tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67775887063407191422024-03-12T19:30:23.898-07:00The Agnostic FenceOpen Discussion About All Things Religious Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17224753841340144112noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6777588706340719142.post-83461934253471212892015-08-02T04:17:00.001-07:002015-08-02T04:17:08.138-07:00Agnosticism is the combination of science and God (Documentary) <br />
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Apologies, I can't find the original name for this documentary but it really combines good arguments for the combination of science and god. <br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17224753841340144112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6777588706340719142.post-5061693750115752592015-07-29T10:39:00.002-07:002015-07-29T10:40:50.493-07:00How Is Religious Extremism Represented In The Films Four Lions And Red State?<style>
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I thought I would share parts of my thesis on here, full thesis is linked to <a href="http://document.li/25yA">here.</a> Maybe some people could find it useful and help any of you in your research. Also any feed back would be greatly appreciated. </div>
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<img class="irc_mut" height="402" src="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRDYGZXkdIvKOQsKYY3RsdziTw3pzlShNZ1HHqSTXNAkuZoX--aIA" style="margin-top: 12px;" width="747" />Introduction: </div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In July 2012 a fourteen minute
video entitled <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Innocence of Muslims </i>(Nakoula:2012) was uploaded to YouTube. The
relatively low-budget film was poorly dubbed in Arabic with what were regarded
as anti-Islamic slurs, causing a global controversy resulting in the death of
75 people. It also prompted a wide variety of responses from different
governments; Pakistani minister <span style="background: white;">Ghulam Ahmad
Bilour<span style="color: #333333;"> </span></span>offered a reward for the death
of the film’s producer and the American Government requested YouTube assess
whether the video could be removed from their site.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Critics noted that the video was constructed
to be inflammatory that it emphasised that films are ‘still associated with an
idea- the idea of America’s global power and prestige’ (Guardian, 2010). Ironically,
across the Atlantic the Westboro Baptist church continued to use the funerals
(and subsequent news coverage) of soldiers that died fighting in wars against a
religiously motivated force in the Middle East as a platform to promote homophobia
and their <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>fundamentalist beliefs. What I
found interesting was it appeared that an ideological war was being waged using
the media and it had a lot to do with religion. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The rebuttal to this cross media warfare came in the form of
film. In particular <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Four Lions</i> (Chris
Morris, 2010) presented a refreshing break from the constant barrage of
anti-Islamic rhetoric (Labidi,2010) this proved a controversial film because of
its light-hearted approach to home grown terrorism and its aims of deconstructing
fear. Kevin Smiths appeared to do the opposite, exploring the evolution of
American Christian Fundamentalism to extremism in </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Red State </span></i><span style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">(Kevin Smith, 2011)</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></i><span style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">As social commentary these films
express a need to engage in discourse about religious extremism that might
otherwise be left to the one dimensional news portrayal. </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">This thesis
uses a semiotic analysis of the two afore mentioned films to argue that
religious extremism is represented in film with relation to factual media
representations and as such provides a varied portrayal. </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The first chapter
positions the research within the context of representation, religion in film
and controversial film and satire, the reason for this is the lack of primary
research done specifically in religious extremism and more so in direct
representation of religious people (extreme or not) within in film. </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The second
chapter addresses methodological approach outlining the uses and limitations of
a semiotic analysis and how the use of Barthes deconstruction of myth and the film
language of Christian Metz has been utilized in this research. It indicates and
explores previous research that has used a similar method to analyse film and
highlights the uses and limitations of semiotic analysis. </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">After examining
the background theory I present the findings of a semiotic analysis of Four
Lions. It is broken down into three sub chapters regarding iconography,
rhetorical devices and the deconstruction of otherness. Here the use of Barthes
construction of myth table is used analyse the visual and audible association
that link Muslims with terrorism; the following sections address how the
director Morris challenges the rhetoric developed by news sensationalism in a
social realist setting.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The forth
chapter presents the findings of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">RedState
</i>using the analysis method outline above. It initially outlines the case for
the films relation to the WestBoro Baptists church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Referring again to Barthes method, it assess
the link between demographic and fundamentalism. It concludes that Smith<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>has used generic horror conventions and
stereotypes to reinforce rural America and its practice of religious fundamentalism
as an alien and backward practice that has the ability (as experienced in the
film) to use the Bible as a foundation for exacting ‘justified’ murder. Again
the research suggests these references are laced with intertextuality to real
world representations portrayed in the news. </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The fifth
chapter is a comparison of the findings on the two films; comparing and
contrasting the noted successes or failures. This chapter also expands on the
other issues touched upon in the films. Namely that both films comment on wider
socio-political issues suggesting that religious extremism is not a singular or
isolated event in our society but part of a bigger chain of events. </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">To conclude, I
suggest that religious extremism is an area that needs to be represented in
film and in particular in satire. Outlined in the films I analysed, is not a
black and white subject area and representations are complex. Furthermore the
research in this area, although limited, is developing. A round up on the
literature on religion in film and its practical uses and finally it addresses
my own conclusive opinion.</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17224753841340144112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6777588706340719142.post-39464205951660629442015-07-25T00:28:00.001-07:002015-07-29T10:42:05.012-07:00I believe in God <h2>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">2 Timothy 1:7 <span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.</span></span></h2>
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It's been a long time since I posted on here. A lot has happened in a few months for me as I am sure it has for you all. I've had some shocking things happen, a lot of hard times, a lot of good times too and I am currently going through one of the roughest phases in my life. But before all of that, a few months back I was on cloud nine I had uttered the words 'life is good' and how swiftly that blanket of warmth was pulled away from me. It's ironic to me, but then life isn't some happy ball we cling onto until we come to the end of the hill, life includes suffering for all of us in one way or another and I was angry at God for my suffering before I could see the light at the end of the tunnel and the positives that came out of it.<br />
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In fact this idea of suffering is what draws me to God in particular Jesus teachings and not away from it. I know the gore and fixation on bodily suffering is one of the things that is often ridiculed or highlighted by non Christians but for me, this makes perfect sense as does Jesus and his role in it all.<br />
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Perhaps I have always believed in God, and my battles with him have been long and drawn out but my conclusion subconsciously has always been the same - I felt angry at a God I was pretending to think didn't exist. It is paradoxical to me.<br />
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Believing in God does't mean I magically have all the answers to those hard to answer questions. I don't know why there is severe poverty, or children born with diseases, I don't know why some people seem to have it all and others suffer their whole lives. Nor do I know why natural disasters occur but what I do know is that believing in God doesn't give you all those answers, but it doesn't change the fact that I believe God exists.<br />
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You might think that because I'm in a dark place (which I am but know I will get out of) that this is why I now cling to God. But God has given me joy when life was fulfilling and I thanked him for my joy. God gave me reassurance when I was uncertain. God was peace in a tranquil church in Cornwall, which brought together my hurting family. God gave me a few hours relief from constant anxiety, God gave me a focus and a vision, he didn't end my problems he just gave me a reason to tackle them. God brought me here when I feel so low, with no energy, no passion for life, God brought me here and said 'write'. I feel now what I didn't feel before, and why religion must be faith based.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17224753841340144112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6777588706340719142.post-21781564684522558362014-11-02T13:50:00.002-08:002014-11-03T00:26:37.799-08:00Film Review: Horns- Iconography over substance<br />
Newsflash Jesus saves! Well crosses do anyway But from what exactly? Evil, yourself, mass hallucinations?<br />
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With an intriguing trailer, a slightly dystopian backdrop of a washed out logging town and the surreal character of known of Ignatious Parish, or Ig as he known to his friends, who awakes hungover one morning to find horns growing out of his head, this film did not turn out to be what I expected.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YfBd1KISoSQ/U9jutGwX2uI/AAAAAAAAADw/Ktgb0TpAVow/s1600/Horns+Movie+Picture+(6).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YfBd1KISoSQ/U9jutGwX2uI/AAAAAAAAADw/Ktgb0TpAVow/s1600/Horns+Movie+Picture+(6).jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a>Somewhere beneath it all there was a moralistic tale, interwoven with not so subtle Christian ideology. It started great and ended flatly. Predicatble from the beginning and repetitive by the end. I'm sorry I really wanted to like this, and in parts I did, but the worn out whodunnit drama over took the fantasy and I began to see why they called it <i>Horns</i> as that was all that separated it's plot from that of a Lifetime movie.<br />
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The rundown:<br />
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The whole town suspects Ig of killing his childhood sweetheart Merrin, played by Juno Temple. She first caught Ig's eye in church, bouncing the light off her cross to send him messages in morse code. Merrin is the ethereal and pure Eve like figure, her murder turns the town against Ig, and Ig, so desperate to prove his innocence somehow invokes a certain amount of helpful evil. His horns have the ability to make people confess there worse thoughts with a humorous honesty that Ig uses to try and get to the bottom of his true loves murder.<br />
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The outcome:<br />
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What I learnt from this film is people do bad things, good people do some bad things, theres a little devil in all of us, but crosses protect us from evil, even if that evil is ourselves?<br />
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I don't know. Go see it for yourselves, there is plenty of beautiful cinematography, great acting, some interesting biblical references and really funny moments. But do not expect to be enlightened… you literally finish the film where you began.<br />
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Verdict: 6/10 <br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17224753841340144112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6777588706340719142.post-61792503680478169752013-11-19T05:05:00.000-08:002013-11-19T05:05:04.204-08:00Good or Bad: ' The church is on the brink of extinction' claims former Archbishop<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fbjR-G-UCmo/UotcBwazZ2I/AAAAAAAAALI/HW2UtLAuxpY/s1600/George+Carey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fbjR-G-UCmo/UotcBwazZ2I/AAAAAAAAALI/HW2UtLAuxpY/s1600/George+Carey.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Former Archbishop George Carey</td></tr>
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The former Archbishop George Carey has warned that the Church Of England is 'on the brink of extinction.' as he addressed an audience at the Shropshire Churches Conference. His concerns are that within a generation the Church could become obsolete in the United Kingdom, as ministers and Church leaders have failed to introduce youth into its parishes and amount of people that consider themselves Christian has declined by 10% in as many years. Not to mention Christianity has seen a loss of support from the courts, legislation and the government who can no longer support all Christian causes because of a wider mixed religious and secular society, including the introduction of same sex marriage. <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2509379/Church-brink-extinction-Ex-Archbishop-George-Carey-warns-Christianity-crisis.html">Read full article.</a><br />
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Is this a good or bad thing?</h2>
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This news is met with mixed response on the internet, many who see that the Church is dying because people no longer believe and that is a good thing, why try to uphold an institution that supports something people no longer believe in? The Church can no longer instil people with fear and thus retain its congregation like it may have done in the past. However some feel that this exposes that people have lost a sense of morality and spiritual fulfilment, and on the extreme end :that the country now worships the gods of money and possession. This argument has been had several times in several different formats, the arguments are that being religious does not make you good, being secular does not make you bad, therefore the Church is not necessary to instil morality. However, I have said on several occasions, despite not being Christian, I feel the Church offers a genuine service that secular society has yet to replace. The church is valuable and whether you believe in god or not, the Church should be seen as a positive aspect of our community.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fvKAdpvUGZM/UotgQiQAldI/AAAAAAAAALU/rWZTvCD0byI/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="141" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fvKAdpvUGZM/UotgQiQAldI/AAAAAAAAALU/rWZTvCD0byI/s320/images.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Members meet up in All Saints Church, Gosforth UK</td></tr>
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Firstly, people believe that a dwindling church means that religion will soon become extinct in the UK are not viewing the whole picture. Christianity, in particular,will remain in this country for centuries to come. Numbers may dwindle but it will still be seen as the main religion of our country. The difference is however, that with the removal of Christianity from state schools and from our everyday life, Christianity becomes a genuine choice. It can not offend those who don't believe because as the church becomes smaller so does it's power and the power of the Church is something people have always disliked. In most cases the issue with Christianity is its indoctrination, but as I have outlined, despite recent reports <a href="http://theagnosticfence.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/evangelising-in-british-schools.html">on proselytizing in schools,</a> evangelism in the UK is marginal. You have to opt in to evangelism, again, you make the choice. <br />
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I can understand a Christians frustration at viewing the country they live in as losing a sense of god or trying to reject it, but the way of life we have upheld for many years is garnered towards equality, tolerance, scientific progression and even when society secular or other wise doesn't necessarily deliver on our beliefs we still uphold them, it is still at our core. Religion has become of the face of the opposition to this innate desire and that is why I think so many will not be displeased to here that the Church is on the brink of extinction. In s<br />
hort, people are moving forward and feel the church is not.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X3B1zmWY2uU/UothVKjXy9I/AAAAAAAAALc/-zbmwJVDz54/s1600/crucifix_2134749b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X3B1zmWY2uU/UothVKjXy9I/AAAAAAAAALc/-zbmwJVDz54/s320/crucifix_2134749b.jpg" width="320" /></a>So why then, after all that, do I still think the church is positive and important part of our community. Not only does church bring people together, it gives people a chance, those who have really hit rock bottom find comfort. Its no joke that people are born again, people that were a shell of them selves become saved and I don't mean that in a religious sense although I'm sure that happens as well, but people that would otherwise not be here are still with us because the church is a place of refuge. It's not just a story that saves people, it is the socialising, the events, and the belonging. The church offers an ongoing program of support in all aspects of peoples lives because belief fills people with the desire to help, not monetary incentive. You don't have to sign up for a church you can just walk in and receive help, the program never ends and extends way passed just the aspect of your life you struggled with. I have known people who have tried to take their own lives or been caught up in drug addiction and the church has changed them. Now, I know there are voluntary services that can provide people with help but where these may have worked for some and failed for others the church has succeeded and vice versa. So why celebrate the removal of this service? Does it matter that religion is part of their recovery? I don't know. It's not for me to say, I am not them, I have only seen and heard the changes. So while I know its not the only place that changes lives, it is a place that does and should remain open.<br />
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Also even on the less extreme side of things, the church offers companionship to people and a sense of community. Something that atheists are tapping into now with things like <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/nov/15/atheism-contrary-to-mega-churches?commentpage=1">'Athiest-mega churches'</a> but currently these are far and few between and I suspect something of a novelty ( <a href="http://secular.meetup.com/">find more about secular meet ups here</a>). However yes maybe it could grow, but for now I do feel sad that this support network that does a lot of good for people could be removed and hope that it isn't as long as religion remains a choice then I have no problem with that choice being available.<br />
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Read more:<br />
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Religion in modern Britian Ten recent conflicts <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/9074643/Religion-in-modern-Britain-ten-recent-conflicts.html">http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/9074643/Religion-in-modern-Britain-ten-recent-conflicts.html</a><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17224753841340144112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6777588706340719142.post-71809767298461834112013-11-13T08:06:00.001-08:002013-11-13T08:13:20.658-08:00George Bush and the people trying to force the second coming.<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recently I signed up for a book called <i>The Messianic Bible</i>. In my ignorance, I just assumed that this was a sect of Jews that believed in Jesus is the messiah and thought nothing of it. Interested to read more I signed up for a copy and was informed it wasn't yet ready for print but when it was I would receive one. Then I began to get weekly emails that were very much to do with the people of Isreal. I realised this was perhaps a lot more politically and religiously inclined than I had first thought. Then I see an article called <span style="line-height: 1em;"><i>George W. Bush to Raise Money for Group That Converts Jews to Bring About Second Coming of Christ </i>you can read that <a href="http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2013/11/george-w-bush-jews-for-jesus-messianic-jewish-bible-institute" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ci9PlgRoiVk/UoOeYFj39rI/AAAAAAAAAKk/0xbKOIQHm-U/s1600/bush+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ci9PlgRoiVk/UoOeYFj39rI/AAAAAAAAAKk/0xbKOIQHm-U/s1600/bush+1.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">G</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">eorge. W. Bush is due to attend the MJBI in Texas</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 1em;">The article talks about George Bush and his affiliation with a group that as the title suggests ' converts Jews to bring about the second coming' and that group would just so happen to be </span><i style="line-height: 1em;">The Messianic Jewish Bible Institute</i><span style="line-height: 1em;">. So whats all the fuss about? Well, ex president and war criminal Bush is due to speak at an event held by <i>The Messianic Jewish Bible </i></span><span style="line-height: 16px;"><i>Institute</i></span><span style="line-height: 1em;"> with the end game to raise money for the foundation. But the MJBI as they'll be known from now on, is not viewed favorably by the Jewish community, who find the attempts at converting Jews as </span><span style="line-height: 16px;">insensitive</span><span style="line-height: 1em;"> and a direct display of </span><span style="line-height: 16px;">disrespect</span><span style="line-height: 1em;"> for the Jewish covenant. The MBJI state their </span><span style="line-height: 16px;">vision</span><span style="line-height: 1em;"> is '</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;"> to bring Jewish people into a personal relationship of faith with Yeshua the Messiah, knowing their acceptance will eventually mean life from the dead (</span><em style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Romans 11:15</em><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;">)' <a href="http://mjbi.org/about_us.php" target="_blank">Source</a></span><b><br /></b></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Why is it such a problem?</span></b></h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 1em;">Commentary Magazine warned that ' </span><span style="line-height: 14.662500381469727px;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">it must be understood that the visceral distaste that the overwhelming majority of Jews have for the Messianics is not to be taken lightly.' </span><a href="http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2012/03/22/jews-for-jesus-and-santorum/" style="line-height: 24px;" target="_blank">Source</a><span style="line-height: 24px;">. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">So it's no wonder George Bushes scheduled attendance at the conference in Texas. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"> </span>The internet had a mixed response as the story spread across blogs and online news site a like, the consensus is not as black and white as you think given the above comment. There was a somewhat balanced debate, with some Jewish commentators saying they were not bothered by the MJBI but generally his planned attendance was met with disdain, including that off Anti-defamation league director Abraham Foxman. He stated he knew Bush was a lover of Israel and it's people and wouldn't embrace the ideology of the MJBI but wished he wouldn't attend all the same. The bulk of the problem is that the MJBI and messianic Jews in general believe they are saving Jews by trying to get them to acknowledge Jesus as messiah and Savior, even if it goes against Jewish scripture it is the MJBI that is trying its best to theologically back up the claim, hence the production of the Messianic Bible. The problem arrises for most Jews is that by trying to get Jews to accept Christ they are no longer Jews, the major difference between Christians and Jews theologically is the belief in Jesus as Messiah and so by introducing this doctrine they are actually creating Christians and not as the MJBI believes, Jews that believe in Jesus for there can not be such thing. </span><br />
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Writing for the Jewish Journal, <a href="http://www.jewishjournal.com/rob_eshman/article/why_bush_shouldnt_talk_to_the_messianic_jewish_bible_institute" target="_blank">Rob Eshman</a> states:</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">For Jews, there is no Father and Son; there is no Trinity: there is only Unity. One. That is a mindset with vast implications for how Jews see the world and behave in it. God is ineffable, certainly not a man, and God’s power lies precisely in that mystery. We accept that the biggest piece of the puzzle is left unsolved — that missing piece is the engine of our spiritual journey. It makes us, as individuals and as a People, inquisitive, skeptical of authority, relatively tolerant, empathetic — for if God is One, we’re all in this together — and eternally dissatisfied. </span><b>That’s why when we start believing in Jesus as God, we stop being Jewish — not just in name, but deep down, in our souls</b>. </span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The MJBI make it clear there aims are to fulfil the requirement for the return of Jesus Christ.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">According to the New Testament there are a number of events that need to happen before the return of Jesus Christ including wars, false prophets, hatred for Christianity. However a lot of it centers around the Jews, their displacement and return to Israel and also their accepting of Jesus as lord. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 14.662500381469727px;">"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem.... Behold, your house is forsaken and desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'" (Mathew 23 :37-39)</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 14.662500381469727px;">"Lest you be wise in your own conceits, I want you to understand this mystery, brethren: a hardening has come upon part of Israel, until the full number of the Gentiles come in, and so all Israel will be saved." (Romans 11: 25-26)</span></span></h3>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.662500381469727px;">You can read more about that here: <a href="http://www.ignatiusinsight.com/features2006/rschoeman_seccoming_jan06.asp">http://www.ignatiusinsight.com/features2006/rschoeman_seccoming_jan06.asp</a></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While I agree with the nature of the argument from Jews against the Messianic Jewish movement I do struggle to see how it differs to that of other religious proselytizing. Is it any different form Christian and Islamic missionary work, or preachers on street corners? We are always free to reject their ideas as they are always free to have them. So while I understand the issue I feel it runs deeper than theology and irks at the structure of Jewish customs and culture which is strong and has a long history, but it shouldn't seek to silence those that threaten it, it should merely ignore it. </span><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17224753841340144112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6777588706340719142.post-24030943115086606932013-11-13T06:27:00.000-08:002013-11-13T06:27:50.739-08:00Religious news World & UK<h2>
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Caught on Camera: Christians persecuted in Syria and Egypt</h2>
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Officials at the United Nations say they have video footage of "horrific violence" towards Christians in both Syria and Egypt and that the persecution of Christians in the Middle East is going largely unreported in the world media.<br />
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Read more <a href="http://www.christianfreedom.org/the-christian-winter/persecution-in-syria/">http://www.christianfreedom.org/the-christian-winter/persecution-in-syria/</a></div>
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The Pope expresses a sentiment of by gone era.</h2>
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Catholicism garnered some positive press this week after Pope Fransis was pictured kissing a heavily disfigured man, who suffers from a condition called nerofibrelga. The picture was seen as a return to the old ways of the Church and reinforcing the Christ like values of helping the sick and needy. </blockquote>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qqLBKN2dhok/Un5I1LOCW6I/AAAAAAAAAJw/vrW6JNMwjsA/s1600/Pope-Francis-holds-a-sick-006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="192" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qqLBKN2dhok/Un5I1LOCW6I/AAAAAAAAAJw/vrW6JNMwjsA/s320/Pope-Francis-holds-a-sick-006.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pope Francis kisses and preys with man- St Peters Square (Photo Credit: <a href="http://www.corbisimages.com/photographer/claudio-peri" target="_blank">Claudio Peri</a>)</td></tr>
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The Guardian wrote: <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><i>Francis has renovated a damaged brand not in years, but months. He has turned the image of the papacy and by extension the Catholic church upside down in less than a year. His papacy already seems destined to be remembered as special – and yet this communicational triumph has not been achieved through carefully constructed PR techniques. It is not spin. Its methods are medieval and its magic is simple</i>. <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/nov/08/pope-francis-kisses-disfigured-man" target="_blank">Source</a></span></blockquote>
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Homophobic Muslim Cleric University tour cancelled.</h2>
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Zimbabwean cleric Mufti Ismail Menk had been invited to attend six univeristies (<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #282828; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Oxford, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, Cardiff and Glasgow) however, officials soon got wind of his homophobic beliefs including that of "gays being worse than animals" and it was cancelled. The tour was being organised by </span></span><a href="http://www.tayyibun.com/" style="color: #282828; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" target="_blank">Tayyibun Institute</a><span style="color: #282828; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"> for a series of talks to Muslim student societies at the </span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">universities.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #282828; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Ruth Hunt of the gay rights charity Stonewall said: “Universities should always remain mindful that they have a duty to protect all of their students and to ensure balance in university discourse.” </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #282828; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/universityeducation/10435865/Universities-cancel-Muslim-clerics-tour-over-his-anti-gay-views.html" target="_blank">Source</a></span></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17224753841340144112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6777588706340719142.post-52804996301748559892013-10-31T08:33:00.001-07:002013-10-31T08:37:27.365-07:00Can desire and reason live side by side?I've been asked over the past few weeks why I don't just call myself an atheist or 'give up the dream' or pick a side relating to there being a god or creator. Each time it's been light hearted banter, it is after all, not that an important of an issue even though I spend a lot of time reading and writing about it. <div><br></div><div>The reason I won't choose, I've always said,was because there's no way of knowing for certain. How did something come from nothing? Why/ how is there consciousness? How can we explain certain paranormal occurrences? These are the questions that keep me wondering and keep me from 'giving up the dream.' In fact it was that very term that triggered something in me, yes it was a dream in the sense that I wanted there to be more, it was a longing for a majestical awakening- a sign of something extra after we die, a place where consciousness is separate from the physical body. So although as i've outlined I won't commit to disbelief because of those unanswered questions I also don't want there to be nothing either.</div><div><br></div><div>Now once I admitted that to myself, I'm left with the unsavoury feeling that I am no longer completely unbiased by emotion. Maybe I have over looked certain aspects so that my unanswered questions remain that way, maybe I put more weight in circular arguments than I should have, would have, before I became someone who wants there to be something rather than someone who is completely indifferent. </div><div><br></div><div>That being said I hope my desires would never cause me to be ignorant of the facts, because although it would be a wonderful idea for there to be a spiritual, magical realm, it does none of us any good to believe it baselessly. </div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17224753841340144112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6777588706340719142.post-59984326759685519912013-10-28T05:04:00.000-07:002013-10-31T17:14:37.058-07:00Evangelising in British Schools - Unbelievable? Debate <br />
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This is mainly a post in response to the latest Unbelievable? debate from <a href="http://www.premierradio.org.uk/" target="_blank">Premier Radio</a>, which I advise anyone who is interested in religious debate to subscribe to, it is available as a podcast on iTunes. In the latest debate Terry Sanderson from The National Secular Society went head to head with Reverend David Robertson about the latest report released by the NSS regarding <a href="http://www.secularism.org.uk/uploads/evangelism-in-state-schools.pdf" target="_blank">Evangelism in State Schools </a>. Ther is a concern that certain Christian groups attending British State schools and evangelising to pupils rather than only informing pupils about religion.<br />
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The report is a collection of complaints that parents had made regarding Christian groups attending Religious Eduction classes, a class that looks at a wide variety of religions from an objective view point R.E as it is shortened to is supposed to be informative and fact based and has no spiritual or theological purpose. This is a fact that unfortunately David Robertson failed to understand during his argument, which he came at very aggressively from the beginning. The complaints ranged from the fact that parents had not been informed that Christian groups would come into school, to children being given Bibles and being told this was the most important book they would ever read. Other instances highlighted by Terry Sanderson were young children being told by visitors to the school that miracle healing works.<br />
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Robertson believed the report was scare mongering, anti-chritistian and anecdotal as there were no statistical evidence to back up the frequency of occurrences and complaints. While he may have been right regarding the methodology of the report his answer to some of Sanderson's complaints showed he hadn't fully grasped the idea of objective teaching.<br />
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For example Sanderson wants religious education to remain objective, and has no problem with Christians coming into schools to inform children about the traditions, history and story of Christianity, however the evidence that groups had been crossing the objective line and began evangelising in schools was met with indifference by Robertson. Instead of admitting evangelism isn't objective he went off on a tangent about The NSS wanting to influence the national curriculum, he then began insisting that Sanderson say wether he believed it should be taught that abortion is right in schools, again Sanderson said the facts and opinions of abortion should be taught and the decision left up to the child as to wether they find it wrong or right. Robertson again unaware of the reality of being objective only read that Sanderson was advocating that abortion is right should be taught in schools.<br />
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It was a frustrating tit for tat as the Christian representative got weighed down by his own anger and intolerance for the NSS. He exposed his personal belief that children should not be allowed to make up their own mind on the ideas of abortion and euthanasia. He overlooked the points made my Sanderson about children not being taught in an educational environment that miracle healing works to which Robertson angrily replied "how do you know it doesn't work?" Again missing the idea that what Sanderson wants is a fact based education in the school, and I for one agree with him.<br />
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Religion in school should stay within the realm of informing as it was for me when I was at school.<br />
In primary school there was a marginal amount of Christian ideology taught in our lessons, we preyed in morning assembly and sang hymns, but by the time secondary school came around all trace of that was gone - and rightly so. Religious Education classes focused on looking at the different beliefs people held, the moral arguments around euthanasia, abortion and gay marriage. But these were done as an open debate with the teacher acting as moderator only and our opinions were left for us to form. <br />
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Robertson he made a valid point that the production of the report was to condemn the actions it depicted, Sanderson tried to state it was only a report and neither condemned or supported it was only to demonstrate findings. However, it is quite obvious the report is constructed to counter these arguments but someone has to. Yes in a country of 50 million+ a few complaints seems marginal, however it is something that should be monitored and the NSS report gives a voice to concerned parents who must, state school or other wise, be aware of the nature of their children's education.<br />
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You can read The National Secular Societys Report<a href="http://www.secularism.org.uk/uploads/evangelism-in-state-schools.pdf" target="_blank"> here </a><br />
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And listen to the Unbelievable debate by visiting Premier Radio's page <a href="http://www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable" target="_blank">here</a><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17224753841340144112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6777588706340719142.post-50865843834975631772013-10-13T06:10:00.000-07:002013-10-13T06:35:09.662-07:00Should we be offended by a god that judges? <br />
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I recently purchased Timothy Kellner's book <i>The Reasons for God- Belief in An Age of Skepticism</i> and although he outlines a lot of unbiased attitudes in his opening chapters, it is the chapter 'How can a loving God send people to hell?' that I am going to be talking about in the next few posts, mostly because it falls flat of any sort of answer at all and rather exposes some strange ad hominem arguments.<br />
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I will say firstly though that I am enjoying Timothy Kellner's book and find most of it interesting and it has some great points and will probably do a full review of it at some point. But this post addresses something I read in his book and was taken a back by the short sightedness of his explanation.<br />
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<b>A judging god offends me...</b></h4>
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The most shocking argument the Kellner unleashes in this chapter is in response to a woman who stated that a god who judges people offends her. To which Kellner replies "I respectfully urge you to consider your cultural location when you find the Christian teaching about hell offensive.' He then goes on to tell her that the aspects of Christianity that Westerners like, i.e. forgiving your enemies other societies find 'repulsive'. 'Traditional societies the teaching about turning the other cheek makes absolutely no sense. It offends peoples instincts about what is right' He then leaps from this argument to a subtle attack on the questioner, claiming that because she favours the god of love and is offended by a god of judgement this must mean she holds her world view over that of other cultures in short finding a Western world view to be superior to that of non-Western ones. He states 'Why, I concluded, should Western cultural sensibilities be the final court in which to judge wether Christianity is valid? I asked the woman gently whether she thought her culture superior to non-Western ones. She immediately answered 'no'. 'Well then,' I asked, 'why should you cultures objections to Christianity trump theirs?'<br />
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I find his argument flawed in several ways<br />
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1) Westerners do not conclusively uphold and endorse the ideas about forgiving their enemies. Take America as an example, one of the largest Christian countries, also one of the few Western countries to still practise the death penalty, arguably not an act that forgives your enemies. Also a country that attacks invades and bombs countries regularly is also not an act that could be classed as forgiveness quite clearly an act of judgement. The idea that the West loves forgiveness and traditional cultures don't is an idea he implies himself and not the questioner. Where are these countries that are so repulsed by forgiveness?<br />
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2) Every time you disagree with someones way of thinking it does not transpose into finding a whole culture inferior to yours. This is an ad-hominem attack that is making the woman feel as though she is feeling superior to another cultures.<br />
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3) Isn't forgiveness and love a way that we are all trying to live? Didn't the West once live in a way of judgement, looking back several centuries in England there were witch trials, public executions, torture, lack of religious or political freedom. Aren't we all in agreement that forgiveness <i>is </i>the better way to live. That judging others for the colour of the skin, sexuality or gender is counterintuitive to living harmoniously? That is whether you like it or not , the way the world is evolving, and countries that do not practice this are viewed in a negative light by Christians and none Christians, by the secular world as well as religious. It is not by feeling superior that we feel things ought to change but by seeing how badly practising this form of judgement impacts on peoples lives and freedoms that means we fight for human rights and for equality. These are the characteristics by which the world changes for the better, so it is completely acceptable to feel that Christianity and by proxy the god of Christianity would have these characteristics as well.<br />
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He then goes on to say that we should imagine 'Christianity is not the product of anyone culture but is actually the transcultural truth of God. If that were the case we would expect that it would contradict and offend every human culture at some point, because human cultures are ever changing and imperfect. If Christianity were the truth it would have to be offending and correcting your thinking at some place. Maybe this is the place, the Christian doctrine of divine judgement.'<br />
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Yes human cultures are ever changing but most are evolving into more tolerant countries which aim to improve the lives of those in it, that give equality and freedom to its people that <i>don't</i> judge others that act upon leniency. Will it not be soon that a god of judgement will not only contradict some human thought but <i>all</i> human thought. I also don't see why 'If Christianity were the truth it would have to be offending and correcting your thinking at some place.' Surely if Christianity were the truth, which we are always reminded is absolute, there would be no room for throwing out its passages and accepting others which is what anyone would have to do to make Christianity seem reasonable to the modern world.<br />
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Yes you can be offended by a judging god because it is always contradictory to love, forgiveness and understanding which we deem to be high qualities in people all around the world. So it is no stretch to be offended by a god that doesn't embellish these qualities that we find so perfect in humans that god should easily see how futile judgement is.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17224753841340144112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6777588706340719142.post-55971465722036901242013-10-11T03:37:00.000-07:002013-10-11T03:40:00.949-07:00Free religious, atheist and agnostic books. UPDATE<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br></span>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Here is a list of FREE books, eBooks and PDF's for all religious books, scripture, atheist and agnostic books. It's a work in progress but these are links that I've had time to check or have used in the past. Either send for or download. Some of these links may become useless in time so I'll try to keep it as functional as possible. Also if you have any free book links you want to add just drop it in the comments and I'll add it to the list.</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Note: Some free books may require you to sign up to a mailing list or ask for a donation. I have tried to limit the use of these in this list however they are included.</span><br>
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<a href="http://theagnosticfence.blogspot.com/2013/10/free-religious-atheist-and-agnostic.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17224753841340144112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6777588706340719142.post-26993251886605001962013-10-10T07:33:00.003-07:002013-10-11T05:10:21.742-07:00Joseph Atwill's Covert Messiah - Unlikely to reveal anything new<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L9HVeGafC7U/Ulav8H-MdxI/AAAAAAAAAIM/LKr1vRmlDDw/s1600/atwil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L9HVeGafC7U/Ulav8H-MdxI/AAAAAAAAAIM/LKr1vRmlDDw/s200/atwil.jpg" width="200" /></a> There's a bit of a flutter in the religious debate world at the moment as Joseph Atwill's Covert Messiah seminar is due to take place on the 19th of October in London. There he will announce the case for his 'ancient confession' and theory that Jesus is<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> <span style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;">'a fabricated cover story for an Imperial psychological warfare operation born out of the First Jewish-Roman War in the first century.'</span></span></span> But do such claims hold any weight or is this just another theory drawn together by wishful thinking and a loose grasp on history and theology? Is Covert Messiah simply a money making scheme created for controversy and a tidy £35.00 entrance fee?<br />
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Joseph Atwill reassures us that although the idea may sound far-fetched the quality of the evidence may surprise us. That remains to be seen but until the unveiling, the internet is left to speculate about the premis of his argument based on the contents of his previous work which the seminar will likely reinforce.<br />
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Mr Atwill calls himself an American Biblical Scholar (a title that is debatable).<br />
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In 2006 he wrote and published the book "Caesar's Messiah" that garnered relative success and influenced a documentary of the same name in 2011. However <a href="http://freethoughtblogs.com/carrier/archives/4664" target="_blank">others feel his credentials are lacking</a> in areas needed to substantiate a Josephus conspiracy theory. Before he has even announced the details of the ancient confession, which sounds dramatically Dan Brown-ish, experts in the field don't seem to think he has done the research and have found several holes in his thesis. (<a href="http://tomverenna.wordpress.com/2012/09/25/no-joe-atwill-rome-did-not-invent-jesus/" target="_blank">Read Tom Verenna's implausibility breakdown here.</a>)<br />
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While he may be bundled up with other Christian mythicists like Ralph Ellis, whose Jesus as the son of King of Edessa theory received much more than a skeptical eye, the documentary based on his works did gather quite a bit of a following. This doesn't mean much in the way of reliability- I learnt that about <i>The God Who Wasn't There</i> and still feel a bit stung about the debunk.<br />
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The theory that Jesus was developed by the Roman government and then employed historian Flavius Josephus to write the gospels is not an entirely new theory in fact it closely replicates a theory that has been reworked several times in the past century, and has many similarities to the <a href="http://www.fargonasphere.com/piso/" target="_blank">Piso Family Conspiracy</a> which is generally thought to be unfounded. In Atwill's reworking he believes Josephus has left clues in his own writing which correspond with the New Testament that when pieced together point at a conspiracy for psychological warfare around 70 AD as a way to pacify the Jewish people.<br />
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I'm not going to lie, the cleverly marketed symposium did draw me in, I like the touch of hosting it in Holborn's Conway Hall, more so because I used to work in Holborn and know the area is littered with masonic goings on, only adding to the cloak and dagger feel. Atwill has his own sentimental reasons for choosing to hold it Conway Hall and it is a fitting venue; it's founder was an advocate of free thought. However, I suspect the unveiling will not fulfill anyone's need for definitive answers and will fuel the blogosphere for many months to come.<br />
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<b>Covert Messiah is being held on the 19th of October 2013 in Conway Hall, Holdborn, London. You can get more info and tickets <a href="http://www.covertmessiah.com/" target="_blank">here</a>.</b><br />
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</script>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17224753841340144112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6777588706340719142.post-85891644314728094632013-10-07T08:41:00.001-07:002013-10-10T05:42:37.302-07:00The Snowy Peak syndrome of Atheism and Apologetics<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6777588706340719142" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6777588706340719142" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br>
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When I studied politics (briefly) in college we were introduced to the term "Snowy Peak Syndrome" which refers to the top of organisations / fields/ professions being dominated by white middle class men. It was a term coined by Trevor Phillips, this was his original statement:</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>'Across the private sector we have what I call the ‘snowy peaks syndrome’ - a mountain </i><i>represents an organisation’s workforce. At the base you find large numbers of women and </i><i>ethnic minority workers whereas at the summit you find a small amount of white, middle class </i><i>men.' <a href="http://www.runnymedetrust.org/uploads/publications/pdfs/SnowyPeaks-2010.pdf">Source</a></i></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">It's not just the workplace or industry that suffers from Snowy Peak Syndrome it appears it is also the sphere of religious debate.When doing a quick search for "most well known atheists" I stumbled upon this page <a href="http://www.superscholar.org/features/influential-atheists/" target="_blank">The 25 Most Influential Atheists</a>. Here's a sample of them put together in this poorly made graphic:</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">If you looked yes you will notice a distinct lack of women and racial diversity. Why is this? Is religion still a part culturally of black and asian communities that accounts for the lack of representation in these areas? For example Black female atheist Jamilla Bey suggests that being religious is seen as part of black identity, she said <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;">"It's a problem that amongst African Americans there's this narrative that says in order to be authentically black, one must be God-fearing, or one must be a good godly woman or a good godly man."</span></span></div>
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</div><a href="http://theagnosticfence.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-snowy-peak-syndrome-of-atheism-and.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17224753841340144112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6777588706340719142.post-38518367393368339232013-10-01T17:41:00.001-07:002013-10-30T14:18:26.364-07:00Disowning terrorists is a paradoxical loophole that helps nothingAtrocity after atrocity is occurring world wide and it's a distinct blend of religious extremism and politically infused guerrilla warfare.<br>
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Kenya, Nigeria, Israel, Pakistan and the UK are just some of the countries that have been on the receiving end of radical Islam this year alone. The problem is two fold, a blur between cries for the removal of armed forces in mostly Islamic countries/the retribution for war in Islamic countries and the instigation of Sharia Law. </div>
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</div><a href="http://theagnosticfence.blogspot.com/2013/10/disowning-terrorists-is-paradoxical.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17224753841340144112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6777588706340719142.post-5453859135821130282013-08-29T07:28:00.002-07:002013-10-10T05:46:52.118-07:00The representation of religious extremism in contemporary film: Does it have its uses?<div>
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For my dissertation I researched religious extremism in the films RedState and Four Lions. I would like to share with you my introduction and conclusion, it was a very laborious few months but I really enjoyed the research and in the end found the films useful and thought provoking anyway here is what I found:</div>
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Introduction:<br>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7h6MApOjE7A/Uh9fDABvoSI/AAAAAAAAAFw/SUkbcNJLgb8/s1600/four+lions.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7h6MApOjE7A/Uh9fDABvoSI/AAAAAAAAAFw/SUkbcNJLgb8/s1600/four+lions.jpg"></a>In July 2012 a fourteen minute video entitled Innocence of Muslims (Nakoula:2012) was uploaded to YouTube. The relatively low-budget film was poorly dubbed in Arabic with what were regarded as anti-Islamic slurs, causing a global controversy resulting in the death of 75 people. It also prompted a wide variety of responses from different governments; Pakistani minister Ghulam Ahmad Bilour offered a reward for the death of the film’s producer and the American Government requested YouTube assess whether the video could be removed from their site. Critics noted that the video was constructed to be inflammatory that it emphasised that films are ‘still associated with an idea- the idea of America’s global power and prestige’ (Guardian, 2010). Ironically, across the Atlantic the Westboro Baptist church continued to use the funerals (and subsequent news coverage) of soldiers that died fighting in wars against a religiously motivated force in the Middle East as a platform to promote homophobia and their fundamentalist beliefs. What I found interesting was it appeared that an ideological war was being waged using the media and it had a lot to do with religion.<br>
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</blockquote><a href="http://theagnosticfence.blogspot.com/2013/08/the-representation-of-religious.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17224753841340144112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6777588706340719142.post-75352719348290405002013-08-29T04:09:00.001-07:002013-08-29T06:57:36.090-07:00Boredom binge drinkers: How alcohol has replaced recreation (and maybe religion) in young adults. Part 1<span style="font-family: inherit;">I've been wanting to do this post for sometime, and it comes from a what seems like a very mechanical trait of mine. Firstly, I want to cover the place I live and the culture that we have here that is alcohol focused, drugs I will come to later. Alcohol has a lot to answer for in British towns and cities, and I believe it correlates in someway with the decline of religion but is also an </span>amalgamation<span style="font-family: inherit;"> of multiple changes in society. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.33333396911621px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Quite a wordy title, admittedly. Yet being one of those working class young adults for whom alcohol has replaced all other sort of recreation, I could find no other way of putting it. I’m 24 years young, just finished a degree in media and currently facing a problem I have faced multiple times; I’m bored to death with the cycle of binge drinking- hang over’s- regret and then binge drinking. The obvious answer would be to just stop and this is something I and everyone else thinks after a hard night drinking and an even harder morning after. But for many it never happens, the hang over wears off, the enticement into alcohols escapist lair gets stronger. It’s Friday and you’re there again back at the watering hole for another ever more costly dose of poison induced fun, fun that is bought at a ridiculous price, both financially and physically.</span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 21.33333396911621px;">First look at the facts, the average young adult which categorically speaking addresses 18-24 year olds is on an average wage of around £7 per hour. The average UK working statistic is 32.3 hours making an average wage at most of £226 per week before tax and around £180.00 after. Admittedly not the most accurate statistics, but from firsthand accounts this is an optimistic review of a young person’s weekly income. I currently earn only around £100 pounds per week (working part time) and this </span><span style="line-height: 21.328125px;">doesn't</span><span style="line-height: 21.33333396911621px;"> even begin to cover the plethora of unemployed who’s job seekers allowance is around £50 per week. However employment is not the sole contributing factor to a persons finances, spending is </span><span style="line-height: 21.328125px;">obviously</span><span style="line-height: 21.33333396911621px;"> a huge part of it and lets be honest with ourselves, drinking is no longer a luxury or a </span><span style="line-height: 21.328125px;">rarity</span><span style="line-height: 21.33333396911621px;"> it is seen as a given and </span><span style="line-height: 21.328125px;">necessary</span><span style="line-height: 21.33333396911621px;"> part of our </span><span style="line-height: 21.328125px;">society</span><span style="line-height: 21.33333396911621px;"> customs and enjoyment. It has become a weekly expense, recent research at UCL shows that young adults are the highest consumers of alcohol consuming on average 15 units on what they call 'the heaviest drinking day'.</span></span></span></div>
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<i>The offer of alcohol at very low prices sustains a culture of dangerous drinking. In particular, heavy drinkers who want to contain their costs in the face of rising prices but do not want to cut back their consumption have the opportunity to buy cheaper products from cheaper outlets. Similarly, young people with limited cash can still drink a lot of alcohol by turning to cheap,high-strength products. Cheap alcohol has been shown to be particularly attractive to harmful and dependent drinkers, binge drinkers and young drinkers</i>. - The Stirling University</blockquote>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">From personal experience, a heavy night drinking in the pub will cost you around £20-£30 on alcohol, not including money involved with going out such as entrance fee's and taxis. It might be a cheap-ish recreation due to cheap-ish beer but overall the pub takes a huge chunk of someones wages not to mention that being drunk fuels our decadent behavior and encourages more spending. </span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 21.33333396911621px;"> It's not hard to see how we have ended up here. Just think about how milestones are measured out by way of drinking, the reason 18 is such an important birthday, becoming a legal adult is over shadowed by the fact you can now buy alcohol. The reality is most are drinking well before their 18th more likely before 16th and it is </span><span style="line-height: 21.328125px;">celebrated</span><span style="line-height: 21.33333396911621px;"> as the normal thing to be indoctrinated into the weekly cycle of living for the weekend and getting drunk. Another aspect is that we are a society that is living for the moment and desires to be someone or something. We use booze to fill our lust for life and to bolster our ego.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.328125px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For me, I had always been a big drinker admittedly a <i>binge drinker</i>. Yet, I had a slow realisation when I attended university that the drinking life I had come to be used to wasn't the done thing around the people I met there. University's have the reputation for a drinking culture, but I would argue this is central to the 'dorm' lifestyle and not the University itself. So being outside of a dormitory clique the people I associated with were international students and students who lived at home in Birmingham. What I would never imagine is that about 10 miles from the place I grew up is where I would learn the most about the world and the people in it. More so I didn't expect, while attending uni in the gritty second city to be taught a new way of living- and it was drink free. </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.328125px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I met born again Christians, Hindus and Muslims and around them my drinking culture was not just out of place it began to feel a bit pathetic. These weren't just international students they were British and they didn't drink and would you believe it they were really interesting people who enjoyed life without the bottle hanging over them as a social lubricant. They had that other thing though, that thing I was missing. They had religion. </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.328125px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This got me to thinking about how we spend our weekends, even now our week nights. We spend it going out, entering into a world of fuzz waking up Saturday or Sunday morning, destroyed from the night before. We turn a relatively normal thing into an imagined fun because drink allows us to escape, to become someone confident, fun, carefree. Doesn't it? Isn't that the perk of intoxication, we become temporarily a better version of ourselves? </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.328125px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It certainly doesn't feel that way the day after when we hear the stories of what we did and we feel embarrassed we might say, "I can't believe I did that!" But isn't that what we wanted? A change in the routine, a shut down of constant thought, of stress, we want to talk to people and not be concerned they wont like us, we want to approach people, to talk rubbish with people, lose all inhibitions and just dance. </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.328125px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Well I went to a place once, where no alcohol was being consumed, and there were people that were expressing themselves, that were looking happy, that were socialising with people they didn't know and approaching strangers and newcomers and it was a church. And while I sat there, slowly sipping from a bottle of water trying to fend of a hang over induced panic attack, I envied those people so much. I was a mess, I couldn't talk to anyone I could just sit and wait for it to be over so I could have my panic attack in the comfort of my own self inflicted misery. </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.328125px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I had ended up in church because I have a friend who is Christian and this is where a hole forms in my theory, but don't worry it's easily stitched back up. She is my best friend, she is from an Asian background and has always been a Christian, but even though I love her, her life as a Christian I would argue is not a very dedicated one. It is one bore out of tradition and loyalty to her family. She might attend Church sometimes, but more times than not she too is hung over. Now unlike those people I met in University, she is not as passionate about her religion. She will say "I don't really know but I do believe." Which is fine, I am not here to say true Christians do this and you should be doing this. No my point is there seems to be a strong correlation between strong dedication to your faith, interaction with a religious community and a distinct lack of drinking. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 21.328125px;">This brings me to my next point, the Christian I met at university filled her social hours with church activities, performances,charity work, prayer meetings, youth groups. She had things to do with her spare time and she enjoyed them most of all she didn't drink. Again my Muslim friend who doesn't drink through custom, when we went out we went to places I didn't go with my other friends because we had a one track mind and that is 'find the booze'. With her we watched films, played pool tried new </span><span style="line-height: 21.31944465637207px;">restaurants</span><span style="line-height: 21.328125px;"> and all done with a glass of coke or water instead of a bottle of wine. I didn't miss drinking, but once back in my normal circle I began to drink again and sit in the same pub spending my money and waking up poor and sick.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 21.328125px;">And that's the problem, we have become so focused on indulging and escaping that we don't even consider the alternatives. I must say here that I understand that aside from religion there are a lot of reasons people don't </span><span style="line-height: 21.31944465637207px;">drink</span><span style="line-height: 21.328125px;"> and fill their time with healthier non drinking activities but I am addressing the average- the majority- the people of my town who I see week after week and we are all doing the same thing, the same Facebook statuses about getting reading and then feeling terrible.It's so repetitive yet acceptable it has taken over any other sort of activity. When a friend and I decided to stop drinking she actually Googled "what to do that doesn't involve drinking" she'd forgotten and its not really a surprise I think there is a whole generation of us that has forgotten how to spend our time without drink. And I think it's a problem.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.31944465637207px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I haven't drank for three weeks, it doesn't seem much but that translates as three weekends where I have had to fight off temptation and persuasion and occupy my time in a different way. In part two (because I'm waffling on) I am going to look at the realistic alternatives and solutions to our boredom binge drinking and explain a little more about what I've been experience while I've been off the booze. </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.328125px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Also to read more on this subject:</span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.stir.ac.uk/media/schools/management/documents/Alcoholstrategy-updated.pdf">http://www.stir.ac.uk/media/schools/management/documents/Alcoholstrategy-updated.pdf</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2013/feb/27/how-much-alcohol-do-we-really-drink">http://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2013/feb/27/how-much-alcohol-do-we-really-drink</a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17224753841340144112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6777588706340719142.post-34209136236440849432013-08-29T01:51:00.002-07:002013-08-29T01:51:24.853-07:00General UpdateI had to take a break from the Agnostic Fence for a while due to writing my dissertation, which was religiously focused and I shall share with you on here if you're interested. I did my dissertation on the representation of religious extremism in film looking at the films <i>RedState </i>and <i>Four Lions,</i>it got quite a bit of positive feedback which was exciting<i>. </i>However once I'd completed that mammoth task, even though I enjoyed it, I thought I would step away from religion for a while and think about something new... that didn't last long.<br />
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Anyway I have quite a few posts to get round too, just thought I'd post an update in the mean time. The dissertation post will follow at some point.<br />
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Thanks,<br />
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Agnostic FenceAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17224753841340144112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6777588706340719142.post-41424865827331194862013-01-14T16:28:00.001-08:002013-08-29T04:21:50.303-07:00Is it child abuse to teach a child religion? <br />
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Richard Dawkins thinks so. He states there should be no such thing as a Muslim child or a Christian child etc because they are not old enough to understand the concepts of religion, assess other options and quite frankly decide for themselves. <br />
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I agree that children shouldn't be forced to follow religion, I would never force my child to believe as I believe but to do so is it really abuse? And to what extent do we push our beliefs on to others? <br />
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I accept that it may be seen as abuse in the way that it; <br />
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A) suppresses learned truths about the world.<br />
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B) Restricts free will and free thought.<br />
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C) Contain harmful views that create negative thought processes (for example, men are worth more than women, homosexual relationships are wrong)<br />
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Let's take these one by one and see how harmful each may be.<br />
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A) Some might argue that all of the scientific discoveries made about the earth, creation, evolution and the universe can be explained in their holy books. Personally I would argue that a lot of what science has discovered contradicts scripture and only through tiresome and wordy apologetics do people try to present otherwise.<br />
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Is it right to tell a child the world was created in six days by a creator rather than encourage them to look at science and the evidence for big bang?Or at least present them with both theories. Is it any different to telling children that Santa exists or the tooth fairy?<br />
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Yes, views about how we got here and here came from are important to our world view. They surpass childhood story's. Children may not have the ability or desire to contemplate that much but they question and learn and take things they learn at a young age up until they are adults even if they change their mind. I think it is wrong but I am not sure if it's abuse.<br />
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B) Free thought and free will. I think abuse begins when a child would be condemned for not accepting a parents world view. Say a Christian child expresses disbelief in god, in my eyes it would be wrong to tell them that was 'naughty' and that they would ' go to hell' for blasphemous thoughts. This goes against the free will we all have to question and learn. Children live by their parents law, on a grander scale it's comparable to the government telling us that to believe in god was stupid and wrong. Or that punishment was imminent for not doing so.<br />
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We should encourage children to think for themselves and to remember that others have the right to that freedom as well. <br />
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C) Is it right to tell a child that homosexual relationships are wrong despite it being accepted in wider society? Or that men are the head of the family and the head of a women despite being told we are all equal? Are these conflicting attitudes too much for a child to understand and harmful? I would say yes. Secular society is at odds with some aspects of religious ideology, namely homosexual relationships, abortion, women's rights. How can a child process these conflicting ideas? <br />
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Ultimately however from a religious view they believe that is the way of the world and to not tell a child about god and about hell could lead them to ruin. It may be easy to point the finger at religion but a secular world presents as many confusing contradictions for a child, such as its wrong to kill yet the country they live in goes to war. What about our appraisal of money yet our disgust for those who have too much? Our desires to be successful yet our attitude that it's ok just to try. <br />
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I was going to do a separate post on Dawkins latest documentary 'Faith School Menace' but I think I've covered most of my opinions here. So here's the link. Definitely worth a watch if not just to see kids asking Richard Dawkins about the extinction of dinosaurs.<br />
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Watch Faith School Menace here:<br />
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<a href="http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/richard-dawkins-faith-school-menace/">http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/richard-dawkins-faith-school-menace/</a><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17224753841340144112noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6777588706340719142.post-40479378207790537802012-10-16T05:27:00.001-07:002013-01-31T01:06:29.386-08:00My favorite podcast: Unbelievable? <br />
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I have to do a post on my favourite podcast at the moment the Unbelievable? series produced by <a href="http://www.premier.org.uk/" target="_blank">Premier Radio</a> is just the type of podcast I searched iTunes to find. <br />
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If you don't know anything about Premier it is a British Christian Radio station, there is also premier.tv which I think is their music video side.<br />
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The podcasts are all free and cover a range of topics all religiously focused but not entirely Christian. The best thing about the unbelievable podcasts is that despite being a Christian radio<br />
Station they have an abundance of atheist, agnostic guests and guests from other religions. <br />
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It also feels very contemporary, and is a compact and accessible dose of apologetics and debate. Just enough to keep you listening and engaged. The host Justin Brierley, is also a very moderate host despite his own Christian affiliations remains unbiased and diplomatic throughout. <br />
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So yes if you are interested in debates and discussions you have to check them out. Go to your iTunes and type in <a href="http://www.premierradio.org.uk/shows/saturday/unbelievable.aspx" target="_blank">Unbelievable?</a> The podcasts will come up. Plenty to choose from and doesn't cost you a penny.<br />
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I'm going to try and blog about these weekly because they always bring up interesting subjects and would be great to discuss them with fellow bloggers.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17224753841340144112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6777588706340719142.post-79261531936024371252012-10-16T02:27:00.001-07:002013-08-29T07:00:01.338-07:00The god we have and the place we're born<br />
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What interests me is the indoctrination of religion in children. Christian indoctrination is dying out in the UK in primary schools (faith schools excluded) when I was there around 15 years a go prayers, hymns, and the nativity play were all part of school life. We were never taught about Christ but we were expected to understand and believe in him. <br />
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Now at that moment in time when I was young and desired forgiveness for things I had done I thought were bad, I didn't feel the call to Islam, Sikhism, Judaism but to the Jesus of Christianity because that's what I knew. The unknown did not reach out to me, if it had I undoubtedly would still believe today.<br />
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I think that is why people are so adamant they are on the correct path to god because the majority of time they have grown up with a religion, and there is no escaping that. The thought of another god, or in the Abrahamic sense the same with different prophets is unthinkable. <br />
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They can both argue with positive belief they are correct because they choose to believe the religion of their country, culture, family or upbringing.<br />
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Exceptions exist, I know. Take for example Christians in Pakistan, depending upon which source you read (the statistics vary) Christians make up 1.8 percent of the dominant Islamic country. Pakistan is known as one of the more conservative Muslim countries. There is a general feeling that Pakistan does not allow for religious freedom yet churches exist and are functioning in Pakistan.<br />
According to Wikipedia most descend from people who converted during British colonial era.<br />
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But these exceptions don't out way the obvious, that the god you worship is the one that the people around you worship. The two biggest religions Christianity and Islam are physically demonstrable on a map via the east/west divide. Geography plays its part in religion how is this explained from a theological point of view?<br />
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Anyone ever hear any testimonies of people who had been saved by a god they had never heard of before?<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17224753841340144112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6777588706340719142.post-20892722602016170892012-10-15T16:40:00.001-07:002013-08-29T07:04:33.038-07:00Why the hostility towards agnostics? Pt 1I realise now other than for a few sure moments I have never been an atheist. That lingering doubt that some would call cowardice or stupidity has never left me and never will until I am fully convinced of the explanation that something can come from nothing.<br />
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At some point in the very distant past absolutely nothing was here at all. Not even empty space ,not a whiff of an atom, no place for an atom to be! Just nothing. Not darkness not light, no vacuums, nada! Then out of no where a bang occurs, and yes scientists can explain and theorise the explosion but why is it that first initial atom ever popped into existence in the first place when there was no where for it to pop into.<br />
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This question has fascinated me from a very young age, I remember trying to imagine something coming from nothing, but of course all the mind can imagine is darkness which is still something. <br />
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This initial beginning is really an atheists weak spot. For all the science in the world our true origin is unknown. The big bang was not in my eyes the beginning of the universe but rather how the things in the universe came to be including time and space.<br />
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I would like to know why it is seen as cowardly to explore and to conclude you don't know? Would it not be pretentious to pretend you did just to suit the needs of others. To appease those who would rather you choose .I read recently that agnosticism is not in between atheism and religion because atheism is knowledge and religion is belief, the burden of proof lies with religion there for to be in between is not to be unsure what to believe you either do or you don't.<br />
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Well firstly I disagree that you cannot be in between the two positions. The notion that atheism is not a belief in no God but rather the lack of a belief is a fair description, the idea that atheism is knowledge is again a just explanation, however as I mentioned previously this knowledge has holes in it for me yet should I agree with it to avoid sitting on the fence? Should I just believe that science may one day hold the clue to the beginning ? <br />
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The universe is expanding, it wasn't always here, it had to start somewhere, at some point something came from NO thing. Do we know how? No. Does Atheism have all the answers ? No.I think I will stay where I am thanks.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17224753841340144112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6777588706340719142.post-71231695911890959322012-10-15T14:21:00.000-07:002013-08-29T07:02:49.900-07:00Man is the head of a woman? ***updated*** 1 Cor 11:3 <div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
*<i>Please read the update below </i><br>
Originally posted 17/10/2012<br>
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It's been a while since I updated and that's for two reasons ; one the
bible is such a struggle to read and two the Quran has been left
untouched , apart from one brief skim through. I did get stuck into
revelations , which I have since found out Is the only part any non Christian is interested in really. Revelations is supposedly the part
with all the juicy bits. Admittedly I read it and I could make head nor
tail of anything so I left it. </div>
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I think the main problem I am having is that it is the king James version and all the thou and whilst are sending me to sleep.</div>
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A
strange thing did happen though I will admit, I got a craving to go and
read the bible. So I stopped doing what I was doing and went and read it
because it was giving me this cosy feeling to read it. I was confused
and thought what's all this about. Until...</div>
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I got to the part that
states that women are below men and the head of the man is Christ the
head of the woman is man. I forget which part it is but I can tell you
now my warm fuzzy feeling soon departed. Proof if it even need be, that
the bible was written by men not god. For if it were by god, wouldn't "
he" foresee the time when men an women were equal. Would "he" he really
create inequalities OR is it simply just how MAN thought at the time of
writing the bible. </div>
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I can never give into a religion that deems me a subordinate and for that reason I'm out.</div>
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***UPDATE*** Posted on 15/10/2012</div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I realise my above post was a bit... defeatist and defensive. I have grown a lot in the year between writing that and now. I have learnt a lot about religion in the past year, and part of that learning process is realising that scripture is a fiddly thing that a lot of intelligent people analyse and scrutinize in order to access its true meaning. It is also that things are not always what they seem and that if I am going to profess tolerance I must not get so angry. So I searched for an explanation.</span><br>
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</div></div><a href="http://theagnosticfence.blogspot.com/2011/10/struggling.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17224753841340144112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6777588706340719142.post-74840122080117466582012-10-15T09:54:00.001-07:002013-01-30T23:15:08.480-08:00The Name Change<br />
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</div><div>I have changed the blog title to 'The agnostic fence' as this is where I currently position myself. No longer an atheist, but no convert by any means. </div><div><br />
</div><div>So fellow fence sitters, are we in the best position possible?</div><div><br />
</div><div>Agnosticism is the ignored grey area of the religious divide, mostly because an input of 'i dunno' isn't perhaps seen as a useful one. However I think agnosticism has a lot of positives and especially in the arena of apologetics, a debate panel should never be without its agnostic referee.</div><div><br />
</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ct.fra.bz/ol/fz/sw/i59/5/7/18/frabz-Agnostic-What-my-mom-thinks-I-do-What-my-friends-think-I-do-What-258833.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="http://ct.fra.bz/ol/fz/sw/i59/5/7/18/frabz-Agnostic-What-my-mom-thinks-I-do-What-my-friends-think-I-do-What-258833.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Agnosticism, and I am generally talking about agnostics with an interest or knowledge in theism, promotes a tolerance that perhaps atheists and theists don't have. Although some atheists are by design agnostic because they will say that they can't say with 100% certainty that a creator doesn't exist, this is mainly semantics and philosophy. Richard Dawkins would say so because he is a man of logic and applies his own logic to the intricacies of proof, but he is no fence sitter. Agnosticism is separate, agnostics may pray every now and then, may believe in evolution, read a range of religious texts. They may also perceive media deemed controversial or offensive to a religious person with an active impassive eye, allowing for unbiased criticism or praise.<br />
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My granddad says you have to pick a side, in life and in general, but I am not sure in this case that I can. I find the beauty in the possibility and the beauty in the explanation. To treat others as you wish to be treated, to harm no one, to be compassionate to living things and respect others life choices- these are the things I hold dear to me, I understand it is not enough for some and sadly too much for others.<br />
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17224753841340144112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6777588706340719142.post-23728211522357338932011-10-27T04:49:00.001-07:002011-10-27T04:49:05.013-07:00Mere Christianity: A sort of review.<div class='posterous_autopost'><p><img src="http://dontconform.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/lewis_mere_l.jpg" alt="http://dontconform.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/lewis_mere_l.jpg" /></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>(Massive book cover for those who have never seen one before)</strong></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p>He's a clever man, that C.S Lewis and I will give him that. No wonder Christians throw Mere Christianity at any willing atheist or agnostic, because a man of his intelligence gives people more reason to listen or read.</p> <p>About half a year ago my born again Christian friend bought me a copy. This was after many debates we had had and I guess she felt that if I was using logic then she would show me Christian logic. She admitted atheists are smart, but said they are also stubborn and ignorant. So trying not to be stubborn or ignorant and pretending I fell under the "smart atheist" category I obliged to read it.</p> <p>Before I get to that, there is something I have to admit. When I was told C.S Lewis was a former atheist, I automatically felt disappointed. I thought why would someone who has escaped mythological thinking and can look at life with rationality and reason (especially as he was born in 1898) and then to sink into the dogmatic practices of the Christian religion. However, I have since accepted that I do not know everything, one day I could find myself slipping into "dogmatic practices" after all if I knew everything, why would I be here; reading. To quote someone on a forum I frequent, when I asked if any atheists had converted to a religion, a member replied “I feel anyone who is truly atheist and has learned of all the hypocrisies and badness in religion could never unlearn that." That is to say, could never follow religion again. I would be inclined to agree if I were to have asked that question before I started this blog. Now I am no longer so sure.</p> <p>Anyway... on to the book. After several attempts of reading it, I finally gave in a purchased the audio book for £6.99 the other night! I couldn’t believe what I was doing but I was curious. I knew from what I had actually read that he was a clever man, and articulated his points well, yes using LOGIC and REASON as us atheists like to go on about so much. He delves into the usual morality issues and extends from there into tangents; I mean chapters on faith, forgiveness, sexual morality, marriage etc. He does cover these topics well, and seems to have answers for everything, I myself who is nowhere near as smart as he is, found me easily debunking some of his ways of rationalising religious ideas.</p> <p> </p> <p>I won’t go into too much depth I would recommend reading it or (as I preferred) listening to it, but I don't think it is the conversion book Christians hope. Sure for a Christian I can see how they (who already believe what he is saying) can see that his logical way of explanation could be favourable to an atheist, but they forget the atheist is listening out for that which they may over look.</p> <p>It helps to explain the beliefs Christians already have but not to reinforce how he came to change his way of thinking, or why he devotes himself to christ and not any other religion.</p> <p>Still for his time C.S Lewis appears forward thinking, but it hasn't swayed me.</p></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17224753841340144112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6777588706340719142.post-28590285341149838262011-10-27T04:48:00.003-07:002011-10-27T04:48:38.721-07:00A day of confusion and research.<div class='posterous_autopost'><p>I am beginning to think I should re-type this blogs subheading and replace it with "Reading religion in bits day by day, and confusing myself." I read some of the Koran and some of the bible, I skimmed through Mere Christianity.</p> <p>I also Googled the following terms:</p> <p>Proof Jesus existed</p> <p>Proof of God</p> <p>Muslim Converts</p> <p>When was Mathew Written</p> <p>Christian Converts</p> <p>Was Jesus god</p> <p>etc.</p> <p>I have been on a mad tangent,not exactly what I am looking for. Am I really hoping to find the answer to one of life's biggest questions on the internet?</p> <p>I am sure if I was a psychologist that I could unpick my desire for answers, my need for conformation of some kind. Some may say you are looking for it in all the wrong places. Can words hold the key to something that must be purely emotional?</p> <p>I am moving on to the Buddhist teachings. I have read some before and i will admit I really relate to that type of spirituality. I remember reading on a forum, someone stated that Buddhism was for "atheists who are scared to believe in nothing" or something a long those lines.</p> <p>I think Buddhism is one of the wisest ways of thought and living that we have on the planet. Although even Buddhism has some dogmas, it also has the key to true self awareness and inner peace. Buddhism tells you to rely on yourself to make happiness, not to worship in hope that you will be given the reward of peace or love.</p> <p>My favorite Buddhist quote is: </p> <p> “Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense.”</p> <p>Is this not the complete opposite to what other mainstream religions say: believe me when I tell you. Do not question? Considering that quote was written around 500 yrs BC I think that is extremely forward thinking.</p></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17224753841340144112noreply@blogger.com0