Science vs Religion

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Are you telling me that the all loving, all knowing God is going to let people's beloved pets (the ones he created) starve to death? 

Confused me too. Jesus don't want my Lhasa? Please...

If dogs go to heaven, do people who come from countries where you can eat dogs run around with fork and knife, or do they and dogs finally make peace?

Bill Maher's Muslim Problem

Ben was really obnoxious I thought. If you see the whole thing in its entirety. Sam Harris was making a very clear point,and he just talked all over him and acted like a doosh. Although Affleck seemed amped up the entire show, I asked the Missus what he was on at one point. 

I'm not a big Affleck fan, but Maher's ongoing rampage against Muslims is just fucking stupid.

All while taking tax subsidies to build this place...

I'm sure by now everyone has heard of Brittany Maynard. Can anyone explain to me why the fuck suffering is thought of as necessary in the over-religious crowd? It makes no sense to me.

Dying Cancer Victim Begs Brittany Maynard Not To End Her Life

I was not aware of this story.

The horrors of cancer and the brutal treatment are very personal. If I'm terminally ill, and I want to check out, then I should have the right to do that. Why would I prolong the inevitable so I may suffer needlessly? Seems insane. We're all going to die. I'd imagine not all of us will be given a timeline of when. However in this case, she knows the time is soon. What she is doing is brave I believe. It's also the compassionate thing. She gets to leave on her terms, surrounded by people who love her.

I watched a documentary about this on Flix. The end of the film was a woman doing the same thing. She had her family with her. It was profound and I cried like a baby watching it. But again, she was in her home, with her husband. Her final words expressed relief. She was glad it was over, realizing as the medication kicked in that she had nothing to be scared of, and that she felt blissful (medication.) To me, that's the way to go. I've known people who died alone in hospital beds (my brother included) and I couldn't think of a worse way to go. We treat our pets better than this. 

I was discussing this with a good friend online, an ex-Catholic, and this is what she wrote:

It's a "thing" with some fundamentalist-type Christians. And some old-school Catholics. They believe suffering is a blessing because Jesus suffered on the Cross and they can "share" it with him. I went one on one with someone about it. Can't remember who but they said their grandmother was especially blessed because she'd suffered horribly before she died. She also said, "Grandma was happy to suffer for God." I asked her if SHE had ever suffered and got no response.

As someone who has endured great pain..... it's a bunch of hooey, IMHO. My 20 hours of complete agony with a blocked intestine did NOT bring me closer to God. I would not have gone up to Heaven and said, "Thanks for that death, I really feel special!" There's a real martyr streak in a lot of fundamentalists.

Catholics have a lot of saints who died especially grisly deaths.At one time the type of death was considered when bestowing sainthood. Getting your head chopped off was a plus. If that head later spoke and said something like, "I suffer gladly for God" .... so much the better.

 

I think some of this goes along with the anti-intellectual fad. That miniscule chance that doctors may be wrong despite seeking multiple opinions. The folklore of the "uncle's wife's cousin who had a neighbor" that was diagnosed as terminal and is now cured. In Brittany Maynard's case it's not as though she is healthy and fit and choosing this path for funzies. With a massive tumor of that size she must be experiencing a lot of pretty awful symptoms already. Having watched a loved one die slowly, I can't imagine anyone thinking there is any benefit whatsoever in extending life at that stage.

Of course now ya got me reading about this, and here is a comment that is very similar to the rest: 

I would disagree that it takes courage to die. I think it takes more courage to live. 

 

 

Real easy to say behind a computer, and free of a brain cancer diagnosis, right?

And like your friend said about the fundies: 

If you want to know where this leads, look at the Netherlands today.

 

Doctors are “euthanizing” without review. Without even consulting with families or any patient declarations or wishes. More than 70% of babies born with Down’s or similar conditions are being “terminated” in the name of “quality of life.”

 

 

I still don't get art.