Safat: The KuwaitBlogs’ Aggregator

Manhattan buses have been plastered with these ads everywhere. They are brought on by the Coalition Of Reason and set to bring the facts to center-stage. New York, being a metropolitan forward-thinking city, has a high concentration of Atheists, Agnostics, Rationalists and Non-believers. Therefore, this ad campaign serves to bring light to that fact. Click below for the press release.

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The campaign — which is being paid for by $25,000 from an anonymous donor — follows a similar but unrelated monthlong campaign on buses by New York City Atheists in July. Jane Everhart, a spokeswoman for the New York City Atheists, said that campaign was highly successful and brought in many new members. “We are trying to raise money to do it again,” she said.

…

[Executive director for the New York branch of the Center for Inquiry, Michael] De Dora said the million-person estimate of New Yorkers who do not believe in God was an extrapolation from surveys on religion. The American Religious Identification Survey, which was released earlier this year, showed that those who put “none” for religion had risen to 15 percent in 2008, from 8 percent in 1990. Based on their projections, New York City, with its 8.3 million population, would have more than a million nonbelievers, Mr. De Dora said. (It is questionable, of course, whether New York City, given its demographics, is representative of the country as a whole.)”

Posted in Pious Bias, Yankee Panky Tagged: ad, agnostic, atheist, athiest, campaign, city, manhattan, new, non-believer, NYC, rationalist, religion, york

Bill O’Reilly is at it again trying to swing it for his miseducated nuts and sounding like a little fool. Apparently, conservatives have just learned about World War II because they have been flinging around the words “Hitler” and “Fascism” a lot lately and very freely. It doesn’t deliver their message across better, it just makes them look more uneducated than ever. In fact, people who love Hitler predominantly vote republican, or are we wrong?

The real problem is that liberals are calm and reserved when it comes to argument and conservatives yell nonsense loud. This make their standpoint more affective. Richard Dawkins has it right when he says “stop shouting” and then the fool says “That’s just the way I speak.” Really? or is it the only way they know how to make a point with the absurd Neanderthal ways? Someone’s religious beliefs should not be imposed on everybody. Even if the majority believes in it. Period. The majority believed the earth was flat back then. Does it make it flat?

Posted in Clip, Meanies, Pious Bias, Politik, Yankee Panky Tagged: athiesm, bill, christinity, dawkins, evolution, fool, life, o’reilly, religion, richard, sam harris, the greatest show on earth

“Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by the rulers as useful.”

- Seneca

Posted in quote Tagged: post, quote, religion, seneca

The conservative Saudis are increasingly availing of misyar, a no-strings marriage of convenience focused primarily on sexual relations.
Misyar allows couples to live separately , but maintain sexual relations . The women who accept it are spinsters , divorcees and widowsare deprived of almost all the rights that a normal marriage would entitle them to, but offers men an opportunity for a bit of fun on the side, in secret, and at a huge discount.
Misyars rising popularity also owes to the high cost of marriage in Saudi Arabia, as dowry, dinners, parties , decorating a flat and the honeymoon , set the groom back several hundred thousand riyals. Misyar for cash-strapped men is a boon.
A Saudi claimed that he entered several misyar marriages after his first normal marriage fell apart. He said none lasted for more than six months. He confided that he had hoped to find a compatible partner for a permanent relationship but it didnt work out. He also said the marriages had not been as cost effective as he had hoped, as misyar wives are crafty and inclined to extract money and gifts.
Thanks to Bluetooth technology, friendly websites and an abundance of furnished apartments in major cities like Riyadh and Jeddah, there are tales of Misyar wives who have clandestinely entered into more than one misyar contract.
These enlightened ladies say misyar husbands never tell their fulltime wives about their relationships so why cant Misyar wives have similar arrangements it stated.
Internet advertisements for misyar marriages often reveal the desperation of those looking for partners , with some only demanding a woman with the ability to satisfy the needs of a man who desires things permitted by religion.
Misyar is popular in the kingdom because in a society where extramarital and premarital sex is a cardinal sin it legitimises sexual relations outside the framework of conventional marriage.

Is it not another way of prostitution? The society, be it conservative or modern, always finds a way out to have sexual pleasure with multiple partners.

There are different views and perceptions to it, but the underlying purpose is to have sexual pleasure with fun and with the least of bonds.

(thanks – Dandoonah for the image. I just borrowed it.)

May ALLAH accept your fasting and bless you, your family, your near & dear ones and all of us.

Ramadan is the Holy month to be generous in your thoughts, deeds and actions.

GIVE YOUR BEST.

Interesting to see the links to the locations. (click on the image to enlarge)

This time it’s the Jehovah’s Witnesses, but it really plays out in every form in the same manner. Fear makes people do anything, even disregard science and fact.

Posted in Chuckle, Clip, humanity, Meanies, Pious Bias, Yankee Panky Tagged: agnostic, athiest, believe, cartoon, christian, christina, into, kids, kinds, religion, religious, scaring

“Hashi” burgers – Arabic for baby camel – launched and lapped up with gr8 enthusiasm in Saudi Arabia.

Throughout history, the camel has served multiple purposes as food, friend, transport and war machine.

There are numerous other animals that have a similar background, history and purpose.

Now that they have taken to the camels openly, time is not far before they lavish other aminals on their dinner plate.

Wondering if they are going the Chinese way, who know any living being that moves it edible?

Jackson died of cardiac arrest at UCLA Medical Center.

His 1982 album “Thriller” — which included the blockbuster hits “Beat It,” “Billie Jean” and “Thriller” — is the best-selling album of all time, with an estimated 50 million copies sold worldwide.

He was the precocious, spinning lead singer of the Jackson 5, the singing group he formed with his four older brothers out of Gary, Ind. Among their No. 1 hits were “I Want You Back,” “ABC” and “I’ll Be There.”

He was born August 28, 1958 – one of 9 kids. His father reportedly nicknamed him “Big Nose”.

Why do people believe? There appear to be two routes; the first being born into it and in that sense having little or no choice in the matter, unless at some point in one's life one comes to question the indoctrination. For that is what it is. The second is making a reasoned decision during your life to adhere to this or that belief. This I suppose can be prompted by all sorts of circumstances; you may be introduced to it by friends or family and be mentally receptive; you may come upon hard times and need explanations which don't come from the real world. You may experience 'voices' or the word of 'God'.

The very word 'belief' implies a lack of proof of existence. It is easily shown that people will, en masse, believe almost anything, given the right circumstances and the right personality to deliver the message. Hitler. James Warren (Jim) Jones in the jungles of Guyana.

There are none more susceptible to indoctrination than peasant, ill-educated peoples such as those of the Middle East (1,300 and more years ago), and more widely, as the doctrines first of Christianity and then Islam spread their tentacles abroad. People who need explanations grasp willingly at an idea which supplies them. So long as everything is clear cut, black and white, offering reward and retribution, your average man in the souq isn't going to get all philosophical about it. He will not see the irony in the fact that he dumps one 'belief', long held, for a new one.

Indeed, the new one may well be the best thing since sliced bread. As soon as enough people subscribe, it spreads like wild fire, just as with a flu pandemic. Proof is unnecessary. There will be enough fundamentalists around to attest to having seen a burning bush or 5,000 people fed on two fish and five loaves of bread to satisfy the receptive. We are all so easily taken in by the sleight of hand of the magician, we surely don't need further proof of the gullibility of people. (Incidentally, did you know that 'gullible' is not in the dictionary? Astonishing but true). One can be at least thankful that Christianity has gone through its irrational, fundamentalist state, (in most parts of the world; there are still some loonies around, hammering themselves to crosses every year). It is philosophical, can discuss, debate and even change. Sadly, Islam has not yet come to that state, although I have met those Muslims who deny a strict interpretation of the Qur'an and promote a 21st century reality of approach. Most Muslims naively hold up the book and claim "It is written" as proof of the truth of it all. The mere writing down of something does not and never will guarantee its veracity. And are we in the 21st century seriously expected to believe that it was the word of God, dictated by an angel and written by Mohammed. Harry Potter is less fanciful.

I seriously believe (!) that people of all religions, believers of fairy tales, should watch Monty Python's Life of Brian. That film, apart from being very funny, superbly exposes the ridiculous genesis of religion, through misunderstanding, misinterpretation and fanaticism.

What is wrong with the following?

Posted in Politik Tagged: agnosticism, atheism, barack, bill maher, christianity, east, islam, jewish, medeast, mel gibson, michele, michelle, middle, mideast, nancy reagan, new, obama, religion, rules, saudi, sex, sexuality

I quote Obama:

“We have a responsibility to join together on behalf of the world we seek – a world where extremists no longer threaten our people, and American troops have come home; a world where Israelis and Palestinians are each secure in a state of their own, and nuclear energy is used for peaceful purposes; a world where governments serve their citizens, and the rights of all God’s children are respected. Those are mutual interests. That is the world we seek. But we can only achieve it together.

I know there are many – Muslim and non-Muslim – who question whether we can forge this new beginning. Some are eager to stoke the flames of division, and to stand in the way of progress. Some suggest that it isn’t worth the effort – that we are fated to disagree, and civilizations are doomed to clash. Many more are simply skeptical that real change can occur. There is so much fear, so much mistrust. But if we choose to be bound by the past, we will never move forward. And I want to particularly say this to young people of every faith, in every country – you, more than anyone, have the ability to remake this world.

All of us share this world for but a brief moment in time. The question is whether we spend that time focused on what pushes us apart, or whether we commit ourselves to an effort – a sustained effort – to find common ground, to focus on the future we seek for our children, and to respect the dignity of all human beings.

It is easier to start wars than to end them. It is easier to blame others than to look inward; to see what is different about someone than to find the things we share. But we should choose the right path, not just the easy path. There is also one rule that lies at the heart of every religion – that we do unto others as we would have them do unto us. This truth transcends nations and peoples – a belief that isn’t new; that isn’t black or white or brown; that isn’t Christian, or Muslim or Jew. It’s a belief that pulsed in the cradle of civilization, and that still beats in the heart of billions. It’s a faith in other people, and it’s what brought me here today.

We have the power to make the world we seek, but only if we have the courage to make a new beginning, keeping in mind what has been written.

The Holy Koran tells us, “O mankind! We have created you male and a female; and we have made you into nations and tribes so that you may know one another.”

The Talmud tells us: “The whole of the Torah is for the purpose of promoting peace.”

The Holy Bible tells us, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”

The people of the world can live together in peace. We know that is God’s vision. Now, that must be our work here on Earth. Thank you. And may God’s peace be upon you.”

Very powerful and meaningful words, ones’ that can belittle any religious preacher of the highest order.

Three cheers to Obama. There IS hope for the world.

Obama has over shadowed Osama.

The essence of all religions in a nutshell.

Apparently, Jesus doesn’t love you if you are Desi, Arab, Pygmy or Aboriginal.

Can it be a fact or is fiction? Maybe its just a contradicting phrase.

Well the Prophet Mohammed advocate the sacrificial kill of animals. So are there any Muslims across the world that advocate “Vegeterianism“?

If you know or come across some, do send them this blogpost link to let them put their comments here.

Well I am still in shock as the saga unfolds about these two teachers in the American International School in Kuwait. It seems they have been quoted on various websites talking about their students too and also supporting the calls for Al Quds ( Jerusalem) to be Israeli/Jewish. This begs the question, why on earth are these people teaching our Muslim children in Kuwait ? In this day and age the very first thing an employer with any nonse should do is Google the person sitting in the interview chair. Isn’t it? Had they done so, these two holy rolling evangelists may not have made it as far as the arrivals lounge. Dear knows what tripe they have been teaching the kids under the guise of ‘English’ or ‘Art’. They must come from the David Barton/William Penn school of (non) thinkers:

David Barton:

Whatever is Christian is legal; whatever is not is illegal.

president of Wallbuilders, Inc. quoting William Penn’s 1681 PA constitution

LMAO. Look at how serious their faces are. Some peeps will believe anything.

According to a new study atheists, agnostics and other non-believers has not only become greater in the US, but it has doubled. This means that not only are non-believers a big chunk of the population, but the third largest belief group after catholics and baptists. I think that this is the case everywhere in world. Some countries that do not allow religious freedom might be surprised as to how many non-believers there are around them. It’s just that most liberals do not like to tread on people’s toes and this causes a silence about pertinent issues like religion and disbelief.  Good for the US. The full article from ABC.com after the jump:

“America is still a predominantly Christian nation, but it’s becoming both less Christian and less religious, according to the results of the new American Religious Identification Survey.

According to the poll, which came out today, the percentage of Americans who define themselves as Christian has dropped from 86 percent in 1990 to 76 percent in 2008.

In one of the most dramatic shifts, 15 percent of Americans now say they have no religion — a figure that’s almost doubled in 18 years. Americans with no religious preference are now larger than all other major religious groups except Catholics and Baptists.

Have You Seen Changes at Your Place of Worship? Tell ABC News.

“What seems to be happening is there is a decline in what we might call traditional brand loyalty to the old denominations, specific churches,” said Barry Kosmin, a principle investigator for the American Religious Identification Survey.

In the last 18 years, despite population growth and immigration, almost all religious denominations have lost ground. Mainline Protestants are down the most. Methodists, for example, have gone from 8 to 5 percent.

Baptists are down from 19.3 to 15.8. And Jews are down from 1.8 to 1.2 percent.

Meanwhile, the number of atheists, while still small, has nearly doubled from 900,000 to 1.6 million. Kosmin says that people may feel more comfortable admitting their lack of faith at a time when atheist books, like Christopher Hitchens’ “God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything” and movies are getting a lot of attention. Comedian Bill Maher took aim at religion in his documentary film “Religulous,” saying that he preaches “the gospel of ‘I Don’t Know.’”

But researchers point out that just because people are dropping out of organized religion, that doesn’t mean they’re abandoning faith. In an informal poll on Twitter today, we heard similar sentiments.

“I no longer attend church, but still pray to Jesus,” said Sean Whitney.

Dramatic Shift in Way Americans Worship

“I dropped out of the Catholic faith years ago. However, it doesn’t mean I have stopped believing in God,” said Carmen Rivera.

The study finds that more people are exploring spiritual frontiers. Some 2.8 million Americans now say they identify with new religious movements like Wicca, paganism or spiritualists. Catholic strongholds in New England and the Midwest have faded as people have moved toward the Sunbelt.

“We are becoming a nation of spiritually anchored people who are not traditionally religious,” said Serene Jones, president of the Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York.

While Americans may be leaving established denominations, the one major growth area in American Christianity is among evangelicals. Megachurches are booming, rising from 5 to 11.8 percent of the population.

And with the economy in free fall, many megachurches say they’re seeing increased attendance. They’re praying that perhaps hard times will draw Americans back to their faith.”