Perpetual motion machine

Reblogged from Why Evolution Is True:

This is the first one that, I think, will actually work:

h/t: Jim B.

Wow, the Perpetual Motion Machine. Weird but funny. Made me laugh out loud! Ahhhh. Silliness.

Bible Illustrated by LEGOs!

I love all things LEGO!  When I saw the following Picture Bible in which the Bible Stories are illustrated by LEGO characters and scenes, I thought it was wonderful.  Apparently, the author/artist has spent the last ten years of his life creating these Lego scenes.  I think that would be a fun and creative way to spend your time!

I will warn you, The Brick Bible is tongue-in-cheek, to say the very least.  I am sure some would find it sacriligious.  However, the author uses the actual bible text in his illustrations, so I think that the text can speak for itself.

So here is the Brick Testament! http://www.thebricktestament.com/

The above scene is from the story, “God wants to cut part of your penis off.”  Hey, I didn’t write the story.  The guy who wrote Genesis 17 did!

I must think my fellow online blogger and escapee from religion, Prairie Nymph, for finding out about The Brick Testament!  You can check out her blog at, http://prairienymph.wordpress.com

“Harry Potter is of the Devil” Link from “The Thinking Atheist”

Here’s an interesting link from “The Thinking Atheist” on Facebook and their next podcast show, “Harry Potter is of the Devil.”  I bet it will be an interesting show.  I remember hearing that same thing about Harry Potter. 

Here’s what The Thinking Atheist had to say,

“Next Tuesday’s podcast is called, “Harry Potter is of the Devil.” This ought to be a wild show, as people discuss all of the movies, books, toys, musicians and other things their parents, pastors and teachers branded as Evil. (Anyone remember the burning of rock albums in the 80s, folks?)

If you have a story to tell, email it to editor@thethinkingatheist.com (keep it as short as possible, please). We’ll also take your calls.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/thethinkingatheist/2012/01/25/harry-potter-is-of-the-devil

And not just Harry Potter. All kinds of earthly influences are apparently tainted by Satan. Role playing games, songs on the radio, television shows, films, books, on Jan 24!”

 

Yoga- Not as Old or as “Hindu” As We Thought!

For many years in fundamentalist and Pentecostal churches, I was taught to be wary- even fearful, of practicing Yoga. Years ago, I was taught that practicing Yoga could open up a person to the demonic world. (Did anyone else see the Christian film “Gods of the New Age?”)

It’s been many years since I was fearful of yoga, but I still have religious friends who would be unable to practice it in good conscience. I also still feel very uncomfortable with meditation.

With that background, this article fascinates me deeply as it suggests that the Yoga we know in the U.S. is not as ancient or as “Hindu” as we think it is!

Fascinating!

http://www.openthemagazine.com/article/living/not-as-old-as-you-think

Filmmaker seeking funds for Bart Ehrman Story

****Update***

It looks like the filmmaker was not able to get funds to make his film.  I would love, love, love, love to watch the 10+ hours (I think) of recorded interviews the filmmaker made with Bart Ehrman.  Or maybe the would-be filmmaker will make the film someday in the future.   The original post is below with a link to the project if you are curious about it or want to contact the filmmaker. 

******Original Post*****

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/behrman/bart-ehrman-story

Bart Ehrman Fans please support & spread the word! The filmmaker has spent hours interviewing Ehrman re his faith and #deconversion.

He’s trying to raise 10K by Sunday. That is $100 donations by $100 people. There are rewards for donating if the project gets funded by Sunday! #ex-christian #agnostic #atheist #faith #christian

Something Happened in Mexico

Something happened to me in Mexico recently.  Don’t worry, this is good news.

In early December we took a trip to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. We hadn’t taken a real vacation for about two years. It was so-oo-oo-oo nice! It refreshed all of us!

And at some point, something happened!

I changed.  I became happy again.

Singing “Fa-La-La-La-Laaaaaaaaa!”

 

The last four years have been a time of major transition in many ways. One of the transitions has been the re-evaluation of my faith and religion and the loss of much of that faith and religion.  So it has been a time of deep reflection accompanied by a gamut of emotions.  But somehow, in December, I think that I moved on.  I accepted myself for who I am at this time in my life.

The God of Abuse?

Does the God of the Bible act like an abusive lover or spouse? 

Below is a great article that compares attributes of God as portrayed in the Bible with an abusive spouse or lover.  Some of the comparisons of God’s words and actions are chillingly reminiscent of an abuser. What do you think?  Based on the Old Testament prophets’ depictions of God, is God someone you would want your daughter to date or marry?

The God of Abuse- ExChristian.Net – Articles.

Too Many Absurdities

These days I find it hard to “believe” in things that are patently absurd.

I could probably believe in a limited amount of absurdity if there was good reason or some evidence to do so. I might be able to believe that a virgin conceived a child if there was reliable evidence recorded at the time of the event by credible witnesses. I can also think of many strange, hypothetical circumstances that would lend evidence to such a “miracle.”

There are some things that I can believe.

I can believe a man named Jesus was born in the first century who had a close and special relationship with God (assuming arguendo there is a god). I can believe this man traveled, evangelized, started a movement and was sentenced to death. I don’t have any problem with that per se. I can believe there have been many peaceable, wise, spiritual people to walk this earth. Assuming the existence of a supreme God, I could believe such a God started the process of creation.

However, to believe that God made a mud pie in the shape of a human and then blew magic breath into it and the figure came to life? 

This pushes my rational mind too far.  I cannot permanently suspend my disbelief on this one. I just can’t do it, as I can’t believe that somewhere an Italian boy named Pinocchio began his life as a wooden puppet or that near Hansel and Gretel’s home there really was a cottage made of gingerbread and candy.

Even if I could believe the following: that a virgin gave birth to Jesus, whose father was the Holy Spirit, and Jesus was half-God, caused miracles, explained the wisdom of God to us, was crucified, rose again and then ascended into heaven in front of his disciples; there is no contemporaneous evidence that any of these things actually happened.

“Do you still like God?”

One recent morning, as I and my two kids sat at the breakfast table eating raspberries for breakfast, my daughter asked me, “Mom, do you still like God?”

I paused. “What do you mean sweetheart?”

“Is God still your friend?

“Are you asking me because you think I used to be friends with God and you don’t think I am anymore?”. She nodded and said, “Yes, I don’t think you like God anymore.”

Again I had to pause. After collecting my thoughts, I said something like, “Oh honey, I still like God, I’m just not sure whether people know as much about God as they think they do. Everyone says, ‘God does this and not that’ or ‘God likes this and not that,’ but I don’t think they really know as much about God as they think they do. And I’m trying to figure it all out.”

She seemed reasonably satisfied.

Then I added, “And I promise that what I figure out, I will explain it all to you when you are old enough.” She seemed pleased with this and had no more questions for me.

How We Treat Our Gay Kids

In the last month there have been at least 10 suicides of young people who were gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans or somehow *queer-identified.  These are the suicides that we know about and that involved kids with a queer identity.  I am sure there have been many more whether they occurred last month or some other month.  Many queer folks have struggled with their sexuality and have faced depression or attempted suicide but thankfully have lived to tell the tale.  GLBT youth face a whole host of woes, difficulties and dangers due to their orientation and identity and our society, schools, churches and christians are failing them.

*I am using the word “queer” to include a diverse group of folks that include gay, lesbian, bisexual, asexual, and trans people and those with other sexual or gender orientations and identities that differ from a binary male and female heterosexual norm.  This is my first attempt writing about these issues so I apologize in advance for offending anyone by how I label or discuss things.  Feel free to let me know if you take issue with anything I am saying here.

In case you weren’t familiar with the plethora of recent, tragic suicides, here is a nice background post from blogger Progressive Scholar about them. http://progressivescholar.wordpress.com/2010/10/07/lgbt-suicides/

The way the church deals with gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and other queer folk has greatly affected and hastened my exit from church life.  We have a HUGE problem in this country and in our churches that we fail to love and accept people who do not fit into the heterosexual norm. 

When my first child was born, I felt such a love and acceptance for my child that I knew I would love my child no matter what her orientation, genetic make-up, inclinations, choices or actions would turn out to be.  My child will always be my child and my love for each of my children is ABSOLUTELY UNCONDITIONAL.