I have just received my email version of the ‘The Australian Atheist’ which of course after 'Duck Monthly' is one of my favorite reads.
Over Easter the 2010 Global Atheist Convention was held in Sydney and it caused something of a furore in religious circles. You would think we heathens had crucified Jesus on the Sydney Harbour Bridge by the sheer volume of hate mail from the clergy in general.
Archbishop Peter Jensen of Sydney said - amongst other things:
“atheism is not the rational philosophy that it claims to be.”
“atheism is as much of a religion as Christianity.”
“It’s about our determination as human beings to have our own way, to make our own rules, to live our own lives, unfettered by the rule of God and the right of God to rule over us...”
“What we’re really seeing, once more [is] an example of the contest between human beings and God over who rules the world.”
“atheism was a form of idolatry.”
“As we can see by the sheer passion and virulence of the atheist—they seem to hate the Christian God—we are not dealing here with cool philosophy up against faith without a brain.”
And then there was the Catholic Archbishop Andrew Fisher of Parramatta. He certainly has a way with words:
“[It’s] the illusion that we can build a better life without God.”
“Last century we tried godlessness on a grand scale and the effects were devastating: Nazism, Stalinism, Pol Pot-ery, mass murder, abortion and broken relationships – all promoted by state-imposed atheism.”
Blimey!
Here I was thinking I was a reasonably good person. I love and cherish my wife and look after her like a silkworm. I am an excellent housekeeper and cook. I love cats. I am kind and generous and donate to worthy causes. I don’t dislike most Christians at all. (My blogging is not up to much but I am praying to Julia about this).
And apparently I do all this bad shit. It’s to much. I can’t go on.
But that is of course how organised religion maintains its power and authority by promising bad things if you don't uphold the rules of the club.
ReplyDeleteP.S. I suppose your Mallards over at Stadtpark are now all in eclipse plumage (moulting) when the males look like females for a feew weeks.
ReplyDeleteSorry for No. 3, I couldn't help it:
ReplyDelete> the contest between human beings and God over who rules the world.
If God were truly omnipotent, there should be no contest. He should win with his eyes shut.
Be kind to thine-self. Anyone who loves cats can't be bad. Perhaps you could put a few more air holes in that box you keep your silkwormy wife in? Might help if you ignore the religious nuts too. Who cares what they think anyway, we'll have the last laugh I'm sure.
ReplyDeleteYep, between the two of us, we're turning this world into a festering hell hole, aren't we!
ReplyDeleteI don't know why I have a hard time looking at these pictures.
ReplyDeleteThey are only human, after all.
Maalie: There is no point in using logic to combat religion. Yep the ducks are moulting.
ReplyDeleteSandy: I can't ignore such blind ignorance, such intellectual bankruptcy, such stubborn stupidness.
Steph: We need to do better.
Merisi: Human but stupid
Ah, so you're responsible for my broken relationship. Bastard!
ReplyDeleteActually, wait. My almost-ex is an atheist. Bastard!
ReplyDelete"look after her like a silkworm" - hehe.
ReplyDeleteAfter spending years as a chorestor in a local cathedral as well as a leader in a local church for many years, after visiting a Spanish castle fully equipped with all the torture devises the church used, seeing just how many jews, muslims and christians behave and of course reading Richard Dawkins. I can comfortably say this:-
ReplyDeleteMy single greatest regret was wasting time and effort within the church. I firmly believe we should have moved on from a middle ages perspective on the world.
The world would be a far better place without religion, its lies and deceptions.
Wanderlust: Yes it was me. I also did the oil spill.
ReplyDeletefreefalling: It's one of my favorites
simon: If only it was without all that stuff - but we heathens are growing in number year by year!