Pope to fight rise of secularism in the West, or, the decline of Catholicism and the fight to keep it alive

Seems that Christianity is dying a slow death; one shameful form of it at any rate. But even though that’s the natural order of things in an evolving world, the Vatican through its divinely appointed CEO, Pope Benedict XVI, would like to buck the trend and save this particular endangered species of mind-virus from extinction.

The Pope, besieged by accusations of cover-ups in clerical sex abuse cases, has, in a vainglorious moment of desperation decided to shore up his sinking ship, by implementing a new office within his religio-business empire to fight the rise of secularism in the West, specifically Europe. It’s to be called the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization [PCP-the-NE for short], and Monsignor Rino Fisichella has been hand-picked by the Pope to drive this department which is expected to “reinvigorate Christianity in the parts of the world where it is falling by the wayside.”

I’m sure the Pontiff is hoping that his new signing will have more success than the famous F1 driver, and that his new department will have the same drug-like hold that PCP once had in keeping a nation mesmerised.

One wonders what the new Vatican department will resort to in its efforts to “rekindle the faith.” I’m pretty sure that some of the methods of persuasion last used during the Dark Ages, won’t be particularly appreciated or tolerated in the age of enlightenment and unprecendented, but hard-won freedoms. But one never knows; if for some insane reason, there is a sudden rise in religious fervor in the West, the Dark Age mentality may yet cast its ugly shadow on the rest of the world.

But somehow, I doubt that this new Vatican department will have any success. I have faith that people are much smarter and less prone to gullibility than they once were. The rise of secularism is testimony to this development, and mental slavery will come to an end.

Boobquake: A reasoned response to radical religious rectitude

If you haven’t heard or read about Boobquake by now, then you’re missing out on one of the most amusing social events of the decade. Well, in case you’ve just come back from Outer Mongolia or North Korea, allow me to fill you in.

It all started when a delusional Iranian cleric, Hojatoleslam Kazem Sedighi proclaimed during a recent Islamic prayer sermon, that:

Many women who do not dress modestly … lead young men astray, corrupt their chastity and spread adultery in society, which (consequently) increases earthquakes

That bombshell so incensed blogger Jen McCreight, that she not only posted a blog about it, but started a Facebook group called Boobquake which invites people around the world (I suppose it was meant to be directed at women) to participate in Boobquake along with her on Monday, 26 April 2010. Basically she’s asking that everyone join her in wearing immodest clothing or revealing some cleavage, but according to strict (read ridiculous) Islamic morality, could mean revealing so much as an ankle. It’s being touted as a scientific experiment to prove that women who dress immodestly do not increase the chances of earthquakes occurring, or cause them in the first place.

Needless to say, the Facebook group has gone viral, and as I write this, has attracted 155,861 confirmed guests (which includes men; and yes, I joined too, not to reveal my non-existant boobs, but in protest against religious stupidity) and a further 48,689 people who may be joining.

Now anyone with half a brain knows that immodestly dressed, or even completely naked women for that matter, don’t cause more earthquakes. Even some cursory reading will reveal that earthquakes or seismic activity is caused by the sudden release of pressure in the earth’s crust. However if you are prone to being mesmerized by clerics such as Hojatoleslam Kazem Sedighi or Pat Robertson, then you’re bound to believe the bullshit that they are caused by women or god or both. Statements like those below from Sedighi, only serve to delay mankind’s journey to enlightenment, and should be re-consigned to the Dark Ages from whence it originates:

What can we do to avoid being buried under the rubble? There is no other solution but to take refuge in religion and to adapt our lives to Islam’s moral codes

If by some weird co-incidence an earthquake does erupt on  Monday, one can only hope that our ignorant little cleric from Iran is at the epicentre, if only to bring the spreading of crass ideology to an end. These religious cretins whose fundamentalist religious doctrines, cause so much distress to women and children, and the world in general, deserve a much harsher punishment, but one would have to stoop to their level to wish it upon them.

So come Monday, I look forward to seeing some extra cleavage or even whole boobs, but I would honestly just settle for some sexy ankle. Women are at liberty for one day, to release their weapons of mass distraction [WMD’s] upon this religious crazy world.