Hemant Mehta's Blog, page 1799

We Knew the Bible Didn’t Take Women Very Seriously… Now There Are Numbers to Back It Up

You probably have a pretty good idea already, but if you ever find yourself wondering exactly how women’s ideas fared in the Bible, a recent project by an Episcopal priest, Reverend Lindsay Hardin Freeman and three other women in her church community, might give you an inkling. Freeman and her group pored through the text to find all the women in the Bible, and what they said.

Their findings are really quite interesting. Among other things:

There are 93 women who are quoted in the BibleOnly 49...

Using a New Blasphemy Law That Rewards “Outrage,” Irish Muslims Protest the Sale of Charlie Hebdo Copies

In 2010, Ireland adopted a new blasphemy law, rather than striking blasphemy off the books altogether. Now that controversial legislationwill be tested for the first time, because the Muslims behind Ireland’s Islamic Cultural Center areinsisting that locally-available copies of Charlie Hebdoconstitute a violation of the law.

Ireland’s Islamic Cultural Center has said the presence of a depiction of the prophet Muhammad on the front page of the satirical publication, on sale now in Irish shops,...

A Canadian Commentator’s Memorable Rant Against Anti-Vaxxers

You have to hear at least the first minute of this rant against anti-vaxxers, courtesy of Canadian commentator Rex Murphy. It’s gold, Jerry, Gold!

(Thanks to Stephen for the link)

When Artificial Intelligence Becomes Even More Realistic, Will Machines Become Targets for Religious Conversion?

If artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly becoming a part of our society, and if the machines seem to have minds of their own, then Christians may have found their next targets for conversion:

“I don’t see Christ’s redemption limited to human beings,” Reverend Dr. Christopher J. Benek told me in a recent interview. Benek is an Associate Pastor of Providence Presbyterian Church in Florida and holds masters degrees in divinity and theology from Princeton University.

“It’s redemption to all of cr...

“Quartet of Truth”: The Unimpressive Christian Weapon Against Same-Sex Marriage

Christian opponents of marriage equality have finally hit upon the one argument that might derail the whole process: not every kid of gay parents is happy with their parents’ job of raising them.

I know. It’s powerful stuff. Think Progress’ Zack Ford has an article up about this so-called “Quartet of Truth” — a group of adults who were raised by gay parents and are now very opposed to gay marriage. The Quartet had filed briefs in federal courts arguing that same sex marriage should not be lega...

Frozen Empowers Girls at Expense of Boys, Say Fox News Host & CEO of Christian Women’s Group

On Wednesday’s Fox and Friends, host Steve Doocy interviewed Concerned Women for America’s CEO Penny Nance. If you’re not familiar with CWFA, it’s an anti-feminist conservative Christian women’s group designed to “protect and promote Biblical values among all citizens.” And in case you weren’t sure what that means, it’s pretty much forcing far-right Christian “values” on everyone — with a special emphasis on going after women’s rights (although LGBT people are popular targets as well).

To give...

Missouri Teen Who Nearly Drowned Isn’t Alive Because of a Miracle

A couple of weeks ago, three 14-year-old boys nearly drowned in Missouri’s Lake Sainte Louise. One of them, John Smith (below), had no pulse when he arrived at a local hospital and his prognosis wasn’t good. When Dr. Kent Sutterer told John’s mother she should prepare to say goodbye, she began praying… and then something incredible happened:

But when Joyce Smith came in and saw what was going on, her reaction was to start praying loudly.

“I said, ‘Lord, Holy Spirit, just give me back my son!’”

S...

Pastor’s Wife, a Homemaker, Says Moms Who Work Are Blasphemers and Sinners

Hannah Colley Giselbach isa 25-year-old preacher’s wife from Kentucky who is alsoastay-at-home mom. Nothing wrong with that. I respect her choice, just as I respect the choice of parents (not just moms)who havea full-time job. (Someone‘s got to ensure the family is kitted out with diapers, baby formula, and healthcare coverage.)

Giselbach, though, doesn’t sharemy thumbs-up to either option, she writes on her blog. Only stay-at-home moms have pickedthe correct path. Married women who work? They...

A Conservative Christian Finally Admits His Faith Makes No Sense

It was scary. Yesterday, I finally found myself nodding along to an article on Charisma:

From an outside observer’s standpoint, Christianity is kind of absurd.

Think about it. We believe in an invisible man who lived over 2,000 years ago in a series of backwater towns in the Middle East, was killed by some religious zealots, and then was magically raised from the dead three days later, after which he floated up into the sky and disappeared, thus becoming the invisible man we now believe in and...

Canadian Supreme Court Wisely Overturns Ban on Physician-Assisted Suicide in Certain Situations

The Canadian Supreme Court unanimously ruled today that patients with severe medical problems can (soon) legally ask their doctors to help end their lives. While it may take some people aback, this is a compassionate and courageous move that will allow people who are suffering to end life on their own terms:

The ruling only applies to competent adults with enduring, intolerable suffering who clearly consent to ending their lives.

The court has given federal and provincial governments 12 months...