A LABOR MP has described parliamentary prayers as an “archaic practice” and a waste of time, angering fellow politicians.Legislative Council backbencher Ian Hunter wrote a letter to The Advertiser after it was reported he was reading a book during prayers. “Of course, as an atheist, I don’t say prayers,” he said. “I see them as just one more example of an archaic practice which wastes the time of MPs. “However, I am a polite fellow generally, and rather than cause a fuss for my colleagues who may take some comfort in such practices at the commencement of each parliamentary session, I prefer to improve my mind by reading.” His comments follow criticism last month of Liberal frontbencher David Pisoni, after he was accused of mocking MPs during prayers.
OK, So maybe mocking your religious counterparts isn’t the best way to achieve unity and peace. But its funny, and hey, they pray to air.
Actually it’s worse than that. The heavens for the most part are vacuum. They pray to nothing.
I would vote for him. Honest. Come, that is a come on!
Which country is this?
There is absolutely nothing wrong with religious satire…it is a topic that can be found in Western thought and literature…Christopher Hitchens touches on the issue and has an idea about the literal mind vs the ironic mind…
Mrs. Betty Butterfield has a lot to say on religious satire…
http://www.bohnsplace.com/betty_butterfield/Betty%20Butterfield%20-%20TILTON.mov
and err to prey.
Stillhorn,
This is in Australia.
Ha. I’m glad I’m not the only one.
I was heading out to our UU service sunday when our neighbor popped out of her house and said hey. She asked where I was headed and I said church to which she responded “pray for me” and I said, UU folks don’t pray. At least none that I associate with
She gave me a priceless puzzled look.
Yes, it certainly is funny. I got a kick out of this story too.
Firstly, TXatheist you missed an opportunity to make a real human connection with your neighbor (no, not THAT kind). You could have asked her “what for?” and shown some sympathy… THEN said that you don’t really pray but that you hope things turn out well or that she gets through the difficult time or whatever. WE HAVE TO FIGHT THE “HEARTLESS ATHEIST” MEME.
Secondly though, people do some humorous things when they think everyone else’s eyes are closed. I’ve seen people picking their nose or scratching their ass while “communing with The Almighty”. Some make faces like they’re battling constipation. The pastor sneaks a “holy peek”. The assistant-pastors’ daughter adjusts a very tight skirt which shows no seam lines…
Thanks Alexatheist
Apparently the xenophobic Rethuglican Party like furriners, at least in California. And at least Australians and Canadians.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/06/14/MNG3DQF4U11.DTL
“The California Republican Party has decided no American is qualified to take one of its most crucial positions — state deputy political director — and has hired a Canadian for the job through a coveted H-1B visa, a program favored by Silicon Valley tech firms that is under fire for displacing skilled American workers.
Christopher Matthews, 35, a Canadian citizen, has worked for the state GOP as a campaign consultant since 2004. But he recently was hired as full-time deputy political director, with responsibility for handling campaign operations and information technology for the country’s largest state Republican Party operation, California Republican Party Chairman Ron Nehring confirmed in a telephone interview this week.”
Who hired him?
“Matthews was hired by Michael Kamburowski, an Australian citizen who was hired this year as the state GOP’s chief operations officer. But neither new official has experience in managing a political campaign in the nation’s most populous state — and as foreign citizens, neither is eligible to vote.
Kamburowski, a former real estate agent who sold property in the Dominican Republic, is a permanent U.S. resident in the process of obtaining American citizenship and does not require a specialized work visa, state GOP officials said.”
“real estate agent”, not that is a top-notch reference on a r?sum?.
Apparently the Rethugs can’t find any Americans competent enough to create and spread their lies.