Disqus - Latest Comments for the Thylacine

Re: Bibles to Baghdad – the Subtle Crusade and why it breaks American law. - ExChristian.Net - Articles

the Thylacine — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 05:51:26 -0000

Well they do say that there are no athiests in a foxhole...maybe the troops can use them to bolster the inadequate armour in their humvees. A nice thick bible would be a lot more practical way of stopping shrapnel than prayer.

As a non American I can't figure out why self declared Xtians are actually supporting an illegal and utterly immoral war. The damage the military is inflicting on some of the most historically important sites in humanity alone is sufficient for the purpetrators of this fiasco to be indicted for war crimes, let alone the pointless murder of several thousand of their own youth on false pretexts. In killing more locals than the dictator they assinated they are absolutely reinforcing the violent creed of the Qu'ran and setting their own cause back decades. Haven't they studied the bleak history of failure that has pervaded all previous crusades? Doesn't the horrendous body count tell them that their prayers for victory are not working? Does this mean that god prefers the Iraqis? Naw he's justly killing impartially on both sides to satisfy his own bloodlust.

At least the Iraquis will have an improvised means to relive the shortage of toilet paper.

The Thylacine

Re: Today's message was directed to you! - Letters to the Webmaster

the Thylacine — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 12:12:55 -0000

Type your comment here.
Tom,
It sure smells like your sister has experienced something that, at least in part, involves showman chicanery called 'cold reading". Sceptic James Randi's web site gives some very good detail on how these fraudsters work their trade. Randi did mind reading and future telling as a part of his magic act and to entertain. Unfortunately the fraudsters claim 'special powers" and abilities and use these showman \techniques to dupe their audiences. For a decade Randi has had an offer of one million US Dollars to be paid to any individual who can demonstrate supernatural powers under scientifically controlled circumstances. Not a single person has ever gat as far as actually taking the test, all have failed at the preliminary investigation. Part of it depends on the techniques developed by the fortune teller in extracting information from the audience without them realisisng what is really happening and another part depends on members of the audience 'reading' themselves into a very broardly painted picture. Outright deceit such as having 'stooges' visit the college or church prior to the fortune teller to gain information on future audience members. The friendly stranger who was so sympathetic in the foyer simply takes your first name and the answers to his politely probing personal questions straight to his "psychic" master. Your own imagination finishes the job for him. One famous US fraudulent faith healer had members of his audience fill out information about themselves on cards before they entered his show. Then using a radio and an earpiece his wife would read out this "unknowable" information from the cards and the healer would then make impossibly accurate diagnosis on members of the audience whom he had never spoken too. His miracles were all fraud.

Relying on reason you are entitled to ask for proof. Not a single case has yet been demonstrated anywhere.

The Thylacine

Re: It's all about collecting money - ExChristian.Net - Articles

the Thylacine — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 16:06:47 -0000

Yes, Saddam was a tyrant, he was guilty of violently supressing the same religious extremists that the US is having so much difficulty with right now. He was also guilty of running a totally free health care system for his citizens and a free education system that produced the highest rate of national literacy in the world.

Despite Saddam the people of Iraq owned their utilities system. Rightly or wrongly he maintained that dictatorship was necessary to defeat religion and allow secular development. Unlike his theocratic neigbours he didn't give a stuff about religion, except where it interfered with his dictatorship. He was never the threat to the U.S. that a deceitful U.S. President claimed. There was never any U.N. sanction for the U.S. action. Forget about the moral corruption of using military mail bags to deliver unneeded bibles. What about the screaming injustice being perpetrated in forcing military personnel to commit what has been called the most grievious of crimes against humanity, pursuing a war of aggression.

It doesn't matter a damn how much pride, patriotism and bravery a soldier gives to his country if his country turns him into a common criminal by demanding his service. That is an injustice and illegality truly worth raging against.

Saddam was a despot who did torture and treat those who opposed him in truly inhuman ways. So what's the difference for the average Iraqi tortured and shot by a dictator or tortured and shot by a "liberating" army that has only liberated the wealth of their country back to its own base? The casualty numbers favour Saddam, and that is a very great human tragedy.

While I agree that it is very wrong for the bible pushers to be getting a free ride of their tax paying countrymen and contrary to the laws of their land. Let's get some perspective here, how does that compare to breaking the No 1 (secular) International Law. The War itself is illegal, immoral and destroying the last vestiges of respect for what once was the greatest country in the world. I don't think that the average American has any idea, or if they even care, how far their nations stocks have fallen in the eyes of the rest of the world.

Travelling through Europe recently I became aware that all over Europe, including former Iron Curtain countries the average people have a confidence and feeling that they're special, better than most and they feel genuinely sorry for you because you're not one of them. It was precisely the same attitude I found in the U.S. in the early 80's. The most noticible difference occurred when people realised I was not American. Service instantly switched from perfunctionary to warmth and friendliness, prices tumbled and language difficulties were treated with patience and humor. The contrast was stark. Please, Americans realise what your regime has done to you. It is far more than useless bible transport that you are all paying for.

The Thylacine

Re: It's all about collecting money - ExChristian.Net - Articles

the Thylacine — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 16:07:17 -0000

Re: It's all about collecting money - ExChristian.Net - Articles

the Thylacine — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 23:59:00 -0000

sorry about the double post. I wish I could blame it of physical infirmity but incompetence will have to suffice.

The Thylacine

Re: We are the apple of God's eye - ExChristian.Net - Articles

the Thylacine — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 08:59:05 -0000

Thank yu for bringing that absolute classic back to our attention

The Thylacine

Re: Any Baha'i adherents here? - Letters to the Webmaster

the Thylacine — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 14:48:32 -0000

All religion is a crutch, and ultimately an illusory crutch. The Bahai gimmick is that it says all religions are OK and that all present a guiding wisdom. Universalising a falsehood doesn't render it true.

The Thylacine

Re: Music minister charged with armed bank robbery - ExChristian.Net - News and Opinion

the Thylacine — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 15:15:57 -0000

What if Pastor Jim stands up in court and claims that he prayed and prayed and god told him to rob the bank? What if his judge is a fundie like all the new appointees to the Supreme Court?

The Thylacine

Re: Take your god and shove him. - ExChristian.Net - Articles

the Thylacine — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 09:16:04 -0000

A very hearty old fashioned: Here here, Thank you Pat

The Thylacine

Re: http://exchristian.net/testimonies/2008/08/i-found-me-and-i-was-born-again.html

the Thylacine — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 07:56:29 -0000

I still can't work out why protestants still totally accept the vast majority of the contrived dogma of catholicism. The divinity of Jesus, his virgin birth and resurection were all decided by vote (with disenters permanently dispatched) yet no protestant denomination has ever picked up on these historically recorded events and laid the challenge at the Pope's feet. Instead they have fought to the death on methodology and minutae without ever asking the most obvious question.

The Thylacine

Re: All the Rage - ExChristian.Net - Articles

the Thylacine — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 08:13:36 -0000

Awbattlles: what on earth makes you thnk that you have to be christian to help out. That's a large part of the xtian delusion we here are trying to expose. Your so called christian morals (or goodness) is evident millenia before your religion ever came into being. In fact I have personally witmessed what could only be described as highly altruistic and moral behaviour amongst a group of Great Apes in Sydney's Taronga Park Zoo. So you presumptious claims find counter evidence from beyond xenophjobic homo sapiens.
The Thylacine

Re: What now? - Letters to the Webmaster

the Thylacine — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 12:40:34 -0000

I too don't have a definitive answer to your question.

The tactic I have recently adopted is to be as intransigent and intolerant of proslytisation as xtians are of the rights of others. I deny them their presumptive rights of imposing their wills on others without reciprocation.

For instance yesterday while in our main street (small town 8,000 pop) with my 19 year old daughter we were stopped by the mother of a former schoolmate of my daughter's. She claimed that she had something for my daughter and handed her a proslytising bookmark.

I asked by what right she handed out unwanted material and why she was trying to influence the thinking of some-one without first doing the courtesy af enquiring as to whether it was wanted or welcome. She replied that it was both her duty and her right to spread the love of god. So I asked her how she would feel if I foisted on her a bookmark proclaiming that god was a bullshit fairy tale for inadequate adults who were unable to think or act for themselves and therefore couldn't really claim to be adults or even be allowed to vote since they followed orders and failed as secular citizens of their country.

She was, of course, deeply offended, and, to her credit remained polite. Just as naturally she was absolutely flabbergasted that any-one would ever challenge her "right" to spread the word and her "right" to insist that others follow her beliefs. She told me that she thought that I was extremely rude. To which I pointed out that I thought her extremely rude act of preaching without the common courtesy of consent had evoked my response, so who was responsible for the discussion in the first place?Not me !!!

Her attempted argument was that the law of the land guaranteed freedom of religion. To which I replied that she was entitld to a secular privelige to practice any religion she chose. A right which no religious jurisdiction would ever agree since failure to follow theocratic rule is generally fatal. She had a right to practice, not to preach. Freedom of religion I argued includes the implied right of freedom from religion and how dare she preempt my thoughts and needs and attempt to impose her own will on my daughter and I.

She then said that I had no right to make the statements i had made. My reply, So xtianity assumes pre-eminence and doesn't support equal rights , that my lady is just one of many reasons you can shove it where the sun don't shine.

I don't think that I acheived anything except Daughter and I were still giggling over coffee 20 minutes later. Thee only thing that made it worthwhile was the incredulity of her expressions and her complete inability to grasp anything outside her own preconceptions. The biggest laugh came later last night when Daughter was contacted on Facebook by son of preacher lady (now in buybull college) and asked how a Divinity Phd. (I'm an Anthropologist and not a Phd.) could be so vile and anti Xtian. Daughter failed to contradict the incorrect academic speciality and replied that it wasn't just xtians in my sights. Son of a preacher lady disconnected.

Like an abusive and controlling spouse (which the Xtian god greatly resembles) I contend that agressors need to be told that they have overstepped the bounds of decency and that their behaviour is totally unacceptable. The abusive spouse analogy was deliberately chosen as abusers also have the same tendencies of presumption of right and inferiority of their victims. Abuse at any level in our society ought not be tolerated and we must work towards its eradicaton.

The Thylacine

Re: What now? - Letters to the Webmaster

the Thylacine — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 07:03:49 -0000

As an addendum to my first post. I'm currently engaged in a battle with the editors of our two local newspapers. One genuinely local and independant, the other a sideshow of a national group (OMFG I think ultimately its Murdock...[Fox] !!!) I have had formal meetings with both to demand the same space as currently given to the various local churches to offer assistance for those questioning their faith and present some "balance" in the religious pages. The reactions of both editors has been as comical as it was different. Whilst both editors agree that there are less than 1000 active church goers in town they are mindfull of the emotional, intense persistant, organised and voiciferous response that will certainly ensue should they publish a single paragraph from an athiest. The local editor/owner is openly fearful of the possible consequenses, yet She has very recently courageously allowed (and copped plenty of flack for it) BaHai, Hindu, A meditational group and Islamic contributors space on her pages. The editor of the national group flatly refused on the grounds that athiesm was non religion and didn't qualify. Both have now received phone calls from a fellow conspirator, lifelong friend and current Dean of Law at one of Oz's most prestigious law schools quoting the Constitution (Oz has similiar constitutional freedoms to the U.S.) and threatening pro bono support if I don't get what i ask. As they say the ball is now firmly in the other court and we are eagerly awaiting how much spin appears on the return.

Stay tuned, it could be fun

The Thylacine

Re: A Doe in the High Beams - ExChristian.Net - Articles

the Thylacine — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 13:51:42 -0000

What was it that a prime minister to the east of Alaska said about politics and bedrooms? Vale Trudeau.

I think that the biologist who attempt to explain obsession with virginity are culturally xenophobic. Though they might have a point. I think that obsession with virginity has more to do with male insecurity and primitive notions of "Birthright". It was terribly important to the aristocracy (and their self appointed modern equivelents) to procreate a "rightful heir" and that titles, property and privelige passed only to "legitimate offspring". The poor unwanted bastard child of the maidservant could never inherit and was thus punished for the sins of the father with biblical backing. How so xtainly just.

I worked for a while in the Solomon Islands and since things can vary quite markedly from tribal/linguistic group to group the picture I paint is with a very broad brush.

By and large the Melanesians are not concerned with material inheritance. In traditional society an individuals goods seldom lasted too long and since almost every-one could make them there was not a great deal of importance attatched to them. Society was what is termed avuncular. Whilst a husband had certain responsibilities to his wife (more particularly to her family) the ultimate responsibility for the wife's material well being fell upon her brothers (with and extended set of relationship rules to cater for women without brothers). Although fatherhood was known, children were seen as village assets and any adult could reprimand or teach (their respect for their kids puts much of the west to shame) So fatherhood wasn't as socially important as it is in our culture.

Teenage sex was considered part of growing up, as an elderly Meri (woman) explained to a purplexed newly arrived missionary, "There's nothing special about sex, all animals do it, it's fun, why would you want to stop it. Now humans, they're civilised, only humans share food, animals fight over food". The public sharing of food was (after suitable family negotiations and payment) the equivelant to becoming engaged. Or as my laconic first Honiarian boss put it. If you take a local lass out you can fuck her, but for christ's sake don't feed her unless you want to keep her for the rest of your life. The exact opposite of the society I had just left. Fucking was also out of the question for no other reason that 50 years since the Japanese and U.S. armies gratefully accepted the sexual hospitality of the locals the STD rate amongst islanders is over 90%...practising abstinece in a land of plenty is sorely trying. And I didn't need jebus to remain celibate...fear of "umbrellas" and penicillin injections are helpful.

It is common for a bride to be a mother several times over before she is married. After marriage monogamy is expected of both parties and indiscretion can result in very severe punishment. The children born before the marriage are accepted as being the children of the husband...even when the kids themselves know who their biological father is, when asked they will name their mother's husband as their "father".

Our houseboi, Anori, was a right character and a big time lothario. He had been having his way with most of the girls in a netball team when, much to our surprise, he announced his impending nuptials. Jumping to conclusions I suggested the name of the prettiest girl on the team. His reply was indicative of just how different the thought processes are. He said, "Not that barren bitch, she's never had a picanninny...I'm marrying Kadi, (a plain and somewhat bossy girl) She's got two and we're gonna be able to have plenty more". To the time I lost contact the marriage appeared stable and happy...there were seven more picaninnies.

As I said that's a very broad brush and probably anachronistic since it's 25years since I left. The men weren't sexually insecure and they didn't need to be certain of their offspring. Their fatherly duties encompassed all the children in the village/tribe. Their distress and organisation when looking for a lost child was absolutely heartwarming to watch. I don't think that there was a word for virginity in their language.

They are very right in allowing their teenagers to develop naturally and privately. I find the intrusion into the bedroom by western politics absolutely abhorrent. On another thread it mentioned that athiesism is an accepted norm in the UK Politics (as it is in most of Europe and here in Oz) , yet the English still insist on a politician's resignation if he is caught in a sexual infidelity. He can be gay, just don't play with anither man's wife.

If poor Bristol Palin is to be a sacrifice then let it be to the highlighting of the failure of Fundy ideology. I can feel for the kid as she wasn't asked and probably never had close parenting. To have a teenage fuckup headlining the world stage mut be very traumatic. I just hope that if the time comes when she needs a divorce that we can be of help to her when the fundy bastards begin their shunnng/ostracism games.

The Thylacine

Re: Verbal Smack-Down With a Fundy - ExChristian.Net - Articles

the Thylacine — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 12:18:26 -0000

Firstly, Sconner, I've never found any words that did any good in a situation as shit as yours. I'm half the world away but I'm right on your side. Your writing shows intellect and balls, both are needed. I think all of us wish you well in developing the strength to handle it.

Secondly you did right, very right even if the sole purpose was carthesis. The prepopserous presumption of an xttian right to proselytise particularly at times of tragedy, must be vigourously countered. It attacks xtianity at the very pinnacle of their sanctimosity. Take them down and don't offer first aid.

The very best to you

The Thylacine

Re: Bible sends frightening messages - Letters to the Webmaster

the Thylacine — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 12:58:42 -0000

I have to admit that I didn't finish reading Rick's reply, just scrolled down to read the commentaries...I can only stomach so much pseudo argument which is untranslatable into meaningful dialogue.

A point I would like to put to the discussion is an idea I had float into my head a very long time ago and that is that the 10 commandments are really laws of property. Wives and offspring were all the property of the patriach. Marriage was a transfer of property rights over a female, discussed and arranged as such. This interpretation leads to the conclusion that the "infallible 10 commandments" are merely admonitions to respect the property rights of a select group (patriarchs) and not the underlying basis of all morality as is espoused by xtianity. Lke most religious notions it is a flawed attempt to cover an entire canvasa with a single stroke of a brush, ie too much read into too little information.

The Thylacine

Re: You fools... this website is pathetic - Letters to the Webmaster

the Thylacine — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 07:05:00 -0000

Benny

Fuck off!, You are precisely why this site exists.

Thylacine

Re: I choose not to believe... - ExChristian.Net - Articles

the Thylacine — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 03:14:54 -0000

Strange how concepts can rapidly altain "gospell" truth. You only have to read any British based family geneology to discover that well into the 20th Century the term 'common law wife' occurs with great frequency. What that term really means was that the couple shacked up together and probably acted as and raised a family without the involvement of church or state. Children of such arrangements were not considered bastards and could generally hold their (albeit probably fairly low) place in society. For much of western history marriage was a private affiar negotiated between two families. Notions of romantic love, state licences and religious approval are actully very recent developments. A religious blessing of the union of two families would be a very natural and desirable part of any celebrations, but as is often the case with religious involvement once the foot was through the door the marriage ceremony itself became religiously based and the churches attempted total domination of the whole field. A very broadly brushed picture, but I hope you get my drift. Church (and State) have shoved their noses in a place where at least one Canadian Prime Minister regognised it had no right to be.

The Thylacine

Re: Just eight words on a billboard - ExChristian.Net - News and Opinion

the Thylacine — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 07:31:12 -0000

One of the key ingredients of domineering control is in keeping the victim off balance at all times. Never letting them be able to satisfy any given requirement. Xtianity has had almost two millenia of perfecting this destabilisation. Unrelenting pressure to never make a mistake, never be sure that you have not somehow offended the judge jury and executioner, constant 24/7 surveilance of absolutely everything including your innermost thoughts.

The victim ends up doing most of the abuser's work for them and begins the vicious cycle of shifting the goal posts on their own initiative. No wonder xtians are paranoid, seeing threat everywhere and in everything. It's part of their self induced destabilisation. Rationality is a very real threat, the merest whiff destroys their whole irrational base. The anger and violence follow as a defence to their mental *territoriality*.

Bring on the billboards, bus hoardings and sidewalk graffitti, for far too long there has been an unwritten rule that says that xtians can be unchallenged critics of anything they choose. Let them defend their indefensible rubbish. Challenge them at every opportunity, perhaps, one or two will actually listen to the drivel they are spouting and begin the journey through doubt to the salvation of reason.

The Thylacine

Re: Atheism Billboard Only Lasts a Few Days in Rancho Cucamonga - ExChristian.Net - News and Opinion

the Thylacine — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 08:41:01 -0000

How fast are we heading backwards? When John Lennon sang those words back in 1971 we all went out and bought the record. It was a number 3 hit, Rolling Stone voted it the third greatest song of all time and it ranks as one of the most played songs of the 20th century. A huge number of xtians must have paid money for it...why? Because of its self evident simplistic truth. And therein lies its threat.

Unfortunately for the world, more unfortunately for America, 20 of those intervening 37 years saw those in power need the conservative christian vote to survive in politics, giving credence to the self appointed theocratists which now bedevil you.
I wish you well in your long fight back to reason.

Damn those who presume they are privvy to the only universal truth, and support for your Founding Fathers, who had the courage of their Libertarian (not christian) ideals to make freedom of speech a cornerstone of their (and your) nation. Deliver to those who want to deny others freedom of speech, the message that if they are so scared of a line from an old song that they must prevent it being seen then their creed must be as weak as piss and undefendable. (which is exactly what it is)

To those who have the balls to protest I suggest the most powerful ghetto blaster you can find, a public address van would be better and play the song. I'm already imagining a world without self appointed sanctimonious censoring hypocrites.

The Thylacine

Re: Leaving the Bible Belt? - Letters to the Webmaster

the Thylacine — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 10:07:43 -0000

Gotta be No.3 for Australia. The majority are too laid back to even bother with religion. Church goers are well under 20% of the population. Any country that has a rebelious outlaw as its No 1 national hero has, at least, a good starting point. We also need more rationalists as we too still have problems with Xtian leaders now trying to force net nannies on us all. I really sympathise with your position but don't know whether changing locations will do that much to alter your circumstances.

I'm still trying to figure out how to demonstrate to these idiots that if heaven is going to be full of people like them, how close to their hell it must be. I prefer the notion of oblivion to the eternal bickering interference of sanctimonious hypocrites any day.

The Thylacine