After a nearly two-decade truce, Portuguese Nobel literature laureate José Saramago has returned to the charge against the Catholic Church. This time his target is the Bible itself, which he describes as "a manual of bad morals," and a "catalogue of cruelties and of the worst of human nature."
'Nobel Laureate says God is ''Cruel, Spiteful, Vengeful, Jealous and Unbearable.'' ' by Mario de Queiroz - IPS - RichardDawkins.net http://bit.ly/2KCqJG
---------------------------------------
What do you think?After a nearly two-decade truce, Portuguese Nobel literature laureate José Saramago... more
I don't believe in religion, I don't believe in God, and I most certainly don't believe in miracles. That being said, despite my disbelief in deity, it is not uncommon for people to be perplexed as to why I still don't believe in their personal "miracles". Here are five reasons to best explain why I don't believe in the miraculous (being defined as "a marvelous event manifesting a supernatural act of a divine agent").
Reason 1: Lack of proof
Theists often say that they have proof of miracles in the bible. What they do not realize is that their holy books prove nothing. The miracles of Moses, Jonah, and Jesus have no more physical proof behind them than the fairy tale "jack and the beanstalk". If you believe that Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, you can only do so by faith, there is no way to prove that that event ever occurred. Some people respond to this with the notion that we need to take the writers word for it. Although it is true that we rely on the method of "taking their word for it" when recording historic texts, it's important to note that I hold those other texts up to the same level of scrutiny. I take peoples word on the documentation of napoleons journey, but if I read that napoleon raised someone from the dead, or turned water into wine, I would be very skeptical.
A 37-year-old teacher accused of creating a “secret society” to lure teenage girls into having sex with him was arrested Monday evening after a girl he allegedly wanted to recruit into the group complained to police, authorities said.
Robert Louis Rosseau taught Bible classes — among other subjects — to eighth-graders at Christian Academy of San Antonio.
Rosseau, who isn't certified by the state to teach, remained in Bexar County Jail on Tuesday on a charge of aggravated sexual assault of a child. He was being held on $100,000 bail.
Jim Bazar, secondary principal at the Christian Academy of San Antonio, said Rosseau “was terminated effective (Tuesday).”
“He has not been on our campus for several weeks,” Bazar said, adding the instructor was placed on administrative leave when the allegations were made early this month.
The principal said none of the alleged sexual acts occurred on campus and that only one of the three girls involved attends the school.
Authorities said Rosseau's secret society, which included him and two of the girls, began to unravel last month, when the third teen balked at joining the group.
That teen told authorities that the two girls who were members of the society, which they referred to as an “order,” attempted to recruit her into the group on two weekends in September. To become a member, the two girls told the teen, she had to be “intimate” with Rosseau to establish trust, according to an arrest affidavit.
The teen's resistance led to a fight Oct. 5 with the two girls, who allegedly attacked her after she tried to reveal the relationship to classmates at a local high school, which was not named in the affidavit.
Police were called to the school, and that's when the girl told authorities that Rosseau was trying to enlist her into the order and accused the teacher of having sex with the other two girls, the affidavit states.
The teen said the other girls told her that Rosseau had seen both of them nude, adding “this was a part of the trust that was needed for the ‘order' to operate,” the affidavit states. She also told authorities that the girls told her that Rosseau was in a lot “of pain” because she wouldn't join the group.
Initially, the two girls denied they were having sex with Rosseau. But on Oct. 21, one of the two told her parents that Rosseau had been sexually assaulting her since Jan. 9, when she was 16, according to the affidavit.
That teen told authorities she was persuaded into joining the order after being told it was “geared to help mankind,” the affidavit states.
She also acknowledged to authorities that she was encouraged to “demonstrate her trust and strict adherence to the society by engaging in sexual intercourse with (Rosseau),” the affidavit states, and that a sexual relationship ensued.
The affidavit states Rosseau would read Bible passages to the two girls “to legitimize his believed ability” to have sex with them.
Rosseau told the two girls they would need to engage in sexual activity with him if they wanted to maintain their friendship, and the girls complied, according to authorities.
The first teen to join the group denied that Rosseau was ever sexually active with her and discontinued an interview with police Oct. 20.
Police Department spokesman Matt Porter said the testimonies of the teen who refused to join the society and the teen who was allegedly assaulted helped provide evidence for authorities to arrest Rosseau.
Rosseau could face more charges, Porter said, as the investigation continues.A 37-year-old teacher accused of creating a “secret society” to lure teenage girls... more
Church ib West NC will be burning Bibles which are not Authentic King James; scheduled October 31, 2009; Halloween Evening at 7PM.Church ib West NC will be burning Bibles which are not Authentic King James; scheduled... more
A North Carolina pastor plans to host a Halloween event at his church to burn heretical books. At the top of the list — the Bible.
Pastor Marc Grizzard claims the King James version of the Bible is the only true word of God, and that all other versions are "satanic" and "perversions" of God's word.
On Halloween night, Grizzard and the 14 members of the Amazing Grace Baptist Church will set fire to other versions of the scripture, as well as music and books by Christian authors.
“We are burning books that we believe to be Satanic,” Pastor Grizzard said.
“I believe the King James version is God’s preserved, inspired, inerrant, infallible word of God… for English-speaking people."
All other religious or Christian texts are sacreligious, the pastor insists. The list of books being burned will include works written by "a lot of different authors who we consider heretics, such as Billy Graham, Rick Warren… the list goes on and on,” Pastor Grizzard said.
Also on the pastor's list of heretical authors — Mother Teresa, according to a full list that was previously available at the Amazing Grace Baptist Church's Web site. The Church's Web site — which is no longer available — calls the event 'Burning Perversions of God's Word,' and urges parishioners to "come celebrate Halloween by burning Satan's bibles." Calls to the Amazing Grace Church were not returned Thursday.
Some in the pastor's community support the event.
"In my opinion, the King James Version is the only version," Sissy Messer said.
But not all residents of Canton, N.C. agree with the bonfire of the profanities.
“I think some of the newer versions make it easier for people to understand,” said resident Judy Kirby.
The book-burning is being promoted as a social event with a barbecue dinner. The event will run from "7 p.m.- Till," according to the announcement previously posted on the Web site.A North Carolina pastor plans to host a Halloween event at his church to burn... more
Texas man's use of iron outrages jury. Jury defies U.S. law and arrives at sentence via biblical hocus pocus.Texas man's use of iron outrages jury. Jury defies U.S. law and arrives at sentence... more
A blogger with a grudge against Republicans in Congress made a fake ad this week spoofing the iPhone app commercials. "If you want to refute scientific research by quoting Biblical prophecy...There's a rep for that," it says. In the accompanying blog post the video's auteur explains his claims and sums it up by saying, "The Republican party today has little interest in developing constructive policy. Its reps would rather spend their energy offering up ridiculous claims to see if they can ride a wave of deceit back into power. Hopefully, they'll just catch a riptide and get pulled further out to sea."
There's A Rep For That: Fake Apple Commercial Mocks Republicans In Congress (VIDEO)A blogger with a grudge against Republicans in Congress made a fake ad this week... more
(Rock Point, AZ) - During July 2009, volunteers from the Lutheran Church of the Cross in Sacramento, CA visited the Navajo Lutheran Mission in Rock Point, AZ to assist the Navajo people with the health of their livestock.
Despite the extreme summer heat and the remote Navajo homes, church members helped deworm and vaccinate 500 sheep and goats plus 200 horses.
The volunteers from the Lutheran Church of the Cross paid for the expense of vaccinating over 700 livestock.
The vaccination program badly needs funding and anyone wish to help should contact the Navajo Lutheran Mission (see contact info below)
The Navajo Lutheran Mission extends special thanks to Arizona Navajo musician Anthony Maloney, who music is featured in this video and will be used in upcoming videos (scroll down for more info and links about Anthony Maloney)
Songs by Maloney included in this video are "Our Warriors" and "A Better Life."
Pastor serves as a Chaplain at California State University Sacramento
Church is on the Board of Directors of the Sacramento Area Campus Ministry. http://www.sacacmin.com
Wikipedia on the Navajo Nation:
The Navajo Nation (Diné Bikéyah in the Navajo language) is a semi-autonomous Native American homeland covering about 26,000 square miles (17 million acres), occupying all of northeastern Arizona, the southeastern portion of Utah, and northwestern New Mexico. It's the largest land area assigned primarily to a Native American jurisdiction within the United States. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navajo_Nation
The Navajo Lutheran Mission extends special thanks to Arizona Navajo Musician Anthony Maloney, who music is featured in this video and will be used in upcoming videos
Songs by Maloney included in this video are "Our Warriors" and "A Better Life."
Navajo (Diné) singer, songwriter and poet Anthony K. Maloney, a member of the Navajo Nation (Diné Bikéyah) from Yuba City, AZ "Music City"
The world population reaches 6.8 billion in Dec. 2009. Revelation 6:8 is the Fourth Horseman Death. Does this mean that H1N1 Swine Flu could mutate and be the Fourth Horseman Death in Dec. 2009?
Copyright 2009 by T. Chase. From the Revelation13.net web site, also see Revelation13.net (Revelation 13: Prophecies of the Future, Astrology, Nostradamus, Bible Prophecy, the King James version English Bible Code).The world population reaches 6.8 billion in Dec. 2009. Revelation 6:8 is the Fourth... more
The Conservative Bible Project is gaining attention on the web. Twitter is a flutter, Huffington Post is posting and The Daily Dish is serving the odd news. Apparently, the Bible is too liberal. No worries. A group of conservatives is out to fix the good book; hence, the conservative Bible project.The Conservative Bible Project is gaining attention on the web. Twitter is a flutter,... more
Writing at Belief.net, Rod Dreher highlights a new initiative on the religious right: the Conservative Bible Project. The effort aims to rewrite the Bible to remove its notorious liberal bias and clarify the gospel basis of free-market economics. It follows a ten-point guideline:
1. Framework against Liberal Bias: providing a strong framework that enables a thought-for-thought translation without corruption by liberal bias
2. Not Emasculated: avoiding unisex, “gender inclusive” language, and other modern emasculation of Christianity
3. Not Dumbed Down: not dumbing down the reading level, or diluting the intellectual force and logic of Christianity; the [New International Version] is written at only the 7th grade level
4. Utilize Powerful Conservative Terms: using powerful new conservative terms as they develop; defective translations use the word “comrade” three times as often as “volunteer”; similarly, updating words which have a change in meaning, such as “word”, “peace”, and “miracle”.
5. Combat Harmful Addiction: combating addiction by using modern terms for it, such as “gamble” rather than “cast lots”; using modern political terms, such as “register” rather than “enroll” for the census
6. Accept the Logic of Hell: applying logic with its full force and effect, as in not denying or downplaying the very real existence of Hell or the Devil.
7. Express Free Market Parables; explaining the numerous economic parables with their full free-market meaning
8. Exclude Later-Inserted Liberal Passages: excluding the later-inserted liberal passages that are not authentic, such as the adulteress story
9. Credit Open-Mindedness of Disciples: crediting open-mindedness, often found in youngsters like the eyewitnesses Mark and John, the authors of two of the Gospels
10. Prefer Conciseness over Liberal Wordiness: preferring conciseness to the liberal style of high word-to-substance ratio; avoid compound negatives and unnecessary ambiguities; prefer concise, consistent use of the word “Lord” rather than “Jehovah” or “Yahweh” or “Lord God.”
Writes Dreher: “It’s like what you’d get if you crossed the Jesus Seminar with the College Republican chapter at a rural institution of Bible learnin’.”Scott Horton-From the Department of Self-Parody
Writing at Belief.net, Rod Dreher... more
Lo and behold, the Bible has gotten too liberal, according to a group of conservatives. And it needs a little editing.
That's the inspiration behind the Conservative Bible Project, which seeks to take the text back to its supposed right-wing roots.
Yes, even scripture is not orthodox enough for the modern conservative. Not that it's the fault of the author(s), exactly. The group cites a few reasons why the Bible is too progressive: "Lack of precision in the original language ... lack of precision in modern language" and "translation bias in converting the original language to the modern one."
So how can the Bible be conservatized? The group has proposed a Wikipedia-like group editing project. Some of the ideas would only bring the translation closer to the original. But others would fundamentally change the text.
1. Framework against Liberal Bias: providing a strong framework that enables a thought-for-thought translation without corruption by liberal bias
2. Not Emasculated: avoiding unisex, "gender inclusive" language, and other modern emasculation of Christianity
3. Not Dumbed Down: not dumbing down the reading level, or diluting the intellectual force and logic of Christianity; the NIV is written at only the 7th grade level[3]
4. Utilize Powerful Conservative Terms: using powerful new conservative terms as they develop;[4] defective translations use the word "comrade" three times as often as "volunteer"; similarly, updating words which have a change in meaning, such as "word", "peace", and "miracle".
5. Combat Harmful Addiction: combating addiction by using modern terms for it, such as "gamble" rather than "cast lots";[5] using modern political terms, such as "register" rather than "enroll" for the census
6. Accept the Logic of Hell: applying logic with its full force and effect, as in not denying or downplaying the very real existence of Hell or the Devil.
7. Express Free Market Parables; explaining the numerous economic parables with their full free-market meaning
8. Exclude Later-Inserted Liberal Passages: excluding the later-inserted liberal passages that are not authentic, such as the adulteress story
9. Credit Open-Mindedness of Disciples: crediting open-mindedness, often found in youngsters like the eyewitnesses Mark and John, the authors of two of the Gospels
10. Prefer Conciseness over Liberal Wordiness: preferring conciseness to the liberal style of high word-to-substance ratio; avoid compound negatives and unnecessary ambiguities; prefer concise, consistent use of the word "Lord" rather than "Jehovah" or "Yahweh" or "Lord God."
Lo and behold, the Bible has gotten too liberal, according to a group of conservatives. And it needs a little editing.
That's the inspiration behind the Conservative Bible Project, which seeks to take the text back to its supposed right-wing roots.
Yes, even scripture is not orthodox enough for the modern conservative. Not that it's the fault of the author(s), exactly. The group cites a few reasons why the Bible is too progressive: "Lack of precision in the original language ... lack of precision in modern language" and "translation bias in converting the original language to the modern one."
Read more at the link.Lo and behold, the Bible has gotten too liberal, according to a group of... more
A Georgia School is banning Bible verses from football games. The cheerleaders for the Warriors of Fort Oglethorpe High School football team will not be promoting Bible verses during public school football games any longer.
In past games cheerleaders have displayed banners with Bible verses during the game. The school district banned the banners because they are unconstitutional and would provoke a justified lawsuit.
--------------------------------------------------
What do you think about cheerleaders promoting Bible verses at Public High School Football games?A Georgia School is banning Bible verses from football games. The cheerleaders for the... more
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
Ya Sin. (1) By the wise Qur'an, (2) Lo! thou art of those sent (3) On a straight path, (4) A revelation of the Mighty, the Merciful, (5) That thou mayst warn a folk whose fathers were not warned, so they are heedless. (6) Already hath the word proved true of most of them, for they believe not. (7) Lo! We have put on their necks carcans reaching unto the chins, so that they are made stiff-necked. (8) And We have set a bar before them and a bar behind them, and (thus) have covered them so that they see not. (9) Whether thou warn them or thou warn them not, it is alike for them, for they believe not. (10) Thou warnest only him who followeth the Reminder and feareth the Beneficent in secret. To him bear tidings of forgiveness and a rich reward. (11) Lo! We it is Who bring the dead to life. We record that which they send before (them), and their footprints. And all things We have kept in a clear Register. (12)
----------------------------------
A young child who memorized the whole Quran from cover to cover
Did you know that there are millions of children who memorized the whole Quran from cover to cover .. Every year more than the number ..
Why and how they managed that!!
God says in the Qur'an:
(( And in truth We have made the Qur'an easy to remember; but is there any that remembereth? )) Al-Qamar (17)
ِAnd : Did you know that there are thousands memorized the whole Quran in Arabic and they are not of Arab origin .. And can not speak Arabic !!!Ya-Seen
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
Ya Sin. (1) By the... more
They will ask thee of the mountains (on that day). Say: My Lord will break them into scattered dust. (105) And leave it as an empty plain, (106) Wherein thou seest neither curve nor ruggedness. (107) On that day they follow the summoner who deceiveth not, and voices are hushed for the Beneficent, and thou hearest but a faint murmur. (108) On that day no intercession availeth save (that of) him unto whom the Beneficent hath given leave and whose word He accepteth. (109) He knoweth (all) that is before them and (all) that is behind them, while they cannot compass it in knowledge. (110) And faces humble themselves before the Living, the Eternal. And he who beareth (a burden of) wrongdoing is indeed a failure (on that Day). (111) And he who hath done some good works, being a believer, he feareth not injustice nor begrudging (of his wage). (112) Thus we have revealed it as a Lecture in Arabic, and have displayed therein certain threats, that peradventure they may keep from evil or that it may cause them to take heed. (113)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
The Reality! (1) What is the Reality? (2) Ah, what will convey unto thee what the reality is! (3) (The tribes of) Thamud and A'ad disbelieved in the judgment to come. (4) As for Thamud, they were destroyed by the lightning. (5) And as for A'ad, they were destroyed by a fierce roaring wind, (6) Which He imposed on them for seven long nights and eight long days so that thou mightest have seen men lying overthrown, as they were hollow trunks of palm-trees. (7) Canst thou (O Muhammad) see any remnant of them? (8) And Pharaoh and those before him, and the communities that were destroyed, brought error, (9) And they disobeyed the messenger of their Lord, therefor did He grip them with a tightening grip. (10) Lo! when the waters rose, We carried you upon the ship (11) That We might make it a memorial for you, and that remembering ears (that heard the story) might remember. (12) And when the trumpet shall sound one blast (13) And the earth with the mountains shall be lifted up and crushed with one crash, (14) Then, on that day will the Event befall. (15) And the heaven will split asunder, for that day it will be frail. (16) And the angels will be on the sides thereof, and eight will uphold the Throne of thy Lord that day, above them. (17) On that day ye will be exposed; not a secret of you will be hidden. (18) Then, as for him who is given his record in his right hand, he will say: Take, read my book! (19) Surely I knew that I should have to meet my reckoning. (20) Then he will be in blissful state (21) In a high Garden (22) Whereof the clusters are in easy reach. (23) (And it will be said unto those therein): Eat and drink at ease for that which ye sent on before you in past days. (24) But as for him who is given his record in his left hand, he will say: Oh, would that I had not been given my book (25) And knew not what my reckoning is! (26) Oh, would that it had been death! (27) My wealth hath not availed me, (28) My power hath gone from me. (29) (It will be said): Take him and fetter him (30) And then expose him to hell-fire (31) And then insert him in a chain whereof the length is seventy cubits. (32) Lo! He used not to believe in Allah the Tremendous, (33) And urged not on the feeding of the wretched. (34) Therefor hath he no lover here this day, (35) Nor any food save filth (36) Which none but sinners eat. (37) But nay! I swear by all that ye see (38) And all that ye see not (39) That it is indeed the speech of an illustrious messenger. (40) It is not poet's speech - little is it that ye believe! (41) Nor diviner's speech - little is it that ye remember! (42) It is a revelation from the Lord of the Worlds. (43) And if he had invented false sayings concerning Us, (44) We assuredly had taken him by the right hand (45) And then severed his life-artery, (46) And not one of you could have held Us off from him. (47) And lo! it is a warrant unto those who ward off (evil). (48) And lo! We know that some among you will deny (it). (49) And lo! it is indeed an anguish for the disbelievers. (50) And lo! it is absolute truth. (51) So glorify the name of thy Tremendous Lord. (52)Al-Haaqqa : Chapter 69
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
The... more
The section that Youtube viewers cried and asked translating the West
More than a million viewers ..
--------------------------------------
Do you really have peace in your heart?
Are you truly happy in life?
Do you really know the purpose of your life?
Is that all that you do with your life play games, workout,talk on the phone about nothing, x-box,drugs, partying,listening to same song 100 times in your car, chasing girls,teasing boys, aren't you sick of this? Do you really want to be the old man or old women in the Club?
Aren't you ready to live your true purpose in life and work on your soul and truly have peace and purpose in life because you'll finally know your doing the right thing?
Watch this video with and open heart and an open mind and if your sincerely looking for peace and purpose in life this video will be your first step in attaining that true peace and purpose and at the end of it all the ultimate reward , Paradise.The section that Youtube viewers cried and asked translating the West
More than a... more
--------------------------------------
Do you really have peace in your heart?
Are you truly happy in life?
Do you really know the purpose of your life?
Is that all that you do with your life play games, workout,talk on the phone about nothing, x-box,drugs, partying,listening to same song 100 times in your car, chasing girls,teasing boys, aren't you sick of this? Do you really want to be the old man or old women in the Club?
Aren't you ready to live your true purpose in life and work on your soul and truly have peace and purpose in life because you'll finally know your doing the right thing?
Watch this video with and open heart and an open mind and if your sincerely looking for peace and purpose in life this video will be your first step in attaining that true peace and purpose and at the end of it all the ultimate reward , Paradise.From inside the Mecca .. Reading Soorat Hood
--------------------------------------... more
