Free The Animal

Karen De Coster calls attention to Bill Maher, his comments on religion in general, and those of the Pope and The Catholic Church in particular. The segment for which she posts a transcript begins at 3:15 into the video. Well, what can I say? I could maybe pick at a thing or two, but he more or less makes a lot of valid points and draws some certain parallels. He’s as right as the sunrise: the only reason the Catholics get a grudging pass on their institutionalized child rape and cover up, and that “kooky Mormon cult” doesn’t, is that, for one, the Catholics have lots of voters; and two, they either cannot, or refuse to think honestly and in terms of consistent principles when grappling with mind-created fantasies like imaginary friends and sooper beings with sooper powerz. We are dealing with people — voters — who are operating under delusions, Karen, and Sunday morning Mass and Friday fish are the least and non-essential manifestations of such delusion. Ideas have consequences, and the problem with delusions is that the public policy that ultimately trickles down is perfectly integrated with such delusions. I think we ought to always fight the idea…

[Read more →]

I don’t know the actual number of news events, but just seeing the leading photo and article on my Yahoo home page each time I’ve opened it over the last few days seems to indicate that the Pope’s visit is dominating the news. Even more ridiculous is how the politicians are falling all over each other to roll out red carpets. “Pope says Church needs purification.” You know what? They are all worth less than a runny shit to me and I don’t see how you can possibly purify a load of crap. Seriously. Now, I know there are plenty who derive inspiration and comfort, and just like there’s no end of Constitution lovers, democracy lovers, enthusiastic voters — and no matter the destruction wreaked upon humanity, the State is power and people love the powerful and the authoritarian. I guess they figure they’ll always be on the “good” side of the equation, though they delude themselves mightily. Same, I suppose, for the Bible, Koran, and Torah lovers. If I could delude myself into being stupid enough to believe in imaginary friends, fairies, ghosts and a magical all-powerful being who could destroy the world with a single thought on a…

[Read more →]