The Pedophile Preacher “Recovery Center”

One of the things that conservative morons love to talk about more than anything else is about how drag queens are a threat to children.  That they are “grooming” children to be the victims of sex crimes.  A 100% baseless accusation, which nonetheless has got their brain-dead public mobilized against the trans community.  It drives me up the wall, because there are endless stories after stories, especially in conservative states, of religious leaders who diddle little children.  I would trust a drag queen around my children a MILLION YEARS before I would trust a religious leader.  Not even a thought about it.

Well have no fear, America!  Because now a church in cousin-fucking Alabama, a religious leader who is a known sex-offender has started a “pastoral recovery center”, The Lodge at Grant Mills, where religious leaders from all over the world can come and “rest, worship, and grow.”  In other words, it is a retreat for sexual predator religious leaders to get away from the communities where they have committed transgression.  Oh, I’m sure I’m going to get some religious useful idiot who will tell me that they will be praying or some other religious activity and that that will help the religious leader see the error of their ways and will help them grow in their relationship with God or some shit.  Lies.  Abject lies.

The guy who started this is a sexual predator in his own right, though not convicted in court.  He is suing his ex-wife for leaking his “transgression” to the internet.  That trial is still ongoing.  But yeah, this dude lost two preaching jobs, and now has started this little commune for all kinds of criminal religious leaders.  Pedophilia?  No problem!  Rape?  Sure!  You name it, they will do a “restoration” for you.  It’s all such a blatant scam that is meant to make people think that something is actually happening.  The truth of the matter is that it is a cover to keep sexual predators out of the limelight and away from those who might ask some questions about their history, since our government and law enforcement kowtows to religious exemption like it’s nobody’s business.

These preachers will go to this place, will undergo “restoration”, and they we will see them come back all clean and good with the Lord, to go back to that community and show that they are a new person.  You know, until they violate the next parishioner or child.  Because that’s how this works.  No sexual predator religious leader just gives it up.  That’s not how this works.  We have seen this time and time again.  It’s a similar game plan for all of these people, and it’s a tired one at that.

So, what about the victims?  Will anything be done to address them?  Will anything be done to make restitution to the community or those who are hurt?  What kinds of sexual predators won’t be allowed there?  Don’t know!  They won’t talk about it.  In fact, the organization is categorically refusing to answer any questions about the nature of those why will allow in their little retreat.  So, since they won’t deny it, I’m just going to assume that pedophiles are welcome with open arms.  Rapists?  Same deal.  If they won’t deny it, then we have no reason not to think so.  The guy who started it is a sexual predator, so he would be the first who would have to be kicked out if they did have a problem with that.  Drug smugglers?  Again, they won’t deny it, so I have no reason to assume that there is a single crime that a preacher can commit that would make them ineligible to go there.  Every sort of predator is welcome at this “recovery center.”

It’s a scam.  It’s a scheme to keep religious leaders away from answering for what they do.  They can just say they have some vague problem that they need to talk to their sky wizard about, go to this place, chill out for a few weeks or months, and then BOOM!  They’re cured!  Free to go back and be a predator to someone else.  Since they won’t talk about what they will or won’t allow, I am just going to assume that nothing is off the table.  They are free to reach out to me and issue a denial.  It’s a place for pastors to lay low from the law for a while, and the useful idiot American religious right will suck this up and take it all as gospel.  Useful idiots for sexual predators.  I would think that would make the religious feel ashamed, but these people aren’t self-aware enough for that.  It’s very hard.  Bet Ted Haggard is wishing he had such a place back when he got busted with his male sex worker and “the meth.”

There’s a great line from a favorite show of mine that I want to close this out on.

Until next time, a quote,

“Well, you can legislate against it.  You can give it a clever name and treat people for it.  You can shut your eyes, have sex with your wife, and pretend it all feels right.  You can join the church and swear to be celibate for the rest of your life.  You can even come to this courtroom and testify about your new leaf and how well it’s working.  What a miracle!  My only response is – give it time.  We’ll see.” – Alan Shore, Boston Legal

Peace out,

Maverick

‘Monster’ Energy Drinks are Satan?

I’m never surprised anymore.  Ever.  I’ve come to a point where, when somebody tells me – Man, you will not BELIEVE the stupid thing that so-and-so has done!  I just sit with a blank expression and go, “no, I believe it.”  Nothing surprises me.  So when I heard that there was a video that some woman made where she makes evidence that the energy drink brand Monster is connected to the devil, I was not surprised by that in the slightest.  I’m sure that most of you have seen this video already, but for those who haven’t, here it is –

You know, if you follow the logic of these people to its conclusion – Satan is trolling.  I mean, have you seen some of the things that people find the “666” mark on?  My personal favorite was how they found that it’s everywhere in Disney.  Given how God is supposed to be all-powerful, it makes sense that Satan would realize that he can’t do much, so he just fucks with people.  Though that brings up the whole deal with why God lets Satan do his work if he is all-powerful, but let’s not get into one piece of religious stupidity while we’re examining another.

And, of course, she also find a cross in the name.  And when you go “bottoms up” it turns the cross upside-down, which is all about Satan more.  Man, it just gets sillier and sillier!  How much time must this woman have if she is looking at these cans and not only finding links to Hebrew in them, but also a REALLY forced chain where people drinking the drink makes the drink have a devil symbol?  How little of a life must she lead to be able to do that?

Then she has to bring in her prudish Christian values, to talk about how this company isn’t pro-Christianity at all.  Yes, because a company not being for your religion must obviously be in the employ of Satan.  Man, that must mean that Satan is SO rich!  After all, more and more companies are distancing themselves from religion (to say nothing about their employees, of course, but the companies themselves don’t want to pander a certain line), so they must be running to Satan and being like, “Hey man, sorry we doubted you!  Let’s have fun!”  And Satan also likes moms who are sexually attractive.  Good on him.

Naturally, though, you can’t have any pro-Christian anti-product tirade without talking about “the Beast.”  the “sign of the Beast” is so ubiquitous nowadays that you’d think that every Christian who isn’t in church all the time is part of it.  Because I’m an atheist, naturally I’m viewed as part of it.  I’ve gotten used to being seen as a heathen by the Christards.

But wait, I have a conspiracy!  Have you ever seen those necklaces that so many people wear?  Crosses.  But sometimes, they get turned upside down when these people take them off!  That proves it!  Crosses are the mark of the Devil!  See how easy that was?

Until next time, a quote,

“Just ’cause a city can fly doesn’t mean that it ain’t got its share of fools.”  -Booker DeWitt, Bioshock Infinite

Peace out,

Maverick

The Pope Resigns: Real Issues or Smart Timing?

I’m not going to be as judgmental as you might think in this post.  Far from it.  In fact, I am actually interested in conversation on this, because I do find this genuinely fascinating.  See, I am a journalism student.  I am hip-deep in the media all the time.  It can be a little much sometimes because I can’t get away from it.  I really do hate it sometimes, because let’s face it – the news isn’t all that positive these days.  But when I saw the story that the Pope, Benedict XVI, is resigning (the first Pope to do so in over six centuries), I became genuinely interested.  Because part of me wonders – is he resigning because of health issues, as he says, or is he dodging a bullet?

Now look, I don’t have much reason to think he’s lying.  This dude is not exactly spring chicken.  But then you have to wonder – why didn’t age stop the last few Popes from being all Pope-y and dying in office?  That has been the general way since this office began.  The death of a Pope gets a HUGE following, and it is a big event.  So why is this guy leaving now?  It is a genuine mystery.  He says that he has “put it to God” and that a younger voice is needed now.  That got my attention.  In a way, he isn’t wrong.

It can’t be argued for a second that the Catholic church is in trouble.  Seems like every single day now, new reports are surfacing of priests who are molesting or sometimes outright raping young boys and girls.  The Pope didn’t exactly make that situation better when he met with a group of victims and promised them new measures to help keep these priests and bishops in check.  He didn’t say a thing about getting justice for the victims, which is what they wanted.  They want the people who did this to them to pay.  And you can’t really argue that they have a damn good reason.  But there are also memos, reports and all kinds of documentation that are coming out showing a very organized and concerted effort to keep the truth of what these priests are doing out of the light of day.  The Vatican’s corruption is becoming more and more known every day.

However, it doesn’t end with sexual abuse.  The Irish Sisters of Mercy were busted for being physically abusive to over 13,000 children.  The Vatican is shown to have laundered money through the EU.  This organization’s corruption is becoming so vivid that it does genuinely amaze me that there are people who are still able to defend them.  I have a friend who is very Catholic, and given how bright she is, it stuns me how she can be so in support of the church.  For real, I don’t think less of her.  It is genuine amazement on my part.

There is also another issue that is facing the Catholic church.  Their main power base for the last few hundred years has been Europe.  It is where the bulk of their Cardinals come from, and you can bet that the big players in the debate over who is going to take the quitter-Pope’s place are going to come from Europe.  However, the number of Catholics in Europe is in free-fall.  In fact, it’s that way in a lot of the developing countries.  With the younger generation being so connected to the online sphere, and with knowledge being so accessible, they are not very concerned with religion.  Here in America, the Catholic church has two problems.  1. We are also experiencing a huge departure from religion, but much slower than in Europe, and 2. the Protestant, Evangelical and Fundamentalist groups are starting to far outnumber the Catholics.  I would be legitimately surprised if there was a rep from America who is a legitimate contender in the race to see who will be the new Pope.

All of this has put the Vatican and the church itself in a rather awkward position.  Who will they have to replace Benedict (or Been-a-dick, as TJ would say)?  If you read the current issue of the New York Times, or most any other newspaper, you will see that a big theme that is going around the church right now is “traditionalism.”  They seem to want a Pope who will champion their traditions and keep the church as it has always been.  At least, those in power within the Catholic hierarchy.  But if you ask me, that is NOT a good idea.  Not one bit.  Most religious groups in this country are starting to figure this out with the newest generation.

Churches across the world are losing members because there is an open market of information.  Information is dangerous to religion, and religion knows it.  There is a reason that conservative groups who have control over what goes into textbooks are trying to get rid of the theory of evolution.  There is a reason that religious groups are trying to tell the people that all the things they are hearing are lies from Satan.  But the twist is – it isn’t working.  The churches that survive now are those that are less about the Bible being everything, and more about community and being a part of people’s lives.  All people’s lives.  Being accepting of those who are different.  Letting people in who other groups are throwing out.

And that, in the 21st century, is what is going to save the Catholic church.  If they keep to this traditionalist garbage, it will be the end of them.  By the 22nd century, the Vatican will be selling tickets to tourists to try on the Pope’s goofy hats to keep themselves afloat.  But those are my thoughts.

So, what about you?  What do you think of all this?  I do not censor, so if you choose to say that I am a heathen who will burn in Hell, I will post it right alongside those who actually have a point of view.  But that’s just me.  Don’t take my word for it.  Think for yourselves.

Until next time, a quote,

“Growing up is hard when you start losing faith in the only thing you believed. Growing up is hard because you have nothing to start with. Growing up is hard when you do things that hurt other people. Growing up is a process of life.”  -Unknown

Peace out,

Maverick

The God Band-Aid

This isn’t a new concept.  I first heard about this from Marilyn Manson in an interview he had done a long time ago.  And it makes a lot of sense.

Here’s the premise – if there is something in your life that you can’t explain, then God did it.  For real, if you have a really good day, it was because of God.  If your day kind of sucked, well, it was God testing you.  If your cancer was cured, by modern medical science and a doctor who studied for years to learn oncology, then somehow God blessed it.  But if your loved one died of cancer, then they are with God.  If you are talented, or have worked hard to learn a skill, it was a gift from God.  If you girls get raped, according to several congressmen and preachers, then it was somehow a gift from God, so they can justify being against abortion.  This God character is so fucking interchangeable, isn’t he?

But there is also a darker side to this.  Well, it’s all dark, but it gets even darker.  See, large portions of Americans to this day believe that our going into the Middle East and killing thousands of civilians who weren’t involved in anything is just fine, because we’re Americans.  And we believe in God! (insert dumb-ass redneck accent) In the documentary “Jesus Camp,” the woman who ran it talked about how militarizing children in America was fine, because it was for God.  She made reference to how children in the Middle East in certain places are being indoctrinated for Islam.  And she wants kids who would be willing to kill and blow themselves up for the cause of Christianity, stating that “we have the truth.”  Yeah, because being a terrorist is okay, so long as you have God on your side, right?  All throughout American history, and European history as well, genocide has been considered totally acceptable if the people who did it had God on their side.

Killers all over the world and all throughout history have justified their actions or claimed innocence because they believe in God, or repented, so now they are better.  There are new laws stating that a woman’s rapist could actually bring legal action against her if she tries to have an abortion.  People will say that God hates them just because they are gay, a condition that we are not able to choose.  God is behind hate, killing and rape.  And if you look at the Bible, yeah, he is.

But it seems like God is the answer whenever something is too hard, too complicated or too difficult.  Why do people buy this?  Why do people accept something that is so obviously ridiculous?  Well, I think I’ll let Huey Freeman take this one –

Because the truth hurts…The world is a hard and lonely place, and nobody gets anything for free, and want to know what else – one day, you and everyone you know is gonna die.

But when you think about how liberally people apply the God Band-Aid, you start to see how absolutely despicable this character really is.  A pastor says that God helped him find his car keys.  Jerry Falwell said that 9/11 was punishment from God for the feminists, gays and lesbians, pagans and the ACLU.  Ray Lewis said that he’s innocent when implicated in a homicide because God made him good at football, and if you don’t buy that, then God is going to bitch-slap you.

Think of all the immeasurable suffering in the world.  Think of the rampant starvation all over the world.  Think of the people who are dying in this country because they can’t afford medical care.  You look at all that, and when you make the argument that God does some of the most inane or completely horrible bullshit, then you are essentially saying that God is a complete monster who could give a shit about all the horrible things in this world, that he created, and only cares about the most shallow and egocentric of human impulses and desires.

But what kills me, absolutely kills me, is how many people go along with this!  For real, all over this country, there are people who will totally bash atheists who are good people and don’t want to hurt anybody, all because they don’t believe in God, but will then turn right around and defend the asshole Christian who is a wife-beater, saying that all they need Jesus to help them.  What the fuck?!

I find it so interesting when I hear Christians make the argument to me that atheists are evil because they don’t believe in God, while they are so much better because they believe in God.  If you listen to how these people talk, it makes sense why Ray Lewis would get so much support, all because he says that God has his back.

It never ceases to amaze me how Christians don’t find this sort of thing insulting, to say the least.  God helped you find your car keys?  God helped you score a touchdown at a game?  God was the reason that you won a Grammy?  Well, he just sounds like such a cheap and shallow asshole, doesn’t he?  And of course, he also hates the people you hate.  He really is everything you want him to be, isn’t he?  And since the Bible is so contradictory, it is an easily supported position.  Sure, God said that if you eat shellfish or wear mixed fabrics, that is a damnable offense.  But he said that them fags are bad, so that’s what you want to hear.

Christians, if you believe in God, and you use this sort of reasoning, then the truth is that your God is a complete piece of shit.  For real, he is among the worst sort of things in all of existence.  Because any God who will do the most mundane of things, while ignoring how horrible life is in a vast part of the world, is not a God that is worth following.

Until next time, a quote,

“You got a problem, you stick the God Band-Aid on, you know?”  -Marilyn Manson

Peace out,

Maverick

Aurora Massacre a Result of Attacking on Christians?! (Part II)

Dammit, why do I have to keep talking about this?!  Christians, why do you do this?  Why do you have to have whole groups of people who spread hatred around to everyone?!  What is wrong with you people?!  I’m going to try and keep this short, but I make no promises.  This is bullshit, pure and simple.  This is some of the most disgusting, morally repugnant and inhuman shit that I have ever seen.  To everyone who will be being talked about here, I hate you all.  I don’t know you, but I hate you, because all you can do is spread hate and bigotry and you are a disease on the face of humanity.

First, there is Jerry Newcombe.  He had some lovely things to say about what has happened in Aurora, Colorado.

If a Christian dies early, if a Christian dies young, it seems tragic, but really it is not tragic because they are going to a wonderful place.. on the other hand, if a person doesn’t know Jesus Christ.. if they knowingly rejected Jesus Christ, then, basically, they are going to a terrible place.

What a piece of shit.  He is basically making the argument that the Christian victims of this tragedy died, then it’s a good thing, and if you aren’t Christian, well – sucks to be you!  But he isn’t done.  This asshole has more to say on the subject.

I have to think that all of this, whether it’s the Hollywood movies, whether it’s what we see on the internets, whether it’s liberal bias in the media, whether it’s our politicians changing public policy, I think all of those somehow have fit together—and I have to say also churches who are leaving the authority of Scripture and losing their fear of God—all of those things have seem to have come together to give us these kinds of incidents.

Yes, because Christianity has never contributed to any horrible things in the past, right?  Oh, except for all of these –

The Salem Witch Trials
The Spanish Inquisition
The Crusades
Charlemagne killed thousands of Saxons for not converting to Christianity
Christian missionaries killed thousands of Native Americans for not converting to Christianity
Destruction of the Pagans
The Holocaust

Yeah, but it’s the liberal media and leaving the church is what is the cause of this horrible massacre.  Does the fact that you are a complete and disgusting piece of shit not bother you in the slightest?  Yeah, instead of talking about how tragic this is, you have to find a way to pin this on liberals.  You have to make this about your own personal agenda.  The reason for that is obvious – because there isn’t a single decent bone in Newcombe’s body.  All he cares about is money and getting his message out into the world.  This makes sense, since the Evangelical Christians have a gift at getting other people’s money.

But as bad as this piece of shit is, he is nothing compared to the second group of people – The Westboro Baptist Church.  It’s like these assholes can’t stop themselves.  They are so disgusting that they are in a category all their own.  Here is a Tweet from Fred Phelps (the worst piece of shit in this country) –

Hi ho Hi ho, to Colorado we go! #godsenttheshooter! #americaisdoomed! #godisyourenemy! #godkillingyoursoldiers! examiner.com/article/westbo…

What the fuck is wrong with these people?!  Does they just get off on human misery?  Do they cum whenever stuff like this happens?!  I would believe it.  There is no other explanation.  There is no other way that I can understand what a horrible person you are.  There is no low that is too low for you.  There is no action too repulsive.

Fred Phelps, you are the most disgusting person in this country.  I wish I could make some hyperbole and say that you are the most disgusting person in the world, but I won’t.  But I will say that it doesn’t get any worse than you here in this country.  You are a loathesome, miserable, unloved, worthless piece of shit, and if you got hit by a bus, the world wouldn’t miss you.

Christians, it’s time for you all to understand something.  If you are against these people, it’s time for you to be openly against them.  For too long, you have sat on the sidelines, said nothing, and enabled these fucking monsters.  You can’t afford to do nothing.  Because us atheists are sick of being the only ones who call out the sick bastards.

That’s it, those are your choices – either be with them, or against them.  This neutrality of “it’s just their faith” bullshit is getting old.

Until next time, a quote,

“Rational people, anti-religionists, must end their timidity and come out of the closet and assert themselves. And those who consider themselves only moderately religious really need to look in the mirror and realize that the solace and comfort that religion brings you actually comes at a terrible price.”  -Bill Maher, Religulous

Peace out,

Maverick