While looking for something online, I found a torrent of Mormon films.  I have watched three so far and they are really interesting. They are all pretty comedic/romantic because they almost always (so far) center around Utah and getting married.  And all mention how they don’t like swearing.  Frequently there are some references to no caffeine or alcohol.  I think it’s interesting that Mormon movies are pretty much playing into every Mormon stereotype ever.  They also all seem to have a rockin theme song written for them with the title of the movie in it.

I am in the middle of “Church Ball” about the mean streets of Mormon church basketball. An odd topic to be sure, but odder still it stars Andrew Wilson, Clint Howard, Gary Coleman, ad Fred Willard with an eye patch.

What?  How did that happen?  Fred Willard?

Next up is Mobsters and Mormons, starring the former host of Studs, Marc DeCarlo.  I cannot wait to be offended by see it.

I never thought I would see Spike Lee tell someone to stop talking about racial issues.  What would Mookie say?

Found via Idun’s Apple

Important question for tonight’s GOP YouTube Debate.

On March 15th, Ryan Skipper was found stabbed to death on the side of the road in Wahneta, Florida. Ryan was murdered because he was gay. (The Ledger).Ryan’s parents, Lynn and Pat Mulder, have posted a question for the Republican YouTube Debates which will air tonight, Wednesday, November 28th. They’re asking what the GOP candidates intend to do to combat “social climate of condemnation and rejection which is often the result of misguided religious teaching.”You can help insure this video gets the attention it deserves. Please …
1. Repost this bulletin
2. If you have a blog - blog it!
3. Email it to your friends, family, etc., and of course …
4. Watch it.

Well, that’s not certain, but all the things I have been yelling about terrorism and how the US does exactly the wrong thing in response is scientifically explained here in Wired.  Hallelujah!  Now when I get all crazy eyed and sound like a conspiracy theorist on this issue, at least I’ll have something to point to when everyone else gets awkward and quiet.

Well, evangelicals have finally done it. Made me believe in a kind, compassionate, and just god. If there was no such thing, would a story as perfectly amazing as this one exist? I think not. I mean what are the odds that someone of a restrictive faith would hypocritically do exactly the thing he rails against in public all the time? Oh wait. Pretty large. Oh well.

As a result of having the flu and having slept all day, I am now wide awake at 1AM and somewhat stir-crazy.  This resulted in internet searching, as per usual.  I finally got to watch Richard Dawkins’ Root of All Evil which is basically about how religion is evil.  Mainly, this film makes Dawkins look like a GIANT asshole, to the point where even I, someone who agrees with him, cringes when he talks sometimes.  The evolution parts are kind of a snore, but amusingly one pastor basically tells Dawkins he knows nothing about evolution.

My favorite quotation so far though, is when Dawkins interviews a Jew who has become a devout Muslim.  The Jew/Muslim keeps telling Dawkins how much he hates atheists because they let their women dress like whores.  He is really on a tirade about the whores, and keeps accusing Dawkins of letting woman whore it up all over the place.  Finally Dawkins yells “I don’t dress the women!  They dress themselves!”  I support all prostitution accusations of famous scientists!  I also enjoy that Dawkins doesn’t argue that Western women dress like whores, just that it’s their choice to dress like whores.
While I respect that Dawkins is totally frightened my religious fundamentalism, there’s probably a better way to go about it than to go to people’s churches and say “You’re evil and hate-filled and believe in stupid things!”   On the other hand, fundamentalist religious people tend to want to to do the same thing to people who disagree with them, so I dunno if I should feel so bad for them.  I guess once you start mucking about trying to convert others or change their laws/morals, you deserve the criticism.  I mean he isn’t attacking any Quakers!

to fully complete my transition to hypocritical asshole, i am becoming baptist.

no, not really, however, at work the other day I realized baptists and me have a lot more in common than I thought. See, this is what Baptists believe (courtesy of wikipedia):

• Biblical authority ( Matthew 24:35; 1 Peter 1:23; 2 Timothy 3:16-17)
• Autonomy of the local church ( Matthew 18:15-17; 1 Corinthians 6:1-3)
• Priesthood of all believers (1 Peter 2:5-9; 1 Timothy 5)
• Two ordinances (baptism and the Lord’s Supper) (Acts 2:41-47; 1 Corinthians 11:23-32)
• Individual soul liberty (Romans 14:5-12)
• Separation of Church and State ( Matthew 22:15-22)
• Two offices of the church (pastor and deacon) (I Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1-2)

Did you catch the S? Wow, who knew? In case you ever get in an argument and want to pull this out of your hat, here’s the Bible verse, the well-known “give unto Caesar:”

Matthew 22:15-22 (New International Version)

Paying Taxes to Caesar

15 Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. 16 They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are. 17 Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” 18 But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? 19 Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, 20 and he asked them, “Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?” 21 “Caesar’s,” they replied. Then he said to them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” 22 When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away. So Jesus thinks people who want to mix chuch and state are hypocrites? Yay JC! Sadly, they’ve already put god on our money, which probably was a bad plan, from the pov of this verse….

UPDATE  some baptist do take this seriously.  I love these people!

I enjoy calvinist religious gangsta rap. The best part is the very end! West siiiiiiide.

Why not International?

Happy National Day of Slayer!

Official Statement on Participation
Listen to Slayer at full blast in your car.
Listen to Slayer at full blast in your home.
Listen to Slayer at full blast at your place of employment.
Listen to Slayer at full blast in any public place you prefer.