Bordering on Ambivalence

I have no sense of ambiguity about the need to punish con artists. I am also certain that taking advantage of people is always unethical. I don't want there to be any doubt that I see the individuals being fleeced in the "Chinatown 'Blessing Scams'" as victims and the perpetrators as scumbag criminals. However, part of me has a hard time being all that sympathetic. The NPR news story only gives a few examples so I do not know all the details. Some of the elderly women targeted may not have their full mental faculties in which case it really is very tragic. I doubt that is true of all those who were scammed. The rest I find it difficult to feel that bad for since it occurred largely due to their own superstition fueled ignorance.

An Indirect Religious Argument for Gun Control

Actually this isn't an argument so much as an example or demonstration. Religious News Service had this short piece, "Pork-laced bullets designed to send Muslims straight ‘to hell’" The title pretty much says it all. As far as I can tell this is not meant as a joke. These dumb-ass twisted assholes are serious. Even if you were to give them the benefit of the doubt and assume they really are not that incredibly stupid it is still an amazingly crude ignorance laden spiteful gesture.

In any case this just seems to scream to be used as an example of why gun control is really a good idea. I am not opposed to the basic idea of gun ownership but I do think some common sense restrictions and regulations are in order. Little things like admitting that for the purpose of hunting or sport shooting fully automatic assault rifles and armor piercing bullets are completely unnecessary. I also find it a good rule of thumb to keep any and all weapons out of the hands of assholes like those behind things like "pork-laced bullets." If you're that fucking stupid and vicious you should not be allowed near fire arms let alone have the legal right to stock-pile them..

What's the Surprise?

Why is it surprising that a movie studio would resort to cheap antics to promote a film? Why is it surprising that a particular religion, Catholicism in this instance, is riddled with superstitious nonsense? There is nothing new in either of these. There have been plenty of movies that use exorcisms as its topic over the years. What makes The Devil Inside notable? Noting that the Vatican has not endorsed it is barely worth mentioning. Catholicism has always been two-faced when it comes to such matters.

The Vatican does still recognize exorcism. They do not generally talk about it in public if they can help it. However, there are still not only Catholic priests who perform exorcisms they are still being trained to perform this mumbo-jumbo. No matter how hard the church tries to modernize its image it is still as primitive and superstition laden as ever. I can't imagine how it would even be possible for the Catholic church to truly modernize since its most basic doctrines are by their nature antiquated gibberish. Original sin? Resurrection? Transubstantiation? All of it is just as fanciful as demonic possessions and exorcisms.

Here is a short sampling of articles on exorcism from the past few years.

"Surge in Satanism sparks rise in demand for exorcists, says Catholic Church"

"At Vatican Conference, Experts Debate Exorcism, Satanism And The Internet"

"Bishops' upcoming exorcism conference responds to queries about rite"

"What happens at exorcism school?"