Roseanne Barr's Barrage of Bullshit!

If you're not aware of what Roseanne said of atheists on Twitter I'd advise reading these excellent blogs before continuing with this one.

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2015/12/31/roseanne-barr-calls-atheists-very-anti-semitic-on-twitter-and-then-keeps-going/

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/danthropology/2016/01/roseanne-barrs-atheist-bashing-and-our-chitchat-betrays-a-common-ignorance-of-atheism/

Okay, now my own encounter, which is in the form of an open letter to Roseanne.

A Tale of Cupcakes & Cretins

Here's a funny thing. You'd join a Facebook page called “Respectful Debate & Sharing Group” and expect it to offer just that, right? Oh how foolishly optimistic of you. Instead what you'd find is that the admin team remove you for confronting homophobes, bigots, reality dodgers and atheist baiters, then blame you for the most pathetic of reasons.

Let me give you an example.

Demon Haunted Courtroom

On a Facebook page we were recently discussing an incident where a young man went crazy with a knife and gun, injuring and killing others. Sadly an all too common event in the US.

Whilst most of us present were of the opinion this man was clearly mentally ill, judging by all of the reports surrounding the case, the fundamentalist Christian present disagreed. She was adamant that this young man was under the control of demons.

Where you or I might say of somebody "they had their demons" and mean it metaphorically, she truly believes that they are literal.

This got me thinking on what the ramifications of such belief would be if the majority of the population believed as she did, and if the law reflected it.

Imagine a court case where a man went into a school with a machine gun and took the lives of dozens of innocent students before being subdued and arrested. His legal counsel tells the court that he is possessed of demons.

If somebody does something against their will and under duress they're generally not found guilty. Even diminished responsibility can result in a reduced sentence or acquittal. So what would happen to our gunman?

In all likelihood he would be found not guilty as he was not in control, the demons were forcing him to do these things. I can easily imagine a situation where instead of being sent to a secure psychiatric unit he would be sent to the local exorcist before being pronounced cleansed of his demonic controllers and released a free man, especially if he was savvy enough to tell them he repented his actions.

Given that statistics show that the US produces more serial killers than the rest of the world combined it's not a pleasant thought.

The irony is, whilst the gunman we were discussing has clearly got mental health problems, the Christian who insisted he has demons says she doesn't have mental health problems, even though she claims to speak directly to the Holy Spirit and Jesus, and to have two reformed demons living in her garage, whom she has chosen not to send to Hell as they've changed their ways.

No, I didn't make that bit up. I'm not crazy enough.

We've only got to look at history to see where a legal system can go if you leave the religious in charge. Trial by ordeal was always fun; the accused having their limbs severely burnt and then seeing if God healed them. If he didn't, they were guilty.

Would sure as hell make Judge Judy more entertaining.

Suffer The Children

Time for another update prompted by an encounter online.

For this one I'm going to start with a short story...

Oh Go To Hell!

I've not updated this blog in quite a while as, to quote a Sister Hazel track, life got in the way, but I've decided it's time I pester you to read my mind's meanderings again as I need to get something off my chest. It's not a long one (oh shush!)

Solipsism’s Gambit

Every so often I will see a Christian post something along the lines of  “Could you be wrong about everything you think you know?” as though a yes answer would somehow equate to god's inevitable existence. Quite frankly, when I see it I just wonder if the person who posts it has actually thought through the implications or just think they're being, ya know, really clever n' stuff. They're not.

Belieb It Or Not

A little analogy which chanced to pass across my synapses earlier today, be thankful there isn't a soundtrack album to accompany this post!

A Life Changing Experience!

I need to tell you about some incredible experiences I have, I wish you could all share in this as it's life changing.

Anti-theism Justified Again

Another wonderful example of why I am increasingly anti-theist, because theism can lead to the type of morally bankrupt thinking we will see here.

Shrek Goes Full Fucktard

This is incredible, even by creationist debating standards this is beyond crazy. Enjoy!

Bad Attitude and Bad Admin

An examination of fine fundie fucktardery on Facbook with an old favourite from this blog, Eric Johnson Shrek, and somebody I don't think I've had the pleasure of venting over before, Daniel “Denial” Wood. This is what it's so often like trying to reason with those of whom it can best be said they are a few gospels short of a testament. The following took place on "Atheism vrs. Fundamental Christianity"

The Case Against God

Archaeological A-holes for God.

One of the things that Christians regularly bring up in debate is how “archaeology supports the Bible!”. Does it? Really? No. Of course it doesn't. Here's why.

A Scumbag For God

I really need to vent tonight. I've just about had enough of some fundamental, and the emphasis is very heavily on the mental part, Christians on Facebook. If anybody wondered what sort of thing would have driven me from agnostic atheist to strong anti-theist, this is!

WARNING: If you find profanity offensive please do NOT read this particular post. If you enjoy profanity you might enjoy it.

Bigoted Filth on Facebook

WARNING: I seriously let rip in this one, so if you object to bad language it might be best to do a Google image search for kittens instead.

Still reading? Don't say I didn't warn you. I shall begin ...

Christians, Hypothetically Speaking

Why is it that I've rarely found a Christian on Facebook who understands how hypothetical questions work? Seriously, it's like they've never encountered such a concept. I've asked different hypothetical questions on multiple occasions and almost without fail the responses from the Christian contingent completely misunderstand how the damn things work.

Balogh, My Roll In Her Downfall

Regular readers of my blog (and thank you if you are) will be aware of Kim Balogh. She was the creator and admin of the Facebook page Atheism, Satanism and Humanism vs Biblical Christianity (ASHvsBC). Her mismanagement of that page is covered in more detail elsewhere on my site, just search for Balogh and you'll find plenty.

Shrek the Turd

So, Shrek, funny film, right? Yup, I agree. It is, as are the sequals. I love Donkey, he's hilarious. Anyway, as much as I'd like to discuss the merits of Dreamworks' masterpiece of animation, I'm here to talk of another Shrek, Eric Johnson Shrek to be exact.

Perfect Song Lyrics

It's not often that I find a song's lyrics perfectly echo my thoughts, but these do. The song is called Out In The Darkness by Martin Orford (lyrics by Steve Thorne) from the superb album The Old Road. You can find the YouTube video of the song here - it's rather wonderful.

Christopher Hitchens is dead, Merry CHRISTmas!

Merry CHRISTmas, Christopher Hitchens is dead! Not my words, the words of Nyles Seru on the Facebook page “Atheism, Satanism, and Humanism vs Biblical Christianity”.