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New page: "Birth Control and Contraception: Wisdom Versus Superstition" by Vexen Crabtree (2007) Tags: aids, birth control, contraception, disease, dogma, health, hiv, overpopulation, pope, population, procreation, rcc, religion, sexuality, stds
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New page: "The Number 12: Disciples, Tribes and the Zodiac" by Vexen Crabtree (2007):
Why is the number respected my mathematicians and mystics? On what basis do such opposite mindsets come to agree that such an arbitrary number is worth getting excited about? Let's see!
- The Mathematics
- The Zodiac
- The 12 Tribes of Israel, 12 Disciples of God
- Conclusions
The conclusion reads (briefly; many interesting tid-bits are iterated through first!):
When you see the number twelve, watch out. If the number is employed in a practical sense to divide time, measurements, or angles, then the chances are it makes awesome mathematical sense to utilize such a factorable number as the number twelve. But if you see it used in a superstitious, religious, magical, paranormal, holy or weird way, be warned that it is based on ancient sun-worship, star warship, and ridiculous astrology. As a species we have been using it to divide the solar realm into twelve divisions, assuming that each one is ruled by a personification, a god, a divine being, a teacher, a prophet or a son of the sun. Now we understand what stars, planets and stellar objects are, it makes no sense to retain the mystical, nonsensical connotations of the 'holy', 'perfect', 'divine' or 'special' number 12. Such superstitions have made their way into major religions; there are 12 tribes of Israel as founded by the 12 sons of Jacob, the 12 disciples of Mithras and Christ, the 12 Gods of Olympus and according to Shi'a Muslims, 12 successors to Muhammad. The number 12 is useful because we use a base 10 numbering system (using 10 digits: 0123456789). It makes no sense to say that Gods would use a base 10 numbering system: Therefore gods would not divide the skies, their sons, their chosen ones or the message into twelve parts just because we have ten fingers! So applaud the usefulness of number 12... but watch out for those who are deluded by the pagan, irrational, magical and nonsensical claims made about it! It is, after all, only a number. Tags: 12, 144, astrology, disciple, disciples, factors, god, gods, israel, jacob, mathematics, olympus, religion, sons, superstition, tribes, twelve
Current Location: Mönchengladbach, Germany
Listening To: Wumpscut's "Totmacher" by Haujobb
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"Categorizing Satanism: Moojan Momen's 8 Pathways to Religious Experience" by Vexen Crabtree (2007). The categories are not designed so that each religion fits one category; most religions cater for multiple types of religious experience. The more successful religions accept more types of religious experience. How does Satanism fit with each mindset?
- Ritualism
- Legalism
- Evangelism
- Social Reformation
- Asceticism
- Monasticism
- Gnosticism
- Mysticism
The conclusion reads:
Satanism provides some acceptable elements for those looking for: ritualism (2/5), social reformation reactions (2/5), some philosophical forms of asceticism (2/5) but most of all for those who enjoy the intellectual and counter-cultural side of gnostic forms of religion (4/5). It will be acceptable to only the few mystics (1/5) who can ignore the heavily skeptical and rational theology of Satanism. It provides nothing for those who would seek out, or attempt to justify, legalistic, evangelical or monastic religious experiences as Satanism is highly individual, socially decentralised and world-embracing. Tags: anton lavey, asceticism, comparative religion, evangelism, gnosticism, legalism, momen, monasticism, moojan momen, mysticism, religion, religions, ritualism, satanism
Current Location: Monchengladbach, Germany
Current Mood:  annoyed
Listening To: "Nothing At All" by Lights of Euphoria
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"Satanism is a World-Affirming Religion, not a World-Renouncing One" by Vexen Crabtree (2007) Drawing on the useful distinctions Roy Wallis of religions into the mainstream world-accomodating, world-rejecting (think isolation, christian monasteries, nihilism, buddhism) and world-affirming (materialistic religions, some philosophies, daoism), I measure each type against Satanism. I do not just point out that Satanism is a materialistic, world-loving religion, but also examine what points of similarity and difference it has with world-accommodating and world-rejecting ones (surprisingly, there are some areas of agreement). Roy Wallis' categorisations are based on the reaction of a religion to the environment of the world. I am soon going to a similar category-comparison to J. Gordon Melton and Robert Moore, who grouped new religions into eight 'families', largely based on their internal beliefs. And finally, a third comparison will be with the categories that Mooman Moojan, William James and Max Weber all came up with. Tags: comparative religion, nihilism, reality, religion, satanism, world
Current Mood:  busy
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Just a quote from Sam Harris that made me chuckle. Especially the first line! “The New Age has offered little progress in this regard, because it has made spiritual life seem generally synonymous with the forfeiture of brain cells. Most of the beliefs and practices that have been designated as "spiritual," in this New Age or in any other, have arisen and thrive in a perfect vacuum of critical intelligence. Indeed, many New Age ideas are so ridiculous as to produce terror in otherwise dispassionate men.”
"The End of Faith: Religion, Terror and the Future of Reason" by Sam Harris
Anyway, I've added it to: "TheNew Age and Satanism" by Vexen Crabtree (2004) Tags: irrationality, new age, religion, sam harris, skepticism, spirituality
Current Location: Starbucks, Hammersmith, London, UK
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I was in the British Library, reading through a few select chapters of " Religion in schools: controversies around the world" by R. Murray Thomas. In one chapter on the controversy surrounding the teaching of humanism, agnosticism and stuff in RE, the author gives a brief history of the summary of religion in the UK... and hey presto, gives a references to (Crabtree, V (2002-2003)), and so I go check the bibliography, and there I am! Crabtree, V. (2002-2003). Religion in Britain. Bane of Monotheis. Available online: http://www.vexen.co.uk/religion/rib.html#UKIt's the first time I've been an actual book cite me! And it's a good, scholarly, academic sociology-of-religion type book, too! How cool is that? *beams* Tags: british library, ego, religion, vexen, vexen crabtree
Current Location: Starbucks near British Library, Kings Cross, London, UK
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I've added a little to "The Causes Of Religion: Biological Neuronal Dysfunction", Vexen Crabtree (2007), ending with a tie-in to my page on Christianity's St. Paul.
It is not only chronic neurological dysfunction that can cause religious and supernatural beliefs. Some of the founding experiences can be based on single neurological events such as isolated strokes or seizues. Many types of fit do not involve the motor area of the brain, so do not result in obvious, physical signs of fitting. They can be purely sensory in nature, involving sights, sounds and feelings that range from subtle through to overwhelming.
 “Partial seizures can [...] cause clonic movement of part of a limb [, ... or] may trigger an abnormal sensation, or aura, such as an odd smell or sparkling lights. Most bizarre are the partial seizures that elicit more well-formed auras such as déjá vu (the feeling that something has happened before) or hallucinations.”
"Neuroscience" by Bear, Connors and Paradiso, p464
William James remained convinced that St. Paul was converted to Christianity by a vision that was the result of a lone seizure. Tags: christianity, experiences, fits, irrationality, jesus, neurology, neuroscience, psychology, religion, seizures, st. paul
Current Location: Monchengladbach, Germany
Listening To: "Antichrist (club mix)" by The Retrosic
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I've added text on the gay parents adoption of children, to "Homosexuality" by Vexen Crabtree (2005), here is the majority of it:
New anti-discrimination laws have been passed in the UK (Equality Act 2006), making it illegal for adoption agencies to discriminate against same-sex parents. This enforces equality. It will mean that more children are kept out of agencies, and are given stable homes. There is no rational reason to find this offensive or wrong, but many try to give worried-sounding excusees to explain their disguised dislike. Some common and ignorant complaints about gay adoption are iterated below, and countered:
- Gay parents will 'make' their children gay. Sociologists have made keen studies of gay parenting in countries where it is more commonplace and where it has been accepted for longer. The children of gay parents are not more likely to be gay than other children.
- Children of gay parents will get bullied at school. By this logic, children who wear glasses should be banned from school. Also, so should foreigners, and maybe anyone who isn't the same colour as everyone else. Perhaps the children of tax collectors shouldn't be allowed to school either! This is a ridiculous excuse for bigotry.
- It offends some peoples' religious beliefs. Everything offends some religious belief or other... discrimination is wrong, whether or not it is caused by religion, and the government is right to legislate against discrimination, as a democracy's duty is to protect those who cannot protect themselves, and to temper the ignorance of mass rule.
The most vocal opposition of anything that provides equality for gays are always Christians and Muslims. Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, the leader of the Catholic church in England and Wales, backed by the Church of England and the Muslim Council of Britain, have led a campaign to get the government to give exceptions to Catholic Adoption agencies so that they won't have to give equal rights to gay parents. He says that for reasons of conscience and morality, Catholics cannot be made to comply to the law. Tony Blair is rejecting their case, but has given them extra time to "adjust" to the new laws - they won't have to fully comply until the end of 2008. More later.
There Should be No Exceptions from Anti-Discrimination Laws
Anti-discrimination laws are passed to protect minorities from prejudice actions. The actions of prejudice, are wrong. Exemptions from anti-discrimination laws, therefore, are also wrong. An exception requires exceptional circumstances. That Catholic authorities don't like gays is what the law wants to stop. They they believe gays shouldn't adopt is also not the issue.
“Special religious rights are a travesty of justice [...]. The more special religious rights that exist, the worse society has become and the more democracy is undermined. The government passes laws because it is necessary and because it is for the greater good. The more exceptions there are to those laws, the more democracy is weakened. This seems especially true where religious superstitions replace the rule of law. For example in Islamic states where Sharia law is declared, or during the Dark Ages when Christian superstitions cost many people their lives (not to mention the torture!), society is at its worst. Theocracy is the worst form of government, and special religious rights are exceptional in their ability to uphold discrimination and barbarianism against the face of normal moral legislation. People do not have a right to do anything they wish. Just because something is a persons' religious belief does not give them extra rights to do it.”
"Religious Rights and Religion Specific Legislation" by Vexen Crabtree (2004)
Catholic Adoption Agencies Threaten to Close Rather Than Comply
The seven Catholic adoption agencies account for only 4% of all children placed each year in the UK, and their spokesperson has said that they would rather close than allow gay parents to adopt children. Elsewhere, this is exactly what they have done. Similar legislation has been passed in a number of states in the USA, "with the result that the Catholic Church from Boston to San Francisco has closed down its adoption agencies", especially after the Pope Ratzinger once said that these anti-discrimination laws are "the legalisation of evil".
They would rather allow the continued suffering of homeless and abused children (and discriminate against gays, too) - rather than infringe on their own religious beliefs. Their religion is more important to them than the welfare of children. The government is making plans on how to amalgamate their work into other, non-discriminatory agencies, in order to prevent children being harmed by the Church's refusal to entertain equality.
There is an economic contradiction in granting Catholic Adoption Agencies exemption from the Law of the Government... the fact that in part, such agencies are funded by the government:
“Catholic adoption agencies receive public money for their efforts - both directly, in the form of grants, and indirectly through the tax break that any charity receives. If they are exempted from the law, they should also be relieved of subsidies from the taxpayers whose representatives approved it.”
The Economist
Thankfully, the Government has indeed taken the line emplored by The Economist. At the end of 2007 Jan, Downing Street announced that "Catholic adoption agencies must comply with non-discrimination laws by the end of 2008 or lose all access to public funds, Downing Street said yesterday".
Full references can be found on the original article: http://www.humantruth.info/homosexuality.html Tags: adoption, charity, childhood, christianity, discrimination, homosexuality, prejudice, rcc, religion
Listening To: Strauss, "Death and Transfiguration"
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