Which is not to say that I don't enjoy Christmas music. There's actually several Secular Songs, and even some Christmas Carols and Hymns that I tend to embrace with sentimental affection. Not for their spiritual value, of course, but rather because they tend to stimulate fond memories of my youth and innocence.
Of course, having sung in the choir from fourth through eighth grade at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in the Bronx, didn't hurt.
In fact my indoctrination was so thorough that I still remember both the Latin and English versions of most popular Christmas Carols.
As an Agnostic Adult however, I choose to ignore the lyrics and let the music and melodies take me back to a more carefree era. Much like Bette Davis I tend to "Adore Cheap Sentiment" and since newer Christmas tunes have no such reminiscent or emotional attachment to me. I do find their lyrics harder to digest.
The following holiday tune by Tim Minchin is a notable exception. It really is a song that even an Agnostic like me can relate to. It's a little low-key and perhaps even a little long, but I definitely identify with the sentiment. Take a few minutes to watch and listen to the video. I think you'll enjoy it too. I also posted the lyrics below.
For those of you who are interested or perhaps may even want to sing along, here's the lyrics...
White Wine in the Sun
Music and Lyrics by
Tim Minchin
I really like Christmas
It's sentimental, I know, but I just really like it
I am hardly religious
I'd rather break bread with Dawkins than Desmond Tutu, to be honest
And yes, I have all of the usual objections
To consumerism, the commercialisation of an ancient religion
To the Westernisation of a dead Palestinian
Press-ganged into selling Playstations and beer
But I still really like it
I'm looking forward to Christmas
Though I'm not expecting a visit from Jesus
I'll be seeing my dad
My brother and sisters, my gran and my mum
They'll be drinking white wine in the sun
I'll be seeing my dad
My brother and sisters, my gran and my mum
They'll be drinking white wine in the sun
I don't go in for ancient wisdom
I don't believe just 'cos ideas are tenacious it means they are worthy
I get freaked out by churches
Some of the hymns that they sing have nice chords but the lyrics are spooky
And yes I have all of the usual objections
To the miseducation of children who, in tax-exempt institutions,
Are taught to externalise blame
And to feel ashamed and to judge things as plain right and wrong
But I quite like the songs
I'm not expecting big presents
The old combination of socks, jocks and chocolate is just fine by me
Cos I'll be seeing my dad
My brother and sisters, my gran and my mum
They'll be drinking white wine in the sun
I'll be seeing my dad
My brother and sisters, my gran and my mum
They'll be drinking white wine in the sun
And you, my baby girl
My jetlagged infant daughter
You'll be handed round the room
Like a puppy at a primary school
And you won't understand
But you will learn someday
That wherever you are and whatever you face
These are the people who'll make you feel safe in this world
My sweet blue-eyed girl
And if, my baby girl
When you're twenty-one or thirty-one
And Christmas comes around
And you find yourself nine thousand miles from home
You'll know what ever comes
Your brother and sisters and me and your Mum
Will be waiting for you in the sun
Whenever you come
Your brothers and sisters, your aunts and your uncles
Your grandparents, cousins and me and your mum
We'll be waiting for you in the sun
Drinking white wine in the sun
Darling, when Christmas comes
We'll be waiting for you in the sun
Drinking white wine in the sun
Waiting for you in the sun
Waiting for you...
Waiting...
I really like Christmas
It's sentimental, I know...
Please feel free to comment below, ( just click on the word "Comments" if the panel is not open). And don't forget to check out my original blog Just Thinking
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Monday, December 20, 2010
"Don't Ask Don't Tell" Repeal and Controversy, Shows us More Examples of Christian Love!
U.S. Naval Chaplain Gordon Klingenschmidt, is so outraged by the repeal of "DADT" that he states the following...
"Homosexual Sin Will Always Be a Stench in the Nostrils of Almighty God, an Abomination Which God Condemns and Shall Punish with Everlasting Destruction and Damnation. Even If the Senate Had Voted 100 to 0 to Legalize Sin, They Could Not Remove God from His Throne of Judgment, before Which Every Knee Shall Bow, and Every Tongue Confess That Jesus Christ Is Lord."
The U.S. Navy chaplain is apparently not alone, with such loving Christian thoughts. Similar sentiments are evidently shared by all of the following Christian groups...
National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference,
Teen Mania Ministries,
American Association of Christian Counselors,
Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission,
American Family Association,
Family Research Council;
Liberty Counsel,
Liberty Alliance Action,
Vision America,
The Oak Initiative,
The Call to Action,
Concerned Women for America,
High Impact Leadership Coalition,
Campaign for Working Families,
Conservative Action Project,
Traditional Values Coalition,
Renewing American Leadership,
Conservative HQ, Constitution Party,
Bott Radio Network, Center for Military Readiness.
Who have all signed on to a letter from the Liberty Counsel's Matt Staver who states the following...
"This action will be overturned in the next Congress!"
"This vote will prove as costly to its proponents as ObamaCare was to its advocates. We promise a full mobilization of Faith-Based Organizations, in the states of every Senator who voted for repeal of DADT against our advice. Those Senators - and the Pentagon leaders responsible for this breach of trust - should understand that they will be the object of concerted political action against them."
So far, hundreds of different, so called, "Religious Groups" have expressed outrage at the repeal of the Military's "Don't Ask Don't Tell" Policy.
Including a chorus of Orthodox Rabbis who have expressed similar sentiments.
Can you imagine, All of This Hate and Intolerance in the Name of God?
Christians, regardless of denomination, are by definition supposed to preach, and practice the teachings of Jesus Christ.
You remember Christ, don't you?
He was that Pacifist Jewish Rabbi from the New Testament that became known as the "Prince of Peace".
The one who taught love thy neighbor as thyself.
The humble man who believed in turning the other cheek, and taught us not to judge, lest we be judged.
Not to mention the time; when that loving, tolerant and compassionate Christ came to the defense of a prostitute in the street by saying "Let He Who Has Not Sinned Cast the First Stone".
Now I ask you, does the Hateful, Homophobic Rhetoric we've been hearing about "Don't Ask Don't Tell" represent anything remotely similar to the peaceful teachings of Jesus Christ.
It Seems Rather Cliché at This Point, but Once Again, I Feel Compelled to Remind the Religious Right -
Hate and Intolerance Are Not Family Values!
AgnosticThinking...
Please feel free to comment below, ( just click on the word comments if the panel is not open) And don't forget to check out my original blog Just Thinking...
 |
| Gordon Klingenschmidt |
"Homosexual Sin Will Always Be a Stench in the Nostrils of Almighty God, an Abomination Which God Condemns and Shall Punish with Everlasting Destruction and Damnation. Even If the Senate Had Voted 100 to 0 to Legalize Sin, They Could Not Remove God from His Throne of Judgment, before Which Every Knee Shall Bow, and Every Tongue Confess That Jesus Christ Is Lord."
The U.S. Navy chaplain is apparently not alone, with such loving Christian thoughts. Similar sentiments are evidently shared by all of the following Christian groups...
National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference,
Teen Mania Ministries,
American Association of Christian Counselors,
Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission,
American Family Association,
Family Research Council;
Liberty Counsel,
Liberty Alliance Action,
Vision America,
The Oak Initiative,
The Call to Action,
Concerned Women for America,
High Impact Leadership Coalition,
Campaign for Working Families,
Conservative Action Project,
Traditional Values Coalition,
Renewing American Leadership,
Conservative HQ, Constitution Party,
Bott Radio Network, Center for Military Readiness.
Who have all signed on to a letter from the Liberty Counsel's Matt Staver who states the following...
 |
| Matt Staver |
"This action will be overturned in the next Congress!"
"This vote will prove as costly to its proponents as ObamaCare was to its advocates. We promise a full mobilization of Faith-Based Organizations, in the states of every Senator who voted for repeal of DADT against our advice. Those Senators - and the Pentagon leaders responsible for this breach of trust - should understand that they will be the object of concerted political action against them."
So far, hundreds of different, so called, "Religious Groups" have expressed outrage at the repeal of the Military's "Don't Ask Don't Tell" Policy.
Including a chorus of Orthodox Rabbis who have expressed similar sentiments.
Can you imagine, All of This Hate and Intolerance in the Name of God?
Christians, regardless of denomination, are by definition supposed to preach, and practice the teachings of Jesus Christ.
You remember Christ, don't you?
He was that Pacifist Jewish Rabbi from the New Testament that became known as the "Prince of Peace".
The one who taught love thy neighbor as thyself.
The humble man who believed in turning the other cheek, and taught us not to judge, lest we be judged.
Not to mention the time; when that loving, tolerant and compassionate Christ came to the defense of a prostitute in the street by saying "Let He Who Has Not Sinned Cast the First Stone".
Now I ask you, does the Hateful, Homophobic Rhetoric we've been hearing about "Don't Ask Don't Tell" represent anything remotely similar to the peaceful teachings of Jesus Christ.
It Seems Rather Cliché at This Point, but Once Again, I Feel Compelled to Remind the Religious Right -
Hate and Intolerance Are Not Family Values!
AgnosticThinking...
Please feel free to comment below, ( just click on the word comments if the panel is not open) And don't forget to check out my original blog Just Thinking...
Sunday, December 19, 2010
John McCain Goes from Moderate to Maniac!
As some political pundits and People For the American Way PFAW have recently pointed out, Senator John McCain has been acting real peculiar lately...
The once Relatively Reasonable and Moderate Republican has been catering more and more to the Conservative Religious Right within his party.
Has the Aging Arizona Senator Finally Succumb to Senior Dementia or is this just Shrewd Political Strategy on His Part?
Even though the vast majority of Americans supported ending Don't Ask Don't Tell ( DADT ) the far Religious Right of the Republican Party was intractably opposed to extending any rights at all to Lesbian and Gay Americans and John McCain obviously wants to stay in their good graces. Hence all the shifting rationale and furious attacks.
Just take a look at some of the vitriol and angry responses that has been coming from the Religious Right of the Republican Party.
Bryan Fischer of The American Family Association: "The new Marine motto: 'The Few, the Proud, the Sexually Twisted.' Good luck selling that to strong young males who would otherwise love to defend their country. What virile young man wants to serve in a military like that?"
Tony Perkins of The Family Research Council: "It is clear why this was done: not to enhance the military's ability to accomplish its mission or to enhance national security. Rather, it is a political payoff to a tiny, but loud and wealthy, part of the Democratic base."
Peter LaBarbara from The Americans For Truth About Homosexuality: "If the lame-duck Congress succeeds in ‘gaying down' our military this weekend, it will take a disastrous leap toward “mainstreaming” deviant, sinful homosexual conduct."
These aren't fringe figures in the Religious Right movement. They are important figures in the GOP, and John McCain is eager to please and cater to their bigoted agenda. John McCain is a "Survivor" after all, and right now he's definitely in survivor mode.
So If That Means Flip-Flopping on Veterans Benefits, Immigration, Gays in the Military, Health Care, Survivor Benefits for Victims of 9/11 or Medical Benefits for the First Responders to 9/11. The Republican Religious Right Can Count on John McCain.
Please feel free to comment below, ( just click on the word "Comments" if the panel is not open). And don't forget to check out my original blog Just Thinking
The once Relatively Reasonable and Moderate Republican has been catering more and more to the Conservative Religious Right within his party.
Has the Aging Arizona Senator Finally Succumb to Senior Dementia or is this just Shrewd Political Strategy on His Part?
Even though the vast majority of Americans supported ending Don't Ask Don't Tell ( DADT ) the far Religious Right of the Republican Party was intractably opposed to extending any rights at all to Lesbian and Gay Americans and John McCain obviously wants to stay in their good graces. Hence all the shifting rationale and furious attacks.
Just take a look at some of the vitriol and angry responses that has been coming from the Religious Right of the Republican Party.
Bryan Fischer of The American Family Association: "The new Marine motto: 'The Few, the Proud, the Sexually Twisted.' Good luck selling that to strong young males who would otherwise love to defend their country. What virile young man wants to serve in a military like that?"
Tony Perkins of The Family Research Council: "It is clear why this was done: not to enhance the military's ability to accomplish its mission or to enhance national security. Rather, it is a political payoff to a tiny, but loud and wealthy, part of the Democratic base."
Peter LaBarbara from The Americans For Truth About Homosexuality: "If the lame-duck Congress succeeds in ‘gaying down' our military this weekend, it will take a disastrous leap toward “mainstreaming” deviant, sinful homosexual conduct."
These aren't fringe figures in the Religious Right movement. They are important figures in the GOP, and John McCain is eager to please and cater to their bigoted agenda. John McCain is a "Survivor" after all, and right now he's definitely in survivor mode.
So If That Means Flip-Flopping on Veterans Benefits, Immigration, Gays in the Military, Health Care, Survivor Benefits for Victims of 9/11 or Medical Benefits for the First Responders to 9/11. The Republican Religious Right Can Count on John McCain.
Please feel free to comment below, ( just click on the word "Comments" if the panel is not open). And don't forget to check out my original blog Just Thinking
Monday, October 4, 2010
The Entire Pew U.S. Religious Knowledge Survey
In a previous blog post, I discussed the results of this "Pew U.S. Religious Knowledge Survey". Since some of you expressed an interest in taking it and since the entire survey (all 32 questions) seems to be so difficult to find online I thought I would take the time to post it here.
So if you're interested in taking the entire survey get a pencil and paper and be prepared to keep track of your answers. Be sure to write them down. The correct answers will be given at the end.
Ready? Well here we go...
Question #1. Will you tell me the names of the first four books of the New Testament of the Bible, that is the Four Gospels?
This is not a multiple choice question. Write your answers down, and the correct answers will be found at the bottom of the survey.
(If you get all four correct, you get one point. If you get some of them wrong, give yourself a fraction of a point.)
#2. What is the first book of the Bible?
This is not a multiple choice question.
Please jot your answer down and go to the next question
#3. Do you happen to know the name of the holy book of Islam?
This is not a multiple choice question.
Write your answer down, and go to the next question
#4. Which one of these preachers participated in the period of religious activity known as the First Great Awakening?
A) Billy Graham
B) Jonathan Edwards
C) Charles Finney
D) Don't know
#5. What was the name of the person whose writings and actions inspired the Protestant Reformation?
A) Martin Luther
B) Thomas Aquinas
C) John Wesley
D) Don't know
#6. Do you happen to know what religion most people in Pakistan consider themselves?
A) Buddhist
B) Hindu
C) Muslim
D) Christian
#7. Do you happen to know what religion most people in Indonesia consider themselves?
A) Buddhist
B) Hindu
C) Muslim
D) Christian
#8. According to rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court, is a public school teacher permitted to offer a class comparing the world's religions?
A) Yes
B) No
C) Don't know
#9. According to rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court, is a public school teacher permitted to read from the Bible as an example of literature?
A) Yes
B) No
C) don't know
10. Do you happen to know what religion most people in India consider themselves?
A) Buddhist
B) Hindu
C) Muslim
D) Christian
11. According to rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court, is a public school teacher permitted to lead a class in prayer?
A) Yes
B) No
C) Don't know
12. Which of the following statements best describes what the U.S. Constitution (including amendments) says about religion?
A) Christianity should be given special emphasis by the government
B) The government shall neither establish a religion nor interfere with the practice of religion
C) The Constitution does not say anything one way or the other about religion
D) Don’t know
13. Would you tell me if Maimonides was ... ?
A) Catholic
B) Jewish
C) Buddhist
D) Mormon
E) Hindu
14. Would you tell me if Joseph Smith was ...?
A) Catholic
B) Jewish
C) Buddhist
D) Mormon
E) Hindu
F) Don't know
15. Would you tell me if the Dalai Lama is ...?
A) Catholic
B) Jewish
C) Buddhist
D) Mormon
E) Hindu
F) Don't know
16. Would you tell me if Mother Teresa was ...
A) Jewish
B) Catholic
C) Buddhist
D) Mormon
E) Hindu
F) Don't know
17. Which Bible figure is most closely associated with willingness to sacrifice his son for God?
A) Job
B) Elijah
C) Moses
E) Abraham
18. Which Bible figure is most closely associated with leading the exodus from Egypt
A) Job
B) Elijah
C) Moses
D) Abraham
19. Which Bible figure is most closely associated with remaining obedient to God despite suffering?
A) Job
B) Elijah
C) Moses
D) Abraham
20. Please tell me which of the following is NOT one of the Ten Commandments?
A) Do not commit adultery
B) Do unto others as you would have them do unto you
C) Do not steal
D) Keep the Sabbath holy
21. Which of these religious groups traditionally teaches that salvation comes through faith alone?
A) Only Protestants
B) Only Catholics
C) Both Protestants and Catholics
D) Neither Protestants nor Catholics
22. Which of the following best describes Catholic teaching about the bread and wine used for Communion?
A) The bread and wine actually become the body and blood of Jesus Christ
B) The bread and wine are symbols of the body and blood of Jesus Christ
C) Other
D) Don't know
23. The Book of Mormon tells the story of Jesus Christ appearing to people in what area of the world?
A) The Americas
B) Middle East
C) Asia
D) Don't know
24. When was the Mormon religion founded?
A) Before the year 1200 A.D.
B) Between 1200 and 1800
C) Sometime after 1800
D) Don't know
25. Where, according to the Bible, was Jesus born?
A) Bethlehem
B) Jericho
C) Jerusalem
D) Nazareth
E) Don’t know
26. What is an agnostic?
A) Someone who believes in God
B) Someone who does NOT believe in God
C) Someone who is unsure whether God exists
D) Don't know
27. What is an atheist?
A) Someone who believes in God
B) Someone who does NOT believe in God
C) Someone who is unsure whether God exists
D) Don't know
28. In which religion are Vishnu and Shiva central figures?
A) Islam
B) Hinduism
C) Taoism
D) Don't know
29. Which of these religions aims at nirvana, the state of being free from suffering?
A) Islam
B) Buddhism
C) Hinduism
D) Don't know
30. Do you happen to know which of these is the king of gods in ancient Greek mythology?
A) Zeus
B) Mars
C) Apollo
D) Don't know
31. What is Ramadan?
A) The Hindu festival of lights
B) A Jewish day of atonement
C) The Islamic holy month
D) Don't know
And Now the Final Question!
#32. When does the Jewish Sabbath begin?
A) Friday
B) Saturday
C) Sunday
D) Don't know
Congratulations! You've completed the Survey!!
Well, how do you think you did?
Are You Smarter Than an Atheist?
That's right, according to pew researchers Agnostics and Atheists scored highest on this survey. Jews came in a very close second.
The correct answers are as follows...
1) Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John (take a quarter of a point for each correct answer)
2) Genesis
3) Quran
4) B - Jonathan Edwards
5) A - Martin Luther
6) C - Muslim
7) C - Muslim
8) A - Yes
9) A - Yes
10) B - Hindu
11) B - No
12) B - The government shall neither establish a religion nor interfere with the practice of religion
13) B - Jewish
14) D - Mormon
15) C -Buddhist
16) B -Catholic
17) E - Abraham
18) C - Moses
19) A - Job
20) B - Do unto others as you would have them do unto you
21) A - Only Protestants
22) A - The bread and wine actually become the body and blood of Jesus Christ
23) A - The Americas
24) C - Sometime after 1800
25) A - Bethlehem
26) C - Someone who is unsure whether God exists*
27) B- Someone who does NOT believe in God*
28) B - Hinduism
29) B - Buddhism
30) A - Zeus
31) C - The Islamic holy month
32) A - Friday
* Some might disagree with Pew's characterization of atheism and agnosticism. Strictly speaking, atheism is the belief that God does not exist. Agnosticism, a term coined in 1869 by English biologist T.H. Huxley, is the belief that the existence of God is unknowable.
So Tell Me, How Did You Do?
Be Sure to Leave a Comment below and Let Me Know.
So if you're interested in taking the entire survey get a pencil and paper and be prepared to keep track of your answers. Be sure to write them down. The correct answers will be given at the end.
Ready? Well here we go...
This is not a multiple choice question. Write your answers down, and the correct answers will be found at the bottom of the survey.
(If you get all four correct, you get one point. If you get some of them wrong, give yourself a fraction of a point.)
#2. What is the first book of the Bible?
This is not a multiple choice question.
Please jot your answer down and go to the next question
#3. Do you happen to know the name of the holy book of Islam?
This is not a multiple choice question.
Write your answer down, and go to the next question
#4. Which one of these preachers participated in the period of religious activity known as the First Great Awakening?
A) Billy Graham
B) Jonathan Edwards
C) Charles Finney
D) Don't know
#5. What was the name of the person whose writings and actions inspired the Protestant Reformation?
A) Martin Luther
B) Thomas Aquinas
C) John Wesley
D) Don't know
#6. Do you happen to know what religion most people in Pakistan consider themselves?
A) Buddhist
B) Hindu
C) Muslim
D) Christian
#7. Do you happen to know what religion most people in Indonesia consider themselves?
A) Buddhist
B) Hindu
C) Muslim
D) Christian
#8. According to rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court, is a public school teacher permitted to offer a class comparing the world's religions?
A) Yes
B) No
C) Don't know
#9. According to rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court, is a public school teacher permitted to read from the Bible as an example of literature?
A) Yes
B) No
C) don't know
10. Do you happen to know what religion most people in India consider themselves?
A) Buddhist
B) Hindu
C) Muslim
D) Christian
11. According to rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court, is a public school teacher permitted to lead a class in prayer?
A) Yes
B) No
C) Don't know
12. Which of the following statements best describes what the U.S. Constitution (including amendments) says about religion?
A) Christianity should be given special emphasis by the government
B) The government shall neither establish a religion nor interfere with the practice of religion
C) The Constitution does not say anything one way or the other about religion
D) Don’t know
13. Would you tell me if Maimonides was ... ?
A) Catholic
B) Jewish
C) Buddhist
D) Mormon
E) Hindu
14. Would you tell me if Joseph Smith was ...?
A) Catholic
B) Jewish
C) Buddhist
D) Mormon
E) Hindu
F) Don't know
15. Would you tell me if the Dalai Lama is ...?
A) Catholic
B) Jewish
C) Buddhist
D) Mormon
E) Hindu
F) Don't know
16. Would you tell me if Mother Teresa was ...
A) Jewish
B) Catholic
C) Buddhist
D) Mormon
E) Hindu
F) Don't know
17. Which Bible figure is most closely associated with willingness to sacrifice his son for God?
A) Job
B) Elijah
C) Moses
E) Abraham
18. Which Bible figure is most closely associated with leading the exodus from Egypt
A) Job
B) Elijah
C) Moses
D) Abraham
19. Which Bible figure is most closely associated with remaining obedient to God despite suffering?
A) Job
B) Elijah
C) Moses
D) Abraham
20. Please tell me which of the following is NOT one of the Ten Commandments?
A) Do not commit adultery
B) Do unto others as you would have them do unto you
C) Do not steal
D) Keep the Sabbath holy
21. Which of these religious groups traditionally teaches that salvation comes through faith alone?
A) Only Protestants
B) Only Catholics
C) Both Protestants and Catholics
D) Neither Protestants nor Catholics
22. Which of the following best describes Catholic teaching about the bread and wine used for Communion?
A) The bread and wine actually become the body and blood of Jesus Christ
B) The bread and wine are symbols of the body and blood of Jesus Christ
C) Other
D) Don't know
23. The Book of Mormon tells the story of Jesus Christ appearing to people in what area of the world?
A) The Americas
B) Middle East
C) Asia
D) Don't know
24. When was the Mormon religion founded?
A) Before the year 1200 A.D.
B) Between 1200 and 1800
C) Sometime after 1800
D) Don't know
25. Where, according to the Bible, was Jesus born?
A) Bethlehem
B) Jericho
C) Jerusalem
D) Nazareth
E) Don’t know
26. What is an agnostic?
A) Someone who believes in God
B) Someone who does NOT believe in God
C) Someone who is unsure whether God exists
D) Don't know
27. What is an atheist?
A) Someone who believes in God
B) Someone who does NOT believe in God
C) Someone who is unsure whether God exists
D) Don't know
28. In which religion are Vishnu and Shiva central figures?
A) Islam
B) Hinduism
C) Taoism
D) Don't know
29. Which of these religions aims at nirvana, the state of being free from suffering?
A) Islam
B) Buddhism
C) Hinduism
D) Don't know
30. Do you happen to know which of these is the king of gods in ancient Greek mythology?
A) Zeus
B) Mars
C) Apollo
D) Don't know
31. What is Ramadan?
A) The Hindu festival of lights
B) A Jewish day of atonement
C) The Islamic holy month
D) Don't know
And Now the Final Question!
#32. When does the Jewish Sabbath begin?
A) Friday
B) Saturday
C) Sunday
D) Don't know
Congratulations! You've completed the Survey!!
Well, how do you think you did?
Are You Smarter Than an Atheist?
That's right, according to pew researchers Agnostics and Atheists scored highest on this survey. Jews came in a very close second.
The correct answers are as follows...
1) Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John (take a quarter of a point for each correct answer)
2) Genesis
3) Quran
4) B - Jonathan Edwards
5) A - Martin Luther
6) C - Muslim
7) C - Muslim
8) A - Yes
9) A - Yes
10) B - Hindu
11) B - No
12) B - The government shall neither establish a religion nor interfere with the practice of religion
13) B - Jewish
14) D - Mormon
15) C -Buddhist
16) B -Catholic
17) E - Abraham
18) C - Moses
19) A - Job
20) B - Do unto others as you would have them do unto you
21) A - Only Protestants
22) A - The bread and wine actually become the body and blood of Jesus Christ
23) A - The Americas
24) C - Sometime after 1800
25) A - Bethlehem
26) C - Someone who is unsure whether God exists*
27) B- Someone who does NOT believe in God*
28) B - Hinduism
29) B - Buddhism
30) A - Zeus
31) C - The Islamic holy month
32) A - Friday
* Some might disagree with Pew's characterization of atheism and agnosticism. Strictly speaking, atheism is the belief that God does not exist. Agnosticism, a term coined in 1869 by English biologist T.H. Huxley, is the belief that the existence of God is unknowable.
So Tell Me, How Did You Do?
Be Sure to Leave a Comment below and Let Me Know.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
The Power of Prayer!
A female CNN journalist heard about a very old Jewish man who had been going to the Western Wall to pray, twice a day, every day, for a long, long time.
So she went to check it out. When she got to the Western Wall, there he was, alone and walking slowly up to the holy site.
She watched him pray and after about 45 minutes, when he turned to leave, using a cane and moving very slowly, she approached him for an interview.
"Pardon me, sir, I'm Rebecca Smith from CNN. What's your name?
"Morris Feinberg," he replied.
"Sir, how long have you been coming to the Western Wall and praying?"
"For about 60 years."
"60 years! That's amazing! What do you pray for?"
"I pray for peace between the Christians, Jews and the Muslims."
"I pray for all the wars and all the hatred to stop."
"I pray for all our children to grow up safely as responsible adults, and to love their fellow man."
"How do you feel after doing this for 60 years?"
"Like I'm talking to a fu*king wall."
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