Daylight Atheism » Sects and Cults

The Watchtower's Apocalyptic Pratfalls

Ebonmuse — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 10:49:35 +0000

Since we all had a hearty laugh at the antics of Harold Camping earlier this summer, I thought you might appreciate a little more light comedy. Presented here for your approval are some excerpts from Millions Now Living Will Never Die, a famous the-end-is-near book published in 1920. You can download the entire book in PDF form, or read some more background about it, from this link.

The emphatic announcement that ... [visit site to read more]

Weekly Link Roundup

Ebonmuse — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 16:28:07 +0000

Some scattered thoughts to contemplate on a Saturday morning:

• Earlier this year, my post on urban agriculture drew some spirited disagreement. Now there's a study from Ohio State University which concludes that Cleveland could supply all its own produce, poultry and honey if the many vacant lots in the shrinking, ... [visit site to read more]

Strange and Curious Sects: David Koresh

Ebonmuse — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 10:37:54 +0000

In a 2008 post on the apocalyptic Millerite sect, I mentioned how several modern Christian denominations were formed from the Millerites' ruin, and how the infamous Branch Davidians originated as a splinter group from one of these. That story, I think, is already well-known: the way a charismatic preacher born as Vernon Wayne Howell changed his name to David Koresh and took control of the group; how he began ... [visit site to read more]

The Evangelist's Funnel

Ebonmuse — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 10:51:48 +0000

Through some odd stroke of coincidence, when I was in San Francisco earlier this year, I encountered more than the usual amount of religious nuttiness. I've already written about the woman who gets divine communications in God's actual handwriting. There were also Scientologists handing out pamphlets on a street corner, advertising something called the "Purification Rundown":

visit site to read more]

Whom Should We Mock?

LeahAdmin — Wed, 25 May 2011 23:43:34 +0000

This is a guest post by Leah of Unequally Yoked. Adam is on vacation.

My last post on Daylight Atheism, asking non-believers to tone down the contempt for Harold Camping and his followers, and many of you disagreed. Some commenters didn't believe there was anything intrinsically destructive about mocking others, others argued that ridicule was a ... [visit site to read more]

The Rapture of Charlie Sheen

LeahAdmin — Fri, 20 May 2011 23:18:23 +0000

This is a guest post by Leah of Unequally Yoked. Adam is on vacation.

I'm sure this is just one blog post among many in your feed to reference the Rapture predictions of Harold Camping. His apocalyptic forecast for this weekend is all over the news cycle and even snagged front page coverage in The New York Times. And why is everyone telling this story? Because ... [visit site to read more]

Weekly Link Roundup

Ebonmuse — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 17:12:27 +0000

• Witchcraft is now a recognized profession in Romania, subjecting its practitioners to income tax. Witches who are unhappy about this are responding pretty much like you'd expect.

• A female activist in Israel faces prison time for praying at the Wailing Wall. The telling quote:

"The ... [visit site to read more]

A Brief and Amusing Encounter

Ebonmuse — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 15:30:15 +0000

Yesterday on my lunch hour, I was sitting outside the library, eating lunch and enjoying a rare day of warm weather, when I was approached by two young men in Orthodox Jewish garb.

"Hello, are you Jewish?" one of them greeted me.

"No," I said, as cheerfully as possible. "I'm an atheist."

Give them credit for one thing: they didn't flinch. "You can be Jewish and an atheist," he insisted, still smiling. "Judaism has nothing to do with what you believe."

Now, I acknowledge there's a ... [visit site to read more]

Strange and Curious Sects: Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh

Ebonmuse — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 10:48:19 +0000

When a new sect with strange and unfamiliar beliefs bursts onto the scene, it almost invariably meets with hostility (most of it from the old sects with strange and familiar beliefs). And depending on the nature of the newcomer, there are two common responses. It may stress its own virtue and righteousness all the more strongly, wearing its persecution as a badge of pride. Or it may become bitter and apocalyptic, denouncing its enemies as God's enemies and warning of a day of reckoning. Those ... [visit site to read more]

Weekly Link Roundup

Ebonmuse — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 22:13:28 +0000

• Despite the good sense shown by the British Medical Association in lambasting homeopathy at their annual conference last month, the UK National Health Service has announced that it will still pay for water and sugar pills passed off as medicine.

• A court in ... [visit site to read more]

An Abundance of Amusing Apocalypticism

Ebonmuse — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 10:37:50 +0000

I don't know if it's the warm weather here in New York that's bringing out the crazies, but these past two weeks, I've encountered more than the usual number of street preachers handing out loony religious literature. Because I know you wicked, godless atheists need to hear the word of the Lord, I thought I'd share some of the best examples with you.

This first one is my favorite. Last week, I was out on my lunch break when I saw a teenager standing on the street corner handing out fliers. ... [visit site to read more]

No Payment For Prayer: Christian Science and Health Care Reform

Ebonmuse — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 10:54:33 +0000

With the historic passage of sweeping health insurance reform, Americans have reason to rejoice this week. For the first time, and despite hysterical opposition from the party of conspiracy nuts and theocrats, our government has enshrined in law the idea that every citizen has a right to affordable health care. Even if the law is far from perfect, it's still a huge advance over the alternative of doing nothing - and history shows that most major pieces of progressive social legislation, ... [visit site to read more]