Loose Controls
Sunday, December 09, 2007
Religion takes a Beating
After the liberal, globalistic spin is noted, the substance of the article by ABC News, " ’The Golden Compass’ Spurs Controversy" comes out. While they have opposing viewpoints, the pro-athiest/anti God people outnumber the believers three to one and they discredit and belittle our beliefs with no counter. The Catholic League is quoted as saying the film is blatantly anti-Catholic, and the characters of the film’s religious establishment are portrayed as evil.
A press release in defense of the author, notably includes the Archbishop of Canterbury who’s leftist leanings were portrayed last week by an interview in which he blasted westernism.
New Line Cinema, the film's distributor, stood by Pullman, noting in a statement to ABC News that the
film has been "praised by countless clergy and religious scholars, including the Archbishop of
Canterbury, for its deep spirituality and exploration of important theological issues."
In sensational fashion, Emily Friedman instead brushes large strokes across organized religion by quoting extensively three different authors or speakers who are athiests.
But the importance of seeing another viewpoint is exactly what the Catholic League fails to understand,
according to the Freedom from Religion Foundation Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor. "It's time we get
past superstition, embrace reason and put our energies in the real world and not in a fantastic after life
that nobody can prove," Gaylor said. "Why shouldn't our society be open to other views?"
"Harry Potter didn't make a bunch of atheists," said Diane Apostolos-Cappadona, a professor of religious
art and culture history at Georgetown University. "Discussion of religion has become so painted and so
questionable that I don't think we're sitting down and asking the fundamental questions. I think these
movies begin conversations," added Apostolos-Cappadona. "What is more harmful than shutting out
conversation and ideas?"
You’ve heard it before and it bears saying again: That which your enemy is guilty of is exactly what he’ll accuse you of doing. When they say shutting out conversation and ideas is harmful, that is what they'll accomplish by stacking the conversation with pro-athiests.
The following is a comment posted after the article. I’m researching the Chicago church story, but it sounds urban-legendish. Understand the repugnance he holds for the Catholic Church, and the intimation that the priests or fathers of that Chicago church desecrated it by burying their sins below the basement.
My 85 year old father told me a story a few years back of when he was a boy in Chicago. There was an old
Catholic church which had long since been abandoned and desolate. It was scheduled for demolition.
When the demolition team reached the basement, they discovered MANY skeletons of human infants.
How do you suppose infant skeletons got into the basement of a Catholic church? Why do you suppose
those tiny little innocent babies weren't given a proper burial - the Catholic services are quite
extraordinary, aren't they? Who do you suppose gave birth to or aborted those babies? I try very hard
not to let my mind go any farther than asking those questions because if I begin to answer them, I would
realize how horrible and hipocritical the largest, wealthiest and most powerful "religion" in the United
States is, and if the strongest religion is that frightening, then how frightening must the weaker religions
be....trying to climb the ladder of "success?" to be stronger/richer/larger? How DARE the catholic
religion speak against a children's movie pretending to care about children when they prove their
disrespect and insolence for children in so many horrendous and unspeakable ways! I am so grateful to
my God for showing me, as a child, that I don't need a "religion" nor a "structure" to love and honor
Higher Source. No, I have not seen this movie yet, but like another writer put it so eloquently, I'm
"upgrading this from a video rental to a theater worthy movie".
Posted by: reikithree 11:40 am
Free Thinking, Religiously Based
Religion was introduced to me when I was young. My parents are Lutheran, and they adhered to and passed on elevated ideals to my sisters and I. They also introduced us to another very important tool, critical thinking. As I got older, and met friends and their parents, there were some who were varied in where their parents went to church. I went to my friend Mack’s church with him and his family one time. I remember it clearly: I was mortified. I cried and cried when it was my time to be "saved". To this day church is tricky for me because in my heart I know I’m a believer and true to His tenets though I’ve never studied them. But when another person becomes involved in my faith… I can feel my throat closing now as I think about it. My emotions well up so high I start crying.
When we were in jr. high, my sister and I had a mutual friend who was devout in her beliefs, one of which was that the new "bar codes" on products were the mark of the devil and Proctor and Gamble was a satanic company.
My parents made me go to church when I was young, but as our family fell apart we went to church less and less. I think my mother had a strong religious upbringing and she continued to go. My father later refused to go,although he always encouraged us to keep going, (when we were young there wasn’t a choice not to go). I was probably twelve or thirteen when I stopped going.
At some point, I think I was in the military, I read "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" and it changed me. I didn’t become a Buddhist, but their religion wasn’t so foreign to me anymore; I’d discovered a manual of how to experience the world to my best benefit. When I apply my most basic technique of "do unto others as you would have them do to you" people respond amazingly. I am very blessed to have the life I do though I’m not a shooting star success at anything I’ve attempted to do. I find happiness and joy every day in uninteresting things to most other people.
It has been said, as it was by reikithree in the comment above, that religion was created early on as man evolved. When the first cogent thinkers began to add up the vastness of the universe they could see, and the threat and evidence of death all around him, they invented a higher power. It calmed them and their fears as they peered out of the cave opening into the dark night. This was argued when evidence of organized religion was found in places untouched by religious or developed civilizations. They thought that there must be something more to this life than just to live and "do as thou wilt", then die and it’s over. Somehow the thought that living a good life, and serving your God led to a blissful afterlife transcended modes of communication: it was plucked out of the air again and again by mankind in his infancy. The message was the same, but the practices were different.
With the undeniable record of religions in the past, near and distant, it’s clear organized religion is flawed. Yet God says we are all flawed, yet are all worthy of forgiveness. We can all enter heaven when our time on earth is done, but we must seek His forgiveness and mean it, because He’ll know. So our lives are really a giant preparation for an afterlife in Heaven alongside Him, and his son Jesus and all the rest who’ve proclaimed themselves believers and followed His path of righteousness.
Athiests and people who criticize religion should look closely at what causes the flaws. It is always with organized churches or denominations, and some are megalithic. What is consistent is the element of man within them. There are people of weak character in all walks of life.
When news organizations like ABC give time to athiests like Christopher Hitchins, with his new book (the subject of the interview), "God is not Great", it gives a forum to someone who first of all doesn’t deserve the promotion he and his horrible book will get, but gives air under a line of reasoning which starts with a precept, and finishes with the same one.
Other comments said let children make their own choice. I must argue to make a choice about religion, you have to be taught about religion. With no true concept of God and what is behind it it’s easy to opt out and never let Him in, and that’s just fine with these secularists and athiests. But when His word is passed on to a child it makes all the difference. That child will make choices for life, justice and fairness, while the athiest will have long ago shed those precepts as unattainable.
-Katykarter ¶ 10:12 AM 0 comments
After the liberal, globalistic spin is noted, the substance of the article by ABC News, " ’The Golden Compass’ Spurs Controversy" comes out. While they have opposing viewpoints, the pro-athiest/anti God people outnumber the believers three to one and they discredit and belittle our beliefs with no counter. The Catholic League is quoted as saying the film is blatantly anti-Catholic, and the characters of the film’s religious establishment are portrayed as evil.
A press release in defense of the author, notably includes the Archbishop of Canterbury who’s leftist leanings were portrayed last week by an interview in which he blasted westernism.
New Line Cinema, the film's distributor, stood by Pullman, noting in a statement to ABC News that the
film has been "praised by countless clergy and religious scholars, including the Archbishop of
Canterbury, for its deep spirituality and exploration of important theological issues."
In sensational fashion, Emily Friedman instead brushes large strokes across organized religion by quoting extensively three different authors or speakers who are athiests.
But the importance of seeing another viewpoint is exactly what the Catholic League fails to understand,
according to the Freedom from Religion Foundation Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor. "It's time we get
past superstition, embrace reason and put our energies in the real world and not in a fantastic after life
that nobody can prove," Gaylor said. "Why shouldn't our society be open to other views?"
"Harry Potter didn't make a bunch of atheists," said Diane Apostolos-Cappadona, a professor of religious
art and culture history at Georgetown University. "Discussion of religion has become so painted and so
questionable that I don't think we're sitting down and asking the fundamental questions. I think these
movies begin conversations," added Apostolos-Cappadona. "What is more harmful than shutting out
conversation and ideas?"
You’ve heard it before and it bears saying again: That which your enemy is guilty of is exactly what he’ll accuse you of doing. When they say shutting out conversation and ideas is harmful, that is what they'll accomplish by stacking the conversation with pro-athiests.
The following is a comment posted after the article. I’m researching the Chicago church story, but it sounds urban-legendish. Understand the repugnance he holds for the Catholic Church, and the intimation that the priests or fathers of that Chicago church desecrated it by burying their sins below the basement.
My 85 year old father told me a story a few years back of when he was a boy in Chicago. There was an old
Catholic church which had long since been abandoned and desolate. It was scheduled for demolition.
When the demolition team reached the basement, they discovered MANY skeletons of human infants.
How do you suppose infant skeletons got into the basement of a Catholic church? Why do you suppose
those tiny little innocent babies weren't given a proper burial - the Catholic services are quite
extraordinary, aren't they? Who do you suppose gave birth to or aborted those babies? I try very hard
not to let my mind go any farther than asking those questions because if I begin to answer them, I would
realize how horrible and hipocritical the largest, wealthiest and most powerful "religion" in the United
States is, and if the strongest religion is that frightening, then how frightening must the weaker religions
be....trying to climb the ladder of "success?" to be stronger/richer/larger? How DARE the catholic
religion speak against a children's movie pretending to care about children when they prove their
disrespect and insolence for children in so many horrendous and unspeakable ways! I am so grateful to
my God for showing me, as a child, that I don't need a "religion" nor a "structure" to love and honor
Higher Source. No, I have not seen this movie yet, but like another writer put it so eloquently, I'm
"upgrading this from a video rental to a theater worthy movie".
Posted by: reikithree 11:40 am
Free Thinking, Religiously Based
Religion was introduced to me when I was young. My parents are Lutheran, and they adhered to and passed on elevated ideals to my sisters and I. They also introduced us to another very important tool, critical thinking. As I got older, and met friends and their parents, there were some who were varied in where their parents went to church. I went to my friend Mack’s church with him and his family one time. I remember it clearly: I was mortified. I cried and cried when it was my time to be "saved". To this day church is tricky for me because in my heart I know I’m a believer and true to His tenets though I’ve never studied them. But when another person becomes involved in my faith… I can feel my throat closing now as I think about it. My emotions well up so high I start crying.
When we were in jr. high, my sister and I had a mutual friend who was devout in her beliefs, one of which was that the new "bar codes" on products were the mark of the devil and Proctor and Gamble was a satanic company.
My parents made me go to church when I was young, but as our family fell apart we went to church less and less. I think my mother had a strong religious upbringing and she continued to go. My father later refused to go,although he always encouraged us to keep going, (when we were young there wasn’t a choice not to go). I was probably twelve or thirteen when I stopped going.
At some point, I think I was in the military, I read "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" and it changed me. I didn’t become a Buddhist, but their religion wasn’t so foreign to me anymore; I’d discovered a manual of how to experience the world to my best benefit. When I apply my most basic technique of "do unto others as you would have them do to you" people respond amazingly. I am very blessed to have the life I do though I’m not a shooting star success at anything I’ve attempted to do. I find happiness and joy every day in uninteresting things to most other people.
It has been said, as it was by reikithree in the comment above, that religion was created early on as man evolved. When the first cogent thinkers began to add up the vastness of the universe they could see, and the threat and evidence of death all around him, they invented a higher power. It calmed them and their fears as they peered out of the cave opening into the dark night. This was argued when evidence of organized religion was found in places untouched by religious or developed civilizations. They thought that there must be something more to this life than just to live and "do as thou wilt", then die and it’s over. Somehow the thought that living a good life, and serving your God led to a blissful afterlife transcended modes of communication: it was plucked out of the air again and again by mankind in his infancy. The message was the same, but the practices were different.
With the undeniable record of religions in the past, near and distant, it’s clear organized religion is flawed. Yet God says we are all flawed, yet are all worthy of forgiveness. We can all enter heaven when our time on earth is done, but we must seek His forgiveness and mean it, because He’ll know. So our lives are really a giant preparation for an afterlife in Heaven alongside Him, and his son Jesus and all the rest who’ve proclaimed themselves believers and followed His path of righteousness.
Athiests and people who criticize religion should look closely at what causes the flaws. It is always with organized churches or denominations, and some are megalithic. What is consistent is the element of man within them. There are people of weak character in all walks of life.
When news organizations like ABC give time to athiests like Christopher Hitchins, with his new book (the subject of the interview), "God is not Great", it gives a forum to someone who first of all doesn’t deserve the promotion he and his horrible book will get, but gives air under a line of reasoning which starts with a precept, and finishes with the same one.
Other comments said let children make their own choice. I must argue to make a choice about religion, you have to be taught about religion. With no true concept of God and what is behind it it’s easy to opt out and never let Him in, and that’s just fine with these secularists and athiests. But when His word is passed on to a child it makes all the difference. That child will make choices for life, justice and fairness, while the athiest will have long ago shed those precepts as unattainable.
-Katykarter ¶ 10:12 AM 0 comments
Saturday, December 01, 2007
Sorry people, but we have two out of control idiots in control of vast supplies of the world's known oil reserves and production. While Ahmadenijad rattles his sabre playing the rougue nation/state in world politics, Venezuelan thug-leader Chavez kicks the ground hoping for attention. While some say he has an unconventional style and is a 'little rough around the edges', I identify the Chavez regime as a threat to the security of the United States and an open enemy of our general welfare, not to mention an enemy to the freedom of the people within Venezuela.
Venezuela Chavez theatens to cut ties with Spain
International Rueters
Caracas (Rueters) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez threatened on Friday to cut diplomatic ties with Spain if the former colonial power's king does not apologize for thelling him earlier this minth to 'shut up' at a summit meeting. Speaking at a rally for a referendum on Sunday on expanding his powers, Chavez also warned he could start to consider acting against Spanish companies in the OPEC nation if King Juan Carlos fails to meet his demand. Chavez's threats were an escalation of the spat with Spain and came as he intensified disputes with Colombia and the United States. He has already frozen diplomatic ties with Spain over the king's rebuke and threatened to take over some of the multi-billion dollar investments of Spanish companies that operate in the banking, telecommunications and oil sectors. 'If this does not happen (the king apologizes), then I won't have anything to do with Spain,' Chavez said. (Reporting by Saul Hudson; editing by Todd Eastham)
Venezuela threatens to cut oil exports to U.S.
International Rueters
Caracas (Rueters) - Venezuela's leftist President Hugo Chavez said on Friday ge will cut oil sales to the United States if the American government interferes in Sunday's referendum aimed at allowing him to run for reelection indefinitely. Chavez told supporters at a rally that the state oil company will halt sales to the United States on Monday if Washington interferes with the vote on the proposed constitutional reform. The Venezuelan leader and Cuba ally also said he had ordered the military to protect oil fields and refineries in calse of political violence. The rreform would also give him direct control over foreign currency reserves while reducing the workday to six hours and expanding social security benefits for informal workers like street vendors. (Reporting by Brian Ellsworth; Editing by Christian Wiessner)
"...the devil was just here, in this very spot, I can still smell the sulphur..."- Hugo Chavez on following President Bush speaking to the UN General Assembly
Let's pull our heads out of the sand, log off of the gambling sites and read publications that don't omit outright communism and socialism governments that make naked threats to our way of life.
Recommended reading;
Townhall.com
Dennis Prager.com
Michael Savage.com ¶ 6:36 AM 0 comments
Venezuela Chavez theatens to cut ties with Spain
International Rueters
Caracas (Rueters) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez threatened on Friday to cut diplomatic ties with Spain if the former colonial power's king does not apologize for thelling him earlier this minth to 'shut up' at a summit meeting. Speaking at a rally for a referendum on Sunday on expanding his powers, Chavez also warned he could start to consider acting against Spanish companies in the OPEC nation if King Juan Carlos fails to meet his demand. Chavez's threats were an escalation of the spat with Spain and came as he intensified disputes with Colombia and the United States. He has already frozen diplomatic ties with Spain over the king's rebuke and threatened to take over some of the multi-billion dollar investments of Spanish companies that operate in the banking, telecommunications and oil sectors. 'If this does not happen (the king apologizes), then I won't have anything to do with Spain,' Chavez said. (Reporting by Saul Hudson; editing by Todd Eastham)
Venezuela threatens to cut oil exports to U.S.
International Rueters
Caracas (Rueters) - Venezuela's leftist President Hugo Chavez said on Friday ge will cut oil sales to the United States if the American government interferes in Sunday's referendum aimed at allowing him to run for reelection indefinitely. Chavez told supporters at a rally that the state oil company will halt sales to the United States on Monday if Washington interferes with the vote on the proposed constitutional reform. The Venezuelan leader and Cuba ally also said he had ordered the military to protect oil fields and refineries in calse of political violence. The rreform would also give him direct control over foreign currency reserves while reducing the workday to six hours and expanding social security benefits for informal workers like street vendors. (Reporting by Brian Ellsworth; Editing by Christian Wiessner)
"...the devil was just here, in this very spot, I can still smell the sulphur..."- Hugo Chavez on following President Bush speaking to the UN General Assembly
Let's pull our heads out of the sand, log off of the gambling sites and read publications that don't omit outright communism and socialism governments that make naked threats to our way of life.
Recommended reading;
Townhall.com
Dennis Prager.com
Michael Savage.com ¶ 6:36 AM 0 comments
