My First Mega Church

To get a flavour of my new South Carolina home of Greenville, I thought I'd sample the local hospitality and attend a Mega Church, the Redemption World Outreach Center, that's just a few miles from my new home.

For a start, it's not a church; it's a campus! In addition to the "Main Sanctuary", a sports stadium sized arena where the Voodoo takes place, the 10,500 strong congragation are privy to a gym, basketball court, and Family Fitness Center, a preschool, a bookstore, cafateria, a regular Chapel, a "City Transformation Center", (transformation to what?), and a "Power Source Building", (to transform 'older' children). Sounds scary right?


Well, the service, lead by "Apostle" (*face palm*) Ron Carpenter, was an exquisitly executed event that used social psychology to whip up the deluded into a frenzy of Jesus love. Lights, cameras, loud music, and stage performances akin to a rock concert, sporting event or politicl rally, that had the faith heads literally dancing in the asles full of the love of a guy that was executed 2000 years ago. In other words, an abortion doctor murderer breeding ground.

I have no problem with people having a good time, but to so passionatly follow this supernatural garbage at the expense of reason is at best delusional and at worst dangerous. Here's a secular video that instills the same sence of passion in us that's based on our evolutionary heratige - the need for community. "I get by with a little help from my friends" Go Joe Cocker!

Personal Info

As neither atheist nor theist is immune to the ravages of the economic crisis, I've relocated from New Orleans, Louisiana to Greenville, South Carolina.

However, have no fear. My Godless Evangelism shall continue in the Buckle of the Bible Belt just as it did in Cajun Country. Actually, from my brief few weeks, the religious 'nutters' here are more plentiful and assertive, so I'm needed even more here than there.

God moves in mysterious ways?

NFL Player Gives Up Football for Jesus

NFL third round pick, Glenn Coffee has retired after just one year of playing professional football because of his faith.

My initial thought were of sadness for him and his family that, because of a delusion, he's turned his back on a financially secure career that would have been a good foundation for his life. However, thinking about it, maybe from a purely money perspective, he's doing the right thing. He signed a four year contract for $828,000. Now that's not chump change, it's only for four years and an equally talented individual, say a Wall street wizz would be getting that for a life time. In leaving the NFL and turning to a life of spreading the virus... I mean "message" of Jebuz, Coffee will be able to milk his story for the rest of his life.

The only difference of course is that a sports star earns his money by entertaining people. A preacher earns his money by lying to people.

I Get YouTube Comments

Question: If the idea of God can be dismissed as a memetic parasite trying to survive, then any idea can be dismissed the same way--including atheism. The idea of rational thought would itself be a meme. The idea that there are such things as memes would be a meme. Rational thought breaks down entirely under such as system as we could have no way of knowing whether any thought we have has any relationship to reality at all.

Answer: No, you're conveniently ignoring the fundamental difference. EVIDENCE! Using reason, rationality, critical thinking and common sense based on empirical evidence that is testable, repeatable, and subjected to the rigorous scrutiny of peer review.

It's interesting that theists attempt to portray reason, atheism, and even science as a religion. Subconsciously they know the very word "religion" is delusional, divisive, disingenuous and dangerous. It's a fascinating 'panic' defense.

A "Viral Memetic Infection" Victim

Diane Benscoter spent five years as a "Moonie." She shares an insider's perspective on the mind of a cult member. She admits she had a "viral memetic infection".

Can some one please tell me how the Moonie cult differs from Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, or any other religion? The only true answer is numbers of members"

"When one person believes something stupid, it's called insanity. When thosands of people believe something stupid, it's called a cult. When millions of people believe something stupid, it's called a religion."

What "Cult" Size Fits You?

I came across the following slide of a presentation at the Faculty of Philosophy lecture by Robin Dunbar, Director of the Institute of Cognitive and Evolutionary Anthropology at the University of Oxford.

http://www.philosophy.ox.ac.uk/events/conferences/religion,_tolerance_and_intolerance


Using 19th century 'utopian cult data' (whatever that is), he determined the optimum group sizes for both religious and secular communities. Not surprisingly, for religious communities the number is about 150. The group size that is considered to be that throughout the majority of human evolution. But for secular communities, that number drops to about 50. It seems that a supernatural component to a group (whether it's true or not) provides increased social adhesion.

What we can deduce from that is to not worry so much when you see attendance at your secular events in onesie-twosie numbers while people are pouring into churches by the dozens. It's natural. Secular organizations should be more numerous, but smaller in size. From a membership of one, (like me), to around 50.

Feed The New Zealand Christian Virus

A church in New Zealand is distributing food for the hungry. That's great! But they've been having problems with delivery. Why?

Kerry Bensemann, the organizer said:

"while the warehouse had adequate staff, the charity's policy was that parcels could be delivered only by members of a church."

http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/christchurch/3977369/Non-Christian-volunteers-not-wanted-by-food-bank-organiser

So basically, feeding the hungry is just a cover for spreading the Christian memetic virus. The amazing thing is that infected people, like zombies, don't even realize it.