Author Archive for ZennalathasPage 2 of 4

What’s he hiding in that turban?

OMFG LOOK OUT! IT'S A FREAKING--Oh...sorry Mr. Next-President of the United States...you just looked so...well...where's your suit?

BBC NEWS | Africa | The meaning of Obama's robes

- Zennalathas
Tantum religio potuit suadere malorum.

Blogged with Flock

What’s he hiding in that turban?

OMFG LOOK OUT! IT'S A FREAKING--Oh...sorry Mr. Next-President of the United States...you just looked so...well...where's your suit?

BBC NEWS | Africa | The meaning of Obama's robes

- Zennalathas
Tantum religio potuit suadere malorum.

Blogged with Flock

Really…?

So, it seems that Turkey wants to bring Islam up-to-date:

BBC NEWS | Europe | Turkey in radical revision of Islamic texts

I don't really know where I stand here...

I mean, I could look on the bright side and hope that they get rid of stonings, beheadings, belief in witchcraft, the black shrouds, the fear of homosexuality, the fear of vaginas, the fear of books and movies and songs and god. Okay...maybe not that last bit.

Or, there's that dark side: this will spin off into it's own little sect that starts off all promising, and Western-ized but continues to split apart and form into more and more radical groups that eventually meet up at funerals with signs that say, "Allah Hates Infidels". Actually, I guess that's still better than what they have now...

While I can't say I think this "change" will catch on, it's certainly a step in the right direction. It means that these Muslims are willing to look at their sacred text and examine it with a critical eye. Sure, they're not questioning the underlying premise of the piece, but they are looking at the passages and saying, "Hey, you know what? That's just not right."

It's a bold move, and I respect it. Unfortunately, moderate Christianity didn't turn out to be all that it was cracked up to be, so I can't imagine this moderate Islam will either. But the fact that these men are looking at reforming Muslim women's rights is truly encouraging.

The question remains however: will they be killed before the work's done?

- Zennalathas
Tantum religio potuit suadere malorum.

Blogged with Flock

Really…?

So, it seems that Turkey wants to bring Islam up-to-date:

BBC NEWS | Europe | Turkey in radical revision of Islamic texts

I don't really know where I stand here...

I mean, I could look on the bright side and hope that they get rid of stonings, beheadings, belief in witchcraft, the black shrouds, the fear of homosexuality, the fear of vaginas, the fear of books and movies and songs and god. Okay...maybe not that last bit.

Or, there's that dark side: this will spin off into it's own little sect that starts off all promising, and Western-ized but continues to split apart and form into more and more radical groups that eventually meet up at funerals with signs that say, "Allah Hates Infidels". Actually, I guess that's still better than what they have now...

While I can't say I think this "change" will catch on, it's certainly a step in the right direction. It means that these Muslims are willing to look at their sacred text and examine it with a critical eye. Sure, they're not questioning the underlying premise of the piece, but they are looking at the passages and saying, "Hey, you know what? That's just not right."

It's a bold move, and I respect it. Unfortunately, moderate Christianity didn't turn out to be all that it was cracked up to be, so I can't imagine this moderate Islam will either. But the fact that these men are looking at reforming Muslim women's rights is truly encouraging.

The question remains however: will they be killed before the work's done?

- Zennalathas
Tantum religio potuit suadere malorum.

Blogged with Flock

Obama’s My Bet

Here's a neat little test that claims to show you who you subconsciously want to vote for:

Implicit Association Test

I can't say how accurate it actually is, but my results showed that I like Obama better than everyone else by a good half-a-page, so it seems good to me. It's a fun, and kind of interesting way to spend an empty ten minutes.

- Zennalathas
Tantum religio potuit suadere malorum.

Blogged with Flock

Obama’s My Bet

Here's a neat little test that claims to show you who you subconsciously want to vote for:

Implicit Association Test

I can't say how accurate it actually is, but my results showed that I like Obama better than everyone else by a good half-a-page, so it seems good to me. It's a fun, and kind of interesting way to spend an empty ten minutes.

- Zennalathas
Tantum religio potuit suadere malorum.

Blogged with Flock

The White House is a Brothel

BBC NEWS | Americas | Wannabe first daughters woo youth vote

Barbara (R) and Jenna (L) BushAlexandra KerryAlice RooseveltSarah Huckabee (YouTube)Meghan McCain (Picture: McCainBlogette.com)




Whores.



- Zennalathas
Tantum religio potuit suadere malorum.

Blogged with Flock

The White House is a Brothel

BBC NEWS | Americas | Wannabe first daughters woo youth vote

Barbara (R) and Jenna (L) BushAlexandra KerryAlice RooseveltSarah Huckabee (YouTube)Meghan McCain (Picture: McCainBlogette.com)




Whores.



- Zennalathas
Tantum religio potuit suadere malorum.

Blogged with Flock

Imagine

The U.N. finds that nearly two thirds of Britons are not religious, but:

Ms Jahangir, 55, twice chair of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and who was herself only released from house arrest in Lahore during November, says in her conclusions “there exists no hierarchy of discrimination grounds.”

She argues that religion should not have a lower ranking when competing rights are being balanced.
Over half of Britons claim no religion -Times Online

She's right, though. Religion should not have a lower ranking when competing rights are being balanced. It should not have a ranking at all.

Religion, regardless of the brain-washing aspect and the devotion to it, is a choice. No matter how you look at it, even the evangelicals view their faith as a concious decision. The law, and one's rights, protects one's right to that decision or opinion. What does not have to happen is to harbour any sort of respect for that choice. Britain can respect that people have made a religious commitment, but that doesn't mean it has to pander to that religious commitment--the majority of Britain, according to an official international study, is without religion, and therefore law, and politics should be practiced accordingly.


- Zennalathas
Tantum religio potuit suadere malorum.

Blogged with Flock

Imagine

The U.N. finds that nearly two thirds of Britons are not religious, but:

Ms Jahangir, 55, twice chair of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and who was herself only released from house arrest in Lahore during November, says in her conclusions “there exists no hierarchy of discrimination grounds.”

She argues that religion should not have a lower ranking when competing rights are being balanced.
Over half of Britons claim no religion -Times Online

She's right, though. Religion should not have a lower ranking when competing rights are being balanced. It should not have a ranking at all.

Religion, regardless of the brain-washing aspect and the devotion to it, is a choice. No matter how you look at it, even the evangelicals view their faith as a concious decision. The law, and one's rights, protects one's right to that decision or opinion. What does not have to happen is to harbour any sort of respect for that choice. Britain can respect that people have made a religious commitment, but that doesn't mean it has to pander to that religious commitment--the majority of Britain, according to an official international study, is without religion, and therefore law, and politics should be practiced accordingly.


- Zennalathas
Tantum religio potuit suadere malorum.

Blogged with Flock

He’s back…

John Lennon has been reincarnated...I eagerly await the reunion tour.

Embedded Video



- Zennalathas
Tantum religio potuit suadere malorum.

Blogged with Flock

He’s back…

John Lennon has been reincarnated...I eagerly await the reunion tour.

Embedded Video



- Zennalathas
Tantum religio potuit suadere malorum.

Blogged with Flock

Facebook | How to compare everything with Hitler

This message was left on a Facebook group by a Derek Madson who runs a group named Carpe Diem that I was once, sadly, a member in. It has to be addressed because this is the kind of bullshit that gives anti-theists a bad wrap.

If there was any doubt about the fascist nature of Scientology here is a useful juxtaposition of videos.

Adolf Hitler speaking to the NAZI party:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80lLU5-yji8&feature=related

Compare that to a speech by David Miscavige of Scientology:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibgWmZHP8F4&NR=1

Notice the common themes - an emphasis on iconography and symbolism, emotionally charged rhetoric, antisocial incitement, rigid hierarchy, authoritarianism, and a theatrical flare. Charismatic. Insane. Domineering. Highly Dangerous.

If you can't see the similarities between this guy and Adolf Hitler you need to pull your head out of your ass. Only difference here is that instead of Jews as the target of hatred it is... wait for it.... yes that's right the origin of all evil in the deluded cult of Scientology is PSYCHIATRY. Hmmm, if this cult didn't kill people it would be enough to make you pee yourself laughing. As it is it's just fucking frightening how much power and control these fuckheads actually have!EXPOSE AND OPPOSE THE CULT OF SCIENTOLOGY!!
Facebook | How to compare everything with Hitler


Firstly, let's be clear on one thing: I do not, never have, nor will, support Scientology, but I might want to keep it around because, wow, it's hilarious.

Now, let's also be clear on another thing. It's one thing to say that there are common themes, and quite another to state there is only one difference between the two speeches, and thus, implied, men. Miscavige is not like Adolf Hitler. Miscavige does not harbour a hatred for a race of people so great that it inspires an era of war unprecedented. The analogy is incredibly poor. Psychiatrists are paid professionals who have laboured in school for many years to earn a degree that would allow them to practice a school of medicine. Believing them to be effective at what they do, or believing them to be ultimately harmful instead, is a valid opinion -- the reasons for holding that opinion are to be questioned, but the opinion can very well come from a wholly secular, and unmotivated observer. Jews are born as they are, unable to make a choice as to their racial qualities, and unable to change them. Believing them to be a scourge on the earth is not a valid opinion -- what evidence is there for superstition and claims made by pure prejudice? None.

Comparing a man with Hitler is simply a poor choice to make (especially when the analogy is a weakly put together as it is here). There is little chance to come back from that remark, and why should the conversation go on further? You've just compared the man to one of the most evil people in human history according to popular culture and belief. How is that helpful? How will that change minds?

Sample dialogue:

"You're like Hitler!"

"Fuck you!"

Yeah, that totally changed that Scientologist's mind...

You use a Hitler reference to wake up a reader or viewer to a character who is actually committing an unspeakable evil towards a victim that is unable to act upon this injustice. Mao was like Hitler. Stalin was like Hitler. Bush is like--oops, bias.

Don't drag spurious analogies into debates that might actually lead somewhere. A conversation stopper is only useful when you might make someone think after they've stopped talking.

Now, I've spoken at some length about the link between Nazism and religion, but I have to point out where my comparison is distinct to avoid some form of hypocrisy. I displayed how Nazism is a religion, not how one is like the other. It is impossible to say someone is Hitler if their name isn't Adolf Hitler. Don't do it.

It's now very plain that bigots do exist under the flag of "Free thinkers" and that's just sad. Derek Madson, sir, take UVic's English 215 course; it'll teach you how to write a proper, expository piece.

Sorry for the length of time between posts again...I came down with pneumonia and found my time was better spent in bed.

- Zennalathas
Tantum religio potuit suadere malorum.

Blogged with Flock

Facebook | How to compare everything with Hitler

This message was left on a Facebook group by a Derek Madson who runs a group named Carpe Diem that I was once, sadly, a member in. It has to be addressed because this is the kind of bullshit that gives anti-theists a bad wrap.

If there was any doubt about the fascist nature of Scientology here is a useful juxtaposition of videos.

Adolf Hitler speaking to the NAZI party:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80lLU5-yji8&feature=related

Compare that to a speech by David Miscavige of Scientology:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibgWmZHP8F4&NR=1

Notice the common themes - an emphasis on iconography and symbolism, emotionally charged rhetoric, antisocial incitement, rigid hierarchy, authoritarianism, and a theatrical flare. Charismatic. Insane. Domineering. Highly Dangerous.

If you can't see the similarities between this guy and Adolf Hitler you need to pull your head out of your ass. Only difference here is that instead of Jews as the target of hatred it is... wait for it.... yes that's right the origin of all evil in the deluded cult of Scientology is PSYCHIATRY. Hmmm, if this cult didn't kill people it would be enough to make you pee yourself laughing. As it is it's just fucking frightening how much power and control these fuckheads actually have!EXPOSE AND OPPOSE THE CULT OF SCIENTOLOGY!!
Facebook | How to compare everything with Hitler


Firstly, let's be clear on one thing: I do not, never have, nor will, support Scientology, but I might want to keep it around because, wow, it's hilarious.

Now, let's also be clear on another thing. It's one thing to say that there are common themes, and quite another to state there is only one difference between the two speeches, and thus, implied, men. Miscavige is not like Adolf Hitler. Miscavige does not harbour a hatred for a race of people so great that it inspires an era of war unprecedented. The analogy is incredibly poor. Psychiatrists are paid professionals who have laboured in school for many years to earn a degree that would allow them to practice a school of medicine. Believing them to be effective at what they do, or believing them to be ultimately harmful instead, is a valid opinion -- the reasons for holding that opinion are to be questioned, but the opinion can very well come from a wholly secular, and unmotivated observer. Jews are born as they are, unable to make a choice as to their racial qualities, and unable to change them. Believing them to be a scourge on the earth is not a valid opinion -- what evidence is there for superstition and claims made by pure prejudice? None.

Comparing a man with Hitler is simply a poor choice to make (especially when the analogy is a weakly put together as it is here). There is little chance to come back from that remark, and why should the conversation go on further? You've just compared the man to one of the most evil people in human history according to popular culture and belief. How is that helpful? How will that change minds?

Sample dialogue:

"You're like Hitler!"

"Fuck you!"

Yeah, that totally changed that Scientologist's mind...

You use a Hitler reference to wake up a reader or viewer to a character who is actually committing an unspeakable evil towards a victim that is unable to act upon this injustice. Mao was like Hitler. Stalin was like Hitler. Bush is like--oops, bias.

Don't drag spurious analogies into debates that might actually lead somewhere. A conversation stopper is only useful when you might make someone think after they've stopped talking.

Now, I've spoken at some length about the link between Nazism and religion, but I have to point out where my comparison is distinct to avoid some form of hypocrisy. I displayed how Nazism is a religion, not how one is like the other. It is impossible to say someone is Hitler if their name isn't Adolf Hitler. Don't do it.

It's now very plain that bigots do exist under the flag of "Free thinkers" and that's just sad. Derek Madson, sir, take UVic's English 215 course; it'll teach you how to write a proper, expository piece.

Sorry for the length of time between posts again...I came down with pneumonia and found my time was better spent in bed.

- Zennalathas
Tantum religio potuit suadere malorum.

Blogged with Flock

Super Serial

This is one of my favourite blogger's latest posts: Of Tears and Clowns

He, after a good deal of conservative bashing (who actually likes Sullivan anyway?), posits the question: "what is so profoundly loathsome about Hillary Clinton?"

Short answer: South Park doesn't like her. That's also the reason teenagers and intellectuals everywhere are also unable to enjoy Subway's Jared Fogle, Al Gore, Bono (okay...no one really liked him anyway...), Michael Jackson, black people, hippies, Family Guy, the Simpsons, J-Lo, Will Smith, hybrid cars, sexual harassment, gays, Persians, the movie 300, Oprah, and the list goes on...

It's really the only scientific answer...except for my even shorter answer: Hillarycare.

Oh snap! Vote Colbert...oh wait...vote Edwards...god damnit...who's left that worthwhile...? Obama?

Oh America...when will you learn to have candidates run who don't suck, like Jean Chrétien? He faked appendicitis to get out of boarding school, and when they decided to operate, he manned up and let them do it rather than back down. Now that's a leader!

- Zennalathas
Tantum religio potuit suadere malorum.

Blogged with Flock

Super Serial

This is one of my favourite blogger's latest posts: Of Tears and Clowns

He, after a good deal of conservative bashing (who actually likes Sullivan anyway?), posits the question: "what is so profoundly loathsome about Hillary Clinton?"

Short answer: South Park doesn't like her. That's also the reason teenagers and intellectuals everywhere are also unable to enjoy Subway's Jared Fogle, Al Gore, Bono (okay...no one really liked him anyway...), Michael Jackson, black people, hippies, Family Guy, the Simpsons, J-Lo, Will Smith, hybrid cars, sexual harassment, gays, Persians, the movie 300, Oprah, and the list goes on...

It's really the only scientific answer...except for my even shorter answer: Hillarycare.

Oh snap! Vote Colbert...oh wait...vote Edwards...god damnit...who's left that worthwhile...? Obama?

Oh America...when will you learn to have candidates run who don't suck, like Jean Chrétien? He faked appendicitis to get out of boarding school, and when they decided to operate, he manned up and let them do it rather than back down. Now that's a leader!

- Zennalathas
Tantum religio potuit suadere malorum.

Blogged with Flock