tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-122224592024-03-18T09:48:24.854+00:00Vexen Crabtree's Blog: Human Advancement<a href="http://www.vexen.co.uk/index.html">www.vexen.co.uk</a>, <a href="http://vexen.livejournal.com">Vexen's Live Journal</a>, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/p/Vexen_Crabtree/810145437">Facebook: Vexen Crabtree</a>, <a href="http://vexen.insanejournal.com">Vexen's InsaneJournal</a>, <a href="http://www.perfspot.com/19327420">Vexen on Perfspot</a>, <a href="http://vexen.blogspot.com">vexen.blogspot</a>, <a href="http://www.blurty.com/users/vexen">Vexen's Blurty</a>Vexen Crabtreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12965774121518639846noreply@blogger.comBlogger72125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12222459.post-85064058701804100702024-01-03T23:56:00.001+00:002024-01-03T23:56:29.213+00:00Religion in PakistanNew page: <a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/pakistan.html">"<i>Religion in Pakistan</i>" by Vexen Crabtree</a>. A place that is extremely intolerant of religious beliefs that aren't Sunni Islam, with women, LGBT folk and minorities facing long-term violent and inhumane persecution.<p>The contents menu is:</p><ol class="Menu"><li><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/pakistan.html#tables">Adherents and Beliefs</a></li><li><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/pakistan.html#OU1696">Religion is the Overall Cause of Human Rights Problems in Pakistan</a></li><li><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/pakistan.html#Violence">Religious Violence, Politics and Instability</a></li><li><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/pakistan.html#OU1854">Blasphemy</a></li><li><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/pakistan.html#OU1843">Religious Conflicts Between Pakistan and India</a></li></ol>Vexen Crabtreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12965774121518639846noreply@blogger.com0Dorfstraße 7, 41238 Mönchengladbach, Germany51.1499253 6.45708851.147233268912615 6.4527964655761716 51.152617331087384 6.4613795344238278tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12222459.post-19342574263198936632024-01-01T10:53:00.002+00:002024-01-01T10:53:36.900+00:00Moving Onwards to 2024<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8_vg2dkoriedvuAqO3l8NAZ2PWm63Pf5LF1NM7TKFQijkW56NAyQ7orSLvGUYT2Ao21qa19LYSHDEAaWWp3p0bDEOkGr2PVJ0FJkAiv_zoNp7RkGyWbckJc87SbGm5ZynlSbGhs7hpwkBSKzvdfOkuWqWOcwplhUVt1mgdG5LGofLj6d15Wdz5A/s481/2024%20HTF%20.8.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="359" data-original-width="481" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8_vg2dkoriedvuAqO3l8NAZ2PWm63Pf5LF1NM7TKFQijkW56NAyQ7orSLvGUYT2Ao21qa19LYSHDEAaWWp3p0bDEOkGr2PVJ0FJkAiv_zoNp7RkGyWbckJc87SbGm5ZynlSbGhs7hpwkBSKzvdfOkuWqWOcwplhUVt1mgdG5LGofLj6d15Wdz5A/s320/2024%20HTF%20.8.png"/></a></div>
<p>In 2024, I'll continue to use this profile to post religion-related content associated with my websites and the Human Truth Foundation. For my main profiles, check out:</p>
<ul>
<li><p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/HumanTruthFoundationHTF/">www.facebook.com/HumanTruthFoundationHTF/ for politics, international commentary, social psychology and world events</a>.</p></li>
<li><p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/VexenCrabtree">www.facebook.com/VexenCrabtree for comparative religion, critical thinking and UK-based news</a>.</p></li>
<li><p><a href="https://twitter.com/Vexen_Crabtree">twitter.com/Vexen_Crabtree for a full news feed (albeit... very brief!)</a>.</p></li>
<li><p><a href="https://vexen.livejournal.com/">vexen.livejournal.com/ purely for new-page announcements</a>.</p></li>
<li><p><a href="https://vexen.blogspot.com/">vexen.blogspot.com/ for religion-based content.</p></li>
</ul>
<p>And finally, used occasionally for content that has an associated image:</p>
<ul>
<li><p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/vexen_crabtree/">www.flickr.com/photos/vexen_crabtree/</a> for informational content and more personal (but still public) photos.</p></li>
<li><p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/">www.instagram.com/</a> for informational content.</p></li>
</ul>
Vexen Crabtreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12965774121518639846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12222459.post-76334542958541359312023-12-31T12:53:00.002+00:002023-12-31T12:53:08.639+00:00Blasphemy in PakistanA new page! <a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/pakistan_blasphemy.html">Pakistan's blasphemy laws are infamously strict and unjust, tied to the country's overall culture of intolerance and prejudice, and result in a constant stream of murders, violent attacks and mob violence against anyone accused of saying the wrong religious things</a>. Knowing that the consequences can be life-destroying even when the claims are false, accusations are often made against competitors during feuds or to resolve grudges. Such is the temper in a country that is being dragged backwards into a barbarous theocracy by religionists, amidst a wave of fear. The concept of blasphemy is their primary weapon.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/pakistan_blasphemy.html">"<i>Blasphemy in Pakistan</i>" by Vexen Crabtree</a><p>The contents menu is:</p><ol class="Menu"><li><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/pakistan_blasphemy.html#OU1696">Pakistan Has No Freedom of Belief Nor Religious Freedom of Expression</a></li><li><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/pakistan_blasphemy.html#Law">The Blasphemy Laws</a></li><li><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/pakistan_blasphemy.html#Cases">Cases</a><ol><li style="list-style-type:none"><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/pakistan_blasphemy.html#HRW2017">2017 - Human Rights Watch Highlighted Cases</a></li><li style="list-style-type:none"><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/pakistan_blasphemy.html#TaseerAndBibi">2010 - Asia Bibi, Salman Taseer and Shabaz Bhatti</a></li></ol></li></ol>Vexen Crabtreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12965774121518639846noreply@blogger.com0Berlin, Germany52.520006599999988 13.40495424.209772763821142 -21.751296 80.830240436178826 48.561204000000004tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12222459.post-91191143540227262072023-10-10T00:08:00.004+01:002023-10-10T00:08:42.861+01:00A list of denominations of SatanismA new page! Satanic churches, divisions and sects. <a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/satanism_denominations.html">"<i>A List of Denominations of Satanism</i>"</a><p>The contents menu is:</p><ol class="Menu"><li><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/satanism_denominations.html#OU483">Types of Satanism</a></li><li><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/satanism_denominations.html#RE0235">Church of Satan (1966<abbr>CE</abbr>)</a></li><li><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/satanism_denominations.html#RE0240">Temple of Set (1975<abbr>CE</abbr>)</a></li><li><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/satanism_denominations.html#RE0239">Order of Nine Angels (1980s)</a></li><li><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/satanism_denominations.html#RE0236">First Satanic Church (1999<abbr>CE</abbr>)</a></li><li><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/satanism_denominations.html#RE0241">Joy of Satan (2002<abbr>CE</abbr>)</a></li><li><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/satanism_denominations.html#RE0237">The Satanic Temple (2013<abbr>CE</abbr>)</a></li><li><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/satanism_denominations.html#Local">Local and National Variations</a></li><li><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/satanism_denominations.html#DD">Defunct Denominations (Church of Satanic Brotherhood, Ordo Templi Satanis) </a></li></ol>Vexen Crabtreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12965774121518639846noreply@blogger.com0Brisbane QLD, Australia-27.4704528 153.0260341-55.780686636178842 117.8697841 0.83978103617884514 -171.8177159tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12222459.post-55190272856272759312023-09-30T18:13:00.001+01:002023-09-30T18:13:25.289+01:00An introduction to the biblical book of Jonah<a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/jonah.html">An introduction to the biblical book of Jonah</a>.
<p>God punishes Jonah with a storm and has a monstrous fish eat him, until he relents and preaches to the city of Nineveh that it will be destroyed. He didn't want to, because he didn't think it would be destroyed, and he didn't want to be a false prophet. After being bullied into it, God changes his mind, and doesn't destroy Nineveh.</p>
<p>The teachings in the Book of Jonah are that God punishes those who are disobedient and rewards those who are obedient, and if you murder someone at sea then all is well as long as you fear God. Also, if you are in an unequal relationship, it is best to simply do as you are told, else, things will only end up harder for you. It's not the Bible's finest moment.</p>
<p>Historically, the book lacks legitimacy. Nineveh was the capital of the great Assyrian empire and at no point did the events of Jonah 3:5-10 actually occur - not a single trader, traveller, statesman or historian note that the entire population suddenly gave up its old ways and embraced a new religion.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/jonah.html">http://www.humanreligions.info/jonah.html</a>.</p>
Vexen Crabtreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12965774121518639846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12222459.post-24988361212840171352023-09-24T10:01:00.001+01:002023-09-24T10:01:24.814+01:00Religious Days and Festivals in October<a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/october.html">A list of religious days and festivals in October - days for the seasons, various saints and gurus, celebrations and finally, samhain / halloween</a>, on <a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/october.html">www.humanreligions.info/october.html</a>.Vexen Crabtreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12965774121518639846noreply@blogger.com0Taipei City, Taiwan25.0329636 121.5654268-3.2772702361788468 86.4091768 53.343197436178841 156.7216768tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12222459.post-12986815709268039912023-09-20T19:13:00.005+01:002023-09-20T19:13:50.951+01:00The Food Chain and God: The Natural Evil of the WorldA new page! <a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/food_life_death.html">"<i>The Food Chain and God</i>"</a>.
<p>A good god could, if it wanted to, have designed all life so that it is directly sustained by manna from heaven, with no need for consumption of biological matter. But almost every form of life must by its very nature capture, kill and eat other living beings in order to survive. Without this murderous torment, life is impossible. If not by direct consumption, then, organisms must still acquire biological matter at the expense of others: the competition for food is also a case of living beings being required to outdo each other merely to survive. There is no way to live life along a principal of do no harm.
<p>If life was created, and not simply the result of undirected unconscious evolution, this is surely the worst possible way to have created life. A god could not have created a more vicious cycle if it tried: tying the very existence of life with the necessary killing of other life is the work of an evil genius, not of an all-powerful and all-loving god. Either no god ever instigated life or guided it, or, such a god is monstrously evil.
<p>The contents menu is:</p><ol class="Menu"><li><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/food_life_death.html#Poisons">The Arms Race: Poisons and Resistance</a></li><li><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/food_life_death.html#Darwin">The Despair of Darwin</a></li><li><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/food_life_death.html#Innocence">Non-Biological Energy and Balance</a></li></ol>Vexen Crabtreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12965774121518639846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12222459.post-5461120922753422592023-09-15T21:11:00.007+01:002023-09-15T21:11:47.073+01:00What is Fundamentalism?<a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/what_is_fundamentalism.html">Fundamentalism is the approach to religion that sees believers embrace an early form of their religion</a>, to consider it beyond criticism and worthy enough to be enforced without having to accommodate modern evidence or logical arguments against it. Fundamentalists of text-based traditions treat a core holy text as infallible and inerrant. Because beliefs are given absolute importance, fundamentalism is often sectarian and intolerant: every doctrinal interpretation results in schism and division.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/what_is_fundamentalism.html">http://www.humanreligions.info/what_is_fundamentalism.html</a>.</p>Vexen Crabtreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12965774121518639846noreply@blogger.com0Manila, Metro Manila, Philippines14.5995124 120.9842195-13.710721436178845 85.8279695 42.909746236178847 156.1404695tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12222459.post-79719594446065898772023-08-21T09:30:00.007+01:002023-08-21T09:30:00.143+01:00Prayer: Shouldn't Theists Trust the Plan?<p>I've updated the introduction paragraph to <a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/prayer_is_ungodly.html"><i>Prayer is Ungodly</i></a>:
<p>Of all the many courses of action or inaction, <a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/god_is_perfect.html">a perfect God always picks the best one</a>. This appears to makes prayers ineffectual. <a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/prayer_is_ungodly.html">If one prays for a friend to miraculously recover from an inoperable brain disease, what will happen</a>? <a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/prayer_is_ungodly.html">The prayer cannot make a difference, because, God has already picked the best course of action</a>. If the prayer is successful, it's because God was already going to move that way. If it was unsuccessful, then, God has a better plan. <a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/prayer_is_ungodly.html">To pray for God to act is to doubt that God already knows best</a>.
<p>There's a more dramatic 2nd paragraph.</p>
<ol class="Menu"><li><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/prayer_is_ungodly.html#D">Deliberations from the 18th Century</a></li><li><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/prayer_is_ungodly.html#C">The Christian Bible (1 John 5:14)</a></li><li><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/prayer_is_ungodly.html#Magic">Praying is Magic</a></li><li><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/prayer_is_ungodly.html#Satanism">Satanism</a></li></ol>Vexen Crabtreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12965774121518639846noreply@blogger.com0Kitasaiwai, Nishi Ward, Yokohama, Kanagawa 220-0004, Japan35.4668919 139.61652227.1566580638211548 104.46027219999999 63.777125736178846 174.7727722tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12222459.post-80156498093409441582023-08-15T11:13:00.007+01:002023-08-15T11:13:55.077+01:00The Book of Job<p>I've shortened the introduction to the Book of Job and added a section on dating & authorship. The contents menu of <a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/job.html">The Book of Job</a> is now:
<ol class="Menu"><li><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/job.html#AaS">Authorship and Structure <!--VCCM_NewImg--></a></li><li><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/job.html#OU0439">God Testing People in The Bible</a></li><li><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/job.html#OU0390">God as the Author of Evil: Are Satan and God Interchangeable?</a></li><li><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/job.html#HBContents">The 42 chapters of Job (1070 verses)</a><ol><li style="list-style-type:none"><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/job.html#Job 1">Job 1 (22 verses) - Job was blameless. The LORD allowed Satan to test him. Job's servants and children were killed. He tore his robes and worshipped.</a></li><li style="list-style-type:none"><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/job.html#Job 2">Job 2 (13 verses) - Satan & LORD discuss Job; Satan gives Job skin disease; Job's wife discourages Job; Job stays faithful; Job's friends visit him</a></li><li style="list-style-type:none"><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/job.html#Job 3">Job 3 (26 verses)</a></li><li style="list-style-type:none"><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/job.html#Job 4">Job 4 (21 verses) - Eliphaz said, "Will you become impatient? When did the innocent ever perish? I heard a voice: 'Can a man be more righteous than God?'"</a></li><li style="list-style-type:none"><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/job.html#Job 5">Job 5 (27 verses) - "Who will answer you? Man is born to trouble. As for me, I would seek God. Do not despise his discipline. He wounds, but he binds up."</a></li><li style="list-style-type:none"><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/job.html#Job 6">Job 6 (30 verses) - Job said, "My misery would outweigh the sand of the seas! You have proved no help. Show me how I have been wrong! Would I lie to you?"</a></li><li style="list-style-type:none"><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/job.html#Job 7">Job 7 (21 verses)</a></li><li style="list-style-type:none"><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/job.html#Job 8">Job 8 (22 verses) - Bildad speaks to Job: Job & children must have sinned to cause Job's trouble; tells Job to turn to God; talks about evil people</a></li><li style="list-style-type:none"><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/job.html#Job 9">Job 9 (35 verses)</a></li><li style="list-style-type:none"><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/job.html#Job 10">Job 10 (22 verses)</a></li><li style="list-style-type:none"><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/job.html#Job 11">Job 11 (20 verses) - Zophar said, "Should your babble go unanswered? God exacts less than your guilt deserves! Reach out to him and you will find hope."</a></li><li style="list-style-type:none"><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/job.html#Job 12">Job 12 (25 verses)</a></li><li style="list-style-type:none"><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/job.html#Job 13">Job 13 (28 verses) - "I want to argue my case with God. Be quiet and I will speak. Though he slay me, I will hope in him. God, why do you hide your face?"</a></li><li style="list-style-type:none"><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/job.html#Job 14">Job 14 (22 verses)</a></li><li style="list-style-type:none"><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/job.html#Job 15">Job 15 (35 verses) - Eliphaz said, "Your own mouth condemns you! Why do you turn against God? The wicked will be like a vine stripped of unripe grapes."</a></li><li style="list-style-type:none"><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/job.html#Job 16">Job 16 (22 verses)</a></li><li style="list-style-type:none"><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/job.html#Job 17">Job 17 (16 verses) - Job is desolate. All is woe.</a></li><li style="list-style-type:none"><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/job.html#Job 18">Job 18 (21 verses)</a></li><li style="list-style-type:none"><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/job.html#Job 19">Job 19 (29 verses)</a></li><li style="list-style-type:none"><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/job.html#Job 20">Job 20 (29 verses)</a></li><li style="list-style-type:none"><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/job.html#Job 21">Job 21 (34 verses)</a></li><li style="list-style-type:none"><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/job.html#Job 22">Job 22 (30 verses) - Eliphaz said, "Is not your wickedness great? You withheld bread from the hungry. Is not God high? Submit to him and be at peace."</a></li><li style="list-style-type:none"><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/job.html#Job 23">Job 23 (17 verses) - Job said, "If only I knew where to find God! When he has tested me, I shall come forth as gold. But he does whatever he pleases."</a></li><li style="list-style-type:none"><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/job.html#Job 24">Job 24 (25 verses) - "The wounded cry out, but God charges no one with wrong. Some rebel against the light; they are exalted a while, and then are gone."</a></li><li style="list-style-type:none"><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/job.html#Job 25">Job 25 (6 verses) - Bildad said, "Dominion and awe belong to God. Who can be righteous before him? Even the stars are not pure in his sight!"</a></li><li style="list-style-type:none"><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/job.html#Job 26">Job 26 (14 verses) - Job said, "How you have helped the weak! Sheol is naked to God. The pillars of heaven tremble. These are the fringes of his ways!"</a></li><li style="list-style-type:none"><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/job.html#Job 27">Job 27 (23 verses)</a></li><li style="list-style-type:none"><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/job.html#Job 28">Job 28 (28 verses)</a></li><li style="list-style-type:none"><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/job.html#Job 29">Job 29 (25 verses)</a></li><li style="list-style-type:none"><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/job.html#Job 30">Job 30 (31 verses)</a></li><li style="list-style-type:none"><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/job.html#Job 31">Job 31 (40 verses) - "Does God not see my ways? Have I lied? Have I refused to help the poor? Have I put my trust in money? Let the Almighty answer me!"</a></li><li style="list-style-type:none"><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/job.html#Job 32">Job 32 (22 verses)</a></li><li style="list-style-type:none"><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/job.html#Job 33">Job 33 (33 verses)</a></li><li style="list-style-type:none"><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/job.html#Job 34">Job 34 (37 verses) - "It is unthinkable that God would do wrong. Can one who hates justice govern? God shows no partiality. Job speaks like the wicked!"</a></li><li style="list-style-type:none"><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/job.html#Job 35">Job 35 (16 verses) - "Even if you are righteous, what do you give to God? He does not answer because of the pride of evil men. You must wait for him!"</a></li><li style="list-style-type:none"><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/job.html#Job 36">Job 36 (33 verses)</a></li><li style="list-style-type:none"><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/job.html#Job 37">Job 37 (24 verses) - "God thunders with his voice. By the breath of God, ice is made. Do you know his wondrous works? He is great in power and justice!"</a></li><li style="list-style-type:none"><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/job.html#Job 38">Job 38 (41 verses)</a></li><li style="list-style-type:none"><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/job.html#Job 39">Job 39 (30 verses) - "Do you mark when the deer is born? Will the wild ox serve you? Do you give the horse his might? Does the hawk fly by your wisdom?"</a></li><li style="list-style-type:none"><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/job.html#Job 40">Job 40 (24 verses) - Job said, "I have no answer." The LORD said, "Will you condemn me? Behold now, Behemoth, which I made. Can anyone pierce his nose?"</a></li><li style="list-style-type:none"><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/job.html#Job 41">Job 41 (34 verses) - "Can you catch Leviathan with a hook? Everything under heaven is mine. His breath sets coals ablaze. He is king over all the proud."</a></li><li style="list-style-type:none"><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/job.html#Job 42">Job 42 (17 verses)</a></li></ol></li></ol>Vexen Crabtreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12965774121518639846noreply@blogger.com0Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan35.4436739 139.63796397.1334400638211548 104.48171389999999 63.753907736178846 174.7942139tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12222459.post-36064588605463616162023-08-01T21:23:00.000+01:002023-08-01T21:23:00.375+01:00The Maldives<p>Over 1000 atolls (islands made from raised coral reefs); cultural and civic life has been ruined by strict Islam. A comparison of international statistics, concentrating on Social and Moral issues. The contents of <a href="http://www.humantruth.info/maldives.html">"<i>The Maldives (Republic of Maldives)</i>" by Vexen Crabtree</a> (2013) is:</p><ol class="Menu"><li><a href="http://www.humantruth.info/maldives.html#CIA_Intro">Overview</a></li><li><a href="http://www.humantruth.info/maldives.html#Development">Maldives National and Social Development</a></li><li><a href="http://www.humantruth.info/maldives.html#Set_Demographics">Maldives's Demographics and Migration</a></li><li><a href="http://www.humantruth.info/maldives.html#Set_HRET">Maldives's Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance</a></li><li><a href="http://www.humantruth.info/maldives.html#Set_Health">Maldives's Health</a></li><li><a href="http://www.humantruth.info/maldives.html#Set_Modernity">Maldives's Modernity and Learning</a></li><li><a href="http://www.humantruth.info/maldives.html#NationalCulture">National Culture</a></li><li><a href="http://www.humantruth.info/maldives.html#TheNaturalEnvironment">The Natural Environment</a></li><li><a href="http://www.humantruth.info/maldives.html#EconomicInequalityandPoverty">Economic Inequality and Poverty</a></li><li><a href="http://www.humantruth.info/maldives.html#Religion">Religion and Beliefs</a></li></ol>Vexen Crabtreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12965774121518639846noreply@blogger.com0Narita, Chiba, Japan35.7766588 140.3187418-14.066154871182313 70.0062418 85.61947247118232 -149.3687582tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12222459.post-671207359095745262023-07-22T04:15:00.001+01:002023-07-22T04:15:08.088+01:00Human Rights and Freedom in TaiwanA new page! <a href="http://www.humantruth.info/taiwan_human_rights_and_freedom.html">"<i>Human Rights and Freedom in Taiwan</i>"</a>. <a href="http://www.humantruth.info/taiwan_human_rights_and_freedom.html">Taiwan performs very well in ensuring human rights and freedom compared to most other countries</a>. <a href="http://www.humantruth.info/taiwan_human_rights_and_freedom.html">It does the best in the world at supporting freethought and better than average on supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms</a>, supporting press freedom (one of the best in Asia) and in LGBT equality. <a href="http://www.humantruth.info/taiwan_human_rights_and_freedom.html">In 2019, Taiwan became the first Asian country to legalise same-sex marriage</a>.</p>
<p>Statistics covered:</p><ol class="Menu"><li><a href="http://www.humantruth.info/taiwan_human_rights_and_freedom.html#Set_HRET">Taiwan's Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance</a></li><li><a href="http://www.humantruth.info/taiwan_human_rights_and_freedom.html#HumanRights&Tolerance">Human Rights & Tolerance Data Sets</a><ol><li><a href="http://www.humantruth.info/taiwan_human_rights_and_freedom.html#PersonalFreedom">Personal, Civil & Economic Freedom</a></li><li><a href="http://www.humantruth.info/taiwan_human_rights_and_freedom.html#PressFreedomIndex">Press Freedom</a></li><li><a href="http://www.humantruth.info/taiwan_human_rights_and_freedom.html#SlaveryRank">Slavery</a></li></ol></li><li><a href="http://www.humantruth.info/taiwan_human_rights_and_freedom.html#Prejudice">Prejudice Data Sets</a><ol><li><a href="http://www.humantruth.info/taiwan_human_rights_and_freedom.html#VexenLGBT">LGBT Equality</a></li><li><a href="http://www.humantruth.info/taiwan_human_rights_and_freedom.html#Freethought">Freedom of Thought</a></li></ol></li></ol>Vexen Crabtreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12965774121518639846noreply@blogger.com0Nepal28.394857 84.1240079999999890.084623163821152758 48.967757999999989 56.70509083617884 119.28025799999999tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12222459.post-14986357853150874422023-07-20T23:44:00.003+01:002023-07-20T23:44:13.878+01:00Religion in India<a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/india_religion.html">India is 80% Hindu, 14% Muslim, 3% Christian</a>. Hinduism has a wildly varied mix of beliefs and practices which date to prehistory. <a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/india_religion.html">Buddhism and Sikhism both also started in India and in the 1960s, Western spiritualists took home some interpretations of Hindu beliefs: the result was a range of movements which became called the New Age</a>.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/india_religion.html">But religion in India is no longer peaceful</a>. <a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/india_religion.html">Intolerant right-wing Hinduism-first parties have instigated a bloody series of mob conflicts with Christian and Muslim communities; causing hundreds of churches and mosques to be destroyed, and a great number killed and displaced</a>.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/india_religion.html">Incompatibility between Hinduism and Islam lead to the breakoff of Pakistan amidst fighting that saw over a million people lose their lives</a>, and, three subsequent wars and a nuclear arms race, with the disputed territory of Kashmir as the flashpoint. During this cultural and religious conflict, <a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/india_religion.html">Hindu extremism has become "an impediment to... human rights"</a>.</p>
<a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/india_religion.html">http://www.humanreligions.info/india_religion.html</a>
Vexen Crabtreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12965774121518639846noreply@blogger.com0Nepal28.394857 84.1240079999999890.084623163821152758 48.967757999999989 56.70509083617884 119.28025799999999tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12222459.post-19874022117978835252023-07-18T05:13:00.002+01:002023-07-18T05:13:35.369+01:00IndiaAdded to Section #6 tables on <a href="http://www.humantruth.info/india.html">India's education statistics compared to the rest of the world</a>: The BJP, a conservative Hindu-first party made popular by its campaigns of hate against minorities, <a href="http://www.humantruth.info/india.html">have pursued a policy of establishing astrological departments at universities</a>, despite academia's longstanding aversion due to the overwhelming evidence that astrology is not founded on any kind of reality. In an unequal nation of 1.4 billion people, the funding could have provided for a large number of teachers, covering sorely-needed topics of maths, the sciences and engineering.
<a href="http://www.humantruth.info/india.html">http://www.humantruth.info/india.html: 6. India's Modernity and Learning</a>.
#india #BJPGovernment #BJPVexen Crabtreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12965774121518639846noreply@blogger.com0HR78+94 Ghandruk, Nepal28.5633938 83.8153507999999928.078918904394868 83.26603439374999 29.047868695605132 84.36466720624999tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12222459.post-32060820965108009782023-07-17T12:54:00.006+01:002023-07-17T12:54:32.197+01:00Violent Extremism in Hinduism<a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/hindu_extremism.html">Hindu violent extremism is a serious problem, especially in north India</a>; there are thousands of attacks against religious minorities every year. It has become "an impediment to... human rights".
Reactions by victims stimulates Hindu mobs to enact further attacks. For example, when <a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/hindu_extremism.html#Mobs">the Babri Masjid mosque was destroyed by Hindu activists in 1992, thousands of protesting Muslims lost their lives in a very one-sided series of mob fights</a>. <a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/hindu_extremism.html#Mobs">And over Christmas 2007 in one state, a hundred churches were damaged and 700 Christian homes destroyed</a>.
<a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/hindu_extremism.html#BJP">Complicit are political parties that use race and religion to divide people and stoke hatred; especially the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Shiv Sena</a>.
Section #3 lists some of the worst cases of mob violence.
Link: <a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/hindu_extremism.html">http://www.humanreligions.info/hindu_extremism.html</a>.Vexen Crabtreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12965774121518639846noreply@blogger.com0Kanti, Bihar 843102, India26.2015252 85.295023725.724517097995058 84.74570729375 26.67853330200494 85.84434010625tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12222459.post-76376038667788299222023-06-26T21:56:00.001+01:002023-06-26T21:56:10.550+01:00Prayer as Meditation - or as InsultI've rewritten this page on prayer, removing half of the content and expanding the section on meditation.
<p><a href="http://www.vexen.co.uk/religion/prayer.html">What is prayer for</a>? <a href="http://www.vexen.co.uk/religion/prayer.html">It doesn't change outcomes, because God's plan is perfect and prayer can't change which is the best action for God to take</a>. <a href="http://www.vexen.co.uk/religion/prayer.html">Prayer doesn't work against individual ailments, nor does it change national outlooks (even on health)</a>. So what's the point?</p>
<p><a href="http://www.vexen.co.uk/religion/prayer.html">Prayer still has positive uses</a>. It gives us a quiet-time to think slowly, and let ideas and resolutions come to us. It can also create social togetherness and consolidarity, as can all shared rituals. With these advantages, <a href="http://www.vexen.co.uk/religion/prayer.html">although theists call it "prayer" - others, more accurately, call it meditation, which actually <i>does</i> have some positive results on one's own health</a>.
<p>The contents menu for <a href="http://www.vexen.co.uk/religion/prayer.html">"<i>Prayer is Pointless, Except as Meditation</i>" by Vexen Crabtree</a> (2023) is now:</p>
<ol><li><a href="http://www.vexen.co.uk/religion/prayer.html#Comms">Prayer Tells God Nothing</a></li><li><a href="http://www.vexen.co.uk/religion/prayer.html#OU1625">Praying Doesn't Change What Course of Action it is Best for God to Take</a></li><li><a href="http://www.vexen.co.uk/religion/prayer.html#Selfish">Praying is Best Considered Meditation and Introspection</a></li><li><a href="http://www.vexen.co.uk/religion/prayer.html#Passive_Aggressive">Prayer as a Passive Aggressive Activity</a></li></ol>Vexen Crabtreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12965774121518639846noreply@blogger.com0Brussels, Belgium50.8476424 4.357169622.537408563821153 -30.7990804 79.157876236178851 39.5134196tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12222459.post-54497552122935610392023-06-26T00:16:00.003+01:002023-06-26T21:56:56.885+01:00Prayer Across the World (Who Prays the Most?)A new page! <a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/prayer.html">"<i>Prayer in World Religion</i>"</a>.
<p>Daily prayer is most common in <a href="http://www.humantruth.info/regional_comparisons.html">Central America</a> (77%), <a href="http://www.humantruth.info/africa.html">Africa</a> (75%) and <a href="http://www.humantruth.info/caribbean.html">The Caribbean</a> (74%). The least prayerful countries are <a href="http://www.humantruth.info/china.html">China</a> (01%), <a href="http://www.humantruth.info/uk.html"><abbr>UK</abbr></a> (06%), <a href="http://www.humantruth.info/austria.html">Austria</a> (08%), <a href="http://www.humantruth.info/switzerland.html">Switzerland</a> (08%) and <a href="http://www.humantruth.info/czech_republic.html">Czechia</a> (09%). Does prayer work? All of the larger studies on prayer, and the well-controlled ones, show that prayer has no effect on the world.
<p>The contents menu is:</p><ol class="Menu"><li><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/prayer.html#Stats">Which Regions of the World Pray the Most and the Least?</a></li><li><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/prayer.html#Countries">Which Countries Pray the Most and the Least?</a></li><li><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/prayer.html#OU1594">Does Prayer Work?</a></li><li><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/prayer.html#OU1625">In the Theistic Viewpoint, Prayer Can't Change God's Perfect Plan</a></li><li><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/prayer.html#OU1437">Prayer in Christianity</a></li><li><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/prayer.html#OU0771">Prayer in Islam</a></li></ol>Vexen Crabtreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12965774121518639846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12222459.post-79048179889846584932023-06-25T11:34:00.000+01:002023-06-25T11:34:04.702+01:00<a href="http://www.humantruth.info/europe_migration.html">The average immigration rate in Europe is 14%</a>.
Of the countries with over 1m population, the highest immigrationrate is Switzerland (29.6%), Austria (19%) and Sweden (17.6%). Ireland is 8th in the list, the UK is 15th.
<a href="http://www.humantruth.info/europe_migration.html">For a full list, see: www.humantruth.info/europe_migration.html by Vexen Crabtree of the Human Truth Foundation</a>.
Vexen Crabtreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12965774121518639846noreply@blogger.com0Carr de l'Europe, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium50.8453211 4.357130328.443899457098173 -30.7991197 73.24674274290183 39.5133803tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12222459.post-64847770077667174302023-06-21T19:43:00.005+01:002023-06-21T19:43:44.897+01:00Buddhism, Confucianism, Humanism, Jainism, Taoism, Raelism, Scientology and other movements are all religious but don't have a belief in god(s). This confuses westerners in particular, who often equate religion with god-belief to such an extent that they can't imagine being religious without it.
<a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/atheist_religions.html">"<i>Atheist Religions</i>"</a><p>The contents menu is:</p><ol class="Menu"><li><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/atheist_religions.html#OU0385">An Introduction to Atheism and Secularism</a></li><li><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/atheist_religions.html#Religions">Introductions to Some Atheist Religions</a><ol><li><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/atheist_religions.html#OU0387">Buddhism is an Atheist Religion</a></li><li><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/atheist_religions.html#OU1013">Confucianism</a></li><li><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/atheist_religions.html#OU0750">Humanism</a></li><li><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/atheist_religions.html#OU1020">Jainism</a></li><li><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/atheist_religions.html#OU1028">Taoism / Daoism</a></li><li><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/atheist_religions.html#UFOs">UFO Religions</a></li></ol></li><li><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/atheist_religions.html#Comparative">Atheist Religions Tend to be Kinder and More Compassionate Than Theist Religions</a></li></ol>Vexen Crabtreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12965774121518639846noreply@blogger.com0Brussels, Belgium50.8476424 4.357169622.537408563821153 -30.7990804 79.157876236178851 39.5134196tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12222459.post-9674551392385166742023-06-18T12:22:00.002+01:002023-06-18T12:22:41.025+01:00<a href="http://www.humantruth.info/the_values_of_liberalism.html">www.humantruth.info/the_values_of_liberalism.html divides liberal values into three categories (social, political & economic)</a>, which together stem from the <a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/tags/the_enlightenment.html">17th century Enlightenment</a>. But note that <a href="http://www.humantruth.info/the_values_of_liberalism.html">someone who holds liberal ideas in one domain doesn't have to be liberal in another - an individual may be socially liberal but not economically; others may be liberal overall, but not when it comes to politics</a>.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqHHhWWPnRt5dIctT2a2kaXJpZgIsr1MK1RzMHyuuVOzrZrltgP4A8HK-egitPVT4GkPIbj8Kx-qhI0dwRXsduihhkTlgzSKGYps0bDpEhDspaXAqgVSE7Y_Q062TcgxvY5tu0_DGQHd6YujA0k0rSVbe2i-_YPIDXUtzAlR9VK5AlN8CJxsA/s663/liberal_values.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="663" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqHHhWWPnRt5dIctT2a2kaXJpZgIsr1MK1RzMHyuuVOzrZrltgP4A8HK-egitPVT4GkPIbj8Kx-qhI0dwRXsduihhkTlgzSKGYps0bDpEhDspaXAqgVSE7Y_Q062TcgxvY5tu0_DGQHd6YujA0k0rSVbe2i-_YPIDXUtzAlR9VK5AlN8CJxsA/s400/liberal_values.jpg"/></a></div>
Vexen Crabtreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12965774121518639846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12222459.post-25853154545339413202023-06-15T21:29:00.002+01:002023-06-15T21:29:19.505+01:00Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: The Freedom of ExpressionA new page! Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights grants us the ability to speak freely as long as we don't infringe on other rights. Political extremists and traditional religions have been effective and stalwarts opposition to free speech, enforcing censorship, victimisation and blasphemy laws against those whose opinions they don't want to hear.
<a href="http://www.humantruth.info/free_expression.html">"<i>Freedom of Expression</i>"</a><p>The contents menu is:</p><ol class="Menu"><li><a href="http://www.humantruth.info/free_expression.html#OU1442">About Human Rights in General</a></li><li><a href="http://www.humantruth.info/free_expression.html#qs">Commentary on Freedom of Speech</a></li><li><a href="http://www.humantruth.info/free_expression.html#Limits">Limits</a></li><li><a href="http://www.humantruth.info/free_expression.html#Opposition">Opposition to Free Expression</a></li><li><a href="http://www.humantruth.info/free_expression.html#PressFreedomIndex">Press Freedom Index</a></li><li><a href="http://www.humantruth.info/free_expression.html#OU0340">Blasphemy and Censorship: In Christianity and Islam</a></li></ol>Vexen Crabtreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12965774121518639846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12222459.post-19300232932848589652023-06-12T12:39:00.001+01:002023-06-12T12:40:28.926+01:00Got something to say?Do you want to contribute an article, or well-referenced opinion piece to the HTF websites on <a href="http://www.humantruth.info">http://www.humantruth.info</a> ? We are looking for content on world events, party politics, democracy, political extremism and violence, and other disruptive events effecting our world.
See: <a href="http://www.humantruth.info/contribute.html">http://www.humantruth.info/contribute.html</a>.Vexen Crabtreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12965774121518639846noreply@blogger.com0Bath, UK51.3781018 -2.35968279.3821003015686628 -72.6721827 90 67.9528173tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12222459.post-79863250585989105442023-06-09T23:02:00.007+01:002023-06-09T23:03:20.975+01:00Human Rights and Freedom in Ethiopia
<p>The first round of international treaties on human rights began in the 1940s after the founding of the United Nations. For the following few decades, Ethiopia regularly signed and ratified almost all such treaties, except a few. However since 1989, it has signed only two, and, ratified only one.</p>
For full details and statistics, see: <a href="http://www.humantruth.info/ethiopia_human_rights_and_freedom.html">Human Rights and Freedom in Ethiopia by Vexen Crabtree</a>.
Vexen Crabtreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12965774121518639846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12222459.post-15599690145957972082014-04-27T20:34:00.001+01:002014-04-27T20:35:42.478+01:00Another round of updates<ul><li><p><a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/sexuality.html">The Peacock vs. the Ostrich - Religious Behaviour and Sexuality</a>: Two additions. (1) In Section 1: Nearly all fundamentalist religious organisations reject human rights, and in particular, reject women's rights and are hostile to homosexuality, transvestitism and any other sexuality that is not traditional and patriarchal. They "typically exclude women from the senior ranks of religious leadership. All or almost all express concern about control of female sexuality". But in history, all these things were the mainstream positions of mainstream Christian churches.</p>
<p>(2) And in Section "3.2. Scientology": Paul Haggis was a Hollywood screenwriter who left the Church of Scientology after 34 years, in 2008, when the Church's name appeared on a list of organizations supporting Proposition 8, the California ballot initiative to ban gay marriage.</p></li><li><p><a href="http://www.vexen.co.uk/religion/christianity_evilgod.html">Is the Christian God Evil? Evidence from Scripture and Nature</a>: I have added comments from the story of Job. Section 1.1 "God Creates Evil Regardless of Human Free Will" notes that evil was done to Job regardless of his free will (i.e., he was described as holy and blameless in the Book of Job chapter 1), and, his children all died as a result of God's test of Job, which was also nothing to do with /their/ free will. In section "1.2. Satan and God are Interchangeable", I note that between Chapter 1 and Chapter 42 of Job, God and Satan's actions and culpability are completely intertwined.</p></li><li>NEW PAGE: <a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/satan.html">Satan and The Devil in World Religions (The mythology of evil, suffering, death, pain and materialism.)</a>. This was actually done in February but I haven't mentioned it!</p></li><li><p>NEW PAGE: <a href="http://www.humanreligions.info/wicca.html">Wicca - The Rise of a Western Mystery Religion Based on Witchcraft</a>: A Western mystery religion invented and founded by Gerald Gardner in the UK in the 1950s, followed shortly by the very similar Alexandrian Wicca in the 1960s, although the two strands are now very closely intertwined and Wicca is decentralized. Wiccan practices centre on ritual, nature veneration, natural cycles, and magical and spiritual learning. Much of it derived from pseudo-folklore. Its festivals are held on the eight yearly Sabbats. Divinity in Wicca is seen as both male and female (typically as the Horned God and Mother Goddess), as are the general forces of nature which emanate from a complementary male and female principal.</p></li></ul>
There's more, but I'll share those updates in a different journal rather than let this one have all of the attention!Vexen Crabtreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12965774121518639846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12222459.post-39199456816226484132014-03-07T22:36:00.000+00:002014-03-07T22:36:00.334+00:00Five updates on pages on Christianity<ol><li><p><a href="http://www.holybooks.info/job.html">Iyyobh, in the Jewish Book of Truth - Known to Christians as the Book of Job</a>: I've added a paragraph to the introduction on this page on the theological problems in the story of Job, and 2 sections to this page: (1) God Testing People in The Bible, and (2) God as the Author of Evil: Are Satan and God Interchangeable?</p></li><li><p><a href="http://www.vexen.co.uk/religion/christianity_nojesus.html">Jesus Did Not Exist</a>: I have added a long introductory paragraph, and added multiple quotes from Bart Ehrman and a bit from Karen Armstrong. This page needs a lot of work - there are several important books and authors on this topic that I ought to be mentioning (for example the dry Richard Carrier and the impassioned Acharya S). The parts on the birth of Jesus and on his death will be revamped too at some point.</p></li><li><p><a href="http://www.holybooks.info/revelation.html">The Book of Revelation</a>: Some notes on authorship and symbolism.</p></li><li><p><a href="http://www.vexen.co.uk/religion/christianity_birthnarrative.html">The Birth of Jesus and the Christmas Story: Pagan and Unhistorical</a>: I have revamped this page... given it an introduction before the menu, added notes from Prof. Bart Ehrman on historical proofs, and added a few other bits throughout the page.</p></li><li><p><a href="http://www.holybooks.info/incest.html">Incest in the Bible: Adam and Eve and Their Children, and Noah and His Family</a>: I've added a note on Warren Steed Jeffs, the President of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (a spin-off from the Mormons).He got himself on the FBI's "Ten Most Wanted" on account of the scale of his sex crimes within his congregation, including sex with minors and incest. And I've added some paragraphs on the Parsis (Zoroastrians) in Hong Kong, where religious inhibitions against marrying outside causes severe problems with the 100-strong community. Zoroastrianism and its dogmas influenced Judaism, Chritsianity and Islam.</p></li></ol>Vexen Crabtreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12965774121518639846noreply@blogger.com0