Monthly Archives: November 2009

Suffer the little children

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From CNN last week:

The Archdiocese of Dublin and other Catholic Church authorities in Ireland covered up clerical child abuse until the mid-1990s, according to a government-commissioned report released Thursday.The Dublin Archdiocese Commission of Investigation’s 720-page report said that it has “no doubt that clerical child sexual abuse was covered up” from January 1975 to May 2004, the time covered by the report.

The commission examined the histories of 46 priests, who were picked as a sample from 102 who had had complaints or suspicions of child abuse raised against them. Complaints from more than 320 children were leveled against the 46, the report said.

But it said that the number of children abused likely exceeded that.

“One priest admitted to sexually abusing over 100 children, while another accepted that he had abused on a fortnightly basis during the currency of his ministry which lasted for over 25 years,” the report said.

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Top Ten Amazon Reviews for the Bible

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Hilarious, short and to the point. Without further ado, I present ten reviews of the King James Bible, found on Amazon.com

1. “Excellent Special FX throughout”
2. “The best fantasy epic since Lord of the Rings”
3. “There aren’t enough good fights”
4. “Three stars, because the paper was too thin”
5. “One of the most disjointed novels I’ve read in a long while”
6. “Almost preachy in tone”
7. “Good ending”
8. “The Lord hath no scorn like the scorn reserved for one-star reviewers”
9. “Who wrote this thing, Michael Moore?”
10. “Definitely not his best work”

Bipolar disorder, thy name is Utah

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The Deseret News circa 2007 read: “Utah most depressed state in the country.”

Utah is the most depressed state in the country, according to a nationwide study.The first-of-its kind examination of “level” of depression and actual outcomes for those seeking help for it ranks Utah 51st on a list of 51. South Dakota has the “best depression status” in the country.

Just two years later: “Feeling unhappy? Move to Utah”

Never mind the anti-depressant drugs. A recent study suggests that the saddened at heart should consider moving to Utah for a happiness boost.

Running at nearly 70 points on a well-being scale out of a possible 100, Utah hit the top of the charts according to a study by University of Cambridge researcher Jason Rentfrow.

So what explains the disparity between these studies? And which do you find more believable: Utah as the happiest state or the most depressed?

For those who fall squarely in the latter camp and believe that Utah’s depression/suicide rates are tidily reducible to Mormonism, you owe it to yourself to consider FAIR’s apologetic articles on this matter. Some good points are raised.

Credit where credit is due

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As many of you are already aware, the LDS Church recently endorsed a number of Salt Lake ordinances banning discrimination against gays in housing and employment. Now, I don’t think this is penance enough for the untold pain the church and its rhetoric has caused the LGBT community (both within and outside the church) over the past few decades. But nevertheless, this is a positive development and one for which the LDS Church and Equality Utah deserve our thanks.

Andrew Sullivan is a conservative, Obama-supporting, homosexual, Catholic blogger—oh, and a walking contradiction. Last year, he wrote at length about Proposition 8 and the Mormons’ involvement in it.* What Sullivan wrote today in response to the LDS Church’s support of non-discrimination laws expresses my sentiments exactly. Below are some excerpts, but be sure to read the article in full.

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“Is the Catholic Church a force for good in the world?”

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The BBC recently hosted a debate on the Catholic Church as part of its Intelligence Squared debate series. This installment considered the motion: “The Catholic Church is a force for good in the world.”

Arguing for the motion was Archbishop Onaiyekan of Nigeria and Ann Widdecombe, a British Conservative Party politician. The opposing ticket boasted bigger names: Christopher Hitchens and humorist Stephen Fry.

Both sides traded barbs, but Hitchens and Fry landed the better blows. The debate was a total shut-out, as even this Catholic blogger laments:

The voting gives a good idea of how it went. Before the debate, for the motion: 678. Against: 1102. Don’t know: 346. This is how it changed after the debate. For: 268. Against: 1876. Don’t know: 34. In other words, after hearing the speakers, the number of people in the audience who opposed the motion increased by 774. My friend Simon, who’s a season ticket holder, said it was the most decisive swing against a motion that he could remember.

hitchens_fry

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Move over, Spaghetti Monster.

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This is by far the coolest neo-religion I have ever come across. Our deity’s name is Steve. He is a fruit bat, and he is beautiful. Here is the founder’s own story of how Steve came to be.

*Warning: There is some strong language, as I have left it just as the author first published. Read at your own risk if you are easily offended.* Continue reading →

Free expression, free money

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Take advantage of this essay contest sponsored by the Center for Inquiry and its Campaign for Free Expression:

Students enrolled in an accredited college or university are invited to submit an essay about “The Importance of Free Expression and Its Limits (If Any).”  Each entry must address the question of what limits national governments or recognized international bodies, such as the United Nations, may justifiably place on free expression.  First prize is $2,000 (USD).

  • Download Free Expression Essay Contest Rules.
  • Submit entries to essaycontest@centerforinquiry.net.
  • DEADLINE: Entries must be received by midnight, January 5, 2010.