the weblog of m.kelley

{‘Nudity invalidates marriage’ – Unusual Tales – Specials – smh.com.au} -”According to the religious edict issued by Rashad Hassan Khalil, a former dean of Al-Azhar University’s faculty of Sharia (or Islamic law), “being completely naked during the act of coitus annuls the marriage”.”

I would actually ponder if Rashad Hassan Khalil has an erectile disfunction. That could be the only way, someone would suggest not being naked during sex….either that or he has a latex fetish.

For my pagan friends : The Pagan Hierarchy “Who looks down on whom”.

{Robertson says Sharon’s stroke is God’s punishment } – “The Reverend Pat Robertson says Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s massive stroke could be God’s punishment for giving up Israeli territory.

The founder of the Christian Broadcasting Network told viewers of “The 700 Club” that Sharon was “dividing God’s land,” even though the Bible says doing so invites “God’s enmity.”

Robertson added, “I would say woe to any prime minister of Israel who takes a similar course.”

He noted that former Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated.

Robertson said God’s message is, “This land belongs to me. You’d better leave it alone.” “

{Evil Bible Home Page} – “This web site is designed to spread the vicious truth about the Bible. For far too long priests and preachers have completely ignored the vicious criminal acts that the Bible promotes. The so called “God” of the Bible makes Osama Bin Laden look like a Boy Scout. This God, according to the Bible, is directly responsible for many mass-murders, rapes, pillage, plunder, slavery, child abuse and killing, not to mention the killing of unborn children. I have included references to the Biblical passages, so grab your Bible and follow along. “

Now before you send me hate mail, please remember this site *is* sacred cow tipping. Meaning that we’re gonna push some buttons. Let me say, however, this site is very non-PC. So click by your own risk. It’s an interesting read, can’t say I agree with a lot of it but it does make some good points.

{Tookie Williams – On the Killing Floor} – “Of course, America is an overwhelmingly Christian Country. And, Jesus of Nazareth had straightforward teachings about killing: “Do not murder.” “Do not take revenge on someone who does you wrong.” “Love your enemies and pray for those who mistreat you.” “Blessed are the merciful.” Jesus would not approve of the fundamentalist position on capital punishment.”

As I grow older, I find that I get more and more opposed to the death penalty. Not that I want murderers to be free, they should be locked away forever, and (as EvD and I discussed tonight in the analog world), should work their asses off with all earnings going toward restitution.

Will killing Tookie Williams make amends? Will it make everything right? Will it give closure? Unfortunately, this situation is now a political media show instead of crime and punishment.

{12/8/2005 – Solstice Is The Reason For The Season – Opinion – Chattanoogan.com} – “While Mr. Franks claims you cannot take Christ out of Christmas, I might say with equal confidence that you cannot take the Sun out of Solstice. While he objects to “secularization” of Christmas it’s just the other side of the coin where I view Christmas as the religionist hijacking of a whole host of Pagan naturalistic celebrations.”

In response to Saying Merry Christmas Loud And Clear

I guess, we’ve grown as a people. When one of our largest holiday concerns is over two words. I’m so glad, we’ve provided a holiday for those people who cannot afford one, people who’ve seen decimation this year from hurricanes, financial problems, and medical concerns. I’m glad we no longer have homelessness, hunger, and war. I’m glad that we’re not gonna worry about these things so we can now fight and put media attention on “Merry Christmas” vs. “Happy Holidays”.

{Salon.com News | How the secular humanist grinch didn’t steal Christmas} – “In fact, there is no war on Christmas. What there is, rather, is a burgeoning myth of a war on Christmas, assembled out of old reactionary tropes, urban legends, exaggerated anecdotes and increasingly organized hostility to the American Civil Liberties Union. It’s a myth that can be self-fulfilling, as school board members and local politicians believe the false conservative claim that they can’t celebrate Christmas without getting sued by the ACLU and thus jettison beloved traditions, enraging citizens and perpetuating a potent culture-war meme. This in turn furthers the myth of an anti-Christmas conspiracy.”

Ok, maybe I’m getting a little too into this whole X-Mas thing. But seriously, this time of year has gone from being religious to being consumer-driven. Why don’t Christians run ads reminding people about the season instead of asking Wal-Mart to say “merry christmas”?

We forget (or maybe we deny) that, “that December 25 was only adopted in the 4th century as a Christian holiday by the Roman Emperor Constantine, to encourage a common religious festival for both Christians and Pagans.” (link).

People get weird about having christmas trees, well, if you want a tree in a school, then you shouldn’t have a problem with Halloween, should you? How about the Easter Bunny? Maybe they meant “dyed for your sins”? Seriously, thin-skinned people need to realize that there are others of many many beliefs in this country.

I’m all about the celebration of Christmas, but we need to be honest about it’s origins and it’s past.

In the past, I’ve wrote pieces for World AIDS Day. Most talk about statements made in youth or that it never hit close to home for me. I could write a long post about this, but it wouldn’t even come close to express my feelings. In the past year/year.5, I’ve met many people who have been effected with this horrible illness.

They’re strong, they’re fighters, they’re still here.

ABC News: Televangelist Robertson warns town of God’s wrath

Conservative Christian televangelist Pat Robertson told citizens of a Pennsylvania town that they had rejected God by voting their school board out of office for supporting “intelligent design” and warned them on Thursday not to be surprised if disaster struck.

So, would it be wrong to wish a heart attack upon Mr. Robertson?

Oh and sodomy too?

Hope everyone has a good Samhain, All Saints Day, and a belated happyHalloween.