photo by Clare & James
How diverse is your circle of friends? Are you surrounded by people of one belief system? Do you ever avoid getting to know people with vastly different opinions and convictions—even without consciously doing so? Why or why not?
I don’t understand why someone would choose to discount an entire group of people because of their belief or non-belief in deities. Unfortunately, I see this happening on both sides of the theism debate.
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photo by Br Lawrence Lew, O.P.
I just enjoyed a talkative lunch with two hilarious, intelligent women. My tummy is jolly and full. Thanks, Qdoba!
Both ladies are passionate Christians, and eventually our discussion turned to amusing aspects of Mormonism. I admit it took a sort of sarcastic, mocking tone (my fault, perhaps, since I scoff rather openly), but I tried to use the opportunity to bring up aspects of Christianity that are also unbelievable and rather hilarious. For example:
Jonah and the whale. Supposedly, this prophet was swallowed by a whale and lived in its stomach for three days before being spat out. I said to one of my friends, “You have to admit, to an outsider, this seems pretty ridiculous.”
Protesting, she replied, “But at least there’s some scientific evidence that shows that there are big fish out there that can eat animals whole without them dying. Mormons believe weird things like they become gods and that you get your own planet or something.”
I could barely contain my laughter when I said, “I’d love to see those studies! I haven’t read them before.” Honestly, I would love to see the evidence that shows the literal interpretation is true. Who wouldn’t love to chillax in a gigantic pool of stomach acid without oxygen for that long and live to tell the tale?
Funny how one religion’s myth is ridiculous and laughable, while one’s own myth is “logical and scientific.”
Chuckling over her burrito, she concluded, “Sometimes you just have to shake yuor head and wonder, ‘How can anyone believe this junk?’”
My thoughts exactly.
The American Civil Liberties Union is suing a jail in South Carolina for restricting inmates’ reading material and thus violating their First Amendment rights. The only book they can read is a paperback Bible; no magazines, educational books, novels, or newspapers are allowed.
‘Our inmates are only allowed to receive soft back bibles in the mail directly from the publisher,’ First Sgt. K. Habersham noted in the e-mail. ‘They are not allowed to have magazines, newspapers, or any other type of books.’
How backwards is this policy? It keeps inmates from being educated, balanced thinkers in every way. Even if I was a Christian, I would hate it. People in all situations deserve to read and learn.
Is anyone else thinking this seems a lot like Shawshank Redemption?
(via christiannightmares)
One of the very best comic strips for laughing over religion, skepticism, politics, and science is the delightul Ape, Not Monkey by Jeffrey Weston. Often what Weston can illustrate in four panels is more than I could say in a long-winded blog post. Check out some of my favorite editions:
I also included Ape, Not Monkey in a previous edition of hilarious comic strips.
Meghan on 
LeetheGirl on 
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