The Good - This agency has some of the most delicious dancers in the industry today!

The Bad - The head agent is not the most pleasant person on the eyes!

The Ugly - It's been rumored that this agency stole a client or two from the number 1 agency. Oh well, to the victor goes the spoils....

Can you guess which agency ranked number 2............O.K. I'm OOveeer this waiting.....

Why does this fierce agency rank above CTG? Check the specs honey!

STAR POWER -

Bloc gots the JUICE! Their agents don't seek the spotlight, but they're major players in the dance scene. Truth be told, their roster of choreographers and oh so fine dancers gets them over. The hot thing about the agency is that they rep Choreographers, Dancers, and Extreme Sports. They're located in 3 cities (sorry Clear, they have one up on you!) Los Angeles, New York, and The ATL. The agency is ran by Canada's finest brother and sister duo, Brendan and Lacey Filuk.

NUMBER OF CLIENTS -

Again, mama could not get her contact to give me an exact number, but the contact did state that Bloc has around 400 dancers on its roster, making it one of the largest agencies in client roster. (Of course most of them aren't working)!

CHOREOGRAPHERS ON ROSTER -

This is where BLOC pulls up. Listen to this client list: BRIAN FRIEDMAN, FATIMA, RICHMOND AND TONE, MICHAEL ROONEY, MICHELLE JOHNSTON, Ms. Janet Jackson girl/boy friend GIL, MARTY "Same Steps" KUDELKA, & up and comer TYCE DIORIO! - G*D DA*M that's an all-star cast!

YEARS IN SERVICE -

The agents at BLOC have been in the business the LEAST amount of years (compared with the other 2 agencies), however, they have had much success especially with Hip-Hop. The big drawback is that their roster of choreographers minus Micheal Rooney, Michelle Johnston, and Brian Friedman, can only do Hip-Hop. This is why they rank 2nd on my list.

NUMBER OF BOOKINGS -

The delicious group of young dancers book consistently, and they're not afraid to tell you about it. Check out their home page which shows all the latest bookings by their clients. The big faux-pau is that their Choreographers don't book the huge movies that the number 1 agency does....

OVERALL -

Great agency. They have the market cornered in the area of hip-hop. Their choreographer list is MUCH stronger than CTG. But the agency is toooo nichey, and doesn't have the power to book high budget films like the #1 dance agency. 4 out of 5 twists!

Contact info:

Bloc Talent Agency

5651 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles, CA. 90036

323 954 7730

AGREE OR DISAGREE?_ Hit me back

Foi tudo de encantar. Na mesa um requintado toque de Verão, a elegante toalha vermelha, pratos variados até ao franguinho cortadinho, saladas de todas as qualidades e, muitos, muitos doces e bolos deixaram todos surpreendidos e a perguntar quem fez tanta iguaria.

Novidade na festa foi o elegante vestido da Mariana, tipo saquinho, amarrado com uma cordinha escondida mas, a marcar a diferença com uma a assinatura a vermelho na bainha.

A Lúcia optou por tons nacionais, decorada com um requintado colar, tipo cordão de rebuçados.

O André escondeu a marca do pólo no pescoço enquanto o maninho exibia uma caveira como se fosse uma linda flor de estufa.

A Lita estreou um relógio a condizer com a camisola e os pais do André optaram por encontrar na mesma peça de tecido a inspiração para os fatos.

Nota negativa apenas para três cavalheiros, mais crescidos, que, nos tempos que correm, foram apanhados a fumar na varanda, de castigo, claro!

ELEIÇÕES 2008 PREFEITO ITABUNA - BA

Conheça aqui as melhores proposta do melhor candidato a Prefeito em Itabuna Bahia.

Prefeito, Itabuna, eleições, 2008, Câmara, Vereadores, TRE, TSE, Prefeitura, pesquisa, Ibope, primeiro colocado, Intenção de votos, Bairros, São Caetano, Centro, Califórnia, Fátima, São Lourenço, Conceição, Urbis, Ferrada, Comunidade, Propostas, Projetos, Melhorias, Conheça, Serviços Prestados, Amigos, Intenção de votos, Família. Debate, TV, Rádio, Jornal, Contagem, votos.

ELEIÇÕES 2008 VEREADOR ITABUNA - BA

Conheça aqui as melhores proposta do melhor candidato a vereador em Itabuna Bahia.

Vereador, Itabuna, eleições, 2008, Câmara, Vereadores, TRE, TSE, Prefeitura, pesquisa, Ibope, primeiro colocado, Intenção de votos, Bairros, São CaetanoCentro, Califórnia, Fátima, São Lourenço, Conceição, Urbis, Ferrada, Comunidade, Propostas, Projetos, Melhorias, Conheça, Serviços Prestados, Amigos, Intenção de votos, Família.,

Osoby propagujące fatimskie orędzie Matki Bożej mogą spotkać się z zarzutem nieuprawnionego nadawania mu rangi pilnego i naglącego. Minęło już bowiem 90 lat od objawień i odczytywanie tego przesłania - które akcentuje znaczenie modlitwy, pokuty i poprawy życia - jako nie tylko naglącego, lecz nawet bardziej naglącego niż kiedykolwiek może niektórym wydawać się szukaniem sensacji. By odpowiedzieć na taki zarzut warto przeanalizować kwestię, dlaczego przesłanie fatimskie w istocie szczególnie odnosi się do problemów czasów obecnych.

Spokojne życie w Fatimie

Jeśli istnieją na świecie miejsca, w których pośpiech wydaje się nie odgrywać żadnej roli, to jest nim na pewno mała wioska Adjustral, gdzie Łucja, Hiacynta oraz Franciszek żyli w 1917 r.

Życie wiejskie było spokojne i ciche, jednocześnie przesycone duchem katolickiej wspólnoty. W małej wiosce, w której wszyscy się znali, życie toczyło się wokół lokalnego Kościoła katolickiego i przebiegało zgodnie z rytmem roku liturgicznego.

Większość problemów miało charakter lokalny. Przeciętnego mieszkańca nie interesowało, co dzieje się poza jego małą wioską. Jednak Matka Boża w swoim przesłaniu wcale nie odniosła się do lokalnych problemów wspólnoty. Kiedy mówiła o grzechach ludzi popełnianych w tamtym czasie, wcale nie prosiła ich, by zmienili swój prosty, wiejski styl życia. Jej słowa dotyczyły wielkich problemów, które dopiero zaczęły pojawiać się na horyzoncie.

Świat w okresie przejściowym

Kiedy pojawiło się przesłanie fatimskie, świat przechodził transformację. Zaczęły następować wielkie przemiany polityczne i kulturowe zagrażając spokojnemu życiu w tysiącach miejsc całego katolickiego świata. Wybuchła I wojna światowa i wielu mężczyzn trafiło na pola bitwy wielkiej wojny. Portugalia znajdowała się w ferworze nowoczesnej rewolucji komunistycznej, marksistowska propaganda szerzyła się na Zachodzie, rosła napastliwość względem Kościoła.

Zmiana kulturowa lat 20.

Równolegle do zmiany klimatu politycznego Portugalia, wraz z całym światem zaczęła doświadczać także ewolucji kulturowej, spowodowanej wzrostem na niesłychaną skalę pragnienia frywolności i bardzo często niemoralnego stylu życia, mających odzwierciedlenie w prądach tamtych czasów.

Samuel Eliot Morison w swojej książce The Oxford History of the American People opisuje rozwydrzone lata 20. jako dekadę, która zmieniła moralność i obyczaje świata znacznie bardziej, aniżeli rewolucja seksualna lat 60.

Pośród trendów, które on wymienił znalazły się:
- pojawienie się Hollywood, propagującego wzorce łatwego i wygodnego życia;
- muzyka stała się szybsza i lżejsza; jazz to rock and roll tamtych czasów, towarzyszył mu alkohol z nielegalnych źródeł (w Stanach Zjednoczonych panowała prohibicja), rozwydrzone lata 20. były okresem bezładnym i niebezpiecznym;
- moda proponowała luźne i coraz bardziej skąpe ubrania;
- sztuka i literatura stały się bardziej niemoralne i ateistyczne usprawiedliwiano zanik wszelkich zahamowań seksualnych,
- w sferze obyczajowości promowano poglądy Freuda.

Dzięki coraz doskonalszym środkom komunikacji taki styl życia był w latach 20. promowany powszechnie.

Przemiany ekonomiczne

Te zmiany kulturowe szły w parze z przemianami ekonomicznymi. By prowadzić nowoczesny styl życia ludzie chcieli mieć najmodniejsze ubrania, produkty i zdobycze technologiczne. Udoskonalony transport pozwolił przemysłowi rozszerzać rynki zbytu na skalę regionalną, krajową, międzynarodową. Wszystko stawało się wielkie: przemysł, banki, miasta, auta, rynki i przedsiębiorstwa. W rezultacie owe olbrzymie rynki z konieczności stworzyły ogromną współzależność pomiędzy wszystkimi elementami tego systemu.

Współzależne sieci

System z kolei rozwinął się w dominujące obecnie współzależne sieci globalne: telekomunikacyjne, transportowe, usług pocztowych, systemów bankowych, z czasem w Internet i wiele innych. Te powiązane ze sobą sieci pomogły bezsprzecznie wyprodukować kolosalne ilości towarów, które zalewają współczesne rynki.
Nie bez powodu sieci te uważane są za przyczynę bogactwa, źródło postępu, filar stabilności i gwarancję bezpieczeństwa. Jednak są one także źródłem ogromnych słabości.

Współzależne słabości

Wskutek ustanowienia tych ogromnych sieci, od których każdy jest uzależniony, z konieczności powstaje cały szereg wrażliwych słabych punktów. Takimi punktami mogą być systemy zasilania elektrycznego, jak również inne sieci dostarczające surowce naturalne (ropa, gaz, minerały i żywność); sieci wirtualne, takie jak Internet, pochodne systemy finansowe oraz system kart kredytowych.

Te słabe punkty są szczególnie narażone na działanie ludzi, np. zgodne ataki pojedynczych przestępców czy całych grup, mogących spowodować, że te sieci przestaną funkcjonować.
Wzrost niemoralnych czynów

W spokojnych czasach taka perspektywa byłaby alarmująca. Jednakże dziś, kiedy zanika zmysł moralnej odpowiedzialności, prawdopodobieństwo wystąpienia tak nieodpowiedzialnych lub niemoralnych aktów pojedynczych osób lub całych grup znacznie wzrasta. W ten oto sposób, wraz z obecnym kryzysem moralnym globalnie połączony i współzależny świat stał się nagle skrajnie słaby i wrażliwy na wstrząsy. Na przykład atak z 11 września 2001 r. był wyrafinowaną akcją przeprowadzoną przez grupę terrorystów przy udziale nożyków do otwierania paczek za 5 dolarów.

Obecnie jeden człowiek może wpływać na cały świat. Istotnie, z powodu Richarda Colvina Reid’a, islamskiego terrorysty, który usiłował rozbić samolot przy pomocy bomby zamieszczonej w bucie, obecnie każdego dnia miliony ludzi musi zdejmować buty, by wejść - nie do meczetu lecz do samolotu.

Kolejnym przykładem jest system kredytowy. Niegodziwi bankowcy udzielają pożyczek, chociaż wiedzą, że są one bardzo ryzykowne. Z kolei niektórzy, pozbawieni skrupułów klienci biorą pożyczki, których wcale nie zamierzają spłacać. Skutkiem tego jest rosnący kryzys wrażliwej sieci kredytowej.

Kryzys moralny i jego rozwiązania

Innymi słowy, współczesny świat nęka wielki kryzys moralny. Działalność ludzi o złej woli oraz współzależny świat, z jakim obecnie mamy do czynienia sprawiają, że wzrasta prawdopodobieństwo katastrofy. Bez solidnych korzeni moralnych gigantyczne sieci współzależności stworzą wewnątrz własnych systemów elementy, które je unicestwią. Świat, który wyrzeknie się Boga, zmierzać będzie do samodestrukcji. Z tego właśnie powodu przesłanie fatimskie okazuje się być bardziej aktualne i pilne, niż kiedykolwiek wcześniej.

Jedynie, co nam pozostaje to odnieść się do moralnego kryzysu, o którym mówiła Matka Boża w 1917 r. Podała Ona sposób przezwyciężenia kryzysu moralnego, spowodowanego przez zwyczaje obowiązujące w dzisiejszym świecie. Osobom indywidualnym Matka Boża zalecała moralny program naprawczy modlitwy, pokuty i poprawy życia. Jednak prosiła także o przeciwdziałanie złu w skali znacznie większej, międzynarodowej, zwłaszcza błędom Rosji.

Jak na ironię, współczesne systemy ułatwiają to wezwanie do działania. Tak jak nieodpowiedzialne czy niemoralne czyny kilku indywidualnych osób w dzisiejszym współzależnym świecie mogą wyrządzić poważne szkody, tak odpowiedzialne, pokojowe i zgodne z prawem akcje garstki katolików - jeśli wykorzystają oni swoje sieci w dobrym celu - mogą przynieść ogromne pozytywne rezultaty dla sprawy katolickiej.

Dlatego jeśli katolicy wezmą sobie to przesłanie głęboko do serca, wówczas będą mogli ze swojej strony odpowiedzieć na kryzys moralny panujący w dzisiejszym współzależnym i kruchym świecie. Jednak jeśli tego kryzysu nie przezwycięży się od razu, wówczas będzie on stale postępował i stawał jeszcze bardziej nieuchronny niż kiedykolwiek.

Źródło: tfp.org., AS

A Nereida, estava serena e com um sorriso na cara. Logo, não acabou com o Cristiano.

Que se pode dizer destas premissas e conclusões ? Simplesmente, não há informação suficiente nas premissas para suportar tal conclusão. Mas, além destas, há mais, muito mais. Por isso, quem quer ver umas boas falácias, não percam a tertúlia cor de rosa.

O primeiro, foi o caso do iPhone, que a Apple anunciou recentemente e que custa nos Estados Unidos 200 dólares. Tendo em conta a baixa do dólar, na Europa o preço deveria rondar os 127 euros.

Mas a realidade é bem outra. O dito cujo, em Portugal custa entre 500 a 600 EUROS e limitadíssimo no que refere ao tráfego, e com períodos de fidelização vergonhosos. Fiquei decepcionado.

Na Suíça, ou na Holanda por exemplo, o mesmo aparelho cusa menos de metade.

Porquê estes valores, se somos dos países com menor poder de compra da Europa.

Quem entender, diga algo...

-.-.-.-.-.-

O segundo caso, mais mediático e polémico, devido ao fanatismo desportivo, é o do novo Seleccionador Nacional de Futebol.

Não tenho nada contra o Prof. Queiroz, mas esta é uma outra situação que me irrita e não entendo muito bem, porque um treinador, seja ele de que modalidade for, ganhe UM MILHÃO E QUINHENTOS MIL EUROS durante um ano, disse UM MILHÃO E QUINHENTOS MIL EUROS.

Fiz algumas contas e fiquei admirado e até envergonhado, com a envergadura do valor do vencimento, do novo timoneiro da Selecção de quase todos os portugueses... O mesmo fiz, aquando da contratação do "milagreiro" Scolari... e fartaram-se de me "dar porrada". Alguns desses defensores do "sargentão", hoje, já pensam de forma diferente...

Refiro-me aqui ao anunciado Seleccionador Nacional de Futebol, mas poderia falar também dos vencimentos e reformas vitalícias, verdadeiramente escandalosas de Administradores, Juízes, etc. Adiante...

Temos dos melhores jogadores do Mundo (dizem), que jogam nos melhores e maiores clubes no estrangeiro (dizem), e acredito, que haviam outros treinadores mais baratos e com MAIS provas dadas, mas,... quem manda pode - lá diz o povo com razão.

Como já disse, nada tenho contra, ou a favor desse sr., mas quando em Portugal já se passa fome e se ganha o mísero salário mínimo de 426 euros e onde outros nem sequer isso ganham, eu nunca chegarei a entender como isto é possível... e não entendo, como em tempo de crise generalizada, se semeia dinheiro desta forma.

Quem entender, explique...

Já agora ficam aqui os números, eles falam por si...

Por ano UM MILHÃO E QUINHENTOS MIL EUROS.

Por mês, ele, aufere a "módica" quantia de 125.000 euros (CENTO E VINTE E CINCO MIL EUROS)

Por dia, mais de 4.000 euros, (QUATRO MIL EUROS)

Santo Tirso TV

TV Fátima

Hard Sound TV

Rota da Luz TV

However, we found this (Moeda Caves) and we could not not visit it ;) They're pretty cool (it's just rocks but who cares?) and they date back to, well, god knows when. Yes, yes it's worth it and inside the caves you can listen to chill out music which turned out to be a very very good combination :)

Stay tuned for the next trip, if we find the spot, of course.

See more

Enfim, falando em milagres, no que toca a "Fátima" sou um pouco céptico...ok, vou ser censurado pela maioria dos Cristãos Praticantes, mas não Importa. Ora, qual o objectivo de vir cá dizer 3 segredos a 3 miúdos? Se foi tudo um milagre, porque motivo morreram logo 2 desses 3? E se foram segredos porque conta-los a crianças? Enfim, ou estou-me a armar em céptico ou então sou muito burro ao ponto de não perceber...

Bah, não gosto nada de falar em religião, vou continuar a brincar com a minha nova Conta Premium no MegaUpload, a pessoa do tal comentário agradece :)

Segundo a agência de notícias Lusa, foi descoberto um texto de Fernando Pessoa – aquele que falou que nunca conhecera ninguém que não tivesse levado porrada (sic) – onde o distinto escrito, autor de Os Maias e Primo Basílio (não, não colocarei link. Toma vergonha e aprenda a procurar no Google. Comece pela Wikipédia, preguiçoso) tece algumas... considerações sobre a religião, principalmente sobre Fátima. Não, não é sobre a nossa Fátima, mas a Nossa (deles) Senhora de Fátima ;-) .

O historiador português José Barreto afirmou que o poeta Fernando Pessoa encarava a cidade de Fátima como o lugar mítico da construção do nacionalismo católico e monárquico, repudiado pelo autor. Read more »

Primer nuevo amigo: "El Cuate", le gusta tomar, le encanta cantar y es ranchero como yo. Por la noche, ese viernes nos encontramos pedos haciendo guardia. Todo el campamento está furioso porque no los dejamos dormir, el tequila quita el frío y conozco a Fatima y a Blanca, se levantaron a platicar con nosotros. Siento que Fatima me gusta y que a Blanca no le soy indiferente.

El lugar: Un centro recreativo enclavado en un barranco, aguas termales, balneario, río y arboles tenebrosos y un lienzo charro que por la noche sería perfecto para una escena de terror. Blanca y yo decídimos caminar hacia la oscuridad; apenas dimos diez pasos se asustó y me abrazo, corriendo regresamos al campamento.

El espacio entre las tiendas de campaña alberga el sitio de la fogata, ahi bailamos reggaetón al oscurecer. Al lado hay un mezquite cuyas ramas protegen el campamento y hacen las veces de tendedero de mi amigo el "profe", si, el que me invitó al camping con sus alumnos.

Amanece y vamos a las aguas termales. Blanca luce una figura muy bonita, sus senos resaltan en su playera mojada, es flaca y su pelo corto le sienta bien. Desayuno rápido, caminata y balneario; el agua está calientita y el tobogán es la pura onda. El "profe" se las da de buzo y Blanca pierde un arete al retarlo a buscarlo en el fondo, en el voleybol les demuestro a todos quien es el mejor gracias a mi 'Saque fantástico'.

Discada y grasa abundante, a todos les da sueño y yo juego fútbol. Fatima patea el balón muy bien y hasta la domina, contagia a los demás y seguimos. Pasé la tarde en el lienzo charro con mi ipod, nadie me sigue pero me encuentro a un anciano y al pie del cerro monstruoso adornado con árboles chárlamos, es la plática más cinematográfica que he tenido con un desconocido.

Al atardecer los pongo a jugar baraja, parece que yo soy el jefe del campamento pues el "profe" duerme y yo me encargo de sus alumnos. Reto al que pierda a tomarse un trago de tequila, pierdo seis veces a propósito. Oscurece y Blanca se sienta a mi lado, la conquisto con mi charla y con mi habilidad para jugar al 'conquian' y vencer a verdaderos rivales como "el cuate", Iván y la mismísima Fatima. La flaca me dice que mi voz es igualita a la de un amigo, que mi risa le gusta y que me parezco a Alejandro Maldonado... el tipo que práctica yoga en 'Hoy'.

Por la noche bailamos, advierto a todos que ya estoy borracho y que todo lo que diga a partir de ese momento será broma o mamada asi que no me hagan caso. Le digo a Blanca algo que no recuerdo pero que revela mis intenciones, se enoja porque cree que es broma o mentira y rehúye mi compañía; palticando con Karina me doy cuenta que ya todos advierten el crush entre la flaca y yo.

En el campamento vecino la banda suena y somos invitados, baile, cerveza por fin, Blanca se acerca y me roba un beso, sus labios son lo único dulce que he probado en dos días y dos noches -excepto el alchol, claro-. La madrugada es la reina y la botella gira: Blanca ya está dormida y yo me desquito con la que se me ponga, tuve que besar a un tipo en la mejilla pero estar al lado de Fatima y besarla hace que todo valga la pena.

Fatima es toda alegria, es de caracter y ownea bien gacho, le cae mal a sus compañeros pero me hace reír y yo a ella y tengo la sensación de haberla conocido antes. Rimamos, cantamos, le cuento chistes y me paga con su mirada bonita entre pecas. La botella sigue girando y una típita se da cuenta que Fatima y yo rockeamos y nos impone la 'semana del amor', cinco cachetadas y dos besos es el saldo. Sus besos superaron a los de Blanca -aunque sean de juego- pero se pasó con las cachetadas, me dejó los dedos marcados y...

Borracho me dormí y borracho desperté. Baño rápido y en la hielera encuentro una cerveza y aqui vamos... tequila, más tequila, un 'New Mix' que alguien olvido, más tequila puro. Todos saben ahora que soy un borrachales pero igual hablan conmigo como si nada. Le digo a Blanca que los fantasmas del río le hablan y entiende el mensaje, nos encontramos ahí y me disculpo si le dije algo que no debía, le digo que me gusto su beso y nos quedamos en 'veremos', le va a pedir mi número a alguien y tal vez me llame algún día -después supe que tiene novio y que por eso se confundió con mi flirteo y me vale-.

Adios. Fatima se despide de mi dos veces y le pido su número, me siento mal porque no quiero que piense que la acosaré pero ni modo, me gusta y tal vez lo haga. Se acaba el pedo, en el camino 'me le pego como chivo' a una botella de 'Jimador' y no paro hasta que se acaba, me sorprendo por mi resistencia.

Recapitulando me la pasé bien chingOn.

Una preguntita nippiXers: ¿A la flaca o a la pecosa, o a las dos?

----------------------------------------------------------

My toqueteer life

y Síganme los buenos!

Oh, Santa Madre del Redentor de Fátima;
que por amor al mundo, os aparecisteis
a tres sencillos pastorcillos y sintiendo
aquellos tu insondable amor; testigos
fueron del triste final que espera, a los
impíos, que; sin Dios, sin Jesús y sin
vos; creen vivir entera y total felicidad.

Rogad; Señora mía, por toda esta vuestra
humanidad, para que no transite más,
por los caminos de oscuridad y vos; con
vuestra perfecta arma: El Rosario Santo,
dobleguéis al maligno e instaurad la paz,
no ofendiendo más; al Dios de la vida.

© 2008 by Luis Ernesto Chacón Delgado

.

Este poema oración, me lo ha mandado Luis Ernesto (ver su blog Bitácora del Alma) como comentario a mi post sobre el 13 de mayo. Creo, por el autor y la destinataria, que se merece mejor sitio que un comentario y, con su permiso -no se lo he pedido expresamente pero entiendo que no le parecerá mal- y dándole las gracias por enviarmelo, lo coloco, encantado, aquí.

Nos vemos.

There's one tiny thing that I did find a little convincing. I've already said how it's pointless trying to compare evidence for the gospels with evidence for secular documents, because they deal with very different issues, but one thing that was repeatedly said was that if the gospels weren't true and Jesus genuinely hadn't risen from the dead, then the apostles and the early Christians wouldn't have claimed so for the rest of their lives, leading them eventually to rather gruesome deaths at the hands of the Romans. This was a problem for me whilst reading; I could dismiss a lot of the other things, but this kind of stuck. So I've thought about it myself, I've been reading around a little bit, and I think I'm past it.

The review I linked to above has a section on this assertion (the first part of "The Circumstantial Evidence", near the bottom, page 246), which makes the assertion that plenty of people have died for their faith in the past, Mormons and Muslims for example, which doesn't prove that what they're saying is true. This only partly answers my problem. The objection in the text is that although plenty of people have died for something they believe is true, none would die for something they know is false, which if Christ didn't rise from the dead, the disciples would know, since they were the witnesses of it.

Since finishing this book I've started on 'The Portable Atheist', a collection of exerpts by various authors, put together by Christopher Hitchens. There are a number of chapters by or about David Hume, the famous Edinburgh philosopher, which half addresses this problem. Hume says that miracles are miracles because they go against the human experience, they're not what we normally see. This amounts to as great a proof as any human experience can provide. Therefore, if there is human testimony which supports the occurrence of a miracle, you have to weigh that testimony against your own, subtract the difference of strength between them, and then you will naturally incline on the stronger side, albeit with a diminution of certainty.

He goes on to state that "no testimony is sufficient to establish a miracle, unless the testimony be of such a kind, that its falsehood would be more miraculous than the fact, which it endeavours to establish: And even in that case there is a mutual destruction of arguments, and the superior only gives us an assurance suitable to that degree of force, which remains, after deducting the inferior." In simpler terms, is it more likely that the testimony come from someone who was deceived, or trying to deceive, or is it more likely that it's true and the miracle took place? I think that in all cases I can think of, it's more likely to be untrue.

Even the miracle of the sun at Fatima, where 70,000 people were reported to have seen the sun move and dive down towards the earth, can be explained using this logic, as Richard Dawkins writes in Unweaving the Rainbow. Would it be more likely that these 70,000 people were deceived into thinking the sun moved, or that the rest of the world were deceived into thinking it didn't move whilst it actually did? That the people wouldn't have been burnt up by the sun? That the physical effects of the sun's nearness would be felt by the whole planet and would likely still be measurable? (In reality apparently there is some inconsistency in the reports of the crowd; Wikipedia says that some saw it dive down whilst others saw it zigzag. There are also no photographs of the event, despite photographers and reporters being in the crowd.)

The following is an examination of fifteen of the most often used arguments by Roman Catholic adherents in their defense of their near deification of Mary, (along with a brief response to each argument). Each of the pictures in this post can be clicked on to enlarge.

Argument 1). Mary was blessed among women: FACT

Mary was blessed, however, so is every Believer. To make the leap that because Mary was blessed she should receive the adoration/veneration/worship that she’s given is not Scripturally logical. In fact, Scripture records the way Jesus handled the first attempt to elevate Mary's status. In Luke 11:27-28 a woman in the crowd tried to draw attention away from Christ and to Mary (what the RCC has perfected) but Jesus corrected her saying, "On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God and obey it. “ (Luke 11:27-28). Also, Mary wasn't/isn't the only person blessed. See the Sermon on the Mount for a list of others who are "blessed" (Matthew 5:3-11).

Argument 2). Mary is worthy of/deserves our adoration and veneration: FICTION

No human is worthy of any amount of veneration or worship because we are all sinners (Psalm 14:3, Romans 3:23); we are to worship God and serve Him only (Matthew 4:10); and God will not give His Glory to another (Isaiah 42:8, 48:11).

Argument 3). It is permissible and acceptable to pray to Mary: FICTION

Mary was a human being and suffered the wages of sin--death (Romans 6:23) like everyone else. Scripture prohibits contacting, seeking out, consulting, and/or praying to the dead (Deuteronomy 18:11). It is called necromancy and it detestable to God (Deuteronomy 18:9, 12). Additionally, spiritists, sorcerers, and mediums (who seek to contact the dead) are also condemned by God

Argument 4). By bowing down and praying to Mary, Catholics are not worshipping her, just venerating her. In fact it is also permissible to make statues of her and bow down to them too: FICTION

The "veneration" and bowing down to statues is forbidden. It does not matter what you want to call something to make it more palatable, what matters is what God calls it. We can trivialize sin all day long (humans do it all the time) but God has made His commands very clear. I urge you to review all the pictures in this post (click on them to enlarge) and compare what you see—not with what you think and feel—but with what has been revealed in God’s eternal Word. I recommend starting with the 1^st and 2^nd Commandments found in Exodus 20:4-5.

Argument 5). Mary pleads our case to Jesus who would listen to His mother above us: FICTION

This same Jesus that supposedly obeys Mary’s petitions is the same Jesus who when told by Mary that "they have no wine" replied, “Woman, what does that have to do with us?" (John 2:3-4). She then tells the servants to do whatever Jesus commands.

The Scriptures paint an entirely different picture of the Jesus that supposedly can’t understand us mere humans, thus requiring Mary's petitions. Hebrews 2:17-18 shows us of a merciful Christ who—being made like man—is able to the come to our aid because He too experienced the same temptations we do. Furthermore, it is Jesus who is our advocate with the Father (1 John 2:1-2), not Mary.

Argument 6). Mary is our Mediatrix, our co-redeemer with Jesus: FICTION

This RCC concept didn’t even emerge until the proclamation from Pope Benedict XV in 1922. But the date of its introduction matters little in contrast to how utterly blasphemous it is to even suggest this, let alone teach as if it’s the truth of God. This idea is in direct violation of God’s Word; Jesus is our advocate (1 John 2:1-2) and “there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus . . .” (1 Timothy 2:5) not Mary.

Argument 7). Mary was conceived without sin: FICTION

The idea of the “Immaculate Conception” proclaimed by Pope Pius IX in 1854 has absolutely no foundation in the Scriptures. Even King David (a man after God’s own heart) proclaimed that He was conceived in sin and he was brought forth with iniquity (Psalm 51:5) just like every person ever born.

Argument 8). Mary remained sinless her entire life: FICTION

Those who say they have no sin are liars (1 John 1:8); no one does good, not even one (Psalm 14:3); each of us has turned to our own way (Isaiah 53:6); all have sinned (Romans 3:23). This includes Mary. There’s nothing found in Scripture to suggest otherwise. Anyone who claims Mary was sinless is basing this off of their opinion grounded in the purely mythical tradition of man.

Mary proved she was like everyone else (a sinner) when she brought her offering to the temple (Luke 2:24). This was a sin offering that Mary would not have been required to bring had she been sinless (Leviticus 5:11, 12:8). Mary also acknowledged that God was her Savior (Luke 1:47). A sinless person does not need a savior.

Argument 9). Mary remained a virgin her whole life (perpetual virginity): FICTION

This is not only beyond reason, but it is contradictory to the revealed Word of God, the holy Scriptures. Joseph kept Mary a virgin until Jesus was born (Matthew 1:24-25). This means that after the birth of Jesus, Joseph no longer kept Mary a virgin. Mary and Joseph had other children, the half-brothers and half-sisters of the Messiah. This can be seen in Matthew 12:46-50, Matthew 13:55-57, Mark 6:3-4, John 2:12, John 7:3, 5, 10, Acts 1:14, 1 Corinthians 9:5, and Galatians 1:19. (Before you say, "This was brothers and sisters in the Lord" I suggest you read the context of these passages.)

Additionally, Mary withholding sex from Joseph would have not been in accordance with God's plans for mankind: "Be fruitful and multiply . . ." (Genesis 1:28); “Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control” (1 Corinthians 7:5).

Argument 10). Mary ascended into Heaven: FICTION

The assumption of Mary into Heaven wasn’t even introduced into the RCC until 1950 by then Pope Pius XII, and there is absolutely no Scriptural support for this, not even a hint of it in Scripture.

Argument 11). Mary was the greatest among all born evidenced by the fact that she was “chosen” by God to birth the Messiah: FICTION

If anyone was the greatest ever born it would have been John the Baptist, not Mary. Why? Because Jesus said so. Jesus declared of John the Baptist that of those born among women there is no one greater than John (Luke 7:28). Following the logic of the RCC which drives their adoration/veneration/worship of Mary, one would expect that their devotion to Mary would only be eclipsed by their devotion to John the Baptist, however, this is not the case.

Furthermore, the emphasis put on Mary by the RCC is grossly out of proportion to the emphasis she receives from the Bible. Mary--the earthly mother of Jesus-- is never mentioned again in the Bible after Acts 1:14. This means that of the 27 books of the New Testament, only five of them (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts) contain any reference to Mary. Not what one would expect when one looks at the current deification of her by the RCC. Even when one would expect to find her name among those mentioned in Hebrews 11, (commonly known as the great Hall of Faith), Mary and any reference to her is strangely absent.

Argument 12). Mary is the Queen of Heaven: FICTION

There is no Queen of Heaven. In fact, the only mention in Scripture of a “Queen of Heaven” (a false god) is in Jeremiah 7:18 in which those who are making cakes to her (and those pouring out drink offerings to other gods) will have the wrath of God poured out on them (Jeremiah 7:20).

Argument 13). Marian Apparitions are genuine and legitimate: FICTION

Again, no such teaching, example or precedent for this is found in the Scriptures. However, we are told "Marvel not, for even Satan can disguise himself as an angel of light" (2 Corinthians 11:14).

Argument 14). Marian apparition messages are true and from God: FICTION

"You will never be alone. My immaculate heart will be your refuge and the way which will lead you to God." - Mary Apparition in Fatima

"I alone am able to save you from the calamities that approach. Those who place their confidence in me will be saved." - Mary Apparition in Akita

"You have seen hell where the souls of poor sinners go. To save them, God wishes to establish in the world devotion to my immaculate heart. If what I say to you is done, many souls will be saved and there will be peace." - Mary Apparition in Fatima

". . . I call upon you to open yourselves completely to me so that through each of you I may be enabled to convert and save the world . . ." - Mary Apparition in Medjugorje

The messages of this entity claiming to be Mary ultimately lead people’s attention away from Christ and to herself (itself), not Christ. The Apostle Paul sought to know nothing but Christ and Him crucified (1 Corinthians 2:2). Furthermore, the Apostle Paul warned us that if anyone, even an angel from Heaven, preached a gospel contrary to what was already preached, he/she/it is to be cursed (Galatians 1:6-9).

Argument 15). Roman Catholic Church (RCC) tradition has provided us the doctrines on Mary: FACT

This is true. The RCC consisting of sinful, fallible, fallen human beings has given the world these traditions of men, but the holy revealed Word of God—given to the prophets by inspiration and by which will never pass away—does not support these legends, myths, and downright heretical false doctrines.

Conclusion:

As noted above, Mary is never spoken of in the history of the Church or the letters (Epistles) to the Church (except in Acts 1:14 where a brief mention of her is made). No where in all the instruction of conduct, examples of operation, and direction given to the early church for its operation and function is Mary ever mentioned, yet today you couldn’t walk into a Roman Catholic Church without bumping into something to do with Mary, and you'd be hard-pressed to find a member of the RCC that would deny Mary as being a pivotal or important part of their life in the mother church. This devotion and near-deification of Mary is something you cannot find anywhere in the early Church. The silence of the Scriptures alone speaks volumes against the RCC’s current obsession with Mary.

"For there is one God, and one mediator also

between God and men, the man Christ Jesus . . ."

1 Timothy 2:5

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

See the following related posts:

Conversations with a nun in the unlikeliest of places

Mary-Virgin, Virtuous, not to be Vaulted above her position

Roman Catholic apologist has trouble explaining the "Immaculate Conception" when students interject Scripture

Was the Apostle Peter the first pope?

The written Word of God and Roman Catholicism

Unmasking the pope and the Roman Catholic system

There have been requests to clarify the facts of the Fatima message. Did the Pope and Bishops really consecrate Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary? Was the entire third part of the Fatima Secret as written by Sister Lucia revealed by the

Vatican in 2000 AD? What actually happened at Fatima during the 3 apparitions of the Angel - and the 6 apparitions of Our Blessed Mother? What happened to Sr. Lucia after she entered the Convent of the Dorothean Nuns and the Carmelites? Did she have more apparitions after entering the Convent? What are FIRST

SATURDAYS about? WHAT IS THE COLLEGIAL CONSECRATION requested by Our Lady of Fatima?????

Christian Family Outreach is sending tens of thousands of pamphlets on various subjects free of charge

"What I recommend to you above all else is that you get close to the tabernacle and pray. In this you will find the light, the strength, and the grace that you can pass on to others. . . . For this reason they need more and more to pray . . . . Let time be lacking for everything else but never for prayer and you will experience the fact that after prayer you will accomplish a lot in a short period of time" ( p. 317-318)

Lúcia de Jesus Rosa Santos – Sister Lúcia of Jesus and of the Immaculate Heart, better known as Sister Lúcia of Jesus and was a Portuguese visionary and Roman Catholic Discalced Carmelite nun. She was one of the three children who experienced a series of apparitions of the Virgin Mary in Fátima, Portugal in 1917.

Lucia de Jesus dos Santos was born in Aljustrel, a village in the parish of Fátima, Portugal. Her parents were Antonio and Maria Rosa dos Santos. She was the youngest of seven children, six girls and a boy. By 8 she was occupied with the tending of the family's sheep, accompanied by other boys and girls of the village.

It was while in the company of her cousins, Jacinta and Francisco Marto, that the first heavenly apparition occurred, that of the Angel of Portugal, come to prepare the young trio for their mission and for an even greater visitor.

On May 13, 1917, when Lucia was 10 years old and while tending the sheep in the Cova de Iria, a woman, who later identified herself as the Blessed Virgin Mary, appeared to the children. The apparition would continue monthly on the 13th of the month until October 1917, excepts in August, when imprisonment by the anti-clerical authorities prevented it. During each month's apparition, the Virgin encouraged prayer, especially the rosary, and sacrifice. She also communicated certain prophecies of the future (the end of World War I, the rise of error in Russia (communism) and its propagation throughout the world, the annihilation of nations, another war preceded by a heavenly sign if men did not convert, and the suffering and persecution of the good, especially the Holy Father). On Oct. 13, 1930, the bishop of Leiria-Fátima, José Alves Correia da Silva, declared the apparitions of Fátima worthy of credibility and allowed public devotion to the Virgin under the title of Our Lady of the Rosary of Fátima.

This book of The Intimate Life of Sister Lucia will stir the hearts of many with new documents on Sister Lucia. Never, ever before, in the 2000 year history of the Church has God required a humble Sister, with little formal education, to call the Pope and the Bishops of the World to an action which would change the direction of the world. Such was the misson given Lucia, one of the little shepherds of Fatima. What has the intimate life of Lucia of Fatima been like these long decades since? Fr. Martins, who in 1973 first gave us the Memoirs and Letters of Sr. Lucia in Portuguese, French and English, now gives us, through the Fatima Family Apostolate, documents which have waited until the Third Millenium before they could be published.

I feel sad that many have lost their lives for unclear reasons. But I can’t help but think of ‘Fatima’ every time I hear Sgt Sarah Bryant mentioned in the news. I am wondering if people will remember Fatima the way Sarah Bryant will be remembered. I don’t even know Fatima’s surname. But her story left a mark on me and as I feel there is prejudice in the way the world mourns the death of some whilst easily forgets others, I'm dedicating this article in memory of Fatima and the other nameless women in Abu Ghuraib.For those who didn’t come across Fatma’s story (as it didn’t receive the same level of coverage that Sarah Bryant will get), Fatima was a prisoner in Iraq. She was imprisoned by the coalition forces because her brother was one of the resistant fighters, trying to resist occupation. She wrote a letter to the resistant fighters, and it was published by Al-Jazeera. She died in prison shortly after. Here is part of her letter:

… I say to you: our wombs have been filled with the children of fornication by those sons of apes and pigs who raped us. Or I could tell you that they have defaced our bodies, spit in our faces, and tore up the little copies of the Qur’an that hung around our necks?
….By God, we have not passed one night since we have been in prison without one of the apes and pigs jumping down upon us to rip our bodies apart with his overweening lust. Kill us along with them! Destroy us along with them! Don’t leave us here to let them get pleasure from raping us
….Leave their tanks and aircraft outside. Come at us here in the prison of Abu Ghurayb.They raped me on one day more than nine times. Can you comprehend? Imagine one of your sisters being raped. Why can’t you all imagine it, as I am your sister. With me are 13 girls, all unmarried. All have been raped before the eyes and ears of everyone. They took our clothes and won’t let us get dressed. As I write this letter one of the girls has committed suicide. She was savagely raped. A soldier hit her on her chest and thigh after raping her. He subjected her to unbelievable torture. She beat her head against the wall of the cell until she died, for she couldn’t take any more.Brothers, I tell you again, fear God! Kill us with them so that we might be at peace. Help! Help! Help!

I know we can’t hear about every death every time but I can’t help but notice the bias in reporting deaths of westerners compared to the deaths of others. I know that British media will inevitably cover British casualties with more detail than the deaths of other nationals (except the 9-11 victims of course), but where is the media that reports on the numerous Muslim casualties that occur on a daily basis? Why is it that we hardly hear from the families of these victims? This letter is something of a rarity, but cases like this exist across the world. Western victims like Sarah Bryant make headlines and stories. Muslim victims are just numbers. Surely all human life is equally valuable. Why the disproportionate concern?

Perhaps I can say this because I’m not a Briton. If I was a British citizen I’d probably be expected to show greater concern fro British casualties than others or be given the option to 'go back where I came from'. I still don’t understand why though.

Fátima (Portugal), 11/06/2008 .- Al conmemorarse el primer centenario del nacimiento del Beato Francisco Marto, a quien Nuestra Señora de Fátima se apareció en 1917, nada mejor que recordar sus virtudes, que el Papa Juan Pablo II supo sintetizar admirablemente en una breve frase durante la homilía en la misa de beatificación de los pastorcitos: "todo le parecía poco para consolar a Jesús". La descripción de la vida y de las heroicas virtudes del pequeño vidente de Fátima son también una invitación, no sólo a los niños, sino a todos los cristianos, a seguir las vías de la santidad: Por designio divino, "una mujer vestida del sol" (Ap 12, 1) vino del Cielo a esta tierra en búsqueda de los pequeños privilegiados del Padre. Les habla con voz y corazón de madre: los invita a ofrecerse como víctimas de reparación, mostrándose dispuesta a guiarlos con seguridad hasta Dios. Entonces, de sus manos maternas salió una luz que los penetró íntimamente, y se sintieron sumergidos en Dios, como cuando una persona -explican ellos- se contempla en un espejo.

Más tarde, Francisco, uno de los tres privilegiados, explicaba: "Estábamos ardiendo en esa luz que es Dios y no nos quemábamos. ¿Cómo es Dios? No se puede decir. Esto sí que la gente no puede decirlo". Dios: una luz que arde, pero no quema. Moisés tuvo esa misma sensación cuando vio a Dios en la zarza ardiente; allí oyó a Dios hablar, preocupado por la esclavitud de su pueblo y decidido a liberarlo por medio de él: "Yo estaré contigo" (cf. Ex 3, 2-12). Cuantos acogen esta presencia se convierten en morada y, por consiguiente, en "zarza ardiente" del Altísimo.

Lo que más impresionaba y absorbía al beato Francisco era Dios en esa luz inmensa que había penetrado en lo más íntimo de los tres. Además sólo a él Dios se dio a conocer "muy triste", como decía. Una noche, su padre lo oyó sollozar y le preguntó por qué lloraba; el hijo le respondió: "Pensaba en Jesús, que está muy triste a causa de los pecados que se cometen contra él". Vive movido por el único deseo -que expresa muy bien el modo de pensar de los niños- de "consolar y dar alegría a Jesús".

En su vida se produce una transformación que podríamos llamar radical; una transformación ciertamente no común en los niños de su edad. Se entrega a una vida espiritual intensa, que se traduce en una oración asidua y ferviente y llega a una verdadera forma de unión mística con el Señor. Esto mismo lo lleva a una progresiva purificación del espíritu, a través de la renuncia a los propios gustos e incluso a los juegos inocentes de los niños. Soportó los grandes sufrimientos de la enfermedad que lo llevó a la muerte, sin quejarse nunca. Todo le parecía poco para consolar a Jesús; murió con una sonrisa en los labios. En el pequeño Francisco era grande el deseo de reparar las ofensas de los pecadores, esforzándose por ser bueno y ofreciendo sacrificios y oraciones (Juan Pablo II, homilía de 13/5/2000).