I was raised Roman Catholic. My mother was from a religiously strict Irish Catholic upbringing and believed most of the literal interpretations of the Bible. Offenses and even atrocities committed by Christianity were ignored in my family. Any questions about religion that included the words "how do we know" are answered with the "Faith" answer. It was intellectually easy to dismiss such questions with the "Faith" response.
In High School Physics my teacher taught that Physics was "an explanation of how everything behaves". This was the exact opposite of what I was taught in church and in Sunday School. How was I to be intellectually honest if I simply used the "F" word as an answer to anything. That's where the two worlds of my youth collided. You have to have faith versus an explanation of how everything behaves. In that moment the word "Faith" as an answer vanished from my vocabulary. I realized that Faith is a deflection of the most fundamental questions in life. It is a cop-out, a way of giving up and not feeling guilty about it. It is a way of telling me not to think and learn. And when you give up the desire to think and learn you are easily controlled. This is a classic technique in cults used to convert followers. With faith you can be told and convinced of anything. At that point you are helpless. There are many ironies throughout religion but none more controlling or dangerous than the "have faith" argument. The irony is: If we are made as thinking beings by a supposed perfect being then we should never ignore such a gift in favor of the ignorance required by organized religion.
What luck for rulers that men do not think.
- Adolph Hitler
To understand more about the true origins of religion go to:
My calendar vid has been reloaded with different music. If you haven't seen it - take a look!!! And below it is a cool new review too!
5.0 out of 5 stars Historical accuracy recaptured...in a calendar, November 5, 2009
By Elisabeth Biernik
History has always been written by the victors. For nearly two thousand years the victors in Western Civilization's war for souls has been Christianity. They have forged artifacts, historicized past events, and rewritten history to suit the needs of those in power and in control of the clergy. The 2010 Astrotheology Calendar takes a significant step in recapturing this lost historical accuracy. So much of the history of Pagan religions, thought destroyed by the attempts of people such as Emperor Theodosius and the violent censuring mobs of Christian zealotry, is once again regained here in this wonderfully informative document.
Each day of each month reveals new celebrations that long predate Christianity and yet were usurped by the social engineering efforts that were so crucial to the Christian myth. For those interested in historical accuracy, and for those simply curious as to the origins of the many holidays that we take for granted today, The 2010 Astrotheology Calendar is a must have.
The Fort Hood massacre is shining a spotlight at the shooter's school, Virginia Tech, which apparently has a thriving Muslim community - and a bunch of murders in recent years. Internet speculation is that there is an Islamist "sleeper cell" nearby or incorporated into the school somehow. Evidently there is a significantl Muslim population in various parts of Virginia, which would indicate a deliberate targeting of that state.
...Students have been comforting each other since police found the two bodies with gun-shot wounds at a park 15 miles from campus....
In 2007, senior English major Seung-Hui Cho killed 32 Virginia Tech students before killing himself. And in January of this year there was a decapitation in a campus cafe....
While Europe's indigenous population is declining as many people are choosing to have fewer children, the immigrant population is exploding. Most of these immigrants, of course, are from Muslim countries, which means that European demographics are changing dramatically, and Eurabia is emerging.
Contrary to what this rabbi opines, however, many people are likely not having children because of the environmental impact of overpopulation. Indeed, this notion appears to be lost on the religiously inclined who apparently feel that it is best to reproduce wantonly, no matter the cost in natural resources.
In reality, in an overpopulated world running out of natural resources, not having a bunch of children is a very selfless thing to do, while mindlessly reproducing yourself either for egotistical purposes, to "please God" or to dominate the world is incredibly selfish.
Instead of bringing an unlimited amount of mouths to feed into this world, let us make sure that everyone already here is well loved and taken care of!
• People accused of being too selfish to be parents • Sacks says non-believers lack family values
Europe is "dying" because its citizens are too selfish to have children, the chief rabbi has said, blaming a dwindling birthrate on a culture of "consumerism and instant gratification".
Sir Jonathan Sacks accused people of caring more about shopping than spirituality and tied the secularisation of Europe to population decline....
Truth is what the verifiable facts say it is. Truth lies in the direction that the evidence leads. If a person is presented with facts and evidence and still chooses not to believe the truth, or to pursue corroborative evidence, then he is no more than a shrew doomed to be the prey of con artist wolves and charlatan jackals.
If one is presented with truth based on verifiable evidence and fact and then chooses a position contrary to this position then any claims made on that argument are absolute nonsense. Any premise contrary to this truth must be false and subsequent argument is rendered moot.
In other words:
If one creates an entire belief system based on a false major premise then the entire belief system, no matter how staunchly defended, can be nothing more than utter nonsense.
UPDATE: News agencies report the shooter as a "lifelong" and "devout" Muslim who made "outlandish remarks" about Muslims killing Americans. Also, Hasan supposedly shouted "Allahu Akbar" - "Allah is great" - as he opened fire
Well it had to happen, because there are far too many people in this country who want to destroy it, and many others are too complacent about it. Never mind all that - we need to continue to ignore the threat of Islamic fanaticism, in favor of being politically correct (and terrified to speaking out). The alleged murderer at Fort Hood is at this point only a "possible" Muslim convert, but it wouldn't surprise many Islam critics if that contention is true. I have no doubt that upon hearing this horrible news, many people asked themselves if the shooter was a Muslim.
The simple fact is that none of this mania is going to go away, so long as the non-Muslim world and responsible Muslims refuse to acknowledge there's a problem intrinsic to Islam.
Muslim apologists and dhimmi spokesmen will undoubtedly claim that the shooter was in reality a Zionist, racist or Islamophobe.
FORT HOOD, Texas – A soldier opened fire at a U.S. Army base in Fort Hood, Texas on Thursday, unleashing a stream of gunfire that left 12 people dead and 31 wounded. Authorities killed the gunman, and apprehended two other soldiers suspected in what appears to be the worst mass shooting at a U.S. military base.
The shooting began around 1:30 p.m., Lt. Gen. Bob Cone said at a news conference. He said all the casualties took place at the base's Soldier Readiness Center, where soldiers who are about to be deployed or who are returning undergo medical screening.
"It's a terrible tragedy. It's stunning," Cone said.
A law enforcement official identified the shooting suspect as Army Maj. Malik Nadal Hasan. The official said Hasan, believed to be in his late 30s, was killed after opening fire at the base. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the case publicly.
The official says investigators are trying to determine if Hasan was his birth name, or if he changed his name and converted to Islam at some point in his life....
...Religion: He attended the Muslim Community Center in Silver Spring, Md., and was devout, Khan said. He attended prayers at least once a day, seven days a week, often in his Army fatigues, Khan said....
Major Nidal Malik Hasan, who allegedly killed 11 people before being shot and wounded by police at Fort Hood, had said Muslims should "rise up" and attack Americans in retaliation for the US war in Iraq, a former army colleague said.
As we suspected: The omnipotent Lord has a very bad cavity and is in need of all the world's gold to fill it. But seriously, folks, for years now there has been a new "Gospel of Prosperity" preached at many churches via various televangelists who - surprise, surprise! - need your money in order to operate. Ironically using witchcraft and preaching karma, these organizations claim that if you give them money, your "investment" will be miraculousy returned to you tenfold or some other such magical return God has up his sleeve. Naturally, many millions have given from their heart and received little in return but a poorer bank account.
It is also not surprising, therefore, that some rich bigwig - the head of Barclay's Bank - would claim that the Bible is not only prophetic but also profitable. "Jesus loves a profit," but does he consider where much of it is coming from, i.e., people who can hardly afford it? Why doesn't the all-powerful three-headed Christian god simply snap his numerous fingers and fill all the righteous coffers with moola, rather than having poor people do hard manual labor in order to make the banksters happy?
Two London bankers have now turned to the church to defend the banking system, its profits and the bonuses paid to senior executives. Perhaps they fear a turn to the rock-solid (if less wildly profitable) imperturbability of Islamic banking. Or, more likely, the wrath of the British public by way of their government. Or, even more likely, the damage some see being done by their own colleagues who are calling for a moral reawakening.
If two make a trend, then the trend is now for bankers to invoke Christianity in defence of their business practices.
"Profit is not satanic," the chief executive of Barclays, John Varley, told the congregation of London's famous St Martin-in-the-Fields Church on Wednesday. He later expanded on the topic to Bloomberg, pushing the point that "fair reward" is compatible with Christianity....
In an extraordinary address, Barclays chief executive John Varley said banks are the ‘backbone’ of the economy and paying out bonuses is compatible with Christianity.
The remarks from Mr Varley, who was paid £1.1 million in 2008, came in an address at London’s St Martin-in-the-Fields.
They will be interpreted as a rebuff to Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, who said in September that financers have displayed no ‘repentance’ and there is a sense of ‘muted anger’ at the bonus culture....
Although I find the crucifix repulsive - especially since there's no evidence that the crucifixion actually happened and the preponderance of the evidence points to the man on a cross as a pre-Christian mythical motif - I'm not sure how I feel about this issue. Should Italy be forced to become increasingly secularized, at least as concerns Catholicism? (Watch Islam proponents use this ruling as an opportunity to push their agenda.)
If Italy can be forced to become increasingly secularized, why not Saudi Arabia? It is obvious that an enormous amount of the world's social ills are being caused by religious fanatics, especially of the Islamic persuasion, so why should not the world in response compel the Islamic nations to become secularized? While the fanatics are attempting to Islamize Europe, we should be attempting to secularize Saudi Arabia and Iran in response. How's that?
Italy has reacted furiously after the European Court of Human Rights ruled crucifixes should not be displayed in the country's schools.
The landmark judgment could force a Europe-wide review of the use of religious symbols in state-run schools
panel of seven judges in Strasbourg said the display of Christian crosses, which is common but not mandatory in Italian schools, violated the principle of secular education and might be "disturbing" for children from other faiths.
The European Court of Human Rights strikes a blow against the continent's Christian heritage. It is likely that the court would not be this chary toward granting the use of Islamic symbols -- and certain that Islamic expression in Europe will continue to grow as Christianity continues to wane....
The news from Islam never ends, because its most fervent proponents have smelled blood for some time now, especially since 9/11. Now a "radical" (devout) Muslim group in India has decided that the Indian national anthem is "un-Islamic" because it doesn't follow Islam's monotheism. So, they have called for all Muslims not to participate in the singing of it. This fatwa does not attempt to compel the massive non-Muslim population from singing it - for now.
The same group has decided that all Muslim females need to start wearing the burkha - not the hijab or even the chador - because not to do so "dishonors" them. Hence, this development is ironically being called a "veiled threat," because it is implicit that these "honorable" Islamic fanatics will be murdering all the females who don't abide, in so-called honor killings.
India has been battling violent Islamist invaders for 1,000 years, and its citizens are no doubt quite weary of it.
I don't know how many other atheist, secularist or humanist organizations have made vocal their concerns about the Islamist-backed push at the United Nations to limit criticisms of "religion" - i.e., Islam - but when I see articles like the following, I say, "It's about time!"
But wait - how dare the obviously Islamophobic American Atheists object to having those poor little Islamists shoving their agenda down their throats, essentially attempting to outlaw the very notion of atheism and unbelief itself?! For, atheism on its face is a criticism of religion in general, which would include Islam in specific. All atheists would therefore be guilty of "defaming religion" by their very atheism. That being said, it' is about time all atheists, secularists, freethinkers, humanists and so on get to work in preventing this assault on our basic human and civil rights.
An Atheist civil rights group today expressed concern that a proposed U.N. Resolution banning "defamation" of religion threatens civil liberties and gives religious groups "special rights" at the expense of free speech and intellectual inquiry.
The proposed measure is backed by the Organization of the Islamic Conference, and encourages member states of the UN to enforce measures prohibiting "any advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence."
Dr. Ed Buckner, President of American Atheists described the proposal as "overly broad and a clear threat to anyone who questions religion or is critical of religion."
"Publications and books that raise doubts concerning God and religion could easily be censored, along with movies, art and theater if a believer is 'offended' by the content," said Buckner. He cited the publication of Salman Rush die's novel "The Satanic Verses" and the more recent cartoons in the Danish press that contained unflattering depictions of Islam and its prophet Mohammed.
"What happens if a Christian is 'offended' by a copy of the Koran, or a Muslim objects to a book by Atheist Richard Dawkins," Buckner continued. "This resolution would result in widespread government surveillance and censorship wherever opinions about religion are expressed."...
All religions are based upon the logical fallacy "God of the Gaps." This is a form of ad ignorantiam or the argument from ignorance. Where there is a gap in knowledge the religious invoke a miracle. Instead of looking for an answer based on evidence, data, or scientific proof they just say "God did it."
Religion in all cases sprang up out of ignorance. Ignorance of the natural world, the afterlife, and what constitutes the Soul and consciousness. What lies beyond the horizon? What makes the sky pour water, throw lightning, and shout thunder? Of all of these questions the most important of all was "Why do we die and where do we go?"
But what started all of this? What was the first "Gap" that made primitive man say "ugh, Thag must make something up."
We have evidence that this may have been more than 100,000 years ago. Ancient Neanderthal, as evidence shows, engaged in ritualistic behavior when performing burials. They were known to place there dead in shallow graves along with stone tools and animal bones. The presence of these grave goods may indicate an emotional connection with the deceased and possibly a belief in the afterlife. Neanderthal burial sites include Shanidar in Iraq, Krapina in Croatia, and Kebara cave in Israel. In a cave located in Israel at Qafzeh, human remains found have been dated to 100,000 years ago. These human skeletons were found stained with red ochre and a variety of grave goods were found at the site. The mandible of a wild boar was found placed in the arms of one of the skeletons.
So, about 100,000 years ago Neanderthal man was practicing religious, ritualistic behavior in answer to that age-old question, "Why do we die and where do we go?" This question presumes the existence of the inner spirit or Soul. For without this concept there would be no question. The understood finality would then be that Thag's body stopped working and so we stuck Thag's body in the ground before he started to stink.
Based on this earliest ritualistic behavior one may conclude, that most likely, the first ignorance which drove mankind to seek religion was ignorance of consciousness.
Amazingly we still don't know definitively what the soul is and until science can show that the soul is simply an emergent property of the brain's neurology in concert with various biological systems such as the endocrine and muscular system, we as a species will go on our blissfully ignorant way believing in supernatural reasons for the things that we cannot yet explain, thus invoking "The God of the Gaps."
What people are saying about Acharya S/D.M. Murdock
"Your scholarship is relentless! ...the research conducted by D.M. Murdock concerning the myth of Jesus Christ is certainly both valuable and worthy of consideration." —Dr. Kenneth L. Feder, Professor of Archaeology, Central Connecticut State University, Frauds, Myths, and Mysteries: Science and Pseudoscience In Archaeology
"I find myself in full agreement with Acharya S/D.M. Murdock... I find it undeniable that...many, many of the epic heroes and ancient patriarchs and matriarchs of the Old Testament were personified stars, planets, and constellations..."—Dr. Robert M. Price, The Pre-Nicene New Testament
"I can recommend your work whole-heartedly!"—Dr. Robert Eisenman, James the Brother of Jesus and The New Testament Code, RobertEisenman.com
"Well-referenced, with numerous quotations from renowned Egyptologists and classical scholars, Acharya's penetrating research clearly lays out the very ancient pre-Christian basis of modern Christianity. Those who espouse Christianity beware! After digesting the evidence, you will never again view your religion in the same light." —Dr. Robert M. Schoch, Professor of Natural Science College of General Studies at Boston University; Author, Pyramid Quest, Voyages of the Pyramid Builders and Voices of the Rocks
"Acharya S deserves to be recognized as a leading researcher and an expert in the field of comparative mythology, on a par with James Frazer or Robert Graves—indeed, superior to those forerunners in the frankness of her conclusions and the volume of her evidence." —Barbara Walker, The Women's Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets and Man Made God
"I've known people with triple Ph.D's who haven't come close to the scholarship in Who Was Jesus?" —Pastor David Bruce, M.Div, North Park Seminary, Chicago, HollywoodJesus.com
"Thirty years ago, when in divinity school, I might have had second thoughts about becoming an Episcopal priest if a book like D. M. Murdock's Who Was Jesus? had been available to me." —Bob Semes, Retired university professor of History and Religion, Founder and Executive Director of The Jefferson Center
"In addition to presenting in Suns of God the troubling history of religious wars in an easily followed narrative, Acharya goes a step further, explaining as only she can how a once-simplistic idea has been carried into our modern world with terrible and nearly unimaginable results." —Rev. Dr. W. Sumner Davis, Fellow, Royal Astronomical Society; Member, American Geophysical Union; Affiliate, New York Academy of Science
"Ms. Murdock is one of only a tiny number of scholars with the richly diverse academic background (and the necessary courage) to adequately address the question of whether Jesus Christ truly existed as a walking-talking figure in first-century Palestine." —David Mills, Atheist Universe
"Thank you, Acharya, for the important work you are doing. Who Was Jesus? Fingerprints of the Christ just might be the best short introduction to Biblical scholarship yet." —David Bergland, 1984 Libertarian Party Presidential Candidate, Libertarianism In One Lesson
"...I have found her scholarship, research, knowledge of the original languages, and creative linkages to be breathtaking and highly stimulating." —Rev. Dr. Jon Burnham, Pastor, Presbyterian Church, Houston, TX
"Acharya S has done a superb job in bringing together the rich panoply of ancient world mythology and culture, and presenting it in a comprehensive and compelling fashion." —Earl Doherty, The Jesus Puzzle
"Acharya S is a shining light of truth in a sea of deceit."—Rob McConnell, X Zone Radio/TV, Ontario, Canada
"The Christ Conspiracy—very, very scholarly and wholly researched—is a book for today..." Rev. B. Strauss, ex-Catholic Priest, Chicago, IL
"Amidst the global chaos of George Bush's War on Terror, largely founded on religious intolerance and simplistic notions of good and evil, Acharya S is the voice of reason." —Joan D'Arc, Paranoia
"D.M. Murdock could well be the most brilliant, insightful and rigorous theologian writing today." —Robert Tulip
"Acharya S is the ranking religious philosopher of our era." —John K.
"Acharya S/Murdock deserves an award for her hard work and courage. She is the Galileo of our day!"—Charles Johnson
"Acharya S knows more about the ancient Mysteries than any living scholar." —Christopher Knowles
"Acharya S is an amazing researcher with a tremendous amount of energy and appetite for constant discovery of newer horizons. " —Dr. O.P. Sudrania
"Acharya Murdock's work is so important, so clear and so timely!" —Theresa Weiss, PowerPlaces.com
"I am Hindu, and I read the Bhaagavatham in which the life of Krishna is detailed. I also read your works, and I endorse you. Keep up the good work." —Murali Chemuturi
While Europe's indigenous population is declining as many people are choosing to have fewer children, the immigrant population is exploding. Most of these immigrants, of course, are from Muslim countries, which means that European demographics are changing dramatically, and Eurabia is emerging.
UPDATE: News agencies report the shooter as a "lifelong" and "devout" Muslim who made "outlandish remarks" about Muslims killing Americans. Also, Hasan supposedly shouted "Allahu Akbar" - "Allah is great" - as he opened fire
As we suspected: The omnipotent Lord has a very bad cavity and is in need of all the world's gold to fill it. But seriously, folks, for years now there has been a new "Gospel of Prosperity" preached at many churches via various televangelists who - surprise, surprise! - need your money in order to operate. Ironically using witchcraft and preaching karma, these organizations claim that if you give them money, your "investment" will be miraculousy returned to you tenfold or some other such magical return God has up his sleeve. Naturally, many millions have given from their heart and received little in return but a poorer bank account.
Although I find the crucifix repulsive - especially since there's no evidence that the crucifixion actually happened and the preponderance of the evidence points to the man on a cross as a pre-Christian mythical motif - I'm not sure how I feel about this issue. Should Italy be forced to become increasingly secularized, at least as concerns Catholicism? (Watch Islam proponents use this ruling as an opportunity to push their agenda.)
I don't know how many other atheist, secularist or humanist organizations have made vocal their concerns about the Islamist-backed push at the United Nations to limit criticisms of "religion" - i.e., Islam - but when I see articles like the following, I say, "It's about time!"
