Friday 20 January 2012

Beating your kids for God


The Christians who beat their kids are only following the instructions given to them by God.

The Bible is very clear on this point. In fact the Christians who do not give their kids a sound thrashing every day are surely snubbing their own God.




Lets see what the Bible says about beating your children:-

Deuteronomy 21:20-21 And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard. And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.
There you have it. Stubborn kids must be stoned to death. problem solved.
Proverbs 13:24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.
So, If you really really love your children, you must thrash them within an inch of their lives every day.
Proverbs 19:18 Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.
Even if they are screaming with pain, you must be strong and keep hitting them.
Proverbs 22:15 Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
Amazing... If you beat your kids with a stick, It cures stupidity. So if you Christians want clever kids.... you know what to do.
Proverbs 23:13 Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.
Don't worry about them dying from your beatings, just let 'em have it as hard as you like.
Proverbs 23:14 Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.
You see, smashing your kids in the face with a baseball bat actually saves them from going to Hell.

 Well, what more can I add. God seems to be really enthusiastic about torturing little children, he's so keen that he instructs his people to be as violent as they like, as often as they like towards their own children. Don't worry about killing them, in fact executing your stubborn children is seen as the morally correct thing to do.

Why are all you Christian parents sat here reading this stupid post. Why not go out into the tool shed and get a good solid garden shovel, then sneak up to the kids room while they are asleep, then beat them senseless with the shovel. God says it will save them from Hell and that this is the correct thing to do if you really love them.

Once again, the Bible proves itself to be full of wisdom.


Think this is a joke?

Take a look at the real life victims of Biblical thinking:-
Christian Parents Biblically Beat Child to Death for Mispronouncing Word


The book that's leading parents to Kill

By Rev. Marie Fortune


The Insanity of Fundamentalist Christian child abuse




From the "Ask an Atheist" Podcast:
Please Listen to the 2nd interview with Jerry (Disturbing)




The Phrase "He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes." is a translation of the Hebrew Phrase "chasak shebet sane' ben 'ahab muwcar shachar"

The Hebrew word "shebet" is a rod or a staff. Moses carried his shebet everywhere, he waved it at the sea, he often held it aloft to the heavens. It is a long walking stick. It can also mean the shaft of a spear. A shebet is also a club carried by shepherds to dispatch lame animals.  A shebet was also a Truncheon, a mace or a sceptre or a staff of office. The Bible speaks of beating your slave to death with a "shebet". So, we know a shebet was a nasty weapon capable of causing death.

I have raised 2 children, I can honestly say I have NEVER hit my children. I have not raised my hand to them. I have never even threatened to hit my children... And yet they were both straight "A" students. Dedicated to their respective studies. They are street wise, they are keen on sport and art. They don't swear, fight, do drugs, get drunk or sleep around. How do Christians explain this without the use of physical violence to discipline them.

Why do Christians feel it is necessary to inflict violence on their own children? If I was in a store and I witnessed someone being rude, I wouldn't hit them to explain it's wrong to be rude or disrespectful.  If I saw a confused old lady walking into the middle of a busy road. I wouldn't explain it was wrong by hitting her, especially not with a stick or a club.  I would be arrested for assault if I went around hitting people who I believed were doing something they shouldn't. So why on Earth would I inflict exactly the same violence on my own flesh and blood when they do something they shouldn't.

This is the difference between my secular beliefs and their religious beliefs. Christians are taught that violence is not only acceptable but it is highly desirable. In the above Biblical phrase "betimes" (Hebrew "shachar") means that you should diligently look for occasions to beat your children and beat them as soon as possible.

Discipline does not mean HITTING people. I like to see the projects I manage at work run smoothly and this requires disciplined and motivated staff. I do not motivate and discipline my staff by HITTING them with a stick ... Not even with a corrective smack.

As for bringing up children, I've found that good parenting worked much better than violence. Violence begets violence, Christians are teaching their children that it's acceptable to modify another person's behaviour 
or to make them do what you want them to do by violent means... By hitting them. Their children go on to perpetuate the cycle of violence by teaching their children the same principles of behavior modification.

If anyone needs to be beaten with a "shebet", It's the parents. The kind of parent that believes the Bible gives good parenting advice.

Tuesday 17 January 2012

How to Destroy the Earth


How to Destroy the Earth


Destroying the Earth is harder than you may have been led to believe.


You've seen the action movies where the bad guy threatens to destroy the Earth. You've heard people on the news claiming that the next nuclear war or cutting down rainforests or persisting in releasing hideous quantities of pollution into the atmosphere threatens to end the world.

Fools.


The Earth is built to last. It is a 4,550,000,000-year-old, 5,973,600,000,000,000,000,000-tonne ball of iron. It has taken more devastating asteroid hits in its lifetime than you've had hot dinners, and lo, it still orbits merrily. So my first piece of advice to you, dear would-be Earth-destroyer, is: do NOT think this will be easy.


This is not a guide for wusses whose aim is merely to wipe out humanity. The complete extinction of the human race is not guarranteed via any of these methods, real or imaginary. Humanity is wily and resourceful, and many of the methods outlined below will take many years to even become available, let alone implement, by which time mankind may well have spread to other planets; indeed, other star systems. If total human genocide is your ultimate goal, you are reading the wrong document. There are far more efficient ways of doing this, many which are available and feasible RIGHT NOW. Nor is this a guide for those wanting to annihilate everything from single-celled life upwards, render Earth uninhabitable or simply conquer it. These are trivial goals in comparison.


This is a guide for those who do not want the Earth to exist anymore...


How to Destroy the Earth (Links to qntm.org)



Saturday 14 January 2012

A Fascist God

Fascism
A system of government marked by centralization of authority under a dictator, stringent socioeconomic controls, suppression of the opposition through terror and censorship, and typically a policy of belligerent nationalism and racism.

The American Heritage® Dictionary 


Here's a breakdown of the definition of Fascism in terms of the Judeo/Christian God.

A System of Government

God is allegedly in charge and created the system we live in. He is the Boss, the Governor. His rule is the Ultimate Government.


...marked by centralization of authority

God is the single, centralised ruler. He does not share power or control with anyone. Power is centralised with God alone.


...under a dictator

God dictates what the Laws are, he does not negotiate or compromise, He knows what is perfect and absolute and dictated that law to us.


...stringent socioeconomic controls

The Bible contains many rules and regulations governing social and economic transactions. Violations of socio-economic rules often lead to summary execution.


...suppression of the opposition through terror

God tells his people to massacre and burn anyone who evangelises different gods. Whole Cities must be burned and the people killed if they do not bow down and glorify God. Genocide is a perfectly acceptable method to eliminate undesirables.


...and typically a policy of belligerent nationalism and racism.

Gods chosen people. The promised Land. The Jews were instructed to kill many other tribes, races and people who occupied land that the Jews took by force. The Jews were superior to all other races and could take whatever they wanted from inferior races.



It's clear that the Judeo/Christian God perfectly fits the definition of a Fascist Dictator. God's rule is NOT a democracy. 



Is Gods Law determined by a democratic process or is it dictated to us by God? 
Do you honestly think Christians could get together and Vote out some of Gods Laws..... Do you think God would change his laws if the majority of Christians didn't approve.


.... What am I saying.... This is EXACTLY what Christians HAVE done.





Hypothesis and Theory

Do you know the difference between a Hypothesis and a Theory.




Sunday 8 January 2012

Todd Pitner's Damascus Moment


I was perusing through some of my old Internet hangouts today and happened upon one of Todd Pitner's old posts at premiercommunity.org.uk.

I met Todd (ILoveAtheists.com) in London about a year ago. He seemed like quite a likable guy. Moderate, witty and could do some rather impressive card tricks. He struck me as the kind of guy I could socialise with even though we are at opposite ends of the theistic spectrum.

Since then I've heard Todd debating on one or two podcasts where I was surprised to hear an abrasive, confrontational, patronising Todd Pitner. Perhaps that was for the benefit of the mainly atheist audience, they expected a preachy, dogmatic testosterone soaked willy waving contest and that's what he gave them.

I decided to look up Todd's website. I remembered he had a series of questions to challenge the Atheistic world view. I took some time to review each of his question and I'm toying with the idea of giving a detailed response to each one. Perhaps I'll respond to one question and depending on the response, withdraw or tackle another one. If Todd demonstrates he is once again able to engage in thoughtful reasoned debate, I may answer some more questions. If he's still dogmatic and preachy, there are more interesting debates to be had elsewhere and I will only have lost a potential drinking buddy.

While browsing Todd's challenge at ILoveAtheists.com, I came across Todd's "Miracle". The event he describes as his "Damascus Moment". [a sudden and/or radical conversion of thought or a change of heart or mind. a religious conversion; a revelation, especially about one’s self].

Todd had a bad cold or even Man-flu which all men know is even more traumatic than childbirth. It was a real stinker. Todd graphically describes the symptoms of an extremely bad cold where you're in so much discomfort you feel like you just want to die.

He informs us that he would have gone to the doctors but he was just too busy at work. He made a wish to God his cough would go.

Eventually he conceded he needed to go to hospital but before he would make the trip he'd have a shower.

In the shower. He had a violent coughing fit and proceeded to relieve himself of large quantities of mucus. He called out to Jesus for relief from his discomfort.

On exiting the shower his symptoms were gone.

However, I was still waiting for an amazing punch line.... but none came.... There was a mention of his Atheist wife (a Professor in a secular university) who witnessed this Miracle and subsequently converted to Christianity, but no spectacular, jaw-dropping miracle.

Todd constantly reminds us that he was an Atheist, But clearly Todd was a Bible believing Christian before this event. Atheists do not petition God for a cure or cry out to Jesus for relief from discomfort any more than the Pope calls out to Zeus in his moments of despair. He was a Christian without a defining moment. Todd openly admits he has an impulsive, addictive, all-or-nothing personality. Plunging into the depths of Materialism, Drugs, Workaholism, Alcohol, Family neglect and a total lack of balance in his life. I think this is the event that changed Todd from a wannabe Christian into a full blown evangelising, fundamentalist. Sill addictive and impulsive but less self destructive and far more socially acceptable.

My main criticism of this proclaimed Miracle is that.... I just don't get it.

When I was a child and suffering with a cold, My Mother, Grandmother, Babysitter etc. would send me upstairs for a hot shower. Even when I was in the military, a hot shower was the order of the day to instantly relieve flu symptoms without the need to wimp-off to the sick bay. When I was first married, my wife would recommend a hot shower whenever cold symptoms hit hard.

To this day I still have a hot shower to relieve bad cold and flu symptoms. Sure it doesn't always work but it does seem to work better the worse the symptoms are. The hot water eases aches, pains, chills and shivers, it dilates the blood vessels and the steam loosens all that yucky mucus and clears the sinuses. The ideal outcome is indeed a violent coughing fit to get rid of all the gunk. You step into the shower feeling like death and step out with a clear head, clear chest feeling pretty good.... not all the time but often enough to make it worth while trying.

To enhance the effect I would strongly recommend a hot drink, a double shot of your favourite tipple and a sauna. Alternate Hot sauna, Cold shower, Hot, Cold, Hot, Cold and finish with a hot shower. Goodbye Cold Symptoms.

I've been doing this for years because it often works spectacularly well. My Mother knew it, My Grandmother knew it, My Wife knows it and it is embedded in self remedy folk law.

I'll have to admit I do have a high credulity threshold so I've never attributed this remedy to a supernatural miracle. I've never stepped out the shower after a particularly successful de-gunking and proclaimed "Praise the Lord... Its a Miracle.... There must be a God". I just get dressed and get on with my life and think to myself what a wise woman my mother was.

While half the world is starving, while there are wars, while children are being abused, natural disasters, corrupt world leaders, crime and atrocities that make you weep, I'm sure any God capable of prioritising  would have better things in which to be intervening than Todd's mucus problem.

I'm glad Todd is feeling much better now and has regained control of his life as a result, but I think this is a good demonstration of the power of faith and NOT a demonstration in the power of the entity in which you have faith. If Christians choose to attribute everyday events to their God, that's fine with me.... until they also want to demonise and persecute the people who do not attribute such things as they do.