February 5, 2013

How Deeply christian and Right-Wing is the (KKK) Ku Klux Klan? Pro-christian theocracy, pro-christian nation propaganda, anti-muslim, pro-guns, pro-home-schooling, anti-abortion, morally superior, anti-gay, and anti-Atheist.

History:

The Ku Klux Klan is composed entirely of white, Anglo-saxon, Christian American citizens, both male and female, who believe that their race and religion are superior to those of people of other colors and religions.

http://atheism.about.com/library/glossary/western/bldef_kukluxklan.htm

http://www.history.com/topics/ku-klux-klan

http://archive.adl.org/learn/ext_us/kkk/history.asp?LEARN_SubCat=Extremism_in_America&xpicked=4&item=kkk

http://archive.adl.org/learn/ext_us/kkk/default.asp?LEARN_Cat=Extremism&LEARN_SubCat=Extremism_in_America&xpicked=4&item=kkk

http://civilliberty.about.com/od/historyprofiles/tp/History-Ku-Klux-Klan-KKK.htm

http://kukluxklan.net/kkk-history

http://kukluxklan.net/ku-klux-klan-leaders

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/general-article/grant-kkk/

Ku Klux Klan - A Secret History

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLN7PBIdRsM

Inside American Hate ku klux klan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmc92f_4Cpg

[PDF] The Ku Klux Klan: America’s Forgotten Terrorists

http://www.uhv.edu/asa/articles/KKKAmericasForgottenTerrorists.pdf

KKK Praised in Text used in State-Funded Christian Schools

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/06/17/1100746/-KKK-Praised-in-Text-used-in-State-Funded-Christian-Schools

Outrage as Alabama pastor holds ‘all white Christian’ conference

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2169466/Outrage-white-Christian-conference-KKK-welcome-blacks-Jews-Muslims-arent.html#axzz2JzoKs8CU

The Loch Ness Monster Is Real; The KKK Is Good: The Shocking Content of Publicly Paid for Christian School Textbooks

Thousands of Louisiana students will receive state voucher money, transferred from public school funding, to attend private religious schools. What will they learn there?

http://www.alternet.org/story/155926/the_loch_ness_monster_is_real%3B_the_kkk_is_good%3A_the_shocking_content_of_publicly_paid_for_christian_school_textbooks

Lets see what their website says:

Welcome to the Ku Klux Klan: Knights Party

The following is a partial transcript and quotes from their official website but we added pics: http://kkk.bz/?page_id=2896

Membership in The Knights is reserved for white Christians, however, those of other racial backgrounds who support our political platform can be Official Supporters.

We are working very hard to build a movement which can take back America, but we are going to need a lot more support from white Christian America before we can affect sweeping change.

Q. Is the national director really a preacher?

Our national director is Pastor Thomas Robb. He attended seminary in Evergreen, Colorado at the Soldiers of the Cross Bible Institute on scholarship where he received a Bachelor of Theology degree and was ordained a Baptist minister. He received his doctorate through private study. He pastors a church in Harrison, AR and publishes a non-denominational Christian newsletter aside from his duties as national director of The Knights.

His sermons can be watched on Sundays at 11 AM CST. at www.sotctv.com You can watch Rachel Pendergraft’s message on the 4th Sunday of each month. You can view their past messages at www.christianrevivalcenter.net

Q. Why do you think you are so superior to everyone else?

A. God made us all. We simply believe that the United States of America was founded as a white Christian nation. We base this belief on the many writings of our founding fathers as well as the Declaration of Independence. We believe there are those who hate the concepts of Western civilization – Christianity – and wish to turn the United States into a different type of nation than what was originally intended by our ancestors. We think it would be terrible if white Christians ceased to exist and we are working to preserve and promote their interests. We feel the concepts of Christianity benefit all people regardless of color. The fact is we have a right to love our children and our heritage. Even if the white race was but mere cavemen and cavewomen, we still have a right to protect and advance our people.

The entertainment industry which includes movie makers, TV producers, publishing houses, national news agencies, etc. are very liberal in their beliefs and agenda. This same industry also makes fun of Christians in general. Christians are portrayed as uptight, insensitive, narrow minded, dull, boring, bigoted people who never have a good time. If you are a white Christian who believes in the old time gospel of racial separation then you are in for an even bigger slew of hogwash. They will portray you as mean, sinister, revengeful, psychotic, illiterate, and filled with rage toward those who aren’t white. This only helps move the liberal agenda forward.

On the other hand if you have a deep sense of love for your white brothers and sisters and truly desire for them to have a better life, then your efforts to awaken them to the plot to destroy western Christian civilization will be fruitful. God will bless your efforts which are based on love.

The robe and hood is worn for the Christian cross lighting ceremony which is held once a year during the National Klan Congress at headquarters in Harrison, AR.

Let me explain using the term Christian. A Christian is a man or woman who believes in and follows the teachings of Jesus Christ. There are many opinions about what those beliefs are. There are religious systems that have been built up over the centuries which organize Christians into different groups (church denominations) all of whom may or may not believe quite the same. The central theme however is obedience to Jesus Christ and his Word. No church today can claim direct ties to Jesus Christ – Although the ancient church of Britain preceded Rome in the acceptance and national adoption of Christianity.

Today, there are no organizations, clubs, groups, etc. that have direct ties to the first Ku Klux Klan. The Ku Klux Klan could best be thought of as a concept or idea. The Ku Klux Klan was born in America. It pledged to stand for the U.S. Constitution. It demanded the protection and advancement of women and children. And it put Jesus Christ at the forefront of all beliefs. In fact, their beliefs were formed by what they felt to be good and holy and acceptable to God.

We share many beliefs with the Home schooling movement, Border Protection groups, Right to Life groups, Traditional Marriage organizations, American Sovereignty groups, Small business and Agricultural groups, Second Amendment crusades, and those who oppose the international banking cartel.

When you put the word of God first in your private and public affairs healing will come to the nation.

The Ku Klux Klan as an idea, concept, or as the building blocks of a 21st century robust and thriving movement to renew the racial consciousness of the white race – is truly a Godsend.

Q. Why do you burn the cross?

A. Many have been led to believe the Klan burns the cross as an act of desecrating a Christian symbol. Nothing could be further from the truth. The lighted cross is an old symbol used on the hillsides of Scotland. Many churches today use the lighted cross as a symbol. The Methodist church uses the cross with flames at its base sweeping up and around the cross. The Lutheran church uses the symbolism. When the Klan was founded there was not electricity. They could not light up a cross the way we light up a Christmas tree. Fire was used. The fire was used to symbolize the fiery light of Christ – a metaphor often used in the Bible. The Cross obviously is a symbol of Christianity. The Cross lighting ceremony gives honor to Jesus Christ.

These two ideals of the cross lighting ( warning against tyranny and giving honor to the fiery truth of Christ) were combined to create the Ku Klux Klan cross lighting ceremony

Q. Why do you hate Catholics?

A. We do not hate Catholics. The Klan during the twenties did take an anti-Catholic position as did many other Americans. They believed that Catholics held allegiance to the Pope and thus Rome over and above the United States and the President.

Today, we know this is not true. There are Catholic members of The Knights as well as Protestant members of The Knights. Christians, both Catholic and Protestant, are under attack. We must stick together, all of us, and work to protect our children’s future.

Q. What role does religion play in The Knights?

A. We require for our members to profess a belief in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. We do not require that a person belong to any particular denomination. The Knights is not, however, a religious organization. The Knights is a political organization who seeks to one day place Christian men and women into seats of public office.

Q. If the First Amendment states there is to be a separation of church and state, how can The Knights explain their goal of a Christian government?

A. We suggest you read the article Separation of Church and State: A Diabolical Lie. Not just The Knights, but many historians and well known religious leaders and constitutional attorneys all agree that the United States was founded as a Christian nation. The Supreme Court has even ruled that indeed America was founded as a Christian nation.

Also, while we are bringing up this subject we must discuss the Treaty of Tripoli. This is what naysayers like to point to when we say that the United States was founded as a Christian nation. It is the only thing they can point to, but as you will see, they have nothing to base their opinion on.

The 1797 treaty was one of several that America negotiated with Muslim nations in which five Muslim countries were using pirates to attack the property and interests of what they called the “Christian” nations, including America. Not only were their cargoes easy prey but the Barbary Powers were also capturing and enslaving “Christian” seamen.

The anti-American actions began under Washington and several times the U.S. had tried to reach settlements by paying the Muslims huge sums of money. But the Treaty of Tripoli was signed under the presidency of Adams. And both Jefferson and Adams were upset that U.S. merchant sailors were being viewed as wimps by the Muslims. While discussing the Barbary conflict with Jefferson, Adams declared:

The policy of Christendom has made cowards of all their sailors before the standard of Mahomet.

If the treaty was signed by Adams, does this mean that Adams agreed that the United States was not a Christian nation? No. it was Adams who declared:

The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were… . the general principles of Christianity… . I will avow that I then believed, and now believe, that those general principles of Christianity are as eternal and immutable as the existence and attributes of God; and that those principles of liberty are as unalterable as human nature.

So then why would he sign a treaty that said differently?

Here is the part of the treaty that atheists refer to.

As the government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian religion as it has in itself no character of enmity [hatred] against the laws, religion or tranquility of Musselmen [Muslims] and as the said States [America] have never entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mahometan nation, it is declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries.

However, I do want to point out that in 1805 under Jefferson, that the treaty was renegotiated and the clause stating that “… the United States is in no sense founded on the Christian religion …” was deleted.

But back to the signing of the treaty and why would a devout Christian such as Adams who had said that the United States was founded on Christianity state otherwise?

The United States was not involved in a Holy War. The founding fathers believed in no entangling alliances with other nations. They looked for an expedite way to handle problems. The Muslim nations felt that my attacking the hated Christians, they would receive special favor from Allah.

To some it would seem that the authors of the treaty were being dishonest. After all, the state constitutions, laws, and writings of the founders clearly prove that Christianity was the prevailing faith of the land and that the common law upon which the laws of the states were founded were based upon Holy Scripture.

However, in dealing with these murderous Muslim nations, the treaty authors were quite clever. The Muslim nations, not understanding that the federal government did not constitute the government in its entirety were led to believe that they would receive no divine reward by plundering U.S. ships and murdering U.S. sailors.

It says what the federal government CAN NOT do! They can’t establish a religion. Why? It is because the states had already established their religion; the Christian religion. No public office holder could be given a religious test – that is be tested according to denominational tenants. And not to interject something else into this discussion, but this is why states can not use state’s rights as an excuse for restricting gun ownership. The Bill of Rights speaks of unalienable rights. If the federal government can’t restrict gun ownership because it is a God given right, than obviously the states can’t restrict it either. There are some rights that are God given and no government whether state or federal can take it away.

The states which formed the United States understood the chaos that came out of Europe’s mandated denominational system. As Noah Webster explained:

The ecclesiastical establishments of Europe which serve to support tyrannical governments are not the Christian religion but abuses and corruptions of it.

Daniel Webster similarly explained that American Christianity was:

Christianity to which the sword and the fagot [burning stake or hot branding iron] are unknown – general tolerant Christianity is the law of the land!

The states would be Christian, but would allow each person to decide for themselves what particular sect they would belong to. And they acknowledged that no one would be forced to be a Christian. This was the idea of the liberty of conscience. This did not, however, mean that the laws would not be based upon Christian principles. What an individual may or may not believe does not interfere with the foundation of a governing body should that body be based upon certain guidelines.

The act stipulated that for a territory to become a State, the “schools and the means of education” in that territory must encourage the “religion, morality, and knowledge” that was “necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind.”

General Eaton was the man who was finally given the duty by President Jefferson to end the attacks upon Christian sailors by the use of military means. Although the Treaty of Tripoli had used some fancy footwork by saying the United States government – as in the federal government – was not based upon Christianity, it did not work. The Muslim nations knew that the United States of America was a Christian nation, no matter what any treaty might say. It was all just semantics and they weren’t buying into it. The Muslims would continue to attack the Christian nation and the U.S. would not take decisive military action.

All of the documentation surrounding the Treaty of Tripoli prove rather than disprove that the United States was a Christian nation and the war was between a Christian nation and Muslim nations.

Klansmen and Klanswomen who have studied and dedicated themselves to the goal of returning political power to white Christian men and women – this is a must for a moral and civilized society.

A strong and healthy white Christian demographic is vital to the happiness and future of America. The protection and advancement of the white race and the rekindling of the traditional Christian faith that our people have professed for generation after generation must be our focal point.

The Knights salutes America and it’s Christian heritage as our ancestors did. We give honor to the brave men and women who fought to make our homeland free.

This is how they have changed people to accept race mixing, homosexuality, euthanasia, abortion, etc. The media doesn’t report public opinion. They change public opinion.

There are a series of exciting and challenging workbooks that educate the young person in the accurate history of America, our beliefs, thinking with a Christian worldview rather than a secular worldview, believing in what the Bible has to say to us, and developing a compassionate response toward his or her white Christian brother or sister.

Q. What is the role of women in The Knights?

A. The role of women is very important to us. They are in the front lines of defense of the family and Christianity. Women are not put into a separate auxiliary.

Christian men AND women must work together to secure a future for our children.

It is a fact that America was founded as a white Christian nation. You may not like it, but it is still true.

However, there is nothing wrong with white Christians working to advance their people either. Those who say there is something wrong with this are promoting a double standard.

Today the black Muslims, unlike the integrationist NAACP, support separation and are opposed to race mixing and homosexuality.

Q. Don’t you think it’s cruel to suggest placing HIV patients in national hospitals?

A. No. It is the only proven way to reduce and virtually halt the spread of AIDS. Those who condemn such avenues of prevention are ignoring the extremely active sex life of homosexuals and lesbians who usually have dozens if not hundreds of different partners a year. They also don’t wish to bring attention to the fact that heterosexual whites aren’t getting HIV at near the rate of non-whites and homosexuals. It seems that white heterosexuals are almost unaffected. Homosexuals don’t want normal people to be aware they have HIV or AIDS because they know how disgusted most people are of their filthy habits.

Q. You speak of white oppression, but aren’t national politicians white?

A. Exactly. As we state many times, We are not a hate group! We have been betrayed by the politicians – namely the Republican and Democratic parties. Of course those who engage in or support interracial or homosexual relationships aren’t being oppressed, but those who do – whether black or white – ARE being oppressed. We believe as shown by the writings of our forefathers that America was founded by white Christians for white Christians. This was their intent and was also proven by the laws of the United States for over two hundred years.

For example:

1. Black people had to post a bond usually for about $5,000 (a lot of money back then) in the Northern states to even live there. And in many counties of the North they weren’t even allowed to be there unless in travel.
2. Non whites were not allowed to vote – voting privileges for non-whites weren’t even considered during the founding of America.
3. A person had to profess a belief in Jesus Christ and the 10 Commandments to even hold any type of public office – from sheriff to President – to governor.
4. Interracial marriage was illegal
5. Homosexuality was illegal

It’s evident to any one with common sense that America was founded as a white Christian nation. This doesn’t mean we support the oppression of non-whites. It doesn’t mean we want to scare or hurt non-whites. It means simply that America was to be governed according to the tenets of Christianity. This would be a benefit to all who lived within her boundaries whether a white citizen or a non white resident.

Yes, if you look at a picture of the House or Senate either nationally or in a particular state, usually the majority of members are white. They are the people who have betrayed us. They are pawns of the special interest groups. They care more about the people of Mexico than the people of the United States. They care more about the rights of a sodomizer than a white Christian child. They care more about pleasing the giant corporations of the world than middle class Americans and their businesses. They care more about not offending homosexuals and integrationists than they do our elderly people. The politicians of today are the messed up kids of the 60′s. They came from the homosexual, race mixing, Communist, anti-law and order, revolution. Some may claim the Republicans aren’t that bad, but not one single Republican leader would proclaim their opposition to race mixing. Some might even seem like good church going people, but they would still refuse to make a stand against the horrible plague of race mixing. There just aren’t any Republicans or Democrats who have their act together. They might be white, but they have betrayed their own people and are traitors. They can’t support the anti-white and anti-Christian special interest groups and be a patriot, too.

We must affect a surge of renewed Christian thought into all levels of public office and appointed office. It is the only sure way to secure the survival of our race, faith, and homeland.

One of them will succeed in uniting all of white Christian America. We believe it will be The Knights. We may point out differences, but we won’t name and slander other groups in the process.

Our Related research:

The Proven to be Secular, Founding and Early Documents of The United States of America. The Evidence that America’s Government was to be Separated From any Influence of any Religion http://tmblr.co/ZFotutY5YRFE

Christian Nationalism, History Revisionism and Reconstructionism - Theocratic Dominionism Gains Influence - Why the Christian Right Distorts History and Why it Matters http://tmblr.co/ZFotutZYZ7lg

Christian Nationalism and Christofascism http://tmblr.co/ZFotutZYpcrq

Christian Reconstructionism, Dominionism, Biblical Capitalism, Theocratic Libertarians, Christian World Domination (Evangelisation), The Lausanne Movement, The Christian Identity Movement, The New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) and Seven Mountains Dominionism (7MD) http://tmblr.co/ZTwOHxQvfq9W

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Pass The 28th Amendment - Complete Removal Of The Church From The State

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12:17am | URL: http://tmblr.co/ZTwOHxdRPwwq

(Notes: 1)

December 27, 2012

patinalatina asked: bible busting counter-apologetics is awesome. take that, apologists!

8:54pm | URL: http://tmblr.co/ZTwOHxaKZy7z

(Notes: 1)

December 27, 2012

godric-the-first asked: Have you considered investigating the various "Satanic Abuse" psychotherapy idiots and the damage caused by their dochtrine of "recovered memory"? If the psychotherapists are religious, it is appalling that they allow their personal choice of religious myth to influence how they deal with vulnerable people; if not religious themselves but suckling off the Abrahamic culture to invent another reason for dubious "therapy" that is the height of cynicism.

NO.

8:54pm | URL: http://tmblr.co/ZTwOHxaKZuel

December 27, 2012

Tracking jesus’ bible scholars: The 3 Quests for the historical Jesus and Jesus Seminar.

The quest for the historical Jesus is the attempt by scholars to use historical methods to construct a historical portrait of Jesus.

Since the 18th century, scholars have taken part in three separate “quests” for the historical Jesus, attempting to reconstruct various portraits of his life using historical methods.

As originally defined by Albert Schweitzer, the quest began in the 18th century with Hermann Samuel Reimarus, up to William Wrede in the 19th century.

*The first quest uncovered the truth of fraud and myth within the New Testament. These honest historians were replaced by the 2nd and 3rd quests to hide those findings and promote christianity.

First Quest

Although Schweitzer was among the greatest contributors to this quest, he also ended the quest by noting how each scholar’s version of Jesus often seemed to reflect the personal ideals of the scholar, an observation first stated by Johannes Weiss in 1890, and which continues to be observed in Jesus research (as it does in other historical studies) even today.

Hermann Samuel Reimarus (1694–1768) - credited as the father of the Quest for the Historical Jesus. Reimarus composed a treatise rejecting miracles and accusing Bible authors of fraud, but he didn’t publish his findings. Gotthold Lessing published Reimarus’s conclusions in the Wolfenbuettel fragments.

Baron d’Holbach (1723-1789) - “Ecce Homo -The History of Jesus of Nazareth, a Critical Inquiry” (1769), the first Life of Jesus described as a mere historical man, published anonymously in Amsterdam. Translated in English by George Houston, and published in Edinburgh, 1799, London, 1813, for which “blasphemy” Houston was condemned to two years in prison, and New York in 1827.

Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) - a US president who considered Jesus’ ethics superb and miracles ahistorical: Jefferson Bible

David Friedrich Strauss (1808–1874) - asserted that the supernatural elements of the gospels could be treated as myth.

Ernest Renan (1823–1892) - asserted that the biography of Jesus ought to be open to historical investigation just as is the biography of any other man. Ernest Renan was the first of many to portray Jesus simply as a human person.

William Wrede (1859–1906) - wrote on the Messianic Secret theme in the Gospel of Mark. He also wrote a crucial study of the Second Epistle to the Thessalonians, which argued for its inauthenticity. William Wrede questioned the historical reliability of Mark.

Martin Dibelius - advocated that form criticism be applied to the New Testament.

Albert Schweitzer stated that the histories of Jesus had reflected the historians’ bias.

Acting on his own conclusion, in 1913 Schweitzer abandoned a brilliant career in theology.

http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/schweitzer/

RESULTS

http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/schweitzer/chapter20.html

THOSE WHO ARE FOND OF TALKING ABOUT NEGATIVE THEOLOGY CAN FIND their account here. There is nothing more negative than the result of the critical study of the Life of Jesus.

The Jesus of Nazareth who came forward publicly as the Messiah, who preached the ethic of the Kingdom of God, who founded the Kingdom of Heaven upon earth, and died to give His work its final consecration, never had any existence. He is a figure designed by rationalism, endowed with life by liberalism, and clothed by modern theology in an historical garb.

This image has not been destroyed from without, it has fallen to pieces, cleft and disintegrated by the concrete historical problems which came to the surface one after another, and in spite of all the artifice, art, artificiality, and violence which was applied to them, refused to be planed down to fit the design on which the Jesus of the theology of the last hundred and thirty years had been constructed, and were no sooner covered over than they appeared again in a new form. The thoroughgoing sceptical and the thoroughgoing eschatological school have only completed the work of destruction by linking the problems into a system and so making an end of the Divide et impera of modern theology, which undertook to solve each of them separately, that is, in a less difficult form. Henceforth it is no longer permissible to take one problem out of the series and dispose of it by itself, since the weight of the whole hangs upon each.

The Second Quest (also called the New Quest)

It was a brief movement in the 1950s to revive the quest for historical Jesus

Moreover they disputed claims of extreme lateness for the formation of the New Testament and generally accomplished a consensus of approximately year 70 AD, give-or-take a decade or two depending on a specific text.

Hypothesizing about the existence of original source texts became useful for data relevant to the Historical Jesus.

Third quest

It became increasingly clear that the “new quest” was one-sided. Scholars of the new quest had a theological agenda.

The scholars of the third quest have also been accused of mixing apologetics with scholarship.

John Meier has said “…I think a lot of the confusion comes from the fact that people claim they are doing a quest for the historical Jesus when de facto they’re doing theology, albeit a theology that is indeed historically informed.

The Search for the Historical Jesus

http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/james_still/jesus_search.html

~Jesus Seminar

The Jesus Seminar was a group of about 150 critical scholars and laymen founded in 1985 by Robert Funk under the auspices of the Westar Institute. The seminar was active in the 1980s and 1990s, but has since disbanded. The seminar used votes with colored beads to decide their collective view of the historicity of the deeds and sayings of Jesus of Nazareth. They produced new translations of the New Testament and apocrypha to use as textual sources. They published their results in three reports: The Five Gospels (1993), The Acts of Jesus (1998), and The Gospel of Jesus (1999). They also run a series of lectures and workshops in various U.S. cities.

According to the seminar, Jesus was a mortal man born of two human parents, who did not perform nature miracles nor die as a substitute for sinners nor rise bodily from the dead.

The seminar treats the canonical gospels as historical sources that represent Jesus’ actual words and deeds as well as elaborations of the early Christian community and of the gospel authors.

The method and conclusions of the Jesus Seminar have come under harsh criticism by biblical scholars, historians and clergy for a variety of reasons. It is the assertion of such critics that the Fellows of the seminar are not all trained scholars, that their voting technique doesn’t allow for nuance, that they are preoccupied with Q and the Gospel of Thomas but omit material in other sources such as the Gospel of the Hebrews.

Voting History by guessing and wishful thinking:

The Fellows used a “bead system” to vote on the authenticity of about 500 statements and events. The color of the bead represented how sure the Fellow was that a saying or act was or was not authentic.

Red beads – indicated the voter believed Jesus did say the passage quoted, or something very much like the passage. (3 Points)

Pink beads – indicated the voter believed Jesus probably said something like the passage. (2 Points)

Grey beads – indicated the voter believed Jesus did not say the passage, but it contains Jesus’ ideas. (1 Point)

Black beads – indicated the voter believed Jesus did not say the passage—it comes from later admirers or a different tradition. (0 Points)

Like other scholars of the historical Jesus, the Jesus Seminar treats the gospels as fallible historical artifacts, containing both authentic and inauthentic material.

Jesus Seminar

http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/theism/christianity/seminar.html

Robert W. Funk

Marcus Borg

Roy W. Hoover

Karen Armstrong

John Shelby Spong

Stephen J. Patterson

Kathleen E. Corley

Arthur J. Dewey

Robert T. Fortna

Charles W. Hedrick

Lane C. McGaughy

James M. Robinson

http://www.westarinstitute.org/Fellows/list.html

Unmasking the Jesus Seminar

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/markdroberts/series/unmasking-the-jesus-seminar/

The “Jesus Seminar:” Liberal

theologians investigating the life of Jesus

http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_jsem.htm

The Jesus Seminar: A 25 Year Quest for the Irrelevant Jesus

http://www.britannica.com/blogs/2010/10/the-jesus-seminar-a-25-year-quest-for-the-irrelevant-jesus/

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Jesus Birther Movement

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Replacing the fraudulent-commercial images of je$u$ with truthful ones

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8:20pm | URL: http://tmblr.co/ZTwOHxaKPicq

(Notes: 1)

December 27, 2012

Bible Errors in jesus’ Lineage. The Genealogies in Luke and Matthew Contradict Each Other

The Genealogies in Luke and Matthew Contradict Each Other

http://www.rejectionofpascalswager.net/genealogy.html

Errors in the Genealogy of Jesus

http://theatheists.tripod.com/rants/199901.html

http://www.jesusneverexisted.com/genealogy-matthew.html

http://www.jesusneverexisted.com/genealogy-luke.html

New Testament Contradictions

http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/paul_carlson/nt_contradictions.html

1001 bible contradictions (#533-#595)

GENEALOGY - I: ADAM to DAVID

http://www.1001biblecontradictions.com/III1%20-%20Genealogy%20%5B533-564%5D.html

GENEALOGY - II: DAVID to JESUS

http://www.1001biblecontradictions.com/III2%20-%20Genealogy%20%5B565-595%5D.html

“Matthew” Says Jesus’ Grandfather was Jacob. “Luke” Says Jesus’ Grandfather Was Heli

http://www.errancywiki.com/index.php?title=Matthew_1%3A16

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4:04pm | URL: http://tmblr.co/ZTwOHxaJCopV

December 24, 2012

Over 50 years, the catholic church in Spain stole around 300,000 babies from their parents and sold them in a baby trafficking ring. Most mainstream media barely cover the story and the church stays in business

VIDEO: (59:08) For over 50 years, the Catholic church in Spain stole approximately 300,000 babies from their parents and sold them in a baby trafficking ring. This disgusting revelation is detailed in a new BBC documentary titled “Spains Stolen Babies.”

Watch it free:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJJ7Pp_Zvvs

OR at:

http://watchdocumentary.org/watch/spains-stolen-babies-video_b0b324991.html

The Unfathomable, Unimaginable, Boundless, Immeasurable, Inconceivable, Incomprehensible and Infinite Wealth of Roman Catholicism in Spain.

http://tmblr.co/ZTwOHxa2KbbM

VIDEO: Doctor confronted over stolen babies

Dr Vela is confronted with the allegations

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-15290580

Short VIDEO: (25:59) Spain Baby Market: Catholic Church’s Baby Trafficking Schemes Exposed [BBC Documentary]

http://vimeo.com/30833227

Spain’s stolen babies and the families who lived a lie

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-15335899

‘Spain’s Stolen Babies’: New BBC Documentary Explores Fifty-Year Baby Trafficking Scandal

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/16/spain-stolen-babies-bbc-documentary_n_1014369.html

“I think that my baby was sold”: Re-opening a dark chapter in Spain’s history

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18563_162-57436742/i-think-that-my-baby-was-sold-re-opening-a-dark-chapter-in-spains-history/

Spanish Nun Maria Gomez Valbuena Charged In Baby-Stealing Operation

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/13/maria-gomez-valbuena_n_1423170.html

Sister María Gómez Valbuena leaves a court in Madrid on April 12, 2012, after refusing to testify on her alleged involvement in a stolen-babies scheme

Spain’s Stolen-Babies Scandal: Empty Graves and a Silent Nun

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2112003,00.html#ixzz1sPMGmdPK

Spain Stolen Babies: Sister Maria Gomez, Spanish Nun, Won’t Speak At Hearing

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/12/spain-stolen-babies-spanish-nun-hearing_n_1420996.html

Spain nun in court over babies ‘stolen’ under Franco

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17692985

Stolen Babies: Confronting Spain’s Dark Past

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2059563,00.html

Spain’s Stolen Babies: An Ugly Past On a Staggering Scale

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2011/10/spains-stolen-babies-an-ugly-past-on-a-staggering-scale-2/

Spain probes 849 cases of alleged baby trafficking

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20110617/eu-spain-stolen-babies/

Families Of Spain’s ‘Stolen Babies’ Seek Answers — And Reunions

http://www.npr.org/2012/12/14/167053609/families-of-spains-stolen-babies-seek-answers-and-reunions

Spain’s Stolen Babies; Alphas

http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/2011/oct/18/tv-review-spains-stolen-babies

Spain’s ‘stolen babies’ attempt to blow lid off scandal

People who were given up for adoption without their parents’ permission want to bring authorities who allowed it to task

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jan/05/spain-stolen-babies-scandal

After 44 years, one of Spain’s stolen babies is reunited with her mother

Manuela Polo never believed her seventh child had died at birth as doctors told her. Now she has proof she was right

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/mar/28/spain-stolen-babies-reunited-mother

Ines Madrigal whose mother says she was given the girl as a gift.

Baby Juan Luis Moreno with the parents who told him they had bought him.

Juan Luis Moreno (center) with his mother and childhood friend Antonio Barroso, another child who was told he had been illegally adopted.

Guillermo Perez Roisinblit holds pictures of his biological parents. He’s one of hundreds of victims of the Argentine military regime’s baby abduction scheme.

Identity crisis: Randy Ryder as a baby being cradled in a Malaga hospital in 1971 by the woman who bought him

Spain’s stolen baby scandal

http://www.ifco.info/node/1003

300,000 babies stolen from their parents - and sold for adoption: Haunting BBC documentary exposes 50-year scandal of baby trafficking by the Catholic church in Spain

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2049647/BBC-documentary-exposes-50-year-scandal-baby-trafficking-Catholic-church-Spain.html

Reunited: Randy Ryder with Manoli Pagador, who believes she may be his real mother

Bought for cash: Journalist Katya Adler with Juan Luis Moreno, who was sold as a baby

‘Wasn’t just one or two children’: Ex-Argentine dictators jailed for baby thefts

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Three key figures from Argentina’s “Dirty War” got hefty jail terms for the systematic theft of babies from political prisoners during the 1976-1983 dictatorship, an Argentine court ruled on Thursday.

http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/07/06/12592712-wasnt-just-one-or-two-children-ex-argentine-dictators-jailed-for-baby-thefts?lite

Argentine dictators go on trial for baby thefts

Videla was sentenced to 50 years in prison as the architect of the plan, while Acosta got 30 years and Bignone got 15. The other defendants were also ordered to serve sentences of various lengths.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41833412#.UNf0LeQ812A

Tears flow as Argentina’s ‘stolen babies’ trial comes to an end

http://photoblog.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/07/06/12594291-tears-flow-as-argentinas-stolen-babies-trial-comes-to-an-end?lite

VIDEO: (1 hour, 29 minutes) FULL Documentary - “This World Child Slavery”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H54-oYMkisY

The Word on Women - Stolen Children: Investigating Forced Removal of Babies & Infants

The media coverage of these abductions seems to be predominately focused on the narrative of the abductions and the historical context, not on the issue of women’s rights and human rights violations. Why do you think this is and what is your opinion?

http://www.trust.org/trustlaw/blogs/blog-post-detail.dot?id=7f2a0a11-2860-497f-bc07-3c8d16f52a15

300,000 Kidnapped by the Catholic Church in Spain: Nuns claimed babies died, then sold in adoption

http://www.vaticancrimes.us/2011/10/300000-kidnapped-by-catholic-church-in.html

300,000 Babies Stolen by Nuns and Priests in Spain to Sell for Adoption: Vatican’s Organized Crime

http://www.vaticancrimes.us/2011/10/300000-babies-stolen-by-nuns-and.html

Catholic Church involved in Baby Trafficking in Argentina, then Selling into Adoptions

http://www.vaticancrimes.us/2011/10/catholic-church-involved-in-baby.html

Catholic Church in fresh scandal involving money-spinning baby-trafficking in Spain

http://freethinker.co.uk/2011/10/18/catholic-church-in-fresh-scandal-involving-baby-trafficking-in-francos-spain/

Collection Of Research Blogs Documenting The Thousands Of Children Raped By Thousands Of Religious Leaders Of The World

http://exposingreligionblog.tumblr.com/post/7868894744

Canadian Holocaust - The Genocide of Aboriginal Peoples in Christian-run schools. 52,500 - 90,000 children or 35%-60% of the approximately 150,000 children who were kidnapped and savaged are unaccounted for! (1820-1969)

http://exposingreligionblog.tumblr.com/post/20496834043

7 Research Blogs showing The Modern day christian negative track record and attack on Africa: Genocides, condoms, inquisitions, “kill the gays” bill, corrective rape, conquest, exploitation, conversion tactics, aggression, violence, terrorism, culture destruction, etc

http://exposingreligionblog.tumblr.com/post/19614297406

Please join pages in our Facebook Network

http://exposingreligionblog.tumblr.com/post/20825271431

Helping Youth Resist Religious Brainwashing Exploitation & Mental Terrorism

http://www.facebook.com/ReligiousFreeYouth

See an organized listing of all of our research blogs:

http://exposingreligionblog.tumblr.com/post/16944061808

1:52am | URL: http://tmblr.co/ZTwOHxa2ZqBJ

(Notes: 8)

December 24, 2012

The Unfathomable, Unimaginable, Boundless, Immeasurable, Inconceivable, Incomprehensible and Infinite Wealth of Roman Catholicism in Spain.

There are over 37 million baptized, covering about 79% of the total population. There are 70 dioceses and archdioceses. Like the French church, the Spanish church oversees one of the greatest repositories of religious architecture (and art) in the world, including Sagrada Familia church (of Antoni Gaudi) in Barcelona, Granada Cathedral, Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, a popular pilgrim site, Seville Cathedral, Toledo Cathedral, and Cordoba Cathedral-Mosque (officially known as the Cathedral of the Virgin of the Assumption).

Here are a few examples of their wealth from several of their church castles:

The exterior carvings

Interiors:

http://tmblr.co/ZTwOHxa2ZqBJ

Exposing the fraud of religious charities and why nobody should ever donate to them. Find out what your money is supporting and where it goes. See over a dozen research blogs:

http://exposingreligionblog.tumblr.com/post/20945985723

Please join pages in our Facebook Network

http://exposingreligionblog.tumblr.com/post/20825271431

Occupy Religious Industry (ORI) - Organizing Protests

http://www.facebook.com/OccupyReligiousIndustry

See an organized listing of all of our research blogs:

http://exposingreligionblog.tumblr.com/post/16944061808

12:49am | URL: http://tmblr.co/ZTwOHxa2KbbM

December 23, 2012

Christianity IS Intolerance: “love your neighbor as yourself,” Has Nothing to do with the Tolerance of ALL People of ALL Kinds, Everywhere; Like Millions of christians Try to Claim.

The New Testament was originally written in 100% Koine Greek.

Neighbor, was translated from the Greek word “plesion,” which also means close and near.

The words plesion nor neighbor mean ALL people of ALL kinds, everywhere; like millions of christians try to claim.

In reality, it simply means close friends and family who share your religion, beliefs and faith.

Hundreds of bible versus prove this fact as well as the recorded history of forced conversions with the spread of christianity by military action and brutal conquest.

Intolerance is part of the foundation of judaism, christianity and islam.

Biblical Intolerance (730 passages)

http://exposingreligionblog.tumblr.com/post/15747937944

Here are 10 examples of this false inclusive myth of christians, from their scriptures; who try to use the word “neighbor” for much more than it is:

The Old Testament:

Leviticus 19:18 “‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.

***Try replacing the word “neighbor” with the term “fellow christians.”

The New Testament:

Mark 12:31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

Matthew 5:43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’

Matthew 19:19 honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’”

Matthew 22:39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

Luke 10:27 He answered: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

James 2:8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right.

Romans 13:9-10 The commandments, “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

Galatians 5:14 The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Imaginary rabbi jesus’ TWO commandments were not original; but were from the jewish Tanakh or what christians called the old testament.

http://exposingreligionblog.tumblr.com/post/19992116798

Evidence: The Bible (Old & New Testament), Qur’an, Hadith and many other Bronze-Age Religious Scriptures are the most Barbaric, Savage, Violent, Repulsive, Disgusting, Immoral, Unethical and Evil Fictions That Men Have Ever Written

http://exposingreligionblog.tumblr.com/post/28536287206

Please join pages in our Facebook Network

http://exposingreligionblog.tumblr.com/post/20825271431

See an organized listing of all of our research blogs:

http://exposingreligionblog.tumblr.com/post/16944061808

Religious Scripture Rating Board (RSRB)

http://www.facebook.com/TheRSRB?sk=wall

9:37pm | URL: http://tmblr.co/ZTwOHxa1RTh1

(Notes: 1)

December 17, 2012

Was Fictional jesus Created Through Hebephilia Rape, with the Coercion of Consent, Through Intimidation, Power Differentials and Stockholm Syndrome? Was the Religion of christianity Founded on Rape?

First, these facts must be established:

Over a Billion Christians Believe that the holy spirit (aka ghost) is a Person and the Third Person of the “godhead.”

http://tmblr.co/ZTwOHxZaj1FH

To establish character and history:

RAPE In The Bible And Koran

http://exposingreligionblog.tumblr.com/post/11877707481

In the New Testament, Luke 1:26-38

~The angel,Gabriel was sent to inform Mary of god’s decision:

²⁹Mary was greatly troubled at his words

³⁰the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid,

~It seems that Mary could sense danger. Why would she be troubled and afraid of her god’s holy angel The stage of fear and intimidation is set. Mary’s frame of mind is revealed.

³¹You WILL conceive and give birth to a son,

~This is not a question; an order and command. There is no choice and no options for her.

~All jews knew that if they went against yahweh, he killed them.

~Yahweh ruthlessly murders over 25 million people in over 130 OT passages:

http://tmblr.co/ZTwOHxBjvaoc

~Consent is not assumed: It is never acceptable to assume that consent is given. Each one of us is responsible for making sure we have consent in every sexual situation. If you are unsure, it is important to clarify what your partner is feeling about the sexual situation. Consent can never simply be assumed.

³⁵The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you,”

~This sounds pornographic! A ghost will impregnate Mary?

~This sounds like the movie: “The Entity”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sfro7WO8YJg

³⁸“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.”

~Mary says that she is a SLAVE! She has no choice. This is Rape with the Coercion of Consent, Through Intimidation, and Power Differentials.

Rape: A sexual act of power and control that uses physical force, intimidation, coercion, threats and/or injury without the consent of the individual.

Coercion: A tactic used by perpetrators to intimidate, trick, or force someone to have sex with him/her without physical force. Perpetrators use many forms of coercion, threats, and manipulation to rape.

Intimidation: Intimidation is the act in which one individual instills fear in another individual or group. Individuals known to intimidate include: bosses, law enforcement officers, bullies at school or work, and even individuals you may feel are your friends. Sexual assailants often use intimidation to achieve sexual contact or sexual intercourse with their victims.

Power differentials: When one person holds a great deal of power over another person (i.e., boss/employee or professor/student) it is more difficult to be sure that this difference of power is not influencing any sexual interactions between these two people.

The issue involved is power and control. Coercion is a way of forcing someone to do something that s/he clearly does not want to do.

See our detailed information about rape that can be found below:

~Matthew 1:18&20

¹⁸ (Mary & Joseph) …before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.

~”Came together?” More sexual innuendo.

²⁰…angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said…what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

~So the “holy spirit, aka holy ghost” was selected to do the evil deed. This is a decision of the bible writers to make yahweh human and more appealing and relate-able without openly stating that sex was involved. Why would this be needed:“The Holy Spirit will come on you?” Why couldn’t yahweh just “snap his fingers” (like he made the universe) and have Mary impregnated?

Over a Billion Christians Believe that the holy spirit (aka ghost) is a Person and the Third Person of the “godhead.”

http://tmblr.co/ZTwOHxZaj1FH

***So, the christian person, called the holy spirit (aka ghost), raped Mary to give birth to jesus.

See the full text and context of Luke 1:26-38 and Matthew 1:18-24 below:

Luke 1:26-38

New International Version (NIV)

The Birth of Jesus Foretold

²⁶In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee,

²⁷to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.

²⁸The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

²⁹Mary was greatly troubled at his words

and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.

³⁰But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid,

Mary; you have found favor with God.

³¹You will conceive and give birth to a son,

and you are to call him Jesus.

³²He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David,

³³and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

³⁴“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

³⁵The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you,

and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be calledthe Son of God.

³⁶Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month.

³⁷For no word from God will ever fail.”

³⁸“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.”

Then the angel left her.

Matthew 1:18-24

New International Version (NIV)

Joseph Accepts Jesus as His Son

¹⁸This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.

¹⁹Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

²⁰But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

²¹She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,because he will save his people from their sins.”

²²All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:

²³“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”(which means “God with us”).

²⁴When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.

The age of Mary and Joseph

No one really knows for sure. A lot of people just guess or make up random ages. Ask 20 different people and you will get many different answers. A lot of artwork portrays Joseph and Mary as roughly the same age, but this is most likely untrue.

In those days, life expectancy was much shorter due to a variety of reasons (diet, disease, healthcare, hard labour, etc) so girls were married and had children at younger ages than they do today.

It’s likely that Mary was just a teenager, since that was the custom of the day. Joseph’s age is not indicated but circumstantial evidence can lead us to conclude that he was much older.

For example, the word generation is defined as the length of time from a man’s birth to the birth of his first child. In the Bible this averaged out to be about 40 years, suggesting that a man would normally be in his mid to late thirties at the time of his marriage.

Also, a Jewish man had to pay the girl’s father a negotiated “bride price” before taking her, and show that he could provide for her and the family they’d have with a stable income and a suitable house for them to live in. It would normally take years after learning a trade for a man to become financially prepared for marriage.

According to some accounts, Mary was around 12-14 years when she was married to Joseph. It doesn’t appear as if it was her choice. More like she was given to him. Joseph himself was thought to be much more elderly. Some guess he was in his forties, while some Roman Catholics say that he was as old as 90. It is likely that they say this to remove any doubt that Joseph may actually have been the father of Jesus.

Regardless, it is unclear. It seems however that Joesph was a much older man and that Mary was just hitting puberty. So all things considered it seems likely that Joseph would have been much older than Mary.

~Hebephilia

Hebephilia is defined as a primary or exclusive sexual interest in pubescent individuals aged approximately 11–14 years. Hebephilia differs from ephebophilia, which refers to the sexual preference for individuals in later adolescence, and from pedophilia, which refers to the sexual preference for prepubescent children.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hebephilia

Consent & Coercion

Consent is when someone agrees, gives permission or says yes to sexual activity with someone else. At the heart of consent is the idea that every person, man or woman, has a right to personal sovereignty – not to be acted upon by someone else in a sexual manner unless he or she gives clear permission to do so. It is the responsibility of the person initiating the sexual activity to get this permission. Absence of clear permission means you can’t touch someone, not that you can.

Coercion is a tactic used by perpetrators to intimidate, trick, or force someone to have sex with him/her without physical force. Perpetrators use many forms of coercion, threats, and manipulation to rape including alcohol and drugs.

Consent vs. Coercion

Consent is when someone agrees, gives permission or says yes to sexual activity with someone else. It is always freely given and both people in a sexual situation must feel that s/he is able to say “yes” or “no” at any point during sexual activity.

Power differentials: When one person holds a great deal of power over another person (i.e., boss/employee or professor/student) it is more difficult to be sure that this difference of power is not influencing any sexual interactions between these two people.

Consent is not assumed: It is never acceptable to assume that consent is given. Each one of us is responsible for making sure we have consent in every sexual situation. If you are unsure, it is important to clarify what your partner is feeling about the sexual situation. Consent can never simply be assumed.

Coercion is a tactic used by perpetrators to intimidate, trick or force someone to have sex with him or her without physical force.

The issue involved is power and control. Coercion is a way of forcing someone to do something that s/he clearly does not want to do. It is a way to control him or her.

Rape:

Rape is a sexual act of power and control that uses physical force, intimidation, coercion, threats and/or injury without the consent of the individual.

Sexual assault is sexual contact that is forced, coerced, or is a direct result of intimidation. Although rape is the most reported form of sexual assault it is not by any means the only action that constitutes sexual assault.

Forced:

1. If an individual forecably touches your genitals, your breasts, or rear end even after you said, “No,” that is sexual assault. 2. The same is true of sexual intercourse or penetration of any form. 3. If you did not give consent, it is sexual assault. 4. If weapons such as guns or knives are used in rape and/or sexual contact. 5. If your attacker has a partner, who aids them in raping you or achieving sexual contact. 6. If you are drugged (date rape drugs) via alcohol or in any other way rendered unconscious prior to rape or any other unwanted sexual contact.

Coercion: If an individual in authority claims he/she will take actions against you unless you allow unwanted sexual contact or sexual intercourse. For instance, a teacher threatens to fail you in their class or give you a bad grade unless you have sexually intercourse with them or allow them to touch you in a sexual manner. Individuals in authority include but not limited to: your boss, your parent(s), teachers, principals, law enforcement officers and doctors.

Intimidation: Intimidation is the act in which one individual instills fear in another individual or group. Individuals known to intimidate include: bosses, law enforcement officiers, bullies at school or work, and even individuals you may feel are your friends. Sexual assailants often use intimidation to achieve sexual contact or sexual intercourse with their victims. Some intimidating threats used by these offenders include but are not limited to:

1. Threatening bodily harm or death of you or persons close to you. 2. Release of personal information or photographs that may harm you mentally or emotionally. 3. Release of false information that may result in job loss or other occurences detromental to your livelihood.

Actions Constituting Sexual Assault Sexual contact without consent is sexual assault. Outside of rape, sexual contact is outlined as touching, fondling, or grazing another person’s genitals or breasts without acquiring consent. Sexual contact is also considered touching, fondling, or grazing any part of another individual’s body with your own genitals or breasts without consent. Consent constitutes a fully functional adult giving approval for sexual contact. Coersion, intimidation, or forcing sexual contact is not consentual and is considered sexual assault.

Who Cannot Consent to Sexual Contact Individuals younger than 16 years of age cannot legally consent to sexual contact. An individual who has sexual contact of any kind with a child under the age of 16, even if they too are under this consent age, are guilty of sexual assault. Individuals considered by law to be adults who have sexual contact with children under 16 will also face statutory rape, child molestation, or other serious charges. By law penetration is not limited to sexual intercourse. Penetration of any kind can constitute sexual assault; it can also constitute rape.

Incapacitated individuals cannot consent to sexual contact. Incapacitated applies to more than individuals with physical or mental disabilities. Individuals, who are rendered unconscious due to alcohol consumption or drug usage are also considered incapacitated. Any individual facilitating any form of sexual contact with incapacitated individuals is guilty of sexual assault.

Sexual assault

Is commonly defined as any sex act against someone’s will, without consent, or when someone is unable to freely give consent. In most sexual assaults, no weapon is used except for force. Force can include the use of verbal, physical or emotional pressure or manipulation, substances, threats, coercion and/or the use of alcohol or other drugs. It is not a sexual act; it is a violent crime. It is also called sexual violence.

Rape is a particular type of sexual assault. The FBI updated the definition of rape in January 2012, and it reads “The penetration, no matter how slight, of the vagina or anus with any body part or object, or oral penetration by a sex organ of another person, without the consent of the victim.”

Rape and attempted rape are forms of sexual assault, but sexual assault also includes other completed or attempted attacks involving unwanted sexual contact, such as touching, groping, and other forms of contact.

Force

In most sexual assaults, no weapon is used except for force. Force can include, but is not limited to: the use of verbal, physical or emotional pressure or manipulation, alcohol and drugs, threats, blackmail, intimidation, abuse of power, or coercion. A person can not freely give consent if they are unconscious, impaired by alcohol or drugs, underage, scared, forced, bound/gagged, intimidated, coerced, mentally impaired, beaten, threatened, isolated, and/or physically impaired.

Who experiences sexual violence?

Sexual violence does not discriminate and it is never the victim’s/survivor’s fault.

Sexual violence is often used as a way to hurt, humiliate or gain control over someone else.

These actions may be committed by boyfriends, girlfriends, friends, acquaintances, family, lovers, partners, and strangers. Sexual assault and rape affect people of all ages, races, genders, sexualities, and abilities.The fact that someone has been intimate with a partner in the past does not mean he/she/ze consents to any/all future sexual activity with that partner.

Even though sexual assault is often associated with women, men and children of all ages also experience unwanted sexual contact. People are most at risk between 12-34 years of age, with risk peaking in the late teens.

Many survivors of sexual assault suffer in silence, never reporting it to the police. This happens for many different reasons, including feelings of shame, guilt, or fear of reprisal from their attacker. Many people sexually assaulted as children do not tell anyone or get help until they are adults. Many offenders never go to jail. But sexual assault is an illegal act that is punishable through the criminal justice courts and the University’s Grievance Committee.

Deciding to tell someone about the assault might be hard, but is also can be empowering. If you come forward, you will be believed.

Many people who have unwanted sexual experiences struggle to label them as “sexual assault” or “rape” because of lack of education about these words, their definitions, and the myths and facts about them in our society. While we can give you the official (and legal) definitions and we will believe your story, only you can know what you experienced. A great website which explains sexual assault and rape can be found here.

“Consent means words or actions demonstrating a knowing and voluntary agreement to engage in mutually agreed upon sexual activity. Consent cannot be obtained by force, by ignoring or acting in spite of the objections of another, or by taking advantage of the incapacitation of another. In the case of drugs, alcohol, or other impairing substances, incapacitation is determined by how the person’s decision-making ability is affected and the ability of the person to make informed judgments. The relevant standard for review is whether the person alleged to have engaged in sexual misconduct knew, or a sober, reasonable person in the same position should have known, that the Complainant was incapacitated.”

More commonly, consent is an expressed agreement by both partners to engage in sexual contact of any kind. Consent is not implied if someone does not say “no.” The best way to make sure you are giving and receiving active consent with your partner(s) is to ask before any sexual contact occurs, every time you want sexual contact, and be clear about what you want. If you can’t get a clear answer to your ask for contact, STOP.

“…against someone’s will” implies that one partner said “no” to a sexual act, or gave another verbal or nonverbal indication such as pushing away or looking away, that indicated that such sexual contact was unwanted.

“…without consent” implies that one partner did not agree—in other words did not say “yes” to a sexual act. It is mandatory that, in any sexual situation, both partners must explicitly agree to have sexual contact of any kind. Questions regarding such contact must be asked and answers. If either partner is forced in any way, including the use of verbal, physical, or emotional pressure or manipulation, substances, threats or coercion, consent cannot be given.

“…when someone is unable to freely give consent” implies that an individual has had either the right or the ability to freely give consent taken away by another person or circumstances.

This includes, but is not limited to, situations where someone is…

impaired by alcohol or drugs

passed out

high

scared

intimidated

threatened

forced

coerced

isolated

underage

mentally impaired

bound/gagged

physically impaired

use of a weapon

beaten

…or any other situation where an individual feels that she/he/ze will not have control over the situation or that her/his/hir wishes will not be heard.

By freely giving and getting consent, not only are you respecting your partner, you are following the law and UNC Policy.

If you’d like to read more about sexual assault or rape, please check out these resources:

http://www.doctornerdlove.com/2012/01/coerced-consent-yes-means-no/all/1/

[PDF] Seduction, Rape,and Coercion Sarah Conly - Bowdoin College

https://www.bowdoin.edu/faculty/pdf/Seduction_Rape_and_Coercion.pdf

[PDF] Guidelines Regarding Consent and Coercion as they relate to Sexual Offenses:

http://www.uncp.edu/studentconduct/code/Guidelines%20Regarding%20Consent%20and%20Coercion.pdf

DEFINITIONS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AND RAPE

http://www.aphroditewounded.org/definitions.html

Stockholm Syndrome

Stockholm syndrome, or capture-bonding, is a psychological phenomenon in which hostages express empathy, sympathy and have positive feelings towards their captors, sometimes to the point of defending them. These feelings are generally considered irrational in light of the danger or risk endured by the victims, who essentially mistake a lack of abuse from their captors for an act of kindness.

The FBI’s Hostage Barricade Database System shows that roughly 27% of victims show evidence of Stockholm Syndrome.

Stockholm syndrome can be seen as a form of traumatic bonding, which does not necessarily require a hostage scenario, but which describes “strong emotional ties that develop between two persons where one person intermittently harasses, beats, threatens, abuses, or intimidates the other.”

One commonly used hypothesis to explain the effect of Stockholm Syndrome is based on Freudian theory. It suggests that the bonding is the individual’s response to trauma in becoming a victim. Identifying with the aggressor is one way that the ego defends itself. When a victim believes the same values as the aggressor, they no longer become a threat.

Battered-person syndrome is an example of activating the capture-bonding psychological mechanism, as are military basic training and fraternity bonding byhazing.

The Orgin of Stockholm Syndrome

In 1973, two men entered the Kreditbanken bank in Stockholm, Sweden, intending to rob it. When police entered the bank, the robbers shot them, and a hostage situation ensued. For six days, the robbers held four people at gunpoint, locked in a bank vault, sometimes strapped with explosives and other times forced to put nooses around their own necks. When the police tried to rescue the hostages, the hostages fought them off, defending their captors and blaming the police. One of the freed hostages set up a fund to cover the hostage-takers’ legal defense fees. Thus “Stockholm syndrome” was born, and psychologists everywhere had a name for this classic captor-prisoner phenomenon.

Symptoms of Stockholm Syndrome

In order for Stockholm syndrome to occur in any given situation, at least three traits must be present:

1. A severely uneven power relationship in which the captor dictates what the prisoner can and cannot do

2. The threat of death or physical injury to the prisoner at the hands of the captor

3. A self-preservation instinct on the part of the prisoner

Included in these traits are the prisoner’s belief (correct or incorrect, it doesn’t matter) that he or she cannot escape, which means that survival must occur within the rules set by the all-powerful captor; and the prisoner’s isolation from people not being held by the captors, which prohibits any outside view of the captors from infringing on the psychological processes that lead to Stockholm syndrome.

The Stockholm Syndrome Process

In the most basic, generalized way, the Stockholm syndrome process as seen in a kidnapping or hostage situation looks something like this:

1. In a traumatic and extraordinarily stressful event, a person finds herself held captive by a man who is threatening to kill her if she disobeys him in any way. She may be abused - physically, sexually and/or verbally - and having trouble thinking straight. According to the captor, escape is not an option. She will end up dead. Her family may end up dead, too. Her only chance at survival is obedience.

2. As time goes on, obedience alone may become less of a sure thing - the captor is under stress as well, and a change in his mood could mean harmful consequences to his prisoner. Figuring out what might set off her captor’s violence so she can avoid those triggers becomes another survival strategy. In this way, she gets to know her captor.

3. A minor act of kindness on the part of the captor, which can include simply not killing the prisoner yet, positions the captor as the prisoner’s savior, as “ultimately good,” to quote young Anne Frank’s famous characterization of the Nazis who ultimately led to her death. In the traumatic, life-threatening circumstances in which the prisoner finds herself, the slightest act of kindness - or the sudden absence of violence - seems a sign of friendship in an otherwise hostile, terrifying world, and the prisoner clings to it for dear life.

4. The captor slowly seems less threatening - more an instrument for survival and protection than one of harm. The prisoner undergoes what some call an act of self-delusion: In order to survive psychologically as well as physically - to lessen the unimaginable stress of the situation - the prisoner comes to truly believe that the captor is her friend, that he will not kill her, that in fact they can help each other “get out of this mess.” The people on the outside trying to rescue her seem less like her allies. They are going to hurt this person who is protecting her from harm. The fact that this person is also the source of that potential harm gets buried in the process of self-delusion.

There are similarities between brainwashing and Stockholm syndrome. The two are actually closely related as effects of abnormal power relationships.

http://science.howstuffworks.com/life/inside-the-mind/human-brain/brainwashing.htm

Agnes of God

A play by John Pielmeier which tells the story of a novice nun who gives birth and insists that the dead child was the result of a virgin conception. A psychiatrist and the mother superior of the convent clash during the resulting investigation. The title is a pun on the Latin phrase Agnus Dei (Lamb of God).

The play was adapted for a movie in 1985, starring Jane Fonda, Anne Bancroft and Meg Tilly.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agnes_of_God

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYlgM4bPjL0

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(Notes: 3)

December 17, 2012

Over a Billion Christians Believe that the holy spirit (aka ghost) is a Person and the Third Person of the “godhead.”

ExposingReligion views the holy ghost as a fictional pet dove of fictional jesus.

The view that this dove is a person can be very useful.

This information is from christians trying to prove their belief that the holy spirit (aka ghost) is a Person:

The Holy Spirit is the third person in the Trinity.

by Matt Slick

He is fully God. He is eternal, omniscient, omnipresent, has a will, and can speak. He is alive. He is a person. He is not particularly visible in the Bible because His ministry is to bear witness of Jesus (John 15:26).

Some cults like the Jehovah’s Witnesses say that the Holy Spirit is nothing more than a force (Reasoning from the Scriptures, 1985, pp. 406-407). This is false. If the Holy Spirit were merely a force, then He could not speak (Acts 13:2); He could not be grieved (Eph. 4:30); and He would not have a will (1 Cor. 12:11).

The truth is that the Holy Spirit is a person the same as the Father and the Son are within the Trinity.

http://carm.org/holy-spirit

What is a person?

“Any human being considered as a distinct entity or personality; an individual.” Funk and Wagnall’s Dictionary.

And what is personality?

“Distinctive qualities or characteristics of a person….That which constitutes a person; personal existence.” Fund and Wagnall’s Dictionary.

The Personality of the Holy Ghost

A Sermon (No. 4)

Delivered on Sabbath Morning, January 21, 1855, by the REV. C. H. Spurgeon at New Park Street Chapel, Southwark.

“We are so much accustomed to talk about the influence of the Holy Ghost and his sacred operations and graces, that we are apt to forget that the Holy Spirit is truly and actually a person”

http://www.spurgeon.org/sermons/0004.htm

So does the Bible teach that the Holy Spirit is a Person?

Can the Holy Spirit Think for Itself and Make its Own Decisions?

—The Holy Spirit has a mind (see Romans 8:27).

—The Holy Spirit helped to settle questions during the Church Council at Jerusalem (see Acts 15:28).

—The Holy Spirit dispenses gifts to different individuals according as He wills (see 1 Corinthians 12:8-11).

—The Holy Spirit forbade some from going to preach in certain places (see Acts 16:6-7).

So we can see that the Holy Spirit has a mind, can think for Itself and can make Its own decisions. But can the Holy Spirit act for Itself?

Can the Holy Spirit Act for Itself?

—The Holy Spirit testifies or witnesses of Jesus (see John 15:26).

—The Holy Spirit leads God’s people (see Romans 8:14).

—The Holy Spirit teaches and causes us to remember the truth (John 14:26).

—The Holy Spirit comforts us as does Christ (John 14:16).

—The Holy Spirit strives with us (see Genesis 6:3).

—The Holy Spirit reproves us of sin, righteousness, and judgment (see John 16:8-11).

—The Holy Spirit instructs us (see Nehemiah 9:20).

—The Holy Spirit anointed Jesus and sent Him out to preach the gospel (see Luke 4:18-19); In fact, both the Father and the Holy Spirit sent Jesus (see Isaiah 48:16).

So we can see that the Holy Spirit can act for Itself, and can bear Its own witness. But can the Holy Spirit speak for Itself?

Can the Holy Spirit Speak for Itself?

—The Holy Spirit speaks, guides, hears and shows (John 16:13-15).

—The Holy Spirit speaks, chooses, calls and sends forth (see Acts 13:1-4).

—The Holy Spirit gives messages to prophets and they declare: “Thus saith the Holy Ghost” (see Acts 21:11).

So we can see that the Holy Spirit can indeed speak for Itself. Besides this, He can hear, He can guide, show, choose, calls and sends forth others.

Now what other characteristics does the Bible reveal about the Holy Spirit which shows it to be a Person and Being?

—The Holy Spirit has knowledge, and searches all things (see 1 Corinthians 2:10-11).

—The Holy Spirit sanctifies us (see Romans 15:16).

—The Holy Spirit holds communion with us (see 2 Corinthians 13:14); and so does Christ (see 1 Corinthians 1:9).

—The Holy Spirit is the source of regeneration and renewal for salvation (see John 3:5-8; Titus 3:5).

—The Holy Spirit resurrects the faithful from the dead (see Romans 8:11; 1 Peter 3:18).

—The Holy Spirit is the author of the Bible and moved upon the prophets to speak (see 2 Peter 1:21).

—The Holy Spirit is another Comforter other than Christ (see John 14:16).

—The Holy Spirit helps our infirmities (see Romans 8:26).

—The Holy Spirit can be tempted and lied to (see Acts 5:3, 9).

–The Holy Spirit can be blasphemed and sinned against (see Mark 3:28-29; Luke 12:10; Matthew 12:31).

—The Holy Spirit is another Intercessor other than Christ (see Romans 8:26); The Spirit intercedes for us through prayer, while Christ intercedes for us through His precious blood, merits and righteousness.

All of these things show conclusively that according to the bible, the Holy Spirit is indeed a Person and Being,

Knowing the Person of the Holy Spirit

Qualities that a person has…(a force or thing does not)

1) The Holy Spirit has intellect. 1 Corinthians 2:10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

2) The Holy Spirit has knowledge. 1 Corinthians 2:11 even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

3) The Holy Spirit has emotions. Ephesians 4:30 And grieve (lupeo (pronounced loo-peh’-o)); to make sad or sorrowful, heavy of heart) not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

4) The Holy Spirit has his own will and he makes decisions. Acts 16:6 Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia (pronounced froog-ee’-ah) and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,

5) The Holy Spirit Loves. Romans 15:30 Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;

Things only a person would do (a force or thing does not)

1) He teaches you things about God and yourself. John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

2) He tells the truth. John 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

3) He guides. John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

4) He convinces. John 16:8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

5) He prays for you. Romans 8:26-27 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit Himself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

6) He commands. Acts 13:2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.

http://www.theholyspirit.com/holyspiritperson.asp

THE HOLY SPIRIT — THIRD PERSON OF THE GODHEAD

http://gospel-herald.com/walper_ann/holy_spirit_egw.htm