So great when you find sane, genuinely compassionate religious people. I really loved his comments and grateful those people are making themselves heard. Also lol'd at 'boo fucking hoo, get the vaccine'.
Well David its Super Saturday here in New Zealand, the mass vaccination for today is ramping up.
I read your instagram post this morning and I thought this might help the mental bullshit. So I commented that i had a few folks in my life that were on various parts of the anti vaxx scale. One of them started a conversation the other day with me about what I thought, him and his partner have got their first jab now. A cascading effect has now begun I'm told, as he is in charge of a few people in one part of the Christchurch construction industry, something like seven other people have gone for their first jab after he talked to them.
So as New Zealand has to chip away 0.1% at at time this may have a small but helpful effect.
Sorry I haven't written an email to you about the Cameron clan and Arise church, I will do it just building up courage LOL. So laughable that one of the main ways the pentecostal church manipulates people is through emotion and here you have a non emotional pentecostal christian, hmmm. Well it seems nothing has changed in the church since the mid 1990's still the poor me persecution complex, coupled with an apocalyptic view of life, makes for a great case study in the use of primal fear to make money.
Hope your day/night is filled with webworm comments :)
Hey Ryan - thanks for this, and it's incredibly heartening hearing about the people you were in touch with, and gently and smartly spoke to. Fuckin a. Sounds like the mass vaccination and telethon had some good results. Also some protestors - but hardly worth writing about, just stragglers tooting their horns.
As for your email RE: Arise, no rush. In your own time. The Google Doc is growing.
I take a certain sick pleasure in being right about my initial snap judgement of Peter Mortlock.
I remember seeing the City Impact billboards go up on the Northern motorway years ago, with Peter and his wife grinning like Cheshire cats.
I knew nothing about them, or their church, and yet, I just knew. Deep down in my bones, I just knew he was a cunt. You could see it in his eyes. In his grin.
One look at those billboards and you knew what kind of church it was. Hoarding money, like Jesus would want. Promoting themselves and trying to profit from their believers, like Jesus would want. Spreading misinformation and promoting individual needs above the needs of the many, like Jesus would want.
All from a billboard.
I don't wish harm on the man, or anyone in his church, but it feels good to know my bullshit detector still works, even on billboards.
And once again, I'd just love it if Mortlock and Co would kindly fuck off and stop actively trying to disintegrate our society.
I remember those billboards too, and a similar emotion. I imagine it was the American Televangelist vibes they gave off. It was cookie cutter. Like seeing a Church of Scientology, it's kinda just vomit inducing.
Yup, that's exactly what it was. So very clearly a "mega" church, promoting itself with a capitalist slickness that I find immediately off putting.
Like you said, very much like scientology, it feels perfectly obvious that these people are here for profit, not for prophet... Sorry. Couldn't resist.
My godbothering neighbour and I are good friends who regularly share our tastes in beers and music. Well, we did until he stated his god, his health, and vitamin C were all he needed to fend off Covid.
After telling him I would no longer participate in our in-home visits until he is doubly jabbed, I asked him "What if this an intelligence test by your invisible friend's invisible father and you failed but I, the unbeliever passed?" No answer yet, but we still talk by txt & phone (& turn our stereos up).
Couldn't watch the complete segment on these 2 flaky midwives. I think it was the look on their faces that finally did it. Not all midwives are like this but had 2 children myself and brushed up against this fuzzy, illogical ,selfish thinking and decided to stick with my experienced and professional doctor. The attitude of these 2 midwives comes from their perception of being overworked (some truth there) and undervalued. Add a little wonky thinking and a tendency to present that thinking as better and safer for mum and baby than the modern nursing support available, and hey presto the nutters strike again.
I was really bothered by this. Made me wonder what other poor advice they give women re: vaccinations and health care. Hope the door doesn't hit them on the way out.
In the last 2-3 months, Father Frank in Titter, has reduced, or even reversed, my (admittedly, stereotypical) cynicism of religion & churches as a whole.
Still not my bag, but I now know there are genuinely caring people in that cohort.
Yeah, same. It's really made me resent Christianity much less. Although I'd never admit that to him! He better not be reading these comments - go away, Frank!
As a true follower and believer in Dionysus, I know that nothing couldn't be made bearable with a cup of wine. So get your shot, followed by a large cup or two and the only thing you will be suffering is the usual hangover......
This is the greatest advice: "Personally I have always followed my grandfather’s advice — when you meet a man who talks about religion, keep your hand on your wallet."
Glad you are drawing attention to those entitled middle-aged white men weeping about their misbegotten income from causing fear, anxiety and the destruction of young minds by teaching religious baloney instead of science-based facts. Fuck em. Those mandates are life savers.
OMG, this children's video is off the hook. Personally, I do not get too stressed out with people believing inaccurate information because we all process information through our own filter anyway, and I think we need to allow space for subjectivity and the exploration of ideas. But I do get quite stressed out when people - including children - are literally feed lies. The process of feeding children lies through education creates a lot of unnecessary stress for kids when they eventually discover that, for example, the world is actually very very old.
Also, God didn't build the Ark, Noah did it with his fucking family - at least get the story right!
My Aunt by marriage goes city impact church and so do my three cousins. My Uncle just "happens" to have to work on a sunday shift most sundays. I didn't think much of it until I went to one service when I was about 15 ( I am 34 now) and it was like an out of body experience. There was this intensity in the room that made me feel really uncomfortable. I watched as Pastor Peter spoke with such fever I didn't know how to interpret it. But I watched as my Aunt and her family in the front row nodded their heads as they gazed up at him on the stage and were making notes on what he said in their little books on their laps. It struck me as very bizarre experience. I had to write out my name and details when I came into the church so they would know a new person had come. A few days later I got a call from the church asking how I found the service and how they would love to have me come back and asked how often I could come. I made up an excuse of spending time playing a sport all weekend every weekend. They kept pushing me and I felt so uncomfortable and badly wanted to get off the phone but didn't feel like could tell them to leave me alone. Reflecting now forcing a 15 year old to hand over their personal information and calling them without getting consent from their parents is not on at all.
Rev Ritchie is someone who is actually walking the walk of Christianity (I am a former passionate "born again" Baptist and current atheist) Loved this part -
"I trust, listen to, and defer to the majority of experts in the fields relevant to this crisis. Just as I don't enjoy people who argue with me about God because they heard something in Sunday school they disagree with, so I won’t presume to know better than an immunologist."
YES!! Stick to your specialty!! A doctor shouldn't be arguing points of biblical meaning on a passage in the Bible with a Reverend, and Pastors shouldn't be questioning biomedical science/immunology with experts in the field. I mean you could, but you would look like a douchebag while doing so.
So great when you find sane, genuinely compassionate religious people. I really loved his comments and grateful those people are making themselves heard. Also lol'd at 'boo fucking hoo, get the vaccine'.
Some sanity is always nice. And I need to remember to seek that out, as well as the fucking madness!
That is what your subscribers are for, we are sort of sane 😀
LOL
Well David its Super Saturday here in New Zealand, the mass vaccination for today is ramping up.
I read your instagram post this morning and I thought this might help the mental bullshit. So I commented that i had a few folks in my life that were on various parts of the anti vaxx scale. One of them started a conversation the other day with me about what I thought, him and his partner have got their first jab now. A cascading effect has now begun I'm told, as he is in charge of a few people in one part of the Christchurch construction industry, something like seven other people have gone for their first jab after he talked to them.
So as New Zealand has to chip away 0.1% at at time this may have a small but helpful effect.
Sorry I haven't written an email to you about the Cameron clan and Arise church, I will do it just building up courage LOL. So laughable that one of the main ways the pentecostal church manipulates people is through emotion and here you have a non emotional pentecostal christian, hmmm. Well it seems nothing has changed in the church since the mid 1990's still the poor me persecution complex, coupled with an apocalyptic view of life, makes for a great case study in the use of primal fear to make money.
Hope your day/night is filled with webworm comments :)
Hey Ryan - thanks for this, and it's incredibly heartening hearing about the people you were in touch with, and gently and smartly spoke to. Fuckin a. Sounds like the mass vaccination and telethon had some good results. Also some protestors - but hardly worth writing about, just stragglers tooting their horns.
As for your email RE: Arise, no rush. In your own time. The Google Doc is growing.
I take a certain sick pleasure in being right about my initial snap judgement of Peter Mortlock.
I remember seeing the City Impact billboards go up on the Northern motorway years ago, with Peter and his wife grinning like Cheshire cats.
I knew nothing about them, or their church, and yet, I just knew. Deep down in my bones, I just knew he was a cunt. You could see it in his eyes. In his grin.
One look at those billboards and you knew what kind of church it was. Hoarding money, like Jesus would want. Promoting themselves and trying to profit from their believers, like Jesus would want. Spreading misinformation and promoting individual needs above the needs of the many, like Jesus would want.
All from a billboard.
I don't wish harm on the man, or anyone in his church, but it feels good to know my bullshit detector still works, even on billboards.
And once again, I'd just love it if Mortlock and Co would kindly fuck off and stop actively trying to disintegrate our society.
I remember those billboards too, and a similar emotion. I imagine it was the American Televangelist vibes they gave off. It was cookie cutter. Like seeing a Church of Scientology, it's kinda just vomit inducing.
Yup, that's exactly what it was. So very clearly a "mega" church, promoting itself with a capitalist slickness that I find immediately off putting.
Like you said, very much like scientology, it feels perfectly obvious that these people are here for profit, not for prophet... Sorry. Couldn't resist.
I forgive you. Just this once.
"Deep down in my bones, I just knew he was a c*nt" - Accurate & concise, 10/10 for perception there friend.
My godbothering neighbour and I are good friends who regularly share our tastes in beers and music. Well, we did until he stated his god, his health, and vitamin C were all he needed to fend off Covid.
After telling him I would no longer participate in our in-home visits until he is doubly jabbed, I asked him "What if this an intelligence test by your invisible friend's invisible father and you failed but I, the unbeliever passed?" No answer yet, but we still talk by txt & phone (& turn our stereos up).
This makes me sad. But comically told, so thanks for that!
I'm not in the slightest bit Christian, but I don't mind pondering WWJD. I'm confident that Jesus would actively support people getting the vaccine.
Same with these women on Newshub Nation https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2021/10/coronavirus-taranaki-midwives-prepared-to-quit-rather-than-get-vaccinated-against-covid-19.html The level of privilege to have the audacity to place vulnerable pregnant women in Taranaki at risk!
Couldn't watch the complete segment on these 2 flaky midwives. I think it was the look on their faces that finally did it. Not all midwives are like this but had 2 children myself and brushed up against this fuzzy, illogical ,selfish thinking and decided to stick with my experienced and professional doctor. The attitude of these 2 midwives comes from their perception of being overworked (some truth there) and undervalued. Add a little wonky thinking and a tendency to present that thinking as better and safer for mum and baby than the modern nursing support available, and hey presto the nutters strike again.
I was really bothered by this. Made me wonder what other poor advice they give women re: vaccinations and health care. Hope the door doesn't hit them on the way out.
They also co-opt on the "my body my choice" phrase which is SO DEPRESSING
Oooh yep. Same same.
"Not sleeping for first 48 hours!"
Same drama. "Haven't been able to eat much this week!"
"The reasons I have chosen not to get it is private"
UGH
Thanks for another good read DF
In the last 2-3 months, Father Frank in Titter, has reduced, or even reversed, my (admittedly, stereotypical) cynicism of religion & churches as a whole.
Still not my bag, but I now know there are genuinely caring people in that cohort.
And, that's good.
Yeah, same. It's really made me resent Christianity much less. Although I'd never admit that to him! He better not be reading these comments - go away, Frank!
*on Twitter
As a true follower and believer in Dionysus, I know that nothing couldn't be made bearable with a cup of wine. So get your shot, followed by a large cup or two and the only thing you will be suffering is the usual hangover......
As a big fan of Dionysus, I support this solution :D
Let’s not forget this wonderful man. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-56310274
This is the greatest advice: "Personally I have always followed my grandfather’s advice — when you meet a man who talks about religion, keep your hand on your wallet."
Glad you are drawing attention to those entitled middle-aged white men weeping about their misbegotten income from causing fear, anxiety and the destruction of young minds by teaching religious baloney instead of science-based facts. Fuck em. Those mandates are life savers.
Ms Rottman I am very disappointed with you, you being Austrian.
I have no idea why me being Austrian disappoints you. And it’s Dr Rotmann 😜
You know damn well. And honorifics get short shift around here after the last few years. 😜
"Never again" Ms Sea.
On the plus side, I found their new theme song. Check out 'Danger danger' from the new My Little Pony movie on Youtube. Perfecto.
Is this what they teach in their school? https://youtu.be/rkgEosLmKcE
Yep, that's them.
I had a look at their ERO report and it's flawless, and now I have trust issues...
OMG, this children's video is off the hook. Personally, I do not get too stressed out with people believing inaccurate information because we all process information through our own filter anyway, and I think we need to allow space for subjectivity and the exploration of ideas. But I do get quite stressed out when people - including children - are literally feed lies. The process of feeding children lies through education creates a lot of unnecessary stress for kids when they eventually discover that, for example, the world is actually very very old.
Also, God didn't build the Ark, Noah did it with his fucking family - at least get the story right!
I suggest two groups as they're immensely smarter than any of you are, so you'll learn something.
https://nzdsos.com//
and
https://www.heterodoxies.com/home.html
You're welcome.
Oh and Dr Sam Bailey who packs more information into one youtube than Siouxsie Wiles does into a thesis.
https://www.youtube.com/c/DrSamBailey
My Aunt by marriage goes city impact church and so do my three cousins. My Uncle just "happens" to have to work on a sunday shift most sundays. I didn't think much of it until I went to one service when I was about 15 ( I am 34 now) and it was like an out of body experience. There was this intensity in the room that made me feel really uncomfortable. I watched as Pastor Peter spoke with such fever I didn't know how to interpret it. But I watched as my Aunt and her family in the front row nodded their heads as they gazed up at him on the stage and were making notes on what he said in their little books on their laps. It struck me as very bizarre experience. I had to write out my name and details when I came into the church so they would know a new person had come. A few days later I got a call from the church asking how I found the service and how they would love to have me come back and asked how often I could come. I made up an excuse of spending time playing a sport all weekend every weekend. They kept pushing me and I felt so uncomfortable and badly wanted to get off the phone but didn't feel like could tell them to leave me alone. Reflecting now forcing a 15 year old to hand over their personal information and calling them without getting consent from their parents is not on at all.
Rev Ritchie is someone who is actually walking the walk of Christianity (I am a former passionate "born again" Baptist and current atheist) Loved this part -
"I trust, listen to, and defer to the majority of experts in the fields relevant to this crisis. Just as I don't enjoy people who argue with me about God because they heard something in Sunday school they disagree with, so I won’t presume to know better than an immunologist."
YES!! Stick to your specialty!! A doctor shouldn't be arguing points of biblical meaning on a passage in the Bible with a Reverend, and Pastors shouldn't be questioning biomedical science/immunology with experts in the field. I mean you could, but you would look like a douchebag while doing so.