Creationism vs. Evolution – The Big Debate

I saw an interesting film yesterday called “Dragons or Dinousars: Creation or Evolution?” I originally checked out the movie because I wanted to see a film about scientific proof that dragons really existed…being a dragon fan and all. The subtitle was a little obscure (note the small print at the bottom of the DVD cover to the left here, which is a little difficult to read) and I found myself in the middle of a Creationism vs. Evolution debate told from the Creationist point of view. If this film were to be accurately titled, it SHOULD have been, “Creationism vs. Evolution: Dragons or Dinosaurs as a Starting Point”.

I didn’t mind the debate too much, as it had some very good points and scientific back-up…except the last 10-15 minutes of the film began to preach heavily on Christianity and how Jesus is Lord and how the world around us is constant evidence of God’s divine plan for us all. Silhouetted pictures of Calvary, God’s divine glory, yadda yadda yadda. Christian propaganda, to say the least!

From an agnostic perspective – which is more my cup of tea – I enjoyed the facts backing up my own beliefs that The Creator engineered the world we live in and that there is proof of an intelligent design. I’m on board with the idea the world is only thousands of years old instead of millions, but that doesn’t prove that those beliefs are reserved strictly for Christians. Christianity isn’t the only religion in the world that believes the world was created by The Creator. Even with my own personal beliefs in Christianity AND Paganism, I find it insulting and arrogant to come to that conclusion.

First Amendment Rights

Just a quick note, as I received a crappy comment from a reader, which I do not want to post so as not to humiliate her publicly. She made some comment about taking her ex-husband to court in a child custody case and mentioned about gathering data about Wicca (which is actually his girlfriend’s faith and not even his), as she was going to use this as “evidence” against her ex-husband in the case. For the record, this father is not enforcing any religion on his daughter and is abiding by the divorce decree where he agreed they were going to raise their daughter under the Episcopalian faith of her mother. So, she’s talking out of her backside, which she doesn’t know from a hole in the ground.

Here’s what the courts and First Amendment have to say about religious freedom in this country (my emphasis):

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof: or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
First Amendment, U.S. Constitution

If there is any fixed star in our constitutional constellation, it is that NO official, high or petty, can prescribe what shall be orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion or other matters of opinion or force citizens to confess by word or act their faith therein. If there are any circumstances which permit an exception, they do not now occur to us.”
United States Supreme Court (1943)
West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette, 319 US 624.

Neither this Court, nor any branch of this government, will consider the merits or fallacies of a religion. Nor will the Court compare the beliefs, dogmas, and practices of a newly organized religion with those of an older, more established religion. Nor will the Court praise or condemn a religion, however excellent or fanatical or preposterous it may seem. Were the Court to do so, it would impinge on the guarantees of the First Amendment.
James F. Battin, U.S. District Judge
Universal Life Church vs U.S. (1974)

Nuff said!

That’s my two pence…

Arial ;)

Still Burning Witches at the Stake

I am not partial to just calling Christians on their shit. My own sisters and brothers in the faith will be subject to my doo-doo-calling as well. This one comes from newWitch Magazine, Issue #18 (with Candice Night on the cover). Good Witch/Bad Witch give advice to a teen that made me blow my stack. Well, more accurately, it was Good Witch. Oh no! Does that mean my Glinda the good witch Mr. Preacher Heuttner was right? Good Witches are really bad ones???

Sir Bedevere: “Tell me, what do we do with witches?”

Peasant 1: “Burn them!!”

God Wants Us Rich?? YES!!!

I may be Wiccan, but there are still a small handful of Christian preachers I respect who teach the Word of God the way it should be taught…with honesty and NOT out of context. Joyce Meyer is one of those preachers. To see other Christians bash her makes me want to blow chunks. So I did…all over the blog posting that bashed her…but I doubt it will see the light of day. You CAN read it here, though! Let the vomiting ensue!!!

Glinda the Good Witch = Wicca??? PUKE!!!

Do Wiccans associate themselves with – or would like to be represented by – Glinda the good witch from The Wizard of Oz? I know I don’t use her as a reference, and I haven’t heard any of my Wiccan friends who use her for their poster child either. Ah, but those people who are uneducated in the ways of Wicca just hear the “good witch” title and THEY make that connection. Here’s my first gripe…

Introduction

I need a place to voice my opinions about my faith – Wicca – and religion in general. So, here I am.

In short, I am a BIG advocate of believing that YOUR relationship with God/dess is YOUR business. It’s between YOU and GOD/DESS…PERIOD.