SNARK MODE=ON

[kyburg]

Seriously. You need to ask this more often, of just about everything you read about. Trust me on this.

Today's gems?

Speaking to a gathering of 350 U.S. bishops and nine cardinals, Benedict once again addressed the sex abuse scandal, saying it was a cause of "deep shame" for the church and an "evil" that has "caused enormous pain."

GUESS WHAT. I KNOW.

(Really. This is news? I'd like to know what useful purpose this serves, as the fellow speaking was part and parcel of the organization that participated as fully as any other member could have, during the period of time this "deep shame" was committed. Is it some kind of code for "I'm okay - you're safe now, okay?" Or is it reminding everyone that a Whole Lotta Dough has left the building (go check docbrite for some recent impacts at the ground level, you can find others by Google) and this organization really can't fiscally support its authority anymore and Needs Your Help?)

I find this insulting. The real news is that the fellow says American religious tolerance is reducing all faiths to a lowest common denominator. (And y'all know what THAT is, right? Snark mine. All mine.) It's not his - therefore, it's inferior. That kind of thinking gets its own post some day. But I'm talking about something else entirely right now. Don't look over there. Look here - SHINY SHINY SHINY.

No. We gotta talk about how they're not gonna do the little children anymore. Again. Because...well.

AGAIN. Because well. Sexx0r. Somebody's gotta sell that soap.

Two things at work here. Watch for them.

As this guy points out, there is resistance to information that doesn’t mesh with our preconceived beliefs and brother, you gotta fight it.

Because that's how they get you. Say the things you're used to hearing...that you're comfortable with...and you'll click on those banner ads all day. Let the cookies bake on your hard drive. Welcome it in with a side of spam.

It's money if it works. But wait - that wonderful little site isn't selling advertising. Then what are they selling? You should be asking, neh?

Like this one. I have recently returned to the United States from Egypt where I was on a fact-finding mission to see what life is like for non-Muslims who live under Islam. Why? I went to Egypt because I wanted to learn what life would be like if our enemies and their allies succeeded in getting their way.

I'm pointed here as a tolerance alert.

It was nice of the guy to telegraph his punches that clearly. Checking the origin of the story, I find - OH. A very clearly slanted publication...selling advertising. Books. Seminars. RETREATS. YAY. (oh fuck me, donations....)

Belief is not at issue here. Being able to see when you're being sold is. And bunky, if you don't sense how BIG you're being sold with that, I need to sit you down and have a come to Jesus about snake oil and salesmen.

WTF is this shit. Ask it often. Of everything.

I KNOW. WE ALL KNOW.

Follow the money. That's all I usually have to do.

EDIT: I'm calling bullshit on this one too. For obvious reasons...and gee, spike in web traffic. Wonder why.

Comments

[chipuni.livejournal.com]

Hrm. Since Jesse Petrilla is so "open-minded", I wonder whether he would do the same experiment in reverse:

Spend the same amount of time that he did in Egypt, acting as a Muslim in the United States.

[kyburg.livejournal.com]

The privilege blindness would rear its ugly head. Because, clearly, Muslims are everywhere and we can't tell. Like ninja!

[kyburg.livejournal.com]

BTW, going to hell now. Be right back with a cup of sugar.

Re: The Pope

[muimi07.livejournal.com]

IMHO you need to look at Pope Benedict himself. Of all the Cardinals who could have been elected, Benedict is by far one of the most conservative. I'm not excusing him but it's not surprising that he thinks that religion has been reduced to the lowest common denominator.

The Catholic Church is in crisis -- so many people are raised Catholic yet very few people these days remain Catholic. Many fall away and either leave for other Christian denominations or leave Christianity altogether. As a Catholic raised with a lot of Catholic friends, there's maybe one or two of us that go to Mass while the rest have fallen away. Those that are left are often cafeteria Catholics, picking and choosing their beliefs. It's an epidemic in the Church.

The Pope and the Holy See believe the falling away to be the fault of secularism while those that have fallen away believe the Church to be incapable of adapting to modern times. It's a lose-lose situation, faithwise. I consider myself a faithful Catholic but I know that others would say different.

Re: The Pope

[kyburg.livejournal.com]

Meanwhile, the news reports the guy apologizing yet again for the fact they got caught covering for a bunch of kid diddlers.

Not catholic - never have been, but I can say with reasonable assurance that the folks I know that have been? End up with some of the most "interesting" belief systems I've ever seen, if they leave the faith for another one.

I also get equally teed-off when someone else comes along and calls the faith a cult or the whore of whatsit this week. (Paging John McCain, paging John McCain...) I mean, what. Is. THAT. All about?

Here's a pic you might like

[the-paulr.livejournal.com]

I think this is a good one for snarky posts:

Re: Here's a pic you might like

[amilyn.livejournal.com]

Best. Photo. EVAR!!

Re: Here's a pic you might like

[the-paulr.livejournal.com]

I don't remember where I found it, but I love it.