8-9 Sep 2010
I woke up around 2:00 PM and took 1 piracetam and choline, and again at 6:00 PM and 10:00 PM. I managed to sleep for about 9 hours tonight, and had some kind of odd, lengthy and detailed dream about someone having a Christmas party. Why am I thinking about Christmas in September? Anyway, I have to adjust my sleep cycle to somewhat resemble that of a normal person, since this entire weekend is going to be pretty busy. My new aunt and uncle are flying in from the west coast tomorrow, and I'll get to meet them for the first time. They only know me via my videos. How's that for a first impression?
Some people have asked if I'll be doing about a video about the planned burning of Qur'ans, but I don't think that's really necessary. In brief, there's this small church in Florida called the Dove World Outreach Center (which is sort of like calling Eid al-Adha "Rational Humanism Day") that's been running lengthy campaigns against Gainesville's gay mayor, as well as claiming that "Islam is of the Devil". They're basically Florida's version of the Westboro Baptist Church - and they've actually joined with the WBC for protests. Their latest publicity stunt, after sending their children to school wearing shirts that say "Islam is of the Devil", is a mass burning of Qur'ans on the anniversary of 9/11.
This seems pretty obviously stupid. Their only motivation for doing it is that they think their God club is better than someone else's God club. There is no "devil" for anything to be "of" - it's as ridiculous as Harry Potter fans burning Twilight books. Some people have claimed that anyone who supported drawing Muhammad (which I did) should agree with this too (which I don't), but the key difference is that one was a response to threats by religious extremists against free expression, and the other is a pointless and idiotic event that's being hosted by religious extremists. Motives matter, and their reason for burning the Qur'an ("my imaginary friend can beat up your imaginary friend!") probably isn't something most of us would agree with. We can disagree vigorously with the content of the Qur'an without being required to support burning it, just like lots of us disagree with the Bible without also having to burn it.
I even have a Qur'an at hand - I felt it would be useful to get one, considering I already have a Bible - and I could certainly burn it if I wanted to. The thing is, I haven't finished reading it yet, and I want to learn more about how God forces people to disbelieve, keeps them from finding the "truth", and then punishes them for what he deceived them into believing. Seriously, that was on something like the second page. Why do Christians have a problem with the Qur'an, again?
I'm glad you made the comparison to the Draw Muhammad Day mentality in juxtaposition with this book immolation thing. I supported freedom of speech by posting Moham-Dead (an undead version of the Muslim prophet), but I definitely don't want to foment hatred for its own sake, which seems to be the case here.
- Morte.
it really does make me want to get a table, a can of lighter fluid, and a modest stack of bibles and see how the idiots feel about having their fairy tale book burned. However, it would be fruitless as they'd paint me as either a) a Muslim sympathizer, b) a Satanist or c) worst of all, an atheist. Which, if course I am. I just don't think they'd understand the lesson, though. Religious fundamentalism breeds tremendous stupidity.
Yes it does! The worst part is I have left Christianity years ago and the middle-of-nowhere Christian Fundamentalists in my family keep trying to convert me back, even when I have told them to cease and desist. Furthermore, and here's the kicker, The book of Hebrews in the New Testament clearly states than an apostate (which I am) cannot be saved again. So, giving the fundies the benefit of the doubt, I am going to hell. But, I do not believe in that anymore. There isn't a Hell for me to go to that I am aware of. There is only Infinity. If there actually is a soul (and I have some evidence to support that theory), then we most likely keep living on and on and on ad infinitum... at least til the Universe reaches thermodynamic equilibrium a few trillion years from now and no form of energy, let alone matter, and exist anymore. What happens then? Who knows?
Wait, you have evidence for the existence of souls? How is that even possible? I believe that to postulate the existence "souls" or an innate human essence is to drape reality in a shroud of anthropomorphism. To think that something such as essence evolved by means of natural process shows that you do not fully grasp evolutionary process adequately.
Since all species evolve, including humans, they can not have a fixed nature or soul, since they are merely the product of environmental factors. Humans do of course, determine part of their nature due to having evolved a higher degree of consciousness, as evidenced by our conception of, and displacement from, nature and it's laws. We posses a dualistic mind that is controlled by both our genes and our choosing or in some cases by social factors I.E memes (not lolcats).
All of these factors, coupled with the lack of evidence in support of souls or human essence, and more have been documented by modern science and philosophy and all reasoning, has lead to the same conclusion in a plurality of fields ranging from cosmology to cognitive psychology.
Also, you seem to be forgetting that if there is a soul it will not cease to exist if the universe reaches equilibrium because souls by definition, exist outside of time AND space, furthermore chances are this will not occur because if the universe has more mass then the force that has been expanding space since the big bang (given the amount of dark matter/energy in the universe this is very likely) the universe will end in less than a trillion years and collapse back in on itself, giving birthing to the cosmos again.
Great words, you always put them together so nicely. XD lol
I never understand christian chruches like this. WBC was always so stupid, but I'll give this florida chruch something, they really are digging themselves a deep hole fast.
I could understand a retaliation to book burning, but I don't think pointless burning of any printed book is worth it. No matter how stupid the contents of said books is.
Keep up the good job ZJ!
Ya know? I just so happen to live in Florida! I'm going to look up this church's information and plan a little fun to have with them, since I can't arbitrarily go out to the middle of nowhere, Kansas, just to fuck with the WBC. DWOC is closer and therefore more practical. Anyone who supports the destruction of Human Rights is my enemy and that means they are marked for protest and exposure as a hate-group. Freedom of Speech is a wonderful thing, but there is a point where it goes too far and I think the line should be drawn at an organisation that open says hateful things and performs hateful demonstrations. Refer to the WBC for exactly what I mean.
"anniversary of 9/11"?
Isn't that like asking when we celebrate the 4th of July? ;-)
First, how does one acquire a new aunt and uncle set? I know how to get one at a time, but not both, unless I owe you congratulations on tying the knot.
Regarding the book burning, it sounds like a yes they can, but no, they shouldn't - which is exactly like what a lot of people were saying about the Islamic community center being build near ground zero. They absolutely have the right to burn whatever paper products that they want, so long as the paper belongs to them. Gen. Petraeus is discouraging them from going through with their hate fest on the grounds that Muslims around the world will react with distrust, hatred and violence toward all Americans, including our troops in Afghanistan. He and others are saying that a small group of Americans shouldn't partake in their non-violent protest because large groups of Muslims will react violently towards other Americans. Now that I've heard more about the DWOC, I completely agree with you that this is a case of "my imaginary friend can beat up your imaginary friend, and he demands that I be an asshole to everyone who doesn't worship him the way I do." However, I still don't like that the threat of violent acts of retaliation are being used to discourage free speech. Makes me want to go into the local bookstore, buy a copy of everything in the religion and spirituality section, and have myself a nice bar-be-cue.
This is one of my concerns about the event that has yet to be mentioned: Where are they getting all these qurans? Probably either from a muslim institution, which will mean you're putting money into the hands of the people you're trying to denounce, or from some public book vendor, who gets their books from publishers, and if you publish qurans, you're probably at least paying money to a muslim instutition, or you are one yourself, in which case the same thing is going on.
I think it should be mentioned that if you buy every copy in the religion and spirituality section, it's going to be full again next week and you'll be handing over a big wad of cash to the people you are trying to offend. This doesn't strike me as a particularly good idea.
Of course, I said "a copy of everything," meaning one of each, not "every copy" of everything. And if I bought them from a used book store, I don't think anyone but the store owner would profit. But no, I'm not actually planning to throw a dime at that kind of symbolic action. I will agree with your point that buying something to burn it usually mean putting money into the hands of the opposition.
well you still can delete a copy of a religious (e)book you dislike from your HD (to get those(Download) usually costs you nothing)
;)
I wasn't sure if the "step-" prefix was applicable. Most people in my family have been married and remarried so many times it's a pain to keep track of who's technically what.
In that case, congratulations and best wishes to the lucky couple. I hope you like your new relatives.
You know, I almost want to get a group of people together to dress as students from Hogwarts and do a Publicity stunt for burning Twilight Books.
I agree with you, as much as I disagree with mainstream religions, I would not burn their "books" even knowing that they did burn "witches" for their beliefs! Keep up your good work on all of this I enjoy your point of view!
There should be a burn all religious books day. All religions are disgusting to me, some more than others. This would be an extremely mild offense compared to what christianity and islam get away with. I could care less about their feelings, I'm sure there are plenty of christians and muslims that would smile with glee to see me and people like me burn at the stake or be beheaded.