Category: Religion, Atheism, and Odd Theology

In Russia, most of the tap water is undrinkable. In Russia, some folks drank the tap water anyway. Why did they do it? Well, they looked at the calendar and assumed that everything would be different. Yes, I know that sounds odd. It was January 19th, which is when they celebrate Epiphany...when Jesus, who is God become man, was 'made known' to the world. For some reason, these people believe(d) that any water obtained on Epiphany would be "holy" water. For some reason, these people - 117 of ...
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Harold Camping says he knows a thing or two about Jesus' return. Born in 1921, Camping claims to have scrutinized the Bible for around 70 years. I suppose it's his background in engineering that led him to develop a mathematical system to 'properly interpret' Biblical prophecy. Camping has crunched the numbers and, according to his latest calculations, was surprised to learn that Jesus will come back on May 21, 2010. Unfortunately for Mr. Camping, this isn't the first time he'll be wrong abo...
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The Greek word PAN means "all", and THEOS means "god". Simply put, Pantheism is the view that everything is God. Another way a pantheist might explain it is that nature and God are the same thing. That includes people, planets, and your neighborhood platypus...and everything else. As I wrote in Materialism Contradicts Science, the universe had a beginning. Something caused it to come into existence. If you're not up to speed on how the concept of entropy proves that the universe had a be...
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Reasonable people - on both sides of the abortion issue - believe that the number of abortions needs to be reduced. Whether by adoption, education, or abstinence, almost everyone thinks that abortion is a negative. Unfortunately, there are also a bunch of unreasonable people out there who think otherwise. The most radical among us (including those who understand the real reason for the creation of Planned Parenthood) believe that abortion is a good thing. Yes, some of them consider pregn...
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Materialism says that the only thing that can be shown to exist is matter, and that the entire universe can be explained in strictly physical terms. Many atheists and modern philosophers are materialists...that is, they reject the notion that anything non-physical exists. The second law of thermodynamics, however, proves them wrong. Simply stated, "The entropy of the universe tends to a maximum". Left alone, the universe's energy would go from being unevenly distributed (as stars, for examp...
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Many in contemporary Western society believe that biology explains all that we are...all that makes us human. They see us as more (or less) evolved than animals, and simply the product of our DNA. The view that we're nothing more than our biology generally falls under the category of Philosophical Naturalism. When discussing morality with philosophical naturalists, atheists often make the claim that morality is defined by society, rather than by any universal external standard (like the nature ...
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How would your church handle a protest? Opponents of Proposition 8, California's recently-passed marriage amendment, just might show up at your door. It's not just a California issue...here in Denver, a Book of Mormon was placed on the steps of their local temple and lit on fire. Omaha could be next. Is your church prepared for aggressive confrontation? It seems to me that America is becoming more polarized than it used to be, and that Christianity is often considered part of the problem. Most ...
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I've lived near Denver, Colorado since May 2000...so I missed the exodus. A group of people from the Denver area, led by (ironically) former anti-cult activist and radio personality Kim Miller, left their families and homes and jobs to follow Miller. They first went to Israel, but got deported because authorities there were concerned about their beliefs. They went to Greece, and the same thing happened. Nobody seems to know exactly where they ended up, but - somewhat surprisingly - one of the me...
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A common argument among atheists and the irreligious is that the Ten Commandments doesn't belong in our courthouses. Some say that having the Ten Commandments posted there gives an implicit recommendation of one religion over all others. Some go so far as to say that it essentially makes Christianity the official religion of America.For the record, I couldn't possibly care less about whether the Ten Commandments are posted in any courthouse. I wonder, though, whether such people realize that the...
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Wow. It happens just that suddenly. First Todd Bentley is the poster child for 'the new revival' and then it all hits the fan. Not only are many CharisPentals downright skeptical about Bentley's "ministry" but, in a few short days, we hear a couple of news items that tell a much seedier story.It appears that Todd Bentley and his wife are in the process of separating. In Canada, it's apparently a prelude to a divorce that takes 9 months. If you're a Canadian reader, and have info that I don't, pl...
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I've been waiting for some time to put this one up. Some of you may know the Drowning Pool song that says "let the bodies hit the floor". Some of you may not know who Drowning Pool is, and that's okay...you're more likely to have heard the song in the recent Rambo movie trailer than on the radio.Anyway... - I don't think very highly of Benny Hinn. I don't know him personally, but I know a bit about what he says and does. I consider him a charlatan of the highest order, which is part of why this ...
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Bad People. That's how a 61 year-old woman described her neighbors, the Los Angeles Scientologists. In an attempt to avoid being picketed, they got permits to close the sidewalks around their offices. This lady, without knowing it, demonstrates clearly how militant some Scientologists can be....
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A GodWords reader asked a series of questions:The DaVinci Code talks about The Last Supper as a symbolic depiction of what is most likely truth. It never claims to be the exact image of the people that were there. You mention that some of the the things depicted in the painting are nontraditional for the day. Well, Jesus would have been married because it was expected of traditional Jewish men to be married and homosexuality was cause for stoning, which would have been the assumption made. Ellie...
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As I mentioned in an earlier post, I recently spent some time discussing Landmark Education with one of their leaders. I'm meeting him for coffee in the morning, so their teachings are on my mind.I also fielded a phone call from one of their follow-up guys at dinnertime tonight. I took the opportunity to share with him, since he asked, my objections to the Landmark "technology" as I understand it. He was very nice.A lot of the time I've spent thinking has been spent thinking about the idea that ...
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There is no truth, no meaning, no value. That's what I learned at last night's Landmark Education meeting. My friend invited me because she's excited about what Landmark has done to help her. I spent a couple of hours with her and a mutual friend and the gentleman who led the discussion. Landmark Education provides educational opportunities that purport to help people all over the world reach their potential. They do this primarily at a 3-day meeting called Landmark Forum. I wasn't taught thi...
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Imagine that you're a healthy young man. Now imagine that you've been in an auto accident, and that you're now a paraplegic. That would be sad and difficult, of course.Now, imagine the Roman Catholic church rubbing salt into your wounds. That's what happened to a 26 year-old man in Viterbo, Italy. A Catholic bishop has blocked a 'church wedding' for this man and his fiancee. Why? Because he is, as a result of his paraplegia, impotent. His fiancee knows that he's impotent, but that doesn't matter...
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In case some of you haven't heard, there's a "revival" going on in Lakeland, Florida. It's led by "man of God" Todd Bentley who does "miracle healings". Yes, I put those things in quotes because I have serious doubts about what's going on there. Here's generally what's been happening all over the interwebs:Bentley Believer:You should see the amazing move of God in Florida! It's an incredible revival! God is using Todd Bentley to do some amazing things!Skeptical Brother in Christ:Really? Bentley ...
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I'm not an atheist. That should be obvious. I do value atheism, however, for at least two reasons:First, atheism is a validation of the concept of free will. There are those who've recently claimed that humans are 'hard-wired' for religion. While I might concede that our brains are functionally receptive to God, the idea that religion is simply the result of biochemical processes is rendered meaningless in light of atheism. Unless one makes the point that atheists are biochemically defective, th...
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The state of Texas has swabbed "former" FLDS leader Warren Jeffs. He's in jail during an ongoing sexual abuse investigation. The search warrant for the DNA alleges that Jeffs had so-called "spiritual marriages" with four girls, ages 12 to 15. I put "former" in quotes because I'm not convinced that he's given up his power. I put "spiritual marriages" in quotes because it's a euphemism for marriage without sex. Considering that the FLDS place high value on both polygamy and large families, I find ...
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Roman Catholic Pope Benedict XVI has issued a very strong warning to women who would be priests, and to those who support them:Knock it off, or I'll kick you out.Okay, that's a rough paraphrase...but the sentiment is the same. Women priests and the bishops who ordain them are subject to immediate excommunication. That means that they can't receive any of the sacraments from the Roman Catholic Church and that they can't take part in public worship with Roman Catholics. The Vatican ordains only me...
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Somebody tell me this isn't real. Yeah, I know it's real...but I'm having a hard time wrapping my brain around it anyway. Maybe I'd feel differently if I were a black man from the Old South, rather than a white man from the Old West. I can't say for sure, but I know this: this isn't preaching, and it's not Christianity. It's grandstanding political rhetoric and it doesn't belong behind a pulpit on a Sunday morning.I want to know what you think. Is this guy on track? Am I missing the boat? Am I g...
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This just in from Yahoo News: The Texas Supreme Court ruled that 468 children seized from a polygamist sect must be returned to their parents, saying state child welfare officials had overstepped their authority. The ruling upheld a lower court's finding last week that Texas child welfare officials failed to prove the children were in immediate danger when they were taken from the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS).I think that this is the right decision. I've hear...
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From Religion News Blog:"A Texas appellate court has ruled that child welfare officials had no right to seize more than 400 children living at a polygamist sect’s ranch. The Third Court of Appeals in Austin ruled that the grounds for removing the children were "legally and factually insufficient" under Texas law."I haven't blogged many opinions here, but that's been my question all along: did authorities have any information that led them to believe that all of those in the 'compound' were eit...
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You know you're in pretty serious trouble when the lawyers prosecuting you have to drop the incest charge to make sure the sexual misconduct with a minor charge can stand. I hope Warren Jeffs goes to prison, and that those he's abused can learn that God loves them very much...and not in the same way that Jeffs and other abusers "love". Read the full story at the very highly-recommended Religion News Blog....
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I've had a few conversations recently about Todd Bentley, the guy who's supposedly leading a huge revival in Florida. When I go to his website and read his statement of belief, I'm pleased...but I have serious problems with what I see on video.If I have to choose between a carefully-worded statement of belief and several hours of video, I'm going to choose video every time. Bentley's "revivals" include things like kicking old ladies in the face, choking unsuspecting people to make demons leave t...
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Some are shocked at the utter depravity that can lurk in the minds and hearts of seemingly-normal people. I have to admit that I'm rarely surprised to see how much evil one can do.Today's shocking Yahoo News story is about a man in Austria who confessed to holding his adult daughter captive for 24 years. The man, now 73, built a soundproofed vault in his home where he kept her captive. Not only did he hold her against her will under the nose of his unsuspecting wife, he also fathered at least se...
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As I mentioned earlier, Jason Beghe used to be Scientology's poster boy. Now he's speaking out against the sci-fi religion. Enjoy his interview...your comments are welcome.It's long, by the way...it's well over two hours. For those interested, it's going to be too short. The other person you hear in the video is Mark Bunker, also known as WBM ("wise beard man").As with the previous video, this interview contains profanity. If you're offended by profanity, I suggest you listen to it anyway....
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Those of us who didn't grow up in an isolated religious community can't really appreciate what FLDS kids in Eldorado are going to go through for the rest of their lives. Here's a quote from a psychologist who specialized in situations involving cults:Growing up in an isolated community that sanctions sexual abuse is very different from growing up in an abusive family. These children believe this is how the world - and God - work. They will need considerable expert guidance and long-term counseli...
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A reader wants to know where the FLDS (Fundamental Church of Latter-Day Saints) got its start, and how they're different than the LDS. It's kind of a long story, but here are the basics:Mormons (LDS) used to practice polygamy. They stopped around 1890, and in about 1904 they began to excommunicate members who refused to renounce polygamy. Many of those members moved to the Arizona-Utah border and formed a polygamist community. The groups involved comprised fundamentalist Mormonism. The FLDS spli...
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Some of you have noticed that a recent video, featuring actor and former Scientologist Jason Beghe, is no longer available. This Religion News Blog article might shed some light on the situation.No justification was given to me, I got no notice from them, and there appears to be no recourse. And why did this happen? Because the Jason Beghe interview was about to be posted - and Scientology did not want anyone to see that. My tease for the Jason Beghe interview went up on Sunday, and by this afte...
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Most Americans know who Jason Beghe is. I wasn't sure until I looked at the movies and TV shows he's been in...then I knew I'd seen him dozens of times.Jason used to be a Scientologist. No, not your run-of-the-mill Scientologist...he was an OT VII. That means that he spent a lot of money to advance through many levels of Scientology on his way to being "clear". He knows what he's talking about.Scientology is destructive, and a rip-off...and it's very dangerous.He was so involved, and so deep, th...
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I haven't written much yet about the raid on the FLDS compound in Texas. There are two reasons for that: I'm very happy that these situations are being brought into the light of day so that the many abuses that have occurred can be stopped and dealt with. I'm not so sure that I agree with the way things are being done.Religious abuse sucks, and I consider some of what goes on in FLDS polygamist compounds to be exactly that. On the other hand, I'm pretty sure I don't like the idea of any governme...
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Christopher and Peter Hitchens are brothers. One is an atheist, and the other is a Christian. Both are are insightful writers who are unafraid to express their points of view.These are the first two of 9,632 video clips of the debate. I'm joking, but only a little. If you're new to debates, a short bit might be all you can take. If you've wondered how one's worldview might shape one's opinions, this could be a valuable few minutes.Makes me wonder whether I'll ever debate my own atheist brother. ...
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In the news: the church of Scientology has begun to make their move. Some of their most sensitive documents have been leaked by Wikileaks, a website devoted to transparency in the pursuit of justice. In characteristic fashion, lawyers representing the RTC have demanded that Wikileaks remove the material from their website.The Religious Technology Center...was founded in 1982 by the Church of Scientology in order to control and oversee the use of all of the trademarks, symbols and texts of Scient...
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The world can easily be divided into two groups: those who have their own websites, and those who don't. Those of us who have our own websites know the joy and the pain brought on by "traffic stats". The most interesting parts, for me, are the 'search strings'. Any good stats package will include a list of the things that people type to find your website. The process is simple: someone searches for a particular phrase, and they come to your website. Your web server adds what they searched for to...
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Ever been RickRolled? The church of Scientology has...sort of. They own the website anonymous-exposed, but they don't own anonymousexposed.You'd think that someone in their organization would have thought to buy both domains. In case you're not up to speed, Anonymous is an anti-Scientology group dedicated to exposing the seamier underbelly of an organization with a very seamy underbelly. Scientology is a religion (in most countries, anyway) that believes we're all immortal, crab-like space creat...
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I'm guessing that most of you don't know anything about this group. They're not a huge group by any stretch...they have just over 200 churches ("centers") worldwide. They don't formally track membership, but estimates range from 100,000 to 200,000. They used to be called the United Church of Religious Science. Their new name is United Centers for Spiritual Living. They wanted to shed the word "church" because they really espouse a philosophy and not a specific religion.The basis for their religi...
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Quote:A Clear will have considerable influence upon others around him. People whose ability to confront is not very high will begin to fall to pieces in the presence of a Clear. One mechanism of this is that the Clear tends to raise the people around him to a slightly higher level of confront, and they begin to confront their own mind, and this really shakes them up. This is particularly so of an S.P. who dares not look at his mind, because he knows that if he does he will go insane.Confused? Yo...
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According to the Roman Catholic church, there are two types of sins:Venial sins, which are relatively minor, and Capital (or Mortal) sins, which put one in danger of eternal damnation.The traditionally-held Seven Deadly Sins are, in order of seriousness:pride greed gluttony lust sloth envy angerThe Pope recently laid out seven brand-new Mortal sins, in case you're worried about keeping track.Interestingly (for non-Catholics), these sins aren't necessarily all that bad on their own. They're consi...
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It's sometimes really difficult to encapsulate a belief system in a few words. Sometimes it's helpful to describe it with pictures, and it's often beneficial if those pictures also move.Here's a thumbnail sketch of what Scientologists believe. show_97de5b59225709(448, 386); PS: Despite living quite near South Park, I really don't like the cartoon at all. I don't think it's that funny, and I find it annoying...so annoying that - don't tell anybody - I killed Kenny....
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For those who haven't been paying attention, the "church" of Scientology fits almost any definition of the word cult. More than a few people have left Scientology over their under-handed and domineering tactics, and support networks appear to be springing up all over. Someone calling themselves Anonymous posted a video online that let the Scientologists know that they were the target of future attacks on their organization. View the Anonymous video here, if you like.Scientology, of course, isn't...
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For those who haven't been paying attention, the "church" of Scientology fits almost any definition of the word cult. More than a few people have left Scientology over their under-handed and domineering tactics, and support networks appear to be springing up all over. Someone calling themselves Anonymous posted a video online that let the Scientologists know that a new movement toward undermining their "religion" would soon be evident. While I do not agree with, or condone, the idea that any gro...
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Many people are familiar with "the seven deadly sins": lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy, and pride. A 1995 movie called Se7en told the story of a serial killer who used each of the seven as his modus operandi. The Roman Catholic church apparently considers this to be an unofficial list of "capital" or "mortal" sins...that is, one cannot commit this kind of sin without being in danger of hell. They've recently added to their list of mortal sins:PaedophiliaAbortionRuining the environmentC...
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I'm sure I'll be writing a few things about the so-called "prosperity gospel" in the future...in the meantime, this should keep you busy. John Piper has a lot of good things to say, and this video will give you a glimpse of why I say that.No matter what anyone tells you, know this: Christianity isn't a ticket to the good life. If it were, Jesus' disciples would have ruled the world. Instead, most of them were martyred for their faith. If you're tempted to believe that guy on TV when he says that...
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Most people assume that L. Ron Hubbard's Dianetics and Scientology sprang fully-formed from his science-fiction-creating imagination.It could be that nothing is further from the truth. Evidence suggests that Hubbard may have ripped off others to form the basis for his new "religion". Take a look. Note: this is a message board, and it's a place where people critical of Scientology share their thoughts. Not all of those thoughts are pleasant....
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Due to the overwhelming popularity of Dan Brown's The DaVinci Code, people have been asking for more information and resources. Here are a few digital reproductions of da Vinci's famous painting. Some give you a look at the setting...most people don't know that it's painted on a wall, above a door, and that's it's been restored numerous times. If you have a better one than I have listed, feel free to send me a copy or a link. If you have questions, I'd love to hear from you.Last Supper 1500x252,...
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Nope. Here are a few reasons why we know that Leonardo da Vinci's painting doesn't tell the same story we read in the Bible: In the painting, it's daytime. The Passover meal would have been eaten after sundown. In the painting, there's loaf of bread on the table. A loaf is made with yeast...and yeast was forbidden on Passover, as it represented sin. Some type of matzah bread would have been used. It's highly likely that they would have been drinking wine...but there's no wine pitcher. In the...
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Not a chance.The book is fiction. Historical fiction takes an imaginary story and surrounds it with historical facts or historical supposition. Despite my (marginal) interest in conspiracy theories, there's not enough historical data to make the story of Mary's involvement in the Knights Templar more than conjecture, and the idea that she and Jesus were married is pure fiction. There's not a shred of evidence that Jesus was married...and that lack of evidence is NOT evidence that the Roman Catho...
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Here's the list of the people eating the last supper, as they've traditionally been identified, from left to right:BartholomewJames MinorAndrewJudasPeterJohnJesus is, of course, in the middleThomasJames MajorPhilipMatthewThaddeusSimonSome have claimed that John isn't John...that Leonardo actually painted a woman there, and that the woman is Mary Magdalene. This certainly isn't the case. Read why that's not Mary Magdalene....
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The figure on Jesus' right isn't female. Because of the popularity of The Davinci Code, many have written to ask whether the figure to Jesus right in da Vinci's The Last Supper is Mary Magdalene. This is a very popular thought at the moment, but it doesn't hold up to scrutiny. Here are a couple of reasons why: If Leonardo da Vinci wanted to paint a historical account of that last supper, he could only use the Bible as a guide. That's the only historical record available...anything else is simply...
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This is long, but worth reading. It's an actual conversation between PW and Honus, in which PW is trying to convince Honus to share the Gospel of Jesus with his hamster. Really...I'm not joking. If it seems a bit disjointed, remember that it's a cut-and-paste conversation that occurred on Deja.com over a period of time...and we're picking it up in progress: PW: But God created every living creature for His Spirit. My little dog listened to Christian radio with me. He would be lying down, obvious...
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Founder:Lafayette Ronald HubbardBorn March 13, 1911 in Tilden, NebraskaFounded:1954 in Washington, D.C.Founding Occasion:The release of Hubbard's book Dianetics: A Modern Science of Mental HealthHeadquarters:Los Angeles, CaliforniaMembership:Approximately 8,000,000Current Leadership: Heber JentzschParent Religion: New Thought (Christianity)Sacred Texts: Dianetics: A Modern Science of Mental HealthFoundational Principle: Humans are actually crab-like space creatures called Thetans. We don't reali...
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Founder: Born Ras Tafari, Ethopian emperor Haile Selassie is considered by Rastafarians to have been the Lion of Judah, and a manifestation of God. Selassie claimed direct descendence from King David, the 225th ruler in an unbroken line of Ethiopian Kings from the time of Solomon and Sheba. Rasta is rooted in the teachings of Marcus Garvey, who in the 1930s preached black self-empowerment and initiated the "Back to Africa" movement.Founded: Approximately 1930Founding Occasion: The crowning of Em...
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Also known as "Moonies"Also known as "The Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity"Founder:Yong Myung Moon (Sun Myung Moon)Born January 6, 1902 in North KoreaFounded:May 1, 1954Founding Occasion: Moon's vision of Jesus Christ at age sixteenHeadquarters: Seoul, KoreaMembership:Approximately 3,000,000Sacred Texts:Divine PrincipleThe writings and sayings of Reverend MoonFoundational Principle: Sun Myung Moon is the manifestation of God on earth. Official Website:www.unifica...
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Also known as "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints"Founder:Joseph Smith, Jr.Born 1805 in Sharon, VTFounded: April 6, 1830 Founding Occasion: A visitation by God and Jesus in which he was chosen to restore lost ChristianityHeadquarters: Salt Lake City, UTMembership:Approximately 11,000,000Current Leadership: President Gordon B. HinckleyParent Religion: ChristianitySacred Texts:The Bible (The King James Version is officially preferred)The Book of MormonThe Pearl of Great PriceDoctrine ...
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Founder:Charles Taze RussellBorn 1852 in Pittsburgh, PAFounded:Approximately 1876Also known as:Originally "International Bible Students Association"Renamed "Zion's Watch Tower Tract Society" in 1884Renamed "Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society" in 1896Renamed "People's Pulpit Association" in 1909Renamed "Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society" in 1909Renamed "International Bible Students Association" in 1914Renamed "Jehovah's Witnesses" in 1931Note: The name "Jehovah's Witnesses" was taken to avoid ...
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Founder:MuhammadBorn in Mecca in 570 ADFounded:Approximately 610 ADFounding Occasion:Muhammad claimed to receive revelations from the angel Gabriel.Headquarters:Mecca is the center of the Islamic worldMembership:1,780,000,000Splinters:SunniShiiteAhmadiyyaDruzeAhmdiyanIshmailitesZaiditesSufiNation of IslamMoorish Science TempleFive PercentersSacred Texts:The Quran (also spelled Koran or Qur'an)SunnahNahjul BalaghaOfficial Website:None...
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Founder:Jesus (also known as Jesus Christ)Born approximately 7 AD in Bethlehem, JudeaFounded:While it could be said that Christianity had no beginning, the Christian church as we know it began in the 1st century AD.Founding Occasion:The death and resurrection of JesusHeadquarters:NoneMembership:2,200,000,000Current Leadership:Every Christian is considered to be a leader, or a leader in trainingParent Religion:JudaismSacred Texts:The BibleOfficial Website:NoneCertain sects of Christianity claim t...
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Some people believe that the Bible doesn't just contain God's message to mankind, they also believe that it contains hidden messages for us to ferret out. One method of ferreting is known as ELS, or Equidistant Letter Sequencing. To find the hidden messages you must take a block of text from the Bible, and reformat it. This means that you must lay out the words in a chunk, like 20 words to a line. Then, you pick a variable...say, 5. Starting at the first word, or the fifth, you jump to every fif...
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Theologically, Christian Science is a cult of Christianity. Also known as The First Church of Christ, Scientist, it shares common ground with Gnosticism.Founder:Mary Baker Eddy (Mary Ann Morse Baker)Born 1821 in Bow, New HampshireFounded:Approximately 1866Founding Occasion:Eddy's claim of being healed from injuries sustained by a fall on the sidewalkHeadquarters:Boston, MassachusettsMembership:400,000 (no official info released)Current Leadership:Jon G. Harder, "Mother Church President"Parent Re...
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Founder:Siyyid 'Ali-MuhammadBorn 1819 in IranFounded:May 23, 1844Founding Occasion:Muhammad's announcement that he bore a divine revelation destined to transform the spiritual life of the human raceHeadquarters:Haifa, IsraelMembership:7,666,000Current Leadership:The Universal House of JusticeParent Religion:IslamSplinters:Azali BabisBaha'is Under the Provisions of the CovenantOrthodox Baha'iFaith of GodThe Orthodox Baha'i Faith Under the RegencyThe Charles Mason Remey SocietySacred Texts:Gleanin...
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