Jonathan H. B. Lobl

Alas, Christianity rests on it's Scriptures. Those Scriptures teach shame. This is the story of the first garments, found in Genesis. Genesis 2:25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed. In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations Genesis 3:7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations Genesis 3:10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations Genesis 3:11 And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

The minority experience of being a witch -- is similar to the minority experience of being Atheist. I can relate directly, to a lot of it.

Witches and Christians. A Witch Speaks Out. (Up?) https://www.patheos.com/blogs/witchonfire/2019/04/legit-reasons-christians-resent-witches/?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Pagan+News+and+Views&utm_content=37

Regarding the video that I used to start this thread. It is amazing. These pious terrorists still think that their silly threats can frighten us into submission. These threats have been failing to frighten for hundreds of years, yet they keep trying. They are impervious to external reality. Neither reason nor evidence will penetrate. True madness. In the not so distant future -- when true general AI makes it's advent into the world -- I expect that this will be another test for religion. A test that will actually happen; unlike the alien visit. The future is coming for us. Ready or not.

Of course. What makes the situation in China so bad, is the new AI, coordinating and storing all of it. Everybody, Everywhere, all the time. Say hello to the future. It's coming at us like a freight train.

No. Of course not. I am partly responsible for a false binary which is plaguing this board. On the one hand, we have the Christian followers of the one true God. In the other camp -- my camp -- we have the Atheists. It bothers me that the Pagan voices on this board have gone silent. Now and then, I feel obliged to at least mention the Pagan perspective. It is a third way and the subtleties keep getting lost. I'm a poor choice to speak up for the Pagan perspective. I would much rather a Pagan stepped into the breach. Alas, someone has to do it. This time, it was me.

It's not only the government. Announcing on Facebook, when I'm going to be away from home, is not a good idea.

It's time for some nuance. "Kill the billionaires" is one statement. "Sacrifice the billionaires" is a different statement. Sacrifice? To whom or what do we sacrifice? Even in humor, we have to be careful of what we are calling for.

An addendum: We should remember that the old gods could be complicated. Apollo comes to mind, as the perfect example. He is Apollo, the Healer/Physician. He is also Apollo, Plague Bringer. There is also Sekhmet, the Lion headed goddess of Egypt. She is a healing goddess. She is a bloodthirsty killer. I expect that the Pagans who understand their gods, understand how to proceed.

Yes. Calling on God to remove the virus. Where did the virus come from?

You didn't mention Facebook.

This is true. What my phone can't do, is track everybody who is near me. At least, not yet. Maybe.

Breaking news, reported on radio.com Apple and Google are working together, to produce virus tracking data. If I understand the program -- when someone is found positive for the virus -- the program looks at all the other phones, that were near the phone over the past 14 days. It's an interesting thought. My phone will be tracking the proximity of all the other phones around me. Everyone that I have contact with. And where. And when. Every day. The software is expected in May. It will be for the Apple I-phones and the Google Androids. I don't have a smart phone. I have a dumb phone. I'm wondering when my government will suggest an upgrade. So that they can do more to keep me healthy and safe.

Yes. Ironic, isn't it? Stalin's great opposition was the American Republican Party. Now, we have Putin. Trump is earning his knee pads.

Numerology makes mystics crazy. Well -- more crazy.

It isn't all ambiguous. Some of it is just silly. The death of Jesus? The world's worst weekend. He's back to being God.

And the congregation replied -- "Who cares?"

If I were to start my own religion, it would be centered around the goddess Apathea. Apathea is the personification of apathy. She neither rewards nor punishes her followers, because she doesn't care and can't be bothered. Consider the selling points. You actually know why your deity is ignoring you. There is nothing to be afraid of. There is no obligation to spread the faith. There are no obligations to the church. No demands or lectures from the clergy. It takes up so little time. When you feel pious -- take a nap. Holy wars and inquisitions are impossible. There are no scriptures. Who can be bothered? Either writing them or reading them.

In the world of religion, assertions must be absolute and carry great conviction. Whether or not you actually know if something is true, is meaningless. The sheep must buy into your crap, before you can fleece them. You don't do that with ambiguity. Or caring about facts. Or truth. Bringing in the dough, Bringing in the dough, We will coming rejoicing, Bringing in the dough.

It's hard to accept how things have changed. America used to be a bastion of freedom. It was accepted that the evil commies -- Russia and China -- would spy on their own people. That the American government, would spy on Americans, was unthinkable. The problem with unthinkable things, is that people don't want to think about them. Another problem is that much of this seems like science fiction. When I was a child, it was science fiction. Alas, the new reality is stranger than the old fiction. Happy 1984 to us all. It's a Brave New World. We can also cite Animal Farm. As the pigs said -- "Every one is equal. Some are more equal than others."

How Your Cell Phone Spies On You.

1. Pretty much anything -- so long as it has 666 chapters or verses. 2. A drawing of Mohamed. 3. You found Joseph Smith's original gold plates. They're porn. 4. A detailed account of the life and times of Lot and his daughters.

If you want the great god Athe to be taken seriously -- you have to be more careful with your idiom. You did not invent the god. The god revealed itself to you. You will also need to design a funny hat for your priesthood. Keep the design simple. You might need to mass produce them. While you are at it -- pick out a color for the priestly garments.

Emotional response isn't really an issue. In the end, either we are in compliance -- or we are not. As you see; non-compliance has consequences. They will get worse.