Richard Dawkins and Michael Aus discuss the Clergy Project

The morning after the Reason Rally, Michael Aus was on the Chris Hayes Show, where he first came out as a non-believing Christian minister. Here is another interview, this time with Richard Dawkins.

Here's an excerpt.

Dawkins: What first led to those doubts? 

Aus: What really first started it was actually paying attention to the Bible. 

Dawkins: I'm not surprised. 

Aus: Yeah, it seems silly that you work with the Lectionary week in and week out, teach Bible studies, and you start to see the inconsistencies, the fabrications, and the fascinating thing about this to me is that you don't have to be a Bible scholar to see this stuff. 

Dawkins: It's not just the fabrications, it's the sheer unpleasantness. 

Aus: Unpleasantness. It's brutal. The genocides, the slaughters, the oppression of women, the support for slavery, it goes on and on. There are a few gems of wisdom in the Bible, but you have to dig to find them.

Dawkins: Of course, we can always say that that was then and we've moved on.  But, of course, we have moved on, and that's the point, istn't it? 

Aus: Yes, exactly! 

John Hagee explains how and why the world will end in 2012

John Hagee explains it all in less that 20 minutes. (See video below.)

The sermon begins with the rhetorical question:

Could 2012 be the end of the world as we know it?

The rest of the sermon provides Hagee's answer.

But before getting in to that, Pastor Hagee tells us what "God's point of view" is with respect to homosexuals. (God wants us to kill them.)

The word homosexual does not appear in the Bible, but the concept is clearly expressed by Moses in Leviticus 20:13, it says, "If a man lies with another man as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed abomination. They shall surely be put to death." That's God's point of view.

And that he's "thrilled out of his ever-loving mind" that he'll soon be raptured before the Antichrist shows up.

I gladly tell you that I am a born again, Bible-believing Christian and I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And I am thrilled out of my ever-loving mind that when the trumpet of God sounds, I'm out of here before the Antichrist shows up with hell incorporated.

With that out of the way, he begins to fly through the book of Revelation, telling us about the monstrous ecological things that God will do to our planet in the coming months.

I'm going to fly through the chapters of the book of Revelation like a speeding bullet. In the Book of Revelation there are seven seals, seven trumpets, and seven vials. Twenty-one monstrous ecological things that happen to literally devastate the planet Earth.

God will start things off by burning up 1/3 of the Earth's vegetation. (Hagee believes in global warming, but it's not human-caused, it's God-caused.)

One-third of the vegetation of the Earth is burned up (Revelation 8:7).

Then hordes of horse-sized locusts will sting people, torturing them for five months, and making them wish they were dead. (But the God of love won't let them die.)

The gates of hell are opened and hordes of locusts, the Bible says, the size of a horse will come up out of the bottomless pit and sting men like a scorpion. (Rev 9:2-6) The pain will last for five months. And men will beg God to let them die. But they cannot find death, the Bible says that.

After that, there'll be a bloody war, where, according to my calculation, about 24 trillion people will be killed.

A world war so bloody that the blood of those killed in battle will flow for 200 miles to the bridles of a horse. (Rev 14:20)

God will cover any survivors with boils from head to toe.

Every person on earth who has taken the mark of the beast in his right hand or forehead will be covered from head to feet with running boils. (Rev 16:2)

Then he'll turn the sea into blood.

The seven seas of the earth will turn to blood. (Rev 16:3-4)

And send an world-wide earthquake that will level mountains and sink islands.

Now you have the Bible describe a world-wide earthquake so monstrous that the mountains of the world are leveled, and that the islands of the sea disappear. (Rev 16:18-20)

Next God will burn the earth with fire, causing us all to run to the mountains, where we'll chew on our tongues while asking the mountains to fall on us.

The sun will scorch the Earth with fire, and mighty men, the Bible says, and kings and men of war will gnaw their tongues in pain and they will crawl into the mountains, and the book of Revelation says they will cry to the mountains, "Fall on us and kill us, to hide us from the wrath of the lamb that's on the throne." (Rev 16:8-11)

Then God will release four angels to kill 1/3 of the human population in a one day. The exact hour for this holy massacre is specified somewhere in Genesis 1, but only God and John Hagee know it.

I ask you, read Revelation 9:15, it's the sixth trumpet. There are four angels released by God himself to destroy one-third of mankind in one day. The Bible says there is a year, a month, a day, and an hour that God picked out from Genesis 1. One-third of mankind on that day, by the will and hand of God, will be destroyed.

That's right. God is going to kill 2.3 billion people in a single day later this year. And if you have a hard time believing that, read Genesis 7:4-23.

You say, I have a hard time believing that. May I refer you to Noah's Flood? Believe it.

Among the dead will be 100 million Americans, one for each aborted fetus, by God and John Hagee's calculation.

In America we have something over 300 million people. That means 100 million people in 24 hours, gone. I believe that God will require a life for every child killed in abortion clinics in America. I believe that's where the tally is going to be set.

So that's ho the world will end. Here's why it will be in 2012.

There are three independent pieces of evidence that when taken together are absolutely convincing.

1. Satellite TV

So why is it coming now? ... I listened to my father and grandfather sit and discuss the fact that the whole world would see the two witnesses killed on the streets of Jerusalem in one hour. (Revelation 11:3-12) They thought there was something in the text that was absolutely false because it was not believable. There was no television at that point in time. Television was born, but we still didn't get it. Then satellite television came in and ding, ding, ding, ding, ding -- we got it. This is how Elijah and Enoch are going to be seen in the city of Jerusalem, when the Antichrist is going to be permitted to kill them. They're going to line in the streets of Jerusalem and the world is going to see them at one time over internet television. The world is going to be so happy that there dead. Remember there's nothing on earth at this time but devil-worshiping, Antichrist-following people. They hate these two men of God. The world is going to be so thrilled their dead, thy're going to give gifts to each other like it's Christmas when they die. But three and a half days later they're going to stand to their feet ... and be lifted from the ground, back into the presence of God. And the whole world will watch them --- woooooweee! ... That couldn't happen before satellite television.

2. Nuclear warfare

And there was another section of verses that my parents couldn't understand, where God said that this is a plague that I will send to those that fight against Israel. That I will cause the flesh to fall from their bones before their body can hit the ground, and their eyes shall  melt in their sockets and their tongue in their mouth. (Zechariah 14:12) There was no way we could understand that. And then came atomic warfare and nuclear warfare.

3. Israel

And then there's the birth of Israel. ... Every major prophecy in the Old Testament said there would be a day that God would bring Israel back home. ... That happened May the 15, 1948.

There are about twelve other reasons that Pastor Hagee didn't have time to tell us about. But these three are the most convincing and they are sufficient.

It's not rocket science, people. It's all in the Bible.

There are about twelve of those prophetic signs I don't have time to give you, but you don't have to be a rocket scientist or a theologian to understand what I've just said. That's all in the Bible.

Up with Chris Hayes: The Morning After the Reason Rally

In this morning's show, Chris Hayes interviewed Pastor Mike Aus, who is one of the growing number of of active clergy who no longer believe in God. There were other interesting segments on the show, and I recommend that you watch it all, but I found the interview with Mike Aus especially interesting.

Here's the part that I liked best. (Begins around 7:10)

One of the dirty little secrets of Christianity is hardly anyone ever reads the Bible, and I think if they did, the whole thing would be in big trouble.

Amen to that, Pastor Mike.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

New SAB Category: Politics

Since it's an election year, I thought I'd start a new SAB category: Politics.

Here's the first verse, used by Senator James Inhofe to prove that human-caused climate change does not exist.

While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease. Genesis 8:22

I'll be adding more verses as I come across them, so you'll start to see them now and then in the SAB. Just look for this icon.



And if you notice any that you think should be included, you tell me about it in the comments.

Help begin the collapse of Catholic morality

Have you ever asked yourself, "What can I do to help begin the collapse of Catholic morality?"

Well, if so, now you have your answer.



Do it now. Do it often. The world depends upon it.

(Via Pharyngula)

Richard Dawkins on absolute morality

Here is a video of Richard Dawkins' response to a question about absolute morality.



I liked his answer so much that I decided to quote it in full below, along with some relevant quotes from the Bible, Quran, and Hadith.

But first, here was the question from Hamsa Koreshi.

Question: My question is for professor Dawkins. Considering that Atheism cannot possibly have any sense of absolute morality,  would it not then be an irrational leap of faith, which atheists themselves so harshly condemn, for an atheist to decide between right and wrong?

And here is Dawkins' answer:

The absolute morality that a religious person might profess would include what, stoning people for adultery,

And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death. Leviticus 20.10

The Jew brought to the Prophet a man and a woman from amongst them who have committed (adultery) illegal sexual intercourse. He ordered both of them to be stoned (to death), near the place of offering the funeral prayers beside the mosque. Hadith Sahih Muslim

death for apostasy,

If thy brother ... or thy son, or thy daughter, or the wife of thy bosom, or thy friend, which is as thine own soul, entice thee secretly, saying, Let us go and serve other gods ... Thou shalt not consent unto him ... neither shall thine eye pity him ... But thou shalt surely kill him; thine hand shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people. Deuteronomy 13.6-10

"Whoever changed his Islamic religion, then kill him." -- Muhammad Sahih al-Bukhari

punishment for breaking the Sabbath?

Whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. Exodus 31.14

Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day there shall be to you an holy day, a sabbath of rest to the LORD: whosoever doeth work therein shall be put to death. Exodus 35.2

They found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day ... and the LORD said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones. Numbers 15.32-36  

Ye know of those of you who broke the Sabbath, how We said unto them: Be ye apes, despised and hated! And We made it an example to their own and to succeeding generations. Quran 2.65-66

These are all things which are religiously-based absolute moralities. I don't think I want an absolute morality. I think I want a morality that is thought out, reasoned, argued, discussed, and based upon what you could almost call an intelligent design.

Can we not design our society in such a way to have the sort of morality that we want to live in? If you actually look at the moralities that are accepted among modern people, among 21st century people: we don't believe in slavery anymore, we believe in the equality of women, we believe in being gentle, we believe in being kind to animals. Theses are all things which  are entirely recent. They have very little basis in Biblical or Quranic scripture. They are things that have developed over historical time through a consensus of reasoning, sober discussion, argument, legal theory, political and moral philosophy. They do not come from religion. 

To the extent that you can find the good bits in religious scriptures you have to cherry pick. You search your way through the Bible or the Quran and find the occasional verse that is an acceptable profession of morality and we say, "Look at that! That's religion." You leave out all the horrible bits and you say, "Oh, we don't believe that anymore. We've grown out of it."

(In the SAB there are 1312 cruel passages vs. 503 good ones; the corresponding values for the Quran are  531 and 75.)

Well, of course we've grown out of it! We've grown out of it because of secular, moral philosophy  and rational discussion.

---

Check out Dawkins' most recent book, The Magic of Reality, a graphic science book written for children 12 and up.

2 Nephi 11-24: Padding Isaiah

I know, I've neglected the Book of Mormon lately. Sorry about that.

But now that it looks like Mitt Romney will be the Republican nominee, I'm inspired to return to my efforts to slog through Mitt's favorite book. (Here's a list of my previous Blogging the BoM posts so you catch up on the details.)

So here goes.

In the last episode, we learned that Jews are the most wicked people on earth and that God gave America (his favorite country) to the Mormons.

In chapter 11, Nephi's little brother, Jacob, continues his preaching, saying "many more things," but, lucky for us, Nephi only wrote down those things that sufficed him.

And now, Jacob spake many more things to my people at that time; nevertheless only these things have I caused to be written, for the things which I have written sufficeth me. 2 Nephi 11:1

After sufficing himself with Jacob's words, Nephi decided to throw in another 13 or so chapters from the Book of Isaiah   (He's already included four chapters. See 1 Nephi 20-21; 2 Nephi 6-8), because he likes Isaiah so darned much (and he needs to make his little book a little bigger).

And now I, Nephi, write more of the words of Isaiah, for my soul delighteth in his words. 2 Nephi 11:2

Before doing that, though, Nephi tells us a bit more about Jesus.
If there's no Jesus, there's no God, and if there's no God, there's no creation. But there is a God and his name is Jesus and he'll be coming in his own time (about 570 years after Nephi's words.)

Behold, my soul delighteth in proving unto my people the truth of the coming of Christ ... And also my soul delighteth in the covenants of the Lord ... yea, my soul delighteth in his grace ... And my soul delighteth in proving unto my people that save Christ should come all men must perish. For if there be no Christ there be no God; and if there be no God we are not, for there could have been no creation. But there is a God, and he is Christ, and he cometh in the fulness of his own time. 2 Nephi 11:4-7

And with that, Nephi writes some words of Isaiah. (13 chapters: 2 Nephi 12-24)

And now I write some of the words of Isaiah. 2 Nephi 11:8

Which I'm going to skip, since it has nothing to do with Nephi's story. I recommend that you do too.

See you in Chapter 25.

Luke 17:34 and Pray to be Gay Day

I don't know how I missed this before, but I did.

Luke 17:34, that is.

I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.

 And since Jesus clearly said that only a small minority would be saved,

Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. Luke 13:23-24

Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Matthew 7:13-14

the best way to improve your chances of being saved, if you are a man, is to go to bed with another man. (50% is better than a virtually zero chance.)

Or to spend you time grinding with other women, if you're a woman, as Jesus said in Luke 17:35.

Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

But what if you're not blessed enough to be gay? It's not too late: Pray to be gay!

There's even a special day and place for it: Pray to be Gay Day at the Reason Rally on March 24th.

Watch Thunderf00t's video for all the details.

What did Muhammad like? LIttle-known details from the Ash-Shifa

Here is a list of interesting facts about the Prophet Muhammad (PB&J be upon him) from Ash-Shifa: "The best biography of the Prophet Muhammad in 800 years." Ash-Shifa is highly regarded throughout the Muslim world, where it is said, "If Ash-Shifa is found in a house, this house will not suffer any harm." So it's a good book to have around. (I keep my copy in the bathroom on top of the Quran.)

Intelligence
The illiterate prophet of Islam was more intelligent than all other humans combined. Galileo, Newton, Einstein, and Darwin had nothing on Mo.

If all the intelligence of humanity, from the first to the last, were to be gathered as one, it would be in comparison to the intelligence of the Prophet... as a single grain of sand." p.49

His knowledge encompassed all sciences in full. p.211 

General qualities
He was the best, the greatest, the most perfect human being. Allah liked him more than anyone else.

Allah … made him the most perfect human being. p.12

 The Messenger of Allah … is the best of the People p.18

 Prophet Muhammad … is by far the most worthy and the greatest of all mankind. p.44

 Lady Ayesha, Mother of Believers … tells us that the Prophet … said, "Gabriel came to me and said, 'I searched the East and the West of the earth and saw no man better than Muhammad.” p.96

Allah preferred Muhammad to the angels of the heavens and all the other prophets. p.99  

Allah honored Muhammad above the inhabitants of the heavens of the earth. p.108

As for the normal shadows that are cast by either the light of the sun or moon, he had none because he himself was radiant with his own light. p.218  

Humility
Mo said that he was the most  generous, courageous, and powerful person to ever exist. He had more sex than Wilt Chamberlain  and more followers than Lady Gaga. Allah likes him more than you and Allah likes his wives more than yours. He was the most eloquent Arab; the most honored and noblest of the children of Adam; and he'll have 1000 adoring youths surrounding him in paradise. And this is no boast.

The Prophet ... said, "I have been preferred over my nation in four things – generosity, courage, abundance of sexual intercourse and great power." p.57

The Prophet … addressed the people, saying, "O gathering of believers! Allah … has preferred me greatly over you, and He has preferred my wives greatly over yours." pp.102-3 

The Prophet … told his Companions, "I am the most eloquent of Arabs.” p.52 

The Prophet … spoke of his honored position saying, "I am the most honored of the children of Adam with my Lord, and this is no boast."  p.96

The Prophet … said, “I am the noblest of the children of Adam before my Lord, and this is no boast." p.121

"I am the noblest of all the children of Adam with my Lord, and this is no boast. A thousand youths of Paradise will go about me as if they were hidden pearls." p.121

The Prophet  … spoke … saying, "On the Day of Resurrection I will be the master of the Children of Adam and the Banner of Praise will be in my hand, and this is not a boast. p.121

All the prophets from the time of Adam will come under my banner, and I will be the first for whom the earth splits open, and this is no boast." p.121

I will be the one with the most followers. p.121

Modesty
Mo was a modest person, especially when it came to exposing his private parts. No one, not even his favorite wife, Ayesha, ever saw him naked. Good thing, too, because if they did, they'd go blind.

 The Prophet ...  was a modest person. 57

When Prophet Muhammad ... took part in the rebuilding of Ka'ba, he was about raise his robe ... but he was prevent by the heaven ... When his uncle asked what ... stopped him, he replied, "I have been prevented from exposing my privates." p.217

Lady Ayesha … said, "I never saw the private parts of the Messenger of Allah." … The Prophet ... asked Imam Ali to ensure that no one other than himself should wash him (his covered body after his death). He told him, "No one has ever seen me naked, and if it were to happen he would become blind." p.48 

Appearance
Mo was the most handsome man that ever existed. His eyes were black, with natural mascara with a slight tinge of pink, accentuated by long eyelashes. His complexion was fair, his beard reached his chest, and his fingers were long. The hair on his chest formed a fine line, but the rest of his body was completely hairless.  His feet were so smooth that water ran off them. (Good info for Draw Muhammad Day.)

He was the most handsome man ever created, surpassing the beauty of Prophet Joseph for whom the women of the city cut their hands. p.44

The complexion of Prophet Muhammad … was radiant. His eyes were black, deep, widely set, and naturally mascaraed with a slight tinge of pink, accentuated by long eyelashes. p.45 

His beard was thick and reached his chest. ... His fingers were long and … the hair between his chest and navel was fine. He was of medium stature, however, when a tall person walked by his side the Prophet … appeared to be the taller. As for his hair it was neither curly nor straight and when he laughed his teeth were visible like a flash of lightning, or, they have been described as white as hailstones. p.45 

Allah did not send a prophet without making his face and voice beautiful, and that Prophet Muhammad … had the most handsome face of all of them and also the best voice. p.86 

The Prophet … His complexion was fair … his nose was long and had a line of light over it that someone might, unthinkingly, suppose to be his nose. His beard was thick, and his eyes were black and naturally mascared. His cheeks were firm and his mouth wide with evenly spaced teeth. The hair on his chest formed a fine line. His neck was as if it were fashioned from pure silver. p.91 

The Prophet's physique was finely balanced, and his body firm and muscular. His belly was equal in size to his chest. His chest was broad and the space between his shoulders wide. His calves were full. He was luminous! p.91 

Between the neck and navel of the Prophet ... there was a fine line of hair, however the rest of his torso was free from hair … His feet were so smooth that water ran off them. p.92 

Ancestry and pre-existence
Mo came from a long line of non-fornicators. There was not a single female fornicator in 500 generations. Allah created Mo's spirit 2000 years before Adam, putting him into the loins of Adam, Noah, and Abraham. He moved Mo from their noble loins into one pure womb after another, until finally Allah put Mo's spirit into the loins and womb of his parents.

From the time of Prophet Adam … there was neither an adulterer nor fornicator in the lineage of the Prophet, all were officially married. p.13

A line of no less than five hundred female ancestors of the Prophet ... He too verified that none had fornicated. p.13 

The spirit of the Prophet ...  was a light in the hands of Allah two thousand years before He created Adam … and when Allah created Adam, He cast that light into his loins.” p.53 

The Prophet ...  said, "Allah brought me down to earth in the loins of Adam, then He placed me in the loins of Noah and thereafter cast me into the loins of Abraham. Allah proceeded to move me from one noble loin and pure womb to another until He brought me out of my parents. None of them were ever joined together in fornication." pp.53, 96 

You came through … as a drop that …was transferred from loin to womb. … When you were born, the earth shone And the horizon was illuminated by your light. p.97

Birth
Mo was born clean and already circumcised, with a pre-cut umbilical cord. Allah sent meteors to scare away any satans and jinns that were hanging around at the time of his birth.

When the Prophet … was born he was already circumcised and his umbilical cord cut.  … He was clean when he was born. p.46

Upon the Prophet's birth ...  the heavens became guarded by meteors that chase would-be eavesdroppers away and thereby prevent the mischief of the satans and jinn. p.217 

Name
Allah assigns angels to visit each house with an Ahmad or Muhammad in it. Consequently, houses with one to three Muhammads are always prosperous, along with everyone else in the neighborhood. And whoever is named Muhammad has a sure-fire ticket to heaven, based on the name alone.

Allah has angels, who as an element of their worship, visit each house that has a person called Ahmad or Muhammad in it on account of the honor in which they hold Muhammad." p.101 

Prophet Muhammad ...  said, "No harm will come if he has, one, two or three Muhammad's in the house." p.102 

There isn't an unprosperous house in which there is the name Muhammad. All the people of that house are provided for and likewise their neighbors. p.102 

On the Day of Resurrection a call will be given, 'Let whosoever is named Muhammad stand up and enter the Garden by the meritorious honor of his name.' p.102  

Sexual prowess
Mo was endowed with the power of 30 to 40 men. He'd visit each of his wives in the same hour, taking a purification bath between each visit. Solomon had as much semen as 100 men, so just imagine the load that Mo could deliver!

There is, however, an extra virtue the satisfaction of satisfying a wife's need. The Prophet … was given an abundance of this ability and would visit all of his wives in the same hour. Anas and his companions concluded that he had been given the power of thirty men. p.56 

In the matter of sexual intercourse, the Prophet was endowed with the power of forty men. After having visited each wife he would take a purification bath before going to the next and said, "This is better and purer." p.56 

Prophet Solomon and Prophet David were endowed with the same ability. Prophet Solomon said, "During the night I visited a hundred or ninety-nine women. Abbas' son said, "In the loins of Solomon there was the semen of a hundred men, and he had three hundred wives and three hundred whom the right hand possesses." It has also been reported that he had seven hundred wives. As for Prophet David, he had ninety-nine wives. p.56 

Eyesight
Mo could see stuff behind him just like it was in front of him, and could see as well in the dark as in the light. He could even see eleven of the 1000 or so stars in the Pleiades. Since Moses could spot an ant from 30 miles away, just imagine what Mo was able to see!

The Prophet... told his Companions, "I see the one behind my neck just as I see the one before me." … When the Messenger of Allah ... arose from prayer he could see everyone behind him, just as if they were in front of him." p.49

The Prophet could see just as well in the dark as he could see in the light. p.49 

His clear-sightedness permitted him to see the eleven stars in the Pleaides. p.49 

Prophet Moses, Moses was able to see an ant on a stone a distance of thirty miles away." So imagine what Prophet Muhammad … was able to see. 49  

Sweat
Mo's sweat smelled sweet.

 The Prophet … was adorned with the sweetest of fragrances, as was his perspiration. p.46

 The Prophet … visited the house of Anas and fell asleep on a rug and perspired. When Anas's mother noticed the perspiration she fetched a long necked bottle into which she collected the drops of perspiration. Later, the Messenger of Allah … inquired about it, whereupon she replied, "We mixed it with our perfume and it is the most fragrant of scents." pp.46-47

Urine
Mo's urine smelled even better than his sweat. It smelled so good, in fact, that the earth split open to swallow the prophet's pee, leaving a fragrant aroma behind. Apparently this happened with prophet pooped, as well, since the earth swallowed whatever he discharged. Many people drank Mo's urine, with his permission and consent, and they all swore it tasted sweet.

Even when the Prophet … relieved himself, it is reported that the earth would split open and swallow his discharge and there remained a fragrant aroma. p.47

Lady Ayesha … said to the Prophet … "When you return after relieving yourself, there is nothing offensive about you." He replied, "O Ayesha, don't you know that the earth swallows up what is discharged from the prophets so that nothing is seen?" p.47

The Prophet... kept a wooden bowl under his bed in which, if he felt the need, he could urinate during the night. One night a lady by the name of Baraka,, … felt thirsty and upon seeing the cup drank the urine without knowing. There were also similar occurrences in which his urine was drunk, when the Prophet... learned of it he did not order the washing of their mouth nor did he forbid them to do it again. … The output from his body was sweeter and the drinker did not taste any urine as they would do so with anyone else. p.48

Mo's teaching about wives
It is good for a man to have more than one wife; the best man is the one with the most wives.

It is praiseworthy for a man to have more than one wife, referring to the Prophet … Abbas' son said, "The best of this community is the one with the most wives." p.55

About celibacy
Whoever can get married should get married. It protects the private parts.

The Prophet … forbade celibacy … and said, "Whosoever is able to marry should marry, it lowers the eyes and protects the private parts." p.55  

About religion
All true religion is based on cleanliness. 

The Prophet … said, ”The religion is based on cleanliness." p.46

About Adam
Adam was 90 feet tall.

Prophet Muhammad ...  said, "The first group to enter the Garden of Paradise will be like the full moon … every man will be in the height of their father Adam who was sixty cubits (90 feet) tall." p.86 

About Moses and Jesus
Moses wall tall with red hair. He was like the best man you've ever seen with a dark complexion. Mo looks more like him than anyone else does. But nobody ever saw any part of Moses' body on account of his modesty.
Jesus had a red face, just like he'd come out of a hot bath.

Prophet Muhammad … tells us, "I saw Moses, he was tall with curly hair.” … I saw Jesus, he was of medium height with a reddish face just as if he had come out after having taken a hot bath." p.86 

The Prophet … gave additional information about Moses saying, "He is like the best men you have ever seen with a dark complexion." ….  Of himself the Prophet ...  said, "Among the descendants of Abraham, I am the one who most resembles him." p.86 

Prophet Muhammad … tells us that Prophet Moses was a modest man who covered himself. No part of his body was seen on account of his modesty. p.87

About sickness
The root of all illness is indigestion.

Of illness, the Prophet ...  informs us of his knowledge saying, "The root of every illness is indigestion." p.211

About progress and innovation
 Follow Mo and beware of new things. New things are innovations and all innovations are misguided.

The Prophet ...  warned, ”You must follow my prophetic way and the way of the rightly guided Caliphs. Cling to it voraciously and beware of new things. New things are innovations and each innovation (that is not in the Spirit of Islam) is misguidance." p.226 

About knowledge
There are only three type of knowledge: verse, prophetic way, and inheritance. All other knowledge is superfluous.

The Prophet ...  spoke of knowledge saying, "There are three types of knowledge; a precise verse, an established prophetic way, and a just share of inheritance. All other knowledge is superfluous." p.226 

Miracles
One of Mo's favorite miracles was to make water come out of his fingers. Another was to talk trees into forming a screen so he could pee without anyone seeing. Rocks, trees, mountains, and lizards talked and bowed to Mo as he walked by.

There are many reports by the Companions that relate to numerous occasions when water was witnessed flowing from the fingers of the Prophet. p.168

Messenger of Allah ...  felt the need to relieve himself however there was nothing to screen him. So the Messenger of Allah ...  went to one of the trees and took hold of a branch and said, "Let me lead you by the permission of Allah" and gently proceeded to lead it like a haltered camel. He did the same with the other tree until the trees stood side by side, then he said to them "By the permission of Allah, join together for me" and this they did. p.175 

The trees parted from each other … The Prophet ...  felt the need to relieve himself and asked if there was anywhere. Osama told him that the dried up water bed had no place of concealment, so the Prophet ...  asked if any palm trees or stones had been seen. Osama told him that he had seen some scattered palm-trees and some stones, so the Prophet ...  said, "Go and tell them that the Messenger of Allah commands them to come to his assistance … I saw the palm-trees draw near to each other until they joined and the stones came together until they formed a mound behind the Prophet. After he had relieved himself he told Osama to tell them to part, and Osama swore again saying, "By He who sent him with the truth, I saw the palm-trees and stones part and return to their places." pp.175-6 

When the Prophet ...  was visiting a certain district in Mecca and as he passed each and every tree and mountain it greeted him saying 'Peace be upon you, O Messenger of Allah." p.179

Lady Ayesha that when Gabriel came to him with a message, every stone or tree he passed would greet him saying, "Peace be upon you, O Messenger of Allah." p.179

When the Prophet, praise and peace be upon happened to pass by a tree or rock it would bow to him. p.179 

The Prophet ...  called the lizard and it answered in clear human speech so that everyone could hear, "Obedient to you, O adornment of the One who will bring the Resurrection!" The Prophet ...  asked the lizard, "Who do you worship? And it replied, "The One whose throne is in the heaven and whose power is in the earth, whose path is in the sea, whose mercy is in the Garden, and whose punishment is in the Fire." Then the Prophet ...  asked, "Who am I?" and it replied, "The Messenger of the Lord of the Worlds and the Seal of the Prophets. Whosoever bears witness that this is so is successful and whosoever belies you is lost!" p.181

The Prophet ...  who thereafter gave him a branch of a palm-tree saying, "Take it with you, it will shed light for you an arms length before you and an arms length behind you. When you enter your house you will see something dark. Beat it until it leaves because it is satan." p.195 

Cures
Mo made a 70 year old man look like he was 15, and a 120 year old man to die without any broken teeth. He cured insane people by stroking their chests. And he stopped a couple young boys from crying by letting them suck on his tongue.

The Prophet ...  supplicated for Abu Katada saying, "May your face prosper! O Allah, bless him in his hair and skin." Abu Katada died at the age of seventy but looked no older than fifteen. p.190

An-Nabigha lived till the age of one hundred and twenty, the Prophet ...  supplicated for him saying, "May Allah not break your teeth" and none of his teeth fell out. p.190  

Whenever an insane person was brought to the Prophet ...  he would stroke their chest and the insanity would leave them. p.196  

The grandsons of the Prophet, Al Hasan and Al Hussain ... were young and crying on account of thirst. The Prophet ...  gave him his tongue to suck and thereafter they stopped crying. p.194  

Curses
Mo could curse as well as cure. He made a man lame for praying against him, and sent a lion to eat another for the same crime. He paralyzed a guy for eating with his left hand, and caused placenta-wielding unbelievers to be killed in battle. He sent a fatal disease on a man's knee for trying to break his staff. And he made a horse lame to punish its owner for lying.

One day a young man stopped praying, and the Prophet ... supplicated against him and he became lame. p.192

Utba, Abi Lahab's son was one of the enemies of the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, and he supplicate against him saying, "O Allah, give one of your carnivores power over him", later he was devoured by a lion. p.192  

Muhallim, Jaththama's son was another of the vehement enemies of the Prophet ...  and was subjected to his curse. Muhallim was killed by a wild beast and every time an attempt to bury him was made, the earth rejected him and threw his body to its surface. Finally they threw his corpse between a gully and covered him with stones. p.192  

The Prophet ...  saw a man eating with his left hand and advised him, "Eat with your right hand." The man arrogantly replied, "I am not able to do so." The Prophet ...  said, "You will not be able to do so," and thereafter the man was never able to raise his right hand to his mouth. p.192 

Masood's son tells us of the time when the unbelievers among the Koraysh put a placenta full of fluid and blood around the Prophet's neck whilst he was prostrate in prayer to Allah. The Prophet ...  cursed each of the participants, name by name, and during the Battle of Badr each one met their death. p.192 

Jihjah Al Ghifari snatched hold of the Prophet's staff from Othman's hand and proceeded to try and break it across his knee. Upon seeing this the people shouted at him. Thereafter he was stricken by an itching disease in his knee and despite its amputation he died within the year. p.255

A certain man denied that he had sold his horse and only gave up his claim to ownership after the Prophet ...  supplicated, "O Allah, if he is lying, do not give him any blessing in it" whereupon the legs of the horse became rigid. p.192 

Miscellaneous facts 
Talking meat, groovy gestures, rapt audiences, and Mo's special fly repellent.

A Jewess poisoned the meat she had prepared for the Prophet. … The meat spoke to him telling him that it had been poisoned. p.65

If he happened to point to something, he pointed with his entire hand. When something surprised him he would turn the palm of his hand upside down. When talking, he held his right thumb in his left palm.  p.92 

When he spoke, those sitting with him sat still, as if they had birds perched on their heads. p.94 

Flies did not alight on either his clothes or body. p.218 

Netanyahu's Purim gift to President Obama: The Book of Esther (and a war with Iran)

Well, it's Purim time again, when Jews celebrate the day their ancestors supposedly killed 75,000 Persians in a preemptive strike because the Persians supposedly planned to kill the Jews. (DIU: The Esther Killings.)

The story is found in the Book of Esther, which Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, recently gave to President Obama as a Purim gift. Since ancient Persia is modern Iran, the message behind the gift is clear enough: let's do it again.

I hope that President Obama takes the time to read the Book of Esther, if he hasn't already. It's a silly, disgusting story that every Jew (and Christian) should be ashamed of, rather than celebrate -- or, worse yet, imitate.

There is no hope for peace in the world as long its leaders are inspired by the Bible and the Quran.

Forget Jesus. Follow Miley Cyrus

Beautiful. twitter.com/MileyCyrus/sta…

— Miley Ray Cyrus (@MileyCyrus) March 1, 2012

I don't know anything about Miley Cyrus, but she makes a lot more sense than Jesus.

Here is the lecture by Lawrence Krauss from which the quote was taken.
(I posted a link to this a while back, but I can't resist doing it again. It is well worth watching twice.)

Behold, it came to pass exceedingly: The biblely bits of the Book of Mormon

I've previously posted on "it came to pass" in the Book of Mormon and I've highlighted the occurrences of that phrase, along with "exceedingly" in the SABoM. But there's another that should be added to the list. And that is "Behold."

These three phrases are also, of course, found in the King James Version of the Bible, which is no doubt why Joseph Smith used them so often in the BoM; it just sounded so darned biblical. The trouble is that he got carried away with it.

Here's a summary of the occurrences of "Behold," "It came to pass," and "Exceedingly" in the BoM and the King James Version of the Bible. (I haven't highlighted the "beholds" yet in the SABOM, but I'll get to them eventually.)

	BoM	King James Version
Behold	1669	1275
It came to pass	1424	452
Exceedingly	287	39

Each of these phrases occurs more often in the BoM than in the Bible, with "exceedingly" occurring over seven times as often. And that's without taking the their sizes into account. The Bible is nearly five times as big as the BoM.

Here's how the comparison looks when size is taken into account.
(Occurrences per 100 verses; 6553 verses in the BoM, 31102 in the Bible)

	BoM	King James Version
Behold	25.47	4.10
It came to pass	21.7	1.45
Exceedingly	4.38	0.13

Now let's repeat the analysis using all three of Joseph Smith's favorite phrases.
(Occurrences per 100 verses)

	BoM	King James Version
Behold, it came to pass exceedingly	51.6	5.68

So these phrases occur nearly ten times more often in the Book of Mormon as they do in the Bible. (And they occur rarely anywhere else.)

Here's how Richard Dawkins put it on Real Time with Bill Maher.

Joseph Smith made it [The Book of Mormon] up in the 19th century ... in 17th century English.... It's got charlatan written absolutely all over it. How it could have possibly caught on and still be going strong today ... and even having candidates for president is beyond me.

It's beyond me too, but it looks like it is not beyond the GOP.