The Armor of God Ephesians 6:11

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/bishop-who-preached-god-larger-dreaded-virus-dies-covid-19-n1183281

Me:  Those who  depend exclusively upon faith to act as a defense against reality remind me of a number of things in history, some of which I’ve already commented on. I’m also reminded of Isaac Asimov‘s comment that when preachers railed against the use of the new lightning rods invented by Benjamin Franklin, there was a strange side effect. Many townsmen used the lightning rods to protect their homes.  Those preachers who believed such use was defying  God‘s will found the only buildings in town likely to be struck by lightning were those with  tall steeples and no lightening rod.  In other words, their churches.

By all means pray and turn to your faith to ease your fear, such comfort is good and helpful. But that does not mean you should treat God as if he is a magic wizard who will protect you even if you do foolish things.   We are still responsible for the results of our own choices and conduct.

Pray and also take precautions.

S:  Karma.

Merry Crucifixion To All!

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/happy-good-friday-trump-covid-19-twitter_n_5e90eeabc5b681ebffbe02b5?ncid=APPLENEWS00001

Sing along!

> President Donald Trumpcame up with an unusual greeting Friday to those commemorating the day Christ was nailed to a cross: “HAPPY GOOD FRIDAY TO ALL!”

He later wished everyone a “great” Good Friday at his press briefing.

...when Trump was about to tour a Pearl Harbor memorial, he turned to John Kelly, then his chief of staff, and asked: “Hey, John, what’s this all about?” <

🎼    Don't know much about history

Don't know much biology

Don't know much about a science book

Don't know much about the French country

But I do know that I need love

And I know that if you love me, best

What a wonderful world this would be

Don't know much about geography

Don't know much trigonometry

Don't know much about algebra

Don't know what a slide rule is for

But I do know one and one is two

And if this one could be elected by you

What a wonderful world this would be

Now, I always claim to be a stable genius

When I'm really not

But maybe by claiming 

I’m a stable genius

I can win your love for me

Don't know much about history

Don't know much biology

Don't know much about a science book

Don't know much about the French country

But I do know that I need you

And I know that if you love me, lots

What a wonderful world this would be

La ta ta ta ta ta ta (history)

Hmm-mm-mm (biology)

La ta ta ta ta ta ta (science book)

Hmm-mm-mm (French  country)

Yeah, but I do know that I need you

And I know that if you love me, lots

What a wonderful world this would be. 🎼

Blood Sacrifices

https://www.rawstory.com/2020/04/im-covered-in-jesus-blood-defiant-churchgoer-tells-cnn-she-cant-get-sick-because-shes-christian/

> ‘I’m covered in Jesus’ blood’: Defiant churchgoer tells CNN she can’t get sick because she’s Christian. <

Me:  I again remind you all of the battle which helped turn the tide against the Crusaders in the Holy Land. They were sure that their bad leadership and bad strategy would be overcome by the fact that they carried a shard of the True Cross which would absolutely insure victory over the Muslim forces who slaughtered them.

Let us also remember the snake handler cult which apparently is still happening in some parts of rural southern America.

>Snake handlers do not worship snakes, instead using the snakes to show non-Christians that God protects them from harm. <

S:  I wonder who told her she's covered in blood. I don't see it. Survival of the fittest, I guess.

Me: Well Christianity is based on human sacrifice. It is as much a blood religion as that of the Aztecs. The only difference is Christians only had to kill one person who had an infinite supply of blood for everyone bathe in.  For anyone reading this who doesn’t know me, yes I am a Christian, just not that kind of Christian.

S:  I think we drink his blood, not bathe in it. Or has that changed too?

Me:  It’s a branch of Christianity that not all Christians are even aware of. But it’s been around quite a while.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SDqTENtNvKQ

Elisha Hoffman (1839-1929) took glorious inspiration from Revelation 7:14…

These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Reminds me of the cult of Mithras. Popular among Roman soldiers.  It was a mystery cult so we don’t know all the details, but it is believed that a bull was sacrificed over a grating so that his blood would pour down on the new initiate. Washed in the blood of a bull.

S:  Similar. In Exodus, the Jews put lamb's blood on their doors so their firstborn wouldn't be killed. Egyptians didn't and their firstborn were. Lambs were considered pure way back then. I wonder how far back that tradition goes. I searched Zoroaster and found nothing similar. Well, all I can say is Good luck to the churchgoer who is covered in Jesus' blood. She won't get sick but I hope she doesn't become a carrier and infect others. 

Me:  Susan. Just noted an interesting thing today. I earlier commented that a Black racial supremacist group is telling members of their community that they are immune from the virus so they don’t need to obey any restrictions. Today I bumped in a report that members of the Q anon White supremacist racial group are declaring that White people are immune from the virus so...

 You know what I always say; when it comes to racial supremacists,  Black or White, they all look alike to me.

S:  It reminds me of what we used to say when we saw a drunk driver weaving down the road -"Well, I hope he only kills himself".

Republican Lemmings?

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/apr/05/trump-is-killing-his-own-supporters-coronavirus-covid-19?CMP=oth_b-aplnews_d-1

We don’t know what’s going to happen of course, but Republicans (especially those are fanatically dedicated to Trump) are refusing to take reasonable precautions and are even going out of their way to expose themselves. The consequences could be horrifically bad for them.

While it would be ironically just If they were to suffer the consequences of their callous indifference to others and their arrogant smugness; they are our fellow Americans. They are our fellow human beings. 

Not to mention all the innocents that they would dragged down with themselves.

> In the words of one administration insider, to the Guardian: “The Trump organism is simply collapsing. He’s killing his own supporters.”

There is nothing like populism marinated in wholesale contempt for the populace.

When Dr Anthony Fauci says there is no evidence to back up Trump’s claims surrounding hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malaria drug, pay attention. <

Told You so!

As sometimes happens I did not copy the link to the article in question. However as brief as it is I think the post is worth making anyway. Essentially the article was noting that extreme gun rights advocates believe that the rush on purchasing weapons is vindication that they were right all along and now everyone is aware of it.

Gun nuts are rejoicing! It seems the entire population of America has turned into gun nuts! Or have we?

>“People are waking up, saying, ‘Wait a minute, what do you mean I need a gun?’ All of a sudden they're realizing that this affects them.”<

Actually, I don’t believe we are. Sorry to disappoint, you but most of us are not panic stricken, terrified little children afraid of the boogie man like you.  We are panic stricken, terrified little children afraid of not having enough toilet paper.  I’d be very surprised if the vast majority of people buying guns in a panic are not people who already have a full hoard of weaponry.

I’m not the only one taking this position.  >Rob Morse agrees. “I think in six months, we'll be able to buy a lot of secondhand guns cheap.”<

Also, I expect people will probably be giving away toilet paper because they would like to put the car back in the garage.

Short But Sweet

As someone noted in regard to Plato‘s criticism of democracy:

>The sweet shop owner can make the argument against the doctor that “he gives you bitter syrups and pokes holes on you, cuts your skin and take your blood,” but he can offer you many sweets and candies. Surely no one with their right mind would vote for the doctor would they?<

🎼

Who can spread the virus?

Who can make you sick?

Who kill your loved ones

And do it all so quick?

The orange man can!

‘Cause he’s so mixed up

And he’s also really dumb.

The orange man can...

🎼

Biblical Dissonance

https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2020/04/hobby-lobby-keeps-disobeying-state-stay-at-home-orders-arts-and-crafts.html

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8176501/amp/Pennsylvania-evangelist-announces-hold-Woodstock-like-Easter-event.html

What is it about  fundamentalist extremist Christian sects that makes them so defiant of medical orders and common sense?

It isn’t biblical.  Although these groups invariably say the Bible is the word of God that must be obeyed somehow they never seem to actually do that.  Romans 13:1-2 says: "Obey the government, for God is the One who has put it there. There is no government anywhere that God has not placed in power. So those who refuse to obey the law of the land are refusing to obey God, and punishment will follow."

Yet they always insist that they do these things for religious purposes based on the Bible, which they ignore.

I see why radical fundamentalist evangelical atheists think all religion must be bad when faced with these extremists, but then again that particular group should look in the mirror and realize that they are just as mindless.

Emotionalism, a dependence upon reactions based upon your feelings rather than facts and the application of the higher functions of your brain, has had a devastating negative impact on humanity for as long as there have been humans.

Which makes me feel very depressed, emotionally.