Tolerance v. Acceptance

I have a new response towards anyone who accuses you of being intolerant for disapproving of religion.

The tenet of it is that there is a distinct difference between tolerance and acceptance. I am capable of tolerating the behaviors of someone who goes to church weekly. However, I can reasonably dispute this behavior, and refrain from accepting it as valid.

Ergo, most accusations of intolerance would be inaccurate, invalid, and ergo unacceptable.

And this isn't just a petty technicality-based rebuke; the concept of intolerance has been blown way out of proportion by modern culture. Most religions/irreligions tolerate each other, as plainly demonstrated by our lack of blowing-each-other-upness.

Of course, I do think intolerance is unreasonable. There is no reason why I should not be able to live or interact with someone just because of belief difference. However, un-acceptance is perfectly reasonable. Some things are just stupid.

Anyone?

Apocalypse

So near a week ago was 6-6-06. The day which many christians fortold to be the apocalypse since, you know, those are the devil's numbers and all. The whole thing got really hyped up and over played, and by 6-5-06 I was really starting to get excited. Well, nothing happened.

What have we learned from this?

Today, however, there was this big thunderstorm in my city, and this little brook that's normally about 3 inches deep started to overflow. Wrath of God? Yes, I think so.

Keep in mind: 3 inches to 6 feet

Obviously God is trying to make up for the big let down. He must have been in the holy toilet or something. Holy-wasted? perhaps.

Anyway, this is clear enough for me. God is real, this proves it beyond doubt. I mean, look at the way those ducks are freaking out:

THEY'RE FREAKING OUT, MAN

I swear, they went totally insane, just like this:

well, perhaps that was just in my head, but I still claim the right to use that disproved fact in future arguments for the truth of Christianity.

Anywho, as I'm standing there snapping away pictures this angel comes down and gives me undeniable proof of the existence of Jesus Christ. Unfourtanately, at that moment my camera stopped working so I couldn't take a picture, and the proof fell into the river. Woops.

Anyway, enjoy the rest of my apocalyptic pictures and repent. The end is nigh, repent!

In the Lion's Den

On Monday, a man lowered himself into a lion cage. While lowering, he shouted to the assembled crowd that "If God exists, he will save me."

He jumped down from his rope into the "animal island" where the lions were housed and began walking up to a lioness, still screaming about God and waving his arms to and fro.

...he was killed.


What do we learn from this?

Original Story from Reuters

Video (it's not extremely gory)


Thanks to the Colbert Report for the tip off

What Would Jesus Press?

Pat Robertson can bench press 2000 pounds. No joke. Well, his website says it's no joke. Apparently this 76 year old man is capable of bench pressing about 660 pounds more than anyone has ever bench pressed, ever. 'How?' you may ask. Well, what I first thought when I heard this was "Oh, he claims it is because of God." But no! The reason this ancient excuse for a human being can leg press more than anyone in their prime ever has is due to.... [drum roll].... an energy shake of his own invention.

That's right, all you have to do is register to his site, give him you email address, and you're off!

Oh, and there is also a video of him showing a young woman how he can bench press 1000 pounds on his website. The audio of this video alone sounds much like another form of excercise...

I think I will let this most recent act of insanity speak for yourself.

Thanks to NPR's 'Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me' for the tip off and the title