Christianity fail

The LA Times write on the health of American Christianity. In case you missed it, institutional Christianity is not well. It’s no surprise to me, I’ve been saying the same thing for years. I love this paragraph.

But if one adheres to the principle of Occam's razor — that the simplest explanation is the most likely — there is another, more unsettling conclusion: that many people who call themselves Christian don't really believe, deep down, in the tenets of their faith. In other words, their actions reveal their true beliefs.

Of course, fewer institutional Christians means more of what I call hipster Christians. You know the ones I mean, they plant a new church in your neighborhood, hold services is abandoned offices accompanied by culturally relevant rock music, and minister to the un-churched (that’s us) in all number of meaningful yet annoying ways. I know so many… heck, I mentor two.

I used to think Christianity was the religion of love. I can remember when this felt true. What happened Christianity? When did  they turn into haters. Remember folks, it is what you do that counts in live, not what you believe, or what you think other people should do. Try love. It works.

Technorati Tags: Christianity

Making money at the Flea Market

I went shopping at the Pasadena Rose Bowl Flea Market yesterday. I shop for ceramics, wall art, and old cameras. I also go to watch people and photograph the oddballs.

Pasadena is were at least some of the beautiful people live. I’ve seen movie and TV stars there on several occasions. At Sunday’s show I saw Corbin Bernsen, I think I saw his wife Amanda Pays (not 100% sure). I also saw a middle-aged TV actress who I can’t put a name to, a young woman who I recognize from print work, and a TV personality from a craft show.

As you can tell, I’m not really into celebrities. I take my camera with me, but I never shoot the celebrities. I shoot people all the time, but celebrities are not on my list. I collect odd people the way other people collect snow globes. I don’t bother celebrities either. There is not asking for autographs or pictures.

Celebrities mean nothing to me so I treat them like I like to be treated. I ignore them. I wish I could same of others in the crow. I spotted 7 other people with professional grade photography equipment, including the young man pictured above. I watched as he scanned the crowd for celebrity faces. I heard his shutter release a few times as I walked past his pathetic used shoe display. He focused behind me on the attractive young woman I recognized from a catalog. I’m pretty sure she was a model. If you must hang out at a flea market selling used shoes, you might as well augment your income with celebrity photos.

Technorati Tags: Photography

Rev. Phillip Jacobs

Once a child molester…

Rev. Phillip Jacobs, formerly of Columbus and removed for molesting a boy in the early 9os, was arrested in Canada for molesting boys in St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Saanich. I guess the church did not do to much to hunt down former molesting priests after it became apparent that shuffling them around the world was ineffective. The police are releasing few details.

Jacobs is charged with sexual assault, sexual exploitation and sexual interference, which refers to sexual touching.

I’m sure there is more to the story, unraveling the cover-up alone will be interesting.

A question for Catholics: How do you release a know pedophile and sexual predator back into service among children? How do you sleep at night?

Technorati Tags: Clergy Sexual Abuse,Catholics

Pastor Timothy Parker arrested

Touch a teen, go to jail. How hard is that to understand? I guess pastor Timothy Parker of St. Peter Lutheran Church in Westgate, did not get the memo.

The Fayette County sheriff's office says 40-year-old Timothy Parker, of Westgate, is charged with two counts of lascivious acts with a minor and one count of third-degree sexual abuse.

The girl involved is 13. He’s admitted the crime.

Parker had the girl undress and lay on a bed at her home, where he fondled her and rubbed hand lotion on her.

Freak!

Technorati Tags: Clergy Sexual Abuse,Lutherans,Pedophiles

In Memorandum

I have it on good authority that a fellow Atheist blogger passed a few months ago. The Australian blogger Beep! Beep! It’s Me died from cancer in April. Beep! Beep! was an original member of the Atheist Blogroll, and that was back before I shared it with my fellow bloggers, back when it was a list of 30 blogs. She was the also the  first blogger I corresponded with and one of the first to post on my blog. She is an OG from what seems like the golden age of blogging,  but was actually only five years ago. And now she is apparently gone, but She left behind her blog. Drop in and give it a read.


Her death makes me sad. Too many people I know have died this year. I need to hear of babies and new beginnings. Does anyone have a good story to share?

Technorati Tags: The Atheist Blogroll,Atheism,Death

Introducing PJZen’s The Big Picture

Please join me in welcoming the newest member of the Atheist Blogroll, PJZen’s The Big Picture.

Hello Atheist Blogroll,

I am PJ Zen of  PJZen's The Big Picture. My blog is simply an exploration of the universe. OK that might be a little over reaching. I am fascinated by how the mind works, evolution, physics, astronomy, and life. I am a skeptic and former cynic. My life has been very strange and it has let me see the world differently than most people. I try to share that. My sense of humor is very warped and can be a bit sarcastic. I am trying to work on that. Please check out my most popular post for a taste. Did I mention I am obsessed with bubbles?

Thank you.

PJ

Are you interested in becoming a member? Visit the Atheist Blogroll resource blog for more information.
Technorati Tags: Atheism,The Atheist Blogroll

An idiot in Zion

God We Trust is petitioning to change his name to One Nation Under God. He’s got some dumb-ass rationalization for doing it and he’s tying up our court system in the process. Plus He’s an anti-abortion wacko too.

Under God described his name change as a "calling" to return Americans to "One Nation Under God" by overturning the legalization of abortion.
"Jan. 22, 1973, is the day the nation murdered God," Under God said.
That is the date the U.S. Supreme Court decided the case of Roe v. Wade.

Zion… It’s small city in Lake County in Illinois.

I think I smell an nutball.

Technorati Tags: Nutball Alert,Christians,Abortion Rights

Introducing Tangent Talk

Please join me in welcoming one of the newest members of the Atheist Blogroll, Tangent Talk.

I entered the blogosphere a couple of years ago with only one goal - to unload my thoughts in a way that I can't seem to be able to in my normal life.  I am a closeted atheist libertarian in the middle of the Bible Belt.
I have been energized by people such as Professor Richard Dawkins and comedian Bill Maher during this time, but am still in the closet.  My first step is to start sharing more with the atheist community.  I'm not sure where this is headed, but I'm interested in seeing where it takes me.

If you're interested in my various thoughts, please visit my blog, Tangent Talk, at http://tangenttalk.blogspot.com.  I mainly talk about religion and politics, but I do ramble on many topics.  I will be reading other blogs and commenting where appropriate.  I hope to see the same from others: atheists, agnostics, and theists alike!

Are you interested in becoming a member? Visit the Atheist Blogroll resource blog for more information.

Technorati Tags: Atheism,The Atheist Blogroll

Ethically Challenged

I came across a vendor selling photos of Banksy’s graffiti at the Pasadena Rose Bowl Flea Market. My reaction was not what my wife expected. I called the vendor a thief. Well… not to his face anyway.

I was not interested in buying anything despite my love for Banksy’s social satire. I had trouble understanding why anyone else would either. Banksy’s name was not represented in any way. It was not on the pictures, nor was it on the booth, nor was it in any way displayed that the public could see. The average Joe shopper would think the vendor was the artist. And well, that’s just unethical.

Banksy does not sell his art. He gives it away.

Banksy does not produce greeting cards or print photo-canvases or paint commissions or sell freshly baked bagels. Please take anything from this site and make your own (non-commercial use only thanks)

I like this one!

I would never even think of taking a copy and selling at a flea market. In fact, even if I took a picture with my own camera I would still seek the artist permission before I sold a photo of something that was exclusively his work. The vendor is a thief. What do you think?

Technorati Tags: Ethics,Art,Bansky

Introducing No Religion Know Reason

Please join me in welcoming  on of the newest members of the Atheist Blogroll, No Religion Know Reason

My blog No Religion Know Reason has been created to highlight the issues related to religion which affect our world, with a particular focus on my home region of the Caribbean. I am originally from Barbados and I have seen how a strong belief in God can build community but at the same time hold society back as the associated dogma can stunt scientific progress and social development. I am now living in Canada and being able to look at my culture from the outside has helped me to recognise even more how faith and religion so often trump logic and reason in the islands.

I have only identified myself as an atheist in the last two years or so and I am still battling with the social and cultural implications of " coming out." Some of my writings address that challenging but exciting journey while others explain some of my emerging philosophical positions on God, faith and the church. I try to write in a way that makes readers think, whether they come from a theistic, agnostic or atheistic perspective. Although I always try to make a serious point my aim is to keep the approach light hearted so that readers will find the posts fun and entertaining.

At the end of the day my mission is to promote the virtues of reason over faith in whatever corner of the globe. I look forward to sharing with you and hope you enjoy joining me on my journey of reflection and discovery.

Are you interested in becoming a member? Visit the Atheist Blogroll resource blog for more information.

Technorati Tags: Atheism,The Atheist Blogroll

Fun with a macro

I’m play testing a 105mm Nikkor macro lens this weekend. It’s got the anti-vibration technology that my Marco lacks. It makes a big difference on handheld shots. I would love to own one, but at about $1k, it is hard to justify. I shot redneck George Washington and the Chinese oppressor from about 3 inches using a desk light. I’m happy with the results.

I made the mistake of not getting the sensor plane perpendicular to the subject on the photo of the geisha. The top and the bottom are slightly out of focus. It is hard to see the problem when shooting but show up easily in post production. 

While shooting outside, I was impressed with the stability of the lens, but not with its weight. It reminded me of shooting my pistol at the range. After running a few clips, I start to shake from fatigue. The same holds true with this heavyweight macro. The leaf was one of my last shots. I had to crop down the image to remove some bad blur caused by my unsteady hand.

I’ve got a ring flash and light cube lined up for next weekend. I plan to geek out.

Technorati Tags: Photography,Nikkor

Introducing Splitting of the Adam

Please join me in welcoming the newest member of the Atheist Blogroll, Splitting of the Adam.

Greetings! I'm Adam, the creator of and the demented mind behind Splitting of the Adam, a blog that promises to be an ever growing collection of disrespectful and irreverent views from the mouth of a Godless heathen. Splitting of the Adam aims to be a blog where punches are never pulled, where nothing is sacred and no topic is forbidden. If you are looking for a place where you can learn something new, see a subject from a unique perspective and laugh whilst doing it, then this blog may just be for you.

Sound interesting? Why not sample my favourite blog post so far and see if this blog is for you!

Are you interested in becoming a member? Visit the Atheist Blogroll resource blog for more information.

Technorati Tags: Atheism,The Atheist Blogroll

A call to action – Write a letter.

I had comment from a reader of this post. Gretchen was reacting to the conviction of pastor Jason Smoker, an evil rat bastard of a man who dumped garbage on a developmentally disabled boy. Gretchen’s comment was simple and direct. I’ve reprinted it below:

What a hateful thing to do! My brother is physically handicapped. He can't get out of bed, eat, or do anything by himself. He has difficulty seeing and hearing. He's alert, but that's almost (please forgive me for saying so) a bad thing for someone in his condition who is completely dependent on others for his care.

As a child, everyone was sympathetic. Who doesn't want to come to the assistance of a handicapped child? As an adult, many people find him disgusting. I suspect that's just what Jason Smoker felt when he dumped garbage on that mentally handicapped volunteer.

Richard Brendel, my brother, has no friends and is lonely. If you'd like to write to him, here's his address:

Richard Brendel (patient)
RUNNELLS SPECIALIZED HOSPITAL
(908) 771-5807
40 WATCHUNG WAY
BERKELEY HEIGHTS, NJ 07922

I challenge the Atheist community to write a letter. Is anyone up for it? I am.

Technorati Tags: Atheism

Pastor Thurman Leonard arrested

The crime, assault and battery, felony abduction, and damaging a phone line. The have him dead to rights on what? Damaging a phone line. Is that a crime?

Apparently, the arrest stems from a dispute with a woman and a phone. I’m not sure how they are related, but the phone is obviously important enough to warrant a special mention in the press.

Of course, we hold our men of God to a higher standard. They should not inflict wanton damage on a phone. We need phone to talk to each other. If everyone damaged a phone, we could not talk to each other except for face-to-face. Who wants that? What was the pastor thinking?

Pastor Thurman runs the Restoration and Faith Ministry in Newport News. I understand it used to be a Verizon store.

Technorati Tags: Hypocrisy,Clergy Misconduct

Introducing The Spiritual Atheist

Please join me in welcoming the newest member of the Atheist Blogroll, The Spiritual Atheist.

My name is Simon Hembra. My blog, The Spiritual Atheist, explores the possibility of finding spirituality everyday without finding God.

Is it possible to believe only in the physical, but still embrace the spiritual? Can an atheist feel connected to nature? Can they be overcome by beauty, or joy, or laughter in a way that transcends physical definition? Can they trust parts of themselves to things that cannot be explained and still live a life of logic and reason?

Are you interested in becoming a member? Visit the Atheist Blogroll resource blog for more information.

Technorati Tags: Atheism,The Atheist Blogroll