The Hazards of Belief

Dades

MrPudding wrote: »

I would have though that the Canadian authorities might have something to say about this...

"What aboot his Canadian rights?"

MrPudding

Dades wrote: »

"What aboot his Canadian rights?"

Hmmm, not sure if you are just making an opportunist joke or if you want an answer...

MrP

Genghiz Cohen

MrPudding wrote: »

Hmmm, not sure if you are just making an opportunist joke or if you want an answer...

MrP

Think aboot it!

Galvasean

Ellis Dee wrote: »

Of course, those of you who believe in the sky fairy are probably looking forward to having a good laugh at my expense when the rapture happens.:pac:

What a thoughtful rapturee (if that word has not already been coined I'm having it!), didn't even spill his coffee so the heathens could have a drop of warm comfort in a cold and desolate Godless world.

Amtmann

Here's a hazardous Christian:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxGenQ_vh1U

recedite

MrPudding wrote: »

I would have though that the Canadian authorities might have something to say about this...

Not really, if you visit another country you are subject to their laws, not your own.

robindch

Kentucky - the state which wants to cut its education budget by more than the tax breaks given to a creationist amusement park:

"In one of the most spectacularly mis-prioritized state budgets in recent memory, Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear (D), is suggesting over $50 million in cuts to education – while preserving $43 million in tax breaks for the Ark Encounter, a creationist amusement park centered around a life-sized Noah’s Ark."

http://www.forbes.com/sites/alexknapp/2012/01/23/kentucky-cuts-education-preserves-tax-breaks-for-creationist-theme-park/

WTF?

Dades

You're forgetting the Creationist dollar, Robin!

Or are park revenues tax-exempt...?

Penn

A "life-sized Noah's Ark"? Presumably with enough room for 2-7 of every species of every animal, and enough division between them that they don't all eat/kill each other, and enough room for feeding and cleaning all the animals, and strong enough to hold the weight of all those animals, and strong enough to survive a global flood event....

That needs $43million? Yet Noah is supposed to have done all that with his sons using raw materials they could find?

I think by funding this, he's proven that the story is bullsh*t

robindch

Dades wrote: »

Or are park revenues tax-exempt...?

Hard to say, since the exemptions seem to be listed as general "state tax incentives", so I suppose they're either construction subsidies, reduced tax rates on ticket sales, employee taxes or something similar:

http://www.kentucky.com/2011/05/20/1745988/43-million-tax-break-approved.html

The state approved $11 million dollar's worth of road improvements around the amusement park too.

Penn wrote:

Yet Noah is supposed to have done all that with his sons using raw materials they could find?

I'm sure you're taking something out of context!

dmw07

robindch wrote: »

Kentucky - the state which wants to cut its education budget by more than the tax breaks given to a creationist amusement park:

And here's me thinking Kentucky IS a giant creationist amusement park.

You learn something new every day, i suppose.

Dades

To be fair it was the home of the first Lebowskifest.

Penn

Dades wrote: »

To be fair it was the home of the first Lebowskifest.

Now if he was going to preserve $43million in tax breaks for a Big Lebowski theme park... That would be a different story. Kids could even go there as part of their education; become Little Lebowski Urban Achievers, people dressed as Walter can ask them "Is this your homework?", art classes with Maude, and how to choose the best rug to really tie a room together.

Money well spent

dmw07

Dades wrote: »

To be fair it was the home of the first Lebowskifest.

"Mr. Treehorn treats objects like women, man." ahhhhh.... hang on, no time for sentiment....Stop making my lazy factless off the cuff sarcastic stereotype look worse than it already is.

Turtwig

Ok so it might not be the typical hazard for this thread but I felt this warrant a mention.

MORE than 400 doctors, medical researchers and scientists have formed a powerful lobby group to pressure universities to close down alternative medicine degrees.

Almost one in three Australian universities now offer courses in some form of alternative therapy or complementary medicine, including traditional Chinese herbal medicine, chiropractics, homeopathy, naturopathy, reflexology and aromatherapy.

But the new group, Friends of Science in Medicine, wrote to vice-chancellors this week, warning that by giving "undeserved credibility to what in many cases would be better described as quackery" and by "failing to champion evidence-based science and medicine", the universities are trashing their reputation as bastions of scientific rigour.

Advertisement: Story continues below
The group, which names world-renowned biologist Sir Gustav Nossal and the creator of the cervical cancer vaccine Professor Ian Frazer among its members, is also campaigning for private health insurance providers to stop providing rebates for alternative medical treatments.

A co-founder of the group, Emeritus Professor John Dwyer, of the University of NSW, who is also a government adviser on consumer health fraud, said it was distressing that 19 universities were now offering "degrees in pseudo science".

"It's deplorable, but we didn't realise how much concern there was out there for universities' reputations until we tapped into it," Professor Dwyer said. "We're saying enough is enough. Taxpayers' money should not be wasted on funding [these courses] … nor should government health insurance rebates be wasted on this nonsense."

Professor Dwyer said it was particularly galling that such courses were growing in popularity while, at the same time, the federal government was looking at ways to get the Therapeutic Goods Administration to enforce tougher proof-of-efficacy criteria for complementary medicines, following the release of a highly critical review by the Australian National Audit Office last September.

Of particular concern to the group is the increase in chiropractic courses, following the recent announcement of a new chiropractic science degree by Central Queensland University. More than 30 scientists, doctors and community advocates wrote to the vice-chancellor and health science deans at the university voicing their concern, which laid the foundations for Friends of Science in Medicine.

The groundswell of protest from medical professionals comes after a decision in Britain that means from this year it will no longer be possible to receive a degree from a publicly-funded university in areas of alternative medicine, including homeopathy and naturopathy.

German and British medical insurance providers are also in the process of removing alternative therapies from the list of treatments they will cover.

Australia's vice-chancellors will meet in March and Professor Dwyer said his group was aiming to get a commitment from them to endorse health courses only with evidence-based science.

The spokesman for Universities Australia said tertiary institutions were self-accrediting. "[They have] the autonomy … to ensure the quality and relevance of the courses they offer," he said.

The Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency, a government body set up to regulate higher education, refused to comment.

Most health funds pay rebates for alternative therapies under top cover polices. Private Healthcare Australia did not return the Herald's calls.

Source.

Given that some Irish Universities run some flaky enough courses on this matter movements like this are more than welcome.

bnt

I've worked with a few Sikhs before, when I lived in the UK, and they didn't seem particularly uptight about their religion. There are some lines you just don't cross, though, and one of those is the fence around the Golden Temple in Amritsar. Former Indian PM Indira Gandhi sent her troops in to arrest extremists, and it got her assassinated, for example.

Now, comedian Jay Leno is being sued by Sikhs in the USA, because he made a joke that involved the Golden Temple. It wasn't even about Sikhs or the Golden Temple: it was about Mitt Romney, who is so rich , the joke was that the Golden Temple is one of his holiday home. That's all it takes, apparently. :rolleyes:

robindch

17 Big Companies That Are Intensely Religious

"Intensely" might be an overstatement, but the list is interesting all the same.

http://www.businessinsider.com/17-big-companies-that-are-intensely-religious-2012-1?op=1

Trijicon is well-known, but Timberland, Marriott, George Foreman and Curves are probably less so.

No idea why Tom Monaghan/Domino's Pizza isn't on the list.

Dades

robindch wrote: »

Trijicon is well-known, but Timberland, Marriott, George Foreman and Curves are probably less so.

And with that mention of Chick-fil-A I finally know what Ben Folds was on about in Rockin' the Suburbs.

MrPudding

recedite wrote: »

Not really, if you visit another country you are subject to their laws, not your own.

True, but counrties generally have something to say when other countries try to execute their citizens.

Having reread the article it does mention the Canadian authorities having "concerns." No real detail.

MrP

gawker

In Sweden (where I'm based right now) this story has sadly come to light.

"Parents held for 'forcing demons' from daughter"

Exorcism was the motivation for repeated attacks against a 14 year-old girl from western Sweden who was regularly beaten and burned by her father and stepmother, who wanted to rid the girl of “evil spirits”, prosecutors allege.

http://www.thelocal.se/38780/20120128/

MagicMarker

http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/0130/killing.html

A jury in Canada has found three members of an Afghan family guilty of killing three teenage sisters and another woman in a so-called "honour" killing.

A Canadian jury has found three members of an Afghan family guilty of killing three teenage sisters and another woman in what the judge described as "cold-blooded, shameful murders" resulting from a "twisted concept of honour".

Prosecutors said the defendants allegedly killed the three teenage sisters because they dishonoured the family by defying its disciplinarian rules on dress, dating, socialising and using the internet.

The jury took 15 hours to find Mohammad Shafia, 58, his wife Tooba Yahya, 42, and their son Hamed, 21, each guilty of four counts of first-degree murder.

First-degree murder carries an automatic life sentence with no chance of parole for 25 years.

After the verdict was read, the three defendants again declared their innocence in the killings of sisters Zainab, 19, Sahar 17, and Geeti, 13, as well as Rona Amir Mohammad, 52 - Shafia's childless first wife in a polygamous marriage.

Their bodies were found on 30 June, 2009, in a car submerged in a canal in Kingston, Ontario, where the family had stopped for the night on their way home to Montreal from Niagara Falls, Ontario.

The prosecution alleged it was a case of premeditated murder, staged to look like an accident after it was carried out.

Prosecutors said the defendants drowned their victims elsewhere on the site, placed their bodies in the car and pushed it into the canal.

Ontario Superior Court Judge Robert Maranger said the evidence clearly supported the conviction.

Scum.

Penn

Oh sure... the father can have two wives... I mean, that's fine... but if the daughters date anyone... KILL EVERYONE!

recedite

gawker wrote: »

In Sweden (where I'm based right now) this story has sadly come to light.

"Parents held for 'forcing demons' from daughter"

Common enough among immigrants from sub-saharan Africa, but were these native Swedes?

sensibleken

Not religious but certainly to do with faith.

I just came accross a thread asking for recomendations for a homeopathic vet for their dog.

I died a little inside

Delirium

did anyone suggest that they refill the dog's water bowl? :P:pac:

sensibleken

koth wrote: »

did anyone suggest that they refill the dog's water bowl? :P:pac:

yes with a bottle of sky

robindch

The website looks paranoid, but this article looks reasonable enough:

http://www.stonegateinstitute.org/2796/muslims-ban-dogs-europe

recedite

"Muslim-vs-dog-related incidents in Europe"
I wonder if the muslims have come up against a Pit-bull yet?
Anyway, if dogs are "ritually unclean" why do they spend so much time licking their bums?

amacachi

sensibleken wrote: »

Not religious but certainly to do with faith.

I just came accross a thread asking for recomendations for a homeopathic vet for their dog.

I died a little inside

I just know that if I said something I'd get a warning. Like how elsewhere someone got a warning for saying Tarot cards are bull****.

Mark Hamill

sensibleken wrote: »

Not religious but certainly to do with faith.

I just came accross a thread asking for recomendations for a homeopathic vet for their dog.

I died a little inside

Probably not as much as the dog though.

sensibleken

Mark Hamill wrote: »

Probably not as much as the dog though.

aw dude too far:(

sensibleken

amacachi wrote: »

I just know that if I said something I'd get a warning. Like how elsewhere someone got a warning for saying Tarot cards are bull****.

I once went out with someone who did reiki on a pigeon.

I know.

Sarky

Fowl sorcery indeed!

magicbastarder

if a group of people perform reiki, is that gang reiki?

sensibleken

magicbastarder wrote: »

if a group of people perform reiki, is that gang reiki?

hahahaha! oh i wish i could thank that twice

bnt

On the topic of Islam & dogs - now we have some nutters in The Hague trying to get dogs banned there: link.

The Islamic position on dogs is, shall we say, confusing. That article says that it's not banned in the Koran, but that there are "narrations" about it, presumably Hadith. In other words, later "scholars" made pronouncements on the topic based on their own prejudices and interpretations of history e.g. some think that Mohammed once said something nice about hunting dogs, and Mohammed was perfect and his every alleged whim carries the force of law. :rolleyes:

I went looking on the Islam forum for some opinions about Islam and dogs. Now I have a headache. I wonder whether I'm an atheist because I prefer to use my limited brainpower on more constructive tasks than this ...

robindch

bnt wrote: »

I went looking on the Islam forum for some opinions about Islam and dogs. Now I have a headache.

After reading that, so do I.

sensibleken

I like the bit where the angels wouldnt visit while Mo had the dog in the house. a bit like my ma

robindch

sensibleken wrote: »

I like the bit where the angels wouldnt visit while Mo had the dog in the house.

Given the mess that arose after the last time an angel turned up at somebody's house, I'd have thought keeping a few dogs was a very wise idea.

sensibleken

robindch wrote: »

Given the mess that arose after the last time an angel turned up at somebody's house, I'd have thought keeping a few dogs was a very wise idea.

ah i see. the angels didnt think the dogs were dirty, they thought there was a durty bitch in the house. damned miss translations.

amacachi

sensibleken wrote: »

I once went out with someone who did reiki on a pigeon.

I know.

I'll never get that desperate :pac:

Genghiz Cohen

amacachi wrote: »

I'll never get that desperate :pac:

I'm sure he found out the hard way.
*Comes home one night.
"Honey, I'm home!" *sniff* "What's that smell?"
"Nothing!"
"Smells like incense..."
"No, no no... It's dinner... yes"
*Shrugs "I'm just gonna get something out of the far room."
"NO DON'T GO IN THE-"
"What's this?"
"IT'S NOT WHAT YOU THINK I SWEAR!!"
and so on...

legspin

bnt wrote: »

I went looking on the Islam forum for some opinions about Islam and dogs. Now I have a headache. I wonder whether I'm an atheist because I prefer to use my limited brainpower on more constructive tasks than this ...

Oh, for fúcks sake. The mad bit is they expect it to be taken seriously.

Dades

Would I be right in assuming Muslims only use their left hand to shake "paw" with dogs?

seamus

All the Muslims in my area are visibly terrified of dogs, adults and children alike. I make a special effort to walk by them when I see them.

Well no, not really, but I definitely don't go out of my way to avoid them so as to not "offend them". My very existence could probably be interpreted as offensive to Muslims.

recedite

seamus wrote: »

All the Muslims in my area are visibly terrified of dogs, adults and children alike. I make a special effort to walk by them when I see them.

Well no, not really, but I definitely don't go out of my way to avoid them so as to not "offend them". My very existence could probably be interpreted as offensive to Muslims.

What breed are you? I hear they are more tolerant of a fast hunting hound. Try moving a bit quicker when passing them.

sensibleken

Just want to point out theres plenty of dog breeds from the 'islamic world'. Afghan, Salukhi etc

Gbear

Spotted this link from LiveLeak.

<mod snip>

*****
The video is EXTREMELY GRAPHIC. Absolutely NSFW and I would not recommend it to be seen by children.
*****

A deeply troubling video.

robindch

US retailer, JCPenney, appoints Ellen DeGeneres as spokesperson, causing One Million Moms to take grievous offense:

http://onemillionmoms.com/IssueDetail.asp?id=436

JCPenney tell them to get stuffed.

MagicMarker

robindch wrote: »

US retailer, JCPenney, appoints Ellen DeGeneres as spokesperson, causing One Million Moms to take grievous offense:

http://onemillionmoms.com/IssueDetail.asp?id=436

JCPenney tell them to get stuffed.

Wrong thread?

Banned