The Devil Made Me

And here we have more fun with absurdist theist theatre, "Catholic Priest: Disbelief in the Devil main cause of atheism." That's right fellow non-theists, our beliefs, or lack there of, are the direct result of a theistic imaginary frenemy. The devil didn't just make me do something the red-hued horned one actually made me what I am. Good to know.

Since father's day is coming up, should I consider getting a card for Satan? Like usual, while reading this ridiculous piece a couple things popped into my. For a good hour, or so, I could not get out of my head either the Grateful dead song Friend of the Devil or one of the SNLChurch Lady's catch phrases, "Could it be SATAN?!"

Oh, and remember kids, If you believe in the Boogey Man you're not really a monotheist.

And in the Red corner, weighin in at....

It's always fun reading about Exorcisms. It is such a blatant crock of shit that it is truly astounding that so many still fall for that superstitious nonsense. Even more entertaining is that so many find it hard to understand why many non-believers view religion with disdain. Many Christian denominations, not just fringe ones, still officially recognize the devil and demons as being real. Seriously?!! And we're not suppose to make fun of that crap?!

A HuffPo repost of a recent AP story made me laugh. According to Ciaran Giles' "Exorcists Wanted: Madrid's Catholic Church Says It Needs More Trained Priests", "An archdiocese spokeswoman said Friday that Madrid only has one exorcist priest and that it is considering a plan to train more. She spoke on condition of anonymity in keeping with archdiocese policy. 'The devil exists. That's a fact,' she told The Associated Press."

I couldn't help picturing the stereotypical old bearded white guy in a boxing ring with a horned red skinned dude exchanging jabs while bobbing and weaving. Theists really need to get their shit together and make-up their mind once and for all whether God is perfect and all powerful or not. If you assume God exists and that God is perfect then there can be no "devil." Demons are as make believe as fairies and leprechauns. Until the church officially disavows this type of garbage there is no reason not to ridicule them for it.

The Devil Made Him Do It

I had been intentionally avoiding commenting on the Batman shooting but after Longenecker posted on Patheos and then was the subject of other posts on both Patheos and Huffington Post I found it too difficult note to at least write something brief. The most recent piece I have had the misfortune to have read is actually a repost from Religion News Service, "Rev. Dwight Longenecker: James Holmes, Alleged Aurora Shooter, Was Possessed By A Demon"

Put bluntly, if you actually believe in the Devil, demonic possession, and similar nonsense, you are not only a dangerously deluded asshole you are also in all likelihood a hypocrite and a liar. Christians who accept that  Satan is a a real entity independent of God are not monotheists*. More importantly, they actively use scapegoats rather than accept responsibility. Not the type of individuals I would ever trust. If they can blame invisible forces whenever it suits them why should anyone ever trust or respect them?



* I posted something along this line previously. January 28, 2012's "What's the Surprise?"