Yah, Right.... More on the BONES

This comment added March 10th:

So, last night I read a recent article in MacLean's Magazine about the discovery of these ossuaries. I am massively fascinated by this discovery now, not only because James Cameron is involved, but because of the time frame. It did not come out in previous articles how long these ossuaries have been known about - something like 20 years, it sounds like.

The other interesting thing I read is about the "James" ossuary, which was said to be a hoax. It sounds, from the MacLean's article, that the ossuary is not a hoax but that whoever discovered it attempted to make it really important by adding some text to it, which was overkill: there is a "fingerprinting" technique used in dating old objects where the patina on the item is compared to patinas on other items found with it. If the patinas compare in chemical make-up etc. then the items belong together.

MacLean's Magazine of March 12th 2007 has more.

As much as I wish the truth could come out, I doubt very much it ever will - and I think these ossuaries are genuine - because the church cannot allow the public, verified-by-DNA destruction of the myth upon which it is based.

The reality is, whether the church likes it or not, that Jesus of Nazareth was a man, born of a human woman and a human man. For whatever reason, he created a huge stir way back when and then some other people wrote myths about him.

Later, when Rome was grabbing up lands and peoples in Europe, it used this mythology to subdue, change, subvert and politicise the "pagan" populations.

I'm leaving the rest of this post alone for reference, but I am looking forward to reading the ongoing reporting on these ossuaries and to inevitable fallout from the church. If The DaVinci Code pissed the church off, having its pet myth debunked is really going to light them up.

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Ok, let me get this straight: FILM MAKER James Cameron is somehow involved in the discovery of ossuaries said to contain the remains of Jesus (no indication if this is Jesus of Nazareth, who may or may not have ever existed), his wife, son, mother and FATHER...

Father?

What?

The myth I grew up with was that Jesus was born of a virgin. Last time I checked, that's both impossible and an oxymoronic. That claim is about as valid and non-suspect as the biblical claim that Jesus was descended from the royal lineage of King David: lineages always -and still do - pass through the father, so that claim cannot be true unless Christians are willing to forego the whole 'virgin' thing. I bet they're not....

To quote the BBC, "According to the Israel Antiquities Authority, six of those coffins were marked with the names Mary; Matthew; Jesua son of Joseph; Mary; Jofa (Joseph, Jesus' brother); and Judah son of Jesua."

The BBC article goes on to report that the film makers say "...a tomb found near Jerusalem ...belonged to Jesus and his family.... The Oscar-winning director of Titanic (Cameron) says statistical analysis and DNA back the claim.

Well I'll be. Who's DNA are they testing, exactly and how is it that the DNA found in those ossuaries has survived who knows how long?

It should be noted that another ossuary discovered a few years ago, and said to hold the remains of James, brother of Jesus, was proved to be a hoax.

But of course, there's nothing at all strange in the participation of a film maker who counts among his successes the epic "Titanic."

Ahh Hollywood and the church; partners in crime, making up stories for 2000 years.

Things that get top billing as STUPID!

If you read this blog on any kind of regular basis, you'll know that generally, I think adults are idiots. Here's yet more proof....


This item is in newspapers across Canada today:
MUSLIM GIRL EJECTED FROM TOURNAMENT FOR WEARING HIJAB

First of all, that is INCORRECT! The girl's coach caused her team to walk from the tournament. The team was not forced to do anything. Their coach CHOSE to forgo the game. The ADULTS chose to leave the tournament.

The coach's last comment was something to the effect that muslim girls are not allowed to play soccer. I CANNOT STAND stupid adults.

I am entirely disgusted by the adults in this story, not because this child was asked to remove her hijab, but because the adults around her have hijacked a safety issue and turned it into yet another ridiculous opportunity to create discord.

Any item around the head or neck or finger or waist of a player can easily be caught during a soccer game will very probably cause injury to the wearer and likely other players as well. This is why there are rules that players must remove anything from their bodies that might cause them injury. Those rules are not related in any way to religion.

Secondly, sports in this country are secular pursuits. Go ahead and participate, but leave your religion at home, where it belongs.

It is frankly irresponsible for any parent or coach to put religious symbolism before the health and safety of a player and team mates and to then abscond responsibility by making an issue of discrimination and persecution. Children learn discrimination, hate and discord from adults and this is a prime example of how it happens.

How dare these adults inflict their narrow, personal interpretations of this religion on this girl and all the other players in this tournament – and all the others that will be affected by this incredible stupidity. It cannot be that the muslim god is so intolerant of a CHILD removing a scarf for the sake of her safely.

The other point that needs making here is that this girl is not a "Muslim" child. She is a child who follows her family's religion, Islam, because, at the age of 12, she doesn't have a lot of opportunity to dissent, nor does religion offer much to children in the way of rationality. To label a child assumes that the child has made some choice, which cannot be the case when it comes to religion.

Children are indoctrinated and there cannot be any dispute about that. I dare say that most religious families do NOT say to their children, "when you're old enough to make considered, logical, rational observations on issues of philosophy or religion, you can come to church/mosque/synagogue.

If you're unconvinced about indoctrination, go find the film called "Jesus Camp" and watch what they do to the kids - little kids - there. Suspend your own religions indoctrination long enough to consider what is going on there - and in any religious organisation - from the point of view of rationality.

You're a christian so it's ok? Well guess what; I PUT MONEY ON IT, that you do NOT think it OK when the same type of indoctrination is going on in madrassas overseas or in any organisation that teaches philosophies that differ from yours. Such is the great and profound insecurity of all religions and religious people: so unsure are they that they will kill other people to protect something that is not real.

Religion, which is based on all sorts of crazy interpretations and millions of falsehoods, is a personal pursuit. It belongs with the person in private. It is not something to be sold, bartered or forced on other people and it should be a criminal offence to brainwash children under the guise of 'religion.'

MORE? The God Delusion, Richard Dawkins.