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Author Archive for beLIEve

Happy Birthday Atheist in Africa!

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on April 9, 2012

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Wow ...it's been a whole year and still my militant surge of anger, frustration and disbelief that prompted this blog are still as strong as ever!!

"Twas a warm and busy Easter Sunday of 2011 when my frustration overfloweth from my own ramblings and into the virtual world..."

Religion and the way it affects people's attitude to life and each other is still the main thing wrong with so many places in the world and their level of "humanity" towards each other. Yet recently Jacob Zuma was quoted as saying "There can be no humanity without a fear of God" And that a fear of God was necessary to reduce crime etc... which made me think of "God" being like a global CCTV system.

Hmm and take 10 steps back down the developmental ladder.

However on the same day I also read "No sin is too big to be forgiven". So there's a mixed message right there - rape, murder, steal - it's OK you'll be forgiven... now where is the humanity there for the victims and the progression of society in general???

So I'm entering Year 2 of my outflow thanks for reading ... I hope there's some entertainment in amongst the anguish!!

It’s that time of year again..

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on April 7, 2012

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Just as likely…

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on March 21, 2012

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Saw this and had to share... LOL!!!

Proof of creation!!!

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on March 11, 2012

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At a wedding yesterday, my third time in church this year (???!!!!!) I was again sat there with an hour long look of contorted confusion on my face. I really must stop going to these things it's ageing me prematurely.

I sit, I listen, I mumble under my breath, swallow my tendencies towards Tourette's syndrome, I look around me, I pinch myself to check I am there and I am not semi- dreaming this waffle, this cycle continues until I am able to escape and drink champagne- also not available as it was a dry wedding!!! I was really in the mood for a whole bottle of the blood of Christ by that time!!!

There were many, many things the pastor said that made me boil inside.

My particular favourite was this..... "God made us from dust, it says in the Bible, we are the salt of the earth, and ladies and gentlemen, have you ever tasted your tears?? They are salty - this is proof that we were made from the dust, the salt of the earth, the Earth that God created"

Just like that. People nodded. In agreement.

I'm sorry what?? So as I woman I was supposedly made from a rib.... should my tears taste meaty??

That is like 3 years of studying Geology in 3 lines. Bang, Done.

I can't even bring myself to comment on the "women you must submit to your husband". He actually said that. And she sadly promised to do it.

Hell no.

The list goes on….

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on March 7, 2012

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It seems that paedophilia is reserved for certain occupations - mainly Mr Whippy men and pastors- however when we look at the list of offenders just for this week (???!!!! wtf??!!!!) from Deep Thoughts http://mojoey.blogspot.com/2012/03/this-week-in-hypocrisy.html I reckon you're safe to get a 99 for a while cos they are clearly all in church.... despite the fact that this is not new news it is still pretty shocking!

And o my gods!!! While looking further at this I found this blog about children being groomed in Belgium using stories encouraging disgusting behaviour between themselves and adults... http://www.saff.ukhq.co.uk/belgianscandal.htm

Fucking horrifying!!

" ... a random survey of over 7,000 active Catholics in the U.S. and Canada found a closer ratio, that 1.7 percent of the females and 3.3 percent of the males had been sexually abused in childhood by a priest ..." (Katherine van Wormer, MSSW, Ph.D.) Psychology Today

What’s the most important thing in the world to you?

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on March 4, 2012

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I was asked this and it sort of fits in with the question what is your biggest fear, at least it does with me anyway. The most important thing to me can be summed up in one word. FREEDOM. I have so far been incredibly lucky with this I have pretty much gone where I want, did what I want, with who I want, for as long as I've wanted all through my life. It's not about having the money or the grace of God, it's about choices and have the guts to follow your heart.

I think this is the true root of my a/anti/against (insert as appropriate) theist tendencies - having ultimate freedom of thought. And allowing others to also have that free thought without subscribing to a doctrine that you stick to like glue no matter how illogical.

If your heart is free, the ground you're standing on is liberated territory. Defend it!
(From Crimethinc.com)

10,000 is a magic number, yes it is…

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on February 27, 2012

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Ok people somewhere in between Germany, Brazil, India, SA and too many other places to mention and of course some random audience generating eastern European sites that are something to do with car radios (??!) we have made it to 10,000 hits :D

Thanks for the support keep reading and hopefully laughing! Next milestone is the anniversary on Easter Sunday...

The Origin of the Atheist Species or Don’t Become What You Criticise Most

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on February 15, 2012

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I read the following article (here) about Richard Dawkins' embarrassing arrogance and spluttering with a whimsical smile. Although I do enjoy his books and obviously share many of his views it seems that he is becoming guilty of doing exactly what he criticises religious people for: Not entirely knowing their facts and pigeon-holing people because of their spiritual beliefs or lack there of.

He sounds naive in talking about Christians that are pro- gay marriage or secular as "not being real christians" he totally negates the fact that the nearly 34,000 different sects of Christianity are clearly going to have different interpretations of the Bible and it's relevance to modern life.

I don't think atheism has or should have a "leader" or for people to "become organised" as surely that is part of its character as an ideology - we are free of doctrine, free of organisation and free-thinking. I also think that shouldn't give us license to point the finger at others for what they think- for me if you want to believe in Allah, God, Jesus or Ganesh carry on if it makes you happy. I may think you are deluded and ask if you've considered all avenues before you have made your decision and try and raise some "controversial" discussions with you but more out of interest than argument. I may indeed point out some more interesting parts of the Bible, the Qu'ran, the Bhagavad Gita or indeed the finer points of Charles Darwin's great findings in the book which by the way is "The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or The Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life"

There's a quote I remember but unfortunately not who said it : "You recognise in others the things you most despise in yourself" It seems fitting in this case....

I think it is important to get back to basics sometimes and instead of picking holes in different religions which is like shooting fish in a barrel let's look at it fundamentally: There are two sets of people in the world- those that believe in a big man in the sky and those that don't.

Pro-choice? or Pro-making-the-best-of-pregnancies-as-a-result-of-rape?

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on January 26, 2012

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US Senator Rick Santorum (search for just his surname on Google.... !!) is stepping up the anti-choice argument. He thinks that pregnant rape victims should "make the best of it" and even if this happened to his own daughter he would encourage her to accept the child no matter how "horribly created it was because its still a gift from God".

A massive pile of Santorum! (Now you really do need to look it up)

Read the interview here

What if praying worked??!

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on January 23, 2012

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What I really mean is if praying worked would so many of our services be rendered redundant??

This thought has transpired from my beloved currently being in hospital with both powerful intravenous antibiotics and people praying for him. And the thought entered my head - "If praying really worked then would we need hospitals??"

I'm not sure if this is a flippant, naive view because I've never been inside the head of someone who prays and what their take is on it but the people who are praying are also very glad he's in there.

It made me think of a few more things we maybe wouldn't need if praying worked.....

seatbelts?
education?
prisons?
supermarkets?

These may seem like wide ranging examples but people thank God for the food on the table even though someone got off their ass earnt the money and bought it, or worked hard cultivating their own land and grew it.

Houses, food, electricity- doesn't magically appear unless you work to get money and usually the better your education then the better job you obtain (this is a generalisation - we know there are college graduates in Mcdonalds) (we also now there are those lucky bastard lottery winners!)

Ironically especially in SA prisons are filled with God's children, they are also filled with Nongaloza's children (the number gangs) and people genuinely believe that for all the murder, rape and violation of rights that they are responsible for, because these people ask for forgiveness they will go to heaven.

What else could go if praying worked??

Atheism 2.0

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on January 21, 2012

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Alain de Botton suggests a "religion for atheists" -- call it Atheism 2.0 -- that incorporates religious forms and traditions to satisfy our human need for connection, ritual and transcendence.

I think we can satisfy our need for connection and transcendence in every day life by our choices and lifestyles- it doesn't need to be under the guises of religion. I think ritual can be rendered redundant though

Surely the vast majority of atheists are of this persuasion in an attempt to escape religious forms and traditions and ritual..... maybe he's missing the semantic meaning of a-theism. An opposite.

God – the ultimate placebo

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on January 18, 2012

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Praying makes you feel better in the same way I give you a pill and tell you it is the best pain killer money can buy- your brain tricks you into believing whatever you consciously want the outcome to be. The human being, that is, being conditioned into trying to sort things out and make life seem better (there are of course exceptions). You believe it because you want to feel better. The brain is capable of amazing feats of self delusion - "I am not an addict" "This person does make me happy" "Kim Jong- il really was born under a double rainbow and never shits and is the greatest leader ever" etc, etc.

The universe we create for ourselves ultimately is in the infinite convoluted mystery that is the human brain.

We believe whatever we CHOOSE to believe. There are many intelligent theists who have studied evolution and just dismiss it because they CHOOSE scripture over reason. They have the ability to understand but something in their brains blocks it - consciously, they do not want it to be true.

It works both ways - we can convince ourselves that falsehoods are true -"Let's invade those mother fuckers and their weapons of mass destruction!" Or that truths are false - is evolution to obvious an example???! Fuck it- it's an atheist blog...

So whatever you find strength in.. good for you for getting up in the morning and facing this crazy, experimental planet - for me it's in quotes and advice from real people that I have knowledge existed and have experience of what they are talking about, belief and strength knowing that the only person that has control and jurisdiction over my life is me and not some random magic Jew who lived in a slave infested women hating desert of what is the modern day warzone of Israel and Palestine.

I will return to the opening paragraph and the psychology of how "prayer helps" with a link to the story that inspired it ....http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2012/jan/12/belief-benefit-prayer

Good night - may you always remain free in body and mind

Pastor Mboro and the Incredible Happenings

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on January 11, 2012

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OOOwwweeee where to start??!! As if there weren't enough crazy evangelical ministries around this guy and his Incredible Happenings ministry has really attracted the attention of the SA media and thankfully in a negative way. Think it may have had something to do with him doing some-"hands on vaginal healing" in a very bizarre story involving animals, biscuits and "Doctors" Read here

I came across him on SABC3 while he was on Noleen's 3 Talk show. I have to say she did an admirable job of interviewing him as he is clearly deluded about both his ability and celebrity. Just a few more wacko things about him :

He has bodyguards with machine guns
He can cure people who have had a stroke after a phone call?!
He is "incredibly handsome" and a VIP
He is a prophet of Jesus
He could rename himself God under SA law but chooses not to...
He gets his congregation to chant his name
He doesn't read from the bible in sermons
He has long manicured nails
He sells "blessed water" for R60 a bottle
He does DVD healings.. just touch the screen!
People he has healed claim that fish, stones and crocodiles have fallen out of their bodies

I promise you I am entirely sober these are just some of the stories that come up when you search for him. He is a complete vuvuzela - and I don't mean the world cup thing - you'll have to read some of the news stories to see what he means!

It certainly stinks of something....

New start

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on January 10, 2012

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And so tomorrow is a new start to the academic year always with new resolutions etc and of course for me more challenges in teaching subjects that have different explanations for what the world is about. I have set up a new facebook page for my grade 12's with no link at all to my own and already they are hoping for a blessed year. I do love it when they admit they have to revise and can't just rely on Jesus though...

It also means lots of assemblies and everyone starting off with the best of intentions. It also means there are "devotions". Now this was a new thing for me. It involves a lot of "O Lord please help us....' and " Please we ask you Father..." you get the idea. I have moments of really just checking if I am not in a weird film surrounded by subservient, deity fearing brainwashees (if that is a word)

I suggested last year whether there was a need for non-denominational assemblies and soon realised I was not specific enough in meaning - non-religious as in no mention of the G man at all. I mentioned the endless reams of quotes and moral lessons to be learned from recently deceased or still alive inspirational people who already win for me by having existed for real in the world I am able to perceive with my regular human senses.

But no - the very first thing tomorrow is devotion. Yet there is the audacity to have critical thinking in the ethos of the school..... It's as if I'm the crazy one.....

Happy New Year!

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on December 31, 2011

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Well as we enter 2012 - already have in a few places especially Samoa since they totally missed out yesterday anyway! (see here) I wish you all the strength and optimism and clarity necessary to live in our crazy world. We already know that this year will be an interesting one philosophically/spiritually/critically/conspiratorially??! I look forward to the debate, opinion, and media surrounding whether it is the end of the World or not and what our "esteemed" spiritual and political leaders will say to encourage or dispell any myths, rumours or proofs this year.

The only way we will know is if we are here this time next year- until then here is some interesting/ ridiculous reading to get you through your hangover from planets colliding to the end of the Mayan calendar to biblical prophecies, lets just hope that for once Harold camping has learnt to keep his mouth shut!!

2012 Myths

Not the end of the Mayan Calendar

2012 phenomenon

Xmas

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on December 26, 2011

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I see many people's statuses etc going on about "Don't replace Our Lord with X" and such but did anyone think to ask why it's an X? It's not just an amputation of Jesus but rather a relic of the Greek:

Xmas was an abbreviation where the X represents the Greek letter chi, which is the first letter of Christ's name Xmas is an abbreviation for Christmas. It is derived from the word ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ, transliterated as Christos, which is Greek for Christ. Greek is the language in which the whole New Testament was written.

I have enjoyed pointing this out to many preachy Christians this festive season.

Makes my day joyous anyway!

Regardless of the time of year - Let's never replace fact with assumption!!