Religious News in Brief - 1st March 2015.

RELIGIOUS NEWS IN BRIEF:

- The Pope while wearing an ankle-length dress, has thrilled trans men and women around the globe by comparing them to nuclear weapons. Apparently, both are against creation. Gay Star News.

  - While ISIS continues barbarically beheading innocent men and women, top neuroscientists say head-transplants are only a couple of years away. New Scientist.

 - Orthodox Jewish leaders celebrated the abandonment of any regulation concerning the practice of sucking blood from newly circumcised penises. The damage from the practise of metzitzah b'peh will be minimized only by self regulation. New York Times.

 - 'Jihadi John' has been named as Mohammed (who'd have thought!) Emwazi and it has been revealed the British Muslim responsible for numerous barbaric acts against innocent people, many of whom were humanitarians, attended anger management classes as a youngster. BBC.

- A new study reveals more than half of US republicans want to unconstitutionally see Christianity established as the national religion of the USA. Source.

In other news:

 - The world's first atheist orphanage raised the required $5 000 within twenty-nine hours of requesting help from the atheist community. Source. 

Over Half of Republicans Support Establishing Christianity as the National Religion of the USA.

Over Half of US Republicans Support Establishing Christianity as the National Religion of the USA.

Despite the founding fathers explicitly banning the formation of a national religion in the USA, over half of republicans support Christianity being established as the national religion.
The establishment clause prohibits government from passing legislation to establish an official religion or preferring one religion over another. It enforces the "separation of church and state."

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."

When asked if they supported or opposed seeing Christianity established as the national religion of the USA, 57 percent of Republicans told Public Policy Polling they were in favour. 30 percent of Republicans were opposed to seeing the USA become a Christian theocracy, and 13 percent didn't have a clue, or didn't understand the question. 
Frank Zappa warned about the USA becoming a theocracy more than 25 years ago. See Frank Zappa on Crossfire here

The survey also depressingly shows why the Republicans are not fit to govern:

- 66 percent of Republicans surveyed do not believe in global warming. 13 percent didn't know.

- 49 percent of Republicans surveyed said they did not believe in evolution, 10 percent were unsure.

For the full results of the poll SEE HERE.


Attack of the Theocrats: How the Religious Right Harms Us All —and What We Can Do about It

Tim Booth on Religion.

TIM BOOTH ON RELIGION

Thanks to Susan for bringing this to our attention. Susan is also a big Tim Booth fan. Among many things, he's the front man of the fantastic group "James".

The dominant religions of Islam, Christianity and Judaism believe that man must transcend his sexual nature; that our sinful bodies need controlling, preferably by the church.  I believe these ancient patriarchal beliefs still have far too strong and subtle control over our society.

The enforced suppression of our sexuality is poisonous, unnatural and damages our mental and physical well-being. How many well intentioned priests attempting to stem their natural desires by being unnaturally celibate became pedophiles?

Adultery and homosexuality are still punished by stoning in parts of the world. Circumcision is routinely performed on newborns without thought for psychological consequences.

In the time of AIDS, it's a sin to use a condom. In most countries we can't obtain assisted suicide, even when in unbearable pain; whilst the murder of young girls is called honor killings.

Women are labelled whores for the merest expression of their sexuality. It is estimated that one-hundred-and-twenty-million  girls have had their clitorises removed. If boys were being castrated like this, wouldn't we have stopped it by now?

Darwin caused a storm by saying we're descended from apes. This doesn't go far enough, We are apes; apes in denial with some pretentious aspirations.

We have some basic, beautiful, natural needs that we're often fearful to express. Finger pointing shame is toxic.

It's time for we individuals to choose what we do with our own bodies - the bodies that we've been given in this lifetime. And to heal the wounds that have been created by thousands of years of violence, exile and shame.

Liberians Praying Away Ebola.

Liberians Praying Away Ebola. 

31st October 2014

Today sees an end to Christians in Liberia fasting and praying since Wednesday for deliverance from Ebola. Christians make up eighty-five percent of Liberia's four-million population.

The fast and prayer marathon organizers, despite claiming Ebola will be transformed by today [Friday], aren't as confident as they sound. Prayers and communion will mark an end to the fast and prayer extravaganza, but due to Ebola being highly infectious, communion will not be delivered; Christians are expected instead to provide their own bread and wine.

You don't need to be a doctor or medical professional to know Liberians fasting and compromising their body's immune system is the height of irresponsibility.

The fast was spurred on by Reverend G. Bonito, a representative of the National Christian Ebola Task Force. They believe Ebola is a punishment from God via Satan. He told a news conference, "We have traded the worship of God with the worship of demons and witchcraft, and evil stuff is now happening in this country.” 

Liberia’s deputy chief medical officer, Tolbert Nyenswah, the Liberian health ministry is combatting the lack of education and people's reliance on religious beliefs by publishing images of Ebola patients on TV and newspapers. “They are very graphic but it is working; people are starting to see that Ebola is not just a spiritual thing that you can cure through going to church,” Nyenswah said.

Source Reuters News