Okay, so instead of just talking about the problem I thought I would look up some resources on how the average person can help our little bee brothers and sisters. Below is some information and a list of helpful links centered on living in partnership with the pollinators of our planet.

Provide Nesting Places for Bees: Honey bees like hollow trees. If you can leave these on your property for honey bees to build their colony in please do. Plus, this gives you another reason to avoid clearing out that wooded area at the back of your lawn. Just let it be natural and nature will appreciate it.

Plant Bee-Friendly Plants: Plant a variety of native plants that have different bloom times to keep the bees eating for months. Many "weeds" also provide much needed nourishment for bees. Avoid using weed killer in your lawn and let the red and white clover flourish a little while longer. The bees will thank you for it.

Avoid Pesticides: Organic gardening is just plain better for everyone. Nature needs natural methods to be as healthy as possible. Use natural materials whenever you can.

List of Bee Friendly Plants PDF
The Pollinator Partnership
Urban Bee Gardens

Labels: Bee Goddess, helping honey bees, Misc. Commentary

There's been a lot of blogging about bees lately.

Pagan Godspell was the first place I heard about the cell phone connection to it all. She leaves us with an earlier prayer for their survival as well. Hecate also chimes in to speak about her regrets and hopes for the future of humanity and the honey bee.

I've just sort of been soaking it all in and wondering what life on this planet might be like without the honey bee. We hardly notice them unless they're nearby and threatening to sting us or climb into our soda can. We don't tend to remember how our lives - the very food we eat - depends on their hard work.

Last weekend over dinner my father-in-law all but told me I was stupid for believing a cell phone could kill a bee. He's a Conservative you know, so apparently nature is less than important to him. If I even bring up environmental issues he goes off and calls Al Gore a "cardboard cutout of an idiot". What amazes me is that he loves to garden and seems to know all the names of the plants and trees around him. The picture of the bee and purple flower above is from his garden. I’m sure he thinks the honey bee is just the latest object of the Liberal media. Or something like that. I love the man, but he could certainly use a little wake up call when it comes to Mother Earth.

In ancient Crete the bee was venerated as a symbol of the Goddess. We don’t know the Bee Goddess’ name, but I tend to call her Merope, the Honey Faced. Merope was a later Greek Goddess and one of the Seven Sisters. She married a mortal and, as legend has it, that is the reason she is the faintest star among her sisters within the constellation of the Pleiades. She hides her face in shame. I think this was something the Greeks added later, after the influx of patriarchal ideas. The Goddess is often known to bring together – or balance out – the divine and the profane (profane being anything inherently human, mortal, and mundane.) Her mortal consort is very likely a later image of the bull-god of Crete.

So the Minoans were smart enough to understand the connection between all of life and to understand what it meant to live in harmony with the rest of the planet. They observed the work of the bees and noted how, without the buzz, their crops would fail and their lives would end.

Thousands of years later humanity has unfortunately become less intelligent and more concerned with how much "stuff" they have. "Screw those stupid bees, I just got the coolest, most expensive phone on the market! I can text at the speed of light and take hi-res pictures. That's so much cooler than a few bugs."

It's worth saying that the decline in honey bees could be a natural event. If that's the case I think Mama is trying to tell us something. She's all but shouting "your time is almost up."

Labels: Bee Goddess, honey bees and cell phones, Merope, Misc. Commentary, Misc. News

Astronomers in Europe have found the first planet outside of our universe that may be habitable. Apparently this is a very big deal and is "a significant step on the way to finding possible life in the universe". According to the Associated Press scientists say

"The planet is just the right size, might have water in liquid form, and in galactic terms is relatively nearby at 120 trillion miles away. But the star it closely orbits, known as a "red dwarf," is much smaller, dimmer and cooler than our sun."

The planet is about 20 light years away which means someone needs to find the secrets to warp speed if we ever want to visit it. It's also unclear as to whether the planet has an atmosphere. And if it does what kind of atmosphere is it?

I've always been fascinated by the possibility of other kinds of life. It's common for us as carbon based life forms to assume that other life must also be carbon based. What would a creature that evolved in a nitrogen dominant atmosphere look like? It's also assumed that water is pivotal to life since that is the case here on Earth. What if there are life forms who thrive on some other compound - like sodium or chlorene? I'm not a scientist, but I think it's within the realm of possibility seeing as how vast and complicated space really is.

It's worth saying that Mars is also in the category of Earth-like planets and we have yet to find life there. Though I have heard some theories about there being underground life on Mars which make great fodder for sci-fi stories but are less than credible.

All things considered this is pretty cool stuff.

Labels: Astronomy, Misc. Commentary, Misc. News

I don't believe in late term (partial birth) abortions as a form of birth control, but for women who might be at health risk - risk of death - to not be given the choice to save their own lives seems just as criminal. To read more on this issue click the title of this post. I guess I don't understand why this law couldn't be passed with a clause of some kind that factors in the possibility of abortion being required to save a woman's life.

UPDATED: I just learned the following from Bitch Ph.D..

"The law allows for IDX to be performed to save a woman's life--but not to save, say, her uterus. Because there are other surgical options for late-term abortions, it is highly unlikely that banning IDX will prevent a single abortion. It may, however, prevent some women from having the safest procedure for their particular circumstances."

........

U.S. Supreme Court Upholds Federal Abortion Ban

Law Threatens Women's Health; Criminalizes Safe, Early Abortions

April 18, 2007

WASHINGTON, DC — The U.S. Supreme Court today upheld the federal abortion ban in the cases Gonzales v. Planned Parenthood and Gonzales v. Carhart. The ban, passed by Congress and signed by President Bush in 2003, criminalizes abortions in the second trimester of pregnancy that doctors say are safe and the best to protect women's health. Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) denounced today's ruling.

"This ruling flies in the face of 30 years of Supreme Court precedent and the best interest of women's health and safety," said PPFA Deputy Director of Litigation and Law Eve Gartner, who argued Gonzales v. Planned Parenthood. "Today the court took away an important option for doctors who seek to provide the best and safest care to their patients. This ruling tells women that politicians, not doctors, will make their health care decisions for them."

"Today's decision is a shocking setback for women's health," added Gartner. As Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg said in her dissent, '...the Court deprives women of the right to make an autonomous choice, even at the expense of their safety.'

Labels: Misc. Commentary, Misc. News

Jesus Camp showed up via Netflix to my doorstep yesterday. I honestly had not heard much about the movie, but I was eager to pop it into the Xbox and watch.

I was prepared to get annoyed, maybe even a little angry. I often find myself watching channels on "Jesus Row" (and I use that term affectionately). I'm not sure exactly why I do this. It could be that I have an unconscious need to torture myself. But no, I think it has something to do with staying informed and keeping myself thinking. So, I was no stranger to the normal annoyed state that evangelism usually puts me in. I was, however, not at all prepared for the sick show of emotionally abused children that populates Jesus Camp.

I literally was brought to tears at a few points in the film. Not because I was filled with joy, but because I felt so completely terrible for these children. I recall one little girl who said she was not allowed to dance for anyone but god and that she often had to stop herself from "dancing for the flesh". I couldn't believe my ears. My heart broke for her. I couldn't imagine being a child and feeling guilty for dancing barefoot with sheer innocent abandon in summer-scented grass. That, in my eyes, would be a real abomination. And that poor little girl has to live with that guilt every day.

The children in the film were repeatedly told that they were the chosen warriors of god. The pastor in charge of this child abuse, Becky Fischer, was seen screaming "This means war" at the top of her lungs. I think she needs to be put in a straight jacket and dragged far away from the children she claims to be "using". Those were her words.

After watching the film I found another Pagan blogger's comments on it. Check out Blog o' Gnosis for more, including links to the various personalities seen in the movie.

I am genuinely horrified beyond belief. You should check it out for yourself because no amount of words could justly explain the horror. You'll just have to witness it with your own eyes.

Labels: Misc. Commentary

I recently read a post from an email list that I am on that spoke about healing dolls. I've been making dolls for about a year now and really enjoy it. I guess it never struck me to make them with the purpose of healing.

I make Goddess dolls, so I thought perhaps each Goddess could be identified with a certain type of healing and could thus be given to those who have certain ailments. For example: I have a friend who is experiencing a difficult pregnany and I thought Brigit might be a good choice for her. Brigit is known as a midwife and is frequently called upon to aid labor. The main color I would choose would be green - perfect for healthy growth during pregnancy. I may even stuff the entire doll with lavender to give her a soothing quality. Including this with a bit of bath salts, some incense, a candle, and perhaps even some post partum items like cloth pads, nursing pads, cloth diapers, a knit blanket, etc. and I've got a really great gift basket. And it's all hand made.

Anyway, I'm rambling and I have a point to make.

I am not a spellcrafter. At one time I was very interested in spellwork, but over time it lost its luster and its meaning. So, I was thinking that making a healing doll - or making anything for that matter - with the intent to help or heal may be my kind of magic.

I think it's important to get to the practical root of what magic is and what it was always intended to be used for. In my opinion magic is most suited to two things - healing and prayer. You could throw protection and the like in there as well, but I tend to think of that as prayer too. Anything that creates peace of mind can constitute as prayer in my opinion.

Anyway, what do you think? Do you think Paganism, Wicca, etc. has gone a little overboard with the emphasis on spells and such? I mean why not just call it prayer (with props)? I think Witchcraft is a practice not a religion. How do you feel about that statement? What spiritual significance do spells, tarot cards, etc. have?

Can you tell I am trying to get a conversation going here? *wink*

Labels: Art and Craft, Misc. Commentary, Modern Paganism

Small random rant warning...

Prayer beads pre-date Christianity and are theorized to go as far back as ancient China. It's well documented that Hindu and Buddhist Malas predate the Christian/Catholic rosary. So, now that we've got that straight let's makes sure that a Pagan who prays with beads is not mistaken for a Christo-Pagan or labeled as someone who can't "stick to their own stuff". There is no one religion who can claim ownership on the use of prayer beads.

Just in case you were wondering where that came from I was reading this article at the Wild Hunt and the subsequent comments that followed.

"The practice of using counters of various kinds for the purpose of reciting prayers is one that embraces the broad spectrum of historical religions in every age.

The repetitive Asian mantra was always dominant among Buddhist and Hindu monastics that developed circular beads on strings to chant continuously, night and day.

Their beads reflected various colours and substances that had rich, symbolic meaning related to their religious beliefs, including the numbers of beads on any given circlet.

Representations of western pagan religions likewise show worshippers holding what appear to be prayer-beads used for repetitive invocations."

Source: http://www.chotkis.com/history.htm

Labels: Misc. Commentary, Modern Paganism

In response to Newsweek's On Faith question: Should teaching about religion be mandatory in public schools? In colleges and universities?

Click the linked title of this post to read the responses of others, including Starhawk.

I have a serious problem with my child being taught religion by other people. I believe that everyone has the right to believe in and practice whatever they choose so long as it doesn't hurt anyone else. In saying that, I believe I have the right to keep my child from being exposed to those religions that I don't believe in or disagree with.

I know a lot of Pagans these days who say things like: "I don't have a problem with Christianity. It's the people who push it on me that I don't like." I can echo those sentiments, but at the same time I am honestly going to come clean and say that I have a problem with the religion itself. And I'll tell you why...

What are some of the things Christianity preaches?

Original Sin: I don't even want my kid to hear of this idea until she is old enough and not quite so impressionable. Are you kidding me? This idea teaches that people are inherently bad - evil even. Take a child and tell them are evil every day. Eventually they will believe you and start living by that label. They may even decide to use it as an excuse to do harm. They believe they're evil after all. Why would they think twice about committing evil acts?

Original Sin Stems From Woman: Oh Eve. Bless her for wanting to know the truth. Eve is a prime example of what the Biblical stories do to people who pose questions and look for answers in places that "god" finds less than desirable. They demonize them and make them the originators of the sins of all humankind. Women who are surrounded by these archaic concepts are still trying to break free of them. This led to the ideas that birth, breast feeding, menstruation, and female sexuality are dirty and bad. In reality all of these are natural and sacred. This even leads to men feeling guilty for being sexually attracted to women because women and "sins of the flesh" will cause their downfall into damnation. Viola, we've now sexually repressed the entire human race into being Puritans.

God Should be Feared/The Concept of Hell/Non-believes Will Suffer Eternal Damnation: I think we can all agree that a society based on fear causes little more than an advance in consumerism and panic. No thanks.

"Man" Has Dominion Over the Earth: Uh. What? We own the Earth? What makes us so special? We can see where this has led with the effects of pollution, global warming, endangered species, the rainforest, etc, etc, etc.

So, I don't have a problem with Christians (at least the non-evangelical ones). I have a problem with the ideas that they are led to believe are truth and the consequent effects that have wrought destruction, guilt, fear, misogyny, etc. all over our world. (The ideas that make people believe they are evil for being human.) But, I still believe they have the right to believe what they choose and I admire those that keep faith within them, honoring the loving aspects of their religion and their god. The problem is, I expect the same from them and their "god" doesn't permit it.

Labels: Misc. Commentary, Writings

The essay, The Great and Sovereign Mother Goddess by Robin Artisson, had me nodding my head on many occasions. One specific point that I agreed upon was made with the statement:

"India makes a good place to look for traditions of Goddess Worship..."

Absolutely. Here we have a surviving tradition of the Goddess. It is however not found in its original form and has still been subjected, in part, to the "savage suppression" spoken of in the later part of the statement.


Another good point from the essay:

"Despite the very politically motivated over-simplifications that have been worked into the field of Goddess studies by radical feminists..."

I couldn't agree more. The Goddess is an equal opportunity mother. She doesn't love her female children more than her male ones or vice versa. Many aspects of her mysteries can be seen through the female body, but that does not automatically exalt women over men. It is about equality and respect and nothing more. I refuse to allow my religion to be a fading movement which serves someone else's political agendas.


"I do not believe in the so-called 'triple goddess' of modern mainstream neo-paganism."

"...I do not believe in the wiccan 'triple goddess'."

Robin feels strongly enough about the above statement to say it twice. It just so happens that it is probably the one point that I had the most conflict with. Within the essay itself are the following words.

"Alongside this virginal, pure and boundless condition..."

"...She has been approached as Earth Mother... and as a Goddess of the Underworld or a Fate-Weaver."

In the above statements the Goddess is demonstrated as being triplicate as in Maiden, Mother, and Crone which Robin says is a "modern construct" despite the "great religious truth that many of the Goddesses [he] worship[s] historically appear in triple form."

"...I do believe in the Goddess of Sovereignty, and in her triple force of power."

I'm confused. So I call the Goddess Maiden, Mother, Crone, and All Goddess and Robin calls her the Goddess of Sovereignty who has a triple power. What is the difference? I think we're talking about the same thing here.

Is it possible that Robert Graves coined the terms Maiden, Mother, Crone because it was a common way of seeing the Goddess: youthful, motherly, and aging? He didn't make up the myths of the Goddess which demonstrate these triplicate aspects. He simply classified her aspects into simple English. I'm not even sure Graves can take all the credit for it actually. These ideas have been around for millennia. It seems unlikely that one man could put into words what has always been. Or perhaps for him it was a moment of intuition and remembrance of the Great Goddess of ancient times. Either way, does it really matter? It appears that we believe in the same thing, but call it two (kind of) different things.

So, this leaves the Triple Goddess as a historical manifestation seen through the eyes of the myth writers and readers - the interpreters of the worship of our Ancient Mother. The Goddess in triplicate is not a new concept, nor is it solely a Wiccan one.

I admire Robin's writing ability and thoughtful approach. I hope to be given the opportunity to have conversations and debate with him in the future.

Labels: Goddess, Misc. Commentary, Modern Paganism

Dear Mr. Gore

I recently watched An Inconvenient Truth and wanted to share a few things with you.

Firstly, let me commend you on your tireless work to save our Earth. You have continually placed the environment among your top priorities. For that reason alone you would have my vote.

Next, if you would like people to be more concerned about the problem of global warming and environmental issues, then people need to start seeing the Earth as sacred again.

Long ago our ancestors revered the Earth and all of Nature as holy. It was not something they felt separated from, rather something they felt wholly connected to. The Earth was their home, their source of food and shelter, their Great and Bountiful Mother.

In recent history people have removed themselves from Nature, though she is still our source of life. They have begun to see the Earth as something to have "dominion" over. That's a term coined from the Bible itself. Perhaps we have to start at the very root of people's beliefs and moral standards by examining their religion.

I believe by promoting Earth-centered religions and taking a stand with the people who still see the Earth as our Sacred Mother, you may be able to turn the moral standards towards the Environment in this country and save the planet. Teach that destroying the Earth is not only idiocy, but sacrilege.

What do you say? Can you support the Pagans, the Goddess Worshippers, the Wiccans, the Native Americans, etc? You won't find a better group suited to saving the Earth and protecting it for generations to come. Not to mention, most of us are Democrats.

Sincerely,
LM Hutchings

Labels: Misc. Commentary, Modern Paganism

This morning over my morning tea I found myself reading a three page spread in the web edition of the New York Times about Richard Dawkins new book, The God Delusion. What follows is a sort of mental diarrhea that will most likely make little sense and cause you a headache.

Genocidal Atheists

Dawkins takes every available opportunity to state how evil religion is. He goes so far as to say he suspects "there are very few atheists in prison." He provides no statistics or other evidence for this claim. The author also rationalizes that though Hitler and Stalin were both atheists, that their lack of religion was not a factor in driving their brutality.

Hmm... this statement seems ridiculous to me. Let me just put myself in the shoes of someone who has lost the belief in God and harbors hate towards other people.

If I wanted to destroy a lot of people the idea of there being no Creator would suit that - maybe even justify it in the mind of a delusional, insane person. Hell, it may even lead to the insanity in the first place. Without a god to see and judge your actions you may think you can take all sorts of liberty with human life. Why bother holding back your murderous impulses if no one will punish you for it? Now, I don't believe in the whole punishment thing in the traditional sense. I believe in Karma - which can be a real bitch for those folks who get off on hurting others.

Also, if I had spent my entire life believing in something, even devoting myself to it as in Stalin's case (a onetime Orthodox seminarian), I would be pretty pissed off to one day figure out that I had been lied to and had wasted my time on something fictional.

Are you there God?

I've been there, you know. I've been in that spot in the brain that causes doubt in all things not physical. I've been "Little Miss Doubty-Pants" and "The Queen of Rational Thought" before. If you asked me to explain how I got over it, I couldn't tell you. I'm not sure I ever closed the door on those thoughts, but I still believe in something greater. I don't care if it makes me a sheep in the eyes of Atheists, Secular Humanists, or Bob the grocery store clerk.

One day I thought to myself, "What if when we die we just break down into the planet and there is no consciousness?" That's the single most terrifying thought my brain has ever come up with. I can't say that I have completely reconciled this idea within myself. It still creeps in there every now and again when I least expect it, but I don't obsess over it.

One of the things I keep coming back to is the reality of cyclical transformation. Nothing is ever created or destroyed. All things simply change from one thing to another. All that exists now has always existed. This means that everything is God/dess if God/dess is the source. But, into what form do we get to be transformed? Is it as biodegradable waste or a spiritual, consciousness-having entity?

If the soul exists than it can not cease to exist. So, I guess the question is - how do we prove the human soul exists? Does it live in the brain? Does it die when the body dies? Is the brain the source of consciousness?

I believe in the Goddess and Nature. I don't know the answers, despite how many times I've tried to manifest them in my cerebral cortex. I only have faith and personal truth. That's just going to have to be enough. Will it matter if I'm wrong?

Labels: Misc. Commentary, Misc. News

I've seen more than one article on the growth of Atheism lately. I've even listened to an entire series of Podcasts about a woman who was Wicca for 20 years and woke up one day to decide she was an atheist/humanist. Strangely, she says things like "The answers are within us". I had to stop myself from emailing her and asking how she had been Wiccan for 20 years without figuring that one out. I mean, has she even read the Charge of the Goddess? Besides the point, I've had similar experiences of questioning my faith and I know there are plenty of people who could echo the same.

Maybe this is evidence that the books on our shelves and the often vapid ways our communities can practice is wearing on us. It's time to go deeper into our religion(s) and find meaning that resonates without being too dogmatic.

Honestly, are any of you farmers? Sure some of us have our hobby gardens, but does your life and livelihood depend on whether or not the harvest is good? Not likely. I think farmers make up like 1% of the American population. Don't quote me on that though. My point is, what do the practices of an agricultural people have to do with modern, grocery store consumers? Has Wicca really ever made it out the 1800's? Rather, was Wicca intended to make it out of an antiquated mind-set when it was created by Gardner in the 50's?

Most of what I see from atheists is a backlash of Judeo/Christian religions - mostly people who feel the dominance of those religions in this country is detrimental. With books like The God Delusion and The End of Faith hitting the shelves, Atheism seems to be making a run for the top of the religion (or anti-religion) food chain. What could this mean for Pagans? What could this mean for religion in general in this country? Would your rather live in a world with some religion (even if it was not your own) or no religion at all?

Labels: Misc. Commentary, Misc. News

John Lennon was a smart guy, especially when it comes to talking about Karma - more specifically Instant Karma.

A few years ago I did a good thing. There was a woman who lived in my complex whose father was dying in the hospital. Her mother was already with him and the young woman had no way to join them. Her car was broken down or something like that. So, I offered to give her a ride.

Before I continue let me give you a little background information about my relationship to this particular person.

The woman, I'll call her Tina, was a born again Christian - at least that was what she professed to me. I had seen her speak in tongues on more than one occasion and she often lectured me on the gospel. One time she even came to my door, at the request of her mother, to try and save my soul. They were well meaning, if not a little strange. I was always polite and did my best to explain my beliefs to her in the best way I knew how. It did little to convince Tina or her mother. I can still remember Tina's face when I 'confessed' that I didn't believe in sin.

So, back to the story...

I drove Tina to the hospital making polite chatter as we traveled. She insisted on giving me gas money since my low fuel light was on before we began our trip and it was still two days before I got paid. I refused and told her not to worry about it - that I'd make it home on my good Karma. I said this in a kidding way... well mostly.

As we pulled into the parking lot of the hospital she asked again if she could give me some money for my trouble. I assured her that it was no trouble at all. Just as I spoke I caught a flash of green out of the corner of my eye. There, lying in a puddle of rainwater and leaves was a five dollar bill. I jumped from the car, looked around to see if someone might have dropped the money then slid it into my pocket with a shrug.

"See," I said. "Karma."

Labels: Misc. Commentary

This week marked the beginning of my third semester as a returning college student. So far, my mythology class holds my interest more than any other.

My mythology professor is young, female, pretty, and very energetic. She has an exciting way of exploring world myths that make me think of mythology in general as something more than just stories of ancient cultures.

Yesterday we were talking about truth. This came up after a few students gave definitions of the word 'myth' that contained things like 'fraudulent' and 'false'. She told the class about two Native American myths concerning what happens after death. The professor began by telling us that the myths were "thousands and thousands of years old".

The two nations of Native people lived across the country from each other but their afterlife myth was almost exactly the same. The myth stated that after death a person's spirit ascended through the atmosphere and up into the Milky Way. The Milky Way was then traveled as a labyrinth-like road that led to a black hole (a mystical portal) through which the spirit would go through to reach the otherworld.

I would say that most of us would see this myth as some kind of story full of symbols and obscure metaphors. I think that is how the bulk of humanity sees mythology - at least the mythology of others. (One person's mythology is another person's religion.) But it turns out that some years ago Astronomers found a black hole just outside the Milky Way in the exact place that the Native American tribes said it would be.

This blew me away. You see, I have a habit of "robbing myself of the magick" or at least that's what Raven Grimassi told me at last year's Pagan Pride. I am too analytical, too rooted in science. I want something or someone to prove to me what is real and what is false. This story made me realize that just because we have yet to find some way to prove a fact through the use of science does not mean that it can not be true. Let me rephrase. I had realized this before, but this experience made me believe it as more than a cop-out that allows us to hold on to our beliefs.

Truth is one of the most subjective ideas in existence. We all have our own versions of it - our own realties - and they are what is truly 'real' to each of us.

I think what my Professor gave me yesterday was hope. I no longer feel that I need to prove to myself or anyone else what is real to me. I see now that I can find the truth in anything within myself. I've always thought that I followed the "answers are within you" model. Now I see that I was only half right about that concept.

Thank you Mother
For the opportunities that you lay at my feet each day.
I am blessed with many gifts,
The greatest of which is the knowledge of your love.
I banish fear and doubt
And embrace confidence and faith.
I am one with the shining light that is the Great Goddess.

Labels: Misc. Commentary

Yeah, I know I have a big Kirk monkey on my back lately, but I just can't seem to get past some of the things he talks about on his program. With the help of his partner in crime, Ray Comfort, he has created the most watched Christian show on TV. At least that's what I've heard.

The main premise of the show, The Way of the Master, is to get people to come to Christ through the use of the Ten Commandments. I am often blown away by some of the material on the program. For instance, on last week's show Ray and Kirk tried to tell us that anyone who has ever harbored hate in their heart is a murderer and is thus guilty of breaking that commandment. Wow, now that is some serious straw grasping. I have never heard a bigger bunch of BS in my entire life. And, just an FYI, if you've ever just lusted after a woman you are an adulterer. They don't say anything about women lusting after men so you all-the-way-straight girls are apparently off the hook.

It seems to me that all these two men are trying to do is convince the human race how evil it is and how we are all just a bunch of no good sinners destined for eternal suffering in a pit of brimstone. I'm so glad I don't believe in the Bible or in sin. What a terrible burden to carry. "You're bad for being a person! Damn you human being! You make mistakes and act with emotions? How dare you!"

On the topic of not believing in the Bible, let's take a look at how Kirk and Ray advise people to minister to those of us who have less than a grand opinion of "Ye Ole Good Book". According to the Way of the Master website:

"Christians can't use 'circular reasoning' by trying to prove the Bible by quoting from the Bible!"

The "circular reasoning" argument is absurd. That's like saying you can't prove that the President lives in the White House by looking into the White House. It is looking into the White House that will provide the necessary proof. The fulfilled prophecies, the amazing consistency, and the many scientific statements of the Bible prove it to be the Word of God. They provide evidence that it is supernatural in origin. See also Psalm 119:105 footnote.

Hmm... I don't understand how you can compare something solid and tangible like the President and the White House to a supposed supernatural text and the supernatural claims it contains. It is a bad analogy to say the least. It still proves absolutely nothing other than the fact that Kirk and Ray think that the bulk of humanity is retarded.

A while back I found an answer that compared the Bible to an oncoming eighteen-wheeler. The gist of that statement had something to do with believing in the Bible being as simple as believing in death by Mac Truck. I can't seem to find the exact quote on the site anymore but if I do I will be sure to post it here for you.

A plain and simple message to Kirk and Ray: I don't believe in the Bible, the Ten Commandments, or sin. Without the tiniest shred of belief you have no argument. Convert me now boys. In my opinion you are spreading untruths. What does that make you? Come on you can do it. It begins with L.

p.s. You're welcome for the free publicity.

Labels: Misc. Commentary

The most recent post by Athana at Radical Goddess Thealogy had me feeling the need to comment. Read the entire post by visiting this link.

My comments are below: (For those wondering what Kirk Cameron and Tim LaHaye have to do with each other - Kirk stars in the film adaptations of the Left Behind books by LeHaye. I would absolutely love to get stopped on the street by either him or Ray Comfort for a talk about the Ten Commandments. I've been planning my argument for a while now.)

Grian said...
I heard of LeHaye and the Left Behind series a few years back in Rolling Stone. He immediately freaked me out. I am even more disturbed since my dear sweet Granny is reading his books and being brain-washed by their ridiculous tripe.

What I have never been able to figure is why people can't see the Bible for what it is - mythology. Ask Christians if they believe Zeus really shot lightening bolts from the Heavens and they will snort and tell you that's silly mythology. How is the Rapture of Revelations and multiple headed monsters from the sea any different? Anyone who believes that crap is reality should be feared as crazy. At least that's what I think.

Grian said...
Oh, and I forgot to mention: I think Kirk Cameron might be the real anti-christ. :) For some reason I get caught up watching his show (with the equally crazed Ray Comfort) on TBN and at some point I've broken out in a cold sweat and I am screaming at the tv in crazed laughter.

Labels: Misc. Commentary

Last night I watched a special on the Sci-Fi Channel about the Da Vinci Code. I was expecting something like I had seen in the past; a program which would discuss the elements of the book in a non-biased way - scratching the surface of the truths and quasi-truths of the book - ultimately telling us that it was a work of fiction based on many factual elements. What I got from "Cracking Da Vinci's Code" was Christian propaganda.

I watched the almost two hour long program in utter disbelief. Every person interviewed for the special either had a book debunking the Da Vinci Code (thus furthering their own agenda and that of the Church) or was a Christian minister of some kind. The arguments were completely one sided and not at all objective. I had to double check to make sure that the program was indeed airing on the Sci-Fi Channel. I thought perhaps I had mistakenly hit the section of Christian Channels that I affectionately call "Jesus Row".

The main point of "Cracking Da Vinci's Code" seemed to be the claims of truth in the first pages of Dan Brown's book - speaking of factual and accurate representations of documents, architecture, and artwork, etc. Dan Brown himself is painted as an immoral man who delights in lying to the public as opposed to simply being the talented writer of fiction that he is.

The program goes on to say that there is no such thing as Gnostic Gospels. This is a complete lie. The parchments within the Nag Hammadi library are often referred to as the Gnostic Gospels by scholars and educated lay people alike. Complete scholarly books have been written on the subject of these lost gospels. (http://www.webcom.com/gnosis/naghamm/nhl.html)

At the very end of last night's presentation I, as the viewer, was told that the truth is within the Bible and that I should seek that instead of the entertainment of a fictional bestseller. Once again Christendom feels it is necessary to tell the world what to believe. Isn't this how Mary Magdalene was painted as a whore in the first place? Of course, in "Cracking Da Vinci's Code" they claim she was never known as a whore. In fact it is true that no where in the New Testament does it say that Mary Magdalene was a whore, but in 591CE Pope Gregory decided to tell the people what to believe about her and it stuck for almost 1500 years. People who know nothing of the Bible - who have never read it - still remember that Mary Magdalene is supposed to be a repentant prostitute. Yet more half truths told by the producers of the program.

To close I would like to tell the people of the Sci-Fi Channel to stick to what they are good at: UFOs, Bigfoot, and cheesy B-Flicks about Mansquitos, Chubacabra, etc. Oh, and Ghost Hunters is fabulous. Leave the Bible thumping to TLN - whose Executive Consultant for Network Development, Charles E. Sellier, happened to have produced last night's one-sided, Bible fueled TV program. Sellier has also done work for the PAX channel whose show Faith Under Fire was spearheaded by Lee Strobel. Strobel has also joined the mission against the DaVinci Code and Dan Brown. (http://www.leestrobel.com/)

For those of you not familiar with TLN (Total Living Network) their mission reads as follows:

"To direct people to Christ and to provide resources for a vibrant relationship with Him through the electronic communications media."
http://www.tln.com/mission.html

On Charles E. Sellier (CEO of Grizzly Adams Productions): http://www.tln.com/leadership_sellier_bio.html

Grizzly Adams Productions:
http://www.grizzlyadams.com/ http://www.grizzlyadams.tv/

Press Release for "Cracking Da Vinci's Code": http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/s06050073.htm

Labels: Misc. Commentary