The only time that supernatural events ever occurred on this planet supposedly only happened during biblical times, oh and before biblical times, just over 6,000 LOL years ago.
Anyone who has turned water into wine since then has been an obvious fake or magician just playing games with our senses.
Now of course, anyone who has read my blog regularly knows that I don't believe that much of anything written in the Old Testament or New Testament ever happened. The closest either bible comes to reality are the events outlined just prior to the OT being written (around 500 BC or so).
There is absolutely no contemporary evidence which remotely verifies a historical Jesus, a historical Abraham, and a historical Moses.
That is why I just laugh when I read stories about people who think they know how Jesus walked on water without it being a supernatural occurrence.
I just read an article speculating on how the Sea parted for Moses.
I believe it has something to do with early brainwashing most of us are exposed to. We actually assume the bible stories to be based on a majority of facts.
This is completely the farthest thing from the truth. If anything the bible stories are based on a minority of facts, and I'm being kind.
This brainwashing creates a different type of skeptic. Someone who is doubtful of supernatural events, yet "smart" enough to figure out how it really LOL happened using physical laws.
OK, I'm not trying to be condescending here. The first forty years of my life I assumed there was a historical Jesus and a historical Moses. But it only takes a teeny amount of research to find there is no credible contemporary evidence, and the only logical conclusion is that Jesus and Moses and their stories were complete fabrications. Unless you take the willfully ignorant route that is, which the majority of people do.
To me, figuring out how Moses got the Sea to part is exactly the same as trying to figure out how the Cat spoke in The Cat In The Hat.
September 25, 2010
September 9, 2010
Burning The Koran And The Ground Zero Mosque
President Obama went out of his way to beg Terry Jones not to burn Korans on September 11th. Why? Because apparently this will upset Radical Muslims, and it will upset moderate Muslims too. However, upsetting the majority of Americans with the building of the Muslim community center/Mosque overlooking Ground Zero is not that big a deal.
Now the Imam behind the Mosque is saying that not building the Mosque will cause Radical Islam to get stronger.
I look at it like this, if Radical Islamists get this emotional over either of these issues, then going ahead with the Mosque and not going ahead with the Koran burnings will be looked at as a victory by these scourges of humanity.
A victory is the best tool of recruitment. It means it could be looked at a cool thing to continue threatening and carrying out terrorist acts.
I don't think there is a way to win here. No matter what happens, it turns out to be a tool for Radical Islam to get stronger. The only answer is to fight the scourge and defeat the scourge.
As for burning the Koran, or any religious book for that matter, I have no problem with it. Whether it is for fun or to prove a point. They are fictional books, and I'm convinced that without religious garbage the world would be a much nicer place.
The reality is that the same laws of the land that enable the Mosque to be built legally are in place to burn the Korans legally. I think anyone is for one and not the other is a hypocrite. If it is legal it is legal. End of story.
Now the Imam behind the Mosque is saying that not building the Mosque will cause Radical Islam to get stronger.
I look at it like this, if Radical Islamists get this emotional over either of these issues, then going ahead with the Mosque and not going ahead with the Koran burnings will be looked at as a victory by these scourges of humanity.
A victory is the best tool of recruitment. It means it could be looked at a cool thing to continue threatening and carrying out terrorist acts.
I don't think there is a way to win here. No matter what happens, it turns out to be a tool for Radical Islam to get stronger. The only answer is to fight the scourge and defeat the scourge.
As for burning the Koran, or any religious book for that matter, I have no problem with it. Whether it is for fun or to prove a point. They are fictional books, and I'm convinced that without religious garbage the world would be a much nicer place.
The reality is that the same laws of the land that enable the Mosque to be built legally are in place to burn the Korans legally. I think anyone is for one and not the other is a hypocrite. If it is legal it is legal. End of story.
September 5, 2010
Less Fighting With Age
I'm 49, months away from turning The Big Five 0. Anyone following this blog has noticed that my posting has become more infrequent. Part of the reason is I'm very busy building a new business, but as I'm doing this I'm finding my desire to combat the religious whackos is starting to decrease.
I think I've come to realize there is little more new that I can say. I've made my points on this blog over and over again, and the reality is that at least in Canada, I don't have religion being forced on me whatsoever. I see people coming out of churches in smaller numbers than ever before. What I'm trying to say is that people get it for the most part.
Atheist is still a dirty word, but over time, hopefully it won't be. But whether it is a dirty word or not, an atheist can be an atheist without any backlash, where I live. This might not be true of some of all towns and when it comes to the USA, some States.
I do think I've served a purpose though. I know many people land here doing Google searches and wind up at many of, what I believe to be, my relevant posts. I probably have helped quite a few people to become really skeptical about the existence of God, Jesus being more than fictional character, same with Moses and I believe I've educated many on Israel and the hypocrisy of the majority of Muslims when it comes to that topic.
I wonder if it is age that has slowed down my will to fight. It has to do with mortality. At 40 one is still fighting for the future. At 50 and beyond, I think you in the future and you know it, though at least in my case, you try to forget it.
I'm not done yet. I guess this is an apology for not posting so much.
I think I've come to realize there is little more new that I can say. I've made my points on this blog over and over again, and the reality is that at least in Canada, I don't have religion being forced on me whatsoever. I see people coming out of churches in smaller numbers than ever before. What I'm trying to say is that people get it for the most part.
Atheist is still a dirty word, but over time, hopefully it won't be. But whether it is a dirty word or not, an atheist can be an atheist without any backlash, where I live. This might not be true of some of all towns and when it comes to the USA, some States.
I do think I've served a purpose though. I know many people land here doing Google searches and wind up at many of, what I believe to be, my relevant posts. I probably have helped quite a few people to become really skeptical about the existence of God, Jesus being more than fictional character, same with Moses and I believe I've educated many on Israel and the hypocrisy of the majority of Muslims when it comes to that topic.
I wonder if it is age that has slowed down my will to fight. It has to do with mortality. At 40 one is still fighting for the future. At 50 and beyond, I think you in the future and you know it, though at least in my case, you try to forget it.
I'm not done yet. I guess this is an apology for not posting so much.
August 8, 2010
Remembering My Father
Yesterday would have been my father's 82nd birthday. He died in his sleep in 2001, two day after his 73rd birthday. He had chronic health problems probably stemming from smoking 2 packs a day from age 18 to 60. He was really beginning to age the past year or so.
Ever since I moved out of the house at 22, I would speak to him on the phone at least once a day, OK five times a week. I was probably the last to speak to him.
The conversation was about the fact that I saw my horse racing silks were in a Nike commercial (I owned race horses at the time, cheap ones, in partnerships). I don't remember much more about the phone call. It was short though.
There was a heat wave in Toronto at the time. I called him in the morning. No answer. Called him a couple of hours later, still no answer. I was getting concerned. I knew he could have had a doctor's appointment. Going to the store only took a half hour tops.
Another two hours later, I called my sister who was in the area. She went over to his apartment. Knocked on the door. No answer. She kicked the door. Found him dead on his couch. The fan was facing him, he was only in his underwear.
Was the heat getting too uncomfortable for him to sleep in his bed? He didn't mind sleeping on couches. Fell asleep watching TV lots of times on the couch when I was a kid. The TV wasn't on.
His building did have central air, but we were told later there was a power outage temporarily that night.
Me and my wife made it across town within a half hour of finding out. I was the obvious choice to handle all the arrangements. It kept me focused and somewhat less emotional about what happened.
My father loved sports. Always talked about his glory days in high school from basketball to baseball to footfall (not hockey). He said he was even looked at by the Philadelphia Athletics as a baseball prospect, but his mother was dying at the time and he just wouldn't leave Toronto.
I grew up watching the Cleveland Browns and Boston Celtics on TV with him each week. My other brothers didn't have the same interest. His biggest passion though, was the racetrack. Always a $2 bettor, it was his number one hobby. He would go to the track and of course bring me and my siblings along in the mid to late 60's whenever he could.
He was good at it too. Had a slight edge with his system that kept him in action while being able to support a family of 6 on an average wage.
It quit smoking in a weird way. He retired at 59 or 60 and he watched a story on CNN that stated that 95% of illiterates smoke. It was enough to move him to quit. Just like that.
He hardly ever drank. I remember him coming home drunk once. His friends took him out for his 50th birthday.
Another funny thing I remember is when watching old movies with him. He had a habit of saying "He's dead" or "He's a Jew." I can't remember what he said for guys like "Al Jolson" who were both.
Huge Sinatra fan. Had all his records. Played them a lot when I was growing up. Nothing else. Just Sinatra.
As for his religious beliefs. He was a non practicing believing Jew. The only time I saw the inside of a synagogue was for Bar Mitvahs or funerals.
We never really spoke about God. I do remember him saying "there has to be something else" many times. Also, when his sister died, he kept saying that the wind that came at a certain time was a sign from her.
I also remember a conversation later on in life where it gave me the impression he thought that the whole dinosaurs living millions of years ago was some sort of hoax. But I never pursued that with him. I really don't know what he thought.
He died at a time when I was just evolving from agnostic to atheist. Years before I started up this blog. I wonder what he would think about it. Especially my posts on the Exodus being a made up story.
I don't even know if he accepted evolution.
One other thing comes to mind. I remember I was somewhere between 5 to 7, watching a black and white Western on our black and white TV. I had a revelation at the time that the people the actors were portraying were most likely all dead. I asked my father what happens when we die (I was the first born, so the question caught him off guard). I remember he was visibly uncomfortable and deferred the question to my mother. I got the heaven answer soon. But I do remember I was uncomfortable over the hesitation.
And there was the time that I was taking crash course Bar Mitvah lessons. My father who would have been in his mid 40's at the time, asked my tutor if all Jews believed in the afterlife. He received a very hesitant ambiguous answer. Made me more skeptical too.
In retrospect, I'm actually really thankful I wasn't subject to brain washing that I'm sure many grow up with. What would I believe right now if those around me were certain about God and heaven?
Back to my father. There hasn't even been a moment where I thought that he is in heaven watching me or waiting for me. Not even a split second.
I'm reminded of him a lot, and often wonder how he would have reacted to some things. He died just before 9/11. I'm sure he would have a lot to say about that.
Ever since I moved out of the house at 22, I would speak to him on the phone at least once a day, OK five times a week. I was probably the last to speak to him.
The conversation was about the fact that I saw my horse racing silks were in a Nike commercial (I owned race horses at the time, cheap ones, in partnerships). I don't remember much more about the phone call. It was short though.
There was a heat wave in Toronto at the time. I called him in the morning. No answer. Called him a couple of hours later, still no answer. I was getting concerned. I knew he could have had a doctor's appointment. Going to the store only took a half hour tops.
Another two hours later, I called my sister who was in the area. She went over to his apartment. Knocked on the door. No answer. She kicked the door. Found him dead on his couch. The fan was facing him, he was only in his underwear.
Was the heat getting too uncomfortable for him to sleep in his bed? He didn't mind sleeping on couches. Fell asleep watching TV lots of times on the couch when I was a kid. The TV wasn't on.
His building did have central air, but we were told later there was a power outage temporarily that night.
Me and my wife made it across town within a half hour of finding out. I was the obvious choice to handle all the arrangements. It kept me focused and somewhat less emotional about what happened.
My father loved sports. Always talked about his glory days in high school from basketball to baseball to footfall (not hockey). He said he was even looked at by the Philadelphia Athletics as a baseball prospect, but his mother was dying at the time and he just wouldn't leave Toronto.
I grew up watching the Cleveland Browns and Boston Celtics on TV with him each week. My other brothers didn't have the same interest. His biggest passion though, was the racetrack. Always a $2 bettor, it was his number one hobby. He would go to the track and of course bring me and my siblings along in the mid to late 60's whenever he could.
He was good at it too. Had a slight edge with his system that kept him in action while being able to support a family of 6 on an average wage.
It quit smoking in a weird way. He retired at 59 or 60 and he watched a story on CNN that stated that 95% of illiterates smoke. It was enough to move him to quit. Just like that.
He hardly ever drank. I remember him coming home drunk once. His friends took him out for his 50th birthday.
Another funny thing I remember is when watching old movies with him. He had a habit of saying "He's dead" or "He's a Jew." I can't remember what he said for guys like "Al Jolson" who were both.
Huge Sinatra fan. Had all his records. Played them a lot when I was growing up. Nothing else. Just Sinatra.
As for his religious beliefs. He was a non practicing believing Jew. The only time I saw the inside of a synagogue was for Bar Mitvahs or funerals.
We never really spoke about God. I do remember him saying "there has to be something else" many times. Also, when his sister died, he kept saying that the wind that came at a certain time was a sign from her.
I also remember a conversation later on in life where it gave me the impression he thought that the whole dinosaurs living millions of years ago was some sort of hoax. But I never pursued that with him. I really don't know what he thought.
He died at a time when I was just evolving from agnostic to atheist. Years before I started up this blog. I wonder what he would think about it. Especially my posts on the Exodus being a made up story.
I don't even know if he accepted evolution.
One other thing comes to mind. I remember I was somewhere between 5 to 7, watching a black and white Western on our black and white TV. I had a revelation at the time that the people the actors were portraying were most likely all dead. I asked my father what happens when we die (I was the first born, so the question caught him off guard). I remember he was visibly uncomfortable and deferred the question to my mother. I got the heaven answer soon. But I do remember I was uncomfortable over the hesitation.
And there was the time that I was taking crash course Bar Mitvah lessons. My father who would have been in his mid 40's at the time, asked my tutor if all Jews believed in the afterlife. He received a very hesitant ambiguous answer. Made me more skeptical too.
In retrospect, I'm actually really thankful I wasn't subject to brain washing that I'm sure many grow up with. What would I believe right now if those around me were certain about God and heaven?
Back to my father. There hasn't even been a moment where I thought that he is in heaven watching me or waiting for me. Not even a split second.
I'm reminded of him a lot, and often wonder how he would have reacted to some things. He died just before 9/11. I'm sure he would have a lot to say about that.
July 21, 2010
Oh The Humanity, I Didn't Realize Things Were This Bad In Gaza
Elder of Ziyon has put together a pretty funny video about the new Gaza Mall. The reason I'm posting it here is because my main readership is from the atheist community, and to be blunt, there are quite a few far lefties who constantly buy into the one sided almost mindless anti-Israel propaganda that fills up the internet. Enjoy:
Worse than Developing Your Web Presence (weird name for an anti-Israel blog) is a site called Veterans Today, a completely deceptive name which maligns war veterans, America, and Israel aka Jews.
Gordon Duff is a nutter, a 9/11 Truther, who has claimed that Fort Hood terrorist Nidal Malik Hasan was part of an Israeli sleeper cell.
You can tell how this has anything to do with real veterans by looking at the comment section, and the fact that there is hardly any disagreement to the nut ball theories put out by Duff. Apparently he deletes any factual rebuttals or arguments against his lunacy.
His site actually appears that it was bought and paid for by Muslim extremists in an effort to peddle complete horse shit.
Worse than Developing Your Web Presence (weird name for an anti-Israel blog) is a site called Veterans Today, a completely deceptive name which maligns war veterans, America, and Israel aka Jews.
Gordon Duff is a nutter, a 9/11 Truther, who has claimed that Fort Hood terrorist Nidal Malik Hasan was part of an Israeli sleeper cell.
You can tell how this has anything to do with real veterans by looking at the comment section, and the fact that there is hardly any disagreement to the nut ball theories put out by Duff. Apparently he deletes any factual rebuttals or arguments against his lunacy.
His site actually appears that it was bought and paid for by Muslim extremists in an effort to peddle complete horse shit.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)