Peeper Dee #152

by biodork

Today’s Peeper Dee is brought to you by rock-n-roll band management that doesn’t understand how the world works and how promotions now work through social media.

Dumbassery has hit an all time high.

Ernest Hemingway’s standing desk

I saw this over at Kottke.

Isn’t it cool? It’s Ernest Hemingway standing at his typewriter.

I’ve wanted a standing desk like he references since about 2001 when I worked for the man.

It seems intuitive.

Pastor defends his statement to that government should execute homosexuals

Click above to watch video.

Clap hands. All better.

Phew. Let’s move on.

Also notable, Indiana sheriff denies report that pastor got death threats over anti-gay video

 

Let’s check in with the Jenny McCarthy body count

The stats read: Number of preventable illnesses: 95,341. Number of preventable deaths: 888. Number of Autism Diagnoses scientifically linked to vaccinations: 0. 

Jenny McCarthy has a body count attached to her name. This website will publish the total number of vaccine preventable illnesses and vaccine preventable deaths that have happened in the United States since June 2007 when she began publicly speaking out against vaccines.

Is Jenny McCarthy directly responsible for every vaccine preventable illness and every vaccine preventable death listed here? No. However, as the unofficial spokesperson for the United States anti-vaccination movement she may be indirectly responsible for at least some of these illnesses and deaths and even one vaccine preventable illness or vaccine preventable death is too many.

Read more

Finding positive PR

Lately I’ve been slightly obsessed with the idea that — given the current outbreak of negative PR for belief — there is very little good coming out of the believing community.

You might perceive me as an anti-theist. And it’s often true. But no one can really sustain a complete anti-theist stance. At least, I can’t.

I have friends and family who believe. Many of them read this blog. They probably check it more often than you do. And often, the conversations we have about religion consist of my voice here as the only one they listen. When we sit in the same room, talk of religion is often limited or one sided.

I tend to be more of a listener, as I stumble a lot in speech. I try not to. But often, my brain works faster than my mouth, and I get caught up in delivery and word choice.

But my point is, this blog is where I talk to many people whom I love about faith, belief, and religion.

I found positive PR!

Fortunately, I saw this update on FB this morning Margaret Ann Schaaf:

I cannot believe that there are so many people out there who are so “outraged” over people building religious centers for other religions in their neighborhoods. Here’s a thought: If you are not a Muslim, then do not go to a mosque. If you are not a Jew, do not go to a synagogue or temple. If you are not a Christian, do not go to a church. And if you are determined to prevent others from practicing their freedom of religion, then don’t call yourself an American… or a Christian, please.

I like this sentiment. Own your own religious ideas and leave others alone. Yes, there are religious extremists. And they are out in droves right now. And they make groups of good people look badly.

And a week or so ago, friend of this blog Julie Ferwerda posted an interesting post, which I don’t really agree with. But it deserves a bit of recognition, as it doesn’t fall in line with traditional thought, but there was a time, when — as a Christian — it’s what I agreed with. The post is called, “The Worldwide Earthquake of Revelation” and it talks about the hardly sustainable concept of the rapture. Here’s how it starts:

There’s a lot of talk these days in Christian circles about a coming apocalyptic “seven year tribulation”…and, of course, “the rapture.” Most of this teaching comes from what I believe is colossal misunderstanding and misapplication of Scriptures, developing over the course of 1700 years of mistranslations and false propaganda by Church leaders. In other words, I think it’s total crappola and that the fruit of this is a lot of unnecessary fear for millions of people worldwide (and a source of laughable entertainment for a lot of others). For one example, the rapture was never a teaching or belief in the Church until the 1800s, but now it’s considered orthodox theology that any “good Christian” should not question.

You can click on the link above to read the rest.

One part that helps prove my point is this paragraph:

Or how about this? Rather than embracing and affirming homosexuals as infinitely valued children of God, many self-righteous, hypocritical Christians—loveless and full of all kinds of addictions—are participating in the tormenting, bullying, or blatantly rejecting of many of these dejected people to the point of utter depression and even suicide. Just a couple of examples of hundreds. Is it any wonder why 1 Peter 4:17 says that judgment must begin with the house of God first?

Have any of you seen or read anything that sheds positive light on the things believers are doing to counteract the shit coming out of way too many churches in the wake of the surge of homosexual issues at the forefront of many conversations?

I concede defeat. Here is belief I can get behind

Sign of a tall, frothy mug of beer reads, “Everybody believes in something. I believe I will have another beer!” 

Seen on facebook

Peeper Dee #151

by Becky F

This is a 365 photo submission project where everyone gets a chance to send me a shot.

It’s called Peeper Dee, because you didn’t tell me something better to name it.

More submissions below the fold. 

Tina loves this photo

I like this photo that we took a few weeks ago, but Tina really likes it.

I’d like to composite her into water or above water … or?

There’s an ethereal quality to it that needs to be exploited.

Must … make … brain … work.

The brilliant, blinding light of stupidity

My brother-in-law posted this hilarious photo of a DJ and another guy positioned in some pool of water with live electrical equipment.

I can hear the echo-y laughter of Darwin rolling in his grave.

 

Somebody needs to show me some good PR for belief. Seriously? This is depressing.

The above video is one that’s circulating fast. And it should. It’s a four-year old from Indiana telling a congregation that there will be no homos in heaven.

Joe My God wrote:

Thanks to the web sleuthing of a JMG reader, last night we learned Indiana’s Apostolic Truth Tabernacle is where that four year-old child was filmed singing Ain’t No Homos Gonna Make It To Heaven. Shortly after I posted that repulsive clip, I was contacted by several media outlets, including CNN, who now know its source. Contact details for Pastor Jeff Sangl are at the first link and I suspect he is about to have a very interesting week.

Clearly, this is the best way to teach a child.

Clearly, this is a logical conclusion based on Biblical principles.

Clearly, the supposed moral bankruptcy of this nation is resting on the shoulders of those who perpetuate that their morality is superior whilst teaching children this bullshit.

If this is your love, I don’t want it.

To add insult to injury, you should read about the Kansas pastor who called on the government to execute homosexuals. Why? Because that’s what the bible says to do to them.

Pastor Curtis Knapp says:

“If there is a man who lies with a male as those who lie with a woman, both of them have committed a detestable act; they shall surely be put to death. They should be put to death. ‘Oh, so you’re saying we should go out and start killing them, no? I’m saying the government should. They won’t, but they should. You say, ‘Oh, I can’t believe you, you’re horrible. You’re a backwards neanderthal of a person.’ Is that what you’re calling scripture? Is God a neanderthal, backwards in his morality?

“Is it His word or not? If it’s His word, he commanded it. It’s His idea, not mine. And I’m not ashamed of it. He said put them to death. Shall the church drag them in? No, I’m not saying that. The church has not been given the power of the sort; the government has. But the government ought to [kill them]. You got a better idea? A better idea than God?” – Pastor Curtis Knapp, of New Hope Baptist Church in Seneca, Kansas.

If you’re a believer, what are you doing to help solve this? What are you doing to distance yourself from such awful displays of idiocy?

If you’re appalled, please explain yourself. I would love to know what you’re thinking.

Via JMG and The Daily What