Category: Religion

Adrastos, Comedy, Food and Drink, Music, Political Crack, Religion, Stupid Republican Tricks5 Comments

Call Any Vegetable

Peter Adrastos Athas

I’m not sure whether Pat Robertson is descending into senility or if he’s becoming an absurdist comedian. In either case, bless his heart:  Televangelist Pat Robertson said on Monday that marijuana users and drinkers are “enslaved to vegetables.” Speaking on his Christian Broadcasting Network television show “The 700 Club,” Robertson said that addiction is contrary to God’s will, because man has dominion over “all the vegetables.” Robertson continued: “Cocaine is the product of a vegetable, alcohol is the product of a vegetable, marijuana is a vegetable. And yet, people are enslaved to vegetables.” “Why would you become a slave to … Continue reading Call Any Vegetable

Adrastos, Bigotry, British Politics, Fog Of History, Gret Stet Politics, Hurricane Katrina & Federal Flood, Immoral Values, Language, Music, New Orleans, Odds & Sods, Political Crack, Race, Religion, Scott Walker's Horcruxes, So Called Liberal Media, Stupid Republican Tricks, Television

Odds & Sods: Bubbling Up Edition

Peter Adrastos Athas

the-who odds--sods

I’m back to that whole in the Carnival bubble thing, which I actually like. It means that one doesn’t have to spend too much time thinking about the outside world, but there are a few things on my mind and as J Danforth Quayle once said, “a mind is a terrible thing to lose.”

But before I natter on after the break, here’s a musical interlude from Paul Simon:

Continue reading “Odds & Sods: Bubbling Up Edition”

Adrastos, Diary, Gret Stet Politics, Krewe du Vieux, PBJ, Political Crack, Religion, Stupid Republican Tricks3 Comments

PBJ Unbuckles The Bible Belt

Peter Adrastos Athas

Bobby Jindal’s deeply silly attempt to transform his image from dorky butt ugly technocrat to manly butt ugly culture warrior continues. He tried out a new-ish look at last weekend’s Hate Group Prayerpalooza in Red Stick. Note the cowboy boots, tight jeans and Garth Brooks type headset. The only thing missing is a ten gallon hat to complete his transformation into a Bollywood shitkicker.  But don’t call him that because he’s ashamed of his Indian heritage and/or doesn’t want to be a so-called “hyphenated American.” I don’t get it. There’s *nothing* wrong with being proud of your ethnic heritage. It’s the … Continue reading PBJ Unbuckles The Bible Belt

Adrastos, Diary, Gret Stet Politics, Krewe du Vieux, PBJ, Political Crack, Religion

Back By Popular Demand

Peter Adrastos Athas

Probably not, but a few people asked why I wasn’t blogging this week when so much funny shit was happening. It’s not down to Krewe Du Vieux even though that’s eaten my month. According to my ISP “another entity” cut the cable serving my house and other users. My money is on the New Orleans Sewerage and Water Board. There was a crew working way after dark Tuesday and they’re not known for their competence. I’ll be playing catch-up for a few days and then return to the Krewe Du Vieux bubble at the end of the week. I should post … Continue reading Back By Popular Demand

Athenae, Faith, Religion2 Comments

What We Are Afraid Of

Allison Hantschel

Hearing another’s voice will hurt you:  “While it might seem an odd juxtaposition to have the adhan chanted in the same tower from which bells toll daily (and twice on Sundays!), it is actually in keeping with the university’s commitment to fostering the spiritual development of all students,” Sapp wrote. “The chanting of the adhan communicates to the Muslim community that it is welcome here, that its worship matters, that these prayers enhance the community and that all are invited to stop on a Friday afternoon and pray.” By Thursday afternoon, the university had reversed itself. “Duke remains committed to fostering … Continue reading What We Are Afraid Of

Athenae, Bigotry, Race, Religion, Terrorism4 Comments

Smaller

Allison Hantschel

This week, we got just a little bit smaller:  KENNESAW, Ga. — There will be no mosque in Kennesaw. At least not right away. The Kennesaw City Council voted on Monday to reject the request of a group of Muslims seeking to establish a worship center in the city. Anti-Islamic demonstrators outside of Kennesaw City Hall made it clear that they believe an Islamic worship center is not welcome in Kennesaw. The local Islamic group wanting to rent the retail space for their worship center agreed to every limitation that the Kennesaw city attorney wanted to impose, including a two-year … Continue reading Smaller

Athenae, Religion

‘The Amount of Concern for the Priest’

Allison Hantschel

Archdiocese of Chicago releases files in abuse cases that show they knew for DECADES that priests were abusing children, but never alerted the authorities:  After the archdiocese made the documents public Thursday morning, Pat Navin pored over the 362 pages in the file of Richard Bartz. Navin was 18 when Bartz allegedly abused him in 1976 during a Wisconsin ski trip. At the time, Bartz was associate pastor at Ascension Catholic Church in Oak Park. Bartz was removed from public ministry and resigned as a priest in 2002. He could not be reached for comment. “What is astounding about the … Continue reading ‘The Amount of Concern for the Priest’

Athenae, Religion, So Called Liberal Media2 Comments

Ross Douthat, the Pope Is Just Not That Into You

Allison Hantschel

You wanna roll in the Pope’s Mercedes?  Do not all orthodox Catholics believe that that authority is most certainly to be accepted over the objections of “a minority—sometimes a small minority,” as Mr. Douthat describes himself and his fellow-travelers? This minority self-identifies as orthodox and, it seems, potentially more orthodox than the synod. But it is a self-identification without credentials to validate the claim. Finally, what are we to make of this: “Remember there is another pope still living!”? “Another pope still living!” This sounds like a threat. Are Mr. Douthat and the like-minded Catholics for whom he speaks appealing … Continue reading Ross Douthat, the Pope Is Just Not That Into You

Athenae, Religion6 Comments

You Want Government Money? You Get Government Rules.

Allison Hantschel

Assholes:  To give an example, faith leaders said a Catholic charity group that believes sex outside heterosexual marriage is a sin should not be denied government funding because it refused to employ a leader who was openly gay.  Um. YES THEY FUCKING SHOULD BE DENIED.  Look, there's a very easy way to preserve your oh-so-sacred belief that the gays are icky. Don't take government cash. That way, you won't have to touch any dollars a gay person might have touched, and you can continue to be bigots in pointless, stupid ways, and everybody will be happy. Your religious freedom is … Continue reading You Want Government Money? You Get Government Rules.

Athenae, Faith, Religion2 Comments

Mike Huckabee and God Have Never Met

Allison Hantschel

Just once I wish these people constantly humping God’s leg would act like they have some passing familiarity with the Fellow’s greatest hits: “I know there’s a god, and I know this nation would not exist without him as the midwife of its birth,” Huckabee told the near-capacity crowd of conservative activists. “And I know that if this nation forgets god, god will have every right to forget us.” After sharing a joke about how god should “apologize” to Sodom and Gomorrah if he decides not to strike down America for its wickedness, Huckabee spoke of his “hope” that the … Continue reading Mike Huckabee and God Have Never Met

Athenae, Faith, Religion2 Comments

Mike Huckabee and God Have Never Met

Allison Hantschel

Just once I wish these people constantly humping God’s leg would act like they have some passing familiarity with the Fellow’s greatest hits: “I know there’s a god, and I know this nation would not exist without him as the midwife of its birth,” Huckabee told the near-capacity crowd of conservative activists. “And I know that if this nation forgets god, god will have every right to forget us.” After sharing a joke about how god should “apologize” to Sodom and Gomorrah if he decides not to strike down America for its wickedness, Huckabee spoke of his “hope” that the … Continue reading Mike Huckabee and God Have Never Met

Athenae, Immoral Values, Religion6 Comments

the people overseas

Allison Hantschel

The fuck is this guy doing?  “Okay. I asked him to either stand or please be escorted out as we do the Pledge,” Rees says in the video. “It’s just not fair to our troops and people overseas, sir.” Politely suggest the troops and “people overseas” wouldn’t have even known about this horrifying disrespect to their names if you hadn’t opened your cakehole. Also politely suggest that the cops didn’t need to obey this petty little bureaucrat and escort the guy out. A. Continue reading the people overseas

Athenae, Immoral Values, Religion5 Comments

Excommunion

Allison Hantschel

You do not desire forgiveness:  "We have withheld forgiveness because you do not desire it."  As if that's what forgiveness is about. You forgive because forgiveness allows you to let go of hate and fear, to stop pulling them around you and using them to keep you separate from other people. Forgiveness isn't about making the other person beg for it. Forgiveness isn't about the other person deserving it. Forgiveness is a reaching outward, and that's the part of the action that counts.  Something which clearly passed by the theological scholars of this particular church as they pored over their … Continue reading Excommunion

Adrastos, Current Affairs, Diary, Do Something, Faith, Immoral Values, Law/Justice, Malakatude, Political Crack, Religion, So Called Liberal Media, Stupid Republican Tricks5 Comments

Malaka Of The Week: Operation Save America

Peter Adrastos Athas

  Even groups that come to protest here in Sin City feel compelled to post a picture of Bourbon Street. In this instance, it's Operation Rescue who are apparently out to save America. Their target is, of course, death/abortion mills. The only mills on Bourbon Street are Gin and T-Shirt mills. Operation Save America, or whatever the hell you want to call them, has, of course, not restricted its protests to so-called "death mills" and that is why it/they is/are malaka of the week. I was originally going to focus on the group's malakatudinous protests outside a doctor's home in … Continue reading Malaka Of The Week: Operation Save America

Adrastos, Law/Justice, Political Crack, Religion

Unforced Error

Peter Adrastos Athas

Landrieu administration makes like Emily Litella on the Operation Save America proclamation and says never mind: In an email this afternoon, Landrieu spokesman Tyler A. Gamble wrote: It is customary for the City to provide standard proclamations to visiting groups that request them through the City’s web site. To be clear, the City does not endorse extreme or violent tactics, and this proclamation was issued in error. Any group can exercise their constitutional rights, but all of us have a responsibility to do so in a respectful manner. During these events, the NOPD is executing a robust security plan to keep the … Continue reading Unforced Error

Athenae, Immoral Values, Religion2 Comments

‘I saw he was carrying a Bible, and I knew right away that was a bad sign’

Allison Hantschel

When doctrine is a bludgeon:  I was hungry and tired and anxious and I knew I needed to get Plan B, the drug that people said wasn’t as bad as an abortion really (the abortion drug was different), but it prevented a baby from being conceived and that meant it was at least some kind of evil. And I got out of the cab, and a man in overalls with a big white beard stared at me, and I just wanted to have a nice interaction with a person, especially a man, and I said “Good morning” and that’s when … Continue reading ‘I saw he was carrying a Bible, and I knew right away that was a bad sign’

Athenae, Religion, Stupid Blue Dog Tricks5 Comments

Drum’s Gone Full Troll Now

Allison Hantschel

Oh, for shit’s sake: And it’s not just changing culture. Over the last half century, various branches of government have also taken plenty of proactive steps to marginalize religion. Prayer in public school has been banned. Creches can no longer be set up in front of city hall. Parochial schools are forbidden from receiving public funds. The Ten Commandments can’t be displayed in courtrooms. Catholic hospitals are required to cover contraceptives for their employees. Gay marriage is legal in more than a dozen states and the number is growing rapidly. In order: No. No. Except not. Big fucking deal. Horseshit. … Continue reading Drum’s Gone Full Troll Now

Athenae, Religion, Stupid Blue Dog Tricks

Drum’s Gone Full Troll Now

Allison Hantschel

Oh, for shit’s sake: And it’s not just changing culture. Over the last half century, various branches of government have also taken plenty of proactive steps to marginalize religion. Prayer in public school has been banned. Creches can no longer be set up in front of city hall. Parochial schools are forbidden from receiving public funds. The Ten Commandments can’t be displayed in courtrooms. Catholic hospitals are required to cover contraceptives for their employees. Gay marriage is legal in more than a dozen states and the number is growing rapidly. In order: No. No. Except not. Big fucking deal. Horseshit. … Continue reading Drum’s Gone Full Troll Now

Athenae, Religion, Stupid Blue Dog Tricks5 Comments

Drum’s Gone Full Troll Now

Allison Hantschel

Oh, for shit’s sake: And it’s not just changing culture. Over the last half century, various branches of government have also taken plenty of proactive steps to marginalize religion. Prayer in public school has been banned. Creches can no longer be set up in front of city hall. Parochial schools are forbidden from receiving public funds. The Ten Commandments can’t be displayed in courtrooms. Catholic hospitals are required to cover contraceptives for their employees. Gay marriage is legal in more than a dozen states and the number is growing rapidly. In order: No. No. Except not. Big fucking deal. Horseshit. … Continue reading Drum’s Gone Full Troll Now

Athenae, Religion, Stupid Blue Dog Tricks5 Comments

Drum’s Gone Full Troll Now

Allison Hantschel

Oh, for shit’s sake: And it’s not just changing culture. Over the last half century, various branches of government have also taken plenty of proactive steps to marginalize religion. Prayer in public school has been banned. Creches can no longer be set up in front of city hall. Parochial schools are forbidden from receiving public funds. The Ten Commandments can’t be displayed in courtrooms. Catholic hospitals are required to cover contraceptives for their employees. Gay marriage is legal in more than a dozen states and the number is growing rapidly. In order: No. No. Except not. Big fucking deal. Horseshit. … Continue reading Drum’s Gone Full Troll Now

Athenae, Religion, Stupid Blue Dog Tricks5 Comments

Drum’s Gone Full Troll Now

Allison Hantschel

Oh, for shit’s sake: And it’s not just changing culture. Over the last half century, various branches of government have also taken plenty of proactive steps to marginalize religion. Prayer in public school has been banned. Creches can no longer be set up in front of city hall. Parochial schools are forbidden from receiving public funds. The Ten Commandments can’t be displayed in courtrooms. Catholic hospitals are required to cover contraceptives for their employees. Gay marriage is legal in more than a dozen states and the number is growing rapidly. In order: No. No. Except not. Big fucking deal. Horseshit. … Continue reading Drum’s Gone Full Troll Now

Adrastos, Books, Immoral Values, Law/Justice, Political Crack, Religion, Stupid Republican Tricks5 Comments

Malaka Of The Week: Thomas Carmody

Peter Adrastos Athas

Louisiana State Rep.Thomas Carmody (R-Bible Belt) is the latest person to emerge from obscurity to become malaka of the week. I never heard of him before today and plan to forget him as soon as possible. Unfortunately, that won’t be soon enough: his bill establishing the Bible as the official state book got out of committee yesterday. Here’s a longer than average excerpt from an article in the Vestigial Picayune:

Continue reading “Malaka Of The Week: Thomas Carmody”

Athenae, Religion, Stupid Blue Dog Tricks5 Comments

Drum’s Gone Full Troll Now

Oh, for shit’s sake: And it’s not just changing culture. Over the last half century, various branches of government have also taken plenty of proactive steps to marginalize religion. Prayer in public school has been banned. Creches can no longer be set up in front of city hall. Parochial schools are forbidden from receiving public funds. The Ten Commandments can’t be displayed in courtrooms. Catholic hospitals are required to cover contraceptives for their employees. Gay marriage is legal in more than a dozen states and the number is growing rapidly. In order: No. No. Except not. Big fucking deal. Horseshit. … Continue reading Drum’s Gone Full Troll Now

Adrastos, Law/Justice, Political Crack, Religion, Stupid Republican Tricks7 Comments

The next Supreme Court nominee should not be

Peter Adrastos Athas

What is a Federal Judge, Alex? The more I read about Justice Alito's other worldly and totally detached from reality opinion in the Hobby Lobby case, the more I miss Sandra Day O'Connor and other supremes who were not ripped from the federal courts.as it were. O'Connor was a legislator and practical politician at heart who would have looked at this case and spotted it as one that should have been laughed out of court. She would have then instructed her clerks to translate her common sense opinion into legalese. Her successor on the court has done the opposite and … Continue reading The next Supreme Court nominee should not be

Athenae, Religion, Science, Stupid Republican Tricks2 Comments

Send that SOB $5

Allison Hantschel

Pat Robertson explains the fossils to you:  I have heard fossils explained by Pat Robertson in a TV interview. His answer was that all of the fossilized animals we have found all existed at the same time. Everything from the simple life forms of the Cambrian through the dinosaurs of the Jurassic to modern animals we see today, lived together at the very same time. When the great flood came (the one with Noah and his boat), all of those animals drowned. The interviewer asked why they are found in distinct layers, and not all mixed together. His answer was … Continue reading Send that SOB $5

Adrastos, Immoral Values, Music, Religion9 Comments

Rot In Hell, Fred

Peter Adrastos Athas

I am usually inclined not to speak ill of the dead or to gleefully await someone’s demise, but there are exceptions to any rule. Fred Phelps of Westboro Baptist Churchinfamy is an exceptionally egregious exception to that rule. His only claim to fame is being pastor of the homophobic cultish church that protests at people’s funerals. The lowest form of protest imaginable. Contemplating his passing makes me want to dance a jig, piss on his grave, and/or flush his ashes down the terlet. Of course, the latter would pollute the sewer and some poor Ed Norton bastard would have to … Continue reading Rot In Hell, Fred

Adrastos, Immoral Values, Music, Religion9 Comments

Rot In Hell, Fred

Peter Adrastos Athas

I am usually inclined not to speak ill of the dead or to gleefully await someone’s demise, but there are exceptions to any rule. Fred Phelps of Westboro Baptist Churchinfamy is an exceptionally egregious exception to that rule. His only claim to fame is being pastor of the homophobic cultish church that protests at people’s funerals. The lowest form of protest imaginable. Contemplating his passing makes me want to dance a jig, piss on his grave, and/or flush his ashes down the terlet. Of course, the latter would pollute the sewer and some poor Ed Norton bastard would have to … Continue reading Rot In Hell, Fred