sweating a lot.
I've often wondered if I've had them in the past because I've had some doozy headaches, but yesterday I saw these pretty spinning sparkly circles about 15 mins before my headache started which I guess pretty much means they are migraines.
I think I'm fortunate as far as migraine sufferers go, I just need to drink a bunch of water and sleep for a few hours to get rid of the headache. And I'm blessed with the ability to fall asleep anytime anywhere. Plus those auras are kinda cool to watch once you know they will go away.
I found this website where people have posted animations of what their auras look like. I think its an interesting connection to art. Mine are kinda like the video below but are sparkly, like the sun shining through thin shards of ice, and are snow-flake shaped.
Lots of people are blogging and commenting that these occur when they are dehydrated - that coincides with my experience. I got my headache last night immediately after an intense yoga class in a HOT room where I was sweating a lot.
So I guess I get migraines now!
I've often wondered if I've had them in the past because I've had some doozy headaches, but yesterday I saw these pretty spinning sparkly circles about 15 mins before my headache started which I guess pretty much means they are migraines.
I think I'm fortunate as far as migraine sufferers go, I just need to drink a bunch of water and sleep for a few hours to get rid of the headache. And I'm blessed with the ability to fall asleep anytime anywhere. Plus those auras are kinda cool to watch once you know they will go away.
I found this website where people have posted animations of what their auras look like. I think its an interesting connection to art. Mine are kinda like the video below but are sparkly, like the sun shining through thin shards of ice, and are snow-flake shaped.
Lots of people are blogging and commenting that these occur when they are dehydrated - that coincides with my experience. I got my headache last night immediately after an intense yoga class in a HOT room where I was sweating a lot.
I've often wondered if I've had them in the past because I've had some doozy headaches, but yesterday I saw these pretty spinning sparkly circles about 15 mins before my headache started which I guess pretty much means they are migraines.
I think I'm fortunate as far as migraine sufferers go, I just need to drink a bunch of water and sleep for a few hours to get rid of the headache. And I'm blessed with the ability to fall asleep anytime anywhere. Plus those auras are kinda cool to watch once you know they will go away.
I found this website where people have posted animations of what their auras look like. I think its an interesting connection to art. Mine are kinda like the video below but are sparkly, like the sun shining through thin shards of ice, and are snow-flake shaped.
Lots of people are blogging and commenting that these occur when they are dehydrated - that coincides with my experience. I got my headache last night immediately after an intense yoga class in a HOT room where I was sweating a lot.
Following the discussions about the FFRF’s atheist sign (see here, for instance), I just want to ask any readers of this blog the following: which of these two fictional signs (imagine them being shown to thousands, in a public place) is more “offensive”?
Sign A:
There is a God.
Sign B:
There is no God.
I’ll expand on this in the next post, naturally, but, first, I’d just like to have your answers, and, if possible, your reasoning for that answer – whether you’re an atheist or not.
Copyright © 2012 Way of the Mind
I think the sign posted by the Freedom From Religion Foundation at the Legislative Building in Olympia, Washington crossed the line. The sign projects several offensive claims. It says, "At this season of the winter solstice may reason prevail. There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell. There is only our natural world. Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds."
I have no problem with the contents of this message myself, and believe it to be entirely accurate. The FFRF also have several other signs that I have been in support of, and even others in this holiday season that seem compelling without being overtly offensive, such as "Reason's Greetings".
What I take issue with here is the audacity of this sign posted where the Nativity is displayed. The mission of the FFRF is to keep the state and religion separate. Wonderful! So, in the holiday season there two options: 1) Nix nativity scenes, or 2) allow them as long as you also get to voice every other opinion. Option 2 seems to be the stance from the Washington Governor, which allows for an infinite number of displays.
What FFRF did, however, was not done in a spirit of peace and good will. An atheistic sign in such a spirit could have said "Happy winter's solstice" and had a subscript saying that the sign was sponsored by the FFRF. It could have been slightly more daring with something like "What is the reason for your winter's solstice celebration this season?" It could have even been something with the message "Oh, and remember the atheists this season who have no icons to display."
Instead, it was offensive because it stated in absolute terms that there is no God, no angels, and no reason for sacred hoopla. It was pompous and ignorant -- two characteristics I learned to loathe during the Bush administration. It is elitist to state outright that your opinion is better than anyone else's. The best we can do in claiming that there is no God is to say that there is no evidence, but we can't show that the supernatural is not there, much as they can't show that it is there. It comes down to opinion on both sides. It's hurtful to ridicule someone else's religious and cultural heritage in such a manner.
Dan Barker of FFRF says (from here) "It's not that we are trying to coerce anyone; in a way our sign is a signal of protest," Barker said. "If there can be a Nativity scene saying that we are all going to hell if we don't bow down to Jesus, we should be at the table to share our views....On that Nativity scene, there is this threat of internal violence if we don't submit to that master. Hate speech goes both ways."
With such a statement, Barker admits to using hateful tactics. He counters his hateful interpretation of the Nativity with a hateful poster. C'mon! When has denigrating religious symbols ever been productive?
You can argue that the Nativity is a part of Christianity, and that many Christians believe non-Christians are going to hell, but it's a plastic baby Jesus and posterboard of a manger displayed next to animatronic'ed Santa and Rudolph, next to a Frosty the Snowman balloon. If you want to say that the scene is asking us to bow before Jesus or go to hell, then the scene is also asking us to be sure and leave cookies out for Santa and to believe that Frosty's cap is magic.
Nativity scenes are not asking for non-believers to bow down. They are expressions of religious faith where the believers ask for tolerance from non-believers. Indeed, they have a lot of gall to presume that their expressions simply are tolerated and are in no way offensive. They tend to follow Bart Simpson's thoughts of Christmas -- "Christmas is a time when people of all religions come together to worship Jesus Christ." However, to fight that mentality through condescension and mockery is not going to do us atheists any favors.
I think the sign posted by the Freedom From Religion Foundation at the Legislative Building in Olympia, Washington crossed the line. The sign projects several offensive claims. It says, "At this season of the winter solstice may reason prevail. There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell. There is only our natural world. Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds."
I have no problem with the contents of this message myself, and believe it to be entirely accurate. The FFRF also have several other signs that I have been in support of, and even others in this holiday season that seem compelling without being overtly offensive, such as "Reason's Greetings".
What I take issue with here is the audacity of this sign posted where the Nativity is displayed. The mission of the FFRF is to keep the state and religion separate. Wonderful! So, in the holiday season there two options: 1) Nix nativity scenes, or 2) allow them as long as you also get to voice every other opinion. Option 2 seems to be the stance from the Washington Governor, which allows for an infinite number of displays.
What FFRF did, however, was not done in a spirit of peace and good will. An atheistic sign in such a spirit could have said "Happy winter's solstice" and had a subscript saying that the sign was sponsored by the FFRF. It could have been slightly more daring with something like "What is the reason for your winter's solstice celebration this season?" It could have even been something with the message "Oh, and remember the atheists this season who have no icons to display."
Instead, it was offensive because it stated in absolute terms that there is no God, no angels, and no reason for sacred hoopla. It was pompous and ignorant -- two characteristics I learned to loathe during the Bush administration. It is elitist to state outright that your opinion is better than anyone else's. The best we can do in claiming that there is no God is to say that there is no evidence, but we can't show that the supernatural is not there, much as they can't show that it is there. It comes down to opinion on both sides. It's hurtful to ridicule someone else's religious and cultural heritage in such a manner.
Dan Barker of FFRF says (from here) "It's not that we are trying to coerce anyone; in a way our sign is a signal of protest," Barker said. "If there can be a Nativity scene saying that we are all going to hell if we don't bow down to Jesus, we should be at the table to share our views....On that Nativity scene, there is this threat of internal violence if we don't submit to that master. Hate speech goes both ways."
With such a statement, Barker admits to using hateful tactics. He counters his hateful interpretation of the Nativity with a hateful poster. C'mon! When has denigrating religious symbols ever been productive?
You can argue that the Nativity is a part of Christianity, and that many Christians believe non-Christians are going to hell, but it's a plastic baby Jesus and posterboard of a manger displayed next to animatronic'ed Santa and Rudolph, next to a Frosty the Snowman balloon. If you want to say that the scene is asking us to bow before Jesus or go to hell, then the scene is also asking us to be sure and leave cookies out for Santa and to believe that Frosty's cap is magic.
Nativity scenes are not asking for non-believers to bow down. They are expressions of religious faith where the believers ask for tolerance from non-believers. Indeed, they have a lot of gall to presume that their expressions simply are tolerated and are in no way offensive. They tend to follow Bart Simpson's thoughts of Christmas -- "Christmas is a time when people of all religions come together to worship Jesus Christ." However, to fight that mentality through condescension and mockery is not going to do us atheists any favors.
...that Q Transmissions, a weekly skeptical call-in talk show in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, has started a singing contest for a new atheist anthem!
You can find the music and lyrics on their website, and send them your best rendition of the anthem.
So keep those submissions flowing, and your atheism glowing!
View blog reactions
...that Q Transmissions, a weekly skeptical call-in talk show in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, has started a singing contest for a new atheist anthem!
You can find the music and lyrics on their website, and send them your best rendition of the anthem.
So keep those submissions flowing, and your atheism glowing!
View blog reactions
Here's a turn up for the books.
From Charente Libre, our local paper, Saturday 6th December.
Original text below, my translatioàn is as follows:
Police dogs, helicopter, divers from La Rochelle ... For a week, they pulled out all the stops to try to find Jeanne Brault, a deaf and mute woman, 82 years old, who had left the hospital in Loudun Renaudot, Saturday 22 November. Just until last Saturday when the lifeless body of the octogenarian was eventually found by family members in the park of the hospital Loudun "thanks to a valuable visionary," according to one brother of the victim, Henri Brault. "My brother and my sister went to see a psychic last Saturday near Saumur. This psychic, without going to the scene, told them where she was. The police returned to Loudun that afternoon and found our sister about 17.30 where the psychic had told them. The doctor did not want to believe it. It is true that it is unbelievable, but it's like that! "
This psychic is Jacqueline Vitré (photo CL), a resident of Villebernier aged 65. Thirty-eight years of dowsing behind her. She says: "The family gave me the dressing gown of this lady and her picture. I set my pendulum above the dressing gown and I felt that person could be at this place. I have even made a little drawing on which I stated that it was in a wood at the foot of quite a large tree, near the hospital. I advised family members to search in this direction. I also made it understood that for me, she had died. I saw her sitting at the foot of the tree. However, she was found lying down."
That is the only error for the visionary, as for the rest, her visions have proved correct. So much so that the gendarmes of Loudun, surprised at this "paranormal aid", called the psychic into the station. "They wanted details. I can not explain it. It's just a matter of feeling."
An autopsy on the body of the octogenarian revealed that "the cause of death was natural." The prosecutor further states that "any suspicious circumstances have been ruled out. The only question left is to establish the time of death to within 48 hours."
One of the brothers of the victim is struggling to explain how his sister had not been found by police during the week of their search as the place where her body was found had been searched by them. "The day before her death, I saw her," says Henri Brault. "She wasn't well. She had problems. We do not know how she left the hospital." For the visionary, Jeanne Brault wandered away from the hospital during the searchh conducted by police and then retraced her steps toward the park of the hospital where she would be be found.
I suppose sooner or later psychics get lucky. I have to consider some alternatives other than psychic phenomenon, because that would be a real challenge to my world view.
Logically of course the psychic new that the lady was old, sick and frail and couldn't have gone far. She is a local woman so she probably knows the hosptal and its grounds. I certainly know the hospital at Girac very well now. She would have deduced that if the woman was in the open she would have been found. That leaves either an abduction if she had reached the roads around the hospital, or she was still within the grounds but in a place with cover, like woods.
From Charente Libre, our local paper, Saturday 6th December.
Original text below, my translatioàn is as follows:
Police dogs, helicopter, divers from La Rochelle ... For a week, they pulled out all the stops to try to find Jeanne Brault, a deaf and mute woman, 82 years old, who had left the hospital in Loudun Renaudot, Saturday 22 November. Just until last Saturday when the lifeless body of the octogenarian was eventually found by family members in the park of the hospital Loudun "thanks to a valuable visionary," according to one brother of the victim, Henri Brault. "My brother and my sister went to see a psychic last Saturday near Saumur. This psychic, without going to the scene, told them where she was. The police returned to Loudun that afternoon and found our sister about 17.30 where the psychic had told them. The doctor did not want to believe it. It is true that it is unbelievable, but it's like that! "
This psychic is Jacqueline Vitré (photo CL), a resident of Villebernier aged 65. Thirty-eight years of dowsing behind her. She says: "The family gave me the dressing gown of this lady and her picture. I set my pendulum above the dressing gown and I felt that person could be at this place. I have even made a little drawing on which I stated that it was in a wood at the foot of quite a large tree, near the hospital. I advised family members to search in this direction. I also made it understood that for me, she had died. I saw her sitting at the foot of the tree. However, she was found lying down."
That is the only error for the visionary, as for the rest, her visions have proved correct. So much so that the gendarmes of Loudun, surprised at this "paranormal aid", called the psychic into the station. "They wanted details. I can not explain it. It's just a matter of feeling."
An autopsy on the body of the octogenarian revealed that "the cause of death was natural." The prosecutor further states that "any suspicious circumstances have been ruled out. The only question left is to establish the time of death to within 48 hours."
One of the brothers of the victim is struggling to explain how his sister had not been found by police during the week of their search as the place where her body was found had been searched by them. "The day before her death, I saw her," says Henri Brault. "She wasn't well. She had problems. We do not know how she left the hospital." For the visionary, Jeanne Brault wandered away from the hospital during the searchh conducted by police and then retraced her steps toward the park of the hospital where she would be be found.
I suppose sooner or later psychics get lucky. I have to consider some alternatives other than psychic phenomenon, because that would be a real challenge to my world view.
Logically of course the psychic new that the lady was old, sick and frail and couldn't have gone far. She is a local woman so she probably knows the hosptal and its grounds. I certainly know the hospital at Girac very well now. She would have deduced that if the woman was in the open she would have been found. That leaves either an abduction if she had reached the roads around the hospital, or she was still within the grounds but in a place with cover, like woods.
Brigade cynophile, hélicoptère, plongeurs de La Rochelle... Pendant une semaine, de très gros moyens de recherches ont été déployés pour tenter de retrouver Jeanne Brault, une femme de 82 ans sourde et muette qui avait quitté l'hôpital Renaudot à Loudun le samedi 22 novembre. Jusqu'à samedi dernier. Le corps sans vie de l'octogénaire a finalement été retrouvé par des membres de la famille dans le parc de l'hôpital de Loudun «grâce aux précieuses indications d'une voyante», d'après l'un des frères de la victime, Henri Brault. «Mon frère et mes sœurs sont allés voir samedi dernier une voyante du côté de Saumur. Cette voyante, sans se déplacer sur les lieux, leur a dit où elle se trouvait. Ils sont revenus à Loudun l'après-midi même et ils ont retrouvé notre sœur vers 17h30 là où la voyante leur avait dit. Le médecin ne voulait pas y croire. C'est vrai que c'est incroyable, mais c'est comme ça!»
Cette voyante, c'est Jacqueline Vitré (• photo CL), une habitante de Villebernier âgé de 65 ans. Trente-huit ans de radiesthésiste derrière elle. Elle témoigne: «La famille m'a apporté la robe de chambre de cette dame ainsi que sa photo. J'ai mis mon pendule au-dessus de la robe de chambre et j'ai ressenti que la personne disparue pouvait se trouver à tel endroit. Je leur ai même fait un petit dessin sur lequel je leur précisais qu'elle se trouvait dans un bois au pied d'un arbre assez gros, près de l'hôpital. J'ai conseillé aux membres de la famille de faire les recherches en ce sens. Je leur ai également fait comprendre que pour moi, elle était décédée. Je la voyais assise au pied de l'arbre. Or, elle a été retrouvée allongée.»
C'est là la seule erreur de la voyante car pour le reste, ses visions se sont avérées justes. Au point que les gendarmes de Loudun, surpris de cette «aide paranormale», ont convoqué la voyante dans leurs locaux. «Ils voulaient avoir des détails. Je ne saurais pas l'expliquer. C'est juste une question de ressenti.»
Une autopsie pratiquée sur le corps de l'octogénaire a révélé que «la cause de la mort était naturelle». Le procureur de la République précise en outre que «toute forme d'intervention extérieure est exclue. Le seul doute réside dans la fixation exacte de l'horaire du décès à 48 heures près».
L'un des frères de la victime a du mal à s'expliquer comment sa sœur n'avait pu être retrouvée par les gendarmes pendant la semaine de leurs recherches alors que l'endroit où son corps a été découvert avait déjà été fouillé par les fonctionnaires. «La veille de sa disparition, je l'avais vue, raconte Henri Brault. Elle n'allait pas bien. Elle avait des ennuis. On ne sait pas comment elle a quitté l'hôpital.» Pour la voyante, Jeanne Brault se serait éloignée de l'hôpital lors des recherches menées par les gendarmes et serait revenue ensuite sur ses pas en direction du parc de l'hôpital où elle devait être retrouvée.
Here's a turn up for the books.
From Charente Libre, our local paper, Saturday 6th December.
Original text below, my translatioàn is as follows:
Police dogs, helicopter, divers from La Rochelle ... For a week, they pulled out all the stops to try to find Jeanne Brault, a deaf and mute woman, 82 years old, who had left the hospital in Loudun Renaudot, Saturday 22 November. Just until last Saturday when the lifeless body of the octogenarian was eventually found by family members in the park of the hospital Loudun "thanks to a valuable visionary," according to one brother of the victim, Henri Brault. "My brother and my sister went to see a psychic last Saturday near Saumur. This psychic, without going to the scene, told them where she was. The police returned to Loudun that afternoon and found our sister about 17.30 where the psychic had told them. The doctor did not want to believe it. It is true that it is unbelievable, but it's like that! "
This psychic is Jacqueline Vitré (photo CL), a resident of Villebernier aged 65. Thirty-eight years of dowsing behind her. She says: "The family gave me the dressing gown of this lady and her picture. I set my pendulum above the dressing gown and I felt that person could be at this place. I have even made a little drawing on which I stated that it was in a wood at the foot of quite a large tree, near the hospital. I advised family members to search in this direction. I also made it understood that for me, she had died. I saw her sitting at the foot of the tree. However, she was found lying down."
That is the only error for the visionary, as for the rest, her visions have proved correct. So much so that the gendarmes of Loudun, surprised at this "paranormal aid", called the psychic into the station. "They wanted details. I can not explain it. It's just a matter of feeling."
An autopsy on the body of the octogenarian revealed that "the cause of death was natural." The prosecutor further states that "any suspicious circumstances have been ruled out. The only question left is to establish the time of death to within 48 hours."
One of the brothers of the victim is struggling to explain how his sister had not been found by police during the week of their search as the place where her body was found had been searched by them. "The day before her death, I saw her," says Henri Brault. "She wasn't well. She had problems. We do not know how she left the hospital." For the visionary, Jeanne Brault wandered away from the hospital during the searchh conducted by police and then retraced her steps toward the park of the hospital where she would be be found.
I suppose sooner or later psychics get lucky. I have to consider some alternatives other than psychic phenomenon, because that would be a real challenge to my world view.
Logically of course the psychic new that the lady was old, sick and frail and couldn't have gone far. She is a local woman so she probably knows the hosptal and its grounds. I certainly know the hospital at Girac very well now. She would have deduced that if the woman was in the open she would have been found. That leaves either an abduction if she had reached the roads around the hospital, or she was still within the grounds but in a place with cover, like woods.
From Charente Libre, our local paper, Saturday 6th December.
Original text below, my translatioàn is as follows:
Police dogs, helicopter, divers from La Rochelle ... For a week, they pulled out all the stops to try to find Jeanne Brault, a deaf and mute woman, 82 years old, who had left the hospital in Loudun Renaudot, Saturday 22 November. Just until last Saturday when the lifeless body of the octogenarian was eventually found by family members in the park of the hospital Loudun "thanks to a valuable visionary," according to one brother of the victim, Henri Brault. "My brother and my sister went to see a psychic last Saturday near Saumur. This psychic, without going to the scene, told them where she was. The police returned to Loudun that afternoon and found our sister about 17.30 where the psychic had told them. The doctor did not want to believe it. It is true that it is unbelievable, but it's like that! "
This psychic is Jacqueline Vitré (photo CL), a resident of Villebernier aged 65. Thirty-eight years of dowsing behind her. She says: "The family gave me the dressing gown of this lady and her picture. I set my pendulum above the dressing gown and I felt that person could be at this place. I have even made a little drawing on which I stated that it was in a wood at the foot of quite a large tree, near the hospital. I advised family members to search in this direction. I also made it understood that for me, she had died. I saw her sitting at the foot of the tree. However, she was found lying down."
That is the only error for the visionary, as for the rest, her visions have proved correct. So much so that the gendarmes of Loudun, surprised at this "paranormal aid", called the psychic into the station. "They wanted details. I can not explain it. It's just a matter of feeling."
An autopsy on the body of the octogenarian revealed that "the cause of death was natural." The prosecutor further states that "any suspicious circumstances have been ruled out. The only question left is to establish the time of death to within 48 hours."
One of the brothers of the victim is struggling to explain how his sister had not been found by police during the week of their search as the place where her body was found had been searched by them. "The day before her death, I saw her," says Henri Brault. "She wasn't well. She had problems. We do not know how she left the hospital." For the visionary, Jeanne Brault wandered away from the hospital during the searchh conducted by police and then retraced her steps toward the park of the hospital where she would be be found.
I suppose sooner or later psychics get lucky. I have to consider some alternatives other than psychic phenomenon, because that would be a real challenge to my world view.
Logically of course the psychic new that the lady was old, sick and frail and couldn't have gone far. She is a local woman so she probably knows the hosptal and its grounds. I certainly know the hospital at Girac very well now. She would have deduced that if the woman was in the open she would have been found. That leaves either an abduction if she had reached the roads around the hospital, or she was still within the grounds but in a place with cover, like woods.
Brigade cynophile, hélicoptère, plongeurs de La Rochelle... Pendant une semaine, de très gros moyens de recherches ont été déployés pour tenter de retrouver Jeanne Brault, une femme de 82 ans sourde et muette qui avait quitté l'hôpital Renaudot à Loudun le samedi 22 novembre. Jusqu'à samedi dernier. Le corps sans vie de l'octogénaire a finalement été retrouvé par des membres de la famille dans le parc de l'hôpital de Loudun «grâce aux précieuses indications d'une voyante», d'après l'un des frères de la victime, Henri Brault. «Mon frère et mes sœurs sont allés voir samedi dernier une voyante du côté de Saumur. Cette voyante, sans se déplacer sur les lieux, leur a dit où elle se trouvait. Ils sont revenus à Loudun l'après-midi même et ils ont retrouvé notre sœur vers 17h30 là où la voyante leur avait dit. Le médecin ne voulait pas y croire. C'est vrai que c'est incroyable, mais c'est comme ça!»
Cette voyante, c'est Jacqueline Vitré (• photo CL), une habitante de Villebernier âgé de 65 ans. Trente-huit ans de radiesthésiste derrière elle. Elle témoigne: «La famille m'a apporté la robe de chambre de cette dame ainsi que sa photo. J'ai mis mon pendule au-dessus de la robe de chambre et j'ai ressenti que la personne disparue pouvait se trouver à tel endroit. Je leur ai même fait un petit dessin sur lequel je leur précisais qu'elle se trouvait dans un bois au pied d'un arbre assez gros, près de l'hôpital. J'ai conseillé aux membres de la famille de faire les recherches en ce sens. Je leur ai également fait comprendre que pour moi, elle était décédée. Je la voyais assise au pied de l'arbre. Or, elle a été retrouvée allongée.»
C'est là la seule erreur de la voyante car pour le reste, ses visions se sont avérées justes. Au point que les gendarmes de Loudun, surpris de cette «aide paranormale», ont convoqué la voyante dans leurs locaux. «Ils voulaient avoir des détails. Je ne saurais pas l'expliquer. C'est juste une question de ressenti.»
Une autopsie pratiquée sur le corps de l'octogénaire a révélé que «la cause de la mort était naturelle». Le procureur de la République précise en outre que «toute forme d'intervention extérieure est exclue. Le seul doute réside dans la fixation exacte de l'horaire du décès à 48 heures près».
L'un des frères de la victime a du mal à s'expliquer comment sa sœur n'avait pu être retrouvée par les gendarmes pendant la semaine de leurs recherches alors que l'endroit où son corps a été découvert avait déjà été fouillé par les fonctionnaires. «La veille de sa disparition, je l'avais vue, raconte Henri Brault. Elle n'allait pas bien. Elle avait des ennuis. On ne sait pas comment elle a quitté l'hôpital.» Pour la voyante, Jeanne Brault se serait éloignée de l'hôpital lors des recherches menées par les gendarmes et serait revenue ensuite sur ses pas en direction du parc de l'hôpital où elle devait être retrouvée.
There are two easy ways to become a host: you can contact me at the e-mail on the right hand column of this blog, or you can leave a comment on this post. Make sure you read more about being a host at the MCB website. The carnival will take place on December 14, so make sure you contact me soon!
While I am looking for a host, I would also like to invite you to submit your post for the Carnival – you can e-mail me directly, or use this submission form.
Last but not least, I cannot leave you without something funny and, of course, Prop 8-related. I am quite sure this clip, found through a friend, is going to make your day.
See more Jack Black videos at Funny or Die
P.S. The latest Skeptics' Circle edition is up!
View blog reactions
There are two easy ways to become a host: you can contact me at the e-mail on the right hand column of this blog, or you can leave a comment on this post. Make sure you read more about being a host at the MCB website. The carnival will take place on December 14, so make sure you contact me soon!
While I am looking for a host, I would also like to invite you to submit your post for the Carnival – you can e-mail me directly, or use this submission form.
Last but not least, I cannot leave you without something funny and, of course, Prop 8-related. I am quite sure this clip, found through a friend, is going to make your day.
See more Jack Black videos at Funny or Die
P.S. The latest Skeptics' Circle edition is up!
View blog reactions
 |
| Translation: "Merry Christmas, you hard-hearted, enslaved idiots!" |
Yeah, it's kind of a dick move.
Granted, the Christmas holiday is but one in a long list of holidays that have co-opted the solstice season for a chance to make merry, and was itself rejected as sinful by large swaths of historical Christianity, and is for the most part now wholly secular in our society. But it is one of the few times in the year that Christians can feel like being open about their religious orientation doesn't make them into annoying proselytizers, because, hey, everyone's doing it, too!
And granted, the Freedom From Religion Foundation's plaque was placed in response to a Christian nativity scene being allowed to be placed in the rotunda previously, which is itself a breach, at least in spirit, of the "establishment" clause of the First Amendment. And in fact the Christian who lobbied to place that nativity scene there himself recognized the FFRF's right to have their own installation alongside his.
But it's still a dick move. As a counterexample, see the December newspaper advertisement for the North Texas Church of Freethought:
Granted, the Christmas holiday is but one in a long list of holidays that have co-opted the solstice season for a chance to make merry, and was itself rejected as sinful by large swaths of historical Christianity, and is for the most part now wholly secular in our society. But it is one of the few times in the year that Christians can feel like being open about their religious orientation doesn't make them into annoying proselytizers, because, hey, everyone's doing it, too!
And granted, the Freedom From Religion Foundation's plaque was placed in response to a Christian nativity scene being allowed to be placed in the rotunda previously, which is itself a breach, at least in spirit, of the "establishment" clause of the First Amendment. And in fact the Christian who lobbied to place that nativity scene there himself recognized the FFRF's right to have their own installation alongside his.
But it's still a dick move. As a counterexample, see the December newspaper advertisement for the North Texas Church of Freethought:
 |
| Translation: "Holy cow, there's an atheist Santa?" |
The most offensive phrase is probably "silly superstitions," but then again, everybody's Christmas celebrations include silly superstitions of some kind or another. My Polish family always passes around oplatek (a large, priest-blessed, communion wafer) to bring good luck into the new year. Yeah, it's a silly superstitious act that has nothing to do with whether or not the next year will be a good one, but but the larger message is one of showing affection for one's loved ones- precisely the freethinking (and secular!) message that the NTCOF promotes.
And I could imagine that the average Christian who breezes past this advertisement might be miffed at reading the NTCOF's opinion on "the real reason for the season," but couldn't take umbrage at it's similar snipe against "mindless materialism" nor disagree with the sentiment I already mentioned about sharing our lives with those we love. And that's really how I would prefer it to be taken, because proclaiming the explicit antithesis to orthodox Christianity tends to not be helpful for the average believer.
And I could imagine that the average Christian who breezes past this advertisement might be miffed at reading the NTCOF's opinion on "the real reason for the season," but couldn't take umbrage at it's similar snipe against "mindless materialism" nor disagree with the sentiment I already mentioned about sharing our lives with those we love. And that's really how I would prefer it to be taken, because proclaiming the explicit antithesis to orthodox Christianity tends to not be helpful for the average believer.
But then there's this story. Just this past week, a young couple in East Texas, believing their 13-month old daughter to be possessed by demons, proceeded to beat (and bite!?) her to death with a hammer. They can be added to the growing list of people (in Texas!?) who have murdered their children at God's presuming behest. Andrea Yates, Deanna Laney, Dena Scholsser, and now Jessica Carson. The first three women were found to be under psychotic delusions; it remains to be seen what is found regarding the latter. What troubles me is not knowing if their respective psychoses were independent of, or cultivated by, their religious convictions. And if the former, did their religious convictions provide a conventient catalyst to action?
You see, whether or not the FFRF has taken the most diplomatic path with their message, they're not operating simply on the principle of humbug. When they say, "may reason prevail," I think of people like Jessica Carson. When they say, "there are no devils," I think of people like Jessica Carson. And when they say, "religion hardens hearts and enslaves minds," I think of people like Jessica Carson, who hardened her heart to her daughter's cries of pain, and gave her mind over to a dogmatic belief that encouraged her to crush her daughter's skull with a hammer.
Nobody likes a village atheist. But I would happily take that role if it meant that one fewer person would give him or herself over to murder because of a "silly superstition."
You see, whether or not the FFRF has taken the most diplomatic path with their message, they're not operating simply on the principle of humbug. When they say, "may reason prevail," I think of people like Jessica Carson. When they say, "there are no devils," I think of people like Jessica Carson. And when they say, "religion hardens hearts and enslaves minds," I think of people like Jessica Carson, who hardened her heart to her daughter's cries of pain, and gave her mind over to a dogmatic belief that encouraged her to crush her daughter's skull with a hammer.
Nobody likes a village atheist. But I would happily take that role if it meant that one fewer person would give him or herself over to murder because of a "silly superstition."
|
| Translation: "Merry Christmas, you hard-hearted, enslaved idiots!" |
Yeah, it's kind of a dick move.
Granted, the Christmas holiday is but one in a long list of holidays that have co-opted the solstice season for a chance to make merry, and was itself rejected as sinful by large swaths of historical Christianity, and is for the most part now wholly secular in our society. But it is one of the few times in the year that Christians can feel like being open about their religious orientation doesn't make them into annoying proselytizers, because, hey, everyone's doing it, too!
And granted, the Freedom From Religion Foundation's plaque was placed in response to a Christian nativity scene being allowed to be placed in the rotunda previously, which is itself a breach, at least in spirit, of the "establishment" clause of the First Amendment. And in fact the Christian who lobbied to place that nativity scene there himself recognized the FFRF's right to have their own installation alongside his.
But it's still a dick move. As a counterexample, see the December newspaper advertisement for the North Texas Church of Freethought:
Granted, the Christmas holiday is but one in a long list of holidays that have co-opted the solstice season for a chance to make merry, and was itself rejected as sinful by large swaths of historical Christianity, and is for the most part now wholly secular in our society. But it is one of the few times in the year that Christians can feel like being open about their religious orientation doesn't make them into annoying proselytizers, because, hey, everyone's doing it, too!
And granted, the Freedom From Religion Foundation's plaque was placed in response to a Christian nativity scene being allowed to be placed in the rotunda previously, which is itself a breach, at least in spirit, of the "establishment" clause of the First Amendment. And in fact the Christian who lobbied to place that nativity scene there himself recognized the FFRF's right to have their own installation alongside his.
But it's still a dick move. As a counterexample, see the December newspaper advertisement for the North Texas Church of Freethought:
|
| Translation: "Holy cow, there's an atheist Santa?" |
The most offensive phrase is probably "silly superstitions," but then again, everybody's Christmas celebrations include silly superstitions of some kind or another. My Polish family always passes around oplatek (a large, priest-blessed, communion wafer) to bring good luck into the new year. Yeah, it's a silly superstitious act that has nothing to do with whether or not the next year will be a good one, but but the larger message is one of showing affection for one's loved ones- precisely the freethinking (and secular!) message that the NTCOF promotes.
And I could imagine that the average Christian who breezes past this advertisement might be miffed at reading the NTCOF's opinion on "the real reason for the season," but couldn't take umbrage at it's similar snipe against "mindless materialism" nor disagree with the sentiment I already mentioned about sharing our lives with those we love. And that's really how I would prefer it to be taken, because proclaiming the explicit antithesis to orthodox Christianity tends to not be helpful for the average believer.
And I could imagine that the average Christian who breezes past this advertisement might be miffed at reading the NTCOF's opinion on "the real reason for the season," but couldn't take umbrage at it's similar snipe against "mindless materialism" nor disagree with the sentiment I already mentioned about sharing our lives with those we love. And that's really how I would prefer it to be taken, because proclaiming the explicit antithesis to orthodox Christianity tends to not be helpful for the average believer.
But then there's this story. Just this past week, a young couple in East Texas, believing their 13-month old daughter to be possessed by demons, proceeded to beat (and bite!?) her to death with a hammer. They can be added to the growing list of people (in Texas!?) who have murdered their children at God's presuming behest. Andrea Yates, Deanna Laney, Dena Scholsser, and now Jessica Carson. The first three women were found to be under psychotic delusions; it remains to be seen what is found regarding the latter. What troubles me is not knowing if their respective psychoses were independent of, or cultivated by, their religious convictions. And if the former, did their religious convictions provide a conventient catalyst to action?
You see, whether or not the FFRF has taken the most diplomatic path with their message, they're not operating simply on the principle of humbug. When they say, "may reason prevail," I think of people like Jessica Carson. When they say, "there are no devils," I think of people like Jessica Carson. And when they say, "religion hardens hearts and enslaves minds," I think of people like Jessica Carson, who hardened her heart to her daughter's cries of pain, and gave her mind over to a dogmatic belief that encouraged her to crush her daughter's skull with a hammer.
Nobody likes a village atheist. But I would happily take that role if it meant that one fewer person would give him or herself over to murder because of a "silly superstition."
You see, whether or not the FFRF has taken the most diplomatic path with their message, they're not operating simply on the principle of humbug. When they say, "may reason prevail," I think of people like Jessica Carson. When they say, "there are no devils," I think of people like Jessica Carson. And when they say, "religion hardens hearts and enslaves minds," I think of people like Jessica Carson, who hardened her heart to her daughter's cries of pain, and gave her mind over to a dogmatic belief that encouraged her to crush her daughter's skull with a hammer.
Nobody likes a village atheist. But I would happily take that role if it meant that one fewer person would give him or herself over to murder because of a "silly superstition."
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