Religious Stupidity Thread!

[Hootad Binky]

Give us an example of this mysterious true "Christianity" then. I mean I want the name of the sect or creed. And a link. Please.

[Sir Burr]

Stalin was a Jew? That's news to me.

[barbaro]

Stalin was a Jew? That's news to me.

the website "jewwatch.com" claims Stalin was Jewish.

But this is doubted.

[stroller]

Yaaawwn...we've had the same theme in other threads already.

Sure, Stalin and the atheist Bolsheviks were Jews and murdered 60 million, but the Christians who have killed and tortured for the last 2000 years weren't really Christians.

Both Hitler and Stalin were Jews who were puppets of the Zionists, which is why they prosecuted the Jews.

Did someone say "religious stupidity"?

[DrB0b]

Stalin was a Jew? That's news to me.

the website "jewwatch.com" claims Stalin was Jewish.

But this is doubted.

Very old fallacy based on people not being able to understand Georgian surnames. Even Stormfront laugh at people who believe Stalin was jewish, they have some very lengthy threads on the subject (cue the Keruxbot!).

[DrB0b]

(cue the Keruxbot!).

Psychic or what?

[kerux]

Give us an example of this mysterious true "Christianity" then. I mean I want the name of the sect or creed. And a link. Please.

I think Quakers would qualify. Not all Quakers are Christians, but many are.

Ditto Mennonites.

And there are millions of underground Christians in China.

"Chinese authorities have arrested ''underground'' Christians in three provinces since March, a sign the government may see religion as part of a growing antigovernment protest movement, an aid group and a local worshipper claimed Tuesday.

On last Thursday about 50 police officers arrested 100 members of the China Gospel Fellowship in Wuhan, said the China Aid Association, a religious advocacy group based in the United States. The association said in a statement it was unclear where police have taken those arrested from the 20-year-old house church group's retreat. One worshipper, Xing Jinfu, 39, had been arrested three times before.

These arrests come less than two months after the arrest of house church leader Xu Shuangfu of Henan Province, the aid group said. Xu has not surfaced since then.

China pressuring 'underground' Christians, aid group claims Asian Political News - Find Articles

Hundreds of Christians in the US and elsewhere meet in homes and other non-public buildings. Then there are the Plymouth Brethen.

Thousands of Christians teach their children at home - homeschoolers.

Christian and Homeschool Resource Center - ChristianHomeschoolers.com

This has been the case down through history. But it's the nominal so-called Christians who get the publicity.

[DrB0b]

Td houses some of the most historically ignorant posters on the web.

Ain't that the truth

As Ive mentioned to you before Kerux you will get no response from me but ridicule. You are a chancre on the nostrils of humanity and while my sympathy for your mental illness almost outweighs my disgust at your simian ignorance the disgust overwhelms me each time.

[Hootad Binky]

Very old fallacy based on people not being able to understand Georgian surnames.

Also covered on many a previous thread.

[Hootad Binky]

Give us an example of this mysterious true "Christianity" then. I mean I want the name of the sect or creed. And a link. Please.

I think Quakers would qualify. Not all Quakers are Christians, but many are.

Ditto Mennonites.

And there are millions of underground Christians in China.

Why these sects in particular?

[stroller]

Yep, non-jews take on Jewish wives and jewesses take on non-jewish husbands.

It never happened before or since.

And there are millions of underground Christians in China.

And what makes thse 'true' Christians? Are they Quakers or Mennonites, or does simply being at the receiving end of prosecution make them eligible?

Are you one of the true Christians, who turn the other cheek and accept to be killed, kerux?

[stroller]

And every Communist leader - as Communism was/is a Jewish construct.

I suppose Mao, Castro, Chavez, as well as the former Eastern Bloc, Vietnamese, Laos and Nepalese leaders are all "Jews"?

Oh dear.

[Hootad Binky]

Not sure what category this goes under -religious or political - but it's certainly stupid nonetheless!Too bad Farfur the Mouse was killed in front of the kids by an "Israeli" on tv. It's also a rather scary-looking bee, imho.

Jihad Bee Replaces Terror MouseBy



Hamas’s Al-Aqsa television station recruited a new children’s character to “continue” the legacy of its star martyr, Farfur – the Mickey Mouse lookalike who was beaten to death by an Israeli on the previous program.

The new character on the children’s show Tomorrow’s Pioneers, a bee named Nahool, tells the hostess he is Farfur’s cousin and that he wishes to “continue the path of Farfur… the path of martyrdom, the path of the Jihad warriors… and in his name we shall take revenge upon the enemies of Allah, the murderers of the prophets...” The expression "Murderers of the prophets" is an Islamic expression used by the PA religious leaders to refer to Jews. Defining the Jews as the enemies of God is common in PA religious broadcasting.

There was worldwide outrage after PMW reported the existence of Farfur and his hateful messages in May. The New York Daily News dubbed the character “Terror Mouse,” while Walt Disney’s daughter Diane described it as “pure evil.”

Without apparent regard for the sensitivities of their child viewers, the show’s creators killed off the character in a particularly violent way that allowed them to continue the show’s rabidly anti-Israel messages.

It is now clear that these messages will continue through the new Nahool character.

Bumble Bee Replaces Mickey Mouse Lookalike on Hamas TV -- 07/16/2007

[barbaro]

And every Communist leader - as Communism was/is a Jewish construct.

Many were, but many were not.

Mr. Kerux, you're making absolute statements, here.


You credibility is at the nadir.

[ceburat]

Give us an example of this mysterious true "Christianity" then. I mean I want the name of the sect or creed. And a link. Please.

HB - sorry for the late response. I was catching up on reading TD today and am reading this thread for the first time.

There is no mysterious true "Christianity". There is one true religion taken from the Bible and I believe you can find no fault with their teachings, doctrine, etc.

The United Pentecostal Church International
8855 Dunn Road
Hazelwood, Mo, USA, 63042
tele 314 837 7300

[Hootad Binky]

Give us an example of this mysterious true "Christianity" then. I mean I want the name of the sect or creed. And a link. Please.

HB - sorry for the late response. I was catching up on reading TD today and am reading this thread for the first time.

There is no mysterious true "Christianity". There is one true religion taken from the Bible and I believe you can find no fault with their teachings, doctrine, etc.

The United Pentecostal Church International
8855 Dunn Road
Hazelwood, Mo, USA, 63042
tele 314 837 7300

Cheers! The question was directed at Kerux, actually, who believes that true Christians don't base their beliefs and good works on a heavenly reward (or something).

[Hootad Binky]

Just heard this on the radio. According to this nice piece of investigative journalism, in Malaysia, although freedom of religion is enshrined in Article 11, sharia courts will prevent:

- a Muslim woman from marrying a non-Muslim
- Muslims are not allowed to renounce their faith
- all Malaysians have "Muslim" listed as their religion on their passports and official documents and can only be changed through a long arduous and difficult process
- anyone not liking the above is "free to leave"

"Throughout the program, we've been exploring Malaysia -- an Islamic state with a growing intolerance for any other faith but its own.

So, it's not surprising that leaving the Muslim faith there is not easy.

In fact, if you want to give up Islam, it might just be better to leave the country altogether.

Because publicly rejecting the Islamic faith will land you in court.

Last fall, Meribeth Deen travelled to the village known as the Sky Kingdom to find out more."

Listen to Meribeth's dispatch.

[Marmite the Dog]

I thought Malaysia was supposed to be one of the more forward thinking muslim countries? I guess the slip back into the Dark Ages is inevitable.

[Hootad Binky]

And is there anything sillier than religious relics? All religions have them. Enormous footprints, bits of cloth, bone and hair, etc? Here's a sample:

"First-Class Relics
Items directly associated with the events of Christ's life (manger, cross, etc.), or the physical remains of a saint (a bone, a hair, a limb, etc.). Traditionally, a martyr's relics are often more prized than the relics of other saints. Also, some saints relics are known for their extraordinary incorruptibility and so would have high regard. It is important to note that parts of the saint that were significant to that saint's life are more prized relics. For instance, King St. Stephen of Hungary's right forearm is especially important because of his status as a ruler. A famous theologian's head may be his most important relic. (The head of St. Thomas Aquinas was removed by the monks at the Cistercian abbey at Fossanova where he died). Logically, if a saint did a lot of travelling then the bones of his feet may be prized. Current Catholic teaching prohibits relics to be divided up into small, unrecognisable parts (see the Catechism of the Catholic Church and Canon Law). Thus even the many relics that are enshrined in churches and cathedrals worldwide must be at least a finger or small bone, etc.


Second-Class Relics
An item that the saint wore (a sock, a shirt, a glove, etc.) Also included is an item that the saint had, for example, a crucifix, book etc. Again, an item more important in the saint's life is thus a more important relic.


Third-Class Relics
The Third-Class Relics fall into two categories. The first category is a piece of cloth touched to the body of a saint after his death. The second category is a piece of cloth touched to the shrine or reliquary of the saint."

Relic - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Hootad Binky]

I thought Malaysia was supposed to be one of the more forward thinking muslim countries? I guess the slip back into the Dark Ages is inevitable.

Wahabism is becoming very popular these days; "freedom" of religion is a joke. A group promoting Article 11 had it's third meeting disrupted and raided by a chanting mob and one of the participants was subsequently arrested at the urging of the current "moderate" Malaysian leader.

[Marmite the Dog]

So what about all the Chinese and Hindu Malaysians?

[Hootad Binky]

Well, I was surprised as well! The film also talked about the government completely eradicating this one charismatic sect for building an "Umbrella" ecumenical monument, or something. You'd have to listen to the podcast Not surehow Buddhists, Hindus and Christians are treated.


In any case, let's have a go at Scientology! An odd one. Just scrolling through the wiki entry it got weirder and weirder. Truly amazing anyone could believe anything so far-fetched:

"Scientology holds that an individual is basically an immortal spiritual being that has a body and a mind. Each individual is adversely affected by forgotten decisions left over from past trauma and by stored mental energies. Scientology training and counseling aims to eliminate these adverse effects and to allow devotees to regain native spiritual abilities lost over the course of many lifetimes."

"Journalists, courts and the governing bodies of several countries have stated that the Church of Scientology is an unscrupulous commercial enterprise that harasses its critics and victimizes its members."

• A person is an immortal spiritual being (termed a thetan) who possesses a mind and a body.
• The thetan has lived through many past lives and will continue to live beyond the death of the body.
• Psychiatry and psychology are destructive and abusive practices.
• Criminal activities committed on behalf of the Church or directed by Church officials (Operation Snow White, Operation Freakout)

Operation Freakout!?

"Thetans have existed for tens of trillions of years (several orders of magnitude greater than what mainstream science generally estimates the age of the universe to be).

"According to Hubbard, some of the past traumas may have been deliberately inflicted in the form of "implants" used by extraterrestrial dictatorships such as Helatrobus to brainwash and control humans.[citation needed] Scientology doctrine includes a wide variety of beliefs in complex extraterrestrial civilizations and alien interventions in Earthly events, collectively described by Hubbard as "space opera".

"Xenu (sometimes Xemu) is introduced as an alien ruler of the "Galactic Confederacy" who, 75 million years ago, brought billions of people to Earth in spacecraft resembling Douglas DC-8 airliners, stacked them around volcanoes and blew them up with hydrogen bombs.



Their souls then clustered together and stuck to the bodies of the living. Scientologists believe the alien souls continue to do this today, causing a variety of physical ill-effects in modern-day humans. Hubbard called these clustered spirits "Body Thetans", and the advanced levels place considerable emphasis on isolating them and neutralizing their ill effects.[31]"

"Hubbard stated that the delivery room should be as silent as possible during birth... Hubbard also wrote that the mother should use "as little anesthetic as possible."

" John Travolta, Kirstie Alley, Catherine Bell, Beck, Jason Lee, Isaac Hayes, Tom Cruise, and Katie Holmes. Also James Packer, Australia's richest man, is a Scientologist.[90]


Official German warning leaflets
from the Bavarian Ministry of the
Interior on (from left to right)
Islamic extremism, Scientology,
and organized crime.[95].

"There have been numerous accounts from Hubbard's fellow science-fiction authors and researchers, notably Harlan Ellison, Neison Himmel, Sam Merwin, Sam Moskowitz, Theodore Sturgeon, Lloyd Arthur Eshbach, and Lyle Stuart,[139] of Hubbard stating on various occasions that the way to get rich was to start a religion.[153] This is referenced, among other places, in a May 1980 Reader's Digest article, which quotes Hubbard, "If a man really wants to make a million dollars, the best way would be to start his own religion."[154]

"Scientology pays members commissions on new recruits they bring in, encouraging Scientology members to "sell" Scientology to others.[102] In addition, Scientology franchises, or missions, pay the church roughly 10% of their gross income.[155] On that basis, it is often likened to a Pyramid selling scheme

Posted comment on imdb about John Travolta's "Battlefield Earth:"

When I orginally watched this film I was unaware of the Dianetic / Scientology background that surrounded this film and pretty much saw it from an neutral standpoint. The fact that after I had watched it I felt disgusted and frankly scared that a film like this could be made in the first place made me dig a little deeper into the films background.

After doing a bit of research I came to the scary conclusion that apparently this piece of cr*p that is this film is actually taken seriously by Scientologists, not unlike Christians with regard to the Bible.

Yes, ladies and gentleman, people actually believe this happened - the awful storyline, the 2D characters and the ludicrous mindbendingly stupid conclusion is taken as the word of god.

Scene from the year 3000... or something. There's John as "Zetu" the "thetan" from the future. Nice jock strap!



Tomorrow: Heaven's Gate & the Moonies (has a ring to it, doesn't it? )

[Hootad Binky]

Here's bunch of people listed as "Wolves in Sheep's Clothing" from this weird website: Televangelists Raging Savage Wolves In Sheeps Clothing

Extremely religious people are kind of scary:


George Bush

Paul Crouch and Jan Crouch

Timothy La Haye - "Left Behind"

Christian Fiction

Rev. Sun Myung Moon

Creflo and Taffi Dollar

T.D. Jakes

Joyce Myers

Marilyn Hickey

Pat Robertson

Billy Graham

Benny Hinn

Kenneth Copeland

Dr. Robert Schuller I and II

Ruth Ward Heflin

Jerry Falwell

Jack Van Impe

John Hagee

Charles F. Stanley

Hal Lindsey

RODNEY HOWARD-
BROWNE

Peter Popoff

Early career and fraud

At appearances in the 1980s ministry conventions, Popoff routinely and accurately stated the home addresses and specific illnesses of his audience members, a feat he allowed them to believe was due to divine revelation and "God given ability".[2] At the time of his popularity skeptic groups across the United States printed and handed out pamphlets explaining how Popoff's feats could be done.[1] Popoff would tell his audience that the pamphlets were tools of the "devil".[1]


These claims were debunked in 1987 when noted skeptic James Randi and his assistant, Steve Shaw, researched Popoff attending shows across the country for months to discover radio transmissions. The transmissions were made by his wife, Elizabeth Popoff, off-stage reading information which she and her aides (Volmer Thrane, the brother of his manager Nancy Thrane, and Reeford Sherrill) had gathered from earlier conversation with members of the audience. Popoff would simply listen to these promptings with his in-ear receiver and repeat what he heard to the crowd. After tapes of these transmissions were played on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, Popoff's popularity and viewing audiences declined sharply, and his ministry declared bankruptcy later that year.[1]


As Randi explained in The Faith Healers, he originally took his research to the United States Attorney's office, but never heard back.[1] This led Randi's friend Johnny Carson to invite Randi on the show to explain how Popoff operated. Popoff at first denied that he used the tactics Randi claimed even asserting "NBC hired an actress to impersonate Mrs Popoff on a 'doctored' videotape.".[1] However, as the media pressed with more questions, "on day three Reverend Popoff admitted the existence of the radio device, claiming, incredibly, that 'almost everybody' knew about the 'communicator.' And, he added, 'My wife occasionally gives me the name of a person who needs special prayers'.".[1] However, Randi appeared on CNN previous to this claiming Popoff used a transmitter, but Popoff said this was false and he got the information from God.[1]


Popoff's shows also featured audience members who were brought on stage in wheelchairs and then rose dramatically to walk without support. These were some of Popoff's most incredible "healings," but what believing audience members and television viewers did not know is that wheelchairs were used by Popoff to seat people who were already able to walk.[3]


Popoff wrote several paperbacks in the early 1980s that were published by Faith Messenger Publications but are now out of print.[4] He is also known for collecting donations to send to the Soviet Union, which earned him a profit from a fraud scheme.[1]


In 1991 NOVA's episode Secrets of the Psychics aired footage of Popoff with his wife's radio transmission dubbed in. Since then the episode was released on video to teach critical thinking.[1]





Current activities


Peter Popoff's 12/2006 infomercial about "Miracle Spring Water"




As of 2005 Popoff's infomercials can be seen late nights and early mornings on the Travel Channel, BET, and Comedy Central.[5] He is also once again buying time on selected local stations in the U.S.[6]


Popoff's miracle water and a copy of James Randi's book The Faith Healers, which details Popoff's activities.




Since his return to television, there have been several reports of Popoff gaining financially from donations. Some people have received several letters from Popoff, with each succeeding letter asking for more money than the last. A recent report from Fox affiliate WDAF-TV in Kansas City revealed that Popoff's salary in 2004 was over $500,000, and his assets include a 2006 Porsche convertible worth $90,000. Some reporters are urging those who have donated money to Popoff in hopes of receiving "miracles" to report to the Attorney General in their state.[2]


In February 2007 Inside Edition did an exposé on his continued faith healing and "Miracle Spring Water." The show explained his new television programs feature him "healing the sick" in a manner identical to his method prior to James Randi's exposé. The investigation led by Matt Meagher featured clips from the infamous Carson show, an interview with Randi, and Inside Edition seeking comment from Popoff.[7] Meagher confronted Popoff as he got into his $100,000 silver Porsche, turning his back to the camera Popoff shut his car door smashing Meagher.[7] Asking Popoff why he took thousands of dollars from a desperate married couple, Popoff refused
to answer questions and declined to be interviewed. The interview ended with Randi saying "flim flam is his profession, that's what he does best. He's very good at it and naturally he's going to go back to it."[7]


In May 2007 ABC's 20/20 focused on Popoff's "comeback" and explored the lives of a few people
who felt cheated.[8]


As of 2007, Popoff's program is broadcast on Network Ten in Australia


Prosperity theology

Popoff appears on late-night U.S. television as a Pentecostal healing evangelist and also in infomercials. He has promoted his "Miracle Spring Water" as a "point of contact" for divine healing. He has also preached a form of prosperity theology under the slogan "Go into business with God", claiming that God will make "divine transfers" into a viewer's "divine account". One infomercial states, "A divine transfer is a supernatural event. This is not money you're going to make from your job... God is going to supernaturally put money into your account."


Within four weeks of submitting one's address to Popoff's automated phone service, subscribers receive in the mail from Popoff (now calling himself "Prophet Peter Popoff") a three-page essay filled with elaborate biblical language and red-ink imitation handwriting. Instead of the promised "Miracle Water", included is a tiny plastic "Golden Tablet" and a "Miracle Band" (a cardboard bracelet marked simply with "JIREH", Hebrew for "see" but sometimes translated "provide"[9]). Popoff purports that the "Golden Tablet" was made by God and intended to create immense wealth for the subscriber. Popoff then insists that the subscriber wear the "Miracle Band" while posting him a check for $28.30 (related to Exodus 28:30 in some way), in order to receive further instructions on how to use the "Golden Tablet".


Popoff is known to use the mailings of former TV healing evangelist David Epley, word for word, but substituting his name instead of Epley's at the end of the letters.[citation needed] This is legal as Popoff pays Epley several thousand dollars a month for the right to do this.[citatio[/quote]

Rodney L. Parsley

Joel Osteen

[Hootad Binky]

Man Cuts Off, Microwaves His Own Hand

Jan 9, 2008

HAYDEN, Idaho (AP) — A man who believed he bore the "mark of the beast" used a circular saw to cut off one hand, then he cooked it in the microwave and called 911, authorities said.
The man, in his mid-20s, was calm when Kootenai County sheriff's deputies arrived Saturday in this northern Idaho town. He was in protective custody in the mental health unit of Kootenai Medical Center.

"It had been somewhat cooked by the time the deputy arrived," sheriff's Capt. Ben Wolfinger said. "He put a tourniquet on his arm before, so he didn't bleed to death. That kind of mental illness is just sad."

It was not immediately clear whether the man has a history of mental illness. Hospital spokeswoman Lisa Johnson would not say whether an attempt was made to reattach the hand, citing patient confidentiality.

The Book of Revelation in the New Testament contains a passage in which an angel is quoted as saying: "If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives his mark on the forehead or on the hand, he, too, will drink the wine of God's fury."

The book of Matthew also contains the passage: "And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for you whole body to do into hell."

Wolfinger said he didn't know which hand was amputated.

The Associated Press: Man Cuts Off, Microwaves His Own Hand

[Thormaturge]

Perhaps not..But the worst mass murderers in history have been atheists!
Hitler, Stalin, Mao, Polpot!
Like I said just as lethal they just manifest differently.
BTW my point isn't defense of religion. Just that vehement anti-religious people are very dangerous as well, perhaps more so.

Hitler was raised a Catholic.

One of many websites on the subject...

http://www.nobeliefs.com/Hitler1.htm

I don't consider it arrogant to be an Atheist. So far as I am concerned it is rather like not believing in Santa Claus. I just think religeon is a very odd thing that a lot of people get up to (rather like the Masons). If I choose not to join the Masons should I be regarded as arrogant? Why then should I be considered arrogant if I choose not to worship some unseen thingamybob up in Heaven, wherever that might be?

George W. Bush openly claims to hear voices from God. Does it not disturb anyone that this man might be a psychiatric case? Sure glad I don't hear "voices".