I didn't do this!

I have to admit that I really dislike the practice of leaving Bibles in hotel rooms - I think it's extremely arrogant of the Gideons to believe that theirs is the only religion and that everyone who stays there is a believer.

How about a shelf in each room containing the Qu'ran, the Torah, the book of Moron, the writings of Buddha, The Origin of Species, The God Delusion and something that people might actually want to read....such as a good thriller or romantic novel??

In fact I have been known to complain to hotel management about it.

But on this occasion I didn't complain as i the drawing in the front cover really made me laugh!

I'm not entirely sure what the phase 'dick bible' means, or how it is in anyway relevant - but it's funny nonetheless!!

Oh, and if you want to take this further, please visit - this funny site - and have a nice day!

Sinister

new pope devil
Originally uploaded by ezminj.

I've blogged about the Pope before, he scares the bejesus out of me - look at those shifty eyes, and that evil grin.

But this photo certainly brings something new to my feelings for the man.....!

Tourism for the sadist

Holy Friday
Originally uploaded by Ram Macaraig.

If you are feeling the need for blood, gore, god, self flagellation and crucifixion on your holiday weekend then you should get yourself over to the Philippines for Easter.

Here, in the village of San Pedro Cutud on Good Friday dozens of completely mad (in my opinion) people atone for their sins by flaying themselves with bamboo whips or paddles tipped with broken glass, or by re-enacting the crucifixion of Christ (correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't he do this so that 'we' wouldn't have to?!)

Apparently tourists are flocking over there to watch people scream in agony as they are nailed to the cross with nine-inch nails, hoisted up and left for five minutes in the scorching sun.

VIPs on an viewing platform also watch whilst hooded half naked men whip their backs to a bloody mess (take a look round Flickr and you'll find numerous photographs).

One thing that really did make me giggle over this story was the photograph in The Independent newspaper which showed Roman centurions driving nails through someone's palms, surrounded by people taking photos on their mobile phones!!

Oh, if you want to know more you can visit the Philippines Tourism Website. I wonder if the expect you to bring your own nails, and do they check your if your tetanus jabs are up-to-date?

A problem I have to get over

I love my best friend with all my heart, and her family are truly wonderful. She has the most fantastic loving, caring and selfless husband - beyond anything I could ever have wished for her. But I have a problem - he's found god. I can (and have) forgiven many things, but I am increasingly finding this difficult.

Recent blog entries from him extolling the virtues of prayer (even showing photos of his recent whole body immersion baptism), and how god is watching over him and his family completely freak me out - I can't handle it. What upsets me most is that it is beginning to colour my feelings towards him - I feel pity and sorrow that an intelligent person can be so taken in by the drivel that the Christian church dish out.

If he reads this, (and I think he does) I know that we will feel pity for me, and probably pray for my soul - and I'm happy if that gives him comfort. I can cope with the fact that he's a Christian and that his god helps him (if it makes him happy) - but as has always been the case for me, I can't cope with evangelistic fervor.

I believe that religion is a personal journey, one which is different for each individual, and whatever path is chosen is the right one - there is no 'correct' or 'incorrect' way. And there lies the main problem of most organised religion for me - this belief that many followers have that their religion and their god is the 'true' faith - and that everyone else is going to hell (a concept I don't believe in either since it is a purely Christian concept created to scare people).

Well if I'm going to hell that's my problem, and one I don't give much thought to. But a problem I am giving thought to is how to maintain a close friendship with my best friend and her husband. I think the answer might be to stop reading their blog and just ignore their new found religion (and hope they might lose it again).