Relic worshipers are just plain weird

Even when I was a Christian (baptized Serbian, confirmed Lutheran) I always found relic worshipers just plain weird.

The relics, made up of portions of her thigh and foot bones, have attracted crowds in Catholic cathedrals, convents and even Wormwood Scrubs prison in London.

These are body parts of a once living person-- a young nun -- now rendered into pieces. It is expected that 100,000 will come to pay their respects and pray over her remains.

Just how bizarre is that? I mean, these are body parts. Small pieces of a person. Where is the reason in this? Will these body parts protect you from harm? Didn't do her any good as her young life was cut down by tuberculous. Why worship over inert pieces of a human? And if these body parts don't bring you protection and are for "great inspiration" then why bother praying over remains? Can't you be inspired without the spectacle of cadaver parts?

Totally bizarre and ridiculous.


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Just imagine

Imagine if everything we did or decided as a society was left up to popular vote.

Asked about homosexual behavior, 49 percent said it is morally wrong, 9 percent said it is morally acceptable and 35 percent said it is not a moral issue.

This is from a just released poll on gay civil unions by Pew. Pew found rising support for civil unions, but when the same legal relationship was called marriage, support dropped. Marriage is a magic word. A word that stirs the emotions if you will.

Back to my main objection.

Not only is homosexual behavior not wrong, it is perfectly and naturally moral. It is no more immoral than heterosexual behavior. I even grant it is amoral, since we are nature's creatures. But immoral? Fuck that.

Just imagine if mob ruled everything.

Yikes!

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This is not medical science

From the department that I can't believe it didn't happen sooner....

'Two die' at US spiritual retreat

Two people have been reported dead and about 19 others taken to hospital after being overcome while in a sauna-like room at a spiritual retreat in Arizona.

Police said more than 50 people were in a so-called "sweatbox" structure at the Angel Valley resort for about two hours before many became ill.

A Yavapai County sheriff's office spokesman said the two people who died were a middle-aged man and woman.

Duh.

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It doesn't get any sicker than this.

After receiving little more than a handslap for the prayer death of their daughter Kara, Dale and Leilani Neumann openly praise (what can only be called praise) the judges decision of not throwing them in prison up to twenty-five years as is possible for second-degree manslaughter.

"The judge also realizes that jail time will not reform us, because he has witnessed our faith runs very deep."

Deep indeed.

Deep enough to willfully kill your daughter. If the judge isn't going to sentence you to hard time in prison, at least he did rule that the Neumanns must seek medical attention for the remaining minor children still in their care. Note to the Neumans, you are not being rewarded by Judge Howard.

Yet, the Neumanns have tried to spin this case as persecution over their beliefs. Sorry, the manslaughter charge is about their subsequent non-actions. (Like calling an ambulance. Regular check-ups.) So what do they do? Instead they play the martyr card. Spend a moment on their website (mind the terrible auto-play music) -- a denizen of loonacy and laughable commentary awaits you.

Our ministry is a David ministry. There are many similarities between who we are and David in the Bible. Like David, we have a heart after God, and we live daily to worship The Lord and sing His praises. David also had enemies, and because of the call of God on our life we too have to get used to being sought after by our enemies. Like David, in the midst of the battle we are looking to God for our encouragement, and also like David with the faith God has given us and the love for God's Word, we seek to encourage, strengthen and empower all those who have been discouraged and disillusioned by the trials of life and dead false religion.

You are like David you say? David, the mythical king who murdered a rival husband so he could sleep with his wife. The same mythical person that when discredited adulterer, South Carolina Governor, Mark Sanford compared himself to when he fell into disrepute to have an affair with an Argentinian woman. Really? You really want to compare yourselves to David?

The Neummans give an obvious example to hate religion -- to despise it with every fiber of your being. Heaven forbid if anyone should take their encouragement. I can only envision a much larger body-count.

Not only has religion -- in its most sincere form allowed Dale and Leilani to destroy and murder the life of their daughter -- it also has given them the perfect predication to shield themselves from perfectly deserved outrage over their decisions.

Scoundrels like the Neumann's envelop themselves in a faux veil of religious persecution. Kara is now a victim twice. The Neumanns are only martyrs to themselves. Their faith runs deep indeed.

Absolutely disgusting.

The Neumann Martyr Card

Why am I not surprised?

Marathon County Assistant District Attorney LaMont Jacobson was critical of the Neumanns during his arguments. He pointed out Web sites that Leilani Neumann reportedly wrote on or submitted information to. On one Web site, Jacobson said the Neumanns compared the injustice against them to Christians being thrown to the lions, the Holocaust and a lynching.

No Leilana and Dale, you were not lynched or thrown to the lions. You sat by and watched your daughter die from a completely treatable condition because you thought it was more prudent to pray for healing because of your perceived transgressions against god.

You are not martyrs. You are not victims of genocide or racism, nor are you victims of religious warfare.

It is your religion that has led to the death of your daughter and hopefully a long twenty-five years in prison.

You precipitated this event because of your sincere beliefs in faith healing over medical science.

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Day of reckoning for the Neumann's is here

The parents of Kara Neumann will be sentenced today. Each parent was found guilty by separate juries over the summer.

The Neumanns say they believe all healing comes from God.

As a consequence of their religious beliefs, Kara's died an easily avoidable death. Her death will not be easily restored just because Leliani and Dale now have to serve time behind bars.

However, we can stop future prayer deaths -- deaths caused by the parent's religious beliefs -- if we support LRB-2190 and call our representatives.

Stay tuned for the judge's verdict.

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No news to the skeptical. Shroud a fake.

Apparently, an Italian scientist has reproduced a "Shroud of Turin" through various methods.

Garlaschelli reproduced the full-sized shroud using materials and techniques that were available in the middle ages.

They placed a linen sheet flat over a volunteer and then rubbed it with a pigment containing traces of acid. A mask was used for the face.

Will this test convince the faithful that the shroud is a fraud? The shroud was previously dated during the middle ages.

"If they don't want to believe carbon dating done by some of the world's best laboratories they certainly won't believe me," he said.

No, just like creationists we see a similar theme here.

Deny whatever evidence that could possibly show that your faith is misplaced.

Count the hits. Ignore the misses.

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