John Safran V The Mormons

Oh the irony!

Carl Sagan reads from Pale Blue Dot - Galileo

This further illustrates my point here

A Quick Thought on Evolution v. Creationism

In many parts of The United States of America schools have ceased teaching The Big Bang Theory and The Theory of Evolution in favour of Creationism and Intelligent Design because the The Big Bang Theory and The Theory of Evolution dispute The Bible.

The Bible says:

And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day(the sun), and the lesser light (the moon) to rule the night: he made the stars also. [Genesis 1:16]

SOURCE: Bible Gateway (King James Version)

So are those same school districts going to stop teaching the fact that there are not two sources of light in the sky, but one? The lesser light is merely a reflection of the greater light. This is not a theory but an observable fact.

And while we're on the subject of Theory, there is a vast difference in the everyday definition of "Theory" and the scientific definition of "Theory" as this video so eloquently explains:

Part Two
Part Three
Part Four
Part Five
Part Six
Part Seven

Say what you will about Tom Cruise but...

Tom Cruise is an amazing actor. Sure his off-screen antics (The Oprah Incident, The Brooke Shields Incident (which he has subsequently apologised for), The Leaked Video Incident) leave much to be desired but that notwithstanding his talent is undeniable.

I just finished watching Tropic Thunder and I have not laughed that hard during a film in a long time. The overall film was funny but Tom Cruise took it to whole new level.

Side Note: Solid performance from Robert Downey Jr and Nick Nolte.

Here are the end credits of Tropic Thunder (No Spoilers)


It is well known that Tom Cruise is a member of the Church of Scientology which tends to turn off many film goers who consequently boycott his work. Personally I too, vehemently disapprove of the Church of Scientology's philosophy and their alleged and otherwise tactics, so when people choose to blackball his flicks, I completely understand.

Here is his selected filmography:

• The Outsiders
• Top Gun
• Rain Man
• Born on the Fourth of July
• A Few God Men
• Interview with a Vampire
• Mission: Impossible
• Collateral
• Mission: Impossible III
• Lions for Lambs

If film goers black list Cruise's work solely based on his religious affiliation, here is something to consider - the following is a short list of members of the Church of Scientology:

• Kirstie Alley (Cheers, Veronica Mars)
• Anne Archer (Privileged, Felon, End Game, Rules of Engagement)
• Beck (Soundtrack for: Grey's Anatomy, Knocked Up, Entourage, Scrubs)
• Catherine Bell (Army Wives, JAG, Bruce Almighty)
• Nancy Cartwright (The Simpsons, Kim Possible, Pinky & The Brain, Anamaniacs)
• Erika Christensen (Six Degrees, Flight Plan, Traffic)
• Jenna Elfman (Looney Toons: Back in Action, Doctor Dolittle, Dharma & Greg)
• Paul Haggis (Quantum of Solace, In the Valley of Elah, Casino Royale, Crash, Million Dollar Baby)
• Isaac Hayes (South Park, Shaft, Hustle & Flow, Reindeer Games)
• Jason Lee (My Name is Earl, Mallrats, Chasing Amy, The Incredibles, Almost Famous)
• Juliete Lewis (Old School, The Way of the Gun, From Dusk 'Till Dawn, The Basketball Diaries)
• Christopher Masterson (Malcolm in the MIddle, Scary Movie 2, American History X)
• Danny Masterson (That 70's Show, Puff Puff Pass)
• Michael Pena (Shooter, World Trade Center, Babel, The Shield)
• Laura Prepon (That 70's Show, October Road, Karla, Halo 2)
• Priscilla Presley (The Naked Gun Trilogy, Dallas)
• Kelly Preston (Death Sentence, Return to Sender, Eulogy, The Cat in the Hat)
• Lee Purcell (The Unknown, Dizzyland, Due South)
• Leah Remini (King of Queens, Old School, Glory Daze)
• Giovanni Ribisi (Perfect Stranger, Flight of the Phoenix, Cold Mountain, Friends)
• Ethan Suplee (My Name is Earl, Fan Boys, Mr. Woodcock, The Butterfly Effect)
• John Travolta (Hair Spray, Wild Hogs, The Punisher, Swordfish, The General's Daughter)

Does this mean people also boycott the aforementioned and their endeavours as well? Or is Tom Cruise simply targeted because he has the highest profile or simply because these days it seems fashionable to hate Tom Cruise. It might be time to separate the person from the artist, else we might miss out on some wonderful entertainment.

Flirting with a Westboro Church man

God Only SEEMS Nonexistent!

Now that my summer hiatus is over, I thought I would begin with this tongue in cheek video.

Freedom Of Speech By Unlikely Candidate

Court says Ill. student can wear anti-gay T-shirt at school

CHICAGO - A federal appeals court has ruled that a suburban Chicago student should be allowed to wear an anti-gay T-shirt at his high school -- a decision the teen's attorneys describe as a victory for First Amendment rights.

In its ruling, the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals instructed the district court to order the Neuqua Valley High School to suspend its ban on the "Be Happy, Not Gay" T-shirt while a civil rights lawsuit in the case proceeds.

SOURCE: The Chicago Tribune

I applaud said decision... I applaud said decision if the atheist kids can wear a T-Shirt saying "God is imaginary" I wonder what The Alliance Defense Fund, the Christian litigation group, would say then? Would they still say: "The court's ruling is a victory for all students seeking to protect their First Amendment rights on a school campus"?

While I realise that fight was more of a battle to preach the Christian word and not really about the First Amendment, I can just as easily see them protesting the atheist kid's T-shirt as that would infringe of their freedom of religion.

Once again I will quote Voltaire as he was more succinct that I can ever be: "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."

An unfortunate side affect of people saying what ever they want is you don't always hear what you want to hear.

Jesus & Mo - Plot

Here's the latest from Jesus & Mo. If the image is fuzzy, click the image for clarity.

This one just SEEPS with irony

And here's the cartoon that started it all.
Never got to see this until today.

Quoting... Atheists

Atheism: A non-prophet organization.
- George Carlin

Which is it, is man one of God’s blunders or is God one of man’s?
- Frederich Nietzsche

If people are good only because they fear punishment, and hope for reward, then we are a sorry lot indeed.
- Albert Einstein

I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.
- Mohandas K. Gandhi

It ain’t those parts of the Bible that I can’t understand that bother me, it is the parts that I do understand.
- Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain)

If you gave Falwell an enema, he could be buried in a matchbox.
- Christopher Hitchens

Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the people.
- Karl Marx (Always thought the quote was "Opiate of the masses")

The fact that a believer is happier than a skeptic is no more to the point than the fact that a drunken man is happier than a sober one.
- George Bernard Shaw

You’re basically killing each other to see who’s got the better imaginary friend.
- Richard Jeni

The invisible and the non-existent look very much alike.
- Delos B. McKown

Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day; teach a man to fish and he will eat for a lifetime; give a man religion and he will die praying for a fish.
- Unknown

Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?
- Epicurus

There’s a phrase we live by in America: “In God We Trust”. It’s right there where Jesus would want it: on our money.
- Bill Maher

If I thought the Jews killed God, I’d worship the Jews.
- Bill Hicks

Properly read, the Bible is the most potent force for atheism ever conceived.
- Isaac Asimov

Jesus & Mo - Piety

Here's the latest from Jesus & Mo. If the image is fuzzy, click the image for clarity.

Bill Maher on Religion - New Rules RTwMB

More blasphemy - Enjoy :)

George Carlin - Religion is Bullshit

Which leads to another video - Is this the wrong time of the year for these videos?

Bill Maher on Religion

This is what happens on YouTube, one video leads to another.

Why do Atheists care about Religion?

Dude makes some valid points...

Outright ban of Scientology in Germany

German officials want Church of Scientology banned in the country

BERLIN — Top German officials announced Friday that they will seek to outlaw the U.S.-based Church of Scientology.

The announcement came after a two-day conference of interior ministers of Germany's 16 states well as federal Interior Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble.

Berlin Interior Minister Erhart Koerting, who presided over the two-day conference, told reporters that Scientology is an organization that is not compatible with the German constitution.

The German government considers Scientology not a religion but a commercial enterprise that takes advantage of vulnerable people, he added.

The ministers said the planned to ask Germany's domestic intelligence agency to begin preparing the necessary information to ban Scientology.

The agency has had Scientology under observation for a decade on allegations that it “threatens the peaceful democratic order” of the country.

SOURCE: The Globe & Mail (Complete Article)

This is a tough one for me. Although I don't agree with the principles of Scientology / Dianetics, I don't see how any modern nation's constitution can disallow its citizens to practice anything of this nature.

Granted, I can see how anyone would draw issue with a "religious" institution that charges its "congregation" for salvation. And yes I can see how Scientology can be regarded as a money making endeavour,but couldn't the same be said about self-help "gurus" such as Tony Robbins who charge for their endless library of books, cassettes, CDs & DVDs? True, he doesn't tout himself as a religion, and I'm sure he doesn't receive the same tax breaks and benefits that most religious organisations do, but I'm sure you can still buy his media in Germany.

I can see a government refusing to recognise Scientology as a religion and disallowing many of the privileges that religious organisations enjoy. But to ban it outright seems more than just a little dictatorial.

Quoting... Albert Einstein

A man's ethical behaviour should be based effectually on sympathy, education, and social ties; no religious basis is necessary. Man would indeed be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death.
- Albert Einstein

Too dumb for words

I'm stunned! First Sherri says she doesn't believe in evolution, then she says she doesn't know if the world is round or flat now she's saying NOTHING pre-dates Christianity! Oy vey! I don't know where to begin.

There's is just no defending this kind incompetence. I mean I can't even say she's a mindless Christian drone, because she's not even that. She's Dumb! Even a mindless Christian drone who has read the Bible would know that the ENTIRE OLD TESTAMENT pre-dates Christianity. In the words of Bugs Bunny, "Whatta maroon! Whatta ignoranimus!"

Jesus & Mo: Fact

Another succinct one from Jesus & Mo

Ricky Gervais on Creationism

An Excerpt...

The following entry starts mid-thought because it is an actual entry from my personal blog, however all the pertinent details are still intact... I hope

On my way in, there were a couple of gentlemen discussing religion, a subject of interest to me; so I eve dropped. One of the gents quoted something which resonated with me. Curious, I introduced myself and asked for more information, to which he informed that the quote is from Gospel according to Thomas from the Coptic Gospels.

After a little research I learned that the Coptic Gospels are, if I understand them correctly, dialogues between Thomas and as well as some of Christ's "sayings". I always knew not all the gospels were included in the Bible, these, apparently, were one of them. After very little digging, I found the quote:

Whether you look under the stone or within the split wood, God is there.

The reason this struck a chord with me is because, in my mind, it encapsulate the omnipresence of God elegantly and I can see why the Roman Catholic church discarded it. In essence, it implies one does not need a church/temple/mosque/synagogue or what have you, in which to worship and dispels the concept of hallowed or consecrated ground as the whole planet is already such.

If only the religious right could figure this and take cleaning up the planet more seriously.