tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8938372756196101302024-03-12T17:02:37.962-07:00James Hutchison's Blog...the brain droppings of an amateur philosopher, wannabe author, with a few f-bombs here and there.James Hutchisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12922622599418653119noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-893837275619610130.post-50320527889512443162023-03-08T08:32:00.002-08:002023-03-08T08:32:38.173-08:00An Imperfect God<p><span style="font-size: medium;">Where's god's perfection if he admits to mistakes? Genesis 6:6 clearly states he "regretted that he had made human beings". The god of the bible is a deity created by man, in the image of man, not unlike hundreds of other mythological deities made up in the same Iron Age era. Claiming that there is only one true god is a rejection of religion's documented history, particularly because 1) there is not a shred of evidence any of these mythological gods ever existed. (It's what secular history teaches us.) And 2) it's just a small slice of the much larger picture of religion's ages-long evolution from polytheism to monotheism.* </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">In light of this, claiming the superiority of one god over hundreds of others is nothing but a fool's errand. More so, even the historical inaccuracies of the bible lend credence to the very questionable origins of the Abrahamic religions.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">From Wikipedia:</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Quasi-monotheistic claims of the existence of a universal deity date to the Late Bronze Age, with Akhenaten's Great Hymn to the Aten from the 14th century BCE.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">In the Iron-Age South Asian Vedic period, a possible inclination towards monotheism emerged. The Rigveda exhibits notions of monism of the Brahman, particularly in the comparatively late tenth book, which is dated to the early Iron Age, e.g. in the Nasadiya Sukta. Later, ancient Hindu theology was monist, but was not strictly monotheistic in worship because it still maintained the existence of many gods, who were envisioned as aspects of one supreme God, Brahman.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">More recently, Karen Armstrong and other authors have returned to the idea of an evolutionary progression beginning with animism, which developed into polytheism, which developed into henotheism, which developed into monolatry, which developed into true monotheism</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monotheism)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">* In its early stages, the Israelite religion was derived from the Canaanite religions of the Bronze Age; by the Iron Age, it had become distinct from other Canaanite religions as it shed polytheism for monolatry. The monolatrist nature of Yahwism was further developed in the period following the Babylonian captivity, eventually emerging as a firm religious movement of monotheism.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abrahamic_religions)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Another pertinent reference: https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lists_of_deities</span></p><div><br /></div>James Hutchisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12922622599418653119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-893837275619610130.post-24806291910404639142023-03-04T07:42:00.007-08:002023-04-25T20:02:06.091-07:00A Boy Named Sue<p><i>The following was inspired by social critics such as Lenny Bruce, George Carlin, and Bill Maher, comedians who use(d) satire to harpoon the ridiculous status quo.</i></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Hi, my name is Fragile Sue, and I’m a 4 year old ideologue snowflake princess. At least, that’s what I want to identify as. (In the next lunar cycle it may be a 90 year old non-binary Down’s Syndrome basement-dwelling sorcerer, but I digress.) Myself and others like me want to add two new letters to the fashionable “LGBTQIA+” acronym, namely “N”, for “Non-ageist”, and “P” for Princess. The “T” for “Transgender” is thankfully already included, acknowledging my sexual miss-identity, but there is currently no recognition for the age and title I would like recognition for.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">My mental health would benefit if the acronym became “L-BANG-QTIP+”, and enshrouded in the legal enactment of a new Senate Bill protecting the right to be gendered and aged to my whims, and referred to by my preferred pronoun... which is “Lips” (Little Princess). If completed as requested, I promise not to off myself. But I’ll haul you up in front of a Human Rights tribunal for not complying. Cuz, well, the Canadian government’s mandate is to keep me from being offended by legally coercing everyone else.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">It is easier these days for a boy to be named Sue than it was back in 1968, but let’s take it a step further. Thank you Wokeness!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Signed,</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Fragile Sue. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjmOdexpZ6sNhhra7DVRB-inq2QBBGw4uUjvwDWf7RF7LOAMy1esUUv3DAi12Tqg9s8XzNCzTbKsjhG7NVb7i7S15HYqz9V9ZNECmguwsnUboAi6NonrmFohIRPOH2Hu24p27XVuNUIOh1FrCxm-l1ATaHqA3C2BGx-7Z3jhdRHKXIVzxAmSjwd6XbWqA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1266" data-original-width="664" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjmOdexpZ6sNhhra7DVRB-inq2QBBGw4uUjvwDWf7RF7LOAMy1esUUv3DAi12Tqg9s8XzNCzTbKsjhG7NVb7i7S15HYqz9V9ZNECmguwsnUboAi6NonrmFohIRPOH2Hu24p27XVuNUIOh1FrCxm-l1ATaHqA3C2BGx-7Z3jhdRHKXIVzxAmSjwd6XbWqA" width="126" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><div><div style="text-align: center;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>K, that's some satire to let you know my thoughts on the matter. Here's my serious take on the issue:</i><br /><br /></span><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The woke label is now worn as a badge of pride by those falling for the illusion that inclusivity of every imagined edge-of-society gender variation is somehow virtuous. Claims of compromised mental health, and even threats of suicide are enough for these extreme left-wingers to coddle the over-sensitive snowflake children that are a result of parents that fell for the hippy era "Dr. Spock" mentality, where discipline and boundaries are a thing of the past. We should be our children's parents damnit, not their friends.</span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />That a child of 8 years can decide to physically change genders with surgery and hormone "therapy" with support of their parents and a highly politicized medical community, is proof that their "open mindedness" has caused their brains to leak out. Gender dysphoria should be treated as the anxiety disorder that it is, not used as justification for sex re-assignment. Or even on-a-whim gender fluidity for that matter. <br /><br />This fad will pass, but not at the price of a shit load of fucked up entitled people who lay claim to privileges no other generation has ever known. It's an obvious symptom of a failing (and falling) empire, as these issues indicate a conceited narcissistic self-absorption that makes us SUCH an easy target by more disciplined and focused societies with goals far beyond their own egos.<br /><br />Growing up, we always had girly boys, and butchy girls that were finding their identities as adolescents. They got over it and grew up, and even engaged in same-sex partnerships as adults. Love who you want I say. But denying biology and "identifying" as something you're not is just silliness. Taking it any further is a travesty, and a stark judgement on the condition of our society. <br /><br />My opinion, not yours.</span><br /></span><p></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p>
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</p></div></div>James Hutchisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12922622599418653119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-893837275619610130.post-25715481447240348812023-02-05T12:33:00.001-08:002023-02-05T12:38:27.815-08:00Would You Worship This God?<p><b>Who would want to follow a god</b> who is demonstratably aborticidal, angry, bloodthirsty, a bully, cannibalistic, capriciously malevolent, a control freak, curse-hurling, an ethnic cleanser, evil, filicidal, genocidal, homicidal, homophobic, infanticidal, jealous, megalomaniacal, merciless, misogynistic, pestilential, petty, racist, sadomasochistic, a slavemonger, a terrorist, unforgiving, unjust, vaccicidal, and vindictive? </p><p>Christian apologists say "But that's the Old Testament" as if it doesn't count any more. *Cough*. They should read their bible a little more thoroughly, as it states it's ALL legit and still applicable:<br /></p><p>“For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass the law until all is accomplished. Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but he who does them and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:18-19)</p><p>“It is easier for Heaven and Earth to pass away than for the smallest part of the letter of the law to become invalid.” (Luke 16:17)</p><p>“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest part or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place.” (Matthew 5:17)</p><p>“Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law” (John7:19)</p><p><br /></p><p>Thanks to the Freedom From Religion Foundation for the following references: </p><p><b>Aborticidal</b>:</p><p>Hosea 13:16: Because she has rebelled against her God . . . their little ones shall be dashed in pieces, and their pregnant women ripped open.</p><p>Numbers 5:21–22: May the Lord cause you to become a curse among your people when he makes your womb miscarry and your abdomen swell. May this water that brings a curse enter your body so that your abdomen swells or your womb miscarries.</p><p>Hosea 9:11–16: Ephraim’s glory will fly away like a bird—no birth, no pregnancy, no conception. Even if they rear children, I will bereave them of every one. . . . But Ephraim will bring out their children to the slayer. Give them, Lord—what will you give them? Give them wombs that miscarry and breasts that are dry. . . . I will no longer love them . . . Even if they bear children, I will slay their cherished offspring.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Angry</b>:</p><p>Zephaniah 3:8: The whole world will be consumed by the fire of my jealous anger.</p><p>Isaiah 63:3: I trampled them in my anger and trod them down in my wrath; their blood spattered my garments.</p><p>Deuteronomy 6:14–15: Ye shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the people which are round about you; (For the Lord thy God is a jealous God among you) lest the anger of the Lord thy God be kindled against thee, and destroy thee from off the face of the earth..</p><p>Ezekiel 38:19: For in my jealousy and in my blazing wrath I declare, On that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel.</p><p>Leviticus 26:28: In my anger I will be hostile toward you, and I myself will punish you for your sins seven times over.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Bloodthirsty</b>:</p><p>Ezekiel 39:17–18: Thus saith the Lord God . . . Assemble yourselves, and come; gather yourselves on every side to my sacrifice that I do sacrifice for you, even a great sacrifice upon the mountains of Israel, that ye may eat flesh, and drink blood. Ye shall eat the flesh of the mighty, and drink the blood of the princes of the earth.</p><p>Ezekiel 32:6: I will drench the land even to the mountains with your flowing blood; and the watercourses will be full of you.</p><p>Jeremiah 46:10: For this is the day of the Lord God of hosts, a day of vengeance, that he may avenge him of his adversaries: and the sword shall devour, and it shall be satiate and made drunk with their blood.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>A Bully:</b></p><p>Job 9:22–23: He destroys the perfect and the wicked. . . . He will laugh at the trial of the innocent.</p><p>Ezekiel 20:25–26: I might horrify them . . . that they might know that I am the Lord.</p><p>Exodus 14:4: I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them, so that I will gain glory for myself over Pharaoh and all his army; and the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord.</p><p>Deuteronomy 32:39: See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Cannibalistic</b>:</p><p>Leviticus 26:28–29: But if, despite this, you disobey me . . . you shall eat the flesh of your sons, and you shall eat the flesh of your daughters. </p><p>Deuteronomy 28:53: And thou shalt eat the fruit of thine own body, the flesh of thy sons and of thy daughters, which the Lord thy God hath given thee.</p><p>Isaiah 9:19–20: By the wrath of the Lord Almighty the land will be scorched and the people will be fuel for the fire. . . . Each will feed on the flesh of their own offspring.</p><p>Jeremiah 19:7–9: And their carcasses will I give to be meat for the fowls of the heaven, and for the beasts of the earth. . . . And I will cause them to eat the flesh of their sons and the flesh of their daughters, and they shall eat every one the flesh of his friend in the siege.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Capriciously Malevolent</b>:</p><p>Isaiah 45:7: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things.</p><p>Isaiah 9:17: Therefore the Lord shall have no joy in their young men, neither shall have mercy on their fatherless and widows.</p><p>Deuteronomy 29:1: Also every sickness, and every plague, which is not written in the book of this law, them will the Lord bring upon thee, until thou be destroyed.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>A Control Freak</b>:</p><p>Exodus 20:25: If you make an altar of stones for me, do not build it with dressed stones, for you will defile it if you use a tool on it.</p><p>1 Samuel 2:6–7: The Lord brings death and makes alive; he brings down to the grave and raises up. The Lord sends poverty and wealth; he humbles and he exalts.</p><p>Exodus 25:8–31: And have them make me a sanctuary, so that I may dwell among them. In accordance with all that I show you concerning the pattern of the tabernacle and of all its furniture, so you shall make it . . . They shall do just as I have commanded you.</p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b>Curse-hurling</b>:</p><p>Deuteronomy 29:20: All the curses written in this book will descend on them, and the Lord will blot out their names from under heaven.</p><p>Genesis 12:3: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.</p><p>Jeremiah 11:3–4: Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Cursed be anyone who does not heed the words of this covenant.</p><p>Deuteronomy 29:26–27: And the anger of the Lord was kindled against this land, to bring upon it all the curses that are written in this book.</p><p>Psalm 37:22: For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>An Ethnic Cleanser</b>:</p><p>Numbers 33:52–53: You shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land . . . for I have given you the land to possess.</p><p>1 Samuel 15:3: Go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have; do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.</p><p>Joshua 11:21–22: Joshua utterly destroyed them with their cities. There was none of the Anakim left in the land of the people of Israel.</p><p>Deuteronomy 13:12–16: You shall surely put the inhabitants of that city to the sword, destroying it utterly, all who are in it and its cattle, with the edge of the sword. You shall gather all its spoil into the midst of its open square, and burn the city and all its spoil with fire, as a whole burnt offering to the Lord your God; it shall be a heap for ever, it shall not be built again.</p><p>2 Chronicles 34:1–7: In the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, . . . And he burnt the bones of the priests upon their altars, and cleansed Judah and Jerusalem.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Evil</b>:</p><p>1 Kings 14:9-10: But you have done evil above all those who were before you and have gone and made for yourself other gods, therefore, I will bring evil upon the house of Jeroboam.</p><p>Isaiah 45:7: I am the Lord, and there is none else. I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things.</p><p>Ezekiel 6:10: And they shall know that I am the Lord, and that I have not said in vain that I would do this evil unto them.</p><p>Jeremiah 11:11: Therefore, thus says the Lord, Behold, I am bringing evil upon them which they cannot escape; though they cry to me, I will not listen to them.</p><p>Zechariah 8:14: For thus says the Lord of hosts: “As I purposed to do evil to you, when your fathers provoked me to wrath, and I did not relent, says the Lord of hosts.”</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Filicidal</b>:</p><p>Leviticus 21:9: And the daughter of any priest, if she profane herself by playing the whore, she profaneth her father: she shall be burnt with fire.</p><p>Lamentations 4:10: The hands of compassionate women have boiled their own children; they became their food in the destruction of the daughter of my people.</p><p>Genesis 22:2: Take your son . . . and offer him there as a burnt offering.</p><p>Deuteronomy 21:18–21: If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother . . . all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Genocidal & Homicidal</b>:</p><p>Deuteronomy 20:16–17: You must not let anything that breathes remain alive. You shall annihilate them.</p><p>Deuteronomy 2:32–34: And the Lord our God delivered him before us; and . . . we took all his cities at that time, and utterly destroyed the men, and the women, and the little ones, of every city, we left none to remain.</p><p>Genesis 6:6–8: I will blot out from the earth the human beings I have created— people together with animals and creeping things and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.</p><p>Deuteronomy 20:10–19: In the cities of the nations the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance, do not leave alive anything that breathes. Completely destroy them.</p><p>1 Samuel 15:7–8: And Saul smote the Amalekites . . . and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.</p><p>Jeremiah 50:21: Go up against the land of Merathaʹim, and against the inhabitants of Pekod. Slay, and utterly destroy after them, says the Lord, and do all that I have commanded you.</p><p>Exodus 21:15: Whoever strikes his father or his mother shall be put to death.</p><p>2 Chronicles 15:13: All who would not seek the Lord, the God of Israel, were to be put to death, whether small or great, man or woman.</p><p>Exodus 22:20: Whoever sacrifices to any god, save to the Lord only, shall be utterly destroyed.</p><p>Deuteronomy 22:20–21: Then they shall bring out the young woman to the door of her father’s house, and the men of her city shall stone her to death with stones.</p><p>Esther 9:5–6: The Jews struck down all their enemies with the sword, killing and destroying them, and they did what they pleased to those who hated them.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Homophobic</b>:</p><p>Leviticus 18:22: You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.</p><p>Leviticus 20:13: If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall be put to death; their blood is upon them.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Infanticidal</b>:</p><p>Hosea 13:16: Samaria shall become desolate; for she hath rebelled against her God: they shall fall by the sword: their infants shall be dashed in pieces, and their women with child shall be ripped up.</p><p>1 Samuel 15:2–3: Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling.</p><p>Psalm 137:8–9: O daughter Babylon, you devastator! Happy shall they be who pay you back what you have done to us! Happy shall they be who take your little ones and dash them against the rock!</p><p>Numbers 31:17: Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman that hath known man by lying with him.</p><p>Ezekiel 9:4–6: And the Lord said unto him . . . Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Jealous</b>:</p><p>Nahum 1:2: A jealous and avenging God is the Lord, the Lord is avenging and wrathful.</p><p>Exodus 20:4–6: You shall not make for yourself an idol . . . for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, punishing . . . those who reject me.</p><p>Deuteronomy 4:24: For the Lord thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.</p><p>Psalm 78:58: For they provoked him to anger with their high places, and moved him to jealousy with their graven images.</p><p>Ezekiel 38:19: For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Megalomaniacal</b>:</p><p>Ezekiel 38:23: So I will display my greatness and my holiness and make myself known in the eyes of many nations. Then they shall know that I am the Lord.</p><p>Isaiah 33:10–12: Now will I be exalted; now will I lift up myself. . . . Acknowledge my might.</p><p>Deuteronomy 32:39: See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god beside me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand.</p><p>Psalm 95:3: For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.</p><p>Deuteronomy 7:21: Do not be terrified by them, for the Lord your God, who is among you, is a great and awesome God.</p><p>Deuteronomy 10:17, 20: For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome . . . Fear the Lord your God and serve him.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Merciless</b>:</p><p>Jeremiah 13:14: I will not pity, nor spare, nor have mercy, but destroy them..</p><p>Deuteronomy 7:1–2: When the Lord your God brings you into the land which you are entering to take possession of it . . . show no mercy to them.</p><p>Lamentations 2:2: The Lord has destroyed without mercy all the habitations of Jacob.</p><p>Ezekiel 7:9: And my eye will not spare, nor will I have pity . . . Then you will know that I am the Lord, who smite.</p><p>Jeremiah 21:7: And afterward, saith the Lord . . . he shall smite them with the edge of the sword; he shall not spare them, neither have pity, nor have mercy.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Misogynistic</b>:</p><p>Genesis 3:16: Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.</p><p>Exodus 21:7: When a man sells his daughter as a slave, she shall not go out as the male slaves do.</p><p>Numbers 5:15–31: This is the law in cases of jealousy. The man shall be free from iniquity, but the woman shall bear her iniquity.</p><p>Judges 5:30: Have they not divided the prey; to every man a damsel or two?</p><p>Numbers 31:17–18: Now therefore, kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman who has known man by lying with him. But all the young girls who have not known man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Petty</b>:</p><p>Ezekiel 13:20: I am against your pillows!</p><p>Leviticus 19:27: You shall not round off the hair on your temples or mar the edges of your beard.</p><p>Leviticus 19:19: Nor shall you put on a garment made of two different materials</p><p>Deuteronomy 28:17: Cursed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Racist</b>:</p><p>Deuteronomy 7:1–6: When the Lord your God brings you into the land that you are about to enter and occupy . . . Do not intermarry with them.</p><p>Deuteronomy 7:6: The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on earth to be his people, his treasured possession.</p><p>Nehemiah 13:3: When they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.</p><p>Deuteronomy 23:3–6: An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord. . . . Thou shalt not seek their peace nor their prosperity all thy days for ever.</p><p>Nehemiah 13:23–30: Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves. . . . Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God in marrying strange wives? . . . Thus cleansed I them from all strangers.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Sadomasochistic</b>:</p><p>Psalm 147:11: The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.</p><p>Jeremiah 13:15–26: Rape: The Lord has spoken. . . . it is for the greatness of your iniquity that your skirts are lifted up, and you are violated [raped] . . . because you have forgotten me and trusted in lies. I myself will lift up your skirts over your face, and your shame will be seen.</p><p>Isaiah 53:10: Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer.</p><p>Psalm 33:8: Let all the earth fear the Lord: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.</p><p>Psalm 34:11: Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Slavemonger</b>:</p><p>Leviticus 25:44–46: Your male and female slaves are to come from the nations around you; from them you may buy slaves . . . and they will become your property. You can . . . make them slaves for life.</p><p>Exodus 21:20–21: Anyone who beats their slave with a rod must be punished if the slave dies . . . but not if the slave recovers after a day or two, since the slave is their property.</p><p>Judges 1:28,30,35: When Israel became strong, they pressed the Canaanites into forced labor but never drove them out completely. . . . Zebulun did subject them to forced labor. . . . When the power of the tribes of Joseph increased, they too were pressed into forced labor.</p><p>Exodus 20:9–10: The seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God; you shall not do any work—you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock, or the alien resident in your towns.</p><p>Exodus 20:17: You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>A Terrorist</b>:</p><p>Isaiah 2:19: Enter the caves of the rocks and the holes of the ground, from the terror of the Lord, and from the glory of his majesty, when he rises to terrify the earth.</p><p>Psalm 14:5: There they shall be in great terror, for God is with the company of the righteous.</p><p>Psalm 73:18-19: Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction. How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.</p><p>Exodus 23:27: I will send my terror in front of you.</p><p>Leviticus 26:13-16: I am the Lord your God . . . if you will not obey me . . . I will bring terror on you.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Unforgiving</b>:</p><p>Joshua 24:19: He is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions or your sins.</p><p>Isaiah 22:14: The Lord of hosts has revealed himself in my ears: ‘Surely this iniquity will not be forgiven you till you die,’ says the Lord God of hosts.</p><p>2 Kings 24:3–4: For he had filled Jerusalem with innocent blood, and the Lord was not willing to forgive.</p><p>Deuteronomy 29:20: For he had filled Jerusalem with innocent blood, and the Lord was not willing to forgive.</p><p>Exodus 23:21: Do not rebel against him; he will not forgive your rebellion, since my Name is in him.</p><p>Ezekiel 24:13–14: I the Lord have spoken. The time has come for me to act. I will not hold back; I will not have pity, nor will I relent.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Unjust</b>:</p><p>Deuteronomy 5:9: I the Lord your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to the third and fourth generation of those who reject me.</p><p>Exodus 34:6–7: The Lord God . . . visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.</p><p>Numbers 14:18: The Lord is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation.</p><p>Isaiah 14:21: Prepare slaughter for his children for the iniquity of their fathers; that they do not rise, nor possess the land, nor fill the face of the world with cities.</p><p>1 Kings 21:28–29: Because he humbleth himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his days: but in his son’s days will I bring the evil upon his house.</p><p>Jeremiah 29:31–32: Because Shemaiah has prophesied to you, even though I did not send him, and has persuaded you to trust in lies, this is what the Lord says: I will surely punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite and his descendants.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Vaccicidal</b>:</p><p>Ezekiel 32:13: I will destroy all its livestock from beside abundant waters.</p><p>1 Samuel 15:3: Attack the Amalekites . . . put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.</p><p>Exodus 9:1–3,6: The hand of the Lord will strike with a deadly pestilence your livestock in the field: the horses, the donkeys, the camels, the herds, and the flocks. . . . And on the next day the Lord did so; all the livestock of the Egyptians died.</p><p>Deuteronomy 13:15: You must certainly put to the sword all who live in that town. You must destroy it completely, both its people and its livestock.</p><p>Ezekiel 32:13–15: I will destroy all her cattle from beside abundant waters no longer to be stirred by the foot of man or muddied by the hooves of cattle. . . . When I strike down all who live there, then they will know that I am the Lord.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Vindictive</b>:</p><p>Deuteronomy 32:35: The Lord says, . . . “I will take revenge; I will pay them back. In due time their feet will slip. Their day of disaster will arrive, and their destiny will overtake them.”</p><p>Isaiah 47:3: I will take vengeance, and I will spare no man.</p><p>Isaiah 34:8: For the Lord has a day of vengeance, a year of recompense for the cause of Zion.</p><p>Isaiah 47:3–4: I will take vengeance, and I will spare no man. Our Redeemer—the Lord of hosts is his name—is the Holy One of Israel.</p><p>Psalm 94:1: O Lord, the God of vengeance, O God of vengeance, let your glorious justice shine forth!</p><p>Lamentations 3:64–66: Pay them back what they deserve, Lord, for what their hands have done.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>James Hutchisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12922622599418653119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-893837275619610130.post-52568425933416925432023-01-23T02:10:00.001-08:002023-01-23T02:10:12.575-08:00 Old Testament Genocide<p><span style="font-size: medium;">Here's a Christian apologist trying to justify old testament genocide (Joshua 6:20-21):</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">"This, generally speaking, is how Christian theologians have interpreted the Old Testament “ban” (Hebrew cherem). This term refers to God’s strict commandment to grant the heathen no quarter, to take neither prisoners nor spoil, but to destroy everything found in the cities of their enemies. Repulsive as it sounds to us today, this ruthless brand of warfare was not technically “genocide.” Not in the modern sense of the term. According to most biblical scholars, it was actually an expression of God’s judgment upon the Canaanites." *</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Sorry, but this word salad is nothing more than trying to put lipstick on a pig, and that's putting it lightly. The justification begins with the premise that God cannot do wrong; that he can toy around with his creation as he sees fit. And that the concept of needing to eliminate any threats of sin influencing his chosen people somehow requires them being snuffed out. A very fitting description of a god contrived in the minds of ancient authors creating angry and jealous spiritual entities that they think everyone should bow to. Cuz, well, MY god is better and more superior than YOUR god. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Blood-soaked religions use this backdrop of sacrifice for dealing with sin (either for ethnic cleansing, and/or salvation). It's very telling, for example, that many of the south American cultures (including the Maya and the Mexican) believed that human sacrifice nourished the gods. These brands of religion survived eons of criticism because mankind has an innate need to be guided by a father figure that both intimidates and comforts us. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">All these qualities of an easily explained story have strong underlying archetypical elements of salvation and eternal life. Stockholm syndrome, really. Very understandable how it has such a grasp on our psyche. A cursory study of our subconscious archetypes go a long way in explaining all this... It takes a lifetime of unearthing and becoming aware of these influences in order to extricate oneself from their control and grasp. Once done, you are free to be an independent thinker... </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">* Reference: https://www.focusonthefamily.com/family-qa/christian-struggles-with-biblical-accounts-of-genocide-and-holy-war/</span></p>James Hutchisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12922622599418653119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-893837275619610130.post-48991140897951074982022-08-05T18:12:00.000-07:002022-08-05T18:12:22.777-07:00Politicians Are Responsible For Our Health Care System<p></p><p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Let's
place blame where blame is due...</span></span></p>
<p align="left" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Seemingly
you won't find a politician anywhere who will admit to causing the
health care crisis in Canada. But history has a lesson to teach us:
continual, decades-long budget cuts have long term consequences.</span></span></p>
<p align="left" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Circa
1973: the Davis government in Ontario started following the trend of
"re-organizing" their health care spending, defunding
institutions such as the Rideau Regional Center in Smiths Falls ON,
dumping all 2,500 mentally and physically challenged residents onto
the streets, who then had to depend on inadequately funded group
homes and various hospital's out-patient facilities throughout the
area. And that’s just one example of many other budget cut projects
throughout Canada. Geeze, I wonder how the urban homeless
street-people problem started? It's actually a no-brainer; ask any
soup kitchen volunteer.</span></span></p>
<p align="left" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Following
the corporate model of hacking and slashing at a budget with the
purpose of finding more "efficiencies" through re-orgs,
etc. is a fool's errand when it comes to health care, and only suits
the short-term quarterly report mentality. Thinking that we can
continuously do more with less with "fiscal restraint" is
like saying we can eventually do everything with nothing.</span></span></p>
<p align="left" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">The
current health care crisis happening across Canada with over worked
and burned out staff wanting to retire begs the question: why is no
one recognizing the source problem of decades-long under-funding? Our
health care system needs serious RE-funding if we want to save it
from collapse. I'm not suggesting we re-institutionalize health care
recipients; only that we should apply adequate funding to our current
system that is circling the drain thanks to a half-century of
blood-letting, which only encourages the refinement of a two-tier
health care system, Tommy Douglas be damned.</span></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p><br /><p></p>James Hutchisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12922622599418653119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-893837275619610130.post-57228437140154360722022-01-25T12:13:00.001-08:002022-01-25T12:13:16.672-08:00Book Review: Rick Mercer's "Talking To Canadians" - a Memoir<p>There’s always a first time. A first time to buy a memoir, and a first time to read one. And—a first time to actually review one. My gosh, I haven’t done a book review in 10 years, let alone of one that wasn’t fiction. My pen name/nom de plume/fake online character “George Wolf” of the POD world (Print On Demand) was a self deprecating drunk who reveled in handing out D minuses to scores of vanity press authors who knew nothing of basic publishing rules, such as “<i>don’t rely on self-editing</i>”. So, all these firsts culminate in the joy of handling a professionally written, edited, and published physical book—no Kindles here; I love flipping real pages. And this book’s a gem.</p><p>Rick Mercer’s memoir “Talking To Canadians” is an engaging read to say the least; as Canada’s court jester, his candour and humour shine through like nobody’s business... I lost count of the number of times he made me snort out loud, laugh hysterically, and yes—shed a few genuine tears. In case you’ve been living under a rock, Rick Mercer is a writer/actor/producer/comedian from St. John’s Newfoundland that is best known for his stints on <i>This Hour Has 22 Minutes</i>, and <i>The Rick Mercer Report</i>. His other accomplishments are too many to list here, but include a whole shitload of political satire that even had the country’s leaders falling all over themselves to get on his shows.</p><p>As a typical Canadian he’s polite, so his put-downs are rare... unless of course you want to classify harpooning America’s lack of knowledge of Canadian politics and geography as insulting. The memoir itself is a generously respectful and intriguing account of his life from childhood to the end of his stint at <i>The Rick Mercer Report</i>. He leaves no stone unturned when heaping love and gratitude on all the people that touched his life in the various stages that it took him to become the success he is today. </p><p>The memoir picks up pace the more you get into it, as it lays the groundwork for understanding the amazing successes and milestones he accomplishes. From performing 150 one-man shows touring across Canada, to snagging an interview with Jean Chretien at a Harvey’s, to putting together two separate shows overseas to entertain our Canadian troops in the middle east, his account of how he got all this done held me spellbound. And had me laughing my pants off. To paraphrase Mr. Mercer, if he had pinched himself for every amazing feat he pulled off, he’d be black and blue all over. (Sorry Rick, I’m too lazy to look up the exact quote.)</p><p>You can google him to list all his awards and accolades, and there are many (25 Geminis for example). Yet his humility and down-to-earth way of relating to the reader leaves you feeling like you know each other. He’s a national treasure, and an iconic personality in the entertainment business and beyond. I felt privileged reading his memoir, but he wrote it as though we were sitting around a pot belly stove eating a bowl of seafood chowder. The last chapter left me wanting more. Another first for me...</p><p>So Rick, what’s next?</p><p><br /></p><p>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Jim Hutchison is a wannabe author and reviewer who resides in Fox
Cove-Mortier, Newfoundland with his wife Moira and Pumpkin the cat. </span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p> </p>James Hutchisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12922622599418653119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-893837275619610130.post-49976737613074412582021-07-05T10:18:00.003-07:002021-07-05T10:23:56.978-07:00 The Mythic Jesus: Let’s Get Our Facts Right<p style="text-align: center;">1,700 words</p><p><b>Intro:</b><br />I’m an atheist. To me, there is a thorough lack of evidence for the existence of an Abrahamic God as described in the scriptures of the Christian faith. There is also a lack of consensus amongst biblical scholars as to the accuracy and veracity of these writings, which is enough for me to remain an unbeliever. It’s all myth, allegory, and an attempt to literalize a book written and edited by a church wanting to control the uneducated with the Fear of God. And his chosen priesthood, of course.</p><p>That said, there is “fake news” out there asserted by many who state that the explanations for god and Jesus are rooted in Egyptian mythology; that Jesus himself is just a plagiarized version of a multitude of these gods, particularly Horus. This is primarily based on the writings of Gerald Massey, a self-taught Egyptologist, and made popular in the movie <i>Zeitgeist</i>.</p><p>I’m not arguing that Jesus actually existed—but what I am doing is disclosing the facts behind falsehoods that make atheists and agnostics look bad. My point here is to disregard these sources of misinformation if we want to appear credible.</p><p><b>The source of this theory: *</b><br />Where did the idea of the mythic Christ originate? Much of it began in the writings of two amateur Egyptologists named Godfrey Higgins (1772-1833) and Gerald Massey (1829-1907). Both wrote extensively on the idea of the mythic Christ. They claimed one parallel after another between the Bible and pagan mythology, making it appear as if the biblical writers borrowed stories wholesale from ancient tales. Almost all scholars today recognize that this approach is fundamentally flawed. For nearly all of the supposed parallels these two men discovered, scholars today say without hesitation that no genetic connection exists between the Bible and the myths these two men examined.</p><p>Neither Higgins nor Massey was a scholar or academic, and both were self-taught religious enthusiasts. More importantly, neither is remembered in the history of scholarship today. Writers such as Dorothy Murdock—a vocal proponent of the Christ myth theory—laments that these supposed intellectual titans have been forgotten. She heaps effusive praise upon Massey in particular (2009, pp. 13-26), calling him a “pioneer.” In truth, neither one of them had any ideas worth remembering. They are virtually unknown in modern Egyptology.</p><p>In all of the cases of his “crucified saviours,” unlike Jesus, none were actually crucified, and none of them died in behalf of the salvation of others. Indeed, some of them never died.</p><center>
<table bgcolor="#dee4e7" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="1" style="background: rgb(222, 228, 231); width: 586px;">
<colgroup><col width="92"></col>
<col width="469"></col>
</colgroup><tbody><tr>
<td bgcolor="#dee4e7" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;" width="92"><p align="center" style="margin-right: 0.07cm;">
<span style="font-family: verdana;">Adonis</span></p>
</td>
<td bgcolor="#dee4e7" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;" width="469"><p style="margin-right: 0.34cm;">
<span style="font-family: verdana;">Adonis dies
when he is gored by a bull on a hunting trip.</span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td bgcolor="#dee4e7" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;" width="92"><p align="center" style="margin-right: 0.07cm;">
<span style="font-family: verdana;">Attis</span></p>
</td>
<td bgcolor="#dee4e7" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;" width="469"><p style="margin-right: 0.34cm;">
<span style="font-family: verdana;">In a moment
of madness, Attis commits suicide by emasculating himself.</span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td bgcolor="#dee4e7" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;" width="92"><p align="center" style="margin-right: 0.07cm;">
<span style="font-family: verdana;">Baal</span></p>
</td>
<td bgcolor="#dee4e7" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;" width="469"><p style="margin-right: 0.34cm;">
<span style="font-family: verdana;">The text is
unclear, but it appears Baal is slain in personal battle with
Mot, the Canaanite god of death. </span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td bgcolor="#dee4e7" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;" width="92"><p align="center" style="margin-right: 0.07cm;">
<span style="font-family: verdana;">Bacchus</span></p>
</td>
<td bgcolor="#dee4e7" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;" width="469"><p style="margin-right: 0.34cm;">
<span style="font-family: verdana;">Bacchus is
the Roman equivalent of Dionysus, whose body is almost completely
devoured by the Titans, who leave only his heart.</span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td bgcolor="#dee4e7" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;" width="92"><p align="center" style="margin-right: 0.07cm;">
<span style="font-family: verdana;">Balder</span></p>
</td>
<td bgcolor="#dee4e7" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;" width="469"><p style="margin-right: 0.34cm;">
<span style="font-family: verdana;">In the Norse
myths, Balder is invincible to all known objects, except for
mistletoe. One of the gods’ pastimes is throwing objects at
Balder, who cannot be harmed. Loki crafts a magical spear from
this plant and tricks the god Hodur into throwing it at Balder,
killing him.</span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td bgcolor="#dee4e7" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;" width="92"><p align="center" style="margin-right: 0.07cm;">
<span style="font-family: verdana;">Beddru</span></p>
</td>
<td bgcolor="#dee4e7" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;" width="469"><p style="margin-right: 0.34cm;">
<span style="font-family: verdana;">Supposedly a
Japanese figure. Either Graves had a bad source, or he simply
invented the name, as no figure with this name exists in Far
Eastern literature. It may be that he meant to say “Beddou,”
who is a Japanese figure some have equated with the Buddha.
Regardless, there is no record of the crucifixion of this
individual, if he even existed in any of the literature.</span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td bgcolor="#dee4e7" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;" width="92"><p align="center" style="margin-right: 0.07cm;">
<span style="font-family: verdana;">Devatat</span></p>
</td>
<td bgcolor="#dee4e7" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;" width="469"><p style="margin-right: 0.34cm;">
<span style="font-family: verdana;">This is
uncertain, but appears to be the name of the Buddha in some
places in the Far East. The literature states that the Buddha
died at 80 of a natural illness, though some say he was poisoned.
Either way, he never died on a cross, and Buddhism has no need of
a personal savior, anyway.</span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td bgcolor="#dee4e7" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;" width="92"><p align="center" style="margin-right: 0.07cm;">
<span style="font-family: verdana;">Dionysus</span></p>
</td>
<td bgcolor="#dee4e7" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;" width="469"><p style="margin-right: 0.34cm;">
<span style="font-family: verdana;">The Greek
god of wine and the grapevine had a tough childhood. When an
infant, the Titans devour his body, leaving only his heart
behind. He is later reborn.</span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td bgcolor="#dee4e7" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;" width="92"><p align="center" style="margin-right: 0.07cm;">
<span style="font-family: verdana;">Hercules</span></p>
</td>
<td bgcolor="#dee4e7" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;" width="469"><p style="margin-right: 0.34cm;">
<span style="font-family: verdana;">Hercules
dies when he is burned alive on a funeral pyre. </span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td bgcolor="#dee4e7" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;" width="92"><p align="center" style="margin-right: 0.07cm;">
<span style="font-family: verdana;">Hermes</span></p>
</td>
<td bgcolor="#dee4e7" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;" width="469"><p style="margin-right: 0.34cm;">
<span style="font-family: verdana;">Hermes never
dies in the Greek myths.</span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td bgcolor="#dee4e7" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;" width="92"><p align="center" style="margin-right: 0.07cm;">
<span style="font-family: verdana;">Horus</span></p>
</td>
<td bgcolor="#dee4e7" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;" width="469"><p style="margin-right: 0.34cm;">
<span style="font-family: verdana;">Horus never
dies in the Egyptian myths.</span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td bgcolor="#dee4e7" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;" width="92"><p align="center" style="margin-right: 0.07cm;">
<span style="font-family: verdana;">Krishna</span></p>
</td>
<td bgcolor="#dee4e7" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;" width="469"><p style="margin-right: 0.34cm;">
<span style="font-family: verdana;">Krishna is
mortally wounded when a hunter accidentally shoots him in the
heel with an arrow.</span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td bgcolor="#dee4e7" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;" width="92"><p align="center" style="margin-right: 0.07cm;">
<span style="font-family: verdana;">Mithras</span></p>
</td>
<td bgcolor="#dee4e7" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;" width="469"><p style="margin-right: 0.34cm;">
<span style="font-family: verdana;">Mithras does
not die in the Persian myths.</span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td bgcolor="#dee4e7" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;" width="92"><p align="center" style="margin-right: 0.07cm;">
<span style="font-family: verdana;">Orpheus</span></p>
</td>
<td bgcolor="#dee4e7" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;" width="469"><p style="margin-right: 0.34cm;">
<span style="font-family: verdana;">In one
account, Orpheus is torn apart by Maenads, the female followers
of Dionysus, for failing to honor their master. In other accounts
he either commits suicide or is struck by one of Zeus’
lightning bolts.</span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td bgcolor="#dee4e7" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;" width="92"><p align="center" style="margin-right: 0.07cm;">
<span style="font-family: verdana;">Osiris</span></p>
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<td bgcolor="#dee4e7" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;" width="469"><p style="margin-right: 0.34cm;">
<span style="font-family: verdana;">Osiris is
killed when his brother Seth drowns him in the Nile. Seth later
recovers the body and dismembers it.</span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td bgcolor="#dee4e7" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;" width="92"><p align="center" style="margin-right: 0.07cm;">
<span style="font-family: verdana;">Tammuz</span></p>
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<td bgcolor="#dee4e7" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;" width="469"><p style="margin-right: 0.34cm;">
<span style="font-family: verdana;">Originally
called Dumuzi by the Sumerians, Tammuz is taken to the underworld
when his lover, Inanna, is given a deal where she can be released
if she finds a substitute. She is enraged that Tammuz is not
mourning her death, so she chooses him to take her place in the
realm of the dead. There is no mention of crucifixion.</span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td bgcolor="#dee4e7" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;" width="92"><p align="center" style="margin-right: 0.07cm;">
<span style="font-family: verdana;">Thor</span></p>
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<td bgcolor="#dee4e7" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;" width="469"><p style="margin-right: 0.34cm;">
<span style="font-family: verdana;">Thor dies in
Ragnarok, the final battle that will end the world, when he is
bitten by a giant serpent.</span></p>
</td>
</tr>
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<td bgcolor="#dee4e7" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;" width="92"><p align="center" style="margin-right: 0.07cm;">
<span style="font-family: verdana;">Zoroaster</span></p>
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<td bgcolor="#dee4e7" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;" width="469"><p style="margin-right: 0.34cm;">
<span style="font-family: verdana;">According to
one ancient source, Zoroaster was murdered while at an altar.</span></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</center><p>Massey cites numerous other parallels of Jesus actually being a plagiarized Horus without any indication of the original references in the Egyptian texts. The following few milestones in the bible’s writings of Jesus’ life show how wrong he was...</p><p><b>Jesus’ Birth: </b><br />He (Massey) states Horus was born on December 25th of the virgin Isis-Meri. His birth was accompanied by a star in the east, which in turn, three kings followed to locate and adorn the new-born saviour. At the age of 12, he was a prodigal child teacher, and at the age of 30 he was baptized by a figure known as Anup and thus began his ministry. Horus had 12 disciples he traveled about with, performing miracles such as healing the sick and walking on water. After being betrayed by Typhon, Horus was crucified, buried for 3 days, and thus, resurrected.'</p><p>According to the Egyptian legend, Horus' father was Osiris and his mother was Isis (but there is nothing to connect this name with Mary / Meri). Osiris was killed by his brother Set who wanted his throne. Isis briefly brought Osiris back to life by use of a spell that she learned from her father. This spell gave her time to become pregnant by Osiris before he again died and she later gave birth to Horus. Horus then killed Set. The combination of Osiris and Horus became linked in Egyptian mythology with the idea of death and rebirth. As in all pagan religions, there was a connection with the seasons (winter = death, spring = rebirth) and with the sun setting and rising. In the Egyptian myth it became associated with the flooding and retreating of the Nile and thus with the new harvest each year in the Nile valley.</p><p>According to this myth Isis was not a virgin, there is no link to the name Mary, however there is a death and rebirth story in line with the nature gods of paganism and fertility rituals. While this may be of interest in understanding the ancient religions of the world it has absolutely no bearing on the events recorded in the Bible. Horus was supposedly born during the month of Khoiak (Oct/Nov), and not on December 25th, a fact that does not make any difference to the claim that both Horus and Jesus were born at the same time since the Bible never says that Jesus was born on December 25th!</p><p>When stories detailing the birth of Horus are examined, there is no star or three kings who come to visit him. Trying to link this to Christianity fails in any event as the account of Christ's birth in Matthew has magi (wise men, not kings) coming to Jesus with their actual number not being stated.</p><p><b>Jesus’ Baptism:</b><br />He states that Horus was "baptized" by Anup and started a "ministry." The only accounts remotely related to Horus and water are the stories told of Osiris (his father who is sometimes combined in ancient accounts with Horus to form one individual) whose body was cut up into 14 pieces by his enemy, Set, and scattered throughout the earth. Isis supposedly found each part of the body and after having Osiris float in the Nile; he came back to life or became the lord of the underworld, depending on which account is read. </p><p><b>Jesus’ Death & Resurrection:</b><br />The claims of Horus being buried for three days and resurrected are not to be found in any ancient Egyptian texts either. Some accounts have Osiris being brought back to life by Isis and going to be the lord of the underworld. But, there is no mention of a burial for three days and no mention of his physically coming out of a grave in the same physical body he went in with and never dying again. In addition, there is certainly no account of Horus dying for others as Jesus did.</p><p><b>Conclusion:</b><br />There you have it—a sound rebuttal to the misleading theory of a mythic Christ borne of previously conceived gods of ancient lore. This article is not to be taken as evidence of the Christ story being real, or even true, (a debate for another time) but rather to educate and therefore disarm Christians’ accusations of atheists using flawed and erroneous information when “attacking” Christianity. </p><p>Go ahead and check the accuracy of this research as I have: it doesn’t take much snooping around online to confirm the various god’s lack of paralleled lives when compared to Jesus. The first rule of debating is to use accurate and true data, not unfounded stories. </p><p><span style="text-align: center;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></p><p>* With thanks to Dewayne Bryant, Ph.D. for the original full length article found at https://www.apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=10&article=973 which was heavily borrowed from and edited here for brevity.</p><div><br /></div>James Hutchisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12922622599418653119noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-893837275619610130.post-55829506973684600572021-05-24T20:47:00.004-07:002021-06-04T02:25:31.643-07:00Stress, Anxiety, and Fear: Who Is To Blame?<p>Tonight on a very public live forum (CBC News live chat...) that was discussing Covid 19-induced stress, I made a by-the-way comment that stress is a perceived emotion. I got 3 negative reactions, and no positive support... telling me that these people think stress is caused by outside forces. Which is sad.</p><p>Stress is an automated (subconscious) reaction to a perceived threat. This fear reaction can be tamed, particularly when life and limb are not at stake; the reason being, our mammalian brain cannot differentiate between real or just interpreted threat. Training oneself to differentiate between the two can be life changing.</p><p>Degrees of threat can range from physical survival, to getting a bad job review, to not getting a parking spot near the doctor’s office. Most of today’s threats for most people do not involve being eaten by a bear or lion, so unless you’re hooked on the juice that stress gives you and its subsequent impacts, you can train your brain to give stress the middle finger (again, unless there is a viable threat to life and limb...) </p><p>Key point: too many people are actually addicted to their “stress” story, and prefer to live there. This is a subconscious negative feedback loop that energizes them; you can detect it when they give every excuse in the book why they don’t / can’t change, and say no to anyone wanting to help them out of their rut. It’s scary how prevalent that is.</p><p>Brain training out of stress involves a few simple and very effective tools. Anyone using these tools consistently attest to not just reduced stress, but reduced anxiety and anger... which find their origins in fear.</p><p>Short-circuiting this mammalian threat response is done by convincing your subconscious that you’re safe; that everything is okay. A disciplined approach to the following simple tactics will have lasting effects.</p><p>1) Hydrating. Drinking adequate amounts of water tells your brain you’re in a safe environment.</p><p>2) Suck on candies (even low-cal ones meant for diabetics). The pleasurable feedback soothes you.</p><p>3) Deep breathing. Take three HUGE deep breaths every hour.</p><p>4) Guided meditation. Find some audio recordings of 10 to 15 minute sessions, and do them once a day.</p><p>These four things tell your brain you’re not under threat, and go a long way in calming your nerves. “Trite” you say? Don’t knock till you’ve tried it. This advice comes from a long line of psychologists, life coaches, hypnotherapists, doctors, and therapists of various disciplines. I’ve done my homework on this, and it does indeed work. </p><p>The question remains: who do you want to blame for your stress? You can stay stuck in a rut, or you can move on. Your choice.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-571pd1gsD-E/YKx1VSgutoI/AAAAAAAAGVc/Z2TeNGnyv6w0egbIhrI_DP9MxybOvdHYQCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/stressed_out_man_laptop_headache.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-571pd1gsD-E/YKx1VSgutoI/AAAAAAAAGVc/Z2TeNGnyv6w0egbIhrI_DP9MxybOvdHYQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/stressed_out_man_laptop_headache.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>James Hutchisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12922622599418653119noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-893837275619610130.post-8375849067465320002020-09-28T22:06:00.001-07:002020-09-28T22:10:13.956-07:00"Buy Local" - some irony about that...<p> The "buy local" philosophy is, on the surface, a noble thing to promote. Why support imported products when we can fill the pockets of those within a 50 or 100 kilometer radius, while at the same time reducing the carbon footprint of shipping goods from hither and yon. Globalism draws resources away from our local spheres of influence, economic independence, and local pride.</p><p>Additionally, produce and meats from other countries (apparently) do not have to pass the same stringent health standards such as hormone, antibiotic, and pesticide content as us Canadians do. Another consideration next time you don't see a Canadian source cited on that carton of milk or beef tenderloin at Costco.</p><p>Here's the rub. Some of the locals that tout "buy local" spend their winter months in Mexico, Barbados, Cuba, Europe, you name it. *Cough*... excuse me, but all that money spent in those foreign locations on restaurants, accomodations, entertainment, etc. is done so with our money that supported their "buy local" mantra. </p><p>If the irony doesn't slap you in the face, read this again...</p><p><br /></p>James Hutchisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12922622599418653119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-893837275619610130.post-66140148821697685212020-07-17T23:05:00.001-07:002020-07-17T23:06:20.227-07:00Give credit where credit is dueThis is circa 1992. I'm in this recording studio in Franklin, just outside Nashville on invitation from a music producer friend who said - quote "Hey Jim, come here for a week just to be a fly on the wall to see how an album is produced." So Adri and I and the kids pitched a tent on Billy Simon's property for a week (google him...). I was a studio rat, absorbing the technical and creative aspects of this project, helping out here and there. ("Hey dude - your mandolin is out of tune!" - Shit like that).<br />
<br />
While Adri and Angela pitched our recently released tape "Daughter of Denim and Lace" to various A&R agents and distribution companies, I learned the ropes of a professional recording studio. Early in the setup, Don ran into a number of software errors in his DAW that he had never seen before. They spent hours troubleshooting, with no results. I'm thinking "These guys are the experts, I won't intervene..." Don says, "Hey Jim. you're a computer guy, can you help out?"<br />
<br />
We played around for a couple hours, with no resolve. I got the support line contact info from Don for his software/hardware DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) plug-in, and in about an hour of real-time troubleshooting figured out that the plastic shoulder of the physical DAW module was stopping it from being plugged in all the way. So not all contacts were making.. well - contact.<br />
<br />
This was a vanity album project for a christian pentacostal dude, who after me fixing his technical glitch and saving him literally multiple hundreds of dollars, turned his face to the sky, started speaking in tongues thanking god for saving his ass. Not a word of thanks to me, no mention in his liner notes for my help, though he went out of his way to thank Jesus. The delusion is astounding.James Hutchisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12922622599418653119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-893837275619610130.post-23176929994832197772020-07-14T23:42:00.003-07:002020-08-18T22:05:16.276-07:00To anyone who identifies as a Christian and thinks I'm going to hell:I've had it with friends from my past who still identify as Christian. I tried to maintain contact with one particular person who at first was all-welcoming when I re-established contact with him a number of years ago. We debated back and forth about the foundation of our "isms", but the underpinning values of love and respect overshadowed those paradigms. Until a couple weeks ago.<br />
<br />
I informed him of my Mom's passing, and all he did was preach at me about hellfire; that I read too much Dawkins; that I was a shell of a man angry at god; that according to my beliefs, I'll be nothing but worm food in contrast to his eternity in paradise. This, on the day of Mom's funeral. To exit this toxic "friendship", I permanently cut off any communication with him, which was difficult considering my grief. But a good thing considering his verbal abuse, misunderstanding of me, and his need to be right in his condemnation of an "apostate". I had to grieve a loss of what I thought was a life long friend.<br />
<br />
Religion is dangerous in the hands of a proud narcissist. Others from my past who also exited narrow minded faith in fairy tales had to also cut off friendship with this same individual. Having to do it the day I buried my mother drove home the resolve to not tolerate people who believe that a sky daddy will reward them for such behaviour.<div><br /></div><div>No, I'm not painting all Christians with the same brush, but if there's one thing I've learned from my foray into and out of Christianity is that 99% of the ones that take it seriously - by <u>default</u> - have an elitist attitude that they have a corner on the truth. It's <u>why</u> they believe...<br />
<br />
So, to you proud Christians that think you're holier than thou, fuck off and die. </div>James Hutchisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12922622599418653119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-893837275619610130.post-41824216179864884012019-03-03T00:56:00.002-08:002019-03-03T00:56:44.016-08:00This "Gender fluid" debate is really getting long in the tooth...<b>This will be my shortest blog ever. I promise. Here goes:</b><br />
<br />
The latest debaters about sex and biology want us to say: Fuck proven science. Fuck evidence. Fuck biology. Fuck common sense. Fuck generational wisdom.<br />
<br />
So, let's all worship at the altar of political correctness, sacrificing everything we've ever learned for the purpose of coddling the sensibilities of helicopter-parented snowflake ideologues who know nothing of real human suffering, yet gain the political clout to legally compel speech. (Bill C-16)<br />
<br />
Shame on us as a society that lets that happen. Other societies (read: empires) fall just around the time these issues become big. We're on our way out people. Do your studies...<br />
<br />
<br />James Hutchisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12922622599418653119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-893837275619610130.post-78993982810440018352019-01-16T23:23:00.001-08:002019-01-16T23:37:56.684-08:00Me Too: I’m just as upset as you are.<br />
So, the #metoo movement gave women a voice to say “Enough!”
to the culture of male sexual abuse and dominance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Awesome. But per usual, such a strong pop culture
phenomena attracts a pendulum swing in the other direction, unbalancing what
the original message was supposed to be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So now, just asking a girl out for a date, or complimenting her perfume
choice can be deemed sexual harassment, for the only reason that it made her
feel uncomfortable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>False accusations
are soaring... not that this is new in this age of litigation-happy idiots, but
it’s now underscored by #Metoo.<br />
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Take a pill girls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Get a life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In case you didn’t
read the memo, quite a number of prominent women have told you just that:
please don’t over-react and use this new fad to elevate your influence on
well-meaning, but perhaps misdirected men.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Quote: "Rape is a crime, but insistent or clumsy flirting is not an
offense, nor is gallantry macho aggression." says a collective of women,
led by famous actress Catherine Deneuve. Most of us guys are klutzes when it
comes to understanding you, so please go easy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Google it, and you’ll find current surveys quoting women to say they are
concerned this new movement makes men reluctant to work with them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No shit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In a white collar world where I was constantly sexually harassed and
proposed to by women, having this new tool to use against men is simply too
intimidating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Glad I’m retired...</div>
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And, these feminazi extremist slut-walkers who do their
annual parades, saying that we can’t look at them cuz if we do, we’re perverts, is way over the top. “I can dress however I want!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Um, okay...<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Similarly, an accusation of sexual harassment carries with it an
immediate assumption of guilt, which has ruined many a man’s life. That’s just
fucked. Seriously, this doesn’t promote women’s rights.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If anything, it will cause the pendulum to
swing in the other direction, though I’m at a loss to visualise how that would
flesh out in pop culture.</div>
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Once again, the #Metoo movement has done amazingly well at
curbing wrong behaviour, and holding sexual predators accountable for their
actions... something had to be done, and for the most part, it’s done a good
job... and it needs to continue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
something’s gone wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Us men are now bloody
paranoid and clueless how to relate to you without threat of a fucking
lawsuit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Get a grip girls, before this
comes back around to whack you in the ass. And not by any man’s hand...<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s called backlash.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Me and other decent men are astounded at the
imbalance this movement has caused. If anything, it has corralled us into a new
kind of men’s-only club, fearful of having our reputation marred by some
woman’s hyper-sensitive version of sexual sensibilities. No wonder Gillette’s
new video ad has drawn such criticism.</div>
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<br />James Hutchisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12922622599418653119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-893837275619610130.post-53557858001157258072018-12-06T08:40:00.001-08:002018-12-07T07:29:03.595-08:00Sarah Salviander’s Reasons for Converting to Christianity: A Response<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jim Hutchison<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 9.0pt;">1,918 words<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Introduction<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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An email came across my computer earlier today from
something called the “<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Atheist</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">Republic</st1:placetype></st1:place>”, an on-line web
based community of atheists who support and educate like-minded people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The headline read “Christian Astrophysicist
Has 5 Reasons She’s No Longer an Atheist”. This undoubtedly caught my
attention, as the usual pattern is the opposite - that as we become more
educated, particularly in the sciences, the less likely we are to believe in
anything that has no evidence or backing by the scientific method.</div>
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Admittedly,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>my bias
in this area had me pre-judging her reasons and motives for such a paradigm
shift, but being a truth seeker with an open mind, I was very curious to find
out how and why she “flipped” from one end of the spectrum to the other. My
pursuit of truth and meaning keeps me on my toes, as my beliefs are from a
constant evaluation of the latest and most accurate facts and evidence. Facts
and evidence divorced from any emotional need to feel comforted by any kind of
non-truth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d rather believe in the
right things for the right reasons and be miserable, than the wrong things for
the wrong reasons just for the sake of feeling all cozy and comfy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s nothing more sacred than the truth.</div>
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The email was actually a link to a video blog with two
participants from <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Atheist</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">Republic</st1:placetype></st1:place> who discussed
her five reasons for turning from atheism to Christianity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their treatment didn’t go deep enough for me, so I delved into her writings, testimonies, and
various articles on her web sites (references below), and have come away with
what I think is a good understanding of her reasons and motivations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll touch on each one, and add
my own comments. Her reasons are:</div>
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1 – Genesis is consistent with science</div>
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2 – The legal-historical case for Jesus is strong</div>
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3 – Christianity is the source of things I cherish</div>
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4 – Christianity is the best explanation for evil</div>
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5 – Christianity gives me meaning and hope</div>
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There’s two groupings in these reasons: her facts as she
describes them, and personal reasons.</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Her Facts<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Statements 1 & 2 are claims of fact.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s deal with the fist one, as this is the
most contentious between scientists and creationists.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Firstly, it is important for the claimant to
define their position; i.e.: are they claiming the bible to be literal, or
allegorical? It’s a very important distinction, in that the allegory stance
could conceivably be shoe-horned into a natural explanation of the origins of
the universe, earth, and humans, although the order of events in the bible still
contradict modern science’s knowledge of our origins thanks to generations of
geological, botanical, anthropological, and cosmological study.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it suits many people who have a prejudiced
belief in the god of the bible.</div>
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The second option is belief in a literal 6 day creation,
which is a huge problem for the most fundamental and simple laws of science and
physics.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Reconciling a literal take of
the first two books of the bible with modern science requires such denial of facts
that it requires them to be thrown away and dismissed as man-made foolishness;
the result of man worshipping his own intellect and holding it above god’s authority.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Their words, not mine.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is patently obvious that to believe this,
one must possess such strong prejudice and favouritism towards belief in the
god of the bible, that all else is nothing in comparison. It’s called
confirmation bias, and anyone possessing it will dismiss and explain away
(usually quite poorly) any and all evidence to the contrary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The most silly one I’ve ever heard is “Well,
it’s a mystery. Who can know the mind of god?”</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ms. Salviander’s interpretation of the bible is to take it
literally. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“How can someone with such education have strong favouritism
for something so easily disproven?” you may ask.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The answer is actually in items 3 to 5, but I’ll
get to that after I address point 2.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“The legal-historical case for Jesus is strong”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No need to spill a lot of ink (...pixels?) on
this one, as the historical basis for Jesus’ existence is muddied with enough
doubt thanks to the geo-politics of second and third century Christianity that
even biblical scholars don’t agree on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There are well articulated arguments on both sides - that Christ was a
real character, and his followers started a massive following with enough
inertia that <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Constantine</st1:place></st1:city>
had to declare Christianity the official religion in the 3rd century.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The flip side of this story (again, argued
well by scholars) explains his existence as a contrivance of religious clerics
for the purpose of controlling the masses through fear of hell.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There is a palpable lack of any history of Jesus’ life,
especially considering the apparent impact he had on his contemporaries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No Roman writings, or otherwise. The only
“proof” of his existence outside of the bible are the writings of a historian
named Josephus, who wasn’t born until after Jesus death. His references to
Jesus are strongly suspected to be identifiable additions after his death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More fodder for the theory of Jesus’ <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>life being non-factual.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So with substantial evidence on both sides of the debate,
the claim of item #2 isn’t so iron-clad.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Items 3 to 5:
Personal and Emotional<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
These next points clearly indicate the absence of scientific critical thinking; they are founded purely on the emotional need to feel coddled and safe.<br />
<br />
“<i>Christianity is the source of things I cherish</i>.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Someone please explain to me how the
foundation of this statement in any way justifies converting to Christianity <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">other than</i> a need for emotional security
and comfort.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Put another way, it seems
her psychological requirements trump fact, evidence, and truth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She says so herself in not so many words.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“<i>Christianity is the best explanation for evil.</i>”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People can be so sickened by man’s inhumanity
to man that they disassociate the action from the person, and blame an external
entity for such behaviour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s called
“the Devil”, and if I were him and god really existed, I’d be complaining about
all this unwarranted accusation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I jest
of course, but people are quite capable of evil all on their own. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s easy to see as an outsider that when we
and/or those we love experience incredible harm, there’s a need for an
explanation; a focal point for our anger and sense of injustice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, shit happens, and sometimes so randomly, that finding
an explanation is futile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That irks us,
so we invent “evil” as its own force and entity.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All that said, there’s an interesting verse in the old
testament that was quoted in the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Atheist </st1:placename><st1:placetype w:st="on">Republic</st1:placetype></st1:place>’s v-blog:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 63.0pt; margin-top: 0cm;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I
the Lord do all these things.</i> Isaiah 45:7, KJV.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Christians seems to miss this one... if blame for evil is to
be placed anywhere, it’s on the god they say created everything from
scratch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So technically, Ms. Salviander
is correct in that her belief indeed explains evil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps not the way she thought, but I can’t
put words in her mouth.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“<i>Christianity gives me meaning and hope.</i>”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Nice for her, but a</span>gain, these are emotional - albeit
legitimate - needs we all have and share as humans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Logically though, she is putting the cart before
the horse by believing in something for its selfish benefit, rather than basing
a belief on its merits alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s just
like Fox Mulder’s poster on his office wall in the TV series “The
X-Files”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s an illustration of an
out-of-focus UFO, with the words “I Want To Believe”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is blatant confirmation bias, where
evidence is filtered for the sole purpose of supporting a predisposed and
foregone conclusion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The absolute
opposite of the laws of logic and science.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Discovery of facts and evidence are meant to formulate and support a
postulate with eventual confirmation of a theory - which then becomes
established as scientific fact.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like I
said, item #5 is just the opposite.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ms. Salviander’s
Testimony<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In her own words, Ms. Salviader’s eventual conversion is
hallmarked by feelings and emotions, often precipitated by loss and pain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You know where I’m going with this... Like
any and all such conversions, they stem from the experience of needing meaning,
explanations for things science can’t articulate, and the comfort of finally
relinquishing the fate of your own life into the hands of god.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a huge relief (ask me how I know), and
the resulting sense of “finally coming home” is nothing more than adult
thumb-sucking.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Three quotes from her web site:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 63.0pt; margin-top: 0cm;">
(Following her daughter’s death:)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 63.0pt; margin-top: 0cm;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“I finally had a clear vision of our little girl in the loving arms of
her heavenly Father, and it was then that I had peace. I reflected that, after
all these trials in one year, my husband and I were not only closer to each
other, but also felt closer to God. My faith was real.”<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 63.0pt; margin-top: 0cm;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“I walking across that beautiful <st1:place w:st="on">La Jolla</st1:place>
campus. I stopped in my tracks when it hit me—I believed in God! I was so
happy; it was like a weight had been lifted from my heart. I realized that most
of the pain I’d experienced in my life was of my own making, but that God had
used it to make me wiser and more compassionate. It was a great relief to
discover that there was a reason for suffering, and that it was because God was
loving and just. God could not be perfectly just unless I—just like everyone
else—was made to suffer for the bad things I’d done.”<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 63.0pt; margin-top: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 63.0pt; margin-top: 0cm;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“[But] the only way we are free is if the universe and everything in it
was created, not by some unconscious mechanism, but by a personal being—the God
of the Bible. The only way our lives are unique, purposeful, and eternal is if
a loving God created us.”<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Please visit her web site to see that none of these quotes
are taken out of context, and you may gain a better understanding and
explanation of her beliefs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of it
is based on a couple concepts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>1) The
big bang is proof that Genesis is correct, in that the universe had a beginning,
therefore it had to be created (quite a stretch, I know), and... 2) The first days
of creation are accurately described as such because it was GOD watching the
clock, not us... the expanding universe bent time enough to equate billions of
years to 6 days.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All interesting theory if you’re trying to shoe-horn facts
into a bias that is rife with preconceived ideas, concepts, and conclusions.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Conclusion<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So yes, my initial take on her 5 reasons proved true after
careful examination.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Scientists of her
ilk (and I’ve known some personally) use Aristotelian logic, but with unfounded
assertions and highly theoretical associations between "facts".<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One example being how the stretching of time
due to universal expansion explains the literal 6 day creation story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Additionally, w</span>hat’s not explained is the messed up order
of creation; that the earth existed before stars were created.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t find an explanation for that one,
though I’m sure the creationists find some way...</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, the current world view I adhere to has been undergirded
by yet another poor attempt at using the bible to explain everything by a mindset firmly grounded in god-belief.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Justification for this belief is so full of logical fallacies, that someone seeking truth outside themselves,
free of bias and need for comfort, can only conclude that Christianity (well, all
three Abrahamic religions really), base their foundation on centuries old
fables, fiction, and regurgitated legends written by (perhaps) well-meaning authors trying to understand the age
old archetypical search for meaning and purpose.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
~~~~~~~~~~</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Quotes and research from:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">https://jamesbishopblog.com/2015/05/23/former-atheist-astrophysicist-sarah-salviander-explains-her-journey-to-christianity/</b></li>
<li><b>https://sarahsalviander.com/</b></li>
<li><b>https://sixdayscience.com/</b></li>
<li><b>http://evangelicalfocus.com/science/881/Sarah_Salviander_The_journey_of_an_atheist_astrophysicist_who_became_a_Christian</b></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<br />James Hutchisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12922622599418653119noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-893837275619610130.post-42320273683676719202018-01-08T21:30:00.003-08:002018-01-09T16:03:25.735-08:00Of Cottages and Paradise<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="dl7o7" data-offset-key="16pr0-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sometime about 1970 or so, I overheard my parents talking about buying our humble little cottage in Beachgrove, Quebec. Dad said to the real estate agent something like "Ah, what the hell, life is a gamble!" So their goal for the next few years was to pay off this little two bedroom summer home on the Ottawa River. Not just for them, but for their kids. Us. I found out later in life that it was the reason mom went back to work after raising nine young'ins.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Didn't realize it till now, but what mom and dad modelled to me was that it was worth taking risks for a dream, as humble as that dream was. See, every year we'd rent a cottage for the summer. Dad would spend his 2 weeks holidays lazing about, swimming, drinking beer and wine, fishing, trying like hell to teach me how to operate an outboard motor. But then he'd commute for the rest of the summer so we could stay till the end of August. Tons of good memories growing up on beaches and in the woods as children. Mom and Dad wanted to finally have a summer place to call their own...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Beachgrove was heaven to me. The trunk of Dad's car was a literal Tetris game of cramming in the weekend's supply of food, supplies, and other things, but Dad wasn't all that good at it... or, at least wasn't fast enough for my liking, so I became the official "Trunk Packer". I couldn't wait to get out of town, so this scrawny adolescent would have the car ready in under an hour. I think Dad was proud of me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Before and after our long summer stay, we'd go for weekends - we did what we had to to get there before Friday nightfall, and sulk when we had to pack up to go home on Sunday. Life on the Ottawa River in our rustic little cottage was paradise.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm still not sure I can operate an outboard motor, but I can pack up a vehicle like nobody's business.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Some irony: I used to despise having to come home from high school right after class (and miss extra band practice, etc.) to babysit the younger ones till mom got home from work. At the time, I didn’t put two and two together, but I see it now. Mom was working to help pay off this piece of heaven we all loved so much.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Thanks mom.</span></div>
</div>
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James Hutchisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12922622599418653119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-893837275619610130.post-51573549481668933252017-11-19T00:03:00.003-08:002017-11-19T13:55:22.207-08:00Let's expose all the creeps.With all the accusations of late about sexual harrasment by people in positions of power and authority, I'm surprised at the lack of stories coming from churches and bible colleges. From first hand experience, I've known directly of the following stories. Not all stories are about abuse, but the hypocrisy is astounding. Read on...<br />
<br />
- A pastor fucking a 17 year parishoner. He had an addiction to porn, which the church board knew about, but kept to themselves. The church was called "Capital View Community Church"; they owned an office building in Bells Corners, Ottawa. Circa 1989. After the shit hit the proverbial fan, the pastor packed up and moved his family back to his home town somewhere in the states.<br />
<br />
- A janitor fucking his daughter who then squealed on him... got sent to prison for a month. Location: Breircrest Bible College, Caronport Saskatchewan, circa 1991.<br />
<br />
- Another janitor stealing student's leather jackets and selling them to Moose Jaw pawn shops. Location: Breircrest Bible College, Caronport Saskatchewan, circa 1991.<br />
<br />
- The CFO of Briercrest Bible College fucks his secretary, and leaves his wife and kids to marry her. First name Cliff; can't remember his last name. Circa 1992.<br />
<br />
- The husband of the secretary mentioned above fucks HIS admin assistant, and they also marry. A foursome made in heaven!<br />
<br />
- A computer systems admin (Ben) framed a part time helper (my ex wife) with computer fraud, which I disproved.<br />
<br />
- A bible college instructor (first name Peter, same time frame as above) admits to me his addiction to porn, and his sexual attraction to his young daughters.<br />
<br />
- While I attended a church in Calgary, I moved in with my girlfriend (now my wife), and was asked by the music director to stop playing guitar on Sundays because I was a bad role model. We actually got married in that church, and a few weeks later, it's revealed that all this time she was having an affair behind her husband's back. This was at the Free Methodist church, circa 1995.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Lovely, eh?<br />
<br />
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James Hutchisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12922622599418653119noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-893837275619610130.post-62341947403289027532017-04-30T10:12:00.000-07:002017-04-30T10:12:39.518-07:00Liberals VS Conservatives... Stop the Madness Please!I'm amazed at the number of people I know that fall for the false dichotomy of partisan politics. While Rome burns, we all lose as we argue over such stupidity.<br />
<br />
Conservatives want jobs at any cost by supporting coal, oil, and big business. But - we have to adapt or die. Important example: the Saudis are slowly shifting away from fossil fuels and are now investing in solar technology, simply because the old-school resources have reached a tipping point of economic unsustainability... Solar farms now produce power cheaper than oil, natural gas, or coal. <br />
<br />
First time you heard this? Stop using Fox News and Breitbart as your source for information. Harper totally devastated the environmental policies of Canada for the sake of short-term support of the businesses that benefit from the changes he made (...and lobbied him to do so). Think Trump and the EPA. Extremely short-sighted, and irresponsible.<br />
<br />
On the flip side, the Liberals have failed on a number of promises that were integral to their election platform. Pardon me while I choke: get these numbers... as of the date of this post, Justin has been in office for 544 days, and has achieved 44 of 224 promises, overtly broken 30, and hasn't started the rest. Sounds like a typical politician to me, saying what he needed to get in power. His spending practices reflect his father's approach to deficit budgeting, and has even carved out a far bigger piece of the pie than he promised. Again, an irresponsible attitude towards the future generations that have to clean up this mess.<br />
<br />
So, you're a Harper fan? Or a Trudeau fan? You're a conservative die-hard that refers to the "other" party as libtards? Or you're a hippy liberal supporter that likes Trudeau's selfies? Then you're naive and willingly ignorant of the shit they cram(med) down our throats. So <b><i>please</i></b> stop this Conservative versus Liberal immature rhetoric, and join hands with those who want a sustainable future for us and our children and grandchildren, whether it's in the form of responsible budgeting, or the environment. Complain. Write letters. Be vocal. Make a stand.<br />
<br />
If you're interested in knowing who <b><i>really</i></b> runs this world, look no further than the multinational banks and corporations that supply everything we own and consume. They are the REAL puppet masters. This web page is well worth the visit if you have the stomach: <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.internationalbusinessguide.org/corporations/">http://www.internationalbusinessguide.org/corporations/</a></span></b></div>
<br />
<br />
<div>
--jim</div>
James Hutchisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12922622599418653119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-893837275619610130.post-57419894221876777622017-01-17T22:10:00.000-08:002017-01-17T22:22:53.132-08:00Critical Thinking is at Risk...<div class="MsoNormal">
The discipline of critical thinking is taking a shit kicking
these days. Just look at the latest in
American politics and the religious right’s support of it. Those who willingly lack this discipline stay
at the mercy of the manipulators, controllers, and fear mongers because to
them, their arguments make sense. Religion and belief in god is at the root of
so much garbage. Pls read on.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(For the sake of brevity in these few paragraphs, I’ll use
the word “bible” to also mean the koran and talmud... they all come from the
same root Abrahamic writings.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
By the basic rules of truth, logic and philosophy, the god
of the bible cannot exist. The mass of contradictions in each of the Abrahamic “holy”
writings is too overwhelming for the serious inquirer to take seriously, unless
they are picking and choosing what they want to believe. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
See, there’s this little problem of evidence of god’s
existence. When challenged with this
point, many immediately reply “Prove to me he DOESN’T exist.” Oh please... it’s like me asking you to prove
the easter bunny doesn’t exist. Can’t do
it, can you? It’s a fundamental law of
logic: you can’t prove a negative. Therefore, when all is said and done, when
someone claims that god exists, I can as easily dismiss that claim due to the
lack of evidence. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The burden of proof is on the person making any claim
without evidence; it isn’t up to the other person to prove they’re wrong.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
An inherent and significant fallacy of any faith and
religious belief is as follows: say I settled on a particular interpretation of
the bible (there are thousands by necessity...)
stating mine was the right one...
have I not placed myself in a position of unquestionable authority over
the bible, god, and everyone else? Yes I have.
Simple logic, because I have claimed that my “take” is right one. I’ll agree with others that agree with me,
and reject all others with differing views.
Instant logical fallacy.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sorry, we can’t wiggle out of this one by saying there’s “your”
truth, and “my” truth because THAT my friends is broken, faulty, childish
logic. Terms must be defined: there can
be many interpretations, but there can
only be the ultimate undeniable, provable, untenable final truth. Like the law of gravity. No arguments there!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The last protest to this logic is always “It’s a mystery. We
cannot know or understand the mind of god.”
Well, isn’t that convenient?
Believers use this as their last argument; their last resort to demolish
any kind of challenge to their beliefs. They
pull the rug out from under us by saying they have no need to provide proof
because of the nature of god... that he can make and brake rules as he sees
fit. Funny how they are experts in total
non-logic, contradictory facts, and claim to be best friends with the author of
this universe that has no rules. They get to make up them up as things
progress. THAT is the purest definition
of total non-accountability, and is the reason why religious faith is dangerous... </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Please THINK critically.
It’s becoming a rarity these days.</div>
James Hutchisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12922622599418653119noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-893837275619610130.post-67732688523423440882015-01-07T12:47:00.000-08:002015-01-07T12:50:02.918-08:00Is Islam a Peaceful Religion?Let's once and for all settle this idea that Islam is a peaceful religion. The media calls Jihadists "terrorist extremists", intimating they take their religion too seriously and too far. The majority of Muslims are peaceful, and are called "moderates"; i.e. they don't take their religion too seriously because they believe in peace and harmony. Good on them.<br />
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But saying Islam is peaceful is a blatant fallacy. Those "extremists" are ONLY following what their Quran tells them to do; the moderates are simply not following all of the teachings of Mohammed. The Quran contains at least 109 verses that call Muslims to war with nonbelievers for the sake of Islamic rule. Some are quite graphic, with commands to chop off heads and fingers and kill infidels wherever they may be hiding. Muslims who do not join the fight are called 'hypocrites' and warned that Allah will send them to Hell if they do not join the slaughter. Tell me what you think after reading these translations from their holy book:<br />
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Quran (5:33) - "The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His messenger and strive to make mischief in the land is only this, that they should be murdered or crucified or their hands and their feet should be cut off on opposite sides or they should be imprisoned; this shall be as a disgrace for them in this world, and in the hereafter they shall have a grievous chastisement"<br />
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Quran (8:12) - "I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Therefore strike off their heads and strike off every fingertip of them"<br />
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Quran (47:3-4) - "Those who disbelieve follow falsehood, while those who believe follow the truth from their Lord... So, when you meet (in fight Jihad in Allah's Cause), those who disbelieve smite at their necks till when you have killed and wounded many of them, then bind a bond firmly (on them, i.e. take them as captives)... If it had been Allah's Will, He Himself could certainly have punished them (without you). But (He lets you fight), in order to test you, some with others. But those who are killed in the Way of Allah, He will never let their deeds be lost."<br />
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I could go on, but I think you get the point. The Quran is very articulate and specific about how unbelievers and hypocrites are to be treated. These verses are not metaphors, or constrained by historical events. They are literal instructions that are to be obeyed, or else be called a hypocrite.<br />
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So, no, Islam is NOT a peaceful religion. To say so is uninformed and naive, and to call anyone "Islamaphobic" (a term recently used by the politically correct) is bullshit for the above stated reasons; I say call a spade a spade.<br />
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Last point: if anyone thinks this article is generating bias against Muslims, you haven't fully understood what I have written.<br />
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Just today, 12 people in France were slain by Islamic terrorists. The world is tiring of the bloodshed in the name of Allah...<br />
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<br />James Hutchisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12922622599418653119noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-893837275619610130.post-84157847350343931022014-09-10T13:21:00.000-07:002014-09-10T13:29:59.310-07:00Jesus and Sugar Pills: They have more in common than you think.<span style="font-size: large;">In the last</span> couple of days, there's been some very overt Christian content in a couple of reality shows that I enjoy. In one case, the person was in a physically demanding situation that required him to gather up enough courage to jump from one cliff edge to another. His safety was assured by the climbing ropes his guide had provided for him, but this was his first experience at such a physical and mental challenge. So he paused to pray and speak in tongues, describing it as his direct line to God. Earlier in the show, he described how as a professional sportsman his life of status, power, and sex had become shallow and unfulfilling, so he turned his life over to God. Following that, he became fulfilled and happier.<br />
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The second person on a different show, though not faced with an immediate physical threat, spoke of a need to give his life back to God, because whenever he did this, his life would straighten out and things went better for him. Later in the show, he rededicates his life back to Jesus, and was baptized.<br />
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What both of these people have in common, and what attracts people to, and holds them in, this life of faith in God is a sense of emptying oneself and letting God take over. This need to have a crutch and let someone much bigger and powerful than you take control is the lure of this mindset. Watching these TV shows put me in mind of my own journey into, and out of such a belief; a belief that required total dependence on something larger and greater than myself.<br />
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The question that burdens me mostly is this: what would have convinced these people in their time of need that the strength they sought was <i>already available to them</i>? Courage comes from within, but somehow having a dependence on something outside ourselves seems more attractive. Having lived this life myself in the past, I can best describe it is a lack of gumption; "intestinal fortitude". It's easier to throw the responsibility onto someone (something?) else when you feel at the end of your rope. We feel the need to reach out in crisis, so God becomes a convenient resource, particularly if you're convinced he is omnipotent, and happens to be the creator of the universe. The religious message is to just give up and let God take the reigns.<br />
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Another factor that explains the "letting go and letting God" phenomenon is the pervasiveness of the message, thanks to evangelists and mass media. The success stories of celebrities, ex-cons, ex-drugies, etc. who gave their life to God in a church meeting, or in a cell, or a hospital bed have been turned into movies and books, forever enshrining - and legitimizing - the born again experience. It helps us feed on our need to believe in something bigger than ourselves. I frankly refer to it as adult thumb-sucking.</div>
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So back to my question: what do we have as a society that can replace such unfounded beliefs and behaviours? The truth is, we have nothing as potent and as powerful as religion, and this is thanks to the placebo effect. The believer is truly convinced that their treatment will work, and it in fact does. Even sham surgeries used in scientifically controlled studies have resulted in healing heart disease. So it is with any closely-held belief system in which the outcome of healing, strength, and comfort is most desired.</div>
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I'm convinced that we're at a place in our evolution as a species where the perceived challenges to our survival are strong enough that they elicit a powerful attraction to superstitious beliefs in unseen forces, no different than how our ancestors worshipped various gods, sacrificing to them for the purpose of better weather, crops, health... in essence, prosperity and protection. Until our fears and stress are addressed and rooted out with logic, evidence, and common sense, our dependence on superstitions will continue. As will the trappings of old-school religion that plague our society and hold us back from real advancement and progress.</div>
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Till next time,</div>
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Jim</div>
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James Hutchisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12922622599418653119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-893837275619610130.post-14567054472538531382013-10-31T14:38:00.000-07:002013-10-31T14:39:27.153-07:00Something a little lighter...People know what I think of religion. Hell, just read this blog! But then my mother-in-law sends me this story, so I thought it would be a great thing to use to lighten up the tone...<br />
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HELL EXPLAINED BY A CHEMISTRY STUDENT<br />
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The following is an actual question given on a University of Arizona chemistry mid term, and an actual answer turned in by a student.<br />
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The answer by one student was so 'profound' that the professor shared it with colleagues, via the Internet, which is, of course, why we now have the pleasure of enjoying it as well :<br />
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Bonus Question: Is Hell exothermic (gives off heat) or endothermic (absorbs heat)?<br />
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Most of the students wrote proofs of their beliefs using Boyle's Law (gas cools when it expands and heats when it is compressed) or some variant.<br />
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One student, however, wrote the following:<br />
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First, we need to know how the mass of Hell is changing in time. So we need to know the rate at which souls are moving into Hell and the rate at which they are leaving, which is unlikely. I think that we can safely assume that once a soul gets to Hell, it will not leave. Therefore, no souls are leaving. As for how many souls are entering Hell, let's look at the different religions that exist in the world today.<br />
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Most of these religions state that if you are not a member of their religion, you will go to Hell. Since there is more than one of these religions and since people do not belong to more than one religion, we can project that all souls go to Hell. With birth and death rates as they are, we can expect the number of souls in Hell to increase exponentially. Now, we look at the rate of change of the volume in Hell because Boyle's Law states that in order for the temperature and pressure in Hell to stay the same, the volume of Hell has to expand proportionately as souls are added.<br />
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This gives two possibilities:<br />
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1. If Hell is expanding at a slower rate than the rate at which souls enter Hell, then the temperature and pressure in Hell will increase until all Hell breaks loose.<br />
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2. If Hell is expanding at a rate faster than the increase of souls in Hell, then the temperature and pressure will drop until Hell freezes over.<br />
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So which is it?<br />
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If we accept the postulate given to me by Teresa during my Freshman year that, 'It will be a cold day in Hell before I sleep with you,' and take into account the fact that I slept with her last night, then number two must be true, and thus I am sure that Hell is exothermic and has already frozen over. The corollary of this theory is that since Hell has frozen over, it follows that it is not accepting any more souls and is therefore, extinct..... ...leaving only Heaven, thereby proving the existence of a Divine Being which explains why, last night, Teresa kept shouting 'Oh my God.'<br />
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THIS STUDENT RECEIVED AN A+.James Hutchisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12922622599418653119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-893837275619610130.post-76408392162898795362013-09-01T21:28:00.000-07:002013-09-13T10:08:36.895-07:00Don't get me wrong, I may look like an atheist... but...Many of my posts on this blog would leave one with the idea that I belong to this new atheist movement some of you may be familiar with. The big names that everyone quotes (me included) are Sam Harris, Daniel Dennett, Christopher Hitchens, and Richard Hawkins. Christopher Hitchens is no longer with us (R.I.P.). They're sought-after keynote speakers, authors, scientists, and philosophers. I've read most of their publications, and agree with 100% of what they say when criticizing traditional religion.<br />
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<i>But</i> - that does not say I believe 100% of everything they say. No one should believe everything <i>anyone</i> says anyways. If you do, shame on you.<br />
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The point is that although I agree with these atheists' arguments against religion, I do not make the stretch to say that science has discovered everything we need to know, and therefore reject anything and everything spiritual or unexplained. These people mock things like chiropractors, Eastern medicine, distance healing, Reiki... basically anything that traditional science hasn't proven with years of funded research.<br />
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So, before swallowing the new atheist movement's pill whole hog, consider where they come from... they are hard core philosophers and scientists who don't give an inch to anything not backed up by pure (read: traditional) science. In contrast, me and a bazzilion other people have legitimate and very real experiences with these "unknown" areas of spirituality, so I take their opinion on these matters lightly.<br />
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My underlying point here is that personally, I have indeed turned my back on traditional Christianity (as anyone who reads the Bible cover to cover <i>should</i>), but there's a massive difference between being religious and being spiritual. I brand myself the latter. Just so you know...James Hutchisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12922622599418653119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-893837275619610130.post-60858803044841739692013-07-07T20:23:00.001-07:002013-07-07T20:23:21.766-07:00Book Review: God Hates You, Hate Him Back: Making Sense of the BibleI haven't done a book review in ages, but I have to say - this dude's book has me in stitches. C.J. Werleman does an extraordinary job of harpooning the most basic contradictions in the bible, articulating them in such a detailed fashion that leaves the reader in a state of - "Oh yeah, of COURSE!".<br />
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He goes through the Bible book by book, chapter by chapter, revealing the obvious contradictions that the casual reader would not pick up on. Like me... I've read it cover to cover dozens of times, but never really picked up on the ugly morals, and sanctioned evils, and the character of God himself - which should make us all shudder. Mind you, I was reading it as a bible-bashing born-again Christian. Duh...<br />
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Funny what happens when you read the fine print.<br />
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Warning: he swears throughout the book, but to me, it adds to the import of his messages: HEY FOLKS, the bible is the best argument against itself!<br />
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Check it out if you dare. Cheers friends,<br />
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JimJames Hutchisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12922622599418653119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-893837275619610130.post-92022482503738270312013-05-11T14:14:00.002-07:002013-05-11T14:14:45.609-07:00It seems ANY Abrahamic-based religion is kinda funky...Been finding out some interesting things about Islam's holy book. Well, firstly, it's written by just one person, Muhammad, and it took him from from 609 to 632 AD to write the whole thing. Seemingly the peaceful side of the writings are in the first parts of the book, but as it goes on, he instructs his followers to get rather violent, telling them that they can lie to non-believers for the sake of world domination. I lie not... watch this informative 9 minute video. Be informed...<br />
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James Hutchisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12922622599418653119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-893837275619610130.post-18467535742460520662013-02-08T06:07:00.000-08:002013-02-08T06:08:06.261-08:00What Happens if you REALLY follow the bible?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Sam Harris once again shreds the idea that the bible/god/christianity is all about love and peace. If we really took the bible seriously and lived by it, we'd all have slaves, beat our children, and stone our new wife if we found out she wasn't a virgin... give it a quick listen...</div>
James Hutchisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12922622599418653119noreply@blogger.com0