Judy Rooze, administrator of First Baptist Church of Rancho Cucamonga, which is two blocks from the billboard, was relieved it was coming down.

Rooze said it was unsettling.

“I understand people have freedom of speech, but this is taking it too far,” she said. “It’s very jarring.”

Nothing more dangerous than a “jarred” Christian (PE.com full article 20 Nov 2008)

Alex McCullie

The Vatican identifies homosexuality as a deep-seated personality disorder and psychological flaw; condemning same-sex acts as “grave sins”, “objectively disordered”, “intrinsically immoral” and “contrary to natural law”. Even men who have a gay orientation but abstain totally from sex are condemned by the Pope as possessing a “tendency towards an intrinsic moral evil”. (from Guardian article)

And why not? It seems like an epidemic in the church. The articles goes on:

Estimates of the number of gay men in Catholic seminaries and the priesthood typically range from 25% to 50%, according to a review of research in the US by the Rev Donald Cozzens, author of The Changing Face of the Priesthood: A Reflection on the Priest’s Crisis of Soul. A similar proportion of priests is thought to be gay in the UK and Europe, including a number of bishops and cardinals.

Is there something iconic about a semi-naked man nailed to a wooden cross? (Full article 20 Nov 2008)

Alex McCullie

LABOR MP James Bidgood, the first-time MP under investigation for selling pictures of a protester attempting to set fire to himself outside Parliament House, has declared the global financial crisis an act of God.

Mr Bidgood, who was carpeted by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd over his actions yesterday and apologised to parliament, makes the claims in a DVD.

In a speech to a function held in parliament he argues that Christian marches for Jesus in London caused the October 1987 stock market crash.

He also predicts the end of the world and one world monetary system.

“We have to say ‘What would Jesus do?’,” he says.

“In 1987 there was another march for Jesus. That took place in April. And guess what happened in October 1987? The stock market crashed. All property values lost one third of their value and over a million people lost their homes.

“I believe when Christians pray, God does things. I believe what is happening today is as much to do with God in economics bringing judgement.” (Australian 4 Dec 2008)

Alex McCullie

Alex McCullie

MEMO, a ministry dedicated to spreading the Good News on public transport networks for 125 years, has launched a new advertising campaign on London buses reassuring commuters of God’s comfort in the midst of the global credit crunch.

The campaign, launched on Monday, will see MEMO’s ads displayed inside 200 buses throughout central London for the next four weeks.

They ask commuters if they feel “Crunched?” before quoting Luke 2.10 – 11, “Don’t be afraid! I am here with good news for you … This very day in Bethlehem your Saviour was born – Christ the Lord.” (full article in Christian Today 25 Nov 2008)

Alex McCullie

Alex McCullie

Hundreds of Proofs of God’s Existence (website)

Oh, it’s not serious!
Alex McCullie

A survey published today by a leading bullying prevention charity has found that one in four school students admits to being bullying – often violently - because of their religion.

Beatbullying, which runs interfaith bullying prevention programmes, said its research indicated that that there was little provision for young people to talk about their faith and that almost half of young people do not talk about religious or faith issues at all.

The survey of 819 young people also found a degree of religious segregation, with 20 per cent of the young people surveyed saying that their circle of friends consisted mainly of people from the same religious background. (full article 17 Nov 2008)

It amazes me that religious people continue to believe and promote that strong religious belief leads inexorably to good moral behaviour. There seems to be no evidence supporting this stand. We see so many cases of strong faith being destructive. People’s moral behaviour should be seen as a strictly human affair with strictly human solutions.

Alex McCullie

“Why believe in a god? Just be good for goodness’ sake”

This follows the lead from the British Humanist Association that ran with the quotation:

“There’s probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life”

The newspaper article is quite reasonable from a Christian viewpoint even though some of the quotations just refrain from using the term blasphemy (full article 14 Nov 2008).

A group of humanists announced this week plans to plaster over 200 buses in Washington DC with ads bearing its “godless holiday” message.

Ads proclaiming, “Why believe in a god? Just be good for goodness’ sake”, will appear on the outside and inside of DC Metro buses starting next Tuesday and will run throughout December. Newspaper versions of the ads ran in The New York Times and The Washington Post this week.

The advertising campaign is part of an effort by the American Humanist Association to reach out to like-minded individuals around the nation’s capital and elsewhere who might be interested in humanism. The atheist group espouses the belief that people can live a moral life apart from a belief in a god or the afterlife.

…

“It is the ultimate ‘grinch’ to suggest there is no God during a holiday where millions of people around the world celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. It is insensitive and mean,” remarked Mathew D Staver, founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel, a conservative Christian legal group that has defended the rights of cities and schools to display nativity scenes and Christmas decorations.

“Christmas is a time of joy and hope, not a time for hate,” added Staver. “Why believe in God? – Because Santa is not the only one coming to town.”

…

Roberta Combs, who heads the Christian Coalition of America, said the campaign’s attempt to ban God and Christmas from the public square will not sit well with many Americans.

…

But Combs said her organisation plans to mobilise its 2.5 million supporters to contact city officials and Congress to stop the “un-Godly campaign.”

Alex McCullie

He was born in 4 BCE. A spirit appeared to his pregnant mother, preparing her for the birth of a divine figure. His divinity was signalled by an extraordinary sign in the sky at birth. Other supernatural events were also claimed to highlight his birth.

In childhood he showed an amazing precocity for religious understanding and debate.

As an adult he travelled widely and performed many miracles - healing the sick and raising the dead have been documented. He was also renowned for his sublime teachings.

Ultimately he was arrested and tried by the Roman authorities. Many supporters believed he went to heaven and others saw him after death.

His name was … Apollonius of Tyana.

Alex McCullie

Other links
http://www.livius.org/ap-ark/apollonius/apollonius01.html

http://atheismandhappiness.wordpress.com/2008/08/15/apollonius-of-tyana-the-great-healer/

http://www.blavatsky.net/magazine/theosophy/ww/setting/apollonius.html

http://www.themystica.com/mystica/articles/a/apollonius_of_tyana.html

http://mountainman.com.au/apollonius_of_tyana.htm

Alex McCullie