tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60312102011-12-16T00:51:32.172-05:00<b>Chafed and amused by mass culture, religion, politics and the rest of the human freak show ... Serving up vital thoughts, miscellaneous snickers, urgent rants, guiding links, and the existential kitchen sink.</b>aleXander hirkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05244119741569350404noreply@blogger.comBlogger351100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6031210.post-33187579115706379912011-12-09T07:37:00.000-05:002011-12-09T07:37:49.160-05:00

" Let's say that the consensus is that our species, being the higher primates, Homo Sapiens, has been on the planet for at least 100,000 years, maybe more. Francis Collins says maybe 100,000. Richard Dawkins thinks maybe a quarter-of-a-million. I'll take 100,000. In order to be a Christian, you have to believe that for 98,000 years, our species suffered and died, most of its children dying

aleXander hirkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05244119741569350404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6031210.post-83604782630546788922011-10-18T18:16:00.002-04:002011-11-11T15:01:20.926-05:00

“For those who believe in God, most of the big questions are answered. But for those of us who can't readily accept the God formula, the big answers don't remain stone-written. We adjust to new conditions and discoveries. We are pliable. Love need not be a command nor faith a dictum. I am my own god. We are here to unlearn the teachings of the church, state, and our educational system. We

aleXander hirkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05244119741569350404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6031210.post-55362912220561223322010-05-27T22:13:00.003-04:002010-05-27T22:20:04.419-04:00

Existential Stew For The Soulless

aleXander hirkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05244119741569350404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6031210.post-83608061276914026552010-03-31T01:32:00.004-04:002010-03-31T01:35:46.597-04:00

The Out Campaign.

aleXander hirkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05244119741569350404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6031210.post-83537929180098768212010-03-29T20:59:00.005-04:002010-03-31T01:32:31.517-04:00

Greta Christina on "Not Religious, But Spiritual".

aleXander hirkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05244119741569350404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6031210.post-31242802614429807462010-03-09T12:05:00.001-05:002010-07-05T17:51:58.432-04:00

Beware any Shepherds, lest ye become sheep.

aleXander hirkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05244119741569350404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6031210.post-63802535079789753182010-03-09T08:40:00.001-05:002010-03-09T08:41:19.075-05:00

Unplug your television. There is nothing on it that cannot be gotten better elsewhere - most of it with friends in life.Better laughs, more excitement, real tragedy.

aleXander hirkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05244119741569350404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6031210.post-32750526582053692112010-03-09T08:36:00.000-05:002010-03-09T08:37:39.564-05:00

When I sneeze, please do not say "bless you." Being soulless, blessings pass through me quicker than a cheap burrito.

aleXander hirkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05244119741569350404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6031210.post-28762435576702777052010-03-09T08:29:00.003-05:002010-03-09T12:05:11.846-05:00

Instead of cleric's beards their fat faces are clean shaven, but the leaders of the religious right in this country are not much different than the Taliban. It's all just matters of degrees - they may not keep women away from education (though they would if they could - this is the same mentality that made women struggle and fight for almost a century to be even able to vote) - but they do

aleXander hirkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05244119741569350404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6031210.post-1299798356396663642010-03-03T14:39:00.000-05:002010-03-03T14:40:14.711-05:00

There ain't no answer. There ain't going to be any answer. There never has been an answer. That's the answer. - Gertrude Stein

aleXander hirkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05244119741569350404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6031210.post-90398538668196595242010-02-25T00:27:00.003-05:002010-02-25T00:35:27.128-05:00

Is there more to religion than pleasing your imaginary friend?God would like to thank you for your belief and patronage.In order to better serve your needs, He asks that you take a few moments to answer these questions. . .

aleXander hirkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05244119741569350404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6031210.post-83576900667457121602010-02-18T22:31:00.000-05:002010-02-18T22:32:22.591-05:00

"All this madness, all this rage, all this flaming death of our civilization and our hopes, has been brought about because a set of official gentlemen, living luxurious lives, mostly stupid, and all without imagination or heart, have chosen that it should occur rather than that any one of them should suffer some infinitesimal rebuff to his country's pride." - Bertrand Russell

aleXander hirkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05244119741569350404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6031210.post-37858662437173279352010-02-17T23:58:00.002-05:002010-02-18T00:00:48.400-05:00

The fact that a believer is happier than a skeptic is no more to the point than the fact that a drunken man is happier than a sober one. - George Bernard Shaw

aleXander hirkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05244119741569350404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6031210.post-40871564589689579332010-02-09T14:12:00.009-05:002010-02-09T16:16:07.650-05:00

"When you're born, you get a ticket to the freak show. When you're born in America, you get a front-row seat." - George Carlinwho reminds us to Question Everything - click HERE. "Faith is believing something you know ain't true." - Mark Twain

aleXanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16168565855296695938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6031210.post-1161141762720072652008-10-17T23:19:00.004-04:002010-02-09T16:50:45.312-05:00

There Is No God by Penn Jillette on NPR radioSo, I'm saying, "This I believe: I believe there is no God.Having taken that step, it informs every moment of my life. I'm not greedy. I have love, blue skies, rainbows and Hallmark cards, and that has to be enough. It has to be enough, but it's everything in the world and everything in the world is plenty for me. It seems just rude to beg the

aleXanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16168565855296695938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6031210.post-1130294443323737582005-10-25T22:25:00.000-04:002006-10-18T01:08:06.370-04:00

"Religion appeases a child's bedtime fears, but, ironically, it is the cause of most of those fears in the first place."The above quote is from one among an endless stream of response/comments to a robust anti-religion rant by Cenk Uygur called "If You're a Christian, Muslim or Jew - You are Wrong"... I think that the rant - and many of the pro and con responses - are worth reading...Read it all

aleXanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16168565855296695938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6031210.post-1120104717946720502005-06-30T00:11:00.001-04:002010-02-09T16:33:08.547-05:00

All about the Ten Commandments and why they should be posted in every Government building.They didn't teach me about her well-endowed lovers in Sunday School.

aleXanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16168565855296695938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6031210.post-1120081433543948722005-06-29T17:43:00.000-04:002005-06-29T17:43:53.546-04:00

An Inuit hunter asked the local missionary priest: "If I did not know about God and sin, would I go to hell?" "No," said the priest, "not if you did not know." "Then why," asked the Inuit earnestly, "did you tell me?" -- Annie Dillard, from Pilgrim at Tinker Creek

aleXanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16168565855296695938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6031210.post-1120080144145773822005-06-29T17:20:00.000-04:002005-06-29T17:23:47.016-04:00

Woody Allen on god, death and all that jazz…The chief problem about death, incidentally, is the fear that there may be no afterlife -- a depressing thought, particularly for those who have bothered to shave. Also, there is the fear that there is an afterlife but no one will know where it's being held.If only God would give me some clear sign! Like making a large deposit in my name at a Swiss

aleXanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16168565855296695938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6031210.post-1118755240024153102005-06-14T09:18:00.000-04:002005-06-14T09:20:40.036-04:00

Harry Block's faith-filled sister:You have no values. Your whole life: it's nihilism, it's cynicism, it's sarcasm, and orgasm.Harry:You know, in France, I could run on that slogan and win.from "Deconstructing Harry" (Woody Allen)

aleXanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16168565855296695938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6031210.post-1118352510631429512005-06-09T17:27:00.000-04:002005-06-09T17:28:30.633-04:00

This information is all around on the internet in various locations and formats - but never enough - especially if one needs some references when talking to one of those gosh-bless-amerika church-state-blending dunderheads.____________Here are the "Founding Father's" view of Christianity. Thomas Jefferson:"I have examined all the known superstitions of the world and I do not find in our

aleXanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16168565855296695938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6031210.post-1118021709499277492005-06-05T21:32:00.001-04:002005-06-06T11:21:28.246-04:00

..

aleXanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16168565855296695938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6031210.post-1118018892461752252005-06-05T20:45:00.000-04:002005-06-05T20:48:12.463-04:00

"Of course the people don't want war. But after all, it's the leaders of the country who determine the policy, and it's always a simple matter to drag the people along whether it's a democracy, a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they

aleXanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16168565855296695938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6031210.post-1114440531906843942005-04-25T10:47:00.000-04:002005-04-25T10:58:59.806-04:00

"Give a man a fish, and you'll feed him for a day; give him a religion, and he'll starve to death while praying for a fish." -- Author Unknown "If you would be a real seeker after truth, it is necessary that at least once in your life you doubt, as far as possible, all things." - Rene Descartes"If the Nuremberg laws were applied, then every post-war American president would have been hanged." -

aleXanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16168565855296695938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6031210.post-1114387287456709082005-04-24T20:00:00.000-04:002005-04-24T20:01:27.460-04:00

written 2 April 2005, over morning coffee...die already (and take the illusions with you)the headlinespope sickpope sickerpope sickestpope really really sickpope getting worsepope getting much worsepope not doing well at allpope weakens furtherpope almost dyingpope dyingpope almost deadpope with a tube up his nosepope with a tube out his asspope begins losing consciousnesspope continues losing

aleXanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16168565855296695938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6031210.post-1080169370542967612004-03-24T18:02:00.000-05:002005-06-06T10:59:26.590-04:00

"As usual, the human response veers off into the absurd", said artist and author Alex Hirka, speaking out regarding the controversy regarding the inclusion of the words "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance. "Fact is, in this case, we need to throw out the baby, or more exacty: demon, with the bath water." He was speaking to a small group of reporters who has gathered to ask him questions

aleXanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16168565855296695938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6031210.post-1077277757289463502004-02-20T06:48:00.000-05:002004-02-20T06:51:58.983-05:00

"I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours." - - Stephe ". . . once a person admits to not believing in God, this raises the question of whether or not that person believes in America . . ." - - [Chief spokesman for National office of the Boy Scouts]

aleXanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16168565855296695938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6031210.post-1074531423305480162004-01-19T11:56:00.000-05:002004-01-19T11:59:01.950-05:00

Random snippet from an article by Mark Morford - a most delicious writer for the San Francisco Gate: "Why are you people not over this crap by now? I mean, a million years of human evolution and this is the bet you come up with? And you wonder why I shoved your little speck of a planet way off into the corner of a tiny forgotten galaxy?"

aleXanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16168565855296695938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6031210.post-1071518603754401592003-12-15T15:00:00.000-05:002003-12-15T15:19:26.713-05:00

Talking to the ceiling... talking to the floor... They interpret the creaks of weight-shifts from above as the messages from some god. And the squeaks of the floorboards hum patriotic slogans about the geography below their feet; their nation. Things to kill and die for. Similarly... "Let's play Hide & Seek I'll play god and you play man Now I'll create the meaning of your existence... Just

aleXanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16168565855296695938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6031210.post-1071149372630726942003-12-11T08:24:00.000-05:002003-12-11T08:29:44.970-05:00

Stimulate a rat electronically - and he will ultimately choose the buzz, over food, and die starving and happy. Give him a shopping mall - shelves stocked with security blankets, right next to the wide screen televisions - (all documenting the possible dangers outside) and he will ultimately choose the buzz, over individuality and freedom. and die fat and happy.

aleXanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16168565855296695938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6031210.post-1069739933971532142003-11-25T00:57:00.000-05:002003-11-25T00:59:02.476-05:00

You can have YOUR soul extracted also . . . AND make a few bucks! http://www.wewantyoursoul.com/index.php

aleXanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16168565855296695938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6031210.post-1069606273208529672003-11-23T11:50:00.000-05:002003-11-23T11:51:20.593-05:00

As Governor Romney and Attorney General Reilly work diligently to prevent marriage between two people of the same sex, others have been busy drafting a Constitutional Amendment codifying all marriages entirely on biblical principles. After all, G-d wouldn't want us to pick and choose which of the Scriptures we elevate to civil law and which we choose to ignore: Draft of a Constitutional

aleXanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16168565855296695938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6031210.post-1069534879933299192003-11-22T16:00:00.000-05:002003-11-22T16:01:54.226-05:00

Raging, important truths jump off the page, with force to rattle our skeletons and jolt our hard drives. O citizenry of the United States - alas - ye are not there to see it! Staring as you are at the televisor hawkers peddling non-stop purchasables; Next up is giving thanks for an excuse for shameless gluttony. followed by endless Xmas disposable snake oil. No time to think, it's tradition

aleXanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16168565855296695938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6031210.post-1068729745318236322003-11-13T08:21:00.000-05:002003-11-13T08:22:30.516-05:00

"The wicked thing about both the little and the great 'collective faiths', prehistoric and historic, is that they all, without exception, pretend to hold encompassed in their ritualized mythologies all of the truth ever to be known. They are therefore cursed, and they curse all who accept them, with what I shall call the 'error of the found truth', or, in mythological language, the sin against

aleXanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16168565855296695938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6031210.post-1067919494797457232003-11-03T22:57:00.000-05:002003-11-03T23:38:42.560-05:00

Entry, the first. I have no soul. Please don't fret - it's okay - I really don't miss what I've never had. . .and from how others talk about theirs - something that glutenous I can do without. I have had various tests done on/to me by members of numerous religious (or as the younger folks like to say: "spiritual") persuasions and they all thoroughly agree with the absence of any nebulous

aleXanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16168565855296695938noreply@blogger.com