Was Ted Haggard Just Trying To Cure Male Prostitute?

Update: I just had to add this cartoon. Click the cartoon to enlarge it.



Oh, do I hope these allegations are true. Think Progress has linked a video news story that states a male prostitute alleges that he was paid for sex by the main pastor of GW Bush, Ted Haggard. And that this business affair lasted for 3 years.

HERE IS THE VIDEO

Haggard is one of the biggest Evangelical leaders in America...which means the world when we are talking Evangelical Christians.

Haggard has stated that if one is a homosexual, you can still get to heaven as long as you don't do the dirty:

"Where should Christians draw the line when it comes to homosexuality? To answer that question I talked to Pastor Ted Haggard who is the President of the National Association of Evangelicals, and aide to President George W. Bush, and head pastor at New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

“All of us were in sin. All of us needed redemption,” said Haggard. “If a person has homosexual tendencies... they need to practice abstinence just as a single heterosexual would need to practice abstinence. The difference would be that the single heterosexual could get married and become sexually active with their heterosexual partner whereas, the homosexual would have to practice spirit control and self-restraint throughout the balance of their lifetime.”

In I Corinthians 6:9-10 it clearly puts the issue of homosexuality on the table. In the New International Version of The Bible it says that “homosexual offenders” will not inherit the Kingdom of God. It would be easy for someone to say that homosexuals will not inherit the Kingdom of God. However, The Bible doesn’t say that. The Bible says “offenders”. Therefore, if someone claims to have been born a homosexual, they are not committing homosexual sins until they have comitted a homosexual act or “offense”.'

If the allegations are true, I guess Haggard isn't going to heaven, unless of course he converts to Catholicism. Then he just has to confess his sins. And Ted, homosexuals can still get married to women and have kids. You did.

I'm laughing while I'm typing this post. Again, if the story is true, it just solidifies my theory that those who shout the loudest against homosexuality and gay marriage are fighting their own "homosexual demons."

If you watch the video at Think Progress, you'll notice that Haggard is looking up to the right. This is a sign that one is thinking up a lie.

One of the main reasons I'm smiling is that Ted Haggard is an ignorant and dishonest Fundy, especially when it comes to evolution.

Here again is Richard Dawkins interviewing Ted from the Root Of All Evil flick:




******UPDATE, UPDATE, UPDATE*************

Looks like Haggard quit as fearless leader of the National Association of Reality Deniers

Sorry Mike, but this is really making my day.

***********UPDATE NUMBER TWO***************

Ted confesses. And Fox News is totally ignoring this story on TV. Cowards.

The Meaning Of Life Without God

Click Cartoon To Enlarge It

Well at least believers are consistent. Most think that they have something over us infidel selfish Godless people of the abyss. They seem to think that if God doesn't exist, there can be no meaning to life.

Alrighty then, lets give the believers the benefit of the doubt. Now I ask them, but NEVER get a very good response, if I get one at all: Lets assume God exists, what the hell is the meaning of life?

Lets look at some of the answers:

To be closer to God in heaven.
What is the purpose of being closer to God? What is the big deal? It still isn't meaning, it is more a reward. Why would God need a bunch of people close to him? If he is all perfect, he wouldn't need anyone else.

To achieve perfection
That is pretty boring. And it is something we don't need God for. Unless you need lots of time to achieve perfection. But then what? Do you vapourize? Absolute nothing is perfect, I guess. Again, what is the meaning of being perfect?

To live for eternity in heaven
Again, what kind of meaning of life is that? It is a reward, but not a meaning.

Lets face it, with or without God, the meaning of life is what we subjectively give it. What is the meaning of the life of dung beetle, or a fruit fly? Do dog's have a meaning? Oh yeah I forgot, only God knows and he works in mysterious ways.

Of course, all theists say there is a plan. Yes, we are all just actors in God's big play. That would mean that our purpose is to act. But what is the meaning of the plan? Oh yeah I forgot, only God knows and he works in mysterious ways.

Atheists at least know this is our only shot at life. We don't fall back on false hope. We can make our purpose to live life to the fullest, and strive for happiness, to give our lives as much meaning as we can to ourselves and others.
While theists, could put off living while deluding themselves. In the real world though, both theists and Atheists wind up living there lives, and they are probably likely to experience just as much out of life as the other. Only, Atheists don't deny reality under the guise that there is some magical meaning that nobody can figure out.

There are many defeatists out there who swear that without God, there is "no meaning." Well sorry to break it to you, but with God there is the same "no meaning" either. Of course, there are those who think that they are serving God, by blowing themselves up. That is another way to give life "meaning" I guess.

I also am tired of the "you aren't spirititual, you can't understand what I understand." I can't understand what these theists understand because they can't understand it either. They can't even begin to be able to put it in words. Can you say self-deluded?

Apparently, Jewish Atheist sort of subconsciously stole the idea of this particular post. God had nothing to do with it......this time.

Worldview Quiz

I've been avoiding taking and posting quizzes lately, but when I saw the Worldview Quiz on The J-Walk Blog, I had to participate.

The quiz measures your worldview based on two comparisons:

Science vs. non-science: The position on the vertical axis represents consistency with science, as opposed to non-science (superstition/supernatural).

Value of humankind: The position on the horizontal axis indicates the value one places on humankind and its descendants.

Here are some famous people's worldviews (click the graph to enlarge it):




Now mine. Probably most Atheists will wind up very close to where me and Carl Sagan wound up. I know why I didn't score exactly the same as Mr. Sagan and I'll explain it at the bottom of the post as opposed to right here, because I don't want to influence anyone who decides to take the test.




Take the quiz


Note: Take the test before reading the following:

I think my answer to question 4 made me a 9 in science instead of a 10. I admit that I'm not sure about ESP or psychic phenomenon. Yes, I know Randi has a going reward to anyone who can prove they have psychic powers in a scientific setting, but I really think the brain is capable of a lot more than most of us give it credit for. Or at least I am unsure. I do think a lot of what we think is psychic power is are evolved or innate ability to read body language in a subconscious way. I like using dogs for this example. Dogs seem to have a knack when it comes to anticipating a house dweller's arrrival. But I think it is mainly that they pick up on the person's body language who most likely is expecting the arrival of the other family member at a specific time.
Dogs also have a tendency to be able to weed out either other aggressive or passive dogs. Again, I attribute this to their ability to read other dog's body language. I think this is an animal thingy that has evolved in all of us. But our minds are so all over the place, we aren't too aware when it is happening to us. Also, we don't need this ability as much now that we have made it to the top of the food chain.
On the "psychic" side, animals have been known to anticipate bad weather situations, and humans with arthritis have been known to be able to predict rain or cold weather, but this again is most likely due to environmental factors and their affect on our physiologies. Some of us are more aware than others, and again, this is something that has evolved in us. It is good for survival of the species to be able to anticipate really bad weather that could result in floods, tsunamis, tornados, etc.
Of course, my possible acceptance of ESP has nothing to do with a deity, but all to do with evolution and the abilities of our brains that are unknown as of today.

I've Had A Revelation: The Invisible Man Under My Bed Exists

My dad has been gone for over five years now, but he is not gone from my memory. He mostly appears to me in my dreams, but every now and then I think about him and it brings back memories.

A few months ago, I remembered that around 40 years ago, my dad told me that there was a Hoogieman under my bed. I believe the Hoogieman is the Jewish term for the Christian Boogeyman, but I haven't verified this connection to date. The idea of a Hoogieman under my bed frightened me as a four year old. I think I even cried about it once or twice. My father even went to the extent of telling me there was no Hoogieman under my bed, to relieve my stress. But reflecting back, it made no sense for him to tell me of his existence in the first place. Why frighten a four year old child for the sake of frightening him. My dad told me God exists too, and the overwhelming majority of people on this planet know this to be true.

I've come to the understanding that my father knew about this invisible man, possibly through oral tradition, because I can't find anything written about an invisible Hoogieman who lives under a bed(s), and I obviously can't ask my father now about how he came to his knowledge of the Hoogieman. I'm not even sure how many Hoogieman's exist, or if it only happens to first borns, or I am special, and I am the only person on this planet alive today who has an invisible man under my bed. But I now know he exists.

I admit, I was skeptical a couple of months ago, when I started to embrace the idea that he might exist, but I've done successful tests, to the point that I've even got to know him personally.

For example, I asked the invisible man under my bed not to murder me or my wife in our sleep on 8 separate occassions. And guess what, we are both alive today. Unscathed.

The next proof has to do with me admitting something I'd rather not here, or even to myself, but I feel compelled to speak out, I have to leave my vanity at the doorstep. In the last 7 years I've had the same mattress, and I've gained 15 pounds in that period. One would expect that over 7 years and having to deal with a heavier load, the mattress would sag. It doesn't. This means that the invisible man must be using his powers to hold up the bed, at least while I am on it. In fact, I've never had a leg break off any of my beds in my life or any bed collapse. Eerie isn't it?

The invisible man under my bed must also have been around since the beginning of time, because how can anyone create a being that exists and is invisible? Unless he was the product of a scientific experiment. But I doubt such technologies existed at least 40 years ago.

I know the invisible is capable of granting wishes too. A month ago at around 11 PM I asked the invisible man to make my wife come into bed with me and initiate sex. Sure enough, 15 minutes later my wife came upstairs a lay down beside me proving once again the invisible man's special powers. But he stopped my wish short as she did not initiate sex, and he then showed his wrath to me for making such a request because he made my wife turn down my advances that night.

The invisible man will also not make my wishes come true when it comes to gambling. I asked him on a couple of occassions to make a horse win a race, and he denied each horse a victory. Again, I attribute this to his set of morals.

I ask any theists who read this not to worry. I am not starting a new cult. But I hope you don't deny the fact that the eternal Hoogieman lives under my bed, because that would just be hypocritical. You have not experienced what I have experienced in the last few months anyways.


Check this out: Radio interview of Richard Dawkins by Penn Jillette

Interview With An Honest Young Earth Creationist

hat tip Lemons and Lollipops

Beaj: Hi John, now you promise to answer all my quesions sincerely and honestly, correct?

John: As God is my witness.

Beaj: Great. Now tell me about your beliefs. How old is the earth and do you believe in evolution?

John: I am a Young Earth Creationist. God created the earth and universe and man all less than 8,000 years ago. Evolution is a crock because God created man in his image. The bible says it is true, so it must be true.

Beaj: But all the scientific evidence points that evolution is fact and the earth and universe is ancient. What do you think about scientific evidence?

John: The scientific evidence can't be true. Besides, there are lots of holes in evolution theory, for one thing it is only a theory.....

Beaj: ...I thought you agreed to be honest. You don't really understand evolution theory do you?

John: No I don't really understand it, and I don't really care to. Unless someone argues against it, I'm not interested. It goes against my literal bible, so I don't want to deal with it. Sorry about being deceitful.

Beaj: Why do you think that there are no scientific studies that prove the earth is young or disprove evolution?

John: There are lots I thought. Lots of good Christians present holes in evolution and ancient earth theory. There are many websites run by good Christians. Why would they lie?

Beaj: Again, I thought you were going to try to be honest and forget about mentioning "holes." If there was merit to a young earth there would be lots of ways to measure it. There would be a way for science to refute the age of fossils and actually measure them as dates of less than 8,000 years, for example. There would be lots of evidence and scientific studies that question or even refute evolution. There are none.

John: Well maybe God put these fossils on the earth to make them appear old.

Beaj: Why would he do that? He wants followers doesn't he? Why would he leave so much evidence that the earth is ancient and that man evolved? And no evidence that the earth is young and that man was created less than 8,000 years ago.

John: Good questions. I don't have all the answers. Only God can answer these types of questions.

Beaj: So you admit that your argument against science is purely based on faith, and you basically have to ignore scientific fact in order to believe what you believe.

John: I guess so. If what you are telling me is true. Are you sure there are no scientific studies that prove the earth is young or that man only goes back 8,000 years?

Beaj: Yes I am sure.

John: Well then, it must be the work of the devil. There is no other explanation possible.

Beaj: Thanks for the interview.

John: You are welcome, and God bless.



Note: John, the honest Young Earth Creationist, was purely fictional and does not exist.

For a rhetorical assmonkey argument against Atheism please go here and check out his second last post too. Warning: verbal diarrhea alert.

UPDATE: Looks like Mr. Rhetoric, the clinical psychologist, decided to with a third post.