I should probably apologize in advance for this
But I won't. We need to talk about this.
Instead I'd like to present one lovely example of magical thinking, and consider what it means to us here in America:
http://www.scienceinafrica.co.za/2002/april/virgin.htm
"Nearly 60 children are raped every day in South Africa and while experts agree to disagree as to the causes, or whether the pervasive belief in the so-called "Virgin Cure" prevents/cures HIV/Aids is possibly responsible for this deeply disturbing phenomenon, university researcher, Mike Earl-Taylor suggests it could well be a contributing factor, and a major one at that. Moreover, infant rape appears to be unique to South Africa, however, the Virgin Cure is not."
On the surface, this sounds like some crazy third world belief, that has nothing to do with us enlightened folks here in the U.S., however, we are intimately intertwined.
In Africa and other places that our well-funded Christian missionaries travel these days, the local voodoo customs are being given a glossy sheen of money and respect that international Christianity brings to the table, so now they're burning "witches" that have been identified as consorting with the "Devil" and killing gays in general.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euXQbZDwV0w
If you don't think we have any ties to these warped ideas, notice the handmade signs behind the panel in this video such as "Barack Obama Back Off". This pro-Republican political sign shown is direct evidence of American Christian influence being wielded in this remote place, exhibited to show solidarity to their missionary benefactors. Here in America, we have top Christian televangelists and people like Sarah Palin giving full endorsements to these local gay and witch-burning "ministers" as "bringing the Word" to their villages.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1057181/Palin-African-pastor-friend-waged-witch-hunt-woman-believed-caused-car-crashes.html
These "ministers" in Africa and other places are now becoming tin-pot warlords, using their American and "God" endorsements (and our tithe money) to literally burn to death all their opponents in their areas.
Of course, our Christian televangelists get something out of it too. Like lucrative diamond mine cash:
http://www.skeptictank.org/robem2.htm
I used to be a Christian, but I moved forward as I began to seriously question my faith, and in light of "virgin cure infant rape", "praying the gay away", "suicide bombers for Allah", "abortion clinic bombs for Jesus" and other bizarre acts, I now believe that magical thinking in ALL forms (including ALL major religions) should be vehemently ridiculed at every opportunity, especially here in America, as I feel that the act of ridicule is the only act that might actually work. I feel that once a person encounters ridicule (as opposed to the broad insular acceptance of their church home/community), that person must confront their faith position to strengthen it against attack, and as they begin trying to patch holes in the logic of such "armor", they automatically begin to take a step toward critical thinking about what they actually believe.
Stopping this idiocy begins here at home.
If all the churches here get to spread their nonsense AND get tax breaks to do it (and I as a taxpayer share this burden), then I can certainly voice my support for critical thinking as an antidote to such ridiculous positions. I realize the consequences, I know that I will be personally demonized and ostracized for taking an atheist position, but I'd like to leave a saner world for my children.
If you're a Christian, I urge you to consider your beliefs in the light of how it translates to real world activities. When you worship in a mega-church, or you give your 10% tithe every week in your community church that gathers at your local high school, please think about how that money goes to "spreading the Word" which legitimizes activities like witch burning and the killing of gay people in these far flung places, as well as killing abortion doctors here at home.
Believe whatever you want personally, but remember... you might openly ridicule someone for believing in UFO abductions and Elvis sightings, which takes the exact same degree of magical thinking (oops, I meant faith) to believe in as a talking snake and virgin birth from holy ghost sex.
Oh, and also "virgin cure infant rape".
Instead I'd like to present one lovely example of magical thinking, and consider what it means to us here in America:
http://www.scienceinafrica.co.za/2002/april/virgin.htm
"Nearly 60 children are raped every day in South Africa and while experts agree to disagree as to the causes, or whether the pervasive belief in the so-called "Virgin Cure" prevents/cures HIV/Aids is possibly responsible for this deeply disturbing phenomenon, university researcher, Mike Earl-Taylor suggests it could well be a contributing factor, and a major one at that. Moreover, infant rape appears to be unique to South Africa, however, the Virgin Cure is not."
On the surface, this sounds like some crazy third world belief, that has nothing to do with us enlightened folks here in the U.S., however, we are intimately intertwined.
In Africa and other places that our well-funded Christian missionaries travel these days, the local voodoo customs are being given a glossy sheen of money and respect that international Christianity brings to the table, so now they're burning "witches" that have been identified as consorting with the "Devil" and killing gays in general.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euXQbZDwV0w
If you don't think we have any ties to these warped ideas, notice the handmade signs behind the panel in this video such as "Barack Obama Back Off". This pro-Republican political sign shown is direct evidence of American Christian influence being wielded in this remote place, exhibited to show solidarity to their missionary benefactors. Here in America, we have top Christian televangelists and people like Sarah Palin giving full endorsements to these local gay and witch-burning "ministers" as "bringing the Word" to their villages.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1057181/Palin-African-pastor-friend-waged-witch-hunt-woman-believed-caused-car-crashes.html
These "ministers" in Africa and other places are now becoming tin-pot warlords, using their American and "God" endorsements (and our tithe money) to literally burn to death all their opponents in their areas.
Of course, our Christian televangelists get something out of it too. Like lucrative diamond mine cash:
http://www.skeptictank.org/robem2.htm
I used to be a Christian, but I moved forward as I began to seriously question my faith, and in light of "virgin cure infant rape", "praying the gay away", "suicide bombers for Allah", "abortion clinic bombs for Jesus" and other bizarre acts, I now believe that magical thinking in ALL forms (including ALL major religions) should be vehemently ridiculed at every opportunity, especially here in America, as I feel that the act of ridicule is the only act that might actually work. I feel that once a person encounters ridicule (as opposed to the broad insular acceptance of their church home/community), that person must confront their faith position to strengthen it against attack, and as they begin trying to patch holes in the logic of such "armor", they automatically begin to take a step toward critical thinking about what they actually believe.
Stopping this idiocy begins here at home.
If all the churches here get to spread their nonsense AND get tax breaks to do it (and I as a taxpayer share this burden), then I can certainly voice my support for critical thinking as an antidote to such ridiculous positions. I realize the consequences, I know that I will be personally demonized and ostracized for taking an atheist position, but I'd like to leave a saner world for my children.
If you're a Christian, I urge you to consider your beliefs in the light of how it translates to real world activities. When you worship in a mega-church, or you give your 10% tithe every week in your community church that gathers at your local high school, please think about how that money goes to "spreading the Word" which legitimizes activities like witch burning and the killing of gay people in these far flung places, as well as killing abortion doctors here at home.
Believe whatever you want personally, but remember... you might openly ridicule someone for believing in UFO abductions and Elvis sightings, which takes the exact same degree of magical thinking (oops, I meant faith) to believe in as a talking snake and virgin birth from holy ghost sex.
Oh, and also "virgin cure infant rape".