Despite Logic and Reason

 Despite our impressive abilities concerning logic and reason, man’s most basic advantage over all animals on this planet, we still live in a society permeated with idiots. All the advances of man from technology to medicine have not yet freed us from our preoccupation with religious theory, political worship or failing social systems. Every day a seemingly remarkable discovery, scientific find, or revision of previous theory is made and very few are even aware. Check out the amount of hits to scholarly websites, vs the amount of hits to

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Prophets and Profits. Church Leaders Running to Hell with the Handbasket

 Is it just me thats overly disgusted with the "Prayer for Prophet" phenomena that has seemly infiltrated every mega church and televised church ministry? I usually flip right past TBN and all its affiliate stations, but tired of the doom and gloom or utter stupidity of the news I spent a couple hours watching the preachers, prophets and bishops do their thing. Though the messages were pretty simple, "Turn your life to God, and Jesus Christ" all ended with an enlightening discussion regarding giving money to the ministry. Some claimed the money is needed to "sow a seed of faith" others claim the answers to financial problems and stresses lie in "your donation". 

 Besides laughing at the sheer transparency of the ministries, I could not help but feel slightly sickened by the blinding faith of people, and the audacity of the so called prophets and bishops to demand money in "God's name". If anyone is not clear the Catholic Church quietly hides the fact that it is a billion dollar industry and the poor actually receive a mere pittance of its actual intake. (see Inside the Vatican by Prof. Thomas J Reese). For those who claim a division of Christianity yes you too are a part of the Catholic Church. Christianity is considered a sect within the larger church body of Christendom, i.e. The Catholic Church, the Pope and all the high ranking clergy men (see rapture of Christians with the Catholics Part 1) but I digress. 

The point that I wish to make is that what makes these people Prophets, Bishops and in a rare case Prophetesses? One one particular show "Sew your seed" that proceeded Beni-Hin's call to donate to his fledgling ministry, the entire cast of 6 individuals were essentially self-proclaimed prophets, covered in thousand dollars suits and diamond studded jewelry imploring people to donate $37, to sew their seed of faith. It ended with Master Prophet such and such advising that those who donate could essentially demand of God to bless them with wealth and prosperity for demonstrating such faith. Well I called, this was too much  for me and I was essentially told them I only had $20 and wouldn't God understand my predicament? I was told no, the minimum donation was $37 but the bigger sew I seed the bigger reward I can expect, I was then transfered to a live prophet to pray for me and advise that I should sign up for regular donations and join in on a conference call later on in the day. I politely declined and was rudely rebuked for my lack of faith. Once I questioned how I too could become a Prophet I was advised they were chosen by spiritual leaders and the phone conversation was terminated. Seems to me that the Church has one of the best pyramid schemes going ever and selling prayers and promises is big business. I wonder how God feels about this?  (Pls note, if the videos below do not play be advised that World Ministries has requested their removal. They have ravaged Youtube and any other social outlet in which their money tainted rituals are exposed.)

  

Nina Davis

For those Religious Fanatics who have a problem with My dresscode

My photos are part of my story. If you do not like how I dress, well...suck it.

I have no shame in who I am, an my photos are just that. Photos of me. Did God tell you personally tell you that I should be covered? How many men will continue to proclaim the word of GOD?  Hmm born naked will die naked remember. My body is my temple I can wrap myself in velvet from head to toe and whore myself all over town and my clothing obviously would say nothing about who I am.   Last time I checked my relationship with God was between him and I. Your references to Allah and the true faith are an opinion you have chosen. Trying to impress upon me your beliefs by censorship should demonstrate to you some of the obvious flaws within most religious paradigms. I can read, I can write and most importantly I can think just like you.  I have studied religion and psychology for more than 12yrs now earning degrees in both. I know religion like the back of my hand and can stand alone without it. Despite your religious convictions, they are faith based and subject to the interpretation of whoever reads or follows. Within your own faith their are serious points or contention and disagreement so how can you honestly say your version of Islam is correct? You were not born a Muslim, Christian or Hindu. Its not stamped on your back, or tattoo'd on your DNA so again I remind you, that your religion is simply a choice. My faith is just that Mine, not subject to the approval, acceptance or discussion of anyone not responsible for me. Have a wonderful night and good luck in your spiritual journey.

Nina Davis

Red, White and Guns. The American Dream for the Idiot

 Why does the voice of logic and reason always find itself outside of important social arguments and issues? If there are guns on the street, they will be used. Period. All the 24hr gun permit laws in the world will not prevent weapons from landing in ill intentioned hands nor the destruction it causes. From the founding of this country the right to bear arms was a right supposedly fought for yet I don't understand what this right exactly entails. The right to go to a store, fill out and application and pay a fee? Most Americans don't have criminal backgrounds, the supposed protection the application covers is a joke. And if you're a criminal the last place your going to buy an AK is The Bass Fish and Hunt Store. Hell even I can just roll down to the seedier part of town and get an entire arsenal with no questions asked and better yet no trace. Yet the NRA, right ring Republicans and conservatives take the threat of tougher gun laws personally. In fact despite the fact that the recent Arizona terror was unleashed by a white male with no problems obtaining a gun license, Arizona is pushing to loosen gun laws within its state specifically on its college campuses. Washington DC, Texas, Idaho and Iowa are just a few following suit. What? What the hell do you think will happen if everyone starts carrying a gun. The OK Corral has been closed for years and something tells me that armed paranoid people are the last thing any city needs right now.  The wild west is long gone. There are no Indians riding horseback across 100 miles of prairie land to get you. A nation armed is a nation wrapped in a powder keg with civil dissonance permeated by trigger happy idiots. 
How about we use logic and reason in attempt to remove deadly weaponry from our nation. If you need to fish and hunt, do what you do, but for most of us who experience the outdoors via watching it on TV we need a world in which the 18 year old across the street doesn't have more weaponry than the fish and game dept down the block.

Nina Davis

photos courtesy of prevarication.net and norcalblogs.com

Wisconsin We Hear Your Cries, Who Cares?

 For many who don't know the advent of unions was due to the dangerous conditions, poor wages and treatment of migrant workers in mines, fields as chminey sweeps etc. The impact of unionization on the improvement of workers conditions can be demonstrated by the vast improvements to workers conditions. However 100 years later it can be easily argued that Unions have a different role in many states within this country. What began as an effort to collectively unite workers in a fight for fair working conditions has become a powerful entity capable of crippling legislative process and government budgets. Let me be very clear, in no way do I mean to insult the unions as I believe in what they stand for, just not necessarily the manipulative tactics it has come to rely on to get its way. In California the unions are quite unique in the fact that they donate millions and millions of dollars to directly influence elections and protect their ever increasing rights, benefits and pay scales. Anyone who has to deal with a city or government employee can probably attest to the negative experience most public interactions involve, and for those parents out there still reeling from the shock that school districts in the Inland Empire have cut the busing system completely (this means for all those non-parents out there that sports at most junior highs have been cancelled or restricted to PE play) all I can say is where do all my tax dollars go? (Fun fact: if you make more than $46,700 a year but less than $250,000 chances are you are in the highest paying tax bracket in the nation.)

 In California we have the one of the highest tax rates in the nation, with little compensation or justification. The roads suck, the teachers are the highest paid in the nation, the students arguably the stupidest, county and local governments are barely functioning the DMV is closed like 6 times a month, yet government workers, teachers and many other union protected peoples insist on raises, free or close to free healthcare for life, up to 6 weeks vacation and the ability to never get fired. Hmmm. This doesn't sound like the Unions from the early 20th century it seems more like the mafia centered on protecting its own interests. The rights of teachers, fire fighters etc. must be protected obviously but not at the expense of schools shutting down because their checking account is being hit like everyone else's. In California 80% of the school budget goes to paying the teachers and other "administrative costs", the teachers have argued and fought successfully that we must continue chipping away at the less than 20% left for students. This is not calculus people this is Greed 101. This isn't a rant out to get the teachers, its a wake up call and lesson in basic math. If a company only has $100 and its paying its employees $80 a month, it cant fire anyone, it cant lay them off without a strike yet its forced to increase productivity (the ever increasing class sizes) what is going to happen? The business is going to close or the product (the students) are sub par. Thus California's ranking at 44th for reading/math proficiency.

Lets roll on over to Wisconsin. Where teachers, fire fighters and the like are marching all over the capital demanding the Governor not take their "collective bargaining rights" away. At first glance yes it seems like mean old Republican Walker is snatching the rights of the little people away. But if those rights include the ability to shut down schools, fire departments and government services because a select group of people doesn't get their way financially SOMETHING must be done. I'm sorry Wisconsin, the very conservative, "small government", Bible thumping right wing jokes you elected into office are turning on you. I'm sorry that you did not realize that the very people you elected to save you are now blaming you for the fiscal budget issues of the state, the recession and everything else that contributed to the deficit in your state. Corporate America makes politicians people they have no interest in the poor. Stopping greed corruption, the power and influence of big business, limiting their own payrolls and staffs? Not even on the table. Perhaps when you go to the polls next time, you will keep this painful lesson in mind.
In short the recession was not the fault of the unions, though they most certainly did not help, the recession was caused by big banks, and capitalistic greed. Don't get upset when the holier than thou officials elected to office (who profit more than anyone from big banks and wall street) take the fiscal fall out, out on the unions, the unemployed and anyone else that didn't financially contribute to their positions.

Nina Davis