December 2011
48 posts
6 tags
Mother Teresa: Blessed Billionaire, Holy Hypocrite
by Red Tani
Mother Teresa was not a friend of the poor. She was a friend of poverty. She said that suffering was a gift from God. She spent her life opposing the only known cure for poverty, which is the empowerment of women and the emancipation of them from a livestock version of compulsory reproduction.
– Christopher Hitchens
The Catholic Church is in a position to truly help the poor. If...
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Beauty, Life, and Death through a Macro Lens: Is...
by Jong Atmosfera
I’ve been dabbling in macro photography recently and it’s like having a new set of super eyes, one that allows you to appreciate the beauty of flowers and insects by seeing their vibrant colors and intricate eye patterns, like the weevil above and the fly below.
Such beauty compels some people to conclude that there must be an Intelligent Designer, a Loving Creator who...
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Ten Commonly Used Fallacies Against LGBT Rights...
by Ron de Vera
Logical debate is a necessary part of every activist’s life. But before engaging in a debate, make sure you ask yourself the following questions:
1. Do I know the subject? – For seasoned activists, this should be a given. But for newbies, it is normal to romanticize passion and equate it with victory. If you don’t think you can pull it off, leave it to the experts. If you think...
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Typhoon Sendong and the Necessity of Scientific...
by Pecier Decierdo
Typhoon Sendong: An Avoidable Tragedy
With the death toll recently going over 1000 deaths, the number of human lives ended by Typhoon Sendong is heartbreaking. What makes it more tragic, however, is the fact that many of these deaths could have been avoided.
It is good to see that the government is doing its job of helping the survivors of the calamity in the cities of...
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CBCP: Church of the Poor or Conference of...
by Red Tani
Following the way of the Lord, we opt to be a Church of the Poor which demands evangelical poverty of us all, and harness the transformative power of the poor among us towards the justice and love of God in this world.
– Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines
I recently wrote an open letter to the CBCP, asking them to donate a billion pesos to the victims of Sendong.
Many...
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Of Heroes and Hoaxes: Painting a CNN Hero in a...
by Marguerite de Leon
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not out to demonize a woman who has obviously done loads for maternal and reproductive health. At 54 years old, Robin Lim has helped thousands of poverty-stricken Indonesian women to experience a healthy pregnancy and to safely give birth, and for that, she most certainly deserves to be hailed as this year’s CNN Hero.
As a rabid supporter of the...
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Billionaire Archbishop Holds Second Collection for...
by Red Tani
Last night, Archbishop Luis Tagle ordered all priests, rectors, and chaplains in Manila to hold a second collection for the victims of Sendong:
“In the spirit of Christian solidarity, I request that a second collection be made at all Masses in all parishes, shrines, and communities in the Archdiocese of Manila from today until Christmas Day,” he said.
This is good news. But when...
ephephurray asked: Hi. Is it possible that I submit an article for the FF? :) How could I do it? I couldn't find a link in the wordpress site. :))
Who were the worst peddlers of psuedo science in the public eye for 2011? Top list here: http://t.co/4OOO4y4s
Would the army be asking Muslim rebels next to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas? http://t.co/9VX4pB7r
RT @BishopDamaso: @ffreethinkers Evidence is only for fools! Pray,heathens! ;)
RT @ianaji: RT @Pranzoonan: Merry tilting! RT @ffreethinkers: As we all celebrate tonight, let’s remember the true reason for the season …
Bishop Baylon against giving toy guns coz of possible bad effects on children. Scare kids with hell instead eh, CBCP? http://t.co/uRg7JiEP
Today marks the anniversary of Carl Sagan’s death: “For small creatures such as we the [universe’s] vastness is bearable only through love”
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Open Letter to CBCP: Donate One Billion to the...
by Red Tani
Dear CBCP,
Yesterday, your Pope prayed “for the people without homes and for the many missing,” assuring the victims of his “closeness” to them. I don’t know what he prayed for, but surely he didn’t just ask God for more people to pray for the victims. In addition to spiritual assistance, the Pope probably asked God for people to give material assistance, too.
One of your priests,...
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“He knows the Truth now”
by Pecier Decierdo
So Long and Thanks for all the Hitch
Christopher Hitchens (1949-2011), the spice and sting of the Four Horsemen, will be sorely missed. Hitchens did not have a deathbed conversion and his statements during the months before his death guaranteed that nobody is to take advantage of his death and sickness to further their personal agenda.
Hitchens the Dionysian.
But why expect...
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The Most Powerful Force in the Universe (Part 2)
by Pecier Decierdo
The RH Bill and Exponential Growth
In my article What the Debate on the RH Bill Should Not be About, I argued that overpopulation is a non-issue in debates over the passage of the RH Bill. There I reasoned that the battle over the RH Bill is a women’s rights battle and that overpopulation has little if anything to do with it. While I am still convinced that the RH Bill is a...
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Christopher Hitchens, 1949—2011
Christopher Hitchens died on December 16 at the age of 62. The man faced cancer head-on without, what he called, the false consolation of religion. He was a steadfast opponent of “mind-forged manacles” and “celestial dictators.” He had a legendary wit that he wielded with deftness against “elderly villains” such as Henry Kissinger and Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI). He was a champion of...
RT @FakeCBCP: Kim Jong-Il has died. He ran an entire nation based on delusion and dictatorial oppression. Nothing like our own dear lead …
New Post: The Most Powerful Force in the Universe (Part 2) http://t.co/FngKxjig
The Most Powerful Force in the Universe (Part 1) http://t.co/K7sR2i1e
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The Most Powerful Force in the Universe (Part 1)
by Pecier Decierdo
A Tale of the Two CEOs
One day, two bold CEOs decided to play a game of chess where the winner gets to ask anything he wants from the loser. After the game, the winning CEO asked the losing CEO to choose between two payments. The first payment involves the losing CEO giving half of his company’s assets to the winning CEO. The second payment involves placing 1¢ in the first...
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13 Comments that Put dboncan in My LGBT Spotlight
by Ron de Vera
Thank you for reading my article “Why LGBT people must get personal with the Catholic Church.” I read through the comments you made on the Filipino Freethinkers site and picked out 13 that I thought I could address immediately. The rest of your comments were clearly opinions that I know you will hold on to dearly so I will treat them with respect by setting them aside.
Let me be...
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To the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Re: Article on...
Dear Editor of the Philippine Daily Inquirer,
Having relied on The Philippine Daily Inquirer as an essential source of information on Philippine politics, lifestyle, and business, I would like to commend the newspaper for continuing to cover stories that matter to Filipinos both in the Philippines and abroad, often with exceptional depth and quality.
Thus, given my past admiration, it is with...
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LGBT Pride March 2011: Putting the ‘Fun’ back in...
by Marguerite de Leon
The LGBT Pride March is one of the happiest days of the year for me.
Last year’s march, when my boyfriend and I suited up as Buttman and his Ladyboy Wonder, was great. It was one of my first major events with the Filipino Freethinkers, and the first time I ever photobombed a fundie and made out in public. FF even won Best Theme that night, although what our theme...
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December 18 (Sunday) Starbucks Anson’s Ortigas...
Location: Starbucks, Anson’s (across The Podium), ADB Avenue, Ortigas Center, Pasig City (Google map) Date: Sunday, December 18, 2011 Time: 2:30pm – 5:30pm
RSVP on Facebook
This week’s topics:
Chief Justice Renato Corona’s Impeachment
Piolo Pascual, Homosexuality, and Pinoy Celebrity Culture
President Noynoy Aquino Urges Congress to Vote on RH Bill
Holiday Plans for Heathens
After the...
RT @TaniaArpa: Hey @ffreethinkers . What say we get some scotch and do a toast at the next meetup in memory of the Hitch? #godisnotgreat
RT @rationalists: Church is always trying to slip State a roofie.
RT @joelandaya: ::facepalm:: » “@bethangsioco: Sotto says DOH shld be blamed because they’re not providing RH to people.”
A video on the origins of Christmas, cause nothing says pagan like exchanging gifts under the Christmas tree! http://t.co/xOEGHxr0
RT @sinisterspark: Nothing wrong w being gay or farting!
Occupy for RH goes to Malacañang! http://t.co/lt28tygD
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Occupy for RH goes to Malacañang on December 13
Nais po naming imbitahin kayong samahan kami sa isang rally at pakikipag-usap kay Presidente Aquino tungkol sa kagyat na usapin ng botohan ng Konggreso sa RH Bill.
Isa hanggang dalawang libong mga kasapi at tagatangkilik ng kilusan para ipasa ang RH Bill (Purple Ribbon Movement) ang pupunta sa Mendiola sa Martes, Disyembre 13, alas 10-12 ng umaga. Humigit-kumulang 75 sa mga pinuno ang papasok...
RT @bethangsioco: My Mla Standard pc - RH is a human right http://t.co/SUhnDUMO @FemaleNetwork @tweetnirizal @ffreethinkers @momblogger …
American xperience of abstinence only sex-ed resulted in MORE teenage pregnancies. Sexed in #RHBill protects our youths http://t.co/khuW7JWH
RT @bethangsioco: Seriously,it’s time 4pro-rh people2come out&be counted.D CBCP is out2 block voting.Are we going 2stand by&allow Damaso …
We shouldn’t be too surprised with the CBCP’s stance on the anti discrimination bill, they follow the Vatican after all http://t.co/eWWd2FdC
RT @bethangsioco: RHAgenda, @upalyansa @ffreethinkers UP chapter now gathering signatures for RH in UPD. Go RH! Go UP! #Vote4RH now!
RT @TaniaArpa: Malacanang for Women’s Rights today till 5pm. @reighben is live-tweeting. #Malacanang4women Details@ http://t.co/4a187ISb
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Shedding Light on “Dr.” Acosta’s Gay...
by Twin-Skies
It’s been a while since we’ve last heard from Dr. Ligaya Acosta, who drew acclaim for her sold-out performance at last January’s RH Bill forum at the Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health. Everybody still remembers how her crazy antics had the audience rolling in the aisles…
Wait, what do you mean that was serious? Oh my.
In any case, Dr. Acosta’s at it again, but instead...
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RT @TaniaArpa: Epic photo of @ffreethinkers from yesterday’s pride parade. Last year we had Batman+Robin, this year we had Jesus! http:/ …
RT @PhilstarNews: #Manila ranked 128th among 221 other cities shows the slide in human development indicators in the Philippines http:// …
Age appropriate sex ed is possible and can help protect children from child abuse. #Vote4RH NOW! http://t.co/Fpz0nLcM via @sexualfuturist
November 2011
52 posts
10 tags
The True True Meaning of Christmas
by Red Tani
(from a post dated 24 December 2009)
I was supposed to deliver a reflection at the Unitarian Universalist meeting tonight, but I had to cancel at the last minute. I was asked to send a short piece that would be read at the service instead. Here it is:
***
I have always loved Christmas. When I was a kid, this was like a bonus birthday, a time when I could ask for another...
19 tags
The Catholic Church Doesn’t Get ‘Occupy’
by Garrick Bercero
The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines recently announced that it will have its own movement, purposefully echoing the Occupy Wall Street Movement in the United States. The movement, dubbed “Kilusang 99%,” was described by Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo as a “social reform movement” about “making the poor the center of development and making the...