Yes, its posted everywhere, but....

Best video of the year. Hands Down.

God hates the planet, apparently

I make no secret of the fact that I find most religions dangerous and insane. Particularly evangelical Christianity. I used to attend an evangelical church, but my deconversion is a story for another time. 

This is this kind of thing that makes my case for me.

"So I believe we are charged to treat responsibly all the wonderful resources God has given us. But that, in fact, has very little to do with the environmental movement. The environmental movement is consumed with trying to preserve the planet forever. But we know that isn’t in God’s plan.

The earth we inhabit is not a permanent planet. It is, frankly, a disposable planet—it is going to have a very short life. It’s been around six thousand years or so—that’s all—and it may last a few thousand more. And then the Lord is going to destroy it.

I’ve told environmentalists that if they think humanity is wrecking the planet, wait until they see what Jesus does to it. Peter says God is going to literally turn it in on itself in an atomic implosion so that the whole universe goes out of existence (2 Peter 3:7-13).

This earth was never ever intended to be a permanent planet—it is not eternal. We do not have to worry about it being around tens of thousands, or millions, of years from now because God is going to create a new heaven and a new earth. Understanding those things is important to holding in balance our freedom to use, and responsibility to maintain, the earth."

See, this is dangerous. Apocalyptic belief never got anyone anywhere. Who cares about the planet, Jeebus is gonna make it explode. Awesome.

Tip of the hat to Way of the Mind for the link.

Remembrance Day vs. Veterans Day

Today is Veterans' Day in the USA. It's Remembrance Day in the UK and other parts of the world. The date signifies the end of WWII. In the US, we are taught that November 11 is a day to remember those who have served in the military - active or reserve. In the UK, it is a day to remember. To remember the war, yes, and the military, yes, but also our grandparents, parents, children, friends, anyone who has died.

So, what is the difference? A big one.

Veterans' Day is barely marked most years, excepting by retail sales and the occasional UFW parade. When it is marked, it is marked with parades, marching, flyovers, etc. Military displays to recognize military might.  When we think of a symbol for the day, it is the flag.

When I think of Remembrance Day, the symbol I think of is the poppy. While we wave flags and bunting and the good ole Red White and Blue, the Brits wear a paper poppy. The focus is on the person, not on the country. 

The obsession with militarism in the US is one of the things that gnaws at me. I have watched youth that I have mentored race headlong into ROTC programs, eager to get their hands on a gun and some camos. We celebrate any victory with explosives and weapons. We wave a flag at any issue that comes our way.  

I'd suggest that Remembrance Day in the UK is the way it is because the war was fought over their heads. It was done on their soil. Grandparents and great-grands remember the Blitz. Even our Pearl Harbor was so distant from the continental US that we cannot fathom it. We have had attacks on US soil (I in no way want to make light of the past terrorist attacks) but the last war we had here was one we fought with each other. Maybe that makes a difference. When a nation lives with the reality of war rather than the propoganda of the war machine. It's one thing to talk to a returning soldier; It's another to have to huddle in an air raid shelter. It's one thing to keep the homefront; it's another to have the homefront become the front lines.

Whatever the reason, and this is rambling, I would rather celebrate today like this:

Than like this: 

Other people feel the same way.