Quote of the Day

“And do not argue with the People of the Book otherwise than in a most kindly manner…”

(Al-`Ankabut 29:46)

“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness."”

(Matthew 23:27)

Lost Shepheards?

It has been and is said that the Church of England is the Tory Party at Prayer. That may even have been true... once: but that was then and this is now.

It is certainly true that the C of E might reasonably said to represent the “Establishment”, or rather the left wing 'hard of thinking' elite at prayer.

Well it might… except that generally, the left wing elite don’t have much time, or use for prayer. It is ok for the proles you understand - sotto voce. But the thing about the left wing elite is they always imagine themselves on top.. in charge.. the Vicar rather than the flock. In positions of power handing down “wisdom” from the mount to the admiringly grateful, but sadly unable to quite see what is best for them, populace.

In the interminable run up to this fixed term election the C of E seems to be becoming more and more overtly partisanly political. It was interesting to note they were urging business to apparently maximise their UK tax liability? Well that was what it practically amounted to - whilst (of course) being effectively exempt from paying tax themselves. 'whit′ed sep′ulcher' springs to mind...

...or it would, if they hadn't changed it to 'whitewashed tomb', less poetic language - but "modern".
Apparently easily enough understood by generations who never had the benefit of Comprehensive state education.

Do they imagine unleashing their vast hoards of fanatical believers (they wish) to vote the churche’s political line will have much impact?

One suspects that whilst their pronouncements may seem significant in the Westminster village they have less impact than vapour trails on the populace in general. At least a small proportion of the voting public do seriously believe that vapour trails are a CIA conspiracy, perhaps a few might take their lead from Welby & Co. ?

Perhaps it is time to disestablish the Church of England as Nick Clegg has called for? It is questionable that they, or indeed any religion, should be allowed to retain such a position.

Better to concern themselves with diminishing flocks, abandoned Churches in the UK and rampant Christianophobia throughout the bible lands and middle east, driving the religious cleansing of Christians fourth from their homelands. So much for respect of 'people of the book'. More whit′ed sep′ulchers anybody?

Quote of the day

“Admittedly, there is a risk in any course we follow other than this, but every lesson in history tells us that the greater risk lies in appeasement, and this is the specter our well-meaning liberal friends refuse to face.”

Ronald Regan

Yo Momma...

Pope Francis is “pontificating” over the Paris Massacres in Sri Lanka on a trip that focused on “inclusion” and “Harmony” between religions.

Pontificating - That’s what Popes do you’ll be thinking, practically part of the job description.

No one is saying he is not a nice, well meaning man. That is what he ought to be and history might have been less bloody if some of his predecessors were more like him in that. On the other hand maybe not, who knows.

Specifically he has been commenting on the Charlie Hebdo aspect of the apparently religiously motivated Paris murders/killings.

Presumably the massacre of Jews, simply because they are Jews does not quite fit within his homily. Those murdered French people – blameless Parisians who also happened to be of the Jewish faith - "move along, no insults to see here folks".

He seems to simply sign up without question to the Islamicist argument that any depiction of Mohammed at all is an insult to Islam. If it is actually in bad taste or an insult seems to be irrelevant.

Pope Francis suggests that some sort of physical and violent action (a bloody nose) is actually somehow appropriate to a perceived insult as long as it falls short of an actually fatal response

He goes on to say that; “One cannot provoke, one cannot insult other people’s faith, one cannot make fun of faith.”

One question that immediately arises is  - why? Why one can’t point out the inherent illogicality and ridiculousness of some aspects of a faith or belief, or mutual contradictions, or two faced practitioners, or moral contradictions – Exactly? 

What, dare I ask, makes belief based on some aspect of religion - no matter how sincerely held so…  for want of a better word.. sacred? 

 No one would reasonably expect similar preference and deference to politically based beliefs - except perhaps the apparent British devotion to it’s National Health Service :-)

Many Nazies apparently sincerely believed in racial superiority, a master race. Would anyone now suggest that belief should not be questioned, possibly made fun of?

It seems to me that Pope Francis is skating dangerously close to saying that a physically violent response to a perceived insult - intended or not - to a person’s religion is acceptable. He just feels that actually killing people is too extreme. Conceding that, “To kill in the name of God is an aberration.”.

It seems to me that an all powerful and omnipotent being who created the cosmos would be able to take note of…  and casually mention at some later accounting if he/she felt any behaviour - was “inappropriate”, that they would not be even a tiny bit insecure or thin skinned. Further that a person truly convinced of their own faith ought to view any so-called insult as pathetically risible and beneath their notice.

Maybe the Holy Father should Google “Yo Momma” before he punches anyone out. An art form all on its own - Just sayin man…

Notice: this is in no way intended to the Pope's Mother, any parent of any senior religious figure, any person living or dead. Any resemblance is coincidental and it is intended simply as an example of the art form.

~

Yo mama so poor I saw her holding a penny and I asked "Whatcha doing with that?" and she said "What’s it look like dummy?  Taking my life savings to the bank!"

Je pense donc je suis... Charlie

 

Not much else to say - or maybe an entire essay?

What is it paints a thousand word? Oh Yes...