Another reason James Dobson is a nutball

James Dobson thinks America deserves the destruction of a major U.S. city

DOBSON: Some of our listeners are not going to agree with what he [MacArthur] has to say, but it's going to make you think, and it's also going to be somewhat disturbing. And I happen to agree with what John MacArthur was saying on this day, and I want to thank him and his team and Woodman Valley Chapel for allowing us to share this message. It needs to be heard, especially at this time in our nation.

What did John MacArthur say?

We haven't had a massive calamity such as the destruction of an entire city. We certainly don't want that to happen -- pray that does not happen -- but it could happen. And God would be just in any calamity that he brought upon us.

When the dirty bomb hits L.A., MacArthur thinks it will be because of Lesbians (I'm not kidding), and so does James Dobson.

You know a society has been abandoned by God when it celebrates lesbian sex.

It is faulty logic like this which leads to honor killings, morality police, and berkas. MacArthur's reasoning goes something like this: We must prevent God from allowing a terrorist to destroy a city by passing laws that forbid lesbian behavior. If necessary, we lock up lesbians, even executing their leaders if necessary. Then God will be happy and we can move on to boys who wear  long hair and girls who wear skirts... and Atheists.

These guys are crazy and dangerous.

Technorati tags: James Dobson, John MacArthur, religion, lesbians

First the pastor steals

...and then the pastor abuses children. Stephen Shorey first stole $5,000 using the identity of his church treasurer. Shorey, now the former pastor of Kiefer Assembly of God Church, will now have to answer to additional charges of child sexual abuse. Shorey sounds like a wonderful person and a pastor too!

Technorati tags: Sexual abuse, clergy abuse, hypocrisy, pedophilia, Stephen Shorey

7 of 100

As I near my 2000th post, I wondered, what is my most popular post? To my surprise, it is a June 24th, 2006 post titled James Dobson on interracial marriage. Visitors use the search terms "interracial problems" or "Interracial marriage" in Google or Yahoo to find the post. Fully 7 out of every 100 hits comes from this post. I'm not kidding - day in day out - 7 of 100 every day. It is matched only by a Barry Bonds post which can generate a thousand hits in a single day depending on Bonds's behavior.

I wrote the Interracial marriage post because Dobson's position offends me. Nothing has changed. I am still offended. His remarks remind me too much of my grandparents asking me if I were sure I wanted to marry a colored girl. They were concerned about what our children would look like (they are beautiful btw). My grandparents are long dead - and I've been married to my lovely Filipino wife for 27 years. Our early years did not face the same problems as black/white couples. However, we encountered our own flavor of bigotry and racism. We still do today, although it is rare.

My wife warmed my heart with a e-mail link to NPR's Loving Decision: 40 years of Legal Interracial Unions on Monday.

This week marks the 40th anniversary of a seminal moment in the civil rights movement: the legalization of interracial marriage. But the couple at the heart of the landmark Supreme Court case of Loving v. Virginia never intended to be in the spotlight.

We've come a long way in 40 years. Thank you Richard and Mildred Loving. My family deeply appreciates your sacrifice.

Technorati tags: racism, blogging, James Dobson

Nutball alert: a broken fish

I happened upon a fundie blog today. He (or she) was bemoaning the vandalism of their sacred Christian fish symbol. Somebody broke a fin off his little plastic symbol of oppression. I almost passed on reading this entry. It seemed so trivial.

We have had this Christian fish symbol on the back of our car for a couple of years.  Recently, when our car was in a shopping center parking lot, someone broke off a part of the symbol.   You might think that this small act of vandalism is meaningless;  I don’t.

Of course, the obvious answer is that no crime was committed. It seems reasonable that the fin could have broken off for natural reasons. In fact, it seemed like  a metaphor for belief in god. Some unseen hand had touched the ichthus symbol, breaking off a fin. The driver "knew" it was the hand of a Atheist, or maybe it was a noodly appendage?

The author plunges on with a bizarre justification for the decline of America. His lack of critical thinking should have warned me off. I read on on. I'm a sucker for nutballs. I loved this gem:

Additional dozens of lawsuits have removed any symbols of the Christian faith from the public square.  Revisionist history in every school textbook in America disguises the fact that nearly all the framers of the Constitution were evangelical Christians. 

Yep - good old Tomas Jefferson was an evangelical. You heard it hear first. If any of you feel inclined, please pay our poor fundie a visit. He needs so help with his history.

Technorati tags: Nutballs, Christian, Icthus Symbol, evangelicals

Deacon Murders Pastor

Before I get started, I first have to ask, where the hell is Great Barrington? After a little digging around I figured out it was in Massachusetts. I have never heard of it before. No have I heard of Becket, Cheshire, Lanesborough, or even Southern Berkshire for that matter. Mount Washington gave it away. I figured it was a long shot that England would have a Mount Washington. (It's the little things which make blogging fun.)

The Pastor of the AME Zion Church was allegedly murdered by a Deacon of the AME Zion Church, who then tried unsuccessfully tired to kill himself. The victim, Pastor Esther Dozier, was stabbed in the chest by her husband, Henry Dozier.

I have two scenarios running around in my head tonight. A classic small church power struggle, or a less sexy but just as likely, he just grew tired of her snoring. Either way, I am sure Henry Dozier was in some way inspired by the light sentence given to Mary Winkler.

Technorati tags: Murder, Religion, hypocrisy

an oil change and a prayer

I took my truck in for an oil change today. While I sat outside the Jiffy-Lube enjoying a book, the man sitting next to me started to pray loud enough for me to hear.

"Please Lord, bless the technician working on my car. Guide his hand while repairing my care. I need this fuel system cleaning to work so that we can take or trip to Las Vegas and Lake Tahoe."

He added a few other odd bits before finishing. I did not say a word, but my brain backfired. Why would a seemly normal man pray for God to guide the hand of a nameless mechanic? It seems so trivial. I would think God has weightier things on his mind.

His car worked. He drove away happy. I bet he thought it was a miracle.

As I sat reading, my mind wondered off the book to its internal dialog. My mind filled with unspoken words and images, please don't try to upsell me today. I'm not in the mood. Who was I talking to? Myself of course. It was just the internal dialog which runs every moment of every day and is hard to tune out. If I were to utter these thoughts out loud, people would think me crazy. On the other hand, if I were to vocalize the thoughts and direct them to God, people would think me normal. It seems odd.

Why do people pray for little things? For that matter, why do people pray at all? God would know if you need something because he's omnipresent. Does it help if you ask? Does in help more if more people ask?

Technorati tags: Prayer, religion

Can you sue for being crazy?

A former British teaching assitant thinks so. Sariya Allen is suing for $100,000 in damages after being dismissed for refusing to allow a seven year old girl to read a Harry Potter book.

"I admit I said to the child that I don't do witchcraft in any form," she said. "I was put in the position that listening to the child reading this book would compromise my religious beliefs."

I did not know the U.K. had nutball fundies. Are fundies spreading?

Technorati tags: fundies, nutballs, Harry Potter, religion

The Atheist Register

The Atheist Register: We should all register, that way they will know where to find us. 17 atheists have posted already. What were they thinking?

- I'm all for being outspoken about my atheism... but why register to say so, what's the goal here?

Quite simply the goal is to achieve that of which Dawkins and many other note Atheists ask, that we be counted that we come out from behind the shadow and the shame that is cast upon us as Atheists. It has been mentioned that Atheists now, are viewed upon much like the gay community was viewed 40+ years ago. Why should we be ashamed of what we believe, why should we be ashamed of wanting to find the answers instead of assuming them. The only way to achieve this change, to be noticed and to be viewed without the prejudice we are viewed upon with is to do so in numbers, to be proud and to join together in that.

Shame? What the hell is he talking about? Shame? The last time I felt ashamed was when I was a Christian.

I will not be signing... Mojoey passes (or more accurately, rejects the whole fucking idea of a register.)

Technorati tags: Atheism

A hero falls

I type this with a heavy heart. Pastor James Luther Bevel, a hero of the civil rights movement, has been arrested and charged with incest. Bevel was a key player in Dr. Martin Luther King's organization. Bevel was one of Kings "Field Generals" responsible for organization and logistics. He was one of the men behind the civil rights movement who make it all work. A true hero of the civil rights movement, now forever shamed.

...Authorities said 70-year-old Reverend James L- Bevel was arrested late last month in Eutaw, Alabama, after being indicted by a Loudoun County, Virginia grand jury on one count of unlawfully committing fornication.

Apparently Bevel, who is a Baptist pastor, is alleged to have committed his crimes on child as young as 13 old.  A child in his own family. Bevel would have been in his 50's at the time.

I did not report this when he was originally arrested. I let it go, thinking maybe it had been a mistake. It seems I was wrong. A hero has fallen, and it looks to be a hard fall.

Technorati tags: James Bevel, pedophilia, incest, clergy abuse, Baptist

Blogroll Update: 300 members

I should say we've hit around 300 members. Our current count is 301. I've been pruning the blogroll of inactive blogs over the last month. We've lost over a dozen so far, while at the same time, we have gained nearly twice a many new members. I think it is a good trend.

I have explored nudity in several of my posts this month. I have been researching nudity in art with an eye towards America's Puritan tenancies. Our 300th member, a French blog named le tiers Monde,  has already posted on this subject, so I'm going steal part of it.

to those ignorant puritans, this painting by jules-claude ziegler is disgusting. they fail to see, as they fail to see many many many things, the beauty of the human form especially that of an adult female. seeing thru the eyes of their forebears, whose religion they have innocently accepted growing up, as they have been taught nudity as being repulsive, only then to be appreciated but never acknowledged, in the hidden chambers of their theology infested minds.

Read More...

le tiers Monde points to a link for Femme Femme Femme (woman, woman, woman). It is a blog dedicated to the female form in art. It covers a wide range of artists and styles.

Photographies, dessins, images, caricatures, illustrations, pin-ups, sculptures et peintures dont le thème principal est la femme, sous toutes ses formes, autour des différents proverbes et citations de la vie quotidienne.

My French is a little rusty - suffice it to say, this blog covers photography, painting, drawings, sculpture  - all with an emphasis on the female form.

Technorati tags: The Atheist Blogroll, Art

Pastor to serve 20 years in prison

Pastor Gregory Michael Butler of Emmanuel Apostolic Church in Winston-Salem was convicted two counts of statutory rape and three counts of taking indecent liberties with a child. Butler will serve 20 years.

Butler abused his pastor relationship with the 14-year-old daughter of a woman he was romantically involved with. What started as counseling ended as rape - in his Cadillac, in a hotel, and in his church.

The girl was a survivor of molestation at age 7. Pastor Butler filled a father figure role in this young girls life. She needed help, Butler was supposed to fill this role. Unfortunately, he abused his relationship. The girl is now receiving professional counseling. my guess is she will be in counseling for a long time.

Of course, Butler's church supported him.

After the sentencing, about 30 supporters of Butler walked out the courtroom, many away wiping tears. Some supporters were members of Butler’s church, which is on Vargrave Street, and has about 35 members.

I'm starting to sense a pattern: My advice - do not ever send your children to one-on-one counseling. Insist on parental oversight.

This link has some video footage of Butler.

Technorati tags: Gregory Butler, rape, clergy abuse, child molestation, pedophilia

Baptist confront sex offenders in Texas

We have two stories out of Texas this morning regarding the Baptist Church confronting wayward pastors. Both stories are encouraging steps in the right direction.

The Baptist General Convention of Texas (BGCT) has launched a program to crack down on clergy sex abuse. The BGCT launched a website that names known sex offenders who have worked in Texas Baptist Churches. They have also made it easier to report offenders.

"The BGCT is concerned about the problem of clergy sexual misconduct, and we care deeply about its victims," said Emily Prevost, a staff member who has helped implement the changes.

The website is focused and informative. If you are a registered sex offender who has worked at a BGCT-affiliated church, then your name appears on the list.

• Andrew Argent – Currently serving sentence for indecency with a child and sexual assault of a child.
• Joshua Ross Hyles – Texas DPS sex offender database SID# 05941153
• Michael Lee Jones – Texas DPS sex offender database SID# 06217201
• Joel Dean Joslin – Texas DPS sex offender database SID# 07106980
• John O. McKay, Jr. – Currently serving sentence for sexual assault.
• Larry Nuell Neathery – Convicted of sexual assault and indecency with a child.
• Morris David Roberts – Texas DPS sexual offender database SID# 07151613
• Frank William Sizemore - Texas DPS sexual offender database SID# 02014333
• Kenneth Eugene Ward – Texas DPS sexual offender database SID# 06191027

I applauded the BGCT. This is exactly the right thing to do.

The second story comes care of the Zen Curmudgeon. The BGCT's effort to rehabilitate clergy who have committed misconduct or abuse is refreshing and another step in the right direction.

“In the event a minister has committed sexual abuse, he should not be restored to service in ministry in any position in which others look up to him as a spiritual leader,” Brown said. “The weapons used by clergy sex abusers are the faith and trust of others and the mantle of authority that the church and denomination puts on their shoulders. These weapons must be taken away and cannot safely be put into their hands again.”

I agree with their approach. There is a difference between people who have committed misconduct, and people who have committed abuse. Drawing a line between the two is important. Making sure abusers never get a second chance is the goal. Misconduct... well, people need a second chance. A two year program seems to address the problem.

The two-year program began with six months of career assessment, intense personal counseling and prohibition on any ministry-related involvement. During the second six months, the minister was allowed limited volunteer involvement in ministry and was required to participate in monthly counseling sessions. In the next six months, the minister was permitted to do vocational Christian work under close supervision. The last six months was spent preparing for re-entry into full-time vocational ministry.

I have hope. Texas might be on the right track.

Technorati tags: Texas, Baptists, BGCT, Clergy Abuse, Pastoral misconduct, sex offenders

So what does Mojoey like?

WARNING: Most links in this post are not safe for work

I wrote about Leonard Nimoy's photography in my last post. A few people posted comments, more sent e-mails. Most of the e-mails wanted to know which nude photographers I prefer. Nude and erotic photography is not high my list of art preferences. There are a few artists which I follow. Most are dead.

Robert Mapplethorpe - A truly amazing photographer. I love his male and female nude studies. His still life's are among the best ever taken. I'm not a big fan of his homoerotic images, but I've seen them all and like some.

Nobuyoshi Araki - Talk about "get your freak on". Araki takes some of the most breathtaking erotica, as well as amazing pictures of the minutia of everyday life. I've wanted to buy his books for years. I will someday, just as soon as junior departs for university.

Imogen Cunningham - I would like to say she was my first, but the next photographer holds that honor. Most people know Cunningham because of her still life's. I love her nude studies. Her pictures of Alta on the Beach from the 1920s were some of the first pictures from the genre I had ever seen.

Anne Brigman - The first non-pornographic nude photo I remember seeing was The Source. A simple photo of a woman pouring water into a stream. My art instructor compared it to a famous painting (lost to me now). I am sure he would be fired if he did the same thing today.

Man Ray - a surrealist artist who used photography and nudes to explore new spaces. I go out of my way to view his photographs. Coat-Stand is a good example of his work. Man Ray inspires me. I've studied his work for years.

Lee Miller - Miller is another great surrealist artist from a few decades ago. Miller had style. She also had a feel for the female form I find completely mesmerizing. Her work is not as well known as some of the others on this list. However, she is worth a look.

Well, this is the list. There are others, but these are the major players in my nude photography world. With the exception of Araki, all are long dead.

Anther e-mailer asked me what type of nude I would shoot if given the opportunity. To be honest, I've never really thought about it. I prefer other subjects. If I were to shoot nudes, it would involve tattoos. There is something about the violation of skin with ink that I find fascinating.

Pass along any photographers who you might think are interesting.

Technorati tags: art, photography, nudes, nude studies

Spock gets his freak on

WARNING: Most links in this post are not safe for work

Leonard Nimoy is an accomplished photographer. I am not a fan. His previous work, mostly nude studies, appear a little off to me. They are too tame, too timid, too... like something I've seen may other photographers attempt to do before. I found his Shekhina Project shallow and banal despite it deep pretense. I almost bought a copy of his book for my collection, and then I browsed it in a bookstore. No thanks. I prefer Mapplethorpe to Nimoy.

A co-worker pointed me to Nimoy's latest effort,The Full Body Project. Nimoy is in the midst of photographing obese women. Apparently, it is a labor of love. My co-worker (a male) asked me if I would make an effort to see Nimoy's work. I responded that I would. He was incredulous. Why would I bother to look at fat women? Why would I waste my time on tasteless porn? Why would I support such trash?

It is at times like this I realize how different I am from most of the people I know. I give art a chance. Fat or thin (ugly or beautiful) - a talented photographer can make inspiring art from the human body. I will at least open my mind and examine the work. Even if I don't like the artist or subject.

I do not waste my time with pornography, and yes, I know it when I see it. Nimoy's work is far from pornography. I may not like Nimoy's work, but I would not call it porn?  Would you?

I am curious. How did Nimoy pull this kind of project off without offending the world? If he actually pulled it off, did he do the subject justice? I'll give him a fair shake before I make up my mind. However, Initial results are not encouraging.

I tried to explain all this to my co-worker friend -  He did not understand. He associates nudes with porn and art with finger painting. I tried to tell him about an influential visit to the Musee d'Orsay I experienced a few years ago. I saw Gustave Courbet's The Origin of the World - it was amazing. When America was tearing itself apart in the Civil War, Courbet was exploring the human body like never before - in paint. My co-worker friend could not understand why any museum would display it. I shook my head - this well was dry.

Technorati tags: art, photography, nudity, Leonard Nimoy

Pastor Charged With Bomb Threat

Pastor Daniel Wood has some explaining to do. Like - what the hell where he thinking?

Wood, the pastor of the Fourth Congregational Church of Chicago on North Talman, aided in Colom’s campaign against incumbent Ald. Rey Colon (35th), a source said. Colom is the former alderman of the ward but was unseated by Colon in 2003. In their rematch this year, Colom lost in the April runoff.

According to law enforcement sources, a few weeks before that runoff, Wood dined with Colom and two others at a Mexican restaurant on Lincoln Avenue. At one point during the meal, Wood allegedly called Colom’s cell phone from his cell phone and told her a bomb had been planted at her Diversey Avenue campaign headquarters

If you need any further proof that mixing politics and religion is evil, look no further than Daniel Wood. He was willing to commit an act of terrorism just to help an Alderman get elected. How stupid is that?

Technorati tags: Daniel Wood, politics, religion