Shadow Casting

Finally, some good news. Maybe, the Irish atheists should move to England.

British study reveals Bible knowledge in decline

Richard Dawkins on the Irish Blasphemy Law.

Blasphemy law a return to middle ages

And a good coming out story from a return mormon missionary. If you want to see the horrible brainwashing that can be done by a religion, listen to how he says that his biggest fear is not rejection from his conservative mormon family, but that he would go to hell.

Fortunately, his family accepts him despite their religion, and hell is not real. A win-win situation.

Doug Heye at the Washington Times is now whining about how the left is using all of the republican scandals to “further kick the Republican Party when it’s down“.

Spotlight on Democrats’ glee

The left seeks to portray any politician supporting pro-life, pro-marriage legislation — let alone one who talks about his or her Christian faith — as a hypocrite-in-waiting, then celebrates when such a politician is caught red-handed.

Yet in every campaign, candidates emphasize family to demonstrate to voters that they “share your values.”

Yeah, right.

Many of the republicans who were caught in various scandals do much more than try to portray themselves as responsible family men. Conservatives are constantly using their “family values” to attack anyone that does not fit into their definition of correctness.

Whether by outlawing gay marriage, preventing adoptions by people based on their sexual orientation, failing to pass laws that would prevent discrimination or violence against someone who is gay, lesbian, or transgender, they use their “values” as a weapon.

They also feel that the public cannot be trusted with family planning. Many conservatives support restrictions on birth control, and they refuse to let teenagers have comprehensive sex education that would prevent them from having unwanted pregnancies or getting a disease. They also refuse to allow women to make their own reproductive choices when it comes to abortion.

Republicans are obsessed with sex, and they use this obsession as a hammer to pommel anyone that they think does not fit into their “perfect world”.

Those for whom any Republican scandal represents schadenfreude at its purest would do well to remember that believing in an ideal and failing to live up to it does not diminish that ideal.

How about “believing in an ideal“, forcing everyone to live by that ideal, punishing anyone who does not live by that ideal, and then “failing to live up to” that ideal yourself.

Why do you find it strange when the people whom you have been trying to kick find it funny when you slip and fall on your ass.

Another religious asshole

Hey look. Another child molestation scandal for the catholic church. This time it involves the “Legion of Christ” and their leader, Marcial Maciel Degollado.

A secret shame: Inside the latest scandal to rock the Catholic church

Parents of youngsters recruited as Legionaries described it as a cult that targeted the young and naive in particular, some of them just 13, and then “brainwashed” them. But it is Maciel himself who has proved most controversial. Nuestro Padre was, according to one biographer, “a narcissistic sociopath” with a taste for flights on Concorde and five-star hotels.

Hmm. I thought all religions were started by narcissistic sociopaths who gain followers by brainwashing the naive. Sounds like a typical day in the land of faith to me.

Funny stuff

Apparently, this guy has been banned from YouTube, but the videos are still there. Watch while you can.

In case you have not seen this story, two men were harassed and arrested in Salt Lake City, Utah. The arrest was for trespassing on property owned by the mormonoids. Apparently, there was a big scandal back in 2003 where the city gave some public land in Salt Lake to the mormon church.

The two men often walked through this area as do many other people, but on this evening they were singled out by security guards because they kissed. The guards detained them, and called the police who cited them for trespassing.

You can read the full story at Blue in Red Zion, Basic Civil Rights V. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Part 1 and Part 2.

Although I have not lived there in 20 years, I grew up in Ogden, Utah which is north of Salt Lake, so none of this surprises me. The church pretty much runs the state, so a sleazy land grant from the city to the church certainly comes as no surprise.

The church’s hatred of gay people also comes as no surprise.

When I was looking for the story, I came across the blog for this guy, Voice Of Deseret. Apparently, he thinks that the gay conspiracy is once again trying to advance the gay agenda.

First, he gives the following quote from the Blue in Red Zion article.

this especially irked the both of us because having walked through on a frequent basis (we often walk to work through there) and every time I have been through there are either marriage ceremonies going on, young mormon [sic] couples cuddling in front the fountain, hugging, holding hands, etc.

Matt then tried to get them to admit they were singling us out because they just didn’t approve of “gay” public displays of affection, baiting them into revealing their bigotry.

Then, he says

So they openly admit they were merely trying to bait and provoke the Church rather than resolve a dispute. This exposes the moral bankruptcy and crass opportunism of the gay rights movement, and shows why we must not compromise with them, but continue to ratchet up the ante against them as much as possible.

So let’s see. You find yourself in a situation where you feel you are being singled out for unjust treatment. The people who are treating you badly are too hypocritical to tell you the real reason why you are being singled out, even though the reason is obvious.

I would think most people in this situation would be a tad bit angry. They may even react out of anger to the people treating them this way. Not according to this guy though. Their angry behavior was just a show. They were simply trying to “bait and provoke” people.

Apparently, if you have a normal reaction of anger at being treated unjustly, it proves that you are morally bankrupt and a crass opportunist. In fact, such behavior even calls for the use of a mixed metaphor in the need to “ratchet up the ante” against you.

Strong words there even if they don’t make a whole lot of sense.

The mormon church tells people that they can know the truth of the book of mormon by praying about it, and asking god to show them if it is true. Apparently, god will give them a “burning in the bosom” that tells them to become a mormonoid.

Hey, when a gay guy looks at another man, and feels all warm and happy inside, maybe god is telling him to have gay sex. I’m just saying.

All of this just makes me really glad that I don’t live in Utah anymore.

Update

Some protesters held a “kiss-in” near the mormon temple. Apparently, they were not swallowed up by the Earth, and the angel moroni did not fall off of his giant golden ball. Although, he did feel a tad bit silly blowing a giant trumpet while the gay people were kissing.

Protesters stage “kiss-in” near Mormon temple

Well, isn’t that just lovely. According to an article at lgbtQ News, people are now speculating that Obama may be a closet catholic. Apparently, he once worked for the Campaign for Human Development, and admires catholic social activism.

You really have to love this quote,

For the gay and lesbian community in this country, I think it’s clear that they feel victimized in fairly powerful ways and they’re often hurt by not just certain teachings of the Catholic Church, but the Christian faith generally. And as a Christian, I’m constantly wrestling with my faith and my solicitude and regard and concern for gays and lesbians.

Gee, where to begin.

Notice, that he did not say that gays and lesbians are victimized just that they feel that way. Mr. Obama, when a person’s legal rights are systematically denied due to unjust laws, it is more than just a feeling. The catholic church actively works to deny gay, lesbian, and transgender people some of the most basic human rights including the right to marry. The legal discrimination that the catholic church has helped orchestrate in this country is an atrocity. I don’t care whether the catholic church likes me or not. I do care very much when they actively work to take away my rights and the rights of people I care about.

It is interesting how, by his own admission, his christian faith is in direct opposition to the natural feeling of compassion that arises at the sight of human suffering. I can think of no better reason why christianity is a perversion than this one.

When someone has not been indoctrinated by an ideology or a religion that demonizes a whole group of people, the sight of suffering naturally creates a sense of sympathy and compassion. Obama admits to having such a concern for gays and lesbians, but has to struggle with this concern because of the horrible ideologies put forward by his christian faith.

Isn’t it strange how he never seemed to be struggling with this issue during the campaign. If Obama does move closer to catholicism as people are speculating, you can bet those campaign promises will never be kept. Sure, lying and breaking promises are also against catholic teaching, but I am sure that they will let that one slide if he decides to stop helping the queers.

There is an article at Salon titled We’re all intersex.

The article is an interview with Gerald N. Callahan the author of the book Between XX and XY: Intersexuality and the Myth of Two Sexes.

The story in the first paragraph of the Salon article is enough to sell me. The story is about Lisa May Stevens who discovers that she was born with both sets of genitalia, but that doctors had operated on her as a baby.

You would imagine that discovering such news about yourself as an adult may be upsetting in our gender binary society, so she sought some guidance.

After learning the news, she consulted her priest, who said that while God usually condemns suicides, for her he might make an exception.

Fell the compassion. Once again, the christians comes through with the love.

Unfortunately, the article goes on to say that she eventually did attempt suicide.

Many christians see homosexuality as a choice. Even for transgender people who feel that they were born in the wrong body, christians will argue that they are choosing to feel that way for whatever reason. For them to admit that being gay or transgender is not a choice would be like saying that god made a mistake.

But what about people who are intersex. In the case of Lisa May Stevens, it is not like she chose to be born with both sets of genitalia. It’s kind of hard to explain that one as a lifestyle choice. It is also interesting that the priest is implying that she is some kind of mistake, but didn’t his god make her that way.

The sad part of all of this is that she could not see the priest as the asshole he really is. Like many people who are gay, transgender, or intersex, she saw herself as the problem. As long as people continue to seek guidance from such horrible people, this will continue to be the result.

If the guy is wearing a collar, you would be better off running the other way.

As Americans celebrate their independence, it is always good to remember that not everyone gets to share in the freedoms that the majority takes for granted.

Danny Glover reads a speech made by Frederick Douglass on the Fourth of July in 1852.

Sandra Oh reads a speech by Yuri Kochiyama who was in a Japanese internment camp during WWII

Brave New Foundation has produced a series a videos about the hidden cost of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell on the partners of deployed service members. Nothing like fighting for a country that forces you to hide your true self.

Go to Silent Partners to see more.

The Gay Blood Libel

I am sure you have heard it many times: the charge that gay people are child molesters. It seems to pop out whenever a conservative speaker’s mouth is open, or when they need a scapegoat to deflect criticism. For instance, every time a new scandal arises in the catholic church from the cover-up of widespread child abuse by clergy members, the catholics put forth the standard answer. “It’s the gay people” they say. We just need to keep them out of the priesthood, and every thing will be peachy.

You may remember that jewish people have been slandered over the years by allegations that they sacrifice children to perform occult rituals. This allegation continues to resurface occasionally due to various anti-semitic groups. No matter how often it is debunked, the allegation will not die just like the allegation that all gay people are child molesters.

But now, the truth can be told thanks to the Virginia Department of Health.

Isn’t she a little young?

If you live in Virginia, you may occasionally spot that slogan on a billboard. The full slogan is “Isn’t she a little young? Sex with a minor, don’t go there.” The billboards are the product of the Virginia Department of Health. They even have a website.

Department of Health Statutory Rape Site

Apparently, the state of Virginia has enough of a problem with straight men targeting underage girls that they need to put up billboards about it. Yep, that’s right: straight men.

You may be aware that Virginia is one of those states that has a constitutional amendment to outlaw gay marriage. When it was up for a vote, we were treated to many a saying about how gay people were immoral, the destroyers of family values, and, yes, the old gay blood libel about molesting children. Despite all of these allegations, I have yet to see any billboards telling gay men to stay away from children.

According to this article, the campaign will cost the state $85,000 dollars. The article was from 2004, so the cost must be even greater now. The billboards are still going up, and they are all targeting straight men.

Even more interesting, the website for the Department of Health has a link titled “What About Boys?” where it explains that boys can also be the victims of sexual violence. If the straight men are molesting the girls, could it be that the gay men are molesting the boys? Maybe the blood libel is true you say.

Not according to the state of Virginia. When you go the “What About Boys?” page, you are treated to the following statement:

Most of the offenders who exploit young men are male. And, most men who abuse boys define their sexual orientation as heterosexual.

Get that. Heterosexual men are molesting the girls and the boys.

How very interesting. Gay people aren’t a threat to morality at all. Straight people are. Can we repeal the fucking marriage amendment now?

Thank you, Virginia, for setting us straight.