Planet Atheism » Canterbury Atheists

See ya round like a dunny-roll

Canterbury Atheists — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 00:23:00 +0000

Dear Readers,

I am closing my blog ‘Canterbury Atheist’ indefinitely.

For the record, this is the 392nd post I’ve made since I started-up in April 2008.

I have a number of outside activities going on in my life – including writing a book, training for an endurance event - that are taking their toll time-wise.

Blogging is an outlet for me, but certainly not a big part of my life.

The tabloid ‘throw-away’ nature of blogs is something I constantly struggle with, find-somewhat but a short-fix and unfulfilling in the long-term scheme.

My best and most read articles have come-about after considerable research, time and effort (Examples: search, using the facility at the top-left for ‘Dalai Lama’ ‘Church of Odin’ and say ‘Zenith Applied Philosophy’)

The blogging platform is therefore limited to ‘throw-away’ articles, when I want to get into something more substantive. Not just limited to ‘free thought’ subject matter, either.

This is not the first time this blog has gone into recess, come hibernation, so I may well resurrect it, should the urges overcome me and I need to kill again, arrange the body parts geometrically and send the coppers cryptic messages taunting them.

You know you can’t trust an atheist’s word anyway.

To all my readers & even my detractors, some 250 a day, thanks for popping-by.

Keep safe and close to your family and friends.

Good-bye for now and thanks for all the fish.

Paul.

PS: For the record Split Enz went down-hill without Judd.

See ya round like a dunny-roll

Canterbury Atheists — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 00:23:00 +0000

Why a single Cryptozoologist has more credibility than all the worlds theists put together.

Canterbury Atheists — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 02:59:00 +0000

In the same way scientists look for the origins of The Big Bang, create devices to examine what makes-up the universe etc - why can’t theists also similarly unite and employ science to conclusively seek out their god? Prove not only conclusively that this supernatural-being exists - but go then go the next step and start communicating with him/her and then in-turn find his creator?

With the financial resources at their disposal, the ability for theists to cobble-together enough money to fund a ‘God Detector’ can’t be down to lack of money.

Even the most staunch-believer has to agree that god is made of something to be able to make planets and monitor all the goings-on on earth etc.

‘Something’ on this massive scale can surely be discovered?

My hat goes off to those hardy Cryptozoology folk.

At least those seeking out hidden/legendary extinct-animals, do so with vigor and with every resource available at their disposal.

Cryptozologists are at least bright enough to know, that without evidence their convictions are meaningless.

They seek evidence for Big-Foot or Loch Ness Monster etc and don’t just settle for the comfortable yet unsubstantial “we know it exists” in the same glib way as theists.

That’s why a single pig-headed, nut-case Cryptozoologist has more credibility than all the worlds theists put together.

Note: Be sure to watch this You Tube (Kiwi Humour at it's best)

Why a single Cryptozoologist has more credibility than all the worlds theists put together.

Canterbury Atheists — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 02:59:00 +0000

There’s witchcraft in them there Carterton halls.

Canterbury Atheists — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 22:28:00 +0000

Wairarapa appears to be a hotbed of paganism (strange, I seem to have been left off their invite list to this years midnight Satanic orgy?) and the sleepy town of Carterton is the vortex for this shameless devil-worship.

This coven of devil-worshippers was exposed when the towns-library was temporarily housed in the local Masonic Lodge.

As every good Christian knows those goat-molesting Freemasons are in league with Beelzebub and Reverend John Cromarty from St David’s Church in Carterton wants the mayor to close the temporary library being run out of the lodge – least it corrupts the population.

In his letter to the town mayor Cromarty spells-out the evils of Freemasonry and the potential dangers of being exposed to its dark-craft.

"Freemasonry, while it does good works in the community, is based upon the worship of pagan gods,"

“While it portrays a facade as being compatible to Christianity in its teaching, it has its foundation rooted in witchcraft and pre-Christian teachings and practice."

The reply from Cartertons mayor, Gary McPhee, to Reverend Cromarty’s complaints could have been penned by yours-truly, given its acerbic nature.

McPhee told Cromarty in his open reply he was "stuck in the wrong century" and "We are now in the 21st century but clearly some people didn't move along with us."

Looking at the retard in the photo above (check-out the jutting jaw and small cranium) – I have to agree with McPhee’s line of reasoning on this one, but he appears to have let diplomacy get the better of his vitriol.

After closer examination of Reverend John ‘Missing-Link’ Cromarty’s photo, I would place that period of time closer-to 400,000 years ago when Homo Neanderthalensis roamed the planet, rather than mere centuries.

There’s witchcraft in them there Carterton halls.

Canterbury Atheists — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 22:28:00 +0000

Would the real DM please stand-up

Canterbury Atheists — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 01:21:00 +0000

This is ‘the’ legendary DM (a.k.a David Marbus) the author of such gems as the one below, which appear with annoying regularity in the comments section of atheist blogs through-out the world, including mine:

add comment moderation to your BS you will not have a PUBLIC FORUM NEW GAME WITH YOU LITTLE F*CKERS - SPEAK N DIE. Come see the latest DM videos for your viewing pleasure! the WORLD TRADE CENTER PROPHECY - THE DANCE OF DEATH http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0Hez25fFrg http://media.depechemode.com/micro_sites/remasters/gr/wallpaper/violator_8_640.jpg _______________ And the Pope is 100% correct: The Nazis and the atheists both wish to ABOLISH FAITH.... http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11332515 ________________________ hawking is WRONG science cannot explain NOTHING! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMRJJcfEXls& FAIR AND BALANCED! ________________ http://dissidentphilosophy.lifediscussion.net/philosophy-f1/the-boobquake-911-t1310.htm

If that wasn’t enough indication DM is a looney-tune extraordinaire, take-a-look at another one of his delusional rants, I recently deleted:

the only crap you will ever need from this so-called "philosopher" called massimo pigliucci http://chem.tufts.edu/science/pigliucci/rationally-speaking/RS2001-091.htm "The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it." http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1iy39_depeche-mode-john-the-revelator_music JOHN THE REVELATOR! FAIR AND BALANCED! KING OF TERROR add comment moderation to your BS or more people will die with you... NO GODS AND NO POLITICS WITH THESE LITTLE IDIOTS! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyEISfS15g4&feature=player_embedded plush safe he think http://www.christies.com/lotfinderimages/D14781/d1478164x.jpg http://vimeo.com/13704095 but with recent revelations about James Randi, I think he likes DICKS! THE SECOND COMING! THE END OF ATHEISM FOLLOW THE WHITE RABBIT... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Smwrw4sNCxE THE B**BQUAKE - 911 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeblvLoVJCA&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v

David Marbus turns-out to be a Canadian called Dennis Markuze and he’s a lot younger than I expected.

But then again I should have guessed he was closer to 30 than 50 when I had in front of me the stunning truth that Nostradamus predicted the formation of the group Depeche Mode and that somehow in-turn lead to September 11th.

If you ask me his jacket is more Spandau Ballet than Depeche Mode and the later have penned more than fair share of atheist anthems as it happens – not that DM is aware of much happening in the real world outside his Montreal bedroom.

Markuze also seems to like the Japanese horror-film ‘The Ring’ from other rants I’ve seen over the years – hardly suprising since I don’t think he gets out much of his parents house, except to fill-up his prescription.

Basically ‘the tough-guy’ DM turns-out to be a sniveling creep.

This song is for you DM.

Would the real DM please stand-up

Canterbury Atheists — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 01:21:00 +0000

The time for popes to show their magic is when they are alive – not dead.

Canterbury Atheists — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 00:41:00 +0000

Part of the all-but automatic beatification process of a pope and the road to his sainthood, is evidence of a credible miracle.

To gain sainthood a pope must show they are in-effect a kind of middleman ‘lightening rod’ on earth for their god called Yahweh.

Invariably this anecdotal evidence when provided is flimsy at best, and placed-on the-table long after their deaths.

No one seems to care that when someone is alive they are never able to display their magic-tricks and never, but never, in an open-public forum or say under scientific scrutiny.

If the current pope is to show us the power of god channeled through his form – why not stump-up with the goods right now rather than later when he is dead and buried?

Why doesn’t The Catholic Church show us Benedict is literally ‘gods emissary’ by showing-us now, rather than decades later, his miracle, so we can examine it in the harsh light of day?

The time for Benedict to show us his magic, say regeneration of a severed limb, is now - but there sweat FA chance of that happening.

That would lead the entire public and scientific community playing the devils advocate.

The time for popes to show their magic is when they are alive – not dead.

Canterbury Atheists — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 00:41:00 +0000

Burning books is a long-held Religious Tradition

Canterbury Atheists — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 19:44:00 +0000

The images and act of book-burning is etched in our psyches as being a formative part of National Socialist Germany - when copies of anything from Albert Einstein, Sigmund Freud to H.G Wells went-up in flames.

Yet, the sordid history of book burning pre-dates 1930’s Germany by centuries and still goes-on all too frequently even today.

Catholics in particular love nothing better than to destroy the writings of anyone that upsets their narrow sensibilities.

In their hey-day The Spanish Inquisition relished burning Korans & any other Islamic text they could lay their hands on.

Virtually the entire writings of the Mayan Civilization were destroyed with perverted pleasure by The Catholic Church.

For good measure nearly every Cathar text that could be found by The Catholic Church were also destroyed as well.

This fruit-loop pastor Terry Jones would have to build a bonfire the size of the state of Florida to come close to the Catholic Churches suppression of free-thought and alternative beliefs through-out the ages.

It was only four years ago Catholics in Rome and Manila decided Dan Browns ‘Da Vinci Code’ deserved being BBQed.

Whist doubtlessly top-of-the-pyre for destroying writings that threatened their self-appointed place in the world, The Catholic Church is not alone amongst religious zealotry when it comes to book-burning.

The evil texts of Harry Potter and Superman Comics have gone up in flames lit by evangelists.

In the 1980’s orthodox Jews in Jesuleum incinerated New Testaments by the score.

More copies of Salman Rusdies ‘Satanic Verses’ were probably destroyed than read.

The Taliban also did what the Taliban does best.

God evidently loves a good book burning!

Burning books is a long-held Religious Tradition

Canterbury Atheists — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 19:44:00 +0000

Bishop Tamaki’s ‘spiritual’ father turns out to be a raving-homo!

Canterbury Atheists — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 21:27:00 +0000

The fallout-out (or would “blow-out” be a more appropriate term of phrase given the subject matter?) from Bishop Eddie Long rent-a-choir-boy affair has reached New Zealand.

And the stains (of the type not even modern washing-powers will remove) have reached the crocodile shoes of our own self-proclaimed bishop, Brian Tamaki.

Bishop Long, or as his rent-a-choir-boys got to call him ‘Big Ed’, journeyed down-under in 2003 after the year prior Tamaki had made it to Atlanta for some well-earned R&R.

2003 was a spiritual journey at the behest of Tamaki who runs New Zealand’s version of a mega-church, Destiny. Rather than being a double-meat wopper burger like say Longs ‘Birth Ministry’ Destiny would be better termed as one of those crappy small cheese-burgers McDonalds have. Soggy in the middle and with a tacky outer wrapping.

This trip and the ‘connection’ (not in a biblical sense one presumes?) Tamaki had with Long is out-lined in his autobiography. I think it’s in the section just after he admits fathering children out of wedlock?

In the chapter rather appropriately titled, given what now we know happens behind the scenes at The Birth Ministry, “Spiritual Father – a long time coming” Tamaki waxes lyrical over Long and his set-up. In case you get confused that’s the set-up of Longs organisation rather than the ‘set-up’ where he befriends teen boys, lavishes them with gifts and attention – then sodomises them.

"The instant that Bishop Long walked into the room our spirits connected without having said a word”

In the most Freudian of statements possible, Tamaki goes-on to say in his bio:

"I was a little taken aback by his embracing nature and the manner with which he greeted each and every one of us as if we were long lost brothers."

"I was impressed, yet the ease of our connection and the confirmation of a date was entirely in line with Kingdom principle - when God speaks, do it,"

Clearly when Longs felt the urge for “a connection” he didn’t have to look far to “do it.”

Tamaki is apparently going to issue a statement today about ‘Big Ed’ Long in which no doubt he’ll say he’s praying for him and to return the christening gifts.

I’ll be sure to do a follow-up on this.

Bishop Tamaki’s ‘spiritual’ father turns out to be a raving-homo!

Canterbury Atheists — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 21:27:00 +0000

How Science is a force for Good on this planet: Kiwi invents bionic legs!

Canterbury Atheists — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 19:03:00 +0000

Human invention makes real miracles happen.

How Science is a force for Good on this planet: Kiwi invents bionic legs!

Canterbury Atheists — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 19:03:00 +0000

Human invention makes real miracles happen.

The Vatican Bank: How the Catholic Church helps fund its daily activities with tainted drug-money and Nazi booty

Canterbury Atheists — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 03:05:00 +0000

The outward vestiges of Catholicism’s wealth and immortality is; The Vatican Bank.

The Vatican Bank is not a bank in the same terms that define first-tare global financial institutions, such as the one you and I hold accounts at.

This bank operates at a level that would make an Internet finance company in the Bahamas with a P.O Box for an address, look like The Bank of England.

That is to say The Vatican Bank functions in the global financial under-belly, well outside the controls of normal EU/U.S regulations, governmental controls and more importantly for 'Gods bankers' as far away from ‘the grasp of the law’ as possible.

Those holding an account at The Vatican Bank fall loosely into three categories (a.) Catholic Churches and clergy (b.) Criminals (c.) Tax Evaders.

Which depositor is which, is frankly hard to tell.

Over the years many a regulator and media-commentator has wanted to know “who is actually running the bank - it's biggest clients, The Mafia or The Catholic Church itself?

When it comes to symbiotics like The Vatican Church and Italian Mafia, a quick look at historic-record shows the line between both groups is some-what blurred.

The Vatican Bank was formed in the middle of WW2 and made its initial wealth by accepting tainted funds from the deceased bank accounts & riches of Europe’s Jewish population, acquiesced by corrupt regimes - such as the one that gave the Vatican the very statehood it now uses to avoid prosecution and act beyond international law. The relatives of the Holocaust victims are still trying to recover those stolen ‘blood’ monies six decades later.

Money laundering still remains the main ‘money-making’ activity of The Institute for Works of Religion (the banks technical name) to this day. This week we learnt its current head, not for the first time in its sordid history, has just been caught-out by Italian officials for what is by their terms is a paltry 20 million Euros of illegal transactions.

As a financial institution that will take monies ‘no questions asked’ operating with the luxury of having a board which has immunity from prosecution, and no need to open its books to public scrutiny, The Vatican Bank has been and always will be the bank of choice to the criminal underworld as well as your run-of-the-mill despotic regime. Catholic dictators Pinochet's and Noriega knew full-well where to safely place their ill-gotten gains. They left it amongst comrades in faith. Hopefully they got a discounted rate.

Criminal fraternity’s ranging from the local Sicilian mafia, right through to Central & South American drug syndicates, also have accounts with The Vatican Bank, much to the chagrin of global law enforcement who are powerless to seize the profits of their criminal enterprise once it goes into the same vaults which still holds Nazi gold and valuables stolen literally in some cases from the corpses of Holocaust victims.

It is on public-record The Vatican Banks ‘cut’ on the Gambino crime-families drug-money was a straight 50% - so ‘laundering’ is a very profitable business for The Institute for Works of Religion and ultimately the Catholic Church - it’s sole shareholder and benefactor from its secretive venal activities.

If you wanted to 'knock a hole' in the worlds illicit drug trade and organised crime the biggest single-thing any government/policing-organisation could do -would be to dissemble The Vatican Bank.

The Vatican Bank (read: Catholic Church) aids and abets global money laundering on a massive scale and remains an integral part of the multi-billion dollars international drug trade, acts with impunity as a ‘financial life-raft’ for corrupt dictatorships and happily deals with any criminal desperado & tax dodger with money to hide from their respective authorities.

It’s hardly surprising The Vatican Bank gets caught-out now and again given its modus-operandi, scale of corrupt activities, dubious nature of its clientele and total lack of scruples of the people involved – especially its head.

Try picturing RATzinger acting like a crazed ecumenical Scrooge McPope, divested of robes and running naked deep-within the bowels (now there's an appropriate turn of phrase if ever there was one) of the cavernous church vaults. Squealing in proverbial joy as those tainted 'pieces of silver' run through his grubbied fingers and dribbling in anticipation as his favourite choir-boy climbs al naturale up to join-him on-top-of the mountains of illicit loot not even L.Ron Hubbard could place one of his enormous figures on. Becoming erect when he finds a gold-bar embossed with a Nazi swastika amongst the money-mountain.

The Vatican Bank: How the Catholic Church helps fund its daily activities with tainted drug-money and Nazi booty

Canterbury Atheists — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 03:05:00 +0000

Attn: Theologians Have a go at this!

Canterbury Atheists — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 21:05:00 +0000

This is a You Tube I did one night over a few beers at the end of last year, not one of my better ones, but effective enough.

I wanted to know “What will happen to a soul when we have brain transplants?”

Clearly this day will happen sooner rather than later so this question is more than being merely a hypothetical one.

Sadly no one has even attempted to answer this ponder-able.

Why isn’t there anyone who believes in the concept of a soul that can give me an answer?

I am therefore doubling my efforts to get an answer by re-posting it here in the hope there is a simple answer to what-is a simple question.

So after viewing the video please leave your answers in the comments section.

Attn: Theologians Have a go at this!

Canterbury Atheists — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 21:05:00 +0000

Burglar finds Atheism and avoids Jail

Canterbury Atheists — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 20:34:00 +0000

BURGLAR FINDS ATHEISM AND AVOIDS JAIL (NZ Press Association 22nd Sept 2010)

A burglar who walked into Hamilton police station and confessed his crimes after rejecting religion has avoided a prison term.

Neum Muliaumasealii, 24, was sentenced at Hamilton District Court yesterday to three months community detention and 50 hours community work after admitting burgling four properties, including the home of a friend between 2005 and 2007 , The Waikato Times reported.
Muliaumasealii also admitted to four counts of theft, breaking into cars during an international rugby match to steal car stereos.

The court was that in March he went to the police station to confess his crimes prompted by his "new found lack of religious beliefs" and a desire for a "clean slate".

"It's really your conscience which has led you to appear before the court today," Judge Glen Marshall told Miliaumasealii

He said a prison sentence would normally be an option for his offending but gave him credit for changing his ways.

Now the true headline and report;

BURGLAR FINDS RELIGION AND AVOIDS JAIL (NZ Press Association 22nd Sept 2010)

A burglar who walked into Hamilton police station and confessed his crimes after finding religion has avoided a prison term.

Neum Muliaumasealii, 24, was sentenced at Hamilton District Court yesterday to three months community detention and 50 hours community work after admitting burgling four properties, including the home of a friend between 2005 and 2007 , The Waikato Times reported.
Muliaumasealii also admitted to four counts of theft, breaking into cars during an international rugby match to steal car stereos.

The court was that in March he went to the police station to confess his crimes prompted by his "religious beliefs" and a desire for a "clean slate".
"It's really your conscience which has led you to appear before the court today," Judge Glen Marshall told Miliaumasealii.

He said a prison sentence would normally be an option for his offending but gave him credit for changing his ways.

WHAT A FUCKING JOKE!

Burglar finds Atheism and avoids Jail

Canterbury Atheists — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 20:34:00 +0000

Let’s invent a new Boogeyman to all be scared of.

Canterbury Atheists — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 06:18:00 +0000

Now those evil commies have been put well and truly to rest, we in the Western-world really need to change our focus.

There must be something left underneath our bed that will scare the horses and frighten the kids into doing what we want?

Unite-us in a crusade, in a traditional sense of the term.

That’s it – the rise of Islam!

But let’s face-it Muslims in our midst doesn't scare everyone?

Some people may have Muslims as neighbours, in their kids sporting teams and find-them just like everyone else.

So what else is out there that can scare the crap out of every god-fearing member of society?

That’s it.....Atheists!

Fuck those heathen pricks that gave rise to Hitler and want to destroy the very foundations of our Judeo Christian society.

Let’s make a film to show families what the evils of atheism entail - the end of Christmas for starters.

Footnote: Buckets are provided to all audience members.

Let’s invent a new Boogeyman to all be scared of.

Canterbury Atheists — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 06:18:00 +0000

Attention Kiwi’s: Stop giving World Vision money to spend on Bibles!

Canterbury Atheists — Sat, 18 Sep 2010 20:03:00 +0000

['The Joy of Jesus in Your Life' - World Vision at work in Uganda]

“Christian witness is an essential and integral part of the mission of World Vision. Christian witness should never involve the use of pressure or inducement but equally it is unethical and inappropriate to hide that Christian teaching is the underlying motive for all of World Vision’s work”

Would it alarm you to know World Vision only employs Christians or believers in The Old Testament God? Indeed if you sign-on as an employee to World Vision and then, either by the act of apostasy, or simply losing your faith altogether – you are automatically fired. World Vision in effect practices religious discrimination. Atheists are amongst those unwelcome in their ranks.

Would you continue to support World Vision knowing it funds Christian Schools and religious-education programmes and that World Vision and sees the distribution of bibles as being as integral & intrinsic part of their activities as food-aid?

World Vision in-action Bibles for Albanian kids who according to WV’s Magazine “(a country) that struggled to provide spiritual education for young Christians after the fall of communism due to a dearth of learning materials.”

Did you know World Vision is considered by U.S Courts to be, in legal terms: a ‘Religious Corporation?’ and further a religious group first and an aid-group second?

Does it make you uncomfortable knowing the CEO of World Vision has an income twice that of New Zealand’s prime-minister?

World Vision doesn’t like to promote its Christian evangelism here in New Zealand, least it scares away potential supporters, but it is all there on their web site if you care to look in the fine-print:

“We co-operate with local church leadership. This must be appropriate in the context of the programme. The families in these communities are given an opportunity for Christian education appropriate to their own culture but it's their choice to participate”

Now, picture a starving person saying “no thanks” to a Bible lesson when the person undertaking the proselytising is the same-one distributing the food & shelter for you and your family? This isn’t just a captured market – it is one that would worship Spike Milligan if it meant filling their bellies.

World Vision rejects the exploitation tag trying to get the public to believe its own company line that:

“World Vision affirms and defends the right of all Christians and faith-based organisations, including our own staff and World Vision itself, to witness through their lives, words and deeds”

“Accepting Christ must be a free decision based on consideration and judgment”

Starving beggars can in-fact be choosers in World Visions opinion.

World Vision.com is even more forth-right in letting the public know where a part of their donations are going and also give-us an insight into their DNA make-up:

“Mankind has a spiritual dimension that also needs to be addressed. World Vision works with local partners, including churches, to organise summer camps, religious celebrations, including Christmas and Easter and the distribution of children's study literature on the Bible, church traditions and history, to nurture this dimension. We support local churches as part of the community to help them carry out these activities in the longer term”

So long-after the disaster, well after the village has got on its feet and the population has the ability to feed themselves again - World Vision remains on the ground simply to propagate the teachings of Jesus Christ – using the money secular-suckers gave thinking it was for food, water and housing etc – all teary the stuff that features on the adverts.

In the majority of cases, those that sponsor a child with World Vision are paying for that child to learn about Noah and his Ark and Jonah and The Whale.

World Vision even has enough money from donors to publish its own Christian propaganda for its in-house (re)education programmes.

This book (above) is advertised on World Vision Resources as being ‘designed so leaders can integrate individual parts into a regular Sunday school or Bible class curriculum or use an entire lesson to fill a full class hour’. I mean why bother filling a child’s mind with math’s and science, eh?

Being a multi-national religious corporate with 40,000 employees World Vision even runs the equivalent of its own Travel Department.

Rest easy knowing your monthly donation has gone to help WV workers get a bit of well needed R&R with a travel-package entitled “Leadership of the Holy Land Tour”. Apparently it includes all ‘the’ great Biblical sites. According to none other than “Steve Haas (VP & Chief Catalyst, for World Vision and I’m bemused as you are at the title) The holiday in The Middle East is “An encounter that will stretch and provide you with insights on how to lead your church more effectively. It will also provide a life-line to those of our Christian family that remain in this turbulent region of the world.” Don’t worry if The Middle East isn’t your thing – there's plenty of other tours available to a whole range of countries. Chile appears popular.

In Summary:

Whatever you do - don’t give World Vision one cent!

Don’t feel a shred of guilt ignoring their ‘heart-string’ adverts, safe in the knowledge you are not helping prop-up their CEO’s base-salary of NZD 500,000 per annum – plus bonus’s. These bonus’s bump-him-up another NZD 150,000 by the way. How many Child Sponsorships will NZD 650,000 get ya I wonder? Its head in Australia, a Baptist minister, gets a base salary of a cool AUD 250,000 – plus again the obligatory bonus’s. This-is after-all an American religious corporation first, and pays its executives well.

Just as importantly make-sure your child’s school does-not participate in their fashionable money-maker called ’The 40 Hour Famine’. Write to your school board and say it is wrong to raise funds for a multi-national religious corporation that shamelessly discriminates against non-Christians.