Questions for ATHEISTS vol. keep it funky

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That Scientology spying operation on Anonymous? Yeah, we have video too

We have even more for you from Scientology’s own files on its operation to surveil the Anonymous movement in Seattle in 2009.

Yesterday we explained that notorious Scientology “black bag department” private investigator Russ Andrews was flown in to sit outside a protester’s residence and take note of who was coming and going. Today, we have video from that operation.

But first, we wanted to show you even more about the lengths Scientology went to as it was being picketed by Anonymous at the time.

Public Scientologists were recruited by the local DSA — the Department of Special Affairs, the local branch of Scientology’s spy wing, the Office of Special Affairs — in order to infiltrate Anonymous and take part in the protests.

We can show you a page from a packet that Scientologists recruited for the operation were given, with a checklist of things to bring to a monthly picket.



tonyortega.org

That Scientology spying operation on Anonymous? Yeah, we have video too | The Underground Bunker

tonyortega.org tonyortega.org
 
Christian Prophets Are on the Rise. What Happens When They’re Wrong?
Jeremiah Johnson, a 33-year-old self-described prophet, was one of the few evangelical Christians who took Donald J. Trump’s political future seriously back in 2015.
This track record created a loyal audience of hundreds of thousands of people who follow him on social media and hang on his predictions about such topics as the coronavirus pandemic, the makeup of the Supreme Court, and the possibility of spiritual revival in America. And they took comfort ahead of the presidential election last fall when Mr. Johnson shared a prophetic dream of Mr. Trump stumbling while running the Boston Marathon, until two frail older women emerged from the crowd to help him over the finish line.
So when Joseph R. Biden Jr. was certified as the winner of the election, Mr. Johnson had to admit he had let his followers down.


www.nytimes.com

Christian Prophets Are on the Rise. What Happens When They’re Wrong? (Published 2021)

They are stars within one of the fastest-growing corners of American Christianity. Now, their movement is in crisis.
www.nytimes.com www.nytimes.com
 
L.A. megachurch pastor mocks pandemic health orders, even as church members fall ill

“There is no pandemic.”

The words from the white-haired pastor echoed inside the cavernous megachurch in Los Angeles.

It was Aug. 30, only 18 days after L.A. County public health officials had demanded that Grace Community Church stop holding indoor services.

But the pastor, 81-year-old John MacArthur, had kept the doors open, delivering defiance from his pulpit every Sunday.


County health inspectors had tried to enter the church in previous weeks but were blocked by security guards. “We do not consent to a search or visit,” a security guard told the inspectors, reading from a prepared statement in early August. “This is a Jesus Life Matters protest.”

If the inspectors had been allowed inside, they would have seen thousands of congregants sitting side by side, most without masks.


They hugged and sang hymns and shook hands and erupted in applause during MacArthur’s sermon. When the offering plate came around, the congregants gave $40,046, almost six times more than the previous Sunday, according to the church bulletins.


This picture of worship in the time of the coronavirus has emerged as a seemingly intractable legal and emotional drama that turns on sharply differing visions of safe behavior during a pandemic. Most religious institutions have been following public health rules, turning to livestreams, outdoor services and drive-through events, but a handful have objected, arguing that the government doesn’t have the authority to restrict their prayer practices.


They hugged and sang hymns and shook hands and erupted in applause during MacArthur’s sermon. When the offering plate came around, the congregants gave $40,046, almost six times more than the previous Sunday, according to the church bulletins.


www.latimes.com

L.A. megachurch pastor mocks pandemic health orders, even as church members fall ill

Thousands of maskless congregants gather weekly at Grace Community Church as Pastor John MacArthur ignores orders from a judge and public health officials.
www.latimes.com www.latimes.com
 
1613503319766.png


www.dw.com

Middle East: Are people losing their religion? – DW – 02/04/2021

Recent surveys indicate strongly that across the Middle East and Iran, almost half the population is loosening their ties to Islam. Governments have reacted differently to calls for reforms of institutional religion.
www.dw.com www.dw.com
 
1613784068439.png



Let Us Prey is the third published work of local New Orleans writer Don Spears. In his most recent work, Spears exposes the soft underbelly of organized religion, particularly the proselytizing and extortion that preys upon the faithful. A subtitle of the novel “Predamus” is derived from Latin and means let us prey, basically a play on the words of the clergy who invite the pious to pray.



The book is well researched, and according to Spears, it reflects a spiritual journey that took him over seven years to complete. The depth and breadth of that research is reflected in its extensive bibliography.



Spears begins the non-fiction work with a retrospective depiction of post-Katrina New Orleans, which is both daunting and tragic. His first hand view of the City from the vantage point of a native, shows the pain that only those who bore witness to the devastating initial view can relate.



In his extended preface, Spears details life experiences, particularly the traumatic experience of surviving the worst natural disaster in US history that led him to re-examine his own faith, his beliefs and his understanding of organized religion and the effect it has had on him and others. For some their faith is even stronger, while others are no longer believers.



A professed skeptic, Spears exposes myths, propaganda, and many other untruths that have been propagated through the ages by the Church in an effort to control the masses. Spears contends that it is that control that has led to much abuse and corruption by clergy and other people of faith and has rendered many African Americans to make questionable life decisions as they have been duped by matters they would normally question were it not for the source of the misdirection.



According to Spears, the book is one man’s attempt to help readers understand “how and why your spiritual and secular worlds work or do not work.” As Spears says, “Life itself is much too short, and time much too precious, to keep going around in circles, only to find yourself cheated out of most of both in the end.”



Spears begins by examining a universally accepted belief among Christians of the creation. He questions the notion that the first family was composed of Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel. As Spears queries, where did Cain’s wife come from? After Cain murdered his brother Abel, and Cain was destined to wander the earth and be killed by anyone who would meet him? But who could kill him if there were no other people on earth? And are we to believe that Cain procreated with one of his sisters or one of his nieces?



Spears central thesis centers around three basic questions. The first question: Is today’s church helping or crippling its members? The second question: Is the church a benefit, a liability or even relevant in the 21st century? And finally: Has the church stifled the creativity and growth of society? His book does not answer these questions, but rather encourages its readers to examine and make their own decisions about the impact of the church on their lives.



Another belief that has long been upheld by the church is that of the “virgin birth.”

The book contends that since the mother of Jesus possibly had other children, are we to believe that since subsequent offspring were born to the union of Mary and Joseph, Mary was not a virgin all her life “semper virgo” as the Catholic Church maintains. Spears also challenges the notion of Mary and Joseph embarking on a 100-mile journey on a donkey during the dead of winter when she was in an advanced state of pregnancy. Similarly, Spears raises many other questions including the fact that Mary came from a very wealthy family and Joseph, a craftsman, was probably of middle class income, however they are typically portrayed as poor. Spears attributes much of the biblical story as we know it to be linked to a combination of mythology, Christian, Jewish and pagan.



Christians have generally accepted the biblical history of Jesus birth without exception because the gospels corroborate each other, but Spears boldly suggests that Jesus himself may have been illiterate since none of the accounts are known to have been written by him. And in fact, the most prolific writer of early Christian doctrine was Paul (or Saul) someone who actually never met Jesus. Paul, in fact, had been a fierce defender of the Jewish faith, an ancient bounty hunter, until he was transformed by an experience on the road to Damascus. This combination of his Christian experience and his Jewish upbringing is yet another factor Spears attributes to a possible merger of the two theologies.



This blending of multiple theologies is self-perpetuating and serves to satisfy the masses while promising something for everyone. The problem for early Christians and Jews was that these emerging views challenged the authority of the ruling classes and diminished their control. With so many conflicting beliefs, the masses craved something or someone to follow, and that something or someone became Jesus Christ and the early church.



Spears imagination is supported by the artistry of William Jamison and Gail Pomes whose illustrations capture the challenging nature of the book. Jesus and other early Christians are mostly depicted as people of color who frequently display a passionate nature in contrast to the docile, peaceful demeanor in which we often see early Christians portrayed.



Thought provoking, controversial, and some may say blasphemous, the work is definitely a page-turner that is difficult to put down. In Let Us Prey, Spears presents another aspect of his prolific writing that reveals doubts and thoughts many of us have wrestled with but were reluctant to discuss. It is truly an interesting read.

Don Spears, in his book, Let Us Prey, sheds light on a discussion regarding religion. Many of us often have absolute and even blind faith in our church. But is such dedication and unconditional loyalty well founded or even smart? Do people really think it's best to live their fragile lives based on something told to them by priests or preachers who may not truly care about them at all? Let Us Prey takes a brief look at religion and its attendant ominous consequences. It is an attempt to help you understand and appreciate how and why your secular and spiritual worlds work or do not work. Don Spears seeks to help you question the set-in-stone beliefs that have kept you and unenlightened others in the dark and in bondage for over 2000 years. Be inspired to learn to think for yourself.
 
In Marcus Thompson's 2017 book -- Golden: The Miraculous rise of Stephen Curry -- it was asserted that Jackson once asked Curry to take part in something of a spiritual healing ceremony in his church. From Thompson:

A part of the tradition at Jackson's church was a spirited service including worshippers jogging along the walls of the congregation in praise. Curry, two days removed from his latest sprain, found himself taking laps with Jackson and the other members filled with the spirit. Then after Jackson's sermon, his wife and co-pastor, Desiree, continued the worship with an impromptu sermon and benediction. She also called Curry to the altar.

They took off his shoes and socks, anointed his ankle with oil and prayed for healing. The parishioners lifted their voices in chants and amens, calling on God to bless one of His Christian ambassadors. Service at Jackson's church was much more passionate and engaging than Curry was used to back in Charlotte. But he humbly accepted the blessing that was being offered and returned to his seat with a smile on his face.

"Where you going?" Desiree asked the star point guard in front of the congregation. Curry responded with his go-to look of bewilderment, a half smile and widened eyes. He thought he was supposed to return back among the flock when she was done.

"You don't get a blessing from the Lord and just walk off!" she shouted. "Show us you believe in the power of God."

It took Curry a second to understand what she meant. Then the old Bible stories rushed to his mind. Like when Jesus healed the lame man at the Pool of Bethesda, that man had to pick up his mat and walk. If he believed he was healed, he needed to show it.

So Curry started shimmying and hopping on his right foot, much to the delight of the congregation.

"I didn't know what else to do," Curry said


:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:



Mark Jackson says Warriors 'narrative' has kept him from second coaching chance, but it's a lot more than that https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/...hing-chance-but-its-a-lot-more-than-that/amp/
 
DCAllAfrican said:
In Marcus Thompson's 2017 book -- Golden: The Miraculous rise of Stephen Curry -- it was asserted that Jackson once asked Curry to take part in something of a spiritual healing ceremony in his church. From Thompson:

A part of the tradition at Jackson's church was a spirited service including worshippers jogging along the walls of the congregation in praise. Curry, two days removed from his latest sprain, found himself taking laps with Jackson and the other members filled with the spirit. Then after Jackson's sermon, his wife and co-pastor, Desiree, continued the worship with an impromptu sermon and benediction. She also called Curry to the altar.

They took off his shoes and socks, anointed his ankle with oil and prayed for healing. The parishioners lifted their voices in chants and amens, calling on God to bless one of His Christian ambassadors. Service at Jackson's church was much more passionate and engaging than Curry was used to back in Charlotte. But he humbly accepted the blessing that was being offered and returned to his seat with a smile on his face.

"Where you going?" Desiree asked the star point guard in front of the congregation. Curry responded with his go-to look of bewilderment, a half smile and widened eyes. He thought he was supposed to return back among the flock when she was done.

"You don't get a blessing from the Lord and just walk off!" she shouted. "Show us you believe in the power of God."

It took Curry a second to understand what she meant. Then the old Bible stories rushed to his mind. Like when Jesus healed the lame man at the Pool of Bethesda, that man had to pick up his mat and walk. If he believed he was healed, he needed to show it.

So Curry started shimmying and hopping on his right foot, much to the delight of the congregation.

"I didn't know what else to do," Curry said


:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:



Mark Jackson says Warriors 'narrative' has kept him from second coaching chance, but it's a lot more than that https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/...hing-chance-but-its-a-lot-more-than-that/amp/
Click to expand...

What are your thoughts on the mark Jackson situational?
 
DCAllAfrican said:
In Marcus Thompson's 2017 book -- Golden: The Miraculous rise of Stephen Curry -- it was asserted that Jackson once asked Curry to take part in something of a spiritual healing ceremony in his church. From Thompson:

A part of the tradition at Jackson's church was a spirited service including worshippers jogging along the walls of the congregation in praise. Curry, two days removed from his latest sprain, found himself taking laps with Jackson and the other members filled with the spirit. Then after Jackson's sermon, his wife and co-pastor, Desiree, continued the worship with an impromptu sermon and benediction. She also called Curry to the altar.

They took off his shoes and socks, anointed his ankle with oil and prayed for healing. The parishioners lifted their voices in chants and amens, calling on God to bless one of His Christian ambassadors. Service at Jackson's church was much more passionate and engaging than Curry was used to back in Charlotte. But he humbly accepted the blessing that was being offered and returned to his seat with a smile on his face.

"Where you going?" Desiree asked the star point guard in front of the congregation. Curry responded with his go-to look of bewilderment, a half smile and widened eyes. He thought he was supposed to return back among the flock when she was done.

"You don't get a blessing from the Lord and just walk off!" she shouted. "Show us you believe in the power of God."

It took Curry a second to understand what she meant. Then the old Bible stories rushed to his mind. Like when Jesus healed the lame man at the Pool of Bethesda, that man had to pick up his mat and walk. If he believed he was healed, he needed to show it.

So Curry started shimmying and hopping on his right foot, much to the delight of the congregation.

"I didn't know what else to do," Curry said


:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:



Mark Jackson says Warriors 'narrative' has kept him from second coaching chance, but it's a lot more than that https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/...hing-chance-but-its-a-lot-more-than-that/amp/
Click to expand...
Curry being smoking that la la out in the eastbay lol
 
DCAllAfrican said:
In Marcus Thompson's 2017 book -- Golden: The Miraculous rise of Stephen Curry -- it was asserted that Jackson once asked Curry to take part in something of a spiritual healing ceremony in his church. From Thompson:

A part of the tradition at Jackson's church was a spirited service including worshippers jogging along the walls of the congregation in praise. Curry, two days removed from his latest sprain, found himself taking laps with Jackson and the other members filled with the spirit. Then after Jackson's sermon, his wife and co-pastor, Desiree, continued the worship with an impromptu sermon and benediction. She also called Curry to the altar.

They took off his shoes and socks, anointed his ankle with oil and prayed for healing. The parishioners lifted their voices in chants and amens, calling on God to bless one of His Christian ambassadors. Service at Jackson's church was much more passionate and engaging than Curry was used to back in Charlotte. But he humbly accepted the blessing that was being offered and returned to his seat with a smile on his face.

"Where you going?" Desiree asked the star point guard in front of the congregation. Curry responded with his go-to look of bewilderment, a half smile and widened eyes. He thought he was supposed to return back among the flock when she was done.

"You don't get a blessing from the Lord and just walk off!" she shouted. "Show us you believe in the power of God."

It took Curry a second to understand what she meant. Then the old Bible stories rushed to his mind. Like when Jesus healed the lame man at the Pool of Bethesda, that man had to pick up his mat and walk. If he believed he was healed, he needed to show it.

So Curry started shimmying and hopping on his right foot, much to the delight of the congregation.

"I didn't know what else to do," Curry said


:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:



Mark Jackson says Warriors 'narrative' has kept him from second coaching chance, but it's a lot more than that https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/...hing-chance-but-its-a-lot-more-than-that/amp/
Click to expand...
I want to say this, because I know it to be true, it is historically accurate.

When African slaves in america had christianity forced upon them, some recognized the rituals that were present in the bible. In ATR's there are healing rituals of all sorts, and there are other rituals as well, like those preparing for war. In the movie GLORY, there is one scene in particular where the soldiers knowing that they were going to die in battle, sang the night before confrontation. They chanted, made confessions, clearing their consciousness. TRIP, the character played by Denzel Washington, did not know what to do or say when it was his turn, because was not a person of supposed faith. Morgan Freeman's character told him to state what he had felt, and Trip made the most simple comment, the one that made the most sense to him. After this cleansing, all went to battle, ready to die.

During all of this, a bible was passed around for each person to make a confession, clearing the spirit.

This brings about confidence, and this is most definitely African in origin, and then has absolutely nothing to do with christianity nor the bible.

The ritual taking place for Curry in Jackson's church while comical, is also AFRICAN in tradition.

The problem is, Mark Jackson isn't the person to have healing you.
:rofl:
 
I was never religious myself, but my dads side is from the south so theyre religious, ive been to church etc

Once i watched Zeitgeist when i was like 12 it was over.

Science and religion dont mix.

I do think theres a possibility of a higher power or some kind of spiritual type stuff. But not going to blindly follow what somebody tells me to
 
Survey: Orthodox Jews, Unlike Other Jews, Vote Just Like White Evangelicals

During the pandemic, there have been two groups of religious people eagerly fighting public gathering restrictions: Evangelical Christians and Orthodox Jews.

That shared opposition to sensible health precautions actually tells us something remarkable: While, on the whole, American Jews tend to be quite liberal and vote for Democrats, Orthodox Jews’ politics closely resemble those of white evangelicals instead.


Orthodox Jews, who strictly adhere to traditional teachings, are increasingly voting Republican and spouting familiar conspiracy theories former President Donald Trump has stoked.

…

“Overall, it seems pretty clear that Orthodoxy has shifted toward Trump,” said Mark Trencher, president of Nishma and the study’s lead researcher, noting that among those who voted Republican or Democrat, “there were huge differences.”

…

Up until 2000 — when Democrat Al Gore and his Modern Orthodox running mate, Joe Lieberman, won a large majority of the Orthodox Jewish vote — the Orthodox Jewish vote had historically leaned Democrat. But since then, most Orthodox Jews have migrated to the Republican Party.



Orthodox Jews make up about 10% of the American Jewish population.

While it seems counterproductive for Jews to support Trump, a man who frequently used anti-Semitism in his speeches (regardless of his daughter’s conversion to marry a Jewish man), Orthodox Jews tend to prioritize similar values as the rest of Trump’s evangelical base: they tend to be “pro-life,” against marriage equality, and fiscally conservative.

But as much as Trump and other Republicans claim to “love Israel,” one can’t help but wonder if those same Orthodox Jews are aware of the primary reason evangelicals support the country: to get the Jews back to the Holy Land so Jesus can return sooner. At which they will be sent straight to hell.

friendlyatheist.patheos.com/2021/02/20/survey-orthodox-jews-unlike-other-jews-vote-just-like-white-evangelicals/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter&fbclid=IwAR1hSa2CO3-6ptfHt51GwSkOHAtHKptFIjUiKDN8SOc2Iks0w3CmDrk_Un0
 
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