Pope: financial crisis shows futility of money

Mon Oct 6, 6:17 AM ET

VATICAN CITY - Pope Benedict XVI says the global financial crisis show the futility of money and ambition.

Benedict says that "now with the collapse of big banks we see that money disappears, is nothing and all these things that appear real are in fact of secondary importance." He urges those who build their lives "only on things that are visible, such as success, career, money" to keep that in mind.

The pontiff was speaking Monday as he opened the works of a meeting of 253 bishops at the Vatican.

Benedict says "the only solid reality is the word of God."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081006/ap_on_re_eu/eu_vatican_pope_meltdown

On a related note:
Bankers' best guesses about the Vatican's wealth put it at $10 billion to $15 billion.
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,833509,00.html

Give me a break.

Thomas Jefferson

Question with boldness even the existance of a god; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason than that of blindfolded fear

Bill Maher and Larry Charles, Getting 'Religulous'

If you're familiar with the work of political satirist Bill Maher, you probably know that he thinks religion has done way more harm than good in the world.
In his new film, Religulous — a satirical documentary in which Maher travels to religious sites around the world, ranging from the Vatican and Jerusalem to a Muslim gay bar in Amsterdam and a Christian theme park in Orlando, Fla. — he describes religion as "dangerous."

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=95210724

God works in mysterious ways

JODHPUR, India - Thousands of pilgrims panicked by false rumors of a bomb stampeded at a Hindu temple in western India on Tuesday, killing at least 168 people in the crush to escape, officials said.

More than 12,000 people gathered at the temple at dawn to celebrate a Hindu festival in the historic city of Jodhpur when the stampede occurred early Tuesday morning.

The temple floors were slick with coconut milk as thousands of devotees broke coconuts as religious offerings, causing pilgrims to slip and fall as they scrambled to escape, said Ramesh Vyas, a pilgrim who was standing in line.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080930/ap_on_re_as/as_india_temple_stampede_9

Oldest rocks on Earth found in northern Canada - 5999.98 years old! No, just kidding, 4.28 Billion.

http://www.reuters.com/article/scienceNews/idUSTRE48O7JW20080925

On why people believe strange things: Michael Shermer

Skeptic Society founder Michael Shermer dedicates his life to debunking myths, superstitions and urban legends, and also explaining why we believe them.In this utterly brilliant TED talk, Michael shows us how, by telling someone what to hear (in a piece of backwards music) you can make anyone hear whatever you want them to hear, with enough manipulation.

The double standards of God

Did God love his enemies when he destroyed the entire world with a flood? When he killed all the firstborn of Egypt? When he had Israel stone a man for picking up sticks on the Sabbath (Num. 15)? When he killed 90,000 Midianites (Num. 31)? 10,000 inconvenient Canaanites who had Israel’s land first (Judges 1)? 50,000 Benjaminites (Judges 20)? 1,000,000 Ethiopians (2 Chr. 14)?

How does God love his enemies when he slaughters them? How does God do good to those who hate him when he sends them to hell to be tortured for all eternity?

http://unreasonablefaith.com/2008/09/20/the-double-standards-of-god/