Feel guilty. That’s the message that Christianity broadcasts under the guise of martyrdom and heroism. Jesus Christ died for your sins. In order for you to get to paradise, you must repent from your sins, but you must also accept that Jesus died for your sins. Why? When I do something wrong, I accept responsibility, apologize, and do what it takes to restore order. Where does the Jesus part come in? The addition of Jesus (as a concept) allows organized religion to inject itself into the process. By claiming divine (perfect, unquestionable) authority over right and wrong, religion asserts control over behavior. Praying for forgiveness is easier than earning it from the person you wronged. Instead of focusing on outdated, barbaric dogma, I recommend an alternate route. Treat people with the respect and dignity that every human being (including women, despite what the bible tells you) deserves. Love with all of your heart. Hold yourself accountable for your actions. If I’m right, and there is no god, you’ve lived a positive life improving your own existence and the existence of those around you. If there is a benevolent god, I’m sure he’ll forgive your disbelief in consideration of a life of good deeds. Either way, science has never encouraged the stoning of rape victims, but religion has. Religion has tortured people. Science has cured disease. Science can take us into outer space. Religion seeks only to cling to the ideals and technologies of the bronze age. BE A FREE THINKER.
-Pope Nicholas Cooper
Somedays it is awfully hard to be a scientist. Even a Catholic scientist.
I had trouble confirming that this distinction still exists for beavers, but did come across a New York Sun article from just a few years ago that described how the capybara, an aquatic rodent, was still considered fish during Lent. While the ruling might be more based on a means of reducing starvation, it’s still mind-numbing to read.
But yes, anyway. A misunderstanding of beavers by the Catholic Church. You’re probably not surprised.
Thomas Paine 1737-1809 (via snortingpixiedust)
TRUTH! Christian holidays, rituals, and the fundamental story of Jesus Christ were taken straight from more ancient Mediterranean religions. Christmas, (the birth of Jesus) was the celebration of the Winter Solstice, aka when the gradual lengthening of nights stop and the sun begins to rise higher again in the northern hemisphere, the (son) being “born again.” Easter was the celebration of the vernal equinox, which marks the beginning of Spring and the “resurrection” of life. Even all of the current symbols still used today for such holidays (rabbits, eggs, pine trees, ornaments, etc) are directly from old pagan rituals. You weren’t the only one if you thought none of those symbols made sense in Christian contexts. The connections go on and on. But when else were Christians to celebrate? Since there is no historical evidence that gives the actual dates that these events transpired to a Mr. Jesus.
(via -iwilldestroyyou)
Hell’s Angel: Mother Teresa by Christopher Hitchens
During her lifetime Mother Teresa had become synonymous with saintliness. But in 1994, three years before her death, journalist Christopher Hitchens made this provocative film asking if her reputation was deserved.
A
The letter A is for “Arrogance”. There is a severe arrogance in the belief that there is an omniscient presence controlling all of the universe that cares about humans. It says in the bible that “we” were created in “his” image. So there is an all-knowing, always present, perfect deity, and we are basically his clones. Despite the fact that humans are FAR from all-knowing, always present, or perfect. In christianity, the sheep believe that god sent his bastard illegitimate son to die for all of our sins. As if our sins are that important in the scheme of the universe. Arrogance. Religion is arrogant because it pre-supposes that it knows exactly how to run your life, and if you follow its rules, you will be righteous. Any organization that believes it can tell you how to make your choices is arrogant. Any organization that claims divine guidance is arrogant. You only have one life (as far as we know), apply some free thought. A is for arrogance. (runners up were for Abomination, Anxiety, Asshole).
