So atheists CAN be saved, kinda, sorta?

There was a big brouhaha recently when the pope said seemed to say that atheists can go to heaven. All sorts of reports and stories spewed from the media about this. At the time, HuffPo, among other outlets, reported that the Rev. Thomas Rosica, a Vatican representative, "clarified" the pope's words by stating that atheists cannot be saved.

But that was last week. I just came across a "corrected" story at HuffPo. They now report that Rosica never said this. Apparently what they originally reported was text from a catechism. (Though even in the corrected story, it seems Rosica offered the text. But who's quibbling?) Anyway, here's what they said in the corrected story:

Rosica wrote that it's not impossible for an atheist to eventually be saved by Christ. 

“Rejection of Christianity may not mean the rejection of Christ,” he wrote. "We can never say with ultimate certainty whether a non-Christian who has rejected Christianity...is still following the temporary path mapped out for his own salvation which is leading him to an encounter with God.”

Well, thanks for clearing that up. So my atheist path may lead me to an encounter with god, eh? Of course, there is no god so this meeting will never take place. However, should such an unlikely event come my way, I will punch this supernatural creature right in his gay-hating, woman-stomping, child-killing face. Come to think of it, I'd really enjoy pummelling the monster responsible for all the pain and suffering that living creatures experience.

But for now, I'm quite sure that being a militant anti-god blogger and novelist is the "path mapped out for my salvation". I just define salvation differently. So I'll blog on.

See you later, jeebus.

Revealing religion headline at HuffPo

We learned this week that a statue stolen by the Nazis was carved from a meteorite. The Yahoo headline about this states, in sensible fashion:

Buddhist Statue Found by Nazis Made from Meteorite

(Never mind that the Nazis weren't, in fact, made from meteorites. That's another post.)

But the headline at HuffPo's Religion section says, as you see in the above screenshot:

Buddhist Statue Came from Outer Space, Scientists Say

A bit different, eh? And no, the scientists don't actually think the statue zoomed in from space. But HuffPo, in its religious guise, can't help but create a headline that appeals to ignorant religious folk. I swear, religious people make me sigh with exasperation. What a witless lot they are.

Note: I used the screenshot from HuffPo's main Religion page because if you click on the headline, the story page shows a new headline that sounds quite sane. They just used the original, misleading headline as a hook to draw in the most credulous of their readers. Jeez but HuffPo is slimy. Ugh.

What's your greatest online pet peeve?

The thing that drives me nuts is when a site constantly updates itself while I'm trying to read the goddamn page. I'm lookin' at you, HuffPo, because you're the worst offender. Why on Earth do you update your page six times a minute?! It's not like there's anything there worth reading or, pardon my mirth, like there might be breaking news to publish. On HuffPo? Get real.

(Explanation for slumming: I've been going to HuffPo lately to look at their incredibly idiotic religion section. There are such ill things there; I can't resist. The whole thing is low-hanging fruit.)

Internet sites should provide a "Paralyze the Page" button for readers. Otherwise, in extreme cases like HuffPo, it's like you're trying to read the page on the back of a guy who's jogging.

What drives you crazy online?